Sports
The Cost of Ultra-Distance and European Mountain Culture
Manuela Vilaseca breaks down high-performance pressure, the real costs of the sport, and Europe's outdoor culture.
Competing in ultra-distance running demands pushing past physical boundaries while navigating high financial costs and intense mental pressure. Elite runner Manuela Vilaseca shares an inside look at the sport, the role of European mountain huts, and the road to international recognition for Brazilian athletes.
Mountain running and ultra-distance races often evoke an imagery of epic resilience and profound connection with nature. However, behind the scenes of high-performance sports lies a much harsher reality: extreme physical toll, psychological pressure to win, and a financial landscape that rarely allows athletes to live solely off sponsorships.
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Physical Limits and the Pressure to Perform
For Manuela Vilaseca, running for dozens of hours across inhospitable terrain shouldn't be romanticized as a purely healthy pursuit. Pulling all-nighters and subjecting muscles to massive mileage is born out of passion, but it exacts a toll both in the short and long term. This level of demand explains why many athletes who burst onto the international scene quickly end up suffering severe injuries or vanishing from competition altogether.
Beyond the physical toll, the mental factor heavily influences an athlete's longevity. As trail running becomes increasingly professionalized, contracts demand consistent podium finishes. The fear of losing sponsors after a DNF (Did Not Finish) or a string of subpar results creates a psychological burden that pushes much of the elite field to work with sports psychologists to prevent early burnout.
The Myth of Glamour: Costs and Work Routines
Contrary to popular belief, being among the trail running elite rarely translates to living exclusively off the sport. Manu points out that she has always had to balance work with her training and competition schedule. In reality, sponsorship money acts as an enabler to cover race entries, travel, and gear, along with occasional performance bonuses, but it does not cover living expenses entirely.
Staying competitive requires ongoing investments in physical therapy, nutritional support, coaching, gym memberships, and targeted strength and mobility training. During her preparation for the Tor des Géants, for instance, Manu traveled to the Aosta Valley in August for a two-week course reconnaissance. The trip coincided with unpaid time off from work—a period with zero income where lodging and logistical expenses were absorbed as an investment in her performance.
Infrastructure and European Mountain Culture
Another major contrast highlighted in the conversation with Sidney Togumi is the cultural relationship with the mountain environment. In countries like Spain and Switzerland, outdoor activity is intergenerational: children and seniors alike take to trails with trekking poles as a natural part of daily life, whether or not they are training for a race.
This culture is anchored by a robust network of long-distance trails (GR footpaths) and fully operational mountain huts, such as the circuits of the former Cavalls del Vent (now Ultra Pirineu) and Carros de Foc in Catalonia. People plan multi-day treks staying overnight in huts, nurturing outdoor recreation from grassroots levels. In Brazil, while the trail community is growing, dense urban populations and a lack of support infrastructure across mountain ranges keep the general public disconnected from this lifestyle.
The Path to International Visibility
Even as Brazilian runners increasingly travel to race in Europe, global recognition for Brazilian trail running remains a gradual journey. To break out of the niche and capture the attention of international media and major brands, isolated strong performances are not enough: consistent, high-profile victories are essential.
In an ultra-competitive global landscape—where technical standards for both men and women have reached historic heights—even a top-10 finish at landmark events like UTMB is quickly forgotten by the general audience. Building lasting international prominence still hinges on one thing: consistently landing on the podium.
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