“There is always more.”

A great journey of an ultra-trail runner through the mountains.

By Grade 9 Journalism Class

While most people would stop at exhaustion, Anthony Constable finds strength in the struggle, proving that the toughest races are won with heart as much as endurance.

It was more than just a race. For Mr. Constable, a teacher at MIS and passionate ultra-runner, the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) – a 175-kilometer trail race through France, Italy, and Switzerland – was the culmination of years of training. But it was not a solo journey. Alongside him was his wife Sarah Ford, who is Director of the Student Life Programme at MIS and his steadfast supporter before, during and after the race. Despite the physical and emotional challenges, Mr. Constable finished the race after 42 hours, a run through mountains, snow and exhaustion.

Mr Anthony Constable in front of the Mont Blanc on the morning of 2^nd day of the race. (Anthony Constable/private)

“(…) the difficult part is then choosing to go out of that room again,” Mr Constable said.

During the race, Mr Constable encountered numerous challenges, one of which was motivating himself to return to the trail after resting. Tents and mountain huts were available at certain points along the course, offering racers a chance to warm up and regain energy. Whereas getting warm was essential, Mr Constable emphasized that the real difficulty lay in the mental effort required to leave the comfort of those shelters and continue.

The cold itself was also a serious challenge. On the first night, heavy rain turned into snow and Mr Constable began showing symptoms of hypothermia.

“I had two different people sandwiching my hand,” said Mr. Constable.

Fortunately, he found refuge in a hut where fellow runners helped him warm up – a moment that highlights both the physical danger and the camaraderie of ultra endurance racing.

The extreme weather put Mr. Constable at serious risk of not finishing. His wife, Ms. Ford, only learned about the hypothermia the next morning.

“So I could see the dot on the screen and see that he was progressing, but I didn’t necessarily know what kind of experience he was having,” she said.

Ms. Ford played a crucial role in Mr. Constable’s success. She supported him not only during the race, but throughout the years of preparation leading up to it. She managed logistics, provided emotional support, and travelled between aid stations using shuttle buses that reached only about a third of the checkpoints. After the finish line, overwhelmed with emotion,

Ms. Ford recalled saying, “I’m sure I remember saying to him don’t do it again.”

“So, for the last 10 years or so, I have slowly increased the distance that I would run”, said Mr Constable.

His training routine included up to 80-120 kilometres per week, along with strength and conditioning workouts twice weekly. This gradual buildup helped him to prepare for the physical demands of ultra-distance races.
Mentally, Mr Constable approached the race with a sense of openness and curiosity.

Spectators and supporters patiently waiting for the runners to start the race, August 29, 2025 in Chamonix, France (Ms Sarah Ford/private)

“UTMB has an iconic start line and finish line, and that’s something which I thought about a lot before the actual race. Most of the rest of the race I try and let just happen… let it kind of surprise me how beautiful or interesting it is.”

He also described the race as surprisingly sociable, with runners from all over the word. “I was speaking to a man from Saudi Arabia at one point, a woman from Mongolia at another,” he said, highlighting the international spirit of the event.

After completing the race, Mr Constable felt completely exhausted. It took him about a week and a half to recover, and he continued to experience soreness in his ankle. Despite a suppressed immune system, he went for his first jog 10 days after the race, beginning the slow process of rebuilding his strength.

“No. This was such a big race for me. I plan not to plan another race for a little while.” said Mr. Constable.

Although he claimed to have no immediate plans, the runner in him is already thinking ahead. With the UTMB — his long-time goal — now behind him, Mr. Constable is considering joining a running league in Germany to participate in shorter, more frequent races. He also mentioned the possibility of tackling Ultra-Balaton, a 240-kilometer race around Lake Balaton in Hungary.

Anthony Constable running the Ultra Trail Hungary (official race photo/Solomon Ultra-Trail Hungary)

Despite the physical and mental toll of ultra-distance racing, Mr Constable remains focused on the deeper meaning behind his efforts.

“My goal is always to come out feeling like I’ve put the effort in that the race justifies, and I don’t come away feeling like I have not taken advantage of the opportunity that the race presents itself.”

Authors:
Edgar R., Bruce H., Jonatan L., Isabella K., Chiara R., Keira O., Vasilisa K.