The final weekend of March proved to be a showcase for elite ultra-running talent across two continents, with commanding victories at the Chuckanut 50K in Washington and the Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB in Tuscany. At Chuckanut, Will Murray delivered a dominant performance in the men's race while Andrea Lee pulled off a stunning upset in the women's race, dethroning defending champion Jade Belzberg with an aggressive final-stretch push. Meanwhile, in Italy, Thomas Cardin (France) proved his credentials as a world-class ultra-runner by winning the prestigious 120K course in near sub-10-hour time, breaking away decisively between kilometers 74 and 86 to claim victory. These races underscored the global competitiveness of ultra-running at the moment and highlighted the emergence of several athletes ready to challenge the sport's established hierarchy.
At Chuckanut 50K, Will Murray dominated from start to finish, controlling the pace and refusing to let any competitor gain a foothold. The rugged, coastal Washington course with its technical terrain and substantial elevation change proved to be tailor-made for Murray's aggressive running style. His victory here comes as part of a broader upward trajectory in his racing calendar, and the dominance displayed at Chuckanut suggests he's entered 2026 in peak form. The men's race was decided early, with Murray's resourcefulness on the descents and his relentless pacing on the climbs creating a gap that proved insurmountable. The supporting cast was competitive, but none could match Murray's fluidity and tactical awareness on this demanding course. In the women's race, Andrea Lee's victory represents one of the spring season's biggest surprises and a significant statement in the ultra-running landscape. Lee entered Chuckanut as a challenger rather than a favorite, but she executed a flawless tactical race that culminated in a decisive break between 35K and 45K that Belzberg could not answer. Lee's final time of 4:19 edged out defending champion Jade Belzberg's 4:22, a narrow margin that reflects just how competitive the top of the women's ultra-running field has become.
The Chianti Ultra Trail by UTMB represented an entirely different challenge—a continental race in challenging spring conditions through one of Europe's most iconic wine regions. Thomas Cardin's dominance came not through wire-to-wire control but through perfect execution of a tactical breakthrough in the race's decisive middle section. Cardin held position for the first three-quarters of the 120K distance, respecting the course's technical demands and the depth of the competitive field. However, between the 74K and 86K marks, Cardin shifted gears with a powerful surge that separated him from a chase group that included 2024 winner Andreas Reiterer. Cardin's near-10-hour finish (9:58) was a commanding performance, and his ability to accelerate decisively on the trail's most exposed sections showcased the maturity and tactical acumen expected of a world-class ultra-runner. Reiterer, the defending champion and a formidable competitor in his own right, was unable to bridge the gap and finished second in 10:06, just eight minutes adrift. Bouillard rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 10:06:36, indicating how competitive the race's final kilometers were among the lead pack.
The Chianti Ultra Trail also featured competitive racing across the 75K distance, with distinct winners emerging in the men's and women's categories. Andrzej Witek (Poland) claimed the men's 75K victory in 5:39, demonstrating that the shorter distance course presented no shortage of competitive drama. His time was solid on a course that, while shorter than the 120K, retained all of Chianti's technical challenges and unforgiving terrain. In the women's 75K, Elísa Kristinsdóttir (Iceland) proved victorious in 6:22, adding another impressive result to a resumé that continues to gain international recognition. Kristinsdóttir's victory at Chianti underscores the growing depth and competitiveness of women's ultra-running, a sport that has experienced explosive growth in participation and talent development over the past half-decade. Her performance at Chianti positions her well for even more ambitious pursuits later in the season.
This weekend of ultra-racing reflects the sport's robust health and the remarkable caliber of athletes competing at all distance levels. From Murray's dominant display at Chuckanut to Lee's surprising upset and Cardin's tactical masterclass at Chianti, these races delivered exactly what ultra-running promises: drama, determination, and the celebration of human endurance pushed to extraordinary limits. As the spring racing season accelerates toward summer's constellation of major ultras—including the full UTMB calendar and North American 100-milers—these weekend victories have established a compelling narrative arc for the year ahead. Athletes like Murray, Lee, Cardin, and Kristinsdóttir are positioning themselves as ones to watch across the remainder of 2026.