Michela Urh: how nice to run in Formazza!

Her smile is contagious, her strength is her sweetness: she is Michela Urh, winner of BUT 2017.

Last year the Insubria Sky Team athlete was the protagonist in many competitions.

She explains: I’m not very up to date on the list of races because between work, running, managing teenagers and
furry friend – he smiles – and I’m not talking about Massi (the husband, ed), it all seems a bit messy to me, however, obviously not in chronological order, in 2017 I placed 1st at the Wild Boar Trail in Tuscany, 1st at the Trail del Moscato, 3rd at the Trail del Soglio, 2nd at the Tuscany Crossing (In 2018 I will do the 100 km!).

I started 2018 with the Ronda Ghibellina, also in Tuscany, with a good third place since I started sore and then stopped for three weeks…

The interview

Third in 2016, first in 2017: running in Val Formazza is good for you!

Let’s just say I’m lucky too! In any case, I knew the route very well since I’m from Domodossola and I train all summer in those mountains, so maybe I even had a bit of an advantage… And then everything went smoothly! As always, it takes a mix of combinations to have a simply perfect day.

What was the best moment of your victory last year?

A beautiful moment that filled my eyes with joy was the sunrise, I would say magical, as I was crossing the del Busin Pass. I would add another moment: it will be taken for granted, but when, before tackling the last descent, I saw the Riale plain from above, you feel the heat of the fans and the voice of the announcer… well, after all these hours of racing you feel the happiest person in the world. Really amazing!

Why do you think it’s nice to come running in Val Formazza?

The view that you can have from the highest points of the Valley is priceless, if you then experience those territories in complete solitude as often happens in such a long race, then they become truly magical…