Camille Bruyas of France returns to the 2025 UTMB after finishing second in 2021. In the following interview, Camille talks about some of the other big races she’s done since her last visit to UTMB, how her training has gone this summer, and about her fastest known time on the 14 summits over 2,000 meters in height in the Bauges mountains near where she lives.
For more on who’s racing, check out our in-depth women’s and men’s previews and follow our live race coverage starting Friday.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
Camille Bruyas Pre-2025 UTMB Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Camille Bruyas. It’s a couple days before the 2025 UTMB. Hey, Camille, how are you?
Camille Bruyas: Hi, I’m fine, thanks.
iRunFar: Good. It’s been a little while since we’ve seen you in person. The last time was Hardrock 2024.
Bruyas: Yeah.
iRunFar: How are you?
Bruyas: I’m fine, yeah. Yeah, cool.
iRunFar: We are literally at the opposite type of race than the last time we saw you at Hardrock, which is the quietest, chillest race, and now we’re at the busiest one, here at UTMB.
Bruyas: Yeah, completely. It’s the opposite of the atmosphere, and not the opposite about the trail and the routes, because I think the same elevation but not the altitude.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Bruyas: So, yeah, it’s cool to be there and be back in France a little.
iRunFar: And only 25,000 more fans here than at Hardrock, right?
Bruyas: Yeah, sure.
iRunFar: Okay, so let’s talk about UTMB. The last time you were here as a runner was 2021 when you were on the podium of the women’s field. You’ve also been here before, at CCC, before the pandemic. So, through those races and also crewing your friend Marianne [Hogan] to the podium last year, you know UTMB quite well. Why did you decide to come back?
Bruyas: Yeah, in 2021, it was my second 100 miles. I just arrived here in Chamonix. I was super surprised about I was second and I did a good race. And I said, okay, I want to be back, but with another experience. And I really wanted to do Western States, Hardrock. So, yeah, I did what I wanted to do, and okay, now I came back to UTMB.
iRunFar: I feel like you’ve kind of had the ideal 100-mile schedule. You did UTMB, you did Western States, you did Diagonale des Fous, you did Hardrock, and now you’re back at UTMB. It’s races that are on everybody’s bucket list and you got them all in five years.
Bruyas: Yeah. I think I’m lucky because my body was supporting me during four years. And 100 miles per year for me, it’s okay. It’s good for my mental and physical body. So, yeah, I’m super happy when I look back.
iRunFar: Yeah. The thing that you’ve gotten really good at with these 100-mile races is taking second place. I think you’ve been second at UTMB, second at Diagonale des Fous, second at Hardrock. I feel it’s time for Camille Bruyas to win one of these things. Do you feel the same?
Bruyas: Yeah, but I’m also super happy with my second place.
iRunFar: Okay.
Bruyas: Everybody say, “Okay, do you want to win?” Yeah, for sure. If I can win, I will win. No problem. But I win a lot on 100k. Every race I did 100k, I won. So, I think if I want to stay in this 100k, which is not easy for me, but sort of easy, you know, this distance, I finish well. I don’t finish destroyed like 100 miles.
iRunFar: Enjoy the night.
Bruyas: Enjoy, yeah. It’s a big day outside. I like it. I can, but, you know, it means something for me. 100 miles is more adventure, but I know it’s not my favorite distance. For me, I’m still improving this distance because the last 50, 60k are super hard. So, yeah, I think I can improve this distance and that I’m at the start line, but I don’t know if I will be at the finish line. It’s not the same in 100k. So, yeah, that’s why I like this adventure. And it’s just, yeah, for me, second, it’s cool when you did a good race and you are just happy to finish, like Hardrock last year. I was just at the finish line. It was super hard for me.
iRunFar: Very tired.
Bruyas: So, yeah, second, it’s okay. And maybe one day I could improve myself, but for me, it’s not a goal to win. It’s more, yeah, it’s more
iRunFar: Improving a little bit with each race you do.
Bruyas: Yeah, exactly. Sure. Discovering, doing many, many trails with many people and other atmosphere. It’s more like that.
iRunFar: It looks like at least from the outside looking in that your preparation and your build for UTMB has looked good. Good training. Some time in the Alps. You did an FKT about two months ago, which I think probably was really good training for this week. Tell us about your training.
Bruyas: Yeah, my training was mostly at home. For sure. I spend a lot of time at home. So for me, it was important this year to, after traveling everywhere, it’s cool to work at home, see family, friends, and have time, and chill. So, yeah, and for sure, I didn’t do a lot of races. I really wanted to do this FKT. It’s pretty technical compared to UTMB.
iRunFar: Okay.
Bruyas: But, you know, it’s time outside.
iRunFar: A big, long day.
Bruyas: A long day outside. And I think UTMB, it’s runnable for sure, but it’s also a long time outside. So, you need to train. And, yeah, for me, it was a good day. So, I really wanted to get confidence more than put a bib and, yeah, I was not, I didn’t need this.
iRunFar: And then, for folks who aren’t familiar with that FKT, 14 summits of the Bauges Mountains.
Bruyas: Yes.
iRunFar: Can you tell us a little about it?
Bruyas: Yes, it’s where I live. So, yeah, it inspired me a lot since many years when I arrived. I said, okay, from my house, I saw, I think, a lot of summits. I said, okay, I want from my home, run to the summit.
iRunFar: Okay.
Bruyas: But I can’t see every summit of over 2,000 meters. And, yeah, the project improved in a big one. And, yeah, my teammate François [D’Haene] did many years ago. And I said, okay, one day I want to that.
iRunFar: You’ll do that.
Bruyas: But you never know because in the season it’s always hard to manage everything. The weather needs to be here. And also, I didn’t want to do all alone. And it’s not safe to do alone on the route. So, my friends were there. So, everything was okay. I said, okay, let’s go.
iRunFar: That’s amazing. Last question for you. There’s a brand new film out about you right now, you and Marianne Hogan. It’s about your friendship and the interplay of competitiveness and friendship. Do you want to share just a teensy bit about that and Marianne?
Bruyas: Yeah, it’s a super beautiful film with emotion and love, too. Adventure in a different country, different person. Because me and Marianne, we are different. And different course and pacing. And how you can manage and help in the same team. We are in the same team, but we are also competitive. One day, maybe we will again race the same race. So, yeah, it’s nice to have someone. We don’t have the same, how do you say, force?
iRunFar: Energy?
Bruyas: The same energy. So, you put all the best energy of each other and you put inside. And yeah, it’s not only on the races. It’s all along the year and since many years. And I hope for many years to have friends to share these beautiful spots.
iRunFar: Thanks for sharing that. Best of luck to you in your second UTMB, Camille.
Bruyas: Thanks a lot.
