Arguably the most French of American trail runners, Ben Dhiman finally broke his UTMB curse last year after DNFs in 2023 and 2024, finishing runner-up behind his ASICS teammate Tom Evans. Enough to make him a logical contender 12 months on. With unshakeable determination and the kind of all-round technical skill UTMB demands, the Pyrénées-based ASICS runner checked in on his current form about 10 days out from the start, Friday 28 August at 5:45 p.m.
Ben, you finished second last year behind your teammate Tom Evans. What did that result give you as you line up again for UTMB 2026?
UTMB has something magical about it. It’s a race where every part of you gets tested. You have to tick every box before race day if you want it to come together. That means your fitness, but also your race plan, how you’re going to execute it, how you’ll handle the pressure. Finishing second last year gave me real confidence in what I’m capable of. Now I know I can do it… And I’m someone who’s super focused and determined. When I’ve got something in my head, I don’t let go until I’ve reached it. And that goal is to win UTMB. I just need to be a little faster than last year, and we should be good.
© the.adventure.bakeryYou finished second in the Marathon du Mont-Blanc 90 km at the end of June. What did you take from that result with UTMB in mind, on terrain that’s fairly similar to what you’ll be running in a few days?
That result showed me I’m in good shape and the training is working. I used that race as a tune-up and I wasn’t trying to be at 100% that day. I’d done a lot of volume beforehand, so I was happy with the result, and it gave me confidence to dive into the UTMB block afterwards.
This year I’ve worked on my durability, so I can resist fatigue better, especially late in the race.
How has the final stretch of your UTMB build gone, and what have you focused on in recent weeks?
At the end of this pre-UTMB block, the goal was to keep the running volume really high, around 25 hours a week on average, for six straight weeks. That’s about 200 km per week and over 10,000 m of vert every week. It’s a heavy load, and by the end of a block like that you never really know how your body’s going to respond. But at this point I feel like I’ve absorbed the work pretty well, and now it’s time for more rest before the race. And honestly I’m not very tired, even though I’ve done a lot of volume. I was very careful with intensity, I didn’t overdo it, so I’m pretty happy with how this build has finished.
We noticed you logged more than 100 hours of training in July, whereas last year you didn’t go over 60. Why the difference?
The difference in volume between 2026 and 2025 is because last year I blew up in the final third of the race. So this year I’ve worked on my durability, and the goal is to be more resistant to fatigue, especially late in the race.
© the.adventure.bakeryIs it an advantage to live and train in the Pyrénées before UTMB, staying away from the Alps and the pressure that builds day by day?
For me, staying in the Pyrénées isn’t really about UTMB performance. I just prefer to be with my family as long as possible. Family is a huge thing for me, and I’m lucky because the Pyrénées are ideal for training. It’s steep, it’s technical, it’s hotter than the Alps, so that’s an advantage, and the stress level is lower than in Chamonix or the surrounding area… But it’s important to finish my prep in the Alps in the last few days, because I can make the final small adjustments that can make the difference on race day.
With that kind of volume, aren’t you worried about getting injured, like Jim Walmsley, Kilian Jornet, Tom Evans, Mathieu Blanchard and others have experienced?
I think my body actually likes big mileage and has gotten used to this rhythm. So I don’t really dwell on the injury risk. This year I’ve done more volume than ever in my career, and I’m in better physical shape than last year. Even though I’ve done more, I feel better. I think what matters most is the balance between intensity, volume and recovery. One of my strengths is staying healthy and not getting injured, even with a lot of volume. So far my body is holding up well.
© UTMB GroupThis year I’ve done more volume than ever in my career, and I feel in better shape than last year
You’ll be racing alongside Kilian Jornet for the first time, widely seen as the sport’s GOAT. Is that something you’re especially excited about, or does it not matter who’s on your path?
I don’t want to think too much about the other runners because, in the end, it’s 20 hours of effort and you just have to focus on yourself. But it’s really cool that Kilian is there. For me, going up against Kilian in that environment could be something pretty special…
The first and only American so far to have won UTMB is Jim Walmsley, in 2023. Do you know him well?
No, I don’t really know Jim. We don’t have any particular relationship, so I’m looking forward to chatting with him this year during the race!
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