On a stormy August night in Chamonix, as rain lashed the mountains and cold winds cut through the valleys, Tom Evans crossed the finish line of the 2025 UTMB® as champion. The 170 kilometers around Mont Blanc are never kind, but this year’s weather made the challenge even harsher. For Tom, the victory was not only about being the fastest. It was about resilience, maturity, and a new perspective shaped by family.
From CCC to UTMB: Years of Lessons
Tom’s UTMB story began long before this year’s win. In 2018, he claimed victory at CCC, a milestone that convinced him he could compete with the best in the world. But his next steps weren’t smooth. At UTMB in 2023 and 2024, he battled mistakes, injuries, and conditions that left him short of the finish line he dreamed of.
“Ultras make it so easy to go too fast early,” Tom recalls. “You feel good, you push harder, and then you pay the price—legs fail, the stomach shuts down, decisions go wrong. I had to learn patience the hard way.”
Those setbacks became his training ground. By the time he lined up in 2025, Tom wasn’t just fitter—he was wiser. “Every failure was an investment. Without those experiences, I might not have finished this year either.”
The Art of Managing Chaos
At UTMB, the weather can turn from sunshine to snow in minutes. This year was relentless. Cold rain drenched the trails, leaving runners shivering and slow. Tom knew that success depended less on strength, more on decision-making.
“Bad weather is just bad weather. You can’t change it. What matters is how you respond. I carried two pairs of waterproof gloves. If your hands are soaked and frozen, you can’t zip your jacket or open a bottle. Every small choice—putting on a shell early, swapping gloves—made me feel in control. That mindset kept me positive, and performance followed.”
It wasn’t just about surviving the storm. It was about mastering it. “UTMB isn’t just running. It’s a craft. Western States (Endurance Run) is like using the biggest hammer you have, but UTMB is like opening a full toolbox—you need strength, skill, gear, decision-making, and patience.”
The Father Factor
This year also marked a personal milestone: Tom’s first UTMB as a father. His daughter, Phoebe, was only three months old when he toed the start line. He carried her name stitched inside his cap, a quiet reminder during the darkest moments.
“When it got tough, I’d look up and feel her presence. She’s my why. At home, no matter how big the race, the first job is changing her diaper. That keeps me grounded. It’s impossible to lose perspective.”
Becoming a father also reshaped his training. “I don’t have the luxury of three-hour morning runs anymore. If I get 70 minutes, I make it count—no breaks, pure focus. I call them ‘Dad Intervals.’ They aren’t perfect, but they make me more efficient and, honestly, happier.”
Alongside his wife, professional triathlete Sophie Coldwell, Tom has embraced a system of alternating seasons: one partner races while the other takes the support role. “It’s not just about performance. It’s about balance. Sharing this life together makes us both stronger.”
Real Partnerships, Real Trust
Tom believes that partnerships in sport should be relationships, not transactions. “On race day, you need absolute trust in your gear. That only happens if you truly believe in the brands you work with.”
He describes a balance between his two main partners: “Asics gives me the science, data, and performance edge. Shokz brings me joy, motivation, and a sense of everyday connection. Together, they cover both sides of what I need—athlete and human.”
This authenticity, he says, is non-negotiable. “Storytelling matters more than clicks. What I want to share with the trail community is not just wins, but resilience, balance, and the joy of running.”
Happiness as a Competitive Advantage
Tom’s philosophy centers on something intangible yet powerful: happiness. “You can’t measure happiness, but it gives you an edge. If you can tap into it, you can endure almost anything.”
Music plays a huge part in that. With his Shokz headphones, Tom builds soundtracks to match his race strategy. “In the first half, I listen to calmer songs to stay relaxed. In the second half, I switch to high-energy tracks to push through the pain. At home I don’t have much time for music, so running is when I catch up—whether it’s podcasts, audiobooks, or my favorite songs.”
For UTMB, one track stood out: Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things. “It gave me the energy I needed when things got dark.”
Victory, and What Comes After
Crossing the finish line in Chamonix was a cocktail of exhaustion and elation. “It tasted like champagne mixed with mud, sweat, and blood,” Tom laughs. “But it was worth every step.”
Winning both UTMB and Western States places him in rare company, alongside elite runners like Kilian Jornet, Jim Walmsley, and now Tom. Yet he resists the temptation to immediately look for the next challenge.
“It’s easy to win something and instantly ask, ‘What’s next?’ But I want to enjoy this first. Victories don’t define you forever. They’re moments. What matters is how you grow from them.”
That growth now extends beyond himself. Tom currently coaches elite female runners and dreams of building a professional women’s trail team, modeled after cycling squads. “I want to create a space where women athletes feel supported from the ground up. My athletes may not always succeed on the first try, but I want them to know: one failure doesn’t define you.”
The Meaning of Running
At its core, Tom’s journey is about rediscovering the joy of running. “I started running for my mental health. Then it became a job, and sometimes I forgot the fun. This year, I focused on falling back in love with it. Because without joy, you can’t perform at your best.”
And if his daughter looks back on this moment one day? Tom hopes she sees more than a champion. “I’d like her to see someone who worked hard, stayed authentic, and put family first.”
For Tom Evans, running is no longer just about medals or records. It’s about love, patience, happiness—and the music that keeps him smiling, step after step.
Shokz Closing Note
At UTMB 2025, Tom Evans proved that true strength lies not only in the legs but in the mind and heart. With patience, resilience, and the soundtrack of joy, he conquered the storm.
At Shokz, we believe running isn’t just about racing. It’s about life, family, and happiness. Tom’s victory reminds us: when you run with joy, anything is possible.
