Athletes
Ruy Ueda
Enrich your life through trail running
Nationality: Japan
Field of expertise:Trail running
Hometown: Omachi
With Shokz since 2024
Field of expertise:Trail running
Hometown: Omachi
With Shokz since 2024
2024 Desafio Urbion (Skyrunning World Championships), Spain – 3rd place
2023 Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB, Australia – Champion
2022 Marathon du Mont-Blanc – 3rd place
Ruy Ueda is one of Japan’s most iconic trail runners, known for his quiet strength, technical precision, and deep connection to the mountains that raised him.
Born in Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture—at the foot of the Northern Alps—Ruy spent his early years immersed in nature. He played soccer and competed in track and field through junior high, eventually joining Japan’s top high school ekiden (relay race) team as a long-distance runner. However, repeated injuries kept him from realizing his full potential on the road.
It was during college that Ruy discovered trail running—not through structured training, but through a spirit of exploration. That first encounter changed everything: he won his debut race, marking the beginning of a journey that would take him to the global stage.
His international breakthrough came in 2022 with a 3rd place finish at the Marathon du Mont-Blanc. He followed that with a win at the 2023 Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB in Australia, completing 105.9km and over 3,000m of elevation gain in under 10 hours. In 2024, he placed 3rd in the 37km event at the Desafío Urbión Skyrunning World Championships in Spain—one of the most technical races in Europe.
Ruy is known for his calm, almost meditative racing style and his ability to handle steep, rugged terrain with pinpoint precision. He trains year-round in Japan’s mountainous regions, often solo, continuously honing both body and mind.
Off the trail, he is introspective and soft-spoken, often letting his performances speak on his behalf. For many in Japan, Ruy represents more than athletic excellence—he is a symbol of quiet perseverance, grace, and the power of staying true to one’s roots.
"I can talk with my friends while wearing it when I run with them."
I like it so much that I wear it almost all the time when I train because it doesn't block my ears, so I can detect danger from cars, and I can talk with my friends while wearing it when I run with them.
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