The UTMB race is one of the sport’s most prestigious races, featuring 176km of mountain terrain and 10km of elevation across France, Switzerland and Italy.
Wānaka-based Croft, who is one of the leading names alongside 2022 champion American Katie Schide, felt training was smoother than last year’s build-up, when she got a virus that ruled her out.
"My health has been in a better place this year which meant I was able to have one of the better base building periods in New Zealand over the summer and have been building on that since coming to Europe.
"If anything, [last year] has made me more aware that half the job is just getting on the start line healthy, happy, and not overcooked. I feel my coach and I have been able to find that balance this year."
Croft, New Zealand’s leading trail runner, spent time training at altitude in Tignes, France in preparation.
While it will be her first UTMB event, Croft is no stranger to the trails, having claimed victory twice in the 50km OCC race in 2018 and 2019 and the 100km CCC race in 2015.
Croft, who won the Western States 100-mile endurance race in California, has won her last three races, including the Tarawera ultra-trail 102km in February, and has finished on the podium of every race she has lined up for since October 2020.
“This is definitely our biggest stage that we have in our sport, and after watching the Olympics, it’s been cool to see that even though we are a small country at the bottom of the Pacific, we can compete against the best in the world.
"I was impressed with watching Hamish Kerr win the high jump in Paris. He just looked so calm and that he was genuinely having fun, and that is what I want to bring to UTMB.’’
Fellow Kiwi Nancy Jiang will join Croft on the UTMB start line. Jiang is a former Tarawera ultra-trail champion.
Scotty Hawker will also represent New Zealand in his seventh UTMB race.
