The 2025 Mountain Ultra is now over! A tight-knit group of intrepid runners gave it their all in a remote corner of Krygyzstan’s Tian Shan Mountain range, tackling immense climbs, technical descent and stunning high mountain valleys.
The week began in picturesque Alpine meadows, with runners following rivers and roads for the initial few miles. This gentle start gave way to the surreal Red Rock Valley, where the terrain became rugged and otherworldly, with towering red cliffs creating a dramatic backdrop.
Under blue skies in a deeply carved glacial valley our runners embarked on stage two. The crew initially navigated fast-flowing rivers, which soon gave way to the first significant mountains of the race, and with a lung-busting climb to match. Locals refer to these majestic peaks as celestial, and it’s easy to see why—with their imposing presence and untouched summits, they dominate the horizon.
Day Three was marked by harsh weather and mountain thunderstorms as the runners navigated rope bridges to exit the initial valley, setting the tone for a day filled with technical challenges. The first significant obstacle was a sharp ascent through dense pine forests, which then opened up to reveal stunning electric-blue glacial lakes. The 1,500m climb demanded a mix of light technical scrambling and steady trekking, testing the runners’ endurance and agility. As the runners ascended, they were rewarded with views of Ala-Köl Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. This serene yet daunting body of water, fed directly by a glacier, guided the runners towards the highest point of the stage at 3,907m.
Throughout the course of Stage Four the runners encountered three major high passes. Each pass presented its own unique challenges, with steep ascents and descents on technical terrain demanding both physical stamina and mental fortitude. Every step made on the rough terrain required careful consideration, and with burning lungs and light heads, the challenge was dramatically increased, the thin mountain air affected all.
The final stage saw the runners travel into stunning rolling hills little explored by the western world. With a clear view of the mountains of Kazakhstan to the north they entered a territory only populated by the occasional local shepherd. Endless wildflower valleys, raging rivers and snow capped peaks surrounded them for most of the day.
Brutal weather took half of the field throughout the race, but everyone brave enough to step foot onto this demanding course deserves praise. The Mountain Ultra is not for the faint of heart.
The race began with a 50/50 gender split, and finished with one as well. Six men and six Women made it over the finish line and into the final camp.
Simon Dicks is our new Mountain Ultra Men’s course record holder, winning the 2025 race in 31:26:00, taking nearly three hours out of Jon Shield’s 2023 effort.
Quiet and composed across the first two stages, he ran his own race, no drama, no noise, just purpose. Then, when it mattered, he shifted gears and produced something remarkable. It wasn’t just a winning move. It was a statement. He didn’t just pull away from the field; he put serious time into the course record, too.
Maria Russell wins the Mountain Ultra Women’s race with an absolutely unstoppable performance, crossing the line in 41:02:00, just behind Kristina Madsen’s 2023 course record.
Maria has two modes: not racing… and racing. And when she’s in race mode, there’s no holding her back. Fighting through sickness all week, she never let up. Locked in from the start, she pushed hard every single day, relentless forward motion. This wasn’t just a win. It was a commanding performance from an athlete who knows exactly how to suffer and still smile at the finish line.
Behind Simon and Maria came Alex Welch (35:20:00) and Jemma Wilkinson (44:07:00), taking second place in the Men’s and Women’s Race respectively. Alex flew to Kyrgysztan on two days notice, with a late subbing in for friend Kevin Walton, and what a phenomenal effort he’s put in. Having won the Ice Ultra in January, road runner Alex was initially targeting a competetive 2026 effort, but the last minute offer of a place was too good to turn down. What a performance! Jemma, hot off the back of a strong Montane Spine Race Sprint North race, stayed consistent amongst a rapidly changing female front pack. An excellent showing from Jemma gives the sheperdess her second BTU podium finish.
Bert Gossey took third in the Men’s Race with a time of 39:31:00, a consistent race that saw him podium on stages two through five. Taking the fiercest weather in his stride, Bert finishes his third BTU race in style.
It was an unexpected third for Isabelle Dufour, who didn’t realise she’d taken the final podium spot until after she crossed the line. Isabelle completes the Mountain Ultra in 47:28:00. She flew under the radar all week, but her consistency, strength, and grace earned her a well-deserved spot on the podium.
Just like in the Jungle, Stéphane Pagani played the smart game, measured, methodical, and always in control.
A hugely talented road runner, he was tested in the mountains this week, but it was never a problem. He adapted, pushed when it counted, and made it all look effortless, finishing the race in 41:42:00.
Ioana Barbu finishes the Mountain Ultra in 47:59:00 and makes history one step closer. This week, Ioana lived in the pain cave. The list of wild stories she’s collected out here is already legendary; any one of them would’ve taken most people out of the race.
But not Ioana. She just kept showing up, day after day, storm after storm. And now, with the Mountain Ultra complete, she’s on track to become the first person in history to finish all Beyond the Ultimate races in a single calendar year.
Caught in a storm and battling the early signs of hypothermia, Micah Risher faced down one of the toughest moments of the race. With help from a fellow runner in a time of need, he made it through, and never looked back.
He repaid that act of kindness the only way he knows how: with relentless positivity, big energy, and a smile that lifted the entire camp, finishing in 49:52:00.
Behind him came Corrado Buzzolan in 51:47:00. Confident, charismatic, and unapologetically Italian, Corrado has kept spirits high and camp laughing all week long.
But don’t let the jokes fool you, there’s serious grit behind that smile. He tackled the mountains with style, heart, and a whole lot of flair.
Finishing together on the final stage, Katie Hislop and Tanja Löhr were our final two finishers, with a total time of 53:38:00 and 56:30:00 respectively.
Katie returns for her third race in the series, and from the very first step, we knew she’d get it done. Steady, smart, and always composed, this is what experience looks like.
Right beside her, first-timer Tanja showed up with quiet determination and never looked like stopping. From start to finish, she proved she belongs here.
Both made it through the mountains with strong admin, solid heads, and unshakable resilience.
An incredible finish from two incredible women.
That’s a wrap on the 2025 Mountain Ultra.
Feeling inspired? We’ve got a handful of places left on the 2026 race, click here to learn more!
| Full Name | Gender | Stage 1 Time | Stage 2 Time | Stage 3 Time | Stage 4 finish | Stage 5 Time | Overall Time | Overall Gender Position | Overal Position | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Dicks | Male | 3:29:00 | 5:22:00 | 7:01:00 | 6:42:00 | 8:52:00 | 31:26:00 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Alex Welch | Male | 3:08:00 | 5:13:00 | 7:55:00 | 8:32:00 | 10:32:00 | 35:20:00 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Bert Gossey | Male | 4:50:00 | 6:43:00 | 8:40:00 | 8:32:00 | 10:46:00 | 39:31:00 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Maria russell | Female | 4:42:00 | 7:08:00 | 9:31:00 | 8:36:00 | 11:05:00 | 41:02:00 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Stéphane Pagani | Male | 4:15:00 | 6:59:00 | 9:18:00 | 9:16:00 | 11:54:00 | 41:42:00 | 4 | 5 | |||
| Jemma Wilkinson | Female | 4:49:00 | 7:41:00 | 9:59:00 | 9:30:00 | 12:08:00 | 44:07:00 | 2 | 6 | |||
| Isabelle Dufour | Female | 5:15:00 | 7:50:00 | 10:34:00 | 10:47:00 | 13:02:00 | 47:28:00 | 3 | 7 | |||
| Ioana Barbu | Female | 4:26:00 | 6:48:00 | 10:43:00 | 13:18:00 | 12:44:00 | 47:59:00 | 4 | 8 | |||
| Micah Risher | Male | 4:37:00 | 7:34:00 | 11:35:00 | 11:40:00 | 14:26:00 | 49:52:00 | 5 | 9 | |||
| Corrado Buzzolan | Male | 5:32:00 | 7:57:00 | 12:03:00 | 11:40:00 | 14:35:00 | 51:47:00 | 6 | 10 | |||
| Katie Hislop | Female | 5:32:00 | 8:17:00 | 12:36:00 | 11:40:00 | 15:33:00 | 53:38:00 | 5 | 11 | |||
| Tanja Löhr | Female | 5:51:00 | 9:19:00 | 13:02:00 | 12:45:00 | 15:33:00 | 56:30:00 | 6 | 12 | |||
| Ben Smith | Male | 7:23:00 | 11:06:00 | 16:27:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 13 | |||
| Madeleine Ryan | Female | 6:29:00 | 11:06:00 | 16:27:00 | DNF | DNF | DNF | DNF | 14 | |||
| Yu-Chin Kuo | Male | DNF | 11:49:00 | DNF | DNF | DNS | DNF | DNF | 15 | |||
| Brittany Potts | Female | 6:20:00 | 10:17:00 | 14:30:00 | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 16 | |||
| Chih Hung Wei | Male | 7:02:00 | 11:06:00 | 16:27:00 | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 17 | |||
| Kole Chia Yang | Male | 7:39:00 | 10:19:00 | 16:27:00 | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 18 | |||
| Louisa Forrester | Female | 5:15:00 | 7:57:00 | 12:30:00 | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 19 | |||
| Mina Janeska | Female | 5:42:00 | 10:17:00 | 14:30:00 | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 20 | |||
| Stefan Briggs | Male | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 21 | |||
| Trish Mccarthy | Female | 8:20:00 | 14:20:00 | DNS | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 22 | |||
| Wen Ching shyy | Male | 7:48:00 | 11:49:00 | DNF | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 23 | |||
| Natalie Chun | Female | 4:56:00 | 7:18:00 | 10:23:00 | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 24 | |||
