Why it matters
Ruth Croft, the defending champion and pre-race favorite at the 2025 Transvulcania Ultramarathon, was forced to withdraw due to severe hypothermia, a rare sight for one of the sport’s toughest athletes. Her surreal emergency call to her mother from a storm-battered volcanic ridge has since become one of the race’s defining moments.
What’s happening
On May 10, Croft toed the line on La Palma as the reigning women’s champion, coming off a dominant win at the Tarawera 100K. Early on, things looked promising.
“The race started off well, legs felt good and kilometers clocking,” she posted on Instagram.
But as the field climbed into La Palma’s exposed high country, runners were pummeled by relentless rain, wind, and near-freezing temperatures. Croft began to falter as the conditions worsened.
Wrapped in a survival blanket and suffering from hypothermia, she pulled out her mandatory satellite phone. Disoriented, she phoned the only numbers she could remember — her parents in New Zealand.
Her mother answered. With help from Croft’s team and race staff, a rescue was coordinated and she was safely escorted off the course.
“Walking down the mountain wrapped in a survival blanket did initially feel like the trail equivalent of the Sunday morning walk of shame…”
By the numbers
- Distance: 45.4 miles (73 km)
- Elevation gain: 14,270 feet (4,350 meters)
- Weather: Heavy rain, high winds, freezing temps
Who stepped up
With Croft out, France’s Anne-Lise Rousset Séguret finally claimed victory at a race where she had previously finished second three times. She won in 8:18:17, 25 minutes ahead of runner-up Ekaterina Mityaeva. Marjo Liikanen of Finland took third.
“Big congrats to these hardcore ladies,” Croft added.
In the men’s race, Slovakia’s Peter Fraňo topped the podium in 6:55:36, followed by Italy’s Andreas Reiterer and Spain’s Manuel Anguita.
Local pride
- Miguel Monterrey: Top local male, finished in 8:32
- Raquel Hernández: Top local female, finished just over 12 hours
Despite the brutal conditions, both earned praise from the local community for their resilience.
The bigger picture
This year’s Transvulcania was less about PRs and more about survival. It exposed even the sport’s most seasoned runners to the raw, unpredictable power of the mountains.
Croft’s takeaway? No bitterness — just humility.
“A massive experience deposit in the bank,” she wrote.
Her story has already struck a chord with the global trail running community. It’s a stark reminder: sometimes, the trail doesn’t care how fit you are. It demands something more.
