Jump to content

Tom Evans (runner)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tom Evans
Personal information
Born (1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 (age 34)
SpouseSophie Coldwell
Sport
CountryUnited Kingdom
SportAthletics
Event(s)Long-distance running, Ultramarathon, Trail running

Tom Evans (born 3 February 1992)[1] is a British long-distance, trail and ultramarathon runner. A former British Army captain, he is best known for winning the Western States Endurance Run in 2023 and the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in 2025. He also won the CCC race at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc festival in 2018 and won an individual bronze medal at the 2018 Trail World Championships.

Early life and military career

[edit]

Evans grew up in Sussex and was active in sport from a young age, running in national school competitions and playing rugby.[2] At 18 he joined the British Army and trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[3] He later served as an officer in the Welsh Guards.

During a ten-month Army posting to Kenya in 2015, Evans returned to regular running while training in a country associated with elite distance running.[2] His military background became a recurring part of his public profile, especially after his salute at the finish of major races such as Western States and UTMB.[4]

Running career

[edit]

Breakthrough in ultrarunning

[edit]

Evans first gained international attention in 2017 at the Marathon des Sables, a multi-stage desert ultramarathon in Morocco. He entered the race after a bet with friends and finished third overall in 19:49:33, becoming one of the leading European performers in the race's history.[2][5] Later in 2017 he finished fourth in the CCC race at the UTMB festival.[6]

In 2018, Evans won The Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica and the South Downs Way 50 before taking individual bronze at the Trail World Championships in Penyagolosa, Spain. Great Britain also won team silver in the men's competition.[7] Later that year he won the CCC in 10:44:32, passing the leaders late in the race.[8]

Western States and international success

[edit]

Evans made his 100-mile debut at the 2019 Western States Endurance Run, finishing third in 14:59:44. The performance was widely reported as the fastest overseas time at Western States at the time and placed him among the fastest finishers in race history.[9][2]

In 2020, he won the Tarawera Ultramarathon in New Zealand in 8:03:29, setting a course record.[5] He also competed in the men's race at the 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland.[10]

Evans underwent knee surgery in 2021 and returned to major international racing in 2022.[11] In 2022 he won the Advanced race at Transgrancanaria, the MIUT 85 in Madeira, and the Scafell Sky Race, then finished third at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in 20:34:35.[5][12][6]

In 2023, Evans finished second at the Black Canyon 100K and won Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 50K. In June he returned to Western States and won the race in 14:40:22.[6] iRunFar described the victory as an improvement on his third-place finish in 2019, while Trail Runner highlighted his detailed, data-led preparation for the race.[13][14]

UTMB victory

[edit]

Evans placed second at Lavaredo Ultra Trail and third at Transvulcania in 2024, then recorded three major victories in 2025 before the UTMB: Arc of Attrition 50, Tenerife Bluetrail 110K and the UTMB itself.[6] At the 2025 UTMB, Evans took the lead after Arnouvaz and won in 19:18:58.[15] BBC Sport reported that he became the first British man to win UTMB since Jez Bragg in 2010 and the first Briton to win the race since Lizzy Hawker's series of women's victories from 2005 to 2012.[16] Runner's World noted that the win followed his 2018 CCC title and his 2023 Western States victory.[17]

Training

[edit]

Evans has been associated with a highly structured approach to ultramarathon preparation. Wired reported that, at peak training volume, he ran 160–190 km per week and trained up to 30 hours weekly, combining running with weights, cross-training, physiotherapy, mobility work, biomechanical analysis and nutrition support.[2] His preparation for Western States included heat adaptation, detailed course study and race-specific equipment choices.[2][14]

Personal life

[edit]

Evans is married to British triathlete Sophie Coldwell.[16] Coldwell won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the mixed relay triathlon and later moved into trail running. She and Evans have a daughter, Phoebe, who was present with Coldwell at the finish of Evans's 2025 UTMB victory.[16]

Selected results

[edit]
Year Race Location Distance Position Time Notes
2017 Marathon des Sables Morocco 250 km, 6 stages 3rd 19:49:33 International breakthrough[5]
2017 CCC Italy, Switzerland and France 101 km 4th 10:57:44 UTMB festival[6]
2018 The Coastal Challenge Costa Rica 236 km, 6 stages 1st 21:44:12 Stage race victory[5]
2018 South Downs Way 50 United Kingdom 50 mi 1st 5:44:22 [5]
2018 Trail World Championships Penyagolosa, Spain 85 km 3rd 8:49:35 Individual bronze; Great Britain team silver[7]
2018 CCC Italy, Switzerland and France 100 km 1st 10:44:32 UTMB festival race[8]
2019 Lake Sonoma 50 United States 50 mi 3rd 6:16:28 [5]
2019 Western States Endurance Run United States 100 mi 3rd 14:59:44 First 100-mile race; fastest overseas time at the event at the time[9]
2020 Tarawera Ultramarathon New Zealand 102 km 1st 8:03:29 Course record[5]
2022 Transgrancanaria Advanced Spain 65 km 1st 5:10:39 [5]
2022 MIUT 85 Madeira, Portugal 85 km 1st 8:46:35 [12]
2022 Scafell Sky Race United Kingdom 40 km 1st 4:30:54 [6]
2022 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc France, Italy and Switzerland 170 km 3rd 20:34:35 First UTMB podium[6]
2023 Black Canyon 100K United States 100 km 2nd 7:37:40 [6]
2023 Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 50K United Kingdom 55 km 1st 5:27:11 [6]
2023 Western States Endurance Run United States 100 mi 1st 14:40:22 Race winner[13]
2024 Transvulcania La Palma, Spain 73 km 3rd 7:05:17 [6]
2024 Lavaredo Ultra Trail Italy 120 km 2nd 12:00:45 [6]
2025 Arc of Attrition 50 United Kingdom 80 km 1st 6:54:40 [6]
2025 Tenerife Bluetrail 110K Tenerife, Spain 110 km 1st 12:32:20 [6]
2025 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc France, Italy and Switzerland 174 km 1st 19:18:58 First British male winner since 2010[16]
2026 Three Peaks Race United Kingdom 39 km 1st 3:02:17 [6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Tom Evans". World Athletics. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Burgess, Matt (25 February 2020). "How ultrarunners are pushing the human body beyond all limits". Wired. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  3. ^ "Tom Evans Q&A: Insights from a Trail Running Champion". Vert.run. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  4. ^ Henderson, Jason (30 August 2025). "Tom Evans takes Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc victory". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Evans, Thomas". DUV Ultra Marathon Statistics. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Tom Evans". UTMB World. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  7. ^ a b "Tom Evans wins bronze at Trail World Championships". Fast Running. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  8. ^ a b "Tom Evans and Miao Yao win CCC 2018". Run Ultra. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Interview with Tom Evans on his incredible Western States 100 mile debut". Profeet. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  10. ^ "Men's Half Marathon" (PDF). 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Tom Evans just redefined what it means to be on the comeback trail". Red Bull. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  12. ^ a b "Results". MIUT Madeira Island Ultra-Trail. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  13. ^ a b Hicks, Meghan (25 June 2023). "Tom Evans, 2023 Western States 100 Champion, Interview". iRunFar. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  14. ^ a b Metzler, Brian (27 June 2023). "How Tom Evans Won the Western States 100". Trail Runner. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  15. ^ "2025 UTMB Results: Tom Evans and Ruth Croft Weather the Storm and Win". iRunFar. 30 August 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  16. ^ a b c d "Britain's Tom Evans wins Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc". BBC Sport. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  17. ^ "2025 UTMB Men's Results: Tom Evans Wins First Title". Runner's World. 30 August 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
[edit]
Flag of United KingdomBiography iconStub icon 2

This biographical article relating to British athletics is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tom_Evans_(runner)&oldid=1355504719"