Ida-Sophie Hegemann

My first ultra-trail of the season

Ida-Sophie Hegemann returns to the Grande Épopée Ventoux to defend her title, stepping back onto Mont Ventoux's iconic, barren, and windswept slopes carrying the weight of expectation that comes with being the reigning champion, sharing an honest and unfiltered look at her preparation, race strategy, and the journey from the starting line to the finish, including a significant physical challenge that arrived around kilometer 20 when she got her period mid-race, a reality rarely spoken about openly in competitive sport, one that demanded an extra layer of body awareness and mental grounding alongside the usual demands of pace, nutrition, and decision-making on a mountain that leaves no room for error, walking through the moments of flow and the moments of doubt, and showing how listening to the body, staying present, and not letting herself be unsettled ultimately shaped a race that meant far more than just a result.