GRP Run Wraps Up UTMB Mont-Blanc 2026
Maddie in OCC. Photo - Tom Dils.
UTMB Mont-Blanc week threw everything at this year's field — late storms pushed back start times, forced last-minute reroutes on more than one course, and turned a stacked week of racing into a real test of grit. Four GRP Run athletes were entered across three of the marquee races.
Maddie Leopold — OCC (60K)
Maddie Leopold opened GRP's week on Thursday, August 27, taking on the 60K OCC course. The women's OCC field was one of the most competitive in race history this year - the podium was decided by just over a minute! While Maddie wasn’t at that end of the race this year, she ended her day 46th woman (167th overall of over 1500 finishers) in 7:40:28.
Mead Binhammer & Dakota Jones — CCC (101K)
Friday, August 28 brought a GRP double-header at CCC, where Mead Binhammer and Dakota Jones - GRP's own Running Program Director - both toed the line for the 101K (extended to roughly 107k this year after race-week course changes). Conditions were brutal: persistent rain and strong gusts forced organizers to alter the route twice, once before the start and again mid-race, and many elite favorites were forced to withdraw. Mead was one of those, pulling the pin at Trient, about 80k in. Lingering knee issues forced him to abandon. Heal up Mead!
Dakota fared better, 23rd overall in the CCC and grabbing 3rd for an age group podium in a time of 11:54:10. “I felt strong and in control through halfway. I was on the splits of the last three winners there, but somehow in like 25th place! Then there was a huge descent and I kind of blew up and just sort of struggled my way to the finish, but I'm proud to have gotten it done.”
Canyon Woodward — UTMB (174K)
Canyon Woodward (bib #45) came into UTMB's flagship 174K off an 8th-place finish at a historic Western States 100. Whether from travel or something in Cham, he picked up a stomach bug in the week before the race. He started anyway, but a runner can't cover 110-plus miles without being able to eat, and he withdrew at Les Contamines Montjoie (20 miles in) rather than push into the race's long overnight section. 2026 was Canyon’s 4th UTMB. We’re eager to see what the learnings from this year can bring to future editions.
Full results
Congrats to Maddie and Dakota, and a fast recovery to Mead and Canyon — huge week for GRP in the Alps.