Hayden Hawks | UTMB Pre-Race Interview

The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman

This interview is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites who are racing this year.

In this interview, Dylan talks to professional runner, Hayden Hawks (HOKA). Hayden lives in Utah, but spends much of his summer with his family training in France. Injury took Hayden out of the Western States 100 in June, but he’s feeling strong heading into UTMB. After two wins at CCC including the 2024 CCC, Hayden has performed better than almost anyone on these trails. He DNF’d at the 2019 UTMB, but has spent the past 6 years learning how to train and race here. Can he take the win on the full loop around the mountain this year? No doubt he enters the race as one of this year’s favorites.

Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 UTMB. All shows hosted by Dylan Bowman, with special guests listed below:

• Friday August 22nd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 UTMB with Tim Tollefson

• Saturday August 23rd: OCC Preview Show with Dani Moreno

• Sunday August 24th: CCC Preview Show with Hayden Hawks

• Monday August 25th: UTMB Preview Show with Sally McRae

• Tuesday August 26th: Final Predictions Show with Corrine Malcolm & Keith Byrne

• Wednesday August 27th: TDS Recap Show with Ryan Sandes & Martina Valmassoi

• Thursday August 28th: OCC Recap Show with Corrine Malcolm and Ryan Montgomery

• Friday August 29th: We’ll provide photo and video coverage of the race for the Freetrail social channels. Make sure to follow along here and @runfreetrail on Instagram.

• Saturday August 30th: UTMB Instant Reactions + CCC Results Show with Jim Walmsley & Sally McRae

• Sunday August 31st: UTMB Week recap with Corrine Malcolm

Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events and pick 10-deep for OCC, CCC & UTMB for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners HOKA, SunGod and more!

Our 2025 UTMB coverage is brought to you by HOKA, the best people and products in the trail running business. The show is also made possible with support from Red Bull & SunGod. We're grateful for their support!

HOKA

Make sure to check out the HOKA Mafate 5, the shoe Hayden was wearing during his interview and the CCC Preview show recordings today!

The Mafate 5 is a shoe with plush cushioning for tough terrain. A pinnacle product for technical trail, the Mafate 5 goes the extra mile with more cushioning and protection than ever before. Built tough for mileage chasers, this tenacious trail runner helps maintain control during long haul efforts with our Rocker Integrity Technology™ and protects from trail debris with an optional ankle gaiter. Finished with a soft, springy foam just underfoot and impact-absorbing foam near the sole, the Mafate 5 is grounded in aggressive Vibram® Megagrip traction lugs. No doubt, this is the shoe our team will be wearing on the trails all week in Chamonix!

SunGod

A longtime friend of Freetrail, we’re grateful for SunGod’s support of Freetrail’s UTMB coverage this year! SunGod makes performance eyewear worn by the world’s top trail running athletes.

Use code FREETRAIL10 off SunGod products at https://sungod.avln.me/c/xfOAIzPFAeSd

Freetrail Pro members receive a deeper discount on SunGod, available after you sign up at https://freetrail.com/pro

Freetrail Links:

Website | https://freetrail.com/

Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/

Patreon | / dylanbowman

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai...

YouTube | / @freetrail

Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/

Dylan Links:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en

Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en

LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380