La Grande Corsa Bianca took place from February 12 to 14. The race covered 160 km and 6,000 m of elevation gain, to be completed self-sufficiently through the Stelvio and Adamello National Parks, on foot, by bike, or on skis. Oxyburn supported the athletes competing in this extreme race, including Marta Poretti, who chose to tackle it on skis and finished as the first woman and third overall.

Here is his account:

The Grande Corsa Bianca is my race! Ski mountaineering is my passion, and ultra-distance racing is what suits me best. And when you throw in unfavorable conditions where you need a certain skill to navigate through snow, rocks, ice, and dirt—constantly putting on and taking off your skis and skins—that’s when I really feel at home!

The experience of “rummaging through the thicket” made all the difference.

Choosing the right gear and backpack was essential, and I was proud of how I’d put it together. Sure, it wasn’t the lightest, but anyone who goes hiking is used to carrying weight—even if not for all those hours.

It was a wonderful experience; the mountains at night are special, but they have a unique charm in winter.

Places I’d never been to before. Last year I’d only done part of it, but under very different conditions.
The biggest setback came around the 100km mark when I broke my ski, snapping off the tip of the binding. I couldn’t believe it! I called on the amazing and incredibly patient Mario Sterli for help: “Get me a ski! Any one! I want to finish this run!!!”

Mario went off to look for them, and in the meantime, I kept going with one ski in my backpack. He caught up with me after a while with his skis. I was happy. Sure, they weren’t as light as mine, but I didn’t care because at least I could finish the race! I’ll never stop thanking him for that timely help.

This setback had cost me quite a bit of time, so I picked up the pace: I made only very brief stops, no more than 15 minutes each. But they were all rejuvenating, especially thanks to the kindness and warmth of the staff at the aid stations, who pampered me and gave me the energy I needed to keep going.

Sore feet were inevitable after all those hours in my hiking boots. Even though I think I’d chosen the best solution—very lightweight socks and feet coated in zinc oxide and petroleum jelly—it was inevitable that blisters would form. I chose never to take my boots off. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to put them back on, so I figured it was better to just live with that thin layer of blisters that shifted around depending on my position.

I never felt lonely, even though I spent most of my time that way. Seeing the footprints of the runner ahead of me helped me a lot. I knew I was on the right track.

I often ran into rescue and event staff—they were truly excellent.

And I wasn’t afraid, even during the toughest parts where it was actually a bit risky. I did take a pretty big face-first fall, but luckily I didn’t break my headlamp.

The end, though, was really a test of tenacity; I’ve always had this nightmare of seeing a headlight appear at the very last moment, following right behind me, so I tapped into my reserve energy.

I cared too much. I knew the person behind me was clearly stronger than me, but I wanted to believe in it—all the way to the end.

I’d like to thank Marco, Mario, and Paolo for coming up with this wonderful adventure.

I’d like to thank the Oxyburn team for letting me participate.

And my parents, who waited at the finish line until 4 a.m., and everyone who followed me from afar until that hour.

I was wearing:

OxyBuff

5070 3/4-Length Pants

Run EvoSmart-HD 1340 Socks

Sky-Race 5060 Jersey

Marta Poretti