Three Thai Runners Conquer the Global Trail: Sgt. Sek – P'Na – Dr. Lookpla at UTMB Mont-Blanc 2025

From the end of August to the beginning of September every year, Chamonix, France, becomes the “center of the trail world.” This is the time for UTMB Mont-Blanc — a trail race dubbed the “Olympics of trail running.” With its grueling routes surrounded by the Alps, it is the dream race for runners worldwide.

In 2025, there is great news for the Thai running community, as three athletes from the HOKA Thailand team — Sgt. Sek (Seksan Jakkaew), P'Na (Naruphon Prathanthip), and Dr. Lookpla (Passara Itsathitphaisarn) — competed and delivered proud performances.

Sgt. Sek: The first Thai runner to finish the OCC in under 7 hours

In the 61 km OCC race with over 3,500 meters of cumulative elevation gain, “Sgt. Sek” conquered the route in 6:47:53 hours, finishing 87th among men and 117th out of over 1,200 total runners.
This is the first time a Thai runner has finished the OCC in under 8 hours, marking a significant milestone for our trail running community and serving as inspiration for the next generation of runners.

Dr. Lookpla & P'Na: Fighting with heart over 101 kilometers

Two other Thai runners participated in the 101 km CCC race, which has a cumulative elevation gain of around 6,050 meters — a route that is as beautiful as it is brutal.

• Dr. Lookpla finished in 23:53:45 hours.

• P'Na followed with a time of 26:03:36 hours.
  
  

Both had to endure volatile weather, rain, wind, and bitter cold, but they fought until the finish line with admirable determination.

The story behind the success

The success of these three was not achieved solely through the strength and spirit of the athletes, but also thanks to the team and family who provided support along the entire route — including Tuptim (Tuptim Pupphavesa), another HOKA Thailand athlete, who joined in to offer encouragement from before the start until the finish line.

Why is UTMB important?

UTMB Mont-Blanc is not just a race; it is the ultimate symbol of the trail industry. Tens of thousands of runners from all over the world apply to participate, and only a small fraction are selected to receive a starting spot.
This year, the intensity was even higher as the weather was so harsh that even world-class runners like Jim Walmsley, Tom Evans, and Ruth Croft had to use sharp tactics to secure their victories.

The fact that athletes from Thailand stood their ground and conquered the finish line is not just a personal achievement, but a declaration that Thai runners can stand on the global stage as well.

Together we fly higher

The image of Sgt. Sek crossing the finish line amidst cheers from teammates, the sight of Dr. Lookpla and P'Na embracing their families after finishing, and the mutual support provided throughout the route reflect the spirit of the phrase:

“Together we fly higher.”

For HOKA Thailand, this success reinforces our belief in the power of running and the importance of supporting one another as a community traveling the path together.

Before the race, the team also warmed up with athletes from HOKA Korea, such as Kim Jin-hee, Kim Ji-soo, Park Soyang, and Ko Min-chun, demonstrating the unity within the HOKA running community that connects across borders.