Race: Julian Alps by UTMB® 120K, Slovenia
Date: 18 September 2026, 21:00
Distance: 124 km (74.5 miles)
Elevation: 5,900 m (18,373 feet)
Start: Radovljica, Slovenia
Finish: Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
Maximum Time: 32 Hours
Highest Point: Mt Stol (2,236 m) – highest peak in the Karawanks Ridge
Category: UTMB World Series 100m race
Status: Training in progress
Learn more about the event at utmb world races 120K
Most people spend their lives avoiding discomfort.
I’m increasingly drawn towards it.
Not because I enjoy suffering, but because discomfort has a way of revealing the truth. It strips away excuses, exposes weaknesses, and reminds you what you’re capable of when things get hard.
This September, I’ll be taking on my biggest challenge yet: the Julian Alps by UTMB 120 KM in Slovenia.
The route starts in the medieval town of Radovljica, passes the famous Lake Bled, climbs Mt Stol – the highest peak in the Karawanks Ridge – before crossing some of the most spectacular mountain terrain in Europe and finishing in Kranjska Gora.
On paper, it’s 124 kilometres.
In reality, it’s a test of preparation, patience, nutrition, mindset, and resilience.
The race will involve thousands of metres of climbing, technical mountain trails, changing weather conditions, sleep deprivation, and long periods spent alone with nothing but your thoughts.
That’s exactly why I’m doing it.
Why These Challenges Matter
As a personal trainer, I don’t believe in asking clients to do things I’m unwilling to do myself.
The challenges may look different.
For one person, it might be completing a 124 KM mountain ultra.
For another, it might be losing weight, rebuilding strength after injury, improving mobility, or simply creating consistency after years of putting themselves last.
The principle is the same.
Progress happens when you move towards discomfort rather than away from it.
Every meaningful transformation starts there.
From Gymnastics to the Mountains
My sporting journey started as a competitive gymnast.
Gymnastics taught me discipline, structure, movement quality, and attention to detail.
Years later, that foundation led me into endurance events, Hyrox competitions, ultra-distance running, and now trail racing in some of the most demanding environments on earth.
Each challenge has taught me something different.
The mountains teach patience.
Ultra-distance running teaches humility.
Long races teach you that motivation eventually disappears and discipline has to take over.
That’s where growth happens.
The Real Goal
Finishing the race matters.
But it isn’t the real goal.
The real goal is becoming the type of person capable of finishing the race.
The daily training.
The early mornings.
The mobility work.
The recovery.
The nutrition.
The consistency when nobody is watching.
That’s what changes you.
That’s also the same philosophy I bring into every coaching session at MaxWellness.
Whether you’re training for an event, improving your health, or rebuilding confidence in your body, the process is always the same:
Small actions.
Repeated consistently.
Over time.
Follow The Journey
Over the coming months I’ll be sharing training updates, lessons from preparation, mistakes, successes, and everything I’m learning as I prepare for the Julian Alps by UTMB 120 KM.
Because the race is only one day.
The transformation happens during the preparation.
If you’d like help tackling your own challenge – whatever that looks like – book a free consultation and let’s build a plan together.
Discipline creates freedom.
See you on the trails.
📅 Book a Session with MAXWELL
Maxwell offers free consultations and 1:1 sessions at MaxWellness Cafe, London.