2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship
Four runners. One seeking purpose, one led by faith, one drawn to nature, and one running for others. These are the stories of Claudia, Ryan, Tiago, and Sergi as they head to the trails of Snowdonia.
Every trail runner brings something different to the start line—a memory, a purpose, a dream. For some, running is about faith. For others, it’s about identity, impact, or the connection to nature that only the trail can provide. But in every case, there’s something deeper that pulls them forward.
Why We Run is a series dedicated to the voices of those bound for the 2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Snowdonia. It explores what calls them to the trail—and what carries them toward the challenge that awaits on the slopes of Yr Wyddfa in Eryri National Park, Wales.
In Volume 1 and Volume 2, we heard stories of transformation, injury, and rediscovery. In this third installment, we meet four young athletes—Claudia, Ryan, Tiago, and Sergi—each running with clarity, conviction, and a vision for something beyond the finish line.
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25-year-old Claudia Vira is from High Bridge, New Jersey. She and her brother, Matthew, grew up immersed in sports. Ever since she can remember, she’s been an ice hockey player. At just four years old, she was learning to skate at a rink in western New Jersey.
“Hockey was always my center of gravity. It’s what got me into boarding school. It’s what got me into college,” Claudia says. “I had a decorated career, highlighted by winning a National Championship with an undefeated record in 2022 and earning All-American honors. But even at my peak, I knew hockey wouldn’t last forever. Eventually, I’d need something else to ground me.”
Claudia has a bit of background in running. She ran cross country before hockey season began, and track in the spring once it ended. But it wasn’t her passion.
“I used to dread it. I hated racing and resented the individualism of the sport,” she says. “But after I hung up my skates and entered the real world, running slowly became something else entirely. It was simple and accessible—just a pair of shoes, some old workout clothes, and maybe headphones. I would run during my lowest lows to pull myself out of a slump. I would run during my highest highs to keep myself grounded.”
She rarely raced because she loved the freedom of just running. There was no set mileage, no pace goals, no finish time. It was her escape.
“It was just me and the road. After years of being a student-athlete, who was constantly measured and evaluated, that freedom felt revolutionary,” she says.
"I would run during my lowest lows to pull myself out of a slump. I would run during my highest highs to keep myself grounded.”
Claudia didn’t recognize that running could serve as a new competitive outlet until she had the opportunity to pace her brother for the final 13 miles at Leadville 100. When the whole crew joined Michael for the final stretch, she felt something shift inside. She became emotional. Watching her brother complete such a grueling race lit a fight within.
“I used to see running as isolating, but pacing him changed that. I realized that the real competition is within,” she says. “Running forces introspection. How far can you go? How hard can you push? What are your limits, and what’s beyond them? After being part of something as raw and human as the Leadville 100, I began to take my own running more seriously.”
After completing a few big races—including the Chicago Marathon, her first 50-miler, and the XTERRA New Jersey Marathon where she finished third overall and was the first overall female—she found herself booking a flight to Wales for the Trail Run World Championship.
“Sometimes I still laugh at how I went from an ice hockey player to a trail runner. I guess I have my older brother to thank for that. My parents still tell stories about all the times I’ve tried to be just like him. Clearly, running is no exception,” she says.
Claudia’s hopes for the race are twofold: to take in the wild beauty of Snowdonia and to get out of her comfort zone. This will be her first international race, and she’s excited to share the experience with runners from around the world.
17-year-old Ryan Swanepoel hails from Somerset West, in the Western Cape of South Africa. He’s part of the Helderberg Trail Runners and the Rock Runners when he’s at boarding school in Paarl.
Running has always been a big part of Ryan’s life, and a lot of that is thanks to his father, Michael.
“My dad used to run when he was younger, and he introduced me to it early on,” Ryan says. “I’ve learned so much from him, not just about running, but about staying dedicated and enjoying the process.”
Ryan started running when he was six years old. Since his age group didn’t offer many opportunities for distance running, he often competed with older kids. That challenge pushed him to learn and grow.
“My father was also my coach during those early years, and his experience played a huge role in shaping both my love for running and the discipline I have today,” he says. “His support and guidance were the foundation of my journey and continue to influence my approach to the sport.”
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Ryan competed in track and cross country. He had the opportunity to represent his province and compete at nationals. He started trail running in 2020 when he was invited to go on a run with a friend.
“That day completely changed things for me,” he says. “By 2022, I found myself more and more drawn to the sport, and I’ve been giving it my all ever since. Now, my heart is fully in trail running, and I’m keen to see how far I can go.”
One of Ryan’s biggest accomplishments to date is qualifying for the Trail Run World Championship by placing second overall and first in his age group at XTERRA South Africa. It was his first 21K trail race. Before the event, he had a heart-to-heart with his dad where they agreed that no matter the outcome, Ryan should focus on enjoying the experience and running free and happy. That mindset carried him through the race.
“I truly did enjoy every moment of it. My dad could see that. He could tell I’d found joy in the run. Because I enjoyed it, he enjoyed seeing me thrive even more,” Ryan says.
What Ryan loves most about trail running is the combination of competition and nature. While he has a deep passion for racing, he also enjoys being surrounded by the beauty of the great outdoors.
“The steep climbs, burning legs, and mental battles make it tough, but that’s what I enjoy. Pushing through the discomfort and fighting against the urge to quit builds resilience,” he says. “The sense of accomplishment I feel after enduring the struggle and crossing the finish line is like no other. It’s the journey through pain and perseverance that makes trail running so rewarding.”
"It’s the journey through pain and perseverance that makes trail running so rewarding.”
But more than anything else, Ryan runs for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He views running as a form of worship, reminding himself that he’s running the race of life with purpose and faith. He doesn’t just run for medals and recognition, but to glorify God through his effort, discipline, and joy.
“He’s the reason I have the strength and ability to do what I love, and I try my best to honor Him in every race and everything I do,” Ryan says. “Trail running is a way to honor God by using the gifts he’s given me—my body, my determination, and my love for nature. When I’m out on the trails, surrounded by mountains and creation, I feel close to Him. Every step, every climb, and every finish line is an act of gratitude.”
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After an impressive showing at UTMB Pass2Pass, where he placed third, Ryan is aiming to give his best performance at the Trail Run World Championship. His goal is to win his age group and finish in the top ten overall. It will be his first time traveling outside of South Africa, and he’s excited to experience the Welsh community, culture, and nature.
Beyond the race, Ryan hopes to turn his passion for trail running into a full-time career. He’s training hard in the hopes of making a name for himself in the global trail running scene. He sees the Trail Run World Championship not just as a competition, but as a gateway to future opportunities.
“I’m honestly just so excited (and a bit nervous!) to take on this next challenge,” he says. “I’m going to give it everything I have, and I hope to make my family, my community, and my country proud. I run with heart, with purpose, and with faith, and I can’t wait to see where this journey leads.”
22-year-old Tiago Vieira is from Portugal, and he’s fairly new to trail running in the grand scheme of things. He took to the trails in 2019, around the time the world shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic. The solace of mountain climbs and rocky descents provided an opportunity for him to reconnect with nature—and stoked his competitive fire for when races would return.
He quickly began racking up wins and podium finishes. He won the MIUT 50K in 2023 and was Best Young Athlete at the 2023 Trail World Championships (43K). He placed third at the Transgrancanaria Marathon in 2024 and 2025, and second at the MIUT 60K in 2025. He won the Grand Raid des Pyrenees – Tour du Neouvielle 50K, setting a course record in both 2023 and 2024. He also claimed victory at the Restonica Trail 20K and Amazean Jungle Thailand 20K in 2024, and placed third at the Hong Kong 100K that same year.
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Tiago says he’s “incredibly excited” to compete at the Trail Run World Championship. Every time he laces up his shoes and heads out on a trail, he runs for his family, his team, and the community that follows his journey. He dedicates this race to everyone who supports him and believes in his ability.
“Yr Wyddfa, with its wild beauty and deep history, represents a new challenge—a call to reconnect with the primal joy of movement in nature,” he says. “It’s also a personal celebration of the path I’ve taken—from the rugged trails of Madeira to the peaks of the Pyrenees and the international stage of the UTMB World Series and World Championships.”
But despite all he’s accomplished in his young running career, he views the Trail Run World Championship as more than a competition.
“It’s a return to the raw essence of trail running,” he says. “I run because it’s in the quiet struggle of a steep climb, the cold wind on a mountain ridge, and the solitude of the trails that I find myself. I run for everything that goes unseen on the podium: the early mornings, the discipline, the falls, and the inner voice that says, ‘keep going’ when everything else says stop.”
"I run for everything that goes unseen on the podium: the early mornings, the discipline, the falls, and the inner voice that says, ‘keep going’ when everything else says stop.”
When Tiago heads to Wales this July, he’ll undoubtedly be aiming for the podium. But during the competition—and those moments of quiet struggle within—he will strive to remember why he’s racing, and what it all really means.
“I run for those who find, in my races, the spark to begin their own journey, whether on the trails or in life.”
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29-year-old Sergi Beltrain Font was born on the small Mediterranean island of Mallorca, but for the past several years he’s been living in Lleida, Spain.
Sergi started running when he was 15, and fully embraced trail running after the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, trail running has become a lifestyle. He competes, travels the world, and coaches fellow athletes.
“Trail running brings together amazing people from all around the world, no matter your level. It’s the sport of values, where we support each other, respect nature, and meet simply as humans,” he says.
His very first XTERRA event was Vall de Boí in Barruera.
“It’s a race I’ve continued to run every year, and that’s very special to me,” he says.
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2025 will mark Sergi’s third trip to the Trail Run World Championship. In 2024, he placed fourth overall and first in his age group in Sugarloaf, Maine, earning qualification for this year’s event.
But this year, his journey has a special purpose.
“I’ve joined a team of people united by two powerful values: solidarity and the belief in sport as a force for change. Together, we’ve taken on a meaningful challenge—to raise funds and awareness for a cause that truly matters,” he says.
Their cause has a name: Álex. He’s a five-year-old boy with a rare neurodevelopmental disorder called MAND. Since it was identified in 2011, only about 100 cases have been reported worldwide. Symptoms include global developmental delay, language difficulties, learning challenges, hypotonia, epilepsy, constipation, and other complications that affect daily life.
“The challenge is simple: for every euro donated, our team will complete one kilometer of running, swimming, or cycling,” he says. “My participation in the Trail Run World Championship coincides with the key week of this challenge. That’s why I’ve decided to dedicate every kilometer of this demanding race to Álex and his family.”
The funds raised will go directly toward therapies, physiotherapy sessions, and other treatments to improve Álex’s quality of life. You can support the cause here.
The team’s name is “Mou el cor,” which means “Move the heart” in Catalan.
“We chose this name because we believe that everything that makes us better human beings is linked to helping others,” Sergi says. “That’s what truly makes our hearts beat.”
“We chose this name because we believe that everything that makes us better human beings is linked to helping others. That’s what truly makes our hearts beat.”
Sergi doesn’t know Álex personally. In fact, most of the team doesn’t. But that’s exactly what makes this mission so beautiful.
“In a world that often leans toward individualism, a group of strangers has come together to do something meaningful for someone we don’t know—not because he’s family or a friend, but simply because we know he needs help,” Sergi says. “To me, that’s the purest form of solidarity.”
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Running the race is no longer a personal goal for Sergi. He views it as a chance to shine a light on those who are all too often invisible to society.
“Every step will be a tribute to all the children who face rare diseases every day and to the families who fight tirelessly to give their kids the best life possible, despite the overwhelming physical and emotional toll,” he says.
“Being able to use this passion to make a real impact in someone’s life is the most meaningful way to run.”
Why We Run is a series profiling runners on the journey to the 2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Wales. From rediscovery and resilience in Volume 1 and Volume 2, to purpose, passion, and belief in Volume 3, each story brings us closer to the trails of Eryri. Stay tuned for the next installment as we continue to follow the runners headed to Yr Wyddfa this July.
XTERRA is a global lifestyle brand that champions the outdoor enthusiast in their pursuit of relentless adventure.
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