Words by Like the Wind – Photography by Aisha McAdams and Joshua W Strong
There is an African proverb well-used in the running world: to go fast, you should go alone. But to go far, you should go together. But what if you want to go far and fast? Then you need a team around you that will support and push at just the right moments. This is a story of how Ludovic (‘Ludo’) Pommeret, Vincent Bouillard, Jim Walmsley and Francesco Puppi – all members of HOKA’s elite trail team – are supporting one another in their quests for great successes.
Coming into Silverton, Colorado at just before 4.30 am on 12 July 2025, on his way towards the famous boulder that marks the finish of the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run, Ludovic Pommeret walked arm-in-arm with his wife and his two pacers, Vincent Bouillard and Jim Walmsley. The sky was still inky black this early in the morning, and it provided a dramatic backdrop for the strobe of camera flashes as fans and photographers captured the special moment of back-to-back victories. But while Ludo was the one to kiss the boulder, as is tradition in this race, he is quick to emphasise that this win did not just belong to him: the support of others was a big part of it.
“Even though trail running is an individual sport, there are times when athletes will help each other,” he says. “We’ll run as a group. Because, yeah, together we’re stronger.”
As a sport, running is not just seen as something for solo athletes. It is also considered highly competitive. But most elite runners are quick to mention that their experiences are linked closely to other people – not just fellow athletes, but also coaches, physios, team managers and even product designers. That is why Vincent has an unusual perspective on this topic.
Vincent works at HOKA as a footwear engineer. He also happens to be an extremely talented runner who, in 2024, won the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France. Vincent is clear that “trail running is an individual sport,” but he has had the chance to build relationships with athletes both in his day job and now as a teammate.
“Even before signing my contract as an athlete, being part of HOKA as an engineer, and being in contact with some of the most talented athletes, has been a huge asset in terms of my learning,” he says. “I observe from the inside how they approach races, the strategies they employ, choices they make in terms of choosing their gear or nutrition.”
Francesco Puppi, another member of the HOKA elite athlete team, echoes Vincent’s sentiments when he talks about the difference he’s found since joining the brand in January 2025.
“It feels more like a team environment than what I was used to,” Francesco says. “It’s less like an individual thing. Of course, trail running remains an individual sport, but there’s someone who actually cares about you, which I never really felt before from what was supposed to be my team.”
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
When it comes to athletes supporting one another, there is no more visible expression than on the trails during a race.
In the case of Ludo’s win at Hardrock, he had Vincent and Jim Walmsley as pacers. As mentioned earlier, Vincent is the winner of the 2024 edition of the UTMB as well as having won or placed on the podium at numerous other races. Vincent has also been selected to represent France at the upcoming World Trail Running Championships in Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain, between 25 and 28 September 2025. Jim Walmsley, meanwhile, has a running résumé that almost defies explanation, with wins at the UTMB (where he set the current course record), the Western States Endurance Run (setting the current course record there as well), the Speedgoat 50K in Utah, the Tarawera Ultramarathon in New Zealand and the Gorge Waterfalls 100K in Oregon, among dozens of other victories.
So how did Ludo convince such luminaries to support him? Well – he just asked. “I knew that Jim and Vincent were going to be at the Western States Endurance Run, so they’d already be in the US,” Ludo says. “So I thought it’s possible they’ll come to help me. Really, it’s just a little detour – a few hours by car [from Auburn, California where the Western States finishes to Silverton for Hardrock]. Initially I didn’t dare ask them. But finally, I asked Jim – more jokingly, not being very serious.”
But of course, Jim agreed to be on the team. And because Vincent did not finish the Western States Endurance Run in June, he felt physically prepared and ready to join the happy crew.
Francesco tells a similar story of how Rod Farvard, the 2024 winner of the Canyons Endurance Run 100K, agreed to support Francesco in his successful attempt to win the same race in 2025. This is despite the fact that Rod was going to be competing in the same race.
“I was looking for a place to stay in Mammoth Lakes, because I was planning to do a training camp ahead of Canyons 100 in March and April this year,” Francesco says. “So I reached out to Rod because he lives in a big house in Mammoth. And we got to share a lot of training moments and daily life – you know, making food in the kitchen or watching TV or having an ice cream.”
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
Alongside the support they offer one another, the HOKA team also benefits from the support of the brand. It goes without saying that this takes the form of access to best-in-class footwear, apparel and accessories. But there is more to it than that.
“Brands are one of the catalysts that can help individuals come together,” Vincent says. “Whether it’s around training camps, like the one we have in August in France. Or at other occasions, when you’ll reach out because you have the same sponsor in common with another athlete. That can really help.”
Francesco agrees. “I feel a lot of support from the people at HOKA. For example, in August, I’m starting my second training camp with the team in less than a year.”
This is the embodiment of the HOKA mantra: “together, we fly higher”. The combination of brand backing along with athletes supporting one another makes for a winning combination. And if you want proof of that, recent results provide plenty.
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