In it for the Long Haul

Words by Like the Wind — photography by Guy Fattal

The first time Fuzhao Xiang went to Chamonix for Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), it wasn’t just the speed or grit of the top female finishers that inspired her — it was their age. In 2018, the top three women to cross the finish line at the race were all over 40. Some of them crossed the finish line with their kids.

Inspired, Fuzhao went home and quit her job to become a professional trail runner.

Twenty-seven years old at the time, she’d been racing since college, working as a physical education teacher and spending every weekend at trail races across her home country of China. She loved the freedom of running and the community, how people from different backgrounds come together to support each other, connected by their love of the mountains. Seeing the women’s podium at UTMB — specifically, the longevity of those athlete’s careers — she decided it was time to go all-in.

Headed Ever Higher

Now, at 35, Fuzhao is often the one on the podium herself — including back-to-back second-place finishes at Western States Endurance Run in 2024 and 2025. She recently signed with Arc’teryx as part of their mountain running team alongside Jane Maus, Kyle Richardson and Natalie Beadle, and has been training for WSER in Flagstaff, Arizona, her sights set on breaking the tape.

“Fuzhao is one of the most accomplished trail runners in Asia, with growing global influence,” says Karl Aaker, senior vice president of brand marketing at Arc’teryx. “She brings a ton of credibility through her achievements at the world’s most demanding races, with a particular strength in steep, technical terrain — environments that have strong connection to Arc’teryx’s design DNA. Plus, she’s a great person.”

That connection feels timely as Fuzhao has also recently begun to explore the mountains beyond running, including a speed attempt on Muztagh Ata on the Tibetan Plateau, with an eye on Everest. Her vision is to climb mountains on every continent.

“I want to continue pushing myself to go further and do more technical adventures in the mountains,” she says. “I also realized the importance of quality apparel and footwear. In the mountains, I experience different weather and terrain, and I need reliable technical apparel and footwear which is what Arc’teryx is really good at.”

Footwear, in particular, is emerging as one of Arc’teryx’s fastest-growing categories, a testament to the impact athletes have on the brand, Aaker says.

“I’ve had the chance to visit both Shanghai and Portland, and the staff have been so welcoming; they’ve started to feel like family to me,” Fuzhao says. “I have been working with the footwear team giving feedback on the shoes. They are very efficient at including my insights and understanding my needs.”

Life Beyond Sport

Charging into her late 30s with ambitions high, Fuzhao is inspired by those over-40 UTMB winners and her friend Ludovic Pommeret, who won Hardrock 100 for a second time in 2025 at age 49.

But enjoying a long career requires a holistic approach, which is another reason Arc’teryx appealed to her as a sponsor.

“We know how demanding it is to be an athlete, so what we do outside the sport is just as important,” Aaker says. “We work to provide access to resources like sport-specific coaching, mental performance preparation, trainers, RMTs, and physiotherapists, with the goal of helping athletes unlock their full potential and prepare for every aspect of their careers.”

The brand also provides professional development funds to help athletes build careers outside of sport, as well as career opportunities within Arc’teryx itself, including roles transitioning to staff, part-time work in the off-season and internships.

Those kinds of long-term relationships don’t only benefit the athletes, Aaker explains.

“A strong roster of trail runners drives our product development and provides an invaluable feedback loop for the entire business … product design, brand, community and our commercial operations,” he says. “Their deep understanding of the demands and nuances of their sport gives our teams powerful insights that lead to purposeful, innovative, industry-leading product.”

A Good Influence

Perhaps obviously, one of Fuzhao’s favorite things about running professionally is having more time to train. But it also allows her more opportunities to support others, something she values deeply.

As trail running’s popularity grows in China, Fuzhao has become a role model, with younger runners now looking up to her.

“I am very willing to share my experiences with them and want to support and inspire new and upcoming runners as much as I can,” she says. “Every time I go to big races like UTMB and WSER, I feel like I not only represent myself but also all Chinese runners. While it can feel like some pressure, it motivates me to perform my best in races.”

Her partnership with Arc’teryx has connected her to other team athletes across the globe, and she appreciates the brand’s emphasis on community, specifically their investment in women.

Over the last four years, Arc’teryx has added 50 percent more female athletes to their roster.

Leading the Way

Despite Fuzhao’s training consistency and dedication in preparing for WSER, she found time to launch a running event registration platform in April.

GoRunAsia, which she co-founded, aims to smooth the process of registering for international events where language barriers and complicated registration processes might otherwise hold overseas runners back from taking part.

“I have run many races around the world and have met many different runners,” she says. “They are all very curious about my home country, but there are barriers, like language.”

For now, the site curates top-tier races across China, but Fuzhao says it will soon also open access to international events for domestic runners.

“I want to help more runners be able to access and enjoy trail running in China,” she says.

That attitude — and, of course, stellar performances at the world’s most elite races — is exactly what drew Arc’teryx to her in the first place.

“She is an exceptional mentor to a new generation of global runners and a tireless advocate for trail running’s growth in her home country of China,” Aaker says.

She embodies the belief that the mountains are an incredible place to develop character, express creativity and connect beyond yourself. It’s what Arc’teryx looks for in all their athletes, according to Aaker.

“They are inspiring humans who contribute to their communities and sports and consider the next generation that will follow in their footsteps,” he says.

In partnership with

arcteryx.com