Sylvain Andrieux, ultra-trail runner: running to rebuild himself and aim for the world elite

Introduction

Going from marathons to 160 km ultra-trails, covering 8,000 km in a year with 170,000 meters of elevation gain, aiming for a top 3 finish on the UTMB circuit… The career of Sylvain Andrieux, ultra-trail runner, is as impressive as it is unusual.

But behind the performance lies a deeply human story: one of grief, rebuilding, and a family rediscovered through running. On Nohô, Sylvain shares much more than just kilometers: he conveys a passion, an experience, and an extraordinary mental strength.

Can you introduce yourself?

I’m Sylvain Andrieux, an ultra-trail runner. I run marathons, which are very long distances on the road, as well as trail runs in the high mountains. I’ve completed the Torx des Géants, among other races.

What has been your sporting and professional background?

My background is quite unusual. I experienced a family bereavement: I lost my mother. I had started running a little, marathons, but after her death, running allowed me to escape depression and come out of it.

Ultra running is a very special event. And I made an unusual choice: I went straight from marathon distance to 100-mile distance. I discovered this distance on the job.

Ultra runners are almost like a family. And since I had lost part of my own family, I found another one through sport. I enjoyed the sport, and I progressed. Where pain in the feet or elsewhere causes many people to stop, I continued. It’s really an unusual journey.

Today, I am able to run almost 100 km every weekend. Last year, I finished with 8,000 km covered over the year, and 170,000 meters of elevation gain.

Have you already achieved your goals, or do you still have dreams?

There are still some iconic races to complete: the Torx des Glaciers or the SwissPeaks, for example. But I’ve already achieved quite a lot.

This year, my main goal is clear: to finish in the top 3 in a race on the UTMB circuit.

Are you currently looking for sponsors?

Yes. At this level, I can’t go it alone anymore. We see it with the professionals: those who compete for the top three spots have help, assistance, and a support team. I show up at races on my own.

There are things you can do alone, but at some point, you can’t do everything on your own. You have to know when to ask for help.

👉 Want to help Sylvain? Here is his profile.

What do you offer on Nohô?

On Nohô, I offer two formats:

• A short run, at the pace of the people who book the meeting
• A discussion about this sporting passion, mental and physical preparation, and the kilometers accumulated

It’s an opportunity to talk about ultra-trail running, endurance, effort management, but also motivation and resilience.

Conclusion

Sylvain Andrieux’s story goes beyond athletic performance. Ultra-trail running has become a way for him to rebuild himself, transform pain into energy, and find a new kind of family through shared effort.

Today, he is aiming for the elite of the UTMB circuit, with the ambition of reaching an international podium. But beyond the rankings, Sylvain embodies the power of sport as a lever for resilience.

At Nohô, he offers an authentic experience: running together, sharing, understanding the behind-the-scenes of ultra-endurance, and discovering what drives a man to run 100 miles… without stopping.