The UTMR packs a huge amount into 170km. High altitude mountain terrain, a glacier crossing and a route that moves between Switzerland and Italy make it one of the more demanding 100-mile races on the calendar. For Jenny, the appeal wasn't just the challenge.
"I wanted a route that would bring me maximum joy" she says. "It's physically one of the hardest out there, but being in such stunning terrain was what really drew me to it."
Preparation looked a little different to the long, self supported adventures Jenny is known for. With work commitments regularly taking her away for days at a time, following a structured training plan wasn't always straightforward. Missed sessions and disrupted weeks became part of the process. Despite that, there was something satisfying about training with a specific performance goal in mind.
"I enjoyed the novelty of doing running workouts and following a plan" she says. "Although there were definitely times I wanted to ditch it all and head off on an adventure instead."
The biggest challenge of the race arrived far sooner than expected. Just 12 hours in, climbing to 3,300m over the Teodul Pass, Jenny began struggling with altitude sickness.
"I realised pretty quickly that this wasn't something that was going away."
The impact was immediate. Her sub-48-hour goal disappeared and the race became about managing the situation rather than chasing a time. Instead of forcing the pace, Jenny focused on what she could control. She fuelled properly at aid stations, took breaks when she needed them and adjusted expectations on the move.
"I've always had a rule to never sit down during a race, but I had to break that rule quite a few times."
While the physical challenge was significant, Jenny's experience in big mountain environments proved invaluable. Having spent years undertaking multi-day expeditions and endurance projects, the scale of the race never felt overwhelming.
"My biggest strength was definitely the mental side" she says. "After running 1,000km across the Rockies 170km doesn't sound that long, I never felt worried about how much was left. You just keep moving forward."
That approach paid off. Despite spending 52 hours on the course, she never needed to sleep and completed the race without relying on caffeine.
Crossing the finish line after 52 hours was a significant moment, but not simply because of the distance completed. For Jenny, the race marked another milestone in a much longer journey. Four years ago, she was unable to run due to RED-S. Finishing a demanding alpine 100-miler was confirmation of just how far she'd come.
"It wasn't just about the race or the year of training" she says. "It was about knowing that I'm healthy enough to do something like this again."
When you're moving through high alpine terrain for more than 50 hours, every piece of kit has to earn its place. The standout was her trusted Gecko pack.
"I've been using the Geckos forever" she says. "At the finish line, when my friend offered to take my bag for me, I realised I hadn't even noticed the weight of it."
After 170km and 52 hours in the mountains, it simply became part of the experience, never a distraction from it.
