Meet the Team SunGod trail runners who conquered the world's toughest ultramarathon — and the eyewear that went the distance with them.
There are 100-mile races, and then there's the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Circumnavigating the tallest peak in the Alps across three countries, over 10,000m of climbing, and every kind of weather the mountains can throw at you, UTMB isn't just a race — it's the pinnacle of trail running.
So when Team SunGod athletes stand on that podium in Chamonix, it says everything about what our sunglasses are built to handle. From driving rain and snow at 3am to blinding alpine sun at altitude, here's how three of the sport's biggest names crossed the UTMB finish line in SunGod eyewear — and which models got them there.
Courtney Dauwalter: 3x UTMB Champion, in the Classics⁴. Now racing in Classics⁴ PRO
No conversation about UTMB can be had without Courtney Dauwalter. The ultrarunning icon has won UTMB three times, and in 2023 she completed an almost unthinkable feat — the "Triple Crown" of ultrarunning, winning Western States, Hardrock 100, and UTMB all in a single summer, taking the UTMB title in 23:29:14 and smashing the course record along the way.
Courtney's signature look on the trails is her green-lensed Classics⁴, worn through her Triple Crown summer and beyond — proving that performance eyewear can work for every athlete, prescription or not, thanks to SunGod's prescription lens options. It's become as much a part of her trail identity as her famously relaxed, unbothered racing style. For 2026, Courtney has made the move to the Classics⁴ PRO, our newest model, designed in collaboration with Courtney, taking the same fan-favourite look and adding performance upgrades built for the demands of ultra-distance racing.
Shop the models: SunGod Classics⁴ PRO - SunGod Classics⁴
Tom Evans: UTMB Champion, in the FORTY2s™
Tom Evans has been a fixture at the front of UTMB for years - third place in 2022, Western States champion in 2023 - but in 2025 the UK's leading ultrarunner finally went one better to win UTMB, battling through wind, rain, and snow on the shortened, storm-hit course.
He did it in the FORTY2s™, SunGod's sleek, wraparound running design built for lock-in security over any distance. It's a slightly different story to the sunglasses most closely associated with his name — Tom also has his own custom Signature Series Ultras™, developed hand-in-hand with SunGod using his feedback from years of racing. But for his UTMB-winning run, it was the FORTY2s™ that he trusted to go the distance, delivering the zero-bounce stability and 8KO® lens clarity he needed through the storm-hit night sections.
Shop the models: SunGod FORTY2s™ - Tom Evans Signature Series Ultras™
Ruth Croft: UTMB Champion, in the Classics⁴, now racing in Classics⁴ PRO
New Zealand's Ruth Croft made history in the same 2025 race, overtaking three-time champion Courtney Dauwalter deep into the night to win in 22:56:23 — becoming the first woman ever to win all three UTMB World Series Finals (CCC, OCC, and now UTMB itself).
Ruth's race was a masterclass in patience: holding back through the early miles, staying warm and fuelled through a brutal overnight storm, then striking for the lead with around 25 miles to go. She won it all in the Classics⁴™ — SunGod's versatile, medium-fit design that moves seamlessly from technical singletrack to everyday wear. Since her UTMB win, Ruth has moved onto the newly launched Classics⁴™ PRO, an upgraded version of the same trusted silhouette built with refined performance features for athletes pushing even further.
Shop the models: SunGod Classics⁴ PRO - SunGod Classics⁴
What UTMB Teaches Us About Trail Eyewear
Three athletes, three different models, one common thread: sunglasses built for whatever the mountains decide to do. UTMB conditions can swing from blazing alpine sun to sleet and darkness within a single loop, which is exactly why our trail running range is engineered around a few non-negotiables:
Zero-bounce, secure fit — because a 100-mile race doesn't pause for you to adjust your glasses
8KO® lens technology — for 100% UV protection and true-to-life clarity in changing light
Lightweight, durable frames — built to survive falls, sweat, and 30+ hours on the move
Lifetime Guarantee — because if it's tough enough for UTMB, it should last you a lifetime
Ready to Run Like a Champion?
Whether you're lining up for your first ultramarathon or your daily 5k, there's a SunGod pair built for it. Explore more articles and guides on running from trails to track, to field. And shop the SunGod running collection.
