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The Coastal Challenge is a 240km multi-stage ultra marathon, which traverses Costa Rica’s jungle, beaches, and mountainous terrain. It attracts some of the world’s toughest ultra trail runners.
Main image: Ian Corless
Just one year after battling through The Coastal Challenge 2024 with a severely injured ankle, Pierre Meslet returned stronger than ever in 2025. This year was all about experiencing the beauty of the race at his full potential – moving freely, embracing the journey, and proving to himself that he could run it the way he had always intended.
Overcoming last year’s setback
Reflecting on last year’s experience, Pierre admitted that it played heavily on his mind throughout the race:
I recalled several parts of the course where I was struggling with limping on a painful ankle”
The second stage was particularly daunting, as it was the point where he had previously injured his ankle.
I was a bit more nervous and almost a bit scared of the second stage with what happened last year. That’s what made me start a little more conservatively.”
Throughout the week, Pierre found himself pushing against a strong local runner, Erick Aguero in, “a race within a race”. Erick was competing a 7th consecutive time in this race, and was certainly on a mission to win. Once Pierre passed that crucial 8km mark unscathed, his confidence grew, and he was able to race harder. Then, at the end of Day 4, Erick had a nasty fall injuring his shoulder badly, causing him to pull out of the race the next day. (Pierre and Eric, pictured below).
Photo: Ian Corless
Training smarter
Pierre put a lot of emphasis on strength work in his rehabilitation post-injury. This meant that, come August, Pierre felt strong enough to begin a specific training block.
From August-September, I really focused on race-specific training – more elevation, more descent, long hikes, and no racing, to lower the risk of injury and stay consistent and focused on training.”
Photo: Ian Corless
Photo: Ivan Salazar Cruz Csk
Footwear and insoles: a winning combination
Having the right footwear was essential for tackling the diverse terrains of the race, from sandy beaches to jungle trails and river crossings. This year, Pierre opted for two pairs of carbon plated trail shoes, rotating between them strategically.
I raced Days one, two, and three with the same pair, then switched to a brand-new pair for Days four and five. I knew that Day 4 was very technical and I wanted to make sure I had a brand new and very grippy outsole for that stage specifically.”
His Profeet custom insoles played a crucial role in both performance and comfort over the six-day event:
Profeet customised insoles are fantastic for any endurance event but they have an even more important role in a long multi-stage race as they allow for improved comfort, better performance, lower risk of blisters and faster recovery.”
Racing in extreme conditions
With high temperatures and river crossings every day, Pierre’s feet were constantly wet. Despite this, he avoided blisters entirely, thanks to his customised insoles and specific trail footwear.
Five minutes into each stage, my socks were drenched – whether from sweat or a river crossing. But my feet were well-prepared, and the training ensured my skin was resilient.”
Pierre explained that he used anti-chafe on his toes and heels daily before the event and before bedtime too, from the British brand Life Jacket Skin Protection.
The biggest test of endurance came on stage four, where Pierre pushed himself to the limit:
I had started really hard and pushed the pace all day to gain some time back on the overall leader (on the overall ranking Pierre had a 9min deficit on Erik Aguero at the start of Day 4) and by the finish, I collapsed. The doctors had to put me in the river for 15-20 minutes to cool me down while giving me salts and fruit to recover.”
Despite this, he bounced back and powered through the remaining stages to secure victory!
Photo: Ian Corless
What’s next for Pierre?
After dedicating nearly half a year to preparation, Pierre might not be returning to The Coastal Challenge in 2026 as he has other objectives in sight, but he says:
“I will definitely go back one day”.
With upcoming races in Italy, with the Chianti Ultra by UTMB, as well as the Penyagolosa Trail 60km in Spain, he’ll be tackling various ultra trail races in the mountains, which is where he enjoys running the most.
Pierre’s journey is a testament to resilience, smart preparation, and having the right gear. His custom insoles and footwear played a key role in keeping him comfortable and stable over one of the world’s toughest stage races. After overcoming last year’s heartbreak, his 2025 victory is a well-earned triumph.
Get in touch to schedule an appointment at our Run Lab in London and experience the ultimate in running performance and comfort.
Call 020 7736 0046 to book your appointment, or book online.
OUR SERVICE IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Profeet’s services are by appointment only, please call or book online in advance