The Independent – Skyrunning UK

Skyrunninguk - Independent

 

Not often that we see our niche sport of trail, mountain, ultra or Skyrunning making the main stream newspapers, so it’s great to see Skyrunning UK getting some space in The Indpendent.

Read the article HERE

If you don’t normally purchase a newspaper in the UK, maybe today is a good day to go out of your way and go get The Independent from the shelf. Lets face it, we’d love to see more running in the daily papers.

Skyrunning UK announce the 3x3ULTRA

High-Terrain-Banner-Skyrunning

A new year and what better way to start than with the announcement of the first race in the new Skyrunning UK ‘Skyrunner® National Series’ – the ‘3x3ULTRA’ by High Terrain Events.

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Over 4000m (13,000ft) of ascent await participants of the 3x3Ultra. “It’s an opportunity to cover three classic Lakeland peaks in an accumulative distance of 80km’s”, says High Terrain Events race director, Ian Mulvey.

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Salomon athlete, Ricky Lightfoot (IAU World Trail Champion 2013 and Otter course record holder) has been instrumental in combining his skills and knowledge in designing a course that will bring Skyrunning UK an event that ultimately will create the perfect flagship for the Skyrunner® National Series (SNS) within the UK.

Based on the classic ‘Lakes 3000’s’ the 80km route will include Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and Skiddaw. An amazing circular route over the best mountains available within the UK, it promises to be a tough challenge.

Lauri van Houten, executive director for the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) has been instrumental in providing the backing and support to enable Skyrunning UK to become a reality. When asked about Skyrunning in the UK, Lauri had this to say:

“Some of the world’s top athletes come from the UK! Andy Symonds, Tom Owens, Ricky Lightfoot, Robbie Simpson, Tessa Hill, Anna Lupton and past SWS (Skyrunner® World Series) Champions Angela Mudge and Rob Jebb… British races are known for being tough and challenging. Skyrunning captures the spirit and tough technical challenges runners are looking for today. That’s the ‘feel’ we’d like to bring to the UK.”

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The race route combines all the elements of a classic Lakeland run with aspects of European racing. “Skyrunning UK offers a great opportunity, we already have the main ingredients; technical terrain, beautiful mountains and hillssaid Tom Owens (UK based Salomon athlete) “The UK has brilliant and committed athletes who love racing. We may not have the required altitude that a Skyrunning race would require in Europe but this is compensated for with the amount and steepness of climb that we can accumulate over distance, the 3x3Ultra is a great example of this.”

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No stranger to Skyrunning, Salomon International athlete, Andy Symonds has performed with the best-of-the-best all over Europe, his podium finish at Transvulcania La Palma in 2012 a particular highlight also offered his approval of the 3x3Ultra:

“Skyrunning is about running high up on rough ground. Getting up, over and along big mountains with big views. The 3x3Ultra does just that and it’s great to see it finalized on the all new Skyrunning UK calendar, it’s an exciting time”.

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National Series Logo

The Skyrunner® National Series will bring a new race series to the UK. Made up of five races in each category (Sky and Ultra), runners will accumulate ranking points by competing in at least three out of five races over the SkyRace® and Ultra SkyMarathon® distances. Respective male and female winners of the ‘SNS’ in 2015 will be rewarded with the ultimate prize; not only they will they be crowned champions of the ‘SNS’ but they will also receive the opportunity to race in the final of the Skyrunner® World Series.

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Ian Corless, director for Skyrunning UK has been working for months in conjunction with the ISF Athlete Commission to bring this moment to fruition, “It’s about progression and development. Having witnessed Skyrunning from every level for the past 2-years and seen the growth, the excitement, the opportunities; to not be part of this in the UK would be a shame. The sport is growing at all levels. In time I hope we will have a series of UK based Skyrunning teams similar to the model that inov-8 have created. A Skyrunner®  National Series will provide not only a great structure for the sport but it will also provide a springboard for UK athletes to race in other countries but equally, we hope to attract foreign athletes to race on home soil. The announcement of the 3x3Ultra clearly states our intentions for what a Skyrunning event should be in the UK.”

3x3ultra_highterrainevents_iancorless.comLauri van Houten continues, “The only setback has been the difficulty in finding the right person to represent Skyrunning in the UK and bring it in line with other countries. It’s been hard to find a replacement but Ian Corless has embodied that and with his contacts and know-how we’re confident he’ll pull a great movement together.

The stage is set for the 3x3Ultra.

Ian Mulvey, race director for the 3x3Ultra explained his thoughts and vision:

“It will showcase what we have to offer in the UK and hopefully attract international runners enabling the top UK athletes to race against the world’s best on their home terrain.”

When asked about the benefits Skyrunning will bring to the UK race circuit, Ian replied:

“Having raced in Europe I can see the potential of bringing Skyrunning to the UK. In terms of raising the profile of UK ultra running, I think this will take ultra running to the next level and give us recognition on an international scale. Now is the perfect time for this type of event, runners are looking for tougher challenges to strive for. Being part of the Skyrunning UK series I hope will raise the profile of the event & attract international athletes.”

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Seize the opportunity now and sign up for what will become an iconic Skyrunning UK event.

Enter online here: https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=1222

Details:

Get involved with Skyrunning UK

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The Coastal Challenge, Costa Rica, 2014 – 4 weeks and counting

TCC 2014 ©iancorless.com

Four weeks today The Coastal Challenge, Costa Rica will start. Celebrating ten glorious years, the 2014 edition of the race will arguably be the most competitive in the races history.

Kicking off the 2014 racing season, runners from all over the world will assemble in Quepos for an exhilarating journey along the Costa Rican coast and within the rain forests of this exciting and idilic land.

Unprecedented in the races history, an elite line up of runners will toe the line featuring:

  • Anna Frost (New Zealad) – Salomon International
  • Nick Clark (UK) – Pearl Izumi
  • Julia Bottger (Germany) – Salomon
  • Philipp Reiter Germany) – Salomon International
  • Michael Wardian (USA) – Hoka One One
  • Jo Meek (UK) – tbc

The words are still ringing true in my ears, ‘the tenth edition of The Coastal Challenge is going to be special, very special indeed’.

Rodrigo Carazo and Tim Holmstrom from the TCC organisation have quite a race lined up!

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In addition, Gemma Slaughter, 2013 female winner of the TCC will return to defend her title. Without doubt, Gemma will find the 2014 race very different to 2013. However, she does have experience and knowledge of what this race can bring; from a physical and mental perspective. I will be catching up with Gemma in the coming week for an interview on how she feels, how training has gone and what are her expectations for the 10th edition.

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Frosty‘Costa Rica is exotic to me. A place I have never been but it intrigues me with images of its beautiful coast lines, native bush that seems a little bit like home (NZ) to me and the bright clear blue sea that is so luring. So when I heard there was a stage race that covers this coastline I wanted to know more.’

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Wardian‘I definitely enjoy the challenges of multi-day races as there are a lot of factors to account for besides just running and that intrigues me and inspires me. I think of all the things I learned in my previous outings at multi day races; to be as light as possible and balance your energy expenditure throughout the race but also, and this is a little contrarian, but to push more than you think possible because it is possible to recover quicker than you think. I also, take care of the small things because over a week of racing they can make all the difference.’

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Clarky‘I actually haven’t been to Costa Rica before. Last year I raced in Nicaragua at the Fuego y Agua 100k. Nonetheless, I’m sure conditions will be much the same. Coming from mid-winter in Colorado, the transition to 95+ degree heat and high humidity in Central America is very tough, but I felt like I handled it decently last year. January and February have always been base-building months for me as I prepare for goal races in the summer, so I definitely won’t be sharp, but any time I toe a start line I have my race face on. That will be the case in Costa Rica for sure, especially as it looks like there will be good competition to race against.’ 

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Reiter – ‘It sounds like a great adventure to me. Running eight days in the jungle, crossing rivers, hopefully seeing some wild and dangerous animals, sleeping in a tent-village and of course tasting some new food and local specialties. Running is such a great sport that we can all experience, I am really excited to share the trails with others who are equally passionate. It’s what I love and want to experience.’

Julia Bottger ©iancorless.com

Bottger – ‘I have never been to Costa Rica before. I am really excited to see the trails and landscape over there. The climate will be very different, the terrain and of course the culture and people. It is just a very nice mix of a lot of new things and impressions. I have never done a multi day race like this before; sleeping in tents next to the beach in a foreign country, spending some days with great people and becoming a “family”. It’s going to be really exciting’

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Meek ‘I am always very attracted to a country that is hotter than the UK. That is a no brainer! It’s the challenge, the opportunity to compete in something so different. This race I don’t need to carry all my kit, so, unlike the MDS I will be able to just run, admittedly for repeated days. It will be interesting and it should mean I can go faster.’

The stage is set!

I will be reporting live ‘daily’ from the race and posting each evening a synopsis of the action with images (connections allowing).

Follow on FacebookHERE Twitter: @talkultra and of course on this website.

If you’d like to read more about The Coastal Challenge, here are my links to the 2013 (9th edition).

SUMMARY of the 2013 edition of the race – HERE

Images from the TCC – HERE

The Coastal Challenge on RUN247HERE

The Coastal Challenge on TrailRunnerHERE

The Coastal Challenge in Spanish TrailChileHERE

Daily Blog posts from the 2013 edition of the race:

Across the Years – Aravaipa Running

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Joe Fejes (48) managed to hold of ultra running legend, Yiannis Kouros (57) at the Across the Years 6-day event held by Aravaipa Running. Liz Bauer (54) covering a distance of 415.72-miles was 5th overall and the ladies outright winner with Vikena Yutz (43) almost 50-miles in arrears.

The 6-day event proved an incredible nail biter as Fejes and Kouros pushed each other to the limits. Behind, William Sichel (60) had held 3rd place for a considerable length of time but in the latter stages, Ed Ettinghausen (51) rallied and beat Sichel with just over 4-miles distance; 476.61 to 472.41-miles.

It just goes to show, that age is not a limiting factor when it comes to running long!

Imagine, running 6-days and covering 555+ miles and having the greatest ultra runner in the world at your heals; pushing you and pushing you.

It’s an incredible testament to what some people are able to endure and put themselves through. While many of us will have been drinking and eating 2013 away and welcoming 2014, these brave souls, 55 in total (finished) were putting one front in front of the other. Fighting physical, mental and sleep fatigue; they all produced the unbelievable!

Top-10 results:

across years top 10

In addition, records were broken:

  • Joe Fejes broke the American 6-day record. (His first attempt at 6-days)
  • Ed Ettinghausen broke the 50-54yr old 6-day record. (also first attempt at 6-days)
  • All records here: http://192.227.164.175:8080

Records:

 

records

Aravaipa Running staged many events in Across the Years : 24-hours, 48-hours, 72-hours and the 6-day.

What are your thoughts? We’d love to hear from you.

Rob Krar and Michele Yates crowned UROY

Rob Krar UROC ©iancorless.comArticle and all content (except images) ©ultrarunningmagazine – HERE

Rob Krar is the Male Ultra Runner of the Year. Krar won four major races during the year, capped off with a win at The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile Championship. He set course records at the Leona Divide 50 Mile and the Moab Red Hot 55K. He was also a close second at the Western States 100 Mile, and set a fastest known time of the Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim. This is all the more impressive since Krar didn’t run his first ultra until November 2012. Krar, a collegiate middle-distance standout at Butler University, works as a pharmacist in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Michele Yates - iancorless.com ©bradclayton

Michele Yates – iancorless.com ©bradclayton

Michele Yates is the Female Ultra Runner of the Year. Yates, a fitness consultant from Littleton, Colorado, won six of the seven races she entered in 2013, including highly competitive events like The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Mile Championship, the Bandera 100K, and the Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile. Yates, a collegiate steeplechaser at UNLV and a 2:38 marathoner, was the outright winner of the inaugural Indiana Trail 100 Mile, finishing first overall out of 154 starters.

You can hear a full interviews with Michele and Rob on Talk Ultra:

Read the full article on ULTRARUNNING HERE

Read my Ultra Running Review of 2013 HERE

100km del Sahara, April 2014

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An adventure, an experience, a stepping stone to something else… the 100km Sahara is multi-day race that will introduce you to a whole new world. Join the journey in April, 2014. 

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Irrespective of your experience, the 100km of the Sahara will provide every participant a definitive sporting accomplishment. For some it may well provide the ultimate challenge, while for others, it may become a launching pad for continued participation in highly demanding extreme running races. The spirit of the race combines many elements; travel, adventure, excitement and ultimately a challenge.
 Pursue your dreams, pursue your passions and let the 100km of the Sahara provide you with a gateway to a new world.

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An annual race taking place over multiple days, participants test themselves against the challenge of running against the desert, while accepting the minimal assistance that is needed. The Sahara is fascinating, however it is one of the least suitable environments for running. If it was easy, anyone would do it… take yourself to a new level, add a new stimulus to your running. The Sahara will not only test your physical parameters but your capacity to control your mind.

Achieve your finish line!

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DETAILS:

The “100 km of Sahara” maintains a departure from the oasis of Ksar Ghilane, in the great Eastern Erg for the 2014, 16th edition of the race. The arrival; the mythical oasis of Douz will be achieved after travelling 100 km’s in 4-stages with 3-nights undertaken in a tented camp.

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The race itinerary is 7 days 6 nights. This competition is designed to bring out the spirit of challenge for those who create their own adventure. The race will have all the necessary ingredients of the extreme, but provides a race structure and format that is accessible to all. It’s a tough race but a race that is possible for all levels of ability!

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The 100 km of Sahara is a qualifying race for the UTMB Race and will count for 2 points.

CourseQualificative2014_EN

Capacity, 150-people.

  • Program flight included € 1.840 Milan or Rome
  • Program without flight € 1.640 
  • Single supplement (3 nights in hotel) € 100

The participation fee includes:

  • Flight to and from Djerba from Italy (only in the program with flight),
  • Transfers by bus and by 4×4 cars,
  • Full board for the whole week,
  • 3 nights in hotel and 3 nights in tents (6 people each),
  • Medical assistance during the race,
  • Tourist assistance,
  • Insurance.

During the race, a catering service provides food for all participants. All produce comes from Italy with the exception of fresh fruits and vegetables; they will be sourced locally in Tunisia. The menu will be balanced and based around runner’s needs and requirements.

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  • Breakfast: 
Coffee, tea, milk, cookies, cakes, fresh bread, jam, honey, muesli, cereals, eggs, cooked ham, cheese, fruits
  • Light lunch: 
Pasta or rice, hot or cold dish of meet, hot or cold side dish, salami and cold pork meat, Parmesan cheese, tuna, tomato salad, fruits
  • Dinner: 
Appetizers, pasta, rice, vegetable soup and broth, hot dishes of meet, hot or cold side dishes, tomato salad, Parmesan cheese, fruits, dessert, wine on the table.

What is not included?

  • Drinks and beverages at the hotel and in the oasis of Ksar Ghilane.
  • Airport tax.

WALKERS

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Max number of participants: 20

A new addition to the race is a walking category. Just 20-places are available, allowing an opportunity to explore the emotions and landscape of the Sahara in a more relaxed way. A special program has been arranged and will be independent of the running race but will run in parallel.

Walkers will be accompanied with a guide, dromedaries and 4×4 vehicles. Dromedaries will carry small personal luggage and the vehicles will provide security and reassurance for all walkers.

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The treatment for walkers will be the same as for the runners; night accommodation will be nomadic tents with personal sleeping bags; breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided in the camp with the entire group of participants.

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ITINERARY

Sunday, April 27th, 2014

  • Flight Milan or Rome-Djerba
  • Transfer to the Hotel ****, dinner and overnight in hotel
  • It will be possible to leave the extra baggage in the hotel; it’s MANDATORY for all the participants to put everything you need in just one bag. Exceptions will not be allowed.

Monday, April 28th, 2014

  • Wake up at 7.30 am, breakfast in the Hotel and transfer to Ksar Ghilane by bus for the opening ceremony
  • Arrival in the oasis, accommodation in the tent camp equipped with common
  • Rest rooms and showers
  • Lunch at the camp with local food specialties
  • 3.00 pm opening of the shop “merchandising 100 km del Sahara”
  • 5.00 pm designation of race bib numbers and assignment of tent
  • groups.
  • 6 people per tent
  • Dinner made by the Zitoway staff and overnight stay in the tent of the oasis

Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 – 2nd and 3rd stage 26km + 9km (night stage)

  • 7.00 am breakfast and baggage delivery
  • 7.30 am start of walkers
  • 8.30 am start of the 2nd leg
  • Arrival at the camp, open lunch, relax in the afternoon
  • 7.00 pm dinner at the camp
  • 9.00 pm start of the night leg
  • Overnight at the camp

Thursday, May 1, 2014 – 4th stage marathon 42km

  • 6.00 am breakfast and baggage delivery
  • 6.30 am start of walkers
  • 7.00 am start of the 1st group
  • 8.00 am start of the 2nd group
  • 9.00 am start of the 3rd group
  • Arrival at the Hotel****Sahara Douz, end of the race
  • Lunch by the hotel restaurant
  • Relax in the afternoon

Friday, May 2, 2014

  • Wake up and breakfast
  • Transfer to Djerba, lunch at the hotel
  • Afternoon in relax by the pool
  • 8.00 pm dinner in the hotel and slide show of the race/li>
  • Overnight in hotel

Saturday, May 3, 2014

  • Wake up and breakfast
  • Transfer to the Airport of Djerba, on the way free lunch
  • After lunch transfer in airport for the flight back
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM MAY CHANGE AND IS SUBJECT TO FINAL CONFIRMATION

PRACTICALITIES:

BAGGAGE

The backpack will be the only hand luggage on the plane, which should contain just what is necessary for the race – running shoes, shorts, t-shirt, and survival kitWe have already had an incident where someone’s personal luggage was in delay and they were at risk for not being able to participate in the race. If you have the necessary items in your backpack, you can run with no problem until your baggage arrives.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

  • I.D. is required to go in Tunisia for Italian people.
  • A valid passport is required and no vaccinations are needed at this time. It’s always recommended to check with your Embassy for any travel advisories.
  • A medical certificate issued by a sports medical center facility with a test of physical efforts confirming that the athlete is physically fit for this race is absolutely MANDATORY. Without this certificate, you will not be allowed to participate.
  • No certificate is required for walkers.

RACE CLOTHES

  • Shoes should be suitable for off road running, and should be a little oversized to allow for sore and swollen feet.
  • It is advisable to use gaiters for the sand, but make sure they are good quality and don’t impede performance.
  • If you tend to burn easily in the sun, it is not advisable to wear a singlet or tank top during the race.
  • T-shirts should be made of a suitable anti-sweat material like dryfit, etc.
  • It’s strongly recommended  to bring a Saharan scarf, called a “cechès”, that can be useful to protect nose and mouth in case of wind or sand storm as well as motorcycle glasses.

RACE BACKPACK

For safety reasons it is MANDATORY that participants have a race backpack that contains the following items:

  • A minimum of 1-litre of water (inside the backpack or in flasks around the waist), salt tablets, survival blanket, whistle, lighter and chemical light .
  • A hat, sunglasses, protective sun lotion, a small knife and some Compeed plasters are also recommended.
  • The mandatory equipment may be verified at any moment and if an item is missing a penalty will be immediately applied per regulations.
  • The survival kit can be purchased from the Organisation.

MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

  • A medical certificate issued by a sports medical center facility with a test on physical efforts confirming that the athlete is physically fit for this race is absolutely MANDATORY.
  • No certificate is required for walkers.

SAFETY KIT

For safety reasons it is MANDATORY that participants have a race backpack

that must contain the following items:

  • A minimum of 1-litre of water
  • Salt tablets
  • Survival blanket
  • Whistle and lighter
  • Chemical light
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Protective sun lotion
  • Small knife
  • Compeed plasters

The mandatory equipment may be verified at any moment and if an item is missing a penalty will be immediately applied per regulations.

Test yourself!

If it was easy, anyone would do it… take yourself to a new level, add a new stimulus to your running. The Sahara will not only test your physical parameters but your capacity to control your mind.

Achieve your finish line!

More information or booking here:

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Thank you for your response. ✨

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GALLERY:

Organisation:

ZITOWAY Sport & Adventure
P.I. 02510760362
Tel. +39 059 359813
Fax +39 059 2920013
Port. + 39 337 573662
Skype: Adrizito

Snowdonia Marathon Eryri 2014

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It is barely three months since the 2013 Snowdonia Marathon Eryri took place, and was hailed as one of the best races ever. However, such is the popularity of marathon running these days that entries for the 2014 event went live on at midnight on the 1st of January with the organisers expecting to fill the race in record time, exceeding the 40 day record from 2013.

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2013 winner Rob Samuel ©Gwynfor James / Sport Pictures Cymru

Race co-ordinator Jayne Lloyd has been at the head of organsing the race since 2004 and says that judging by the feedback from the 2013 event that the race could well be full inside those 40 days:

“2013 was incredible, as we now use online entry systems we could see the flow of entries coming in over January and February, it was pretty exciting to watch! Once again in 2014 runners were literally sat in front of their computers at midnight on New Years Eve waiting to enter and by midday on the 1st of January we have received nearly 700 entries. 

We are seen as one of the premier marathons in the UK now, and demand for places is getting higher every year”.

Regarding the feedback which the race receives, Jayne continues:

We are very proud of the praise that we get for the race, some of the comments received in 2013 were very humbling. People obviously see the race as their ‘event of the year’, creating holidays in the area around participating in the race, and come back year after year – that can only be a good thing for communities, sport in Wales and local business.”

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©Gwynfor James / Sport Pictures Cymru

Entries for the 2014 race opened on Wednesday Jan 1st at 00.01am and can be accessed by going to www.snowdoniamarathon.co.uk and clicking on ENTER THE RACE.

We’re unlikely to keep our New Year Resolutions, says new study.

©TomTom

©TomTom

 A global report by TomTom into attitudes towards achieving fitness goals shows Britain is trailing in the exercise league.  The study, across eight Western countries, reveals that fewer Britons set targets than any other country – just 61 per cent.  It means nearly four in 10 people in the UK never plan a new exercise regime.

 Of those who do set fitness goals, just six per cent ‘always’ achieve them and only another 17 per cent claim they ‘almost always’ do. 

 The research showed that 48 per cent of Brits may make New Year Resolutions about improving their fitness levels in January, but few will manage to stick to them.  Over half of Britons (54 per cent) give up an exercise regime within six months – or have never even had one in the first place.

 TomTom looked at exercise and ambitions in the UK, US, France, Spain, Holland, Italy, Sweden and Germany.  Britain emerged poorly from the study of 1,000 people in each country.  It showed that, not only do many people not exercise at all, but more than one in ten (11 per cent) plan to do less exercise in the future.

Corinne Vigreux, TomTom consumer managing director said: “With people now thinking about their New Year Resolutions, understanding the goal and the motivation is the first step to achieving them – which is why we have launched our new range of GPS Sport Watches to help runners, swimmer and cyclists hit their fitness targets”.

 Across the countries surveyed, an average of 72 per cent of people set fitness goals.  While nearly a third (29 per cent) claim to hit their target most of the time, five per cent always fail.

 Good intentions seem to lag well behind actual behaviour.  Four in 10 (39 per cent) of Brits polled claim they will increase exercise in the coming year.  Yet only a quarter (26 per cent) say they have actually done so over the past 12 months. 

 When asked which exercise goals people had set for themselves in the last 12 months, just 44 per cent of British respondents cited getting fitter in general compared with the survey average of 54 per cent.  40 per cent of Brits wanted to lose weight versus 44% elsewhere;  and only 11 per cent had a specific performance goal (such as beating a certain time or being ready for a race event) as against the global average of 16 per cent.

 The study showed that nearly a quarter of people in the UK (23 per cent) exercise two to three times a week, while 11% do so at least once a day but 22 per cent never take any exercise at all.

 Americans lead the fitness league, exercising 135 days a year compared with a global average of 112, while Britons exercise for an average of just 108 days a year.

Losing weight, a sense of accomplishment and how much fun an activity is were the biggest motivators to keep exercising for 75% of people across the study – whilst improving their looks and making sure they had the right equipment to train effectively also ranked highly.

Weight loss is the biggest motivator for women to exercise, spurring on 41% – but just 28% of men.  Twice as many women (33%) worried about how they looked in certain clothes compared with men (16%).

Table 1

Average number of days exercise/participation in sport per year (average 112 days)

US 135 days

Spain 131

France 116

Sweden 115

UK 108

Germany 101

Italy 96

Holland 93 

Table 2

Percentage of people setting an exercise related goal in the past 12 months (average 72%)

Spain 82%

Italy 81%

US 75%

Sweden 75%

France 70%

Germany 70%

Holland 62%

UK 61%

Note:

One thousand people were interviewed in each of eight countries – US, UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain and Holland, with 8000 respondents in total.

Article provided by ©TomTom – Julian Speed at Starfish Communications

Get Involved:

  1. Have you set New Year resolutions in the past? If so, dod you stick with them?
  2. Will you set a resolution for 2014?
  3. What is your resolution?
  4. Do resolutions work and if so, why?

Trail running in America & mountain races in Europe

Are there really any differences when it comes to racing in Europe & America? Runners from both sides of the Atlantic have their say about trail running on both continents.

When Michel Poletti, president of ITRA, spoke recently at the presentation of the Spain Ultra Cup about what type of international race organizations would de targeted for future membership, he affirmed that the ITRA would be particularly hoping to attract “organisations with long-distance races taking place in natural scenery“. Although this definition may sound a little vague, it is in fact quite difficult to find a common denominator that might aptly describre races taking place on both sides of the Atlantic.

Are we talking about the same kind of race on both continents? It doesn’t seem that way from what some of our top runners have to say. In any case, surely the “variations on a theme” are what make this sport so appealing, right?  What are the differences anyway, between trail running & mountain running? According to the ISF, “The difference lies in the terminology itself: trail & montain“. 

ISF

We’ve asked some of the top runners about what it is that makes racing different on both sides of the Atlantic. Here are their answers, together with our conclusions:

American races, much faster

The main difference, which everyone seems to agree on, is the greater technical difficulty of races in Europe and the faster speed of races run in the US.

Tofol

As Tòfol Castanyer points out, this means that“American races are more runnable” suggesting that faster ultra-distance racers have the advantage, as opposed to mountain running specialists.

This difference has already been discussed in our article in Spanish, la diferencia entre trail running, fell running y carrera de montaña. In the US the sport is called “trail running“, whereas in Europe, terms such asmountain runningskyrunning or fell running (UK) are used. The term “trail running” obviously refers to the kind of track or path followed, whereas in Europe it’s all about “mountains“. Whereas “trail running” doesn’t necessarily imply elevation gains.

Heras

In Europe the elevation gains are usually greatersays Miguel Heras,I think that this difference is motivating for us Europeans when we go there, as it is for the Americans when they come over to Europe to compete.

Stricter rules in the US

Many of the races held in the US run through national parks, which follow a stricter legislation than we’re used to in Europe, regarding how hikers & runners should use the footpaths or trails. All these measures are imposed with the greater benefit of protecting the lanscape & natural habitat of the species found in the parks. This means that anyone wondering off the trail will be sanctioned (usually with disqualification), something that Europeans are simply not used to.

Emelie

As Emelie Forsberg jokes, “I think it´s like with everything in America; trail races aren’t any different you know“. Rules are rules!

In Europe, things are very different, where, in most cases,the race course simply follows the most direct route across the mountain.

Andy

In Scotland“, for example, says Andy Symonds,” the hills are steep, there are great open spaces without trees, there is grass and bog all over the place. The result is that fell races go straight through fields and up and down hills. Race routes are driven by the shortest lines rather than by path networks”.

Consecuently, European trail runners find that they have to change their whole approach to racing, as Silvia Serafini states, “I know that in the US there are very strict rules about ‘shortcuts‘. You are out of the race if you don’t follow exactly the signed trail“. Kilian Jornet can testify to this, as he was stripped of his prize money and course record, in last year’s Speedgoat 50k for cutting switchbacks.

In Europa, it’s more competitive

So what’s Dakota Jones take on the subject? He interestingly points out that “ In America, trail running came out of a culture of hiking and mountain climbing that has its roots in solitude and escape“. Whereas, “Europeans accept mountain running more and are allowed to have more people in their races, so the scene is much more professional than anywhere else”. ” When Americans race, they are almost afraid to say they are racing, because they don’t want to betray traditional values about the purity of the sport“.

Dakota

Sportswear

In an episode of Kilian´s Quest we can see how the young Catalonian runner meets up with running legend, Pablo Vigil. It’s interesting to compare how the two are dressed; Kilian with his specialized gear  –Suunto GPS heart rate monitor, Salomon technical shorts & training shoes, while Pablo Vigilcan be found wearing the traditional runners sorts and a pair of Nike road trainers. Although this is a simple anecdote, it does undeline the point that, in general, European runners seem to get moredressed up for the occasion!

Anna Frost comments that “Clothing differs…with fashion and trends. Euro wearing more technical lycra and USA wearing looser fitting comforts.

Frosty

What’s in common? People, volunteers, the spirit of racing

There seems to be a common agreement among runners that there is one characteristic to be found on both sides of the Atlantic: the spirit of running, be it trail running in the US or fell running (UK), mountain running or skyrunning in Europe, “our mutual appreciation for the mountains & outdoor spaces”, says Alfredo Gil, Spain’s national champion. “I think we all have that in common“.

Alfredo

American, Stevie Kremer, also emphasises this point & recognizes the efforts of all the people, behind the scenes, who support the races: “both have incredible supporters and volunteers, without which these races would never be successful!”

Stevie
It seems that, as more and more runners make the jump, from one continent to another, things are changing. As Jonathan Wyatt observes, ” We see a lot of North American runners who have learnt a lot from the European style of trail running and they are excited to bring some of these elements to North America including the more technical running trails“.

Jono

Finally, let’s just remember the words of Silvia Serafini, who defines the atmosphere of our sport perfectly, “I can’t really choose which I like most, racing in America or in Europe. I love the atmosphere, the welcome of the people, which I have found on both continents“.

Silvia

 

LINKS & CREDIT:

© Escrito por Nigel John Wilson / David Clavera / Pablo Cantó

This article is a re post from : corredordemontana.com

It is reproduced with the full approval of corredordemontana.com and Nigel John Wilson and has not been altered or adjusted in anyway. The original article is available HERE should you wish to view it.

It is also available in Spanish HERE

All content (inc images) ©corredordemontana.com

 

Episode 51 – Bitter, Yates, Frost, Catmur

Episode 51 of Talk Ultra ©iancorless.com

Merry Christmas! Episode 51 of Talk Ultra is our longest show yet… yes, 4hours and 30mins of ultra chat to help you survive the Christmas period and New Year. We speak with the new 100-mile and 12-hour record holder (on a track) Zach Bitter. We have a full and in-depth interview with female ultra runner of the year (?) Michele Yates. Anna Frost provides an insightful interview on a troubled 2013 and finally we catch up with Ed Catmur who has been setting the pace on the UK ultra scene. It’s a full show! Speedgoat and Ian review the year, we have possibly the best Talk Training of 2013 with Marc Laithewaite and we catch up with Amanda in a Year in the Life of! A big thank you for all the amazing support and downloads in 2013 and we thank you in advance for your support in 2014.

Interview – Anna Frost
 
NEWS
 
The 240km Coast 2 Kosciusko r!
 
1st Ewan Horsburgh 25:56:00
2nd Ian Gallagher 26:34:00
3rd Mathieu Dore 27:21:15
 
1st Jess Baker 30:04:27
2nd Sabina Hamaty 32:25:20
3rd Sharon Scholz 33:02:03
 
Johan Vd Merwe Johan this weekend broke the SA 24-hour record. He was the first to thank God and his wife Corine, for “without them, he just wouldn’t be able to break the 60-year old record set by Wally Hayward in 1953” – 258km
 
Barcelona 24, 12 and 6 hour results:
 
6 HOUR RACE RESULT:
1st Jyrki Kukko 82.775 km
2nd David Sanmiguel Cervera 73.006 km
3rd Jose Mauel Riesgo Fernández 66.361km
 
Rebecca Cox first Brit, 6th overall 60.093 km
 
12h HOUR RACE RESULT:
1st Olivier Foissac 136.56 km
2nd Steven Sleuyter 125.62 km
3rd Irina Batyreva 19.93 km
 
24 HOUR RACE RESULT:
1st Pedro Sena Lopez 230.701 km
2nd Dario Sanmiguel Cervera 225.818 km
3rd Jen Salter (GB) 217.753 km
 
Karen Hathaway 8th
Mark Woolley 19th
Andrew Saville 23rd
 
Zach Bitter just run 11:59:15 for 101.66 miles (163.6km) at the Desert Solstice by Aravaipa Running – 100 miles in 11:47:21 http://www.aravaiparunning.com/desert-solstice/
 
Pam Smith sets a World Record 14:11:26
 
Review of 2013
Races:
Transvulcania
TNF50
WSER
Skyrunning
Zegama
Grand Slam
Mont Blanc
Raid de la reunion
 
People:
Rob Krar – Rim-to-Rim, WSER, UROC and TNF50
 
Michele Yates – RRR, UROC and TNF50 one of the highlights of 2013 and without a star… I caught up with Michele and we discussed her running, her history and did you know, she was Miss Figure Colorado in 2008? – http://www.dreamliverun.com/index.html
 
Jon Olson – 100m record – at least for a short while
Zach Bitter – 100m record
Timmy Olson – WSER repeat win
Sharman and Clark – The Grand Slam
Rory Bosio – UTMB
Seb Chaigneau – Hardrock and Transgrancanaria
Pam Smith – WSER and 100m record
Kilian Jornet – everything! But maybe the Matterhorn record a highlight?
Emelie Forsberg – everything!
Stevie Kremer – everything!
Nickademus Hollon – Barkley and Tor des Geants
Sage Canaday
Zach Miller
 
Read the Highlights of 2013 HERE
 
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF – Amanda Hyatt
 
Looking ahead to 2014:
 
Skyrunning USA and UK, Australia, South Africa… growth continues
UTWT
Hardrock 100 
Any other anticipated excitement?
 
INTERVIEW
 
Ed Catmur
 
 
TALK TRAINING – Do’s and Don’ts at Christmas Parties with Marc Laithwaite
 
INTERVIEW
 
 
 
MELTZER MOMENT
GOOD 
BAD 
UGLY 
 
RACES
 
Australia
New South Wales
Narrabeen All Nighter 100 km | 100 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
 
Chile
Ultramaratón Licanray – Villarrica | 70 kilometers | January 05, 2014 | website
 
Germany
Bavaria
Chiemsee-Ultramarathon Dezember | 108 kilometers | December 30, 2013 | website
Lower Saxony
6. Lauf PSV Winterlaufserie 100 KM | 100 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
6. Lauf PSV Winterlaufserie 50 KM | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
 
Netherlands
Limburg
SMU-Loop | 58 kilometers | December 28, 2013 | website
 
South Africa
Festival of Running 100 Mile Race | 100 miles | December 31, 2013 | website
 
Tunisia
Evasion Trail à Tataouine | 60 kilometers | December 29, 2013 | website
 
USA
Alabama
Recover from the Holidays | 50 kilometers | December 31, 2013 | website
Florida
Croom Zoom 100 Km Run | 100 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
Croom Zoom 50 Km Run | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
Indiana
HUFF 50K Trail Run | 50 kilometers | December 28, 2013 | website
Maryland
PHUNT 50K | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
Michigan
Yankee Winter Trail 50K | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
New Jersey
Watchung Winter Ultras Trail 50k | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
North Carolina
Neusiok Trail 100K | 100 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
Neusiok Trail 43 Miles | 43 miles | January 04, 2014 | website
Salem Lake Shore Frosty Fifty | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
South Carolina
Harbison 50K | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
Tennessee
Pistol Ultra Run – 100K | 100 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
Pistol Ultra Run – 100 Mile | 100 miles | January 04, 2014 | website
Pistol Ultra Run – 50K | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
Virginia
Boyers Furnace | 40 miles | December 28, 2013 | website
Redeye 50 km | 50 kilometers | January 01, 2014 | website
Washington
First Call 50K | 50 kilometers | January 01, 2014 | website
West Virginia
Frozen Sasquatch Trail 50k | 50 kilometers | January 04, 2014 | website
Wisconsin
Tuscobia Winter Ultramarathon 150 Mile Run | 150 miles | December 27, 2013 | website
Tuscobia Winter Ultramarathon 35 Mile Run | 35 miles | December 28, 2013 | website
Tuscobia Winter Ultramarathon 75 Mile Run | 75 miles | December 28, 2013 | website
 
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