Nuria Picas – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 10, 2013 by talkultra

Nuria Picas Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

In my final pre race interview for the 2013 Transvulcania La Palma I speak with Buff athlete Nuria Picas. Nuria had an incredible 2012. She raced with passion, strength and humility. Always smiling, always happy, she is a pleasure to be around. Her ability to run from VK to Ultra is quite incredible and as she showed last year, when she is racing the best in the world, she always has the ability to respond and perform at the highest level.

The 2013 ladies race on paper will come down to a battle between Nuria and Emelie Forsberg. However, with Fernanda Maciel, Emilie Lecomte and Jennifer Benna in the wings, it could be anybody’s race.

YouTube HERE

Links:

Nuria Picas – HERE
Buff – HERE
Transvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Anna Frost – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 10, 2013 by talkultra

Anna Frost transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Anna Frost dominated the 2013 Transvulcania La Palma, in doing so, she set a new course record and placed in the top 20 overall. Her return to La Palma in 2013 has created excitement for some time…. would she improve on her 2012 performance, would she be pushed by Nuria Picas, Emilie Lecomte, Emelie Forsberg or Fernanda Maciel?

Unfortunately, Anna, or should I say, ‘Frosty’ as we all know her, withdrew from the race with an ongoing injury problem.

She talks about the injury, the ladies race and she makes some predictions.

YouTube HERE

Links:

Anna Frost – HERE
Salomon Running – HERE
Transvulcania – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Sage Canaday – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 10, 2013 by talkultra

Sage Canaday Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Scott Running athlete, Sage Canaday has been burning a trail quite literally in all his recent races. Not only has he been winning, but he has been setting CR’s in almost all his runs. Without doubt he is in form. Along with Cameron Clayton and Adam Campbell, Sage will bring speed and pace to the front of the Transvulcania race.

However, this course is unlike any other race he has run. The long up hill sections of very mixed terrain will break his running stride, in addition, it is going to be hot. These are things that Sage acknowledges may very well throw a curve ball into his race plans. The long descent from the top of the course to Tazacorte will also not be ideal for Sage. But as he says, he is learning every day. I am sure he will learn something new on May 11th.

YouTube HERE

Links:

Sage Canaday – HERE
Scott Running – HERE
Transvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Mohamad Ahansal – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 10, 2013 by talkultra

Mohamad Ahansal with translation from Niandi Carmont, Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Mohamad Ahansal needs no introduction to followers of the Marathon des Sables. Just three weeks ago, Mohamad clinched his fifth victory in the iconic multi stage race. Tomorrow, May 11th, he lines up against the best in the world. He says. “I plan to run hard on the uphill as I am not great on the downhill”.

Mohamad placed top 5 in the 2010 edition of Transvulcania and if he is fresh after ‘MDS’, I personally feel that he may well be the dark horse of this years race…. watch this space.

YouTube HERE

Many thanks to Niandi Carmont for providing translation.

Links:

Transvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Transvulcania 2013 – Banana plantation visit

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Runners in the 2013 Transvulcania La Palma visited a local banana plantation this afternoon. Fun and informative…. did we get a glimpse of the men’s podium?

Kilian Jornet – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Kilian Jornet Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Salomon athlete, Kilian Jornet needs no introduction…. last year he raced Transvulcania and placed third behind Dakota Jones and Andy Symonds. In the final stages of the race he suffered in the heat. This year he has arrived in La Palma a little earlier to acclimatise, however, he has used a very similar approach to 2012 and has only recently just stepped off ski’s.

I caught up with Kilian after an excursion to see a banana plantation, he says he is ready, however, he does seem concerned about the heat! Today has been a very warm day and temperatures look likely to rise over the next 48 hours.

YouTube HERE

Links:

Kilian Jornet – HERE

Salomon Running – HERE

Transvulcania 2013 – HERE

Skyrunning – HERE

Anton Krupicka – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Anton Krupicka missed the 2012 Transvulcania La Palma and he said, “I’ll be back” and he is. He had an early season injury and missed Tarawera to be safe but he now says he is fit and ready to go…

YouTube HERE

Links:

Anton Krupicka – HERE
New Balance – HERE
Transvulcania – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Joe Grant – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Arc’teryx athlete, Joe Grant chats with Ian about his recovery from the Iditarod Trail Invitational and about he is excited to once again to return to La Palma.

Joe has the advantage over much of the competition to have experienced the Transvulcania course before. In 2012 he raced well to place just outside the top 10. He hope to improve on that this year….!

YouTube HERE

Links:

Joe Grant – HERE
Arc’Teryx – HERE
Transvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Timothy Olson – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Timothy Olson has been on the island of La Palma for nearly two weeks now and he has loved every moment exploring. Early in 2013 he placed second behind Sage Canaday at Tarawera in New Zealand and just recently he raced at Lake Sonoma. A few niggles with his knees have caused some concerns in recent weeks but we all hope that he is in full health on Saturday.

YouTube HERE

Links:

Timothy Olson – HERE
The North Face – HERE
Transvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Adam Campbell – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Adam Campbell, Arc'teryx Transvulcania 2013 - copyright Ian Corless

Arc’teryx athlete Adam Campbell talks to Ian ahead of the 2013 Transvulcania La Palma. He discusses the race course, the competition and Arc’teryx.

Adam loves competition and revels the opportunity to race the best in the world. His running goals are to seek out interesting challenges in inspiring settings. A lifelong traveler and racer, Adam’s new belief is: if you are going to be suffering, you might as well suffer somewhere beautiful!