Episode 31 – Joe Grant & Ruby Muir

Posted on March 22, 2013 by talkultra

Episode 31 of Talk Ultra. Joe Grant tells us all about his experiences covering 350 miles at the Iditarod Trail Invitational in Alaska. New run sensation, 21 yr old Ruby Muir from New Zealand tells us what it’s like dominating Tarawera Ultra and placing 7th overall. We speak with Daniel Rowlands & Rebecca Pattinson, respective winners of the Atacama Crossing in Chile. Ian Sharman discusses the News, Marc Laithwaite talks hills in Talk Training, Speedgoat has a Meltzer Moment and of course we have A year in the life of, MDS special and the Up & Coming Races.

00:00:44 Start

00:20:10 A Year in the life of… with Amanda Hyatt. Amanda finally seems to be getting the hand of ultra running. After being ‘shocked’ with her first race experience, she now has another race under her belt and feels far more confident.

00:33:30 News with Ian Sharman. Ian has had a niggle with a knee injury but is back in training and has a race coming up in the next couple of weeks. He discusses the news from around the world.

00:41:40 Ruby Muir – 21 year old ultra newbie, Ruby Muir has elevated herself to a whole new level with a stunning performance at the very competetive Tarawera Ultra in New Zealand. Not only did she dominate the ladies race, she placed 7th overall. I caught up with her just this last week… “I am just a runner” this modest star of the future says.

01:00:00 Back to News

01:04:40 Daniel Rowlands from Zimbabwe has just won the Atacama Crossing in Chile. You can hear what he has to say and read his blog HERE

01:14:05 Rebecca Pattinson from the UK won the ladies race at Atacama Crossing and is somewhat surprised! She talks about her training and racing money for Autism. Take a look HERE

01:34:40 Back to News

01:42:15 Blog/ Video – SILENCE – Surrounded by the noise of the city, a noise that can drown out our ability to fully listen to what our bodies are telling us, the video highlights how it can disconnect us from the places that we’re running in and although running becomes an escape – it isn’t always relaxing. Why we Run? Watch it HERE

01:45:00 Talk Training with Marc Laithwaite, this week we discuss Hills. Going up and down them.

02:06:45 Interview. Our final catch up with Arc’teryx/Inov-8 athlete Joe Grant. Joe has just completed the 350 mile Iditarod Trail Invitational in joint 2nd place. It was a little tougher than he expected.

02:49:35 Back to Karl

02:56:30 A Meltzer Moment with Speedgoat Karl

03:03:05 MDS Special – This week we have our final catch up with Stuart Rae. The next time we speak it will be in the Sahara.

03:12:10 Up & Coming Races for the next two weeks.

03:14:45 Close

03:16:37

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Episode 30 – Owens, Reiter & Bottger

Posted on March 9, 2013 by talkultra

Episode 30 of Talk Ultra – We bring you interviews with Philipp Reiter and Julia Bottger from Gran Canaria. We have a main interview with Brit, Tom Owens. Talk Training is about nutrition and was recorded live with an audience in Lanzarote. We have all the usual features, the news, up and coming races, ‘A Year in the life of…’ our MDS special, Speedgoat Karl and of course the up and coming races.

SHOW NOTES

000000

000044 start

000408 ‘A year in the life of…’ with Tyler. It has been a while since Tyler was on the show. He has an excuse though… a wedding. His own!

001218 News with Karl Meltzer

002315 An interview with Salomon athlete Philipp Reiter just before he ran an incredible 2nd place at the 83km race at Transgrancanaria. Website HERE

005510 News

005600 An interview with Julia Bottger. Julia was 3rd lady at the 2012 Diagonale des Fous (Raid de la Reunion) and this year plans to run Ronda del Cims. Website HERE

012300 News

012956 Trail Atlas Tafraout had it’s first edition race in February and Niandi Carmont attended to feed back how this inaugural event.

014015 News

014126 Blog – http://sebmontaz.com video blog. The man behind so many incredible films about adventure. Of course many of you will know him from his efforts with Kilian Jornet and Salomon running but take a look… he is quite the inspiration.

014210 Talk Training – On this weeks talk training Marc Laithwaite and myself took advantage of being in the same location at our training camp in Lanzarote. We decided to do a talk on nutrition and include the audience…. We hope you enjoy!

022415 Our main interview is with Brit Tom Owens. Tom Owens is at home in the fells or the mountains. In 2012 he achieved new heights with a series of impressive results in the Skyrunning series.

Achievements:
1st Senterio delle Gringe Skyrace 2011
3rd Transrockies Race 2011
4th Giir di Mont Skyrace 2011
1st Salomon 4 Trails 2011
2nd World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, Slovenia 2011
2nd Zegama Skyrace 2011
1st Yorkshire 3 Peaks Race 2011
1st Mournes Peaks Race 2011
1st TransGrancanaria Marathon 2011
1st Carnethy 5 Hill Race February 2011
1st TransAlpine Race 2009 & 2010
1st SkyRaid®World Championships 2010
6th Giir di Mont Skyrunning World Championship
1st Trail du Ventoux 2009
1st Scottish Hill Running Championship 2009
2nd British Hill Running Championship 2009
2nd World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge 2008
2nd TransRockies Race 2008
2nd Mountain X Race 2008
3rd in British Hill Running Championship 2007
1st ToughGuy Race 2006

Occupation: Ecologist/ Environmental Advisor
Based: Glasgow, Scotland
Coached by: Malcolm Patterson
Type of Runner: Persistent!
Favourite Salomon Shoe & why: Speedcross. Super comfy & good grip. Ideal for trails.
Favourite distance: 2 – 5 hour hill races
Favourite race or event: Multi-day mountain races e.g. TranAlpine Race
Favourite Training session: Recce of a long hill race
Favoured pre- race meal/ snack: Flapjack
Best piece of advice for beginners and young athletes: Try to run with others – even better join a running club.
Interests and Hobbies: Cycling, racket sports & football. Travelling.

025500 A Meltzer Moment with Speedgoat Karl

Video link – Is ultra running bad for us? – HERE

030130 Mds Special with Tobias Mews – just less than 4 weeks to go….

030850 Races – Up and coming races for the coming two weeks.

031038 Close

031353 End

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Episode 29 – Robbins, Bragg, Grant, Corbett

Posted on February 22, 2013 by talkultra

Come back man Gary Robbins telling us what it’s like to return from 2 years of injury to not only win Hurt 100 but to set a new CR. Jez Bragg tells us about completing ‘The Long Pathway, Te Araroa’ in New Zealand. Joe Grant says goodbye and heads off to the Iditarod. Colourful Catra Corbett tells us about drugs, alcohol, running, tattoos, clothes and Truman. In addition to all that, we also have… phew; Talk Training about the long run, ‘A year in the life off…’, part 3 of our Marathon des Sables special, A Meltzer Moment, Up & Coming races and of course the News.

Show Notes:

03:45:45

00:00:00

00:00:45 Start and introduction

00:09:31 “Year in the life of….” This week Amanda Hyatt tells us all about her first ultra. Not one day, but two days of 33 miles. As many of you will be able to relate to, it didn’t quite go to plan. But did she finish…?

00:27:52 News Plenty of news with a catch up from Rocky Raccoon, The Coastal Challenge, Fuego Y Agua and more…

00:35:06 Jez Bragg completed The Long Pathway, Te Araroa and I was very fortunate to speak to him less than 24 hours after he crossed the finish line. I think you will be able to hear in his voice how this journey not only exhausted him but changed him. Check out his website HERE and take a look at his sponsors The North Face

00:54:30 back to Karl

01:18:50 Joe Grant spoke to us several weeks ago about his preparation for the 350 mile Iditarod Trail Invitational. I caught up with him this week, just a day before he headed out to the race. Joe’s website Alpine Works. The ITI website HERE

01:35:05 back to Karl

01:38:15 Blog – Catra Corbett colourful, fresh, modern and different. Catra or Dirt Diva adds some spice to the ultra scene. Listen to what she has to say and check out her blog HERE

02:12:25 Talk Training with Marc Laithwaite – this week we talk about the long run….

02:31:35 Interview with Gary Robbins. Life with passion, pursue your dreams. Gary just a few years back won the Hurt 100 and in doing so broke Geoff Roes old course record. He was suddenly seeing all the hard work pay off but then a series of events almost ended his running career… hear Gary talk about that period of his life and what it is like to comeback and be on top! For more information and a list of results, check out his blog HERE

03:18:00 Back to Karl

03:20:30 A Meltzer Moment with Speedgoat Karl. Good, Bad and Ugly.

03:27:25 Marathon des Sables spécial. This is part 3 and we are back with Stuart Rae to find out how the progress is going to the 2013 edition in April.

03:40:55 Races the up and coming races for the next 2 weeks

03:42:30 Close

03:45:45

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Episode 28 Geoff Roes & Emelie Forsberg

Posted on February 8, 2013 by talkultra

Episode 28 of Talk Ultra has an interview with Geoff Roes who in the 2010 edition of Western States 100 set a new CR and became a star in the film, Unbreakable. We also have an interview with rising female star Emelie Forsberg. We discuss her incredible 2012 and what lies in store for 2013. In Talk Training we have the ‘Rockdoc’ telling us all about Kinesiology taping. We have A Year in the life of…, part 2 of our MDS special, the news, a blog, a Meltzer Moment and the up and coming races.

Show timings:

00:00:45 Start

00:13:23 A year in the life of – Amanda Hyatt

00:27:17 News

003805 Blog – Jez Bragg has just completed the Teararoa in New Zealand. Catch up on his whole experience via his blog HERE

00:38:45 Talk Training with Paul Coker from Rocktape – website HERE

01:16:05 Back to Karl

01:20:16 Geoff Roes website here

Date of Birth:
April 14, 1976

Place of Birth:
Syracuse, NY

Current Home town:
Juneau, AK (May-Aug) & Nederland, CO (Sept-April)

Primary Race Distance:
50k and up.

Other hobbies or sports:
Snowshoeing, XC skiing, Mountain Biking, Bike Touring, Cooking, Writing

What MHW/Montrail gear and clothing is in your quiver for a typical day at/ on the trail?
Montrail Mountain Masochist, Mountain Hardwear Effusion Jacket, Mountain Hardwear Fluid Race Vest, Mountain Hardwear Way Too Cool tops.

How were you introduced to your sport?
Came to Ultrarunning on my own. It just sounded fun to try to run a 50k.

What inspires you?
I’m most inspired by getting out in the mountains and exploring new places.

What advice would you give to newcomers to (your sport) today?
Try to enjoy every run you go out on. If you’re not enjoying the running that your doing, try some new things until you are.

What the first thing you look forward to doing after a long run / race?
Seeing friends, family, and other racers at the finish… and drinking a beer.

How do you balance your training schedule with your “real” job?
I’m one of the lucky few in the sport whose training is my “real job.”

In 10 years I hope to be…
Getting as much satisfaction out of my life as I am now.

Six-word bio:
Living for Now. Happy and easy.

When singing karaoke, what song do you sing to bring down the house?
Have never, and likely will never sing karaoke

What music gets you fired up?
I don’t listen to music to get fired up. The music I do listen to tends to be music which has more of the opposite effect, keeping me calm and mellow, which I think is a lot more beneficial in ultrarunning, a sport that requires so much patience and ability to take things as they come.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

February 2012, Iditarod Trail Invitational – 1st place in foot division
September 2011, UROC 100k – 1st place
March 2011, Chuckanut 50k – 1st place, Course Record
July 2010, Crow Pass Crossing – 1st place, Course Record
June 2010, Western States 100 – 1st place, Course Record
November 2009, Mountain Masochist 50 – 1st place, Course Record
September 2009, Wasatch 100 – 1st place, Course Record
February 2006, Little Su 50k– 1st place, First Ultramarathon

Course records:

Susitna 100
Resurrection Pass 50
Resurrection Pass 100
Crow Pass Crossing
Wasatch 100
Mountain Masochist 50
North Face Endurance Challenge 50 – Bear Mountain
Western States 100
Run Rabbit Run 50
Chuckanut 50k
DRTE 100
UROC 100k

Geoff Roes results here

02:03:32 Emelie Forsberg website here

Member of Salomon International team and a devoted lover of the mountains. The best time is the time out in the mountains where the clock and the world outside doesn’t count. In the summertime I run in them and in winter time I go skiing. When I’m not in out in the mountains I do some studying.

Follow me here with projects, races and my lifestyle on my my way through the mountains!

Results 2012

Winner of the world championship in the skyrace serie.
Winner of Salomon trail tour Sweden.
2nd place at 3 Peaks UK
3rd place at Zegama Marathon Spain
1st place at Kilians Classic, France
1st place and new record at Dolomites Skyrace, Italy
1st place at Pikes Peak Marathon
2nd place at Trofeo KIMA, Italy
3rd place at Cavalls del vent, Spain
1st place at Kinabalu, Malaysia

02:33:32 Back to Karl

02:40:40 Meltzer Moment

02:46:06 MDS Special – Tobias Mews

03:00:08 Up & coming Races for the next two weeks

030132 Close

030522

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El Cruce 2013

Posted on January 31, 2013 by talkultra

El Cruce this year will celebrate the 12^th edition. The format is a three day stage race from Chile to Argentina covering 30 – 40km per day.

Like other multi stage races such as the Marathon des Sables or The Coastal Challenge, runners will sleep in a ‘camp’ each evening. The camp is an important element of multi day racing as bonds are made and memories forged.

Event dates are 8-10th February for individual runners and 7-9th February for teams.

The ‘solo category‘ in 2013 has an impressive field assembled. It will be without doubt quite a race… Adam Campbell, Iker Karera, Max King and Francois d’Haene take on previous winners Gustavo Reyes and Nelson Ortega.

The ladies race has Frosty (Anna Frost) hopefully toeing the line feeling refreshed after a winter of recuperation. This won’t be an easy race for her though… the presence of Emma Rocca, Oihana Kortazar and previous race winners Rosalia Camargo Guarischi and Cristina de Carvallho will mean that a battle ‘royal’ will be played out over the three race days.

This years race sees runners race around the theme of a volcano for each stage. Apparently they will go around, up or down to make a loop. Given the name of ‘Through the Volcanoes‘ the race is billed as a tough three days. The three stages are as follows:

Villarica Volcano near Pucón, Chile.
Quetrupillan Volcano between Chile and Argentina.
Lanin Volcano

With plenty of vertical kilometres this race will certainly suit Iker Karera, Anna Frost and Oihana Kortazar but will Francois d’Haene after his success at UTMB and his top placing at Transvulcania in 2012 push for the win or will the speed kings Max King and Adam Campbell make a difference over the three days.

The Andes are a beautiful mountain range. Combined with three days of running and camp life in the evening, the 2013 edition will be a race to remember.

Website HERE

Full runners list available HERE

2013 Calendar – Race Coverage

Posted on January 4, 2013 by talkultra

Just four days into a new year and my diary is full…. or so to speak.

2012 was an incredible year. So many new things and new opportunities. The success of Talk Ultra was incredible and in just a couple of weeks the show will be 1 year old! In addition to the podcast I diversified my photographic skills and in conjunction with writing I shifted away from working as a ‘commercial photographer’ in the advertising world (I till do some commissions) and started to concentrate on running, runners, races and the world around this.

I am extremely grateful to Skyrunning for the support and backing in providing me with the opportunity to attend so many great events. I am also extremely grateful and thankful (in no particular order) to

Of course articles and photography would mean nothing without an outlet and I would like to thank:

So what does 2013 have in store?

Here is a list of races that I will be attending as a photographer and journalist in 2013.

2013 CALENDAR

January

February

01st – 10th COSTA RICA: The Coastal Challenge. Official Race Website HERE

28th – 7th SPAIN: Lanzarote (training camp)

March

April

04th -18th MOROCCO: Marathon des Sables. Official Race Website HERE

18th – 22th TURKEY: Iznik Ultra TBC Official Race Website HERE

May

09th -17th SPAIN: Skyrunning Transvulcania Ultramarathon – 83k, La Palma. Official Race Website HERE

24th – 27th SPAIN: Skyrunning Zegama-Aizkorri. Official Race Website HERE

June

20th – 24th ANDORRA: Skyrunning Ronda dels Cims – 170k, Vallnord. Official Race Website HERE

27th -1st July FRANCE: Skyrunning KM Vertical, Chamonix & Mont-Blanc Marathon. Official Race Website HERE

July

12th -15th FRANCE: Skyrunning Ice Trail Tarentaise – 65k, Val d’Isère. Official Race Website HERE

18th – 20th ITALY: European Skyrunning Championships. Official Race Website HERE

Image courtesy of Trans D’Havet

August

23rd – 26th SWITZERLAND: Skyrunning Matterhorn Ultraks – 46k, Zermatt. Official Race Website HERE

September

22nd – 28th Sept (Race Dates) my schedule 19th to 26th USA: Grand to Grand Ultra – Official Race Website HERE

24th -01st Oct (dates tbc) USA: Skyrunning Ultra Race of Champions “UROC” -100k, Vail. Official Race Website HERE

October

10th -14th ITALY: Skyrunning Xtreme – Vertical Kilometer® & SKY RACE, Limone sul Garda. Official Race Website HERE

November

Everest Trail Race

December

Marathon des Sables 2013

Posted on December 4, 2012 by talkultra

Save The Date – Event from 5 to 15 April 2013

THE MARATHON DES SABLES: BEYOND JUST A RACE…

Since 1986, the MARATHON DES SABLES has offered men and women from all around the world the privilege of an encounter with immoderation. That of landscapes, that of sporting challenge, but above all that of emotion.

An adventure carved out in the South Moroccan Sahara.

There were 23 in 1986, 27 years on there will be nearly a thousand runners coming together in this endurance race: 250 kilometres split into 6 legs marked out across the South Moroccan Sahara in the provinces of Errachidia and Tinghrir and to be completed at their own pace and self-sufficiently.  Over the course of a week, competitors will experience one of the finest challenges of their existence, of their whole life sometimes. There are sure to be a few champions in their midst, but most often the runners are ‘ordinary’ men and women in search of the extraordinary. For a lot of people, confronting the desert for six days and being self-sufficient in terms of food intake, is the realisation of a dream that began to take shape several years earlier. And here they are, at the heart of a majestic setting, with the Merzouga dunes, the highest in Morocco, as a backdrop.

The richness and intensity of emotions

It is often an inner journey for all the competitors. Each day, for hours on end, they will run, jog or walk. Whatever the pace, their sole obsession is to make headway. In the heat, the wind, then the night, their bag strapped to their back, they’ll traverse the desert, with the light of their headtorch, the starry desert sky their only witness. With the passing kilometres, with the passing tracks left amid a string of dunes, in a dried out erg, or on the summit of a djebel, they separate off from the superficial to simply be left with the essential. That will be their finest victory. “On the Marathon des Sables, you cut yourself off from the world, you learn to rediscover the simple pleasures,explains Nicolas Esterhazy, a 50-year old Belgian runner. It’s hard to express how you feel in words or images. Added to that is the solidarity between the runners. You run and you come across someone from Columbia, Portugal or China. You don’t know them but you share a moment with them. Such encounters are absolutely priceless.” “This race is kind of reminiscent of the United Nations,adds Kirk McCall, a runner newly arrived from Florida. The runners come from all over the world and share the same emotions, helping each other out. All the barriers are erased. The politicians of our world should take inspiration from the Marathon des Sables.”

An XL organisation

400 people manage the event, including 110 volunteers who come to add their contribution to this ocean of sand. This caravan also employs some 250 Moroccans, 65 of whom are allocated to the 119 runners’ tents as well as over 60 drivers capable of recognising nearly every stone and dune in the desert. An absolute priority at the MARATHON DES SABLES, safety remains a constant concern. Over 50 doctors and nurses treat 300 to 400 people each day, ranging from the unmissable blister to the more delicate operations.

Solidarity Marathon des Sables: The joy in sharing

Having financed the creation of wells and some more specific projects, the MARATHON DES SABLES has now gone the extra distance in its solidarity with Morocco by creating the Association, SOLIDARITY MARATHON DES SABLES. Inaugurated on 11 April 2010, the centre, situated to the North of Ouarzazate, offers those aged 3 to 5 early-learning sports activities and for those aged 6 to 11 early-learning athletics activities. In 2012, the association has also launched the Fémmissima operation, an initiative designed to boost literacy among women. These long-term projects have a budget of between 45,000 and 50,000 Euros. The aim is to perpetuate this action through donations from the runners, of whom there are an increasing number each year who support the Association SOLIDARITY MARATHON DES SABLES. Because joy is infinitely more beautiful when it is shared.