THE FUTURE IN THE SKY – 2018 Migu Run Skyrunner® World Series Announced

Posted on October 12, 2017 by talkultra

Getting steep and getting high, the 2018 Skyrunner® World Series was announced today.

Since 1989 and the pioneering days of Marino Giacometti, Skyrunning has developed and grown into one of the most prestigious mountain running circuits in the world.

The catchphrase, Less Cloud, More Sky sums the sport up perfectly.

2018 brings a new circuit with old and familiar races but importantly the distances of SKY CLASSIC, ULTRA and EXTREME combine – SKY CLASSIC and SKY EXTRA.

The 2018 Season

China will kick-off the season with the Yading Skyrun in April.

May brings us two iconic races that over the years have become favorites for Skyrunner’s all over the world, Transvulcania and Zegama-Aizkorri.

June kicks-off with USM – Ultra SkyMarathon Madeira followed by TBC, Olympus Marathon (Greece).

Buff Epic 42km (Spain) is the first race in July closely followed by High Trail Vanoise (France) and the iconic Dolomites SkyRace (Italy) and Comapedrosa (Andorra).

Tromso SkyRace (Norway) is a stunning way to start August and the highly anticipated Trofeo Kima (Italy) returns (this race is every two years) on the same weekend as Matterhorn Ultraks (Switzerland).

The RUT 25km (USA) begins September and then Skyline Scotland will host the Glen Coe Skyline (Scotland) ahead of the Ultra Pirineu (Spain).

Pirin Ultra SkyRace (Bulgaria) kicks-off October and Limone Extreme (Italy) concludes the season once again in the mountains that back on to Lake Garda.

BONUS RACES

Each of the bonus races will award 50% extra points.

There will be three Sky Classic and two Sky Extra bonus races.

Sky Classic

Olympus Marathon
SkyRace Comapedrosa
Limone Extreme

Sky Extra

Ultra SkyMarathon Madeira
Trofeo Kima

RANKING

Sky Classic Ranking

The Sky Classic Ranking will take into account a maximum of the five best seasons’ results in this category.

Sky Extra Ranking (Extreme and Ultra Races)

The Sky Extra Ranking will take into account a maximum of the four best seasons’ results in this category.

Overall Ranking

The Overall Ranking will be the focus of the season and a foretaste of the single ranking that will apply from 2019.

All athletes scoring points in any race will enter the Overall Ranking.

The ranking will take into account a maximum of the best two results in each category.

BONUS POOL

The 2018 End of Season Bonus Pool will increase amount 66,000 EUR (in increase from 60’000 EUR in 2017). Men and Women will be equally rewarded and emphasis will be put on the Overall ranking. The breakdown will be as follows:

1st Place:

Sky Classic 5000 euro

Sky Extra 5000 euro

2nd Place:

Sky Classic 2500 euro

Sky Extra 2500 euro

3rd Place:

Sky Classic 1500 euro

Sky Extra 1500 euro

THE FUTURE IN THE SKY – 2019 VISION

The Migu Run Skyrunner® World Series in 2019 will continue within the footsteps pioneered by Giacometti, Meraldi and Brunod to establish itself as the premier circuit for mountain running worldwide.

Varied distances, varied terrain and locations all over the world.

As the running world continues to grow at a pace, the Skyrunner® World Series will look to set new standards in 2019.

Races will not exceed 16-hours.
Distances will be 22km to 66km.
A SkyRace will be clarified by technicality, speed, intensity and extreme terrain.
A race rating of 1 – 3 will based on the following:

Climbing difficulty.
Altitude reached.
Single vertical difference.
Snow fields and glaciers.

For example, Extreme races are 3.

THE BIG NEWS

A single ranking for 2019 to determine who is the best Skyrunner® in the world.

SEASON

The calendar will run April to October with a spread of races that will number 15-20 on different continents.

RACE STATUS

Four races in the season will be ‘SuperSky Races’ and will reward more points.

THE ‘KONA’ OF THE SKY

Ironman has its KONA and Skyrunning will have its THE SKY MASTERS – a race to end the season that will gather the best-of-the-best to race head-to-head at an iconic location.

PRIZE MONEY

Each SkyRace will have a price purse of 6000 euro.

The end of season bonus pool will amount to 100.000 euro.

More details and information to follow

Olympus Marathon 2017 Summary and Images – 2017 Migu Skyrunner® World Series

Posted on June 25, 2017 by talkultra

Olympus Marathon 2017 Summary

It’s not every day that you get to run with the gods, but nearly 1000 runners toed the line to participate in the 2017 Olympus Marathon, the next race in the Migu Skyrunner® World Series.

The course is tough and beautiful with two directions, up and down. The first half of the race climbs from just 3m above sea level in the sacred city of Dion and the runners climb to 2700m and the impressive Mt. Olympus. Will they be a sacrifice to Zeus? From here, the race drops down and the runners retrace history and myth and finish in Litochoro.

The race was very much controlled by two outstanding Skyrnunner’s, Aritz Egea and Ragna Debats. Egea just last weekend placed 2nd behind Tadei Pivk at the Livigno SkyMarathon, here he led from the front setting a blistering pace. Victory was never in doubt and this was confirmed when he crossed the line with a new course record 4:24:26.

“I am feeling very good this year, I think it’s maybe the best form I have ever had. Last year I wasn’t motivated… Sometimes you need a break and I am now reaping the rewards.”

Previous course record holder, Jessed Hernandez was 2nd in 4:43:12 and a late surge placed Kiril Nikolov 3rd ahead of local favourite and one of the pre-race favourites, Dimitrios Theodorakakos, their times 4:44:32 and 4:46:13.

For Debats, a very full racing calendar is pushing this lady to the limits but she is handling the strain well. Under the intense heat of a Greek sky she lead the race from the front and took victory with a new course record 5:18:20.

“It was a good day, I am very happy with the victory. I will need to make sure I plan some rest but I am feeling good.”

Laura Sola de Miguel ran in 2nd place for the whole day and this was her finishing position almost 10-minutes behind Debats in 5:32:05. Glykeria Tziatzia had run in 3rd for the duration of the race and looked strong and confident, however, in the closing miles the heat and strain of the day took over and her pace dropped allowing Hillary Allen to pass and take the final podium place in 5:37:13. A heartbroken Tziatzia crossed the line in 5:46:04 – a name to watch for the future!

It was a long, hot and tough day for all, when crossing the line the fatigue and dehydration from a tough race was clear to see. The consensus confirmed an incredible course – beautiful and brutal!

A break in the Migu Skyrunner World Series next weekend will see the action continue in Spain and France, with the Buff Epic Trail and High Trail Vanoise.

Olympus Marathon 2017 Preview – 2017 Migu Skyrunner® World Series

Posted on June 21, 2017 by talkultra

Olympus Marathon Preview – 2107 Migu Skyrunner® World Series

Reaching for the SKY turns to Greece and the Olympus marathon, the 3rd race in the 2017 Migu Skyrunner® World Series

Coming just one week after the Livigno SkyMarathon, this 44km course with 3200m of vertical gain will be a hard-fought battle for victory and valuable SWS points. Reaching a high-point of 2780m, the race is a real challenge.

Starting at just 3m above sea level at Dion, a renowned archaeological site, the incredible Mount Olympus provides a stunning backdrop. Reaching 2780m, the route climbs with mountain views to the surrounding higher peaks. Passing below the ‘Throne of Zeus’ the route goes through the Mount Olympus National Park and comes close to Olympos Orgs. The route is classic Skyrunning, starting low, getting high and then returning low.

Course records stand at 5:21:36 for the ladies, set by Stevie Kremer and 4:33:37 by Jessed Hernandez.

Aritz Egea heads-up the male race after placing 2nd in Livigno SkyMarathon behind Tadei Pivk just last weekend. He is without doubt in great form. Strong competition will come from his teammate Hassan Ait Chaou and Kiril Nikolov. Dimitrios Theodorakakos won the 2016 edition of the race and although he is on the start list, we are unsure if he will run, therefore, keep an eye on Julien Martinez De Estibariz, Aleksandr Ivan, Babiano Marconi, Franco Sold, Artem Rostovstev, Alexey Kurochkin, Roberto Sancho and Oscar Carrasco.

Ultra SkyMarathon Champion Hillary Allen, heads up the ladies’ race but she will be in for a battle from Ragna Debats, Aitziber Ibarbia and the UK’s Holly Page. Laura Sola, Paloma Lobera and Eugenia Miro are also racing and are likely to contend the top-5.

Action starts in the early hours of Saturday June 24th and you can follow on this website and via Skyrunning Facebook and twitter.

Why We Run – Salomon Running TV S3 E01

Posted on October 30, 2013 by talkultra

“Ideally I would like to be a bird but running is a close second”

The African Attacment and Salomon Running once again take our sport and the visual story to the next leveel

Bernd Heinrich is a retired Professor living in a log cabin in the woods of Western Maine. He has held numerous running records throughout his life and has committed much of his time to the study of the natural world. In Episode 01 we look back at this man’s incredible life, his achievements, the lessons he has learned, and what we can possibly learn from him.

Music:
“Breathe”
By SignPost
Written for The African Attachment & SRTV
http://www.signpostsound.co.za

Additional Race Footage:
Transvulcania & Zegama – Kikazaru Producciones
Marathon du Mont Blanc – Mouss Productions
Olympus Marathon – Stamos Birsim