The Lost Worlds Causeway Crossing – three unique events along the Giants Causweay Coastline and the Moyle Way. A unique landscape – the Giants Causeway Coastline and the Moyle Way. Individuals can take part in a 25k, 50k or 100k event.

Taking place on Saturday 4 May 2013 the main event of the weekend, The Lost Worlds 100k will see a top quality line up. Most notable is the late inclusion of US based runner Dave James.

Dave has a very strong reputation on the US ultra scene. He is a USATF national champion and has run some incredible times over the 100 mile distance, his PR is 13:06:52.. He has already had an an impressive 2013. He secured another win at the multi stage,  The Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica and then just one week later raced at Fuego Y Agua to get second place behind Nick Clark. Dave loves to run and is currently in Europe in preparation to take part in the 2013 Skyrunning calendar. It is not his first time in Ireland, he represented Team USA (2011) IAU World Trail Championship. He is racing The Lost Worlds Tuscany event and just 7 days later  the Causeway Crossing. he will head to La Palma for Transvulcania, just two weeks later he will race at Zegama and then the big one! Rond del Cims in Andorra. A super tough 100 miler that has a profile that looks like JAWS dental records. Without doubt Dave will be competitive in Ireland but he has a busy diary… he is going to need to keep some powder dry.

Courtesy of Ryan at Ni Running, here is an update on the local talent:

Jonny Steede (Balllymena Runners):  Jonny is a VERY strong contender in my opinion.  He has represented Northern Ireland in Mountain Running previously, then gained a lot of speed by moving to the roads (as well as still competing over the mountains).  He has really found his niche on the trails, his strength and speed will suit this course.  Jonny recently won the prestigious Wickow Way Ultra (51k) in March 2013, and is definately a future star in the Ultra world!  He really hammered a few big names in Wicklow!  This will be his first attempt at 100k, but he has put in the training for it… much of which is with well-known Irish Ultra runner Martin Rea (North Belfast Harriers) and my brother, Justin Maxwell (Larne AC), who is taking part in the Sky Running World Series this year (starting in Transvulcania).

Geoff Smyth (Unattached): Geoff was the winner of last years 100k, running 10:04:22.  He knows the course well and has also won the Causeway Coast Ultra (39miles), which covers the coastal section of the Lost Worlds course in 2011.  He won the Dervock marathon in 2:56:29 last year, this was a tough rural road marathon.  He has a road marathon PB of around 2:48, so he isn’t an ‘elite speedster’ as such, but a real ‘battler’… he will run steady and prove hard to break.  There was word that he may have picked up a niggle, but I cant confirm this!

Ivan Sadlier (Unattached):  Ivan is an experienced Ultra runner and was 3rd in 100k here last year.  In truth, he’ll only be a contender should there be drop outs or lack of depth in the field.  Mentally and physically, he’s a tough man… but it’s his speed over the distance that will be a disadvantage.  His times for some well known Ultra’s are SDW100 (100m) – 22:56:04 and Highland Fling (53m) – 10:43:00

Hanna Shields (City of Derry AC): Hannah is somewhat of a local hero to some, having conquered Everest.  She is an experienced Ultra runner knows the course well. She was 3rd in the Causeway Coast Ultra (39 miles) and 3rd in the Mourne Way Ultra (52 miles) in 2012.  She has also placed well this year, preparing for this event with a 2nd place finish at the Wicklow Way Ultra (51k) and a 3rd place finish at the Connemara Ultra (39.3m) a few weeks ago.

Of course a 50km event is also taking place, favourites are:

Jolene Mellon (Setanta Triathlon Club):  Jolene is from Ireland (Southern Ireland) and a strong contender for a podium place in the ladies 50k.  She originates from a Sportiff cycling backround but moved into Triathlons for a bigger challenge.  She went on to complete and Ironman/women event.  She is a strong runner and won the Mourne Way Ultra (52miles in 9:45:58) in 2012.  She completed the tough Cooley Legends HM last weekend as preparation for this race last weekend, she finished in 3rd place.  She won the Cooley Legends HM in 2012.  The reason I pick out this HM is because a lot of the terrain is similar to what the Causeway Crossing course will be like.

David Gamble (Seapark AC):  David has good experience in Ultra running, he is strong and a consistent top ten finisher in Ultra distance events in NI and Ireland.  He has completed the Mourne Way Ultra (52miles in 10:30:18) and the Causeway Coast Marathon on several occasions, with the terrain of the Mourne Way event and the knowledge gained during his participation in the Causeway Coast Marathon I think he could go well in the Lost Worlds event.  He has been off the radar ‘racing wise’ recently, probably getting himself into good shape for this.

A word from Tim Holmstrom

Tim Holmstrom from Lost Worlds Racing is very excited about the Irish leg of his series “We have Team Red White and Blue participating in a 4 person team relay of 100k. More info on this amazing organization here: http://teamrwb.org. Also, most exciting for me is that this series will be culminating next ummer in Greece at  Lost Worlds Meteora : 100M/50M mountain ultra. Participants will experience Meteora and an amazing part of Greece.”

When asked about The Lost World series, Tim says, “It is about World Heritage and a deliberate effort to create a singularly unique experience for our participants based on many facets. It is a chance to have meaningful cross cultural exchange in a race setting with an international field. Lost Worlds Racing also provides a window for participants into amazing cultural and historically significant places of natural beauty, as well as remarkable trails and terrain when considering our race venues. These are more than races. My hope is that they feel like a step back in time into locations that should be on everyone’s bucket list as an important part of their own earthly experience and collective heritage as humans.”

Other notable locations of the Lost Worlds Series are:- Ometepe, Nicaragua; Tuscany, Italy; Belize Crossing, Belize; Dominica Crossing, Caribbean.

The Route/ Race

All Lost Worlds Causeway Crossing events will be fully waymarked and will follow the paths, tracks, beaches and coastline of the Moyle Way and Causeway Coast Way – probably one of the most spectacular coastlines in the whole world. The entire route of the 50k and 25k events pass through magnificent coastline scenery with fine views of wide bays, sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and offshore rocks, all of which characterise the GiantsCauseway Causeway Coast, making its beauty and uniqueness world famous. All events will run through the world famous Giants Causeway with the 100k event passing past this famous landmark twice.The 100k route also follows the route of the Moyle Way, along tracks and trails where few feet ever venture and along majestic streams and pathways which will test the fittest participant over the first 50k.

There will be a high level of support and feed stations en route. Participants in all events will use a timing system for this event and split times and finish times will be available for all participants after crossing the finish line of the event.

Links and info

I will be at the event producing race coverage and photography. Please check Facebook, Twitter and of course this website.