The Dragon’s Back is back!

Posted on February 17, 2014 by talkultra

I am now able to confirm the dates for the third iconic Dragon’s Back Race™ in 2015. The race will depart from Conwy on Monday 22nd June and finish five days later at Carreg Cennen Castle in South Wales.

In the last few weeks there has been a comprehensive update of the Dragon’s Back Race™ website and the majority of details for the 2015 race are now available online.

There is bound to be much speculation about the first day of the race, which in 2012 included all the Welsh 3000ft peaks, and the notoriously exposed Grib y Ddysgl ridge between Crib Goch and Garnedd Ugain. Some competitors felt that the route was too hard. This is something I have consider very carefully and just like 2012, I shall be keeping the details of the final route secret until the competitor briefing on the night before the race. However, the keen eyed will have spotted that the estimated distance for Day 1 in 2015 is 7km / 600m less than 2012. Competitors can certainly infer that the Day 1 route in 2015 is going to be slightly different, but they should not make the mistake of thinking it is going to be easier!

The 2015 course will be similar, but not identical, to the 2012 route. The 2012 route took its inspiration from the original 1992 Dragon’s Back Race™ and again for 2015, it is our absolute intention to stay true to the original concept of running the mountainous spine of Wales.

Also new for the 2015 race will be live tracking of the competitors so that friends and family can watch all the action unfold in real time each day.

The deadline for Dragon’s Back Race™ 2015 applications is Monday 8th September 2014. Please do not delay if you are intending to enter and get yourself registered and familiar with the online process.

If you were interested in volunteering as a marshal at the Dragon’s Back Race™ the Application process is now open.

The Dragon’s Back website HERE
Check out the DVD HERE it’s a great watch!

The Coastal Challenge Images #TCC2014

Posted on February 12, 2014 by talkultra

Images from the 10th edition of The Coastal Challenge are now available on my photoshelter website.

You can view them HERE

A portfolio of images will be updated on this website in the coming days.

The Coastal Challenge #TCC2014 – Stage 6 Preview

Posted on February 6, 2014 by talkultra

Day 6 – Bahia Drake (Osa Peninsula Corcovado Park)

The final day is very much a procession. Depending on the overall standings of the race, this day is very much like the last day of the Tour de France. It’s a beautiful circular route over 23.7km that manages to encompass everything that has gone before it. An early morning run down the middle of a river, climbing and scrambling, dense forests followed by open pastures and then some of the most incredible beaches and coves will bring the 10^th edition of the 2014 TCC to a close. Nestled at the rear of the beach at San Josesito, the only checkpoint of the final day waits at 13km. Scenery and courses don’t come much better than this. Each and every runner will witness Corcovado Park in all its glory. The evening beach fire, beers and awards BBQ will be a memory that will last in each and every runners minds for a long time to come.

Follow the race at www.iancorless.com

Twitter @talkultrs

Facebook/talkultra

#TCC2014

The Coastal Challenge #TCC2014 – Stage 5 Preview

Posted on February 5, 2014 by talkultra

Day 5 – Sierpe to Bahia Drake

Another long day at 47.5km but what a day and what a course awaits; the route provides a pure rainforest experience. Much of today’s route is in accessible by vehicles. In truth, they only true way to navigate this course is by foot or by boat. The trails are dense, technical and muddy but they interspersed with dramatic water crossings, plantations, small villages and as the stage comes to a close the sea awaits and the stunning Drakes Bay. It’s a paradise. The day starts with a short transfer and water crossing by boat. This is necessary to get all the runners on the correct side of the water. Leaving Sierpe a 5km climb awaits, from the summit, the route very much drops down to the finish with short sharp climbs at 22km, 39km and 43km. Three checkpoints at Sabalo (16.1km), Florida (26.2km) and Guerra (36.1km) are followed with a final water station at 41km. Today is arguably the toughest day for the TCC staff and team as gaining access to the course and route is extremely difficult.

Follow the race at www.iancorless.com

Twitter @talkultrs

Facebook/talkultra

#TCC2014

The Coastal Challenge #TCC2014 – Stage 4 Preview

Posted on February 4, 2014 by talkultra

Day 4 – Ventanas Beach to Sierpe

2950m of climbing in 37.5km make day-4 a particularly testing day. The route is almost split into two halves. From the start runners immediately climb for the first 10km to the highpoint of the course. From here, the race is run over highland plains, weaving in and out, up and down before the final very tough and technical descent to Palmur Sur. In 2013 the heat beat down making this stage particularly difficult. Three checkpoints at; Cruce Trillo (6.4km), Cementery (12.9km), Donkey’s Hill (19.8km) and a final water station is almost 14-km’s to the finish; this can’t be underestimated in the 40-degree temperatures. From the finish line a short transfer awaits each and every runner to camp 4.

Follow the race at www.iancorless.com

Twitter @talkultrs

Facebook/talkultra

#TCC2014

The Coastal Challenge #TCC2014 – Stage 3 Preview

Posted on February 3, 2014 by talkultra

Day 3 – Dominical to Ventanas Beach

Waterfalls, long hot beautiful beaches, water crossings and an idyllic campsite at Ventanas Beach make the longest stage (48-km) of the TCC one to remember. It embodies the Costa Rican coastline and as tired bodies fight fatigue a couple of stings in the tail await, particularly in the final few kilometers when a dense forest section leads to a final stretch of road. Four checkpoints await; Lulo Bridge (10.1km), La Florida (24.8km), Hermosa Beach (36.8km) and finally Coastal Hwy (43km). It’s a day that all the runners will remember… on fresh legs they will see the incredible waterfalls as the sun rises and if they are lucky, in the evening whilst recovering on the beach, the sight of Whales breaching the water may well provide a stunning end to the day as the sun disappears on the horizon.

Follow the race at www.iancorless.com

Twitter @talkultrs

Facebook/talkultra

#TCC2014

The Coastal Challenge #TCC2014 – Pre race audio and images

Posted on February 1, 2014 by talkultra

The stage is set for the 2014, 10th edition Coastal Challenge. Without doubt a quality field will toe the line in Quepos tomorrow for stage one of the race (route preview here).

We held an impromptu press conference and had an opportunity to chat to each of the lite runners on how they have prepared and how they thing this 10th edition will unfold. As you well be able to tell from the audio… spirits are high and we are going to see a very exciting race.

AUDIO HERE

http://traffic.libsyn.com/talkultra/TCC2014_pre_race.mp3

Unfortunately, Anna Frost has to make the difficult decision to remove herself from the race on doctors advice. However, she will follow, help out and participate in her own unique way. You see her interview HERE

Like the Wind – A new magazine about running is launched

Posted on January 29, 2014 by talkultra

Like the Wind, launching on 5 February 2014, is a new running magazine presenting stories about running.

The magazine is a collection of stories about running, brought together to inspire, motivate and delight. The stories, told through words and images, have come from the widest possible range of runners and are about every different type of running, from track sprinting to ultra trail running to road racing.

The first issue of Like the Wind has only been possible thanks to the generous contributions of the writers, photographers, illustrators, designers and our sub-editor, all of whom have given their time and effort for free. This has meant that the proceeds from the magazine, after the bills have been paid, can be donated to charities nominated by the contributors.

Like the Wind magazine is currently on sale online, either as a stand-alone copy or as a package including an exclusive print or postcards: HERE

We look forward to as many people as possible spreading the word about the magazine: the more stories we have, the more we can share and sharing stories is the whole point of Like the Wind. You can get in touch with us about anything to do with the magazine or tell us your story (or just say hello) at:

run@likethewindmagazine.com
facebook.com/likethewindmag
@likethewindmag

Would you like to win a copy of the magazine and possibly attend the launch party?

Simon & Julie have set up a link to a form where people can sign-up for the chance to win one of two launch prizes each of which will include an invitation for two to the launch party on 5 February at Corbet Place in central London and one copy of the magazine. The link that people need to click on to enter is this: HERE

I personally am very excited about this project and of course I have been extremely happy to contribute. Simon and Julie have very kindly provided a couple of spreads of my work to give you an insight into the magazine.

Hope you all enjoy it!

Everest Trail Race – Trail Magazin Germany

Posted on January 24, 2014 by talkultra

Trail Magazin Germany has a fantastic 6-page spread on the Everest Trail Race using my words and photography.

The ETR really is an iconic and wonderful race. The article also includes writing by Andreas & Kathrin Shambeck on their personal experiences of the race.

You can download the magazine on PDF HERE

V3K joins the Skyrunner® Series UK – Skyrunning UK

Posted on January 22, 2014 by talkultra

It’s no easy task… 15-peaks all over 900m (3000ft) in 55-km’s. This is the challenge that awaits those who are brave enough to join the journey of the Welsh 3000’s in the V3K Ultra; the new addition to the Skyrunning UK calendar and the Skyrunner® Series UK.

Skyrunning UK embraces tough and technical challenges; the V3K with over 4000m’s of vertical gain is exactly what a Skyrunning race in the UK should be. Where earth meets sky is our ethos and the Welsh 3000’s will provide this in abundance.

Kirsch Bowker, RD for the V3K explains, “It’s an incredible and exciting opportunity. I have followed Skyrunning for the last couple of years. The launch of the Skyrunner® Series UK is a significant moment and to be involved right from the start is quite incredible for us.”

This range of mountains provides an absolute classic point-to-point race, starting with Snowdon and finishing with Foel Fras, arguably the toughest section will be Crib Goch. The route will involve scrambling, hand-on-knees climbing and it certainly isn’t a route for those who may be scared of heights.

“The route has been my life, I have covered this route time and time again. I adore it,” said Bowker “The idea for the race has been a long-term project. I undertook this with two friends; unfortunately one of those friends has now passed away so this race is a tribute. I know the mountains personally.”

Iain Ridgway, an experienced International mountain fell and ultra runner had this to say, “Superb, it’s about time the Welsh 3000’s received some serious attention, this will generate more interest in a challenge to Colin Donnelly’s record (set in 1988), which is up there with the Bob Graham as one of the all time great UK mountain records. The route has it all from fast running to really technical rough terrain. It must rank as some of the most technical terrain covered by a UK mountain race.”

“The hardest section is down Crib y Ddysgl and then the ascent of Crib Goch and traverse of its pinnacles. That’s followed by almost 2500ft descent to Nant Peris and soon after a 3000ft ascent of Elidir which is a long drag,” Iain says with an obvious excitement about the route “later on you have a steep unrelenting 2000ft descent of Tryfan followed by an immediate re-ascent of 2000ft Pen Yr Ole Wen and then fast running over the Carneddau, so those who cope with those and have good legs from then on will do well.”

The 3VK is unique as a UK route because of its successive 2-3000ft ascents and descents (plus many smaller ones). It is going to test each and every participant.

Are you up to the challenge?

Join us on the start line of the V3K Ultra, June 28^th, 2014. Enter HERE

Details: