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Barely 12 days after race entries opened for the 2010 Snowdon Race the race limit of 500 (plus elite invites) has been reached – and in record time. Race organiser Stephen Edwards had one word for MST tonight “astounded”… Read more…
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For many of the UK’s elite endurance athletes who like a bit of XC in their programme, it’s the big one this weekend. Many can only hope of making a dent in the front half of the World XC results sheet come late March… Read more…
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Mark Keneally broke his silver Duck at this weekend’s Irish National Senior/Junior XC and led his team Clonliffe to another title in this year’s Irish cross-country season. The Clonliffe man took the expected win by 14 seconds from Galway’s Gary Thornton… Read more…
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England international mountain runner Emma Clayton is a bit of an all-rounder, she excels on the road and track, however the Scunthorpe athlete shows most talent on the fells. With a coach, a running dad and a supportive family, Emma has all of the ingredients to make it to the top… Read more…
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Snow gave way to sunshine for the penultimate race of the IMRA Irish Winter League – Maulin, the shortest (7k or 4.3 miles) but steepest (474m ascent or 1555 ft.) in this five race series. The final run-in on the Wicklow Way fire-roads is explosive… Read more…
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The Gripmaster does it in all sorts of locations – filming that is. Have you ever tried to run and film? I have and it looks as though I am just stood shaking the camera. What is his secret? Some interesting stuff out in the forest this time… Read more…
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After Kenyan Mark Bett romped away with the 33rd Algarve International Almond Blossom Cross Country, it was up to the Portuguese World XC hopefuls to book their places for Poland at the final meeting of the IAAF 2010 Cross Country Permit series. Read more…
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Rob Jebb continued his good early-season form yesterday at the Black Combe fell race in Cumbria. The Bingley man finished almost two minutes clear of Ellenborough’s Ricky Lightfoot, Borrowdale’s Jim Davies was third. Read more…
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By all accounts on the FRA forum Ian Holmes ran away with the Half Tour of Pendle yesterday, with Jo Waites winning the women’s race. Full results not available at time of writing, but some excellent images here and here Read more…
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Yet another exuberant film from the Gripmaster – this time at the 3 stages of the October 2009 edition of Keep on Running at St. Wendal. The event saw a 3km prologue through the town centre followed by two fast and muddy stages in the forests around St.Wendel. Read more…
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And what a treat there is in store for fell runners in the UK – the weather is set to be decent, and there are masses of races on. So, now there’s excuse (this author included) to not get our there and rock ‘n roll on the rocks and rolling hills! Read more…
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The Portuguese XC selectors will need to get their thinking caps on come Monday, as those hoping to make the plane to Bydgoszcz, Poland for this year’s World Champs on 28 March go into battle at the Algarve International Almond Blossom Cross Country. Read more…
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This historic annual 42-mile jaunt-in-the-dark through the Peak District kicks off tomorrow night (5 March) at 10pm. The High Peak Marathon is a night time navigation race for teams of four, starting and finishing at Edale Village Hall, Derbyshire. Read more…
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Unlike some other national XC events, the English National attracted record numbers of competitors to last weekend’s championships in Leeds, according to a report over at England Athletics. A total of 4303 runners finished in the ten races that were staged… Read more…
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The North Face Endurance Challenge runs from may to December across the States, culminating in San Francisco where the winner of the men’s and women’s 50 mile titles can bag $10,000 a piece! With rounds in New York, Washington and Wisconsin (plus one other) there is $14,000 on offer, as each round has a $1,000 first prize… Read more…
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The Sticky Toffee and Beauty and the Beast trail runs take place at Cartmel Racecourse on the 20th of March, and there are a few days left to grab yourself a place. 10 and 18km courses await across gently winding footpaths, although the ‘Beast holds much more darkness in store! Read more…
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Athletics fans are in for a treat this weekend when the Woodie’s DIY Inter Club Championships of Ireland take place in the Phoenix Park over a spectator friendly course. Mark Kenneally of Clonliffe Harriers will start as favourite to win the men’s Senior title on Sunday. Read more…
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Runners Digest went the extra mile at the English National XC on Saturday to produce some outstanding coverage. The mainstream media (outside of Athletics Weekly and Nicola Bamford’s excellent report) scratched the surface, but the ‘Digest really got down and dirty in the Leeds mud. Good work chaps… Read more…
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Andy and Joe Symonds are a pretty classy pair of fell runners, but even they struggled over the weekend during a run out in the Ochils. The scenery looks breathtaking, but a quality run session was probably never really on the cards… Read more…
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Belete powers to a convincing win at the Diekirch IAAF permit meeting, Freya Murray at the Fukuoka International XC, Ritzenhein out of world cross and new Kenyan coach Leting gets a grip with his charges… Read more…
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Inov-8 athlete and top all-rounder Jethro Lennox has had a busy start to 2010. On his Inov-8 blog he documents a mix of fell and cross country racing, and loading in the miles (100 a week at the mo’) for mountain marathons later in the summer… Read more…
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Last week’s Vertical Rush race pushed tower (or vertical) running another step closer to being a sport that engages with the consciousness of everyday and elite runners… Read more…
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It was high noon on the Noon Stone on Saturday as renowned orienteer Matt Speake overhauled the cream of English fell running to take a slender win over Dark Peak team-mate Lloyd Taggart. Rob Hope took third place with 2009 champion Simon Bailey in seventh… Read more…
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But be quick. Race entry forms are now online for download, then to be sent to race admin – entry opened at midnight today (1 March). The race organisers have an entry limit of 500, plus international / elite invitation runners, and at 12pm today over 200 forms had been downloaded. Read more…
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As previewed on Friday the pre-race favourites dominated across senior and age-group races at Saturday’s English National XC champs. Both Steph Twell and Andy Vernon ran away with the senior crowns… Read more…
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It’s a real job keeping up with what’s going on across-the-Pond when it comes to trail and off-road news. Some great resources out there such as Trail Runner, Trail running Soul and Byron Powell’s excellent iRunFar.com. Read more…
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This weekend sees runners go uphill all over England. From Hereford to Dufton to Guisborough. Next weekend (6 – 7 March) sees a huge amount of racing on the calendar, so people will either be honing their form or saving themselves. Sunday looks a bit iffy – weather-wise – so be careful and enjoy the sport! Read more…
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Kenyan Levy Matebo and sisters Mimi and Almenesh Belete will start as the favourites as Luxembourg’s Eurocross, the penultimate IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting of 2010, celebrates its 40th anniversary on Sunday (28). Read more…
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Scottish Athletics have posted a highlights video on their You Tube page from last weekend’s Scottish National Cross Country Championships. Nice work. Read more…
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An excellent preview on this weekend’s English National Cross Country Championships at the famous Roundhay Park in Leeds, by Athletics Weekly’s Steven Mills. This year’s racing should be highly competitive across age groups… Read more…
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Fascinating and apt little article on ice spike from the Run to Win guys. Personally I might think twice about putting screws into my favourite trail shoe, and you can buy off-the-shelf shoes like these... Read more…
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A host of celebrities will on Thursday (February 25) join more than a thousand Londoners to climb the 920 stairs of Tower 42 to raise money for housing charity Shelter at the Vertical Rush event. Elite internationals such as Anna Frost will join the throngs racing up the City of London’s second highest building. Read more…
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Despite some confusion among runners as the mooted 10k course was changed to an 8k course on the day, the crowds in Lough Key, Roscommon, were served to an enthralling spectacle as 21-year-old Brendan O’Neill of Dundrum South Dublin ran home from halfway. Read more…
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GB international Freya Murray showed why she is entering world class when it comes to cross country running, as she won the Scottish National Cross Country Championships by a street at Callander Park on Saturday… Read more…
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We like to practice what we preach here at MST. The trails in the Dyfi Valley area are some of the best in the UK – fact. So I thought I would share some of what I saw out there today, as I happened to have my camera with me. For the record – 8 miles, 61 minutes. Read more…
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Great report here from John Griffiths on Saturday’s Welsh Cross Country Championships in Swansea. With Andrea Whitcombe now an adopted Welsh girl there was only ever going to be one winner in the women’s event. Alex Hains comfortably won the men’s crown, romping away from Nat Lane… Read more…
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The flat reddish hulk of Tibradden Mountain has been known as a vaunted ‘ankle-breaker’ in hill-running folklore, strewed as it has been with loose rocks and scree. In later years, heavy erosion of the central trail had forced the route out of circulation for a while… Read more…
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The Kenyan Cross Country Championships took place on Saturday in Nairobi, and whilst the women’s event produced a relatively predictable winner in Linet Masai (World cross champ Florence Kiplagat is injured), the men’s race produced a new star… Read more…
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The 2010 edition of this classic fell race in north Wales took place in snowy conditions. Some great images from the Fell Running Pictures crew of Al Tye, Gwynfor James and Pete Mac – where would we be without this lot?! Read more…
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A race each for the Welsh and English this weekend. (We realise that there may be other races, but can’t find ‘em!). Two classic little races in the shape of Moel-y-Ci in Snowdonia, and Ilkley Moor, both races are 5 miles and should see some fierce racing at the head… Read more…
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Defending champion Freya Murray (Edinburgh AC), who finished ninth overall when representing the British women’s team in December’s European XC Championships, returns to Falkirk this weekend to defend her Scottish XC crown… Read more…
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The floods of November 2009 in Cumbria have directly effected over 1500 households and businesses. Many businesses are still closed severely affecting local employment… Read more…
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It’s quite a while since Daniela Vassalli lost a tower running race. Imagine her shock when that defeat was dished out by a 13 year old, in the season’s fourth Vertical World Circuit ® race on Basel’s Messerturm last Saturday… Read more…
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Map My Tracks, the outdoor social network for sports and fitness enthusiasts, has launched OutFront, a multi–sport iPhone app for sports enthusiasts. OutFront provides F1-style performance runners of all discipline… Read more…
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Some important changes were made to the council membership and to races under the auspices of the World Mountain Running Association at the council’s annual meeting, which took place on the 23rd of January in Monte Carlo. Read more…
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Arguably two of the greatest middle distance runners in history, Seb Coe and Steve Ovett are subject of a new BBC film that depicts their bitter rivalry that gripped Britain in the late 70’s and early 80’s… Read more…
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I took delivery of these around a month ago. When I opened the box I thought that I had an odd pair, such is the penchant these days for running brand’s ‘fast shoes’ to be of differing colour on right and left feet. Styling-wise these shoes are very different too… Read more…
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One of the most popular run/bike events of 2009, iROC™ has had to cancel this years event due to date clashes and feeback from competitors – however the organisers say that they will be back in 2011 bigger and better… Read more…
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Reigning womens World Cross Country champion Florence Kiplagat will not be on the start line in Poland for the 38th edition, on the 28th of March. Understandable really when you consider that the Kenyan has not run in anger since last year… Read more…
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Well on my desk at least. Yes, we have finally got our hands on a pair of Walsh Spirit Lite shoes – the Bolton fell-shoemaker’s statement of intent in trail running. At first glance the understated Walsh signature is there, with very little in the way of bells and whistles… Read more…
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Thanks to the Run4It footwear guru Steve Wales for providing us with this little gem which we missed when first released back in December, 2009. Steven Fallon is a hill runner and racer of repute, with regular Vet category prizes north of the Border – and has completed an amazing 14 Munro Rounds! Read more…
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Not just the product, but also this little Brooks micro site which highlights the effects of it’s new technologies in a light-hearted, and slightly self-deprecating manner. Brooks are a little left-field of the running mainstream, and we like ‘em for it! Read more…
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Sweden make some great kit. None more so than the lovely ProWarm Olympia crewneck thermal top, which has been looking after me on the hill for the last month. Craft are masters in the cold, but also provide some of the best textiles for all climates… Read more…
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After months of editing the Gripmaster finally unleashes the 2009 race highlights in one super trail running packed 16 minute film. The race was an epic last year, with Saab Salomon pairings of Andy Symonds and Tom Owens carrying all before them... Read more…
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Dathan Ritzenhein won his third senior USATF xc title in Indianapolis today, running away from a select group with around 3km to go. With many top athletes choosing to sit the race out ‘Ritz’ was always going to be head and shoulders above the rest… Read more…
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Chris Upson runs the excellent Scottish Hill Racing site, as with many in this sport it is for the love, so thanks must go to him and the SHR guys out on the hill at yesterday’s Carnethy 5 Hill race. Some great shots from Chris here… Read more…
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Running in almost perfect fell running conditions Rob Jebb cemented his place still further in Carnethy 5 Hill race legend’s role call, as he won today’s race from Carnegie Harrier Andy Symonds… Read more…
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Although a crisp wind was lightly tugging at the runners in today’s Tarren Hendre race – run off in excellent mountain running weather. Eryri Harriers’ Iwan Morton and Andrea Rowlands both comfortably won the mens and ladies categories, in the shadow of Cader Idris… Read more…
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The first real ‘big one’ of the 2010 Scottish scene is almost upon us. The Carnethy 5 Hill race is a classic in many ways (route – 2500 feet total climb over 5 summits, race history, past winners). There are 610 entered for this weekend’s race, and the men’s field is pretty nicely loaded… Read more…
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Northern off-road specialist Steve Vernon is getting his sights set on landing the big prize in English cross country this winter at the National XC champs in Leeds later this month. He can expect a tough challenge as ‘the National’ is on the shopping list of many an XC racer… Read more…
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The US national XC championships and selection race for the World Cross Country Championships, take place this weekend in Indianapolis. Read more…
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Not off-road running, but we are always attracted to inspirational running stories and thought it appropriate to point you towards this inspiring little interview by Pre’s Mustache of marathon legend Dick Beardsley… Read more…
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In the absence of many established hill runners in this year’s Winter League, notably defending WL champion Eoin Keith of Boards AC, there has been room for daring outsiders to establish themselves among the echelons of IMRA race winners. Read more…
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In pictures. Thanks to jellybabyfairy and Eileen Woodhead for covering the Wadsworth Trog and Half Trog, in less than ideal photographic conditions! Results are on the Calder Valley home page... Read more…
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In the third 2010 Vertical World Circuit® race to the summit of the Gherkin, Sunday, February 7, Italian runners Fabio Ruga and Daniela Vassalli were the winners in this first race up London’s iconic landmark. Read more…
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The biggest expo of running gear – bar none. ISPO is the place to go if you want a handle on what’s hot for the coming 12 months. Not being one to shy away from new kit the Gripmaster made the trip to Munich to enlighten us… Read more…
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Olympian and Olympic commentator Steve Cram has unveiled plans for a brand new race around Kielder Water & Forest Park. The marathon doesn’t appear to have a name yet, but Athletics Weekly reports that all will be revealed in their magazine, out this Thursday… Read more…
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All points of the continental compass were represented among the gold medallists at the 2010 European Clubs Cup Cross Country in Bilbao. Spain won the senior men’s individual and team titles, Russia’s Sports Club Luch Moscow took both women’s team competitions and Turkish athletes romping to three individual victories… Read more…
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Another new name in energy drinks – yes. Same formula, different bottle – no. When you cut through the detail of this new product you will see that they promise ‘no crash’ running, after the ‘spike’. What am I on about? Well you know how when you take an energy drink… Read more…
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A measly 8 seconds separated Mercia’s Andrew Davies from 2009 English fell champ Simon Bailey at yesterday’s Long Mynd Valleys race in Shropshire. In what appears to have been a really close race the first 6 finishers were separated by less than a minute… Read more…
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This next few weeks will see many National XC championships take place in Africa and Europe, ahead of next month’s World XC. Moses Kipsiro defeated 2009 World Mountain Running champion Joseph Kusuro at Saturday’s Ugandan championships on a dry course in the Amuria district. Read more…
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St.Mary’s students Steph Twell and Andy Vernon took expected wins at Saturday’s BUCS cross country championships in Sterling. With Twell facing little in the way of international class opponents, her win looked a formality. Read more…
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Some of you might remember the Irish pocket-rocket that is Moire O’Sullivan? Now residing in Vietnam, Moire is still putting here running abilities to test in the heat and hilly terrain just outside of Vietnam City. You might also remember Moire’s XT Wings review? Read more…
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An absolutely glut of races this weekend after a quiet few weeks. The Mickledon Straddle is cancelled, but otherwise there is plenty to choose from. One of the picks for us is the super-tough Long Mynd Valleys, regarded as one of the hardest races on the calendar… Read more…
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There can be nothing worse than cold hands (in my book anyway). The Swedes know a thing or two about keeping warm – they have to. So, when Simon @ Big Sky Agencies sent me through some Craft cold weather goodies I was rubbing my (cold) hands in glee… Read more…
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The 31st January deadline for the discounted early bird rate created a huge surge of online entrants over the weekend of 30/31st January, causing online entry breakdown for many. Some entries managed to get through the PayPal system, but many were left disappointed Read more…
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Spain’s recently crowned SPAR European Cross Country Championships gold medallist Alemayehu Bezabeh will be out to defend his European Champions Clubs Cup Cross Country title on home soil in Bilbao on Sunday… Read more…
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It only seems like yesterday that we were down in Bordon covering the last of the 2009 Saab Salomon Turbo X races. Well, its now February and it’s just over 4 weeks until the first race of the 2010 series gets underway at Surrey Hills near Bracknell on the 7th of March… Read more…
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That seems to be the question right now, as mainstream media, big brands and the likes of inov-8 battle it out over the question of barefoot / minimalist running, with inov-8 stating, “Slowly there is a weight of impartial scientific evidence emerging… Read more…
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New Zealand mountain great Melissa Moon won the Empire State Building Run-Up in New york yesterday. The 40 year-old ran the 1,576 steps and 86 floors of the historic skyscraper in 13 mins13 secs, well outside the women’s record of 11:23 set by Andrea Mayr in 2006. Read more…
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After winning in Antrim just over a week ago Kenya’s Mike Kigen underlined why he is being hailed as one of the contenders for this years World XC champs, with a demolition job on some top class African and European opposition at the Cross Internacional de San Sebastián on Sunday (31). Read more…
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Nope, no siree, not if the uplands of Wales are anything to go by. There is still some snow on the roadside here in mid-Wales, but in Snowdonia there is still plenty to remind us that it is still only just February… Read more…
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Emerging as one of the best young XC prospects in the UK, Jess Sparke ran away with the coveted Southern Cross Country Championships this weekend at the home of XC in the south, Parliament Hill. Bedford’s Neilson Hall took the men’s title. Read more…
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This must be one of the best magazines on the world’s newstands. Except it is online. I can’t read German, but it didn’t stop me from spending 20 minutes looking at the imagery and taking in the emotion of the superb off-road running e-zine that is Trail Magazin… Read more…
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Huge crowds appear to have greeted the racers at this weekend’s Discovery Kenya XC championships in Eldoret. Yet another name was served up on the east-African conveyor belt in the form of Joel Kimurer, who ran away from top marathon man Sammy Kitwara to take the win. Read more…
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A whole different game of mud, sweat and tears this one. Not really off-roading as we know it, but wanted to post this one for the images alone. Some great shots on the BBC site from AP on yesterday’s 8 mile Tough Guy Challenge in Staffordshire… Read more…
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After Milan and New York, the 2010 Vertical World Circuit® uniting the world’s most spectacular skyscrapers in an exciting new sports discipline, will head for one of London’s most iconic landmarks on Sunday, February 7. Read more…
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Ethiopian Humegaw Mesfin took his second major Cross Country win this year at the 78th edition of the Cinque Mulini in San Vittore Olona on a sunny but chilly morning. The women’s race went to reigning 1500m Olympic champion Nancy Langat who beat young Ethiopian Tizita Bogale by five seconds. Read more…
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Autumn has been a busy time in terms of trying out new alternative trail running shoes for this reviewer and with my inflamed metatarsals I hoped to find a shoe that struck a good balance between grip, lightness, and protection from the dangers of the trail. Read more…
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Fell shoe originators Walsh have recognised that time stands still for no man (or woman). The ultra-pure sport of fell running will never leave their hearts, however in a nod towards other off-road running activities that are emerging the Bolton pioneers have released a range of trail shoes… Read more…
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Multiple world mountain running champ Jonathon Wyatt can’t afford to hang around for the good weather. Jono takes the elements as he finds them, and crack on. What’s more running in the white stuff does great things for your endurance, and trail-handling skills. Read more…
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For top UK youngster Nick Goolab the last month or so has been a trying time. A lack of racing due to postponements and the poor weather has left the Belgrave man chomping at the bit to get out there and test himself in the competitive arena… Read more…
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A glut of snazzy running gear has arrived at the MST lounge this week for some hardcore testing over the coming season. Brooks have delivered their all new Green Silence shoe, designed for the flat lands, and isn’t even out yet – so we’ve got some fresh produce… Read more…
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Most XC runners (outside of Africa) don’t really associate the discipline with flat, grassy courses and warm sunshine, but this is what the runners got at this weekend’s Kenyan Police champs in Nairobi… Read more…
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Uber-road races the Great North Run and the London Marathon are placed on investigative journalists operating table to be sliced and diced in how they operate when it comes to charity entries and donations. Read more…
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The day dawned overcast and cool, the tops were clear and only a few spots of rain dampened the day. Conditions under foot were still tricky in places as the last of the compacted ice on some well used tracks lingered and a snow bank on the lower approach to Bishop Hill provided interest! Read more…
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The Spiritual Home of Irish Mountain Biking it may have been called but Ticknock woods remains a deeply rooted fixture both during winter and summer in Ireland and with Howth Winter cancelled by recent snow… Read more…
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African cross country is really ramping-up its act as 2010 creeps towards the IAAF World Cross Country in Bydgoszcz, with Kenya holding its annual police and forces championships and Ethiopia’s 3rd Sululta Cross Country meeting… Read more…
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You know MST, a few pairs of shoes here and there, we like to take our time over these things. The guys at Gripmastertrails.com like to test things with a little more gusto it seems. Goodness knows how many pairs of shoes hit the trails on this little test, but it was a lot! Read more…
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After her despondent weekend in Dublin back in December, Mary Cullen gave Euro champ Hayley Yelling a taste of her own medicine at the Antrim International XC on Saturday. The leading Irish XC runner romped her way to a 31 second gun-to-tape win on the Greenmount course… Read more…
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The 2010 Vertical World Circuit® kicked off on Sunday with a double sprint up Italy’s two highest towers. 2009 VWC® champions, Thomas Dold from Germany and Italy’s Daniela Vassalli lived up to their reputation by scaling the 70 floors to win. Read more…
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Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Boniface Kiprop may be a late withdrawal, but there is still a formidable field for the Antrim International, the sixth IAAF Cross Country Permit race of the season, which takes place on Saturday (23). Read more…
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A $million is a lot of cash by almost any sporting standard. The super-rich Gulf states seem to be happy fritter their money about these days and I am sure that the great Haile Gebrselassie will be more than happy to add that little lot to the small-fry $250,000 for the win at tomorrow morning’s Dubai Marathon… Read more…
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One lucky winner of this prize contest will get to travel to the South of France to run alongside the likes of Kilian, Jono, Adam Chase and Ricky Lightfoot, have a closer look at the 2010 Salomon range, and some exclusive future products, developed by the world’s best. Read more…
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You can never have enough mountain-craft, so the good people of the Scottish Hill Runners have called on clubs to come forward should they be interested in taking part in navigation and safety courses. The courses would be open top all runners, not just SHR members.. Read more…
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Mary Cullen and Ana Dulce Felix will head to Northern Ireland this weekend in an attempt to revenge surprise Euro XC winner Hayley Yelling at the Antrim International Cross Country. The race will also be an opportunity for Cullen to put the disappointment of Dublin behind her, where 12th place was well short of expectations. Read more…
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Defending Empire State champion Thomas Dold of Germany will attempt to join two other five-time winners of this historic tower race in NYC, when he headlines the field at the 33rd annual NYRR Empire State Building Run-Up on Tuesday, 2 February. Read more…
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This year’s 35th edition is set to be one of the most exciting as the organising committee are looking to attract a world-class field to this historic mountain race up and down the highest peak in England and Wales… Read more…
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The 2010 world XC circuit was back on track last weekend, with racing in Seville, Rovereto, Cardiff, Eldoret and Victoria (Australia). Wins for Benita Johnson at the Aussie Nat champs, Linet Masai in Seville and Abere Chane in Italy, plus much more… Read more…
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Interesting news piece on the inov-8 site, regarding the off-road shoe specialists’ drive towards ‘neutrality’, and how some of today’s running shoes could be adding to runners’ injury lists… Read more…
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Ultimate Trails™ is a new series of off-road events in adventure trail running, mountain biking scheduled for 2010. With an exciting and fun atmosphere for competitors and spectators alike high on the agenda. Race commentary, great courses and other entertainments all make for a fun family day out. Read more…
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This classic Irish round has been awarded status as a points scorer for the years big French Ultra, the UTMB. Writing for IMRA, Eoin Keith reports that runners wishing to take part in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc need 4 points from qualifying events, the Wicklow Round will now carry 3 points… Read more…
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The 2010 Vertical World Circuit gets underway this Sunday (24 January) at the Vertical Sprint Regione Lombardia. The event is organized by Vista Comunicazione in collaboration with the International Skyrunning Federation which has carried out research on Vertical Running® since 2007. Read more…
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Andy Vernon crushed the opposition at today’s McCains Cross Challenge in Cardiff. The Aldershot athlete delivered a 30 second defeat to the feet of Stroud runner Tom Russell. Hatti Dean was also comfortable in her victory of the women’s 6km race. Read more…
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The premier UK cross country race series, the McCain Cross Challenge, arrives Cardiff this weekend. GB internationals Jessica Sparke and Andy Vernon are in great form and should start as favourites as the series comes to the Principality on Sunday (17 Jan)… Read more…
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Kenya’s Linet Masai and reigning world XC champ Gebre Gebremariam head up the women’s and men’s line-ups for this weekend’s top international cross country event, the Cross Internacional de Itálica, in Seville on Sunday (17 Jan) Read more…
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Most of the UK fell programme remains badly affected by the snow and ice, albeit a thaw is expected this weekend. White Holme Circular, K.G.S.M.R. (Kielder) are canceled / postponed respectively, with Ashurst Beacon leaving it til the last minute... Read more…
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Boniface Kiprop is the latest addition to a classy field getting ready to assemble itself in Northern Ireland in just over a week. As reported on MST a few days back, many GB athletes will be making the trip west to Antrim for some quality competition and a taste of international cross country running… Read more…
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You might think that the end of the white stuff is good news for people to start getting about again, and for races to go ahead. However, an article on the Grough tells us to be extra cautious if you are out there on the hill this weekend, as melting snow on higher ground means the risk of avalanche… Read more…
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21 year-old Teessider Ricky Stevenson hasn’t yet set the world on fire, in world class terms. But the 2009 / 10 XC season has seen Stevenson emerge as one of the UK’s brightest young talents on the country, culminating with his big win at the weekend… Read more…
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Top endurance-event organisers Pro-Velo Support have announced details for their latest ultra-trail race this Spring. The Wiggle Lightning 12 is a smaller incarnation of the Adidas Thunder Run 24 which takes place at Catton Park later in the year. Read more…
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This year’s runfurther championships are now online. The series opens up with the 32 mile beast that is Howarth Hobble / Wuthering Hike and finishes off with Round Rotherham. The series if free to enter… Read more…
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Montrail has signed four new elite trail runners to Team Montrail including Max King, the winner of the 2008 and 2009 XTERRA Trail Run Championships and the 2009 USATF Trail Marathon Championship. Read more…
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New kids on the drinks block Orbana have come up with a product that looks to put an end to the ‘boom-and-bust’ of sports drinks – i.e feeling charged to feeling crappy due to the generous caffiene and sugar content that some beverages out there contain… Read more…
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Nicola Bamford profiles Edinburgh XC winner Joseph Ebuya for the IAAF and unearths yet another world-class talent from east-Africa who has found fame and fortune through athletics. After a time in the Army and then traveling to Europe without shoes or food Ebuya was (inevitably) snapped up by Ricky Simms... Read more…
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Whether running or biking, a hot brew is always a welcome sight after a session. A very timely little article on Triathlete’s World extols the virtues of a hot drink to re-hydrate at this time of year, especially if you have got extra cold out there… Read more…
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This is old news in a way. But the more barefoot running research comes out against heavily cushioned shoes, the more the body of evidence grows. Yes? No? All I will say on the matter is that since I have resorted to 90% of my running off-road, I have far less injuries, take from that what you will… Read more…
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Jane and Graham Porter, organisers of the inaugural Wexford Open Trail Series have issued the dates for this year’s return: 28th March Little Sliabh Bhui, 25th April Kilbrannish South, 9th May Gibbet Hill. More details have been made available on the 2010 series at IMRA. Read more…
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The main reason for the Gripmaster’s latest foray into the powder was (we think) to test out the Icebug SISU olx shoe. Whatever the reason we think that Stefan and his female partner had a lot of fun out there in the heavy snow that now covers Europe… Read more…
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During a weekend that stopped most of the programme in its tracks those gritty Lancastrians showed the rest of the UK that the show must go on – whatever the weather. The Lancashire AA Country Cross Country Championships went ahead as planned at a snowy at Witton Park on Saturday… Read more…
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Events company 26 Extreme have announced that the 2010 Mourne Way Marathon is set to take place on 12 June 2010. Last year’s event was a huge success and this year’s run aims to build on its popularity… Read more…
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The Gripmaster needs to muster all of his gripping mastery in this weather, but shows us that he has lost none of his powers in this little set of playful images from Bavaria… Read more…
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The head of endurance running at UKA, Ian Stewart, doesn’t think that there is too much wrong with Mo Farah, but none the less still sees the need to send the Brit distance ace off to see the UKA specialists to make sure that he is physically sound… Read more…
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There must be something in the air in Europe right now. The weekend of XC shocks continued as Ethiopia’s Humegaw Mesfin outgunned world cross country champ Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam in the last few yards of the Cross Internacional Zornotza in Amorebieta, Spain yesterday… Read more…
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Excellent round-up from Nicola Bamford, reporting for the IAAF on the International races at this year’s Great Edinburgh cross country. The mainly domestic affair that was the men’s 4km (not reported on here yesterday) was yet another upset as north-east rising star Ricky Stevenson beat Mo Farah into third place… Read more…
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One of the very few off-road races to survive a weekend running programme that was ravaged by the weather. It looked like a great turn out for the CCTPR with only one or two pairs of unprotected legs visible in the freezing conditions… Read more…
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Erm, it didn’t quite go to script this afternoon at the BUPA Great Edinburgh International cross country. Kenenisa Bekele had made it clear beforehand that his recent layoffs and moves into business had not affected his running, and was in good shape… Read more…
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Double Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba stormed through the snow to take victory at the Great Edinburgh International XC. The Olympic 5 and 10,000 metre champion, made a surging break in the final lap to romp to victory on the frozen course… Read more…
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You might think that running in the snow is hard work but good fun. It can also be dangerous, with all of those hidden dips and rocks nicely concealed by fresh, white powder. Funnily enough Ironmate Mark Kleanthous states that the deep powdery stuff is safer that the hard-pack… Read more…
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One of the best of many, many previews of the big XC event of 2010 so far. The men’s and women’s fields are completely loaded. Set the TV to BBC One on Saturday, get a brew on and watch some world-class cross country… Read more…
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With all of this extreme weather around hill runners will be training up their local office block at this rate, however tower running is gaining credibility the world over with the likes of Step Change and of course the Vertical Running World Circuit. Read more…
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Abraham Cherkos Feleke from Ethiopia, the reigning World Junior 5000m champion, won the 53rd edition of the Campaccio International Cross Country race – EA Permit – which took place today (6) in San Giorgio su Legnano. Read more…
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Predictably the UK fell, hill and mountain racing events have been hit this weekend. This lot are a hardy bunch but the extreme weather has made much of the higher ground un-runnable, and then there is the travel logistics to add in… Read more…
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The great Ethiopian graces the Scottish capital on Saturday at the BUPA Great Edinburgh international XC. In a super little interview with Herald Scotland Kenenisa talks about his first race of 2010 and his expanding business empire back in Addis… Read more…
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The current conditions in the UK are having an impact on running events across the board, with cross country running being hit up and down the country. This weekend is Area champs weekend and it looks like many will be postponed… Read more…
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The citizens of Bydgoszcz are taking to their feet each week to promote the 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships which will be held in the Polish city on Sunday 28 March 2010. Read more…
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It’s not running, but it’s outdoor, and it’s hills and fells, what’s more it’s a great round-up of 2009 by one of the best outdoor sites on the net. With tributes to the likes of John Evans and stories on the English coastal path. Make sure you click here for page two aswell… Read more…
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After a highly disappointing run at the SPAR Euro XC in December, UK endurance hope Steph Twell will look to make amends and put 2009 behind her as she takes on the likes of Euro champ Hayley Yelling and Olympic champ Tirunesh Dibaba at this weekends BUPA Great Edinburgh International cross country… Read more…
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Welsh TV company S4C (available on satellite to those outside of Wales, on on Clic after screening) will show the Amazon Jungle Marathon this week, starting on Tuesday (5th) at 9pm GMT, and then on Weds and Thursday evenings at the same time… Read more…
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There’s a saying that goes “a million people can’t be wrong”, well I’m not sure how many pairs of the Mudclaw™ 330 that Inov-8 have sold (probably not quite a million!) but I am sure that one of their best-selling shoes is so for a reason… Read more…
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Alex Vero this month releases Running to the Limits. With interviews and profiles from such greats as Haile and Richard Nerurkar the film follows Vero in his quest to run a marathon in sub 2 hrs 20 mins… Read more…
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The 2009 Yearbook is the first of its kind for IMRA. It features 80 pages of articles… which capture the magic that was mountain-running in Ireland in 2009. With articles from 17 contributors and featuring the amazing photographs of John Shiels, this yearbook is a limited-edition hardcover book that will grace any coffee table. Read more…
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The Irish Mountain Running Association represents hill running in all the four Provinces of Ireland (Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster) yet an oft-heard joke is the inference that the association is more The Leinster Mountain Running Association. Read more…
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It was a case of out with the old and in with the new at the classic Auld Lang Syne race on new year’s eve. 380 brave souls got out there in the deep snow of Bronte Country, with Ali Brownlee outsprinting fell legend Ian Holmes. Read more…
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There was a flurry of racing across the snow filled fells and hills of England, Wales and Scotland as the new decade dawned. Great to see some hefty turn-outs at the Greenmantle Dash, The Morning After and Aonach Mor… Read more…
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Diego Perathoner, organizer of the 2009 European Championships in Canazei, Italian Dolomites, was killed together with three other rescuers in an avalanche on December 26. Perathoner died in a rescue attempt to find two tourists who had gone off-piste, they were also killed in the tragedy. Read more…
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After a Festive period of house moves, illness and ISP issues (BT – grrrr!) Mud, Sweat and Tears is back online. 2010 will be bigger and better (we hope) with even more off-road news, new features and exclusives… Read more…
