Sarah Rowell - 'Off the beaten track'
A comprehensive article in Athletics Weekly (9.4.09) in which Sarah Rowell outlines the selection procedures for this year’s major mountain events, and gives an insight into how off-road running continues to go from strength-to-strength…
Most readers of Athletics Weekly are aware of the main international events that take place on the track and cross country. However, this summer sees some exciting new developments
Those with international aspirations on the mountains and ultra distances both on the road and trails. Previous articles in Athletics Weekly have explained to readers the differences between British fell running and the more European style mountain running – put simply European-style mountain and trail races are always flagged, do not involve any route choice and take place on well-defined (if rocky) paths and four-wheel-drive tracks.
Many of them are what is known as uphill-only; others will involve running up and down. At a championship-level senior men’s races are typically held over 12km, taking the winners between 50 minutes and an hour depending on the course severity and when it’s an up-only or up-and-down race. Women race over 8km.
This year sees a number of exciting new changes to international mountain/trail running and ultra-running, with the following opportunities available to runners this summer.
European Mountain Running Championships
The European Mountain Running Championships (on an uphill-only course) will be held in Teifes, Austria, on July 12, 2009. The official UKA trial will be held in Llanberis on June 14, 2009. Senior men’s and women’s and junior men’s teams will consist of up four athletes to run, with the first two eligible athletes in each trial race being automatically selected. The junior women’s teams will consist of up to three athletes to run, with the first eligible athlete in the trial race being automatically selected.
IAU World Trail Challenge
A new event being recognised by the International Association of Ultra Runners (IAU), the World Trail Challenge will also take place on July 12 in Sierre Chevalier, France. This is a serious mountain race between 1500m and 2900m in altitude with four cols to climb and runners will need to carry survival kit and be self-sufficient through the four checkpoints/drink stations.
It is UKAthletics’ intention to send a total of five athletes (a mix of men and women) to these championships. The male and female winners of the designated UKA trial race – the Highland Fling on April 25 will be granted automatic selection subject to the selectors being satisfied that they have the experience to cope with the conditions of the IAU event. The other places will be selected based on proven ability, with greatest emphasis being placed on performances in the trial.
All athletes wishing to be considered for selection must submit their details to Norman Wilson (wilsonanne691@aol. corn), including details of relevant experience and recent race performances.
World Mountain Running Championships
The World Mountain Running Championships (on an up-and-down course) will be held in Campodolcino, Italy, on September 6, 2009. This replaces the old World Mountain Running Trophy and becomes an IAAF-recognised world championships, with a single UK team taking part (as opposed to four home country ones as previously).
The official trial will be held in Keswick on August 16,2009, using the course forthe forthcoming Commonwealth Championhsips. The senior men’s teams will consist of up to six athletes. The senior women’s and junior men’s teams will consist of up to four athletes. The junior women’s team will consist of up to three athletes.
Commonwealth Championships (for ultra-distance and mountain running)
The first Commonwealth championships for ultra-distance and mountain running will take place in Keswick on September 19-20, 2009. Held under the auspices of the International Association of Ultra Runners (IAU) and the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), this will feature uphill and up-and-down mountain races as well as ultra races of 100km and 24 hours on the roads.
Further details of this new event can be found at The Commonwealth Championships website, including details of the courses and event schedule. Each home country will be sending a team of up to six athletes (men and women) for each race. Both England and Scotland will use the trial for the World Mountain Running Championships as their trial for the Commonwealth Championship Mountain running team, and you can expect to see more on the other trials published in due course.
It is hoped that the increasing profile of the sports, plus the first Commonwealth Championships will lead to greater interest from aspiring international endurance runners who want to compete with the current British best such as Steve Vernon, Andi Jones, Sarah TunstaII and Victoria Wilkinson.
Further information on the trial races will be advertised closer to the event via the UKA and FRA websites and other relevant athletic publications, or for more information about the mountain running events contact the chair of selectors, Sarah Rowell saz@srowell. demon.co.uk
