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Mud, Sweat and Tears sprung up in October, and since then the world has been a pretty gloomy place – financial catastrophes have been top of the bill, Afghanistan continues to rumble, add in floods, hurricanes and the Gaza conflict and well, you get the picture. Read more…
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What I have found since starting this site is that so many of the top runners in the sport of mountain running are approachable and genuinely great people, and this 5 minutes with … pipe-dream has quickly taken shape due to their kind cooperation – all I can say is that it makes my job even easier! In 2009 we will bring you conversations with some of the best runners in the world of off-road running, and we kick-off at home (real ‘home’ for me!), with the unassuming Welsh Fell Running Champion for 2008, Rich Roberts. Read more…
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For me this wasn’t a difficult choice, it had to be the world of marathon running which took the accolades. This run in 2008 stood head and shoulders above all others and once again cemented Haile’s name at the top of the all-time list of greatest runners. Read more…
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As promised our musings on the “best of…” begin here with the runners. We’ve got a fell / mountain section, UK and International and an outstanding performance, whatever the surface. The choices might have seemed pretty straight-forward, but there will be some out there who will disagree – anyway, this how we saw it in ’08… Read more…
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You would think that after 16 years of world records and gold medals it would be time to ease off a little, wind down, drop the odd speed session – not a bit of it. When it comes to working hard Haile hasn’t even got started. Read more…
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Why do we say that!? Probably because it is. Every newspaper, magazine, website, TV channel and whatever new medium will be looking back at 2008 and dishing out their lists of the good, the bad and the ugly – and why not (it fills the inches or pixels). Read more…
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In what we at MST hope will be a regular feature, best selling author, ultra-runner extraordinaire and all-round crazy runner, ‘Mad Dog’ Mike Schreiber wants your questions. He ran his first marathon in ’76 and still runs trail ultra-distance races to this day – at 71 years old!. Read more…
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Not satisfied with his fantastic Shoe4Africa organisation Toby Tanser has just released a book on the Kenyan way-of-life that is, running. Read more…
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This image of ultra-legend Dean Karnazes is just breathtaking. Shot during one of his epic runs at Mt.Blanc, it is surely where any runner would rather be – free-flowing, at one with nature, alive. Read more…
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If you were out on Sunday and missed the rare live European cross country action on the Beeb, the BBC iPlayer comes up trumps and lets you have a full hour and three-quarters of top-notch cross country action from this weekend’s event. Read more…
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Following a tough time at the European Championships on Sunday, and a decade at the top of UK athletics, GB international Hayley Yelling has decided to make the hardest decision of any runner’s career and hang up her spikes. Read more…
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With Mo Farah out-run in the run-in as Sergiy Lebid took his eighth title it proved to be a little disappointing for the boys – but a great day for the girls – at today’s 15th SPAR European XC Champs. Read more…
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I had come across this book whilst Googling earlier this year, in search of a good read. The reviews were good, it looked like my type of book – independent, honest, not too long, not too self-indulgent, but for some reason that day I wasn’t in a shopping mood. Read more…
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A bit of rarity these days I know, but there will be some mud, sweat and tears on telly this Sunday as the Beeb screen the 2008 European Cross Country Championships from Belgium. Coverage will be show on BBCi “press the red button” and BBC2. Read more…
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Trail shoes are a phenomena of the 21st century. In the past there really was just Walsh PBs, a studded shoe, aimed at coping with the harshest mountain terrain, an area in which they have had very few rivals until recent years. Read more…
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Yes, if the reports on the BBC Sport website are to be believed then top UK marathoner Mara Yamauchi quite fancies switching to cross country skiing. The Japan-based Briton was top-UK finisher at this year’s Olympic marathon, and has a number of great big-city-marathon runs to her name. Read more…
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Norman Walsh was a clever man. Norman Walsh made shoes. Norman Walsh made the most famous mountain running shoe ever- the PB trainer. This article is 7 years old, but it could have been written today, it could be written in another 7 years, and not much would be different. A few more pairs sold perhaps! Read more…
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As the weekend is once more upon us MST has a shufty at the happenings of the global XC merry-go-round as it gathers even more momentum. From European Athletics permit races to an announcement on IAAF permit racing at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh in January. Read more…
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In an article in the East African newspaper the Daily Nation 5-time World XC champ Paul Tergat and Athletics Kenya secretary David Okeyo are more than displeased that the lack of home quality at the Kenyan AK series races so far. Read more…
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There are few surprises as the UK team is named for the SPAR European Cross Country Championships which take place in Brussels on the 14th of December. Read more…
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Former world XC champion Benita Johnson has been a little off-colour in 2008. It’s easy to look at an athlete, in whichever sport, and think that they are past their best, especially when results start going south. It’s also easy to forget that world class runners are just like you and me really… Read more…
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Are you a high tech re-fueller or an old-schooler? Time was when a nice cuppa was all that a champion needed. Alf Tupper ate fish and chips before a track race (but he wasn’t real), Dave Bedford liked the odd ale (he is real) – all good. Read more…
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After another busy weekend of cross country around the world, MST brings you highlights from the IAAF‘s comprehensive global reporting. From the heat of Kenya to the cold of Belgium the movers and shakers are starting to show their hands… Read more…
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Freezing conditions and witty Scouse humour didn’t dampen the spirits of Britain’s best cross country runners this weekend as bright stars Andy Vernon and Steph Twell saw off their elders at the UK trials for this years European XC Champs in Brussels. Read more…
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A combination of hot competition and even hotter conditions meant that World Mountain Running champion, and pre-race favourite, Jonathan Wyatt finished a disappointing 14th place at this years Obudu Ranch Mountain Race. Ethiopia’s Abebe Dinkesa was the happy-man as he waltzed away with the $50,000 first prize. Read more…
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In a story that first emerged after the Beijing games, the subject of cross-country running at the Olympics has moved one step closer to reality after the IAAF approved the idea at a meeting in Monaco last Friday. Read more…
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Its crunch time for those athletes with Brussels aspirations as this Saturday sees the Euro XC trials take place in sunny Liverpool. As well as being round two of the McCain Cross Challenge series the event doubles-up as the official trial race for the European XC Champs in two weeks time. Read more…
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The Obudu Ranch International Mountain Running Race in Cross River state, Nigeria, takes place this Saturday the 29th of November. Hold onto your hats as it claims to be the world’s richest Mountain Running race, and will have the world’s best clambering for those dollars! Read more…
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In a move designed to pump experience into the system, UK Athletics has announced a raft of high-profile appointments to shake-up our ailing distance running team. Spearheading the endurance efforts will be former world cross country champion Ian Stewart. Read more…
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15th Cross Internacional de Soria, Spain – The second leg of the IAAF Cross Country Permit Series 2008/09 takes place on Sunday (23rd) and should witness an exciting showdown between two fast-improving distance runners in the guise of Spain’s Alemayehu Bezabeh and Kenya’s Leonard Komon. Read more…
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A recent report on the Guardian website states that school children in China are just as reluctant to get out there and run as the youngsters of the Western world. Read more…
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Thinking of what to buy your loved one this year? PWT’s brand new DVD of this years English Fell Champs is now available to fill that stocking and make someone very happy. Watch Jebby and co. in some of the most stunning race-scenery in the world. Read more…
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So, I posted up my impartial (but very positive) review on the the excellent new Brooks Mach X a few weeks back. A couple of days passed and those nice people at Brooks UK then went and sent me some of their new off-roaders the Cascadia 3. How kind! Read more…
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Where would we be without them? Yes they can be a real pain when they hurry you on after you finish in a crumpled mess at the end of that strength-sapping race, when all you want to do is find the nearest spot to cough your lungs up. But let’s face it officials, organisers and marshalls make our world go round. Read more…
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MST tip-for-top this season Steph Twell took the curtain raiser in this year’s McCain Cross Challenge Series at a sunny Gateshead. We think that the Aldershot youngster will clean up this year, domestically. Her run against esteemed, world-class company earlier this year also shows that she has what it takes to take the honours at the European Cross-Country Championships in Brussels in a few weeks time. Read more…
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In this Part 2 of an exclusive online interview with World Champ Jonathan Wyatt, he talks to us some more about his racing, diet, all time favourite shoe and la dolce vita! For those who missed Pt1 just recap here, and enjoy… Read more…
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The elite XC season really gets under way this afternoon as a host of the UK’s top talent travel to Gateshead for the first in this winter’s McCain sponsored series. Read more…
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As a new service (so as you dont have to leave the comfort of your seat!) the nice people at the IAAF (thanks Chris) have agreed to a direct MST link for breaking cross-country news stories from around the world. So, each week we’ll bring you the rich pickings from their site, fresh-filtered, so you get only the best beans! Read more…
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What, a trackie on MST?! Well, anyone who trained up Merthyr Mawr for fun and regularly took part in XC throughout an illustrious career qualifies for this site. The Brighton flyer was a runner, first and foremost. The product of an era which believed that anyone aspiring to be a good track runner had to embark on running of all varieties – simple really… Read more…
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In this two-part interview the multi-world champion Kiwi took time out from his busy schedule to give us an fascinating insight into his career, training techniques, favourite product and how his inspirations are just everyday people. Read more…
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The first steps of the long road to stardom started for many up-and-coming Kenyan athletes this weekend. On Saturday the Eastern Kenya town of Machakos staged Meet 1 of the AK XC Series, and the link-report from Elias Makori on IAAF.org is a reminder that the future of Kenyan cross country is in very good hands. Read more…
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American poet Dickinson, like so many before her, was unrecognised until long after her death. Unconventional for her time, her use of words was often short and thrifty, and she was a prolific private poet. Read more…
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No, not the TV show brain-child of he-of-the-chest-warmers fame, Simon Cowell. No, I’m on about the simply bellissimo Italian brand, X Socks. Having had calves tighter than tight for around 6 months now I decided to go for some sports massage and compression… Read more…
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Okay, us lot in the UK call it fell running and we can probably trace its history back to when we chased dinosaurs up hills, but as the sport becomes evermore global (next year’s Mountain Trophy will now be known as the World Mountain Running Championships) we at MST are going to nail our flag to the mast of the World. Read more…
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How many runners can you name that can run 3.43 for 1500m, 13.27 for 5000m, a 2.13 marathon and who then go on to dominate the global mountain running scene for 6 years straight? Sure, there are athletes who have run quicker, but when it comes to crossing terrain-boundaries Jonathan Wyatt is something of a phenomenon. Read more…
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Spikes are great. Spikes are cross-country’s nemesis. They keep you upright in the mud, they make you feel faster. Course they aren’t for everyone and likes of Inov8 offer some great stud alternatives. But for real cross-country its got to be spikes, right? Read more…
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You’ve seen the photos, you’ve read the report, now listen to 7 minutes of verbal. Gracious winner Martin Cox and wonder-woman Marathon Coordinator Jayne Lloyd give us a little insight into what it takes to win the race and organise a top marathon… Read more…
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As the heavens opened and the wind let rip, the spirit wasnt dampened for those taking part in the Snowdonia Marathon this weekend. MST were there, cold, wet and miserable, to bring you the thrills and not too many spills. Read more…
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As the UK media got into a frenzy proclaiming that there were thousands of mad fell runners unaccounted for in the Lakes this weekend, many of those taking part were simply disappointed that they were not able to complete the OMM 2008. Read more…
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You’re probably sick and tired of ‘lists’ these days – so we thought we’d do one! The World XC champs have thrown up a number of legends over the years and whilst crewing the end off my biro I thought you might like to get involved and have your say, as always no prizes, its just for fun… Read more…
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As the merchant bankers continue to tinker with our lives and livelihood, the sight of lines of unemployed flashed on every screen wont be far away. But, will the rising cost of living mean that we consume less and therefore run less? Read more…
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Its that time of year again as gloves and tracksters get dusted off, the metronomic sound of clattering spikes crossing tarmac roads awakens the soul; and the sight of steam rising from the hoards of hopefuls lining up in the mud, brings anticipation. Rubbing shoulders with stars, local leaguers in worn out vests that tell the tales of years of sweat, and weathering; another summer – gone, another cross country season – dawning. Read more…
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When former athletes decide to “put something back into the sport” you normally have to cover your eyes and ears – as it invariably entails them wanting to hog the limelight, again. Enter former French great and two time World Champ, Annette Sergent. Read more…
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Regularly running over 200 miles per week (I kid you not), Anton Krupicka is the original mountain man, at one with nature and what we were all put here for… Read more…
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Okay its hardly off-road racing, plus we dont advocate vigilantes here at MST, but when three teenagers snatched a bag belonging to 68-year-old Janet Lane they didn’t bargain on her giving chase. The fleet-footed grandmother, a champion athlete in her school days, hurtled after the three youths and managed to grab one by the collar. Read more…
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The Halcyon days – its enough to make a grown man cry! When I recently stumbled across this photo I saw two things. Read more…
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We all like a prediction, lets face it. Whether its over a pint, a coffee or facebook, people everywhere like to pontificate on the the next US president, or the winner of Strictly frickin Come Dancing (I am glad that I’m not the only one who hates that programme). Read more…
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Well, I have asked myself the same question many times in the last few months. But it’s here now, so I had better throw some light on the chaos that you are about to be part of… Read more…
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Yes it’s winter, with its cold and dark and wet conditions. But that doesn’t stop the Irish from turning out in shorts and singlets to do battle once again on their seasonally frozen hills. Read more…
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