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IMRA’s year drew to a close this weekend as the Charles Barrington Memorial race was won by Richard McCauley in his first IMRA race in 9 years with Rathfarnham’s Laura Flynn 1st woman. This race commemorating Irishman Charles Barrington, one of the three men to first ascent the Eiger… Read more…
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Those Scots are a hardy bunch. With temps well into the minus’ the traditional races at Cruim Leacainn and Law Breaker went ahead as planned on Boxing Day. As the SHR site puts it “40 brave or stupid runners started and finished” at Cruim Leacainn… Read more…
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From the heat of Skyrunning battles, to the depths of XC cold, from the loneliness of long distance record runs, to the grass roots of fell and dale, MST likes to represent all aspects of off-road running… Read more…
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Government officials are encouraging us to get off our backsides and get out there this Yuletide – whatever the weather. The Grough reports that walkers are being egged on to burn off the eggnog and get some fresh air… Read more…
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The Bupa Great Edinburgh International XC is shaping up to be quite an event. Edinburgh will see some of the world’s best endurance athletes descend on Holyrood Park, with Tirunesh Dibaba the latest to be added to the glittering list… Read more…
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Amongst other things the 2010 Skyrunner® World Series was examined at the first ISF Management Committee Meeting, held on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at the splendid local headquarters of the Italian Mountaineering Club in Bergamo, Italy. Read more…
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Outside of big BUPA Edinburgh XC in Jan the only other notable IAAF cross country event within the home nations is in Northern Ireland. The Antrim International has long been a staple on the XC calendar and attracts many of the big hitters from the world XC stage… Read more…
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Spain’s Sergio Sánchez and Kenya’s Veronica Nyaruai clinched convincing victories at the ‘30th Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños’ held Sunday (20) on a sunny but frozen morning with the thermometer marking 9ºC below zero! Read more…
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Andrea Lalli from Italy was the best of a leading group of four to win the Iris Lotto CrossCup in Brussels – IAAF Permit – today (20). The women’s race was won by Adrienne Herzog who proved to be the strongest in an ultimate duel against Jessica Augusto. Read more…
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Alemayehu Bezabeh was still full of running at the end of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, after becoming Spain’s first ever senior men’s champion in the 16 years of the event, and he has hardly stopped moving since crossing the line in Dublin on Sunday. Read more…
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England will send full teams to the IAAF Brussels International cross-country this Sunday, as the Belgium capital welcomes many athletes moving on from last weekends European Championships or those trying to prove a point… Read more…
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Ukrainian Sergiy Lebid and Portugal’s Jessica Augusto go to Brussels this weekend with a mission. Lebid finished third at the Euro XC in Dublin whilst the Portuguese was a favourite to win the Euro title, but faded badly into fourth place. Read more…
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Three-times race winner Kenenisa Bekele will bid to regain the BUPA Great Edinburgh International Cross Country title next month. The greatest-ever cross country performer, with six IAAF World Championships long and five short course victories to his credit, took little persuading to return to Holyrood Park… Read more…
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This year’s IMRA calendar was released over the weekend and it proves one of the most innovative in years. While several old classic have returned, a surprising amount of new races will be inaugurated. Read more…
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Louis Clark reports on a suburban foray into the ancient forest of Epping Forest. Londoner Louis has to search far and wide those wild spaces that make an urban runner’s life a bit more bearable, but finds a little bit of off-road heaven east of London… Read more…
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In what was an epic men’s race at today’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships Alemayehu Bezabeh showed why he is one of the continents leading XC exponents by actually toying with big pre-race favourite Mo Farah. Read more…
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It’s a bit slow round here this week for the main reason that the adopted Southerner is going home to Wales! Yep Mud, Sweat and Tears is returning to its roots. As of Weds the new home of MST will be Corris, at the foot of Cader Idris. Read more…
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From what looked like a great course, perfect weather conditions and a sizable Dublin crowd, the 2009 SPAR European Cross Country Championships went with a bang today in Santry Park… Read more…
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In what could only be described as one of the greatest ever international XC runs by a British athlete, Hayley Yelling has won the 2009 SPAR European Cross Country Championships for the second time in 4 years. Read more…
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Yesterday I reported that the run of Hayley Yelling at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships should go down as one of the most gutsy performances in the last 20 years of international cross country racing, certainly that I have seen… Read more…
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Always glad to see the mainstream press and media pull something out of the bag on the eve of a big race – well I suppose that they have a lot of bases to cover don’t they? With a couple of good interviews the telegraph.co.uk and the BBC focus on two of the ‘home’ athletes… Read more…
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It is a rare day indeed to get cross country on the box these days, especially terrestrial telly. Sunday sees a day of Euro XC live racing across BBC2 and BBC Red button. Crammy and Bren will be on hand to give their views and observations on all of the action from Santry Park, Dublin… Read more…
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A few races scattered around the British hills and fells this weekend. The weather looks cold, but dry, however after 50-odd days of rain it will still be heavy out there. Pick of the bunch should be the classic team event, Calderdale Way Relay, 50 miles and 6 stages of fell running in teams of 12… Read more…
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German-based site Gripmastertrails is a site after our own hearts here at MST. The imagery and emotion is superb, and their coverage of year’s TransAlpine Run was unsurpassed. The Gripmaster loves the trails, runs the trails and reports the trails… Read more…
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Just two days away now for the biggest athletics event to hit the shores of Ireland in recent years. The SPAR European Cross Country Championships will bring a host of colour to the emerald isle and some hot racing to boot… Read more…
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Inov-8 runner Matt Gilbert ‘filled in’ at last week’s Everest Marathon for an unfortunate athlete who had to be airlifted out of the Everest region at the last minute. For those who don’t know Gil is Anna Frost’s other half, and an international mountain runner in his own right… Read more…
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UKA look at the hopes for Team GB & NI this weekend in Dublin. In the younger age groups there are genuine contenders in the form of Ricky Stevenson and Steph Twell. In the seniors Mo Farah must be in with a shout… Read more…
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The 2010 Run 4 It Scottish Hill Runners Championships have been announced. With 2 long, 2 medium and 2 short races, running from March to August, there should be plenty of opportunity for runners to qualify… Read more…
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Local athlete Mary Cullen is confident that with a little help from the partisan Dublin crowd on Sunday she can race to a podium spot at Santry Park. Talking down his chances is GB runner Ricky Stevenson, who is clear that track-is-where-it-is-at for him… Read more…
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Known in the cycling fraternity as the ‘espoirs’. An odd category in my opinion as many U23’s are already well established seniors in their own right. Still, the younger guys and girls race should make for some hot racing at this weekend’s Euro XC. Read more…
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It may be the off season for most of triathletes, but not Alistair Brownlee. The 21-year-old reigning World Triathlon champion secured a place on the GB under-23 European XC team with his strong run at Liverpool in November and this weekend hits Dublin for the European XC champs. Read more…
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The DVD depicting the epic 6-day race across America’s premier mountain range is now ready to ship – just in time for Christmas! The DVD also features “behind the scenes” crew highlights, music video, dance competition, and route animations as well as the 6 stages of race highlights… Read more…
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Max King, 29, of Bend, Oregon, and Fiona Docherty, 34, from New Zealand won the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship at Kualoa Ranch this morning and each won $2000, airfare from Hawaiian Airlines, and a host of other prizes for their efforts… Read more…
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We are privileged indeed. These shoes won’t be in all good outlets until Spring 2010. They aren’t even a production model. The North Face® Single-Track is the outdoor giants’ big foray into trail running for next year… Read more…
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The SPAR European Cross Country Championships seems to be the stage on which European Athletics Rising Star of the Year award winners want to shine. Stephanie Twell, the 2008 Rising Star, took her third successive gold medal last year in Brussels… Read more…
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One tough race (21.5 miles from Marsden to Edale), by the looks and sounds of it – and not made any easier by this weekend’s wet and windy weather. Still, as always there are some great images for all to see, namely finniganjones on flickr and Flaming Photography. Read more…
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As we enter the the last few days before Sunday’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships today we have the first of the previews. European Athletics supply us with the goods, as they hold all of the aces when it comes to championship insight… Read more…
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The East and West of Scotland held their respective cross country championships this weekend, and the competition was fierce. Livingston and Irvine hosted two terrific meets of XC with Shettleston’s Tsegai Tewelde and Edinburgh’s Emily Stewart amongst the winners… Read more…
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Tretherras School in Cornwall had two big reasons to celebrate on Saturday. For one, it staged a superb 29th English Schools’ Cross Country Cup competition. In addition, the school provided one of the individual winners – Charlotte Cayton-Smith in the junior girls’ race… Read more…
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237 runners turned out in bright, sunny conditions at yesterday’s Cardington Cracker. In contrast to some of the foul weather in the Marches over the last few weeks the Shropshire race was blessed with sunshine… Read more…
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Frosty’s Everest run was a race to remember in more ways than one, as the Kiwi overcame a twisted ankle and a stray Yak dumping her on her backside, on her way to smashing the record at the 13th edition of this historic race. Read more…
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On the 13th December Ireland will host its first major European athletics event, the SPAR European Cross Country Championships. For a country with such a proud tradition in cross country running, including John Treacy, Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan… Read more…
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The long-haired giant stands in the wind on a rock. He is overlooking an endless green mountain range, which is clearly visible to the horizon. At his feet, a cliff drops almost one kilometer straight down into a rocky canyon. The sun is firing its rays at the giant as if it wanted to burn him to ashes. Read more…
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The one that they have all been talking about, Tanky’s Trog, takes place on Sunday (6). 21.5 miles from Marsden to Edale with 3750ft of ascent – a real biggee for this time of year. But that’s not all… Read more…
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There is a lot of kit out there, that can cost a lot of money. Some of it is non-essential, but nice to have, some of it is, well essential. I would always put a hat in that bracket, personally. You just can’t beat a good hat… Read more…
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Entries are in, the teams are picked, and it’s now or never for the 2009 European Cross Country Championships hopefuls as they enter the final week of preparation before Dublin becomes a sea of international colour next weekend… Read more…
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Early news comes from the ceiling of the world that Kiwi Anna Frost has produced a staggering performance at the Everest Marathon. Although results and times are provisional at this stage, the Commonwealth champion placed 6th overall and produced a time of 4hrs 35 minutes… Read more…
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Just hours now until the start of the bi-annual race from Gorak Shep nr. the Everest base camp to the Namche Bazaar. Don’t be deceived by the 6,000ft drop in altitude over the 42km route either, as the last 15km is a brutal roller-coaster… Read more…
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A Scottish Hill Running Squad day will take place at Stirling University this Sunday (6 December). The provisional format is as follows: 10am start followed by hill reps sessions/easy run out over Dumyat. Lunch followed by afternoon discussions 3pm close (approx)… Read more…
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Yes – the JK is coming back to the South West again. It will be 31 years since it was last held in Devon in 1979. Then it was a two day event with the Individual held in Fernworthy Forest on Dartmoor and the Relay in Bramble Brook (now called Bullers Hill) on Haldon Hill near Exeter. Read more…
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The successful Stewarts Cross Country Grand Prix is back again 2010, as part of the Scottish national XC calendar. The ‘umbrella’ covers four of Scotland’s biggest XC races, including the prestigious BUPA Great Edinburgh International in January… Read more…
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Publicised back in February, an adaptation of Richard Askwith’s excellent 2004 book ‘Feet in the Clouds’ is getting closer to seeing the light of day. London-based filmmaker Kate Sinclair has teamed up with producer Kevin Loader for the film… Read more…
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Following an exciting trial event at the McCain UK Cross Challenge, in Liverpool’s Sefton Park on Saturday 28 November, UKA have announced the thirty six athletes that will cross the Irish sea to Dublin for the European XC Championships on 13 December. Read more…
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Inov-8 are to launch three exciting new orienteering shoes in April 2010. A dedicated range of orienteering shoes will cement their specialist off-road market position as all shoes will be lightweight, durable and work with the natural bio-mechanics of the foot… Read more…
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A recent Runner’s World article lamented the loss of the traditional cross-country race as more and more races have moved to neatly kept fairways in local parks and away from the old-fashioned mud-drenched farmer’s field. Cue the Dublin Intermediates. Read more…
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Andrea Mayr might be able to negotiate some of the world’s highest mountains with ease, however a collision with a car whilst riding her bike recently has caused the Austrian much more distress. Mayr was all set for an assault on the Obudu Ranch Mountain race last weekend when the accident occurred near her home, leaving her with a broken shoulder and head injuries… Read more…
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The world of cross country running is certainly taking centre-stage these days with the AK (Athletics Kenya) league in full swing, European Athletics and IAAF Permit races and top domestic action in the UK, plus all of the build up to the highlight of the European season in Dublin on December 13… Read more…
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Ethiopian runners Habtamu Awash and Manilu Daska have won the men’s and women’s titles respectively at the fifth Obudu Ranch Mountain Race, held in southern Cross River state Saturday, with each clinching the US$50,000 top prize. Read more…
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One of the most popular run/bike events of 2009, iROC™, is back for 2010 – bigger and better. After last year’s inaugural race entries have already opened for next year’s event in May, where competitors need to navigate by day and night… Read more…
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Despite the time of year and rather damp weather, the hardy people of the UK still hit the hills for some fell and mountain action in Wales, Scotland and England. Results not through yet on Ras-y-Mast, Famous Grouse, Beinn Lora or Dave Staff memorial… Read more…
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At a sunny Liverpool former European XC champ Hayley Yelling showed a glimpse of her past when she came out of ‘retirement’ to win the McCain Cross Challenge. The race doubled-up as the selection race for the 2009 European Cross Country Championships that take place in Dublin in a fortnight… Read more…
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Top fell tog Gywnfor James was at sea level on Saturday to get some great XC shots. James can normally be found with fellow snapper Al Tye capturing every last runner on the mountains of Wales and the Marches, and then uploaded at fellrunningpictures.co.uk Read more…
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Liverpool hosts the 2009 SPAR European XC Championships trials this weekend, as the cream of UK cross country running hits Sefton Park. As well as being round two of the McCain Cross Challenge series the event doubles-up as the official trial race for the Euro champs in two weeks time. Read more…
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Brit off-road shoe co. Inov-8 continue to make greater strides globally as this little story from top ultra-man Martin Fryer proves. As reported earlier this week, Aussie Fryer romped to the win at the big Austrailian mountain marathon that is Deep Space. On his intrepid voyage Fryer wore the ubiquitous X-Talon 212. Read more…
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As originally announced at the AGM on 7th Nov, SHR is pleased to confirm that a wide ranging and comprehensive sponsorship package for 2010 has been agreed with the running shop retailer Run4It. It is envisaged that the deal will continue for at least 2 further years thereafter. Read more…
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It’s the European XC trials this Saturday at rd 2 of the McCain’s Cross Challenge Series. With Freya Murray Laura Kenney and Morag MacLaraty they were already a force, but with the addition of Steph Twell to their ranks the Scottish girls are stronger than ever. Read more…
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Martin Fagan and Mary Cullen have been named as the team leaders of the Ireland men’s and women’s Euro XC teams, destined for Dublin in a little over two weeks time. Cullen is in super form, and will be gunning for a high placing in the women’s 8km race… Read more…
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The Cardiff X Challenge is back where it belongs! The Cardiff X Challenge has been invited back into the McCain Cross Challenge Series which includes these other prestigious races: Gateshead, Liverpool, Antrim and Birmingham. Read more…
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Presumably this goes for us fell runners, as well as walkers etc. Still, this article over at Grough spells out just how stretched the various Lake District MR teams have been over the last week or so and their reasoning is perfectly valid – they are human after all… Read more…
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Top US mountain runner Jo Gray is amongst the list of winners in this year’s USATF role call in mountain and ultra running. Read more…
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World and Commonwealth ultra distance running champion Martin Fryer produced a sizzling performance in the warm conditions to slash almost 7 minutes off the course record in Saturday’s Deep Space Mountain Marathon. Read more…
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World Cross Country champion Gebre Gebremariam is coming to Edinburgh to take part in the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country on 9 January. The Ethiopian will be honing his form in readiness for his title defence in Poland on March 28th. Read more…
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The Irish National Inter-Counties cross country took place on Kilbeggan Race Course in Mullingar, Westmeath, this weekend, and for this occasion athletes were running for county over club… Read more…
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Orkney’s world record holding ultra marathon runner, William Sichel, takes his first steps towards next March’s “1000 Mile World Cup”: race in Athens with a three-day training camp in the Scottish Highlands from 27th to 29th November. Based in Aviemore, Sichel and his crew man Alan Young (Dundee) use the long weekends in the Highlands as ‘boot camps’… Read more…
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The MST pre-NCAA predictions got the men’s winner right, as Sam Chelanga romped to a crushing win in Indiana. We were a little shy of the mark on the women’s race though, as pre-race favourite Jenny Barringer blew a gasket, collapsing her way to 163rd!! Read more…
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The Vertical World Circuit final race was held on Sunday at Singapore’s Swissôtel Vertical Marathon, crowning Germany’s Thomas Dold and Italy’s Daniela Vassalli, 2009 Vertical Running World Champions. Read more…
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Yep, it’s streamed live on Versus for all you UK and European people interested at 5pm GMT… Read more…
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Episode one documented their arrival in the Nepal region, and the Namche bazaar. In episode two of Frosty’s epic trip to this years Everest Marathon she talks about her’s and Gil’s (Matt Gilbert) continued ‘acclimatisation’, the introduction of porter Raj, plenty of sun and…snow! Read more…
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Looking around the world of cross country running (US NCAA’s, European Permit races) there is a distinct lack of mud! So, when I was sent this set by Gwynfor James, from this weekend’s NW XC League, in Bangor, it made me realise that there is a large gulf between the world’s elite races and what I would call grass roots. It’s all good though… Read more…
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Italy’s Andrea Lalli won the SPAR European XC Championships under 23 men’s title 12 months ago but instead of attempting a unique defence of his crown the 22-year-old has elected to stand on the start line with the big boys in Dublin on 13 December. Read more…
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Reversing the result of the 2008 event at Bordon, Thames Valley Harrier Chris Smith won yesterday’s final Saab Salomon Turbo X of 2009, in torrential rain and high winds. Runner-up was British Fell Champ Rob Hope, the winner in 2008. Read more…
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Reigning World Cross Country champion Gebregziabher Gebremariam opened the IAAF Cross Country Permit season with a victory at the Oeiras Cross Country on Saturday. “This wasn’t as easy as some may think,” Gebremariam said… Read more…
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Fresh news as it happens from Stateside site Down the Backstretch on all of the action at this weekend’s NCAA XC champs in Indiana. The Division I big race is on Monday… Read more…
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Many of Ireland’s top cross country runners will be in action on Sunday at the Woodie’s DIY Inter County Cross Country Championships looking to secure their place on the Irish team for the European Cross Country Championships. Read more…
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Ethiopian Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam, current World Cross Country champion, will be targeting the IAAF Cross Country Permit Series 2009/10 which takes place Saturday (21) at the Finibanco Oeiras Cross Country in Oeiras, Portugal. Read more…
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The last race of the 2009 Saab Salomon Turbo X race series hits Bordon in Surrey this Sunday, for what should be the biggest event of the year. Over 1200 entrants have put themselves down for the 10 miles of trail, bog and flog. Read more…
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Despite the horrendous weather in the Lake district organisers of the Kendal Mountain Festival have vowed that the event will go ahead. The Cumbrian town is one of many affected due to the current weather conditions affecting the northern half of the UK… Read more…
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Weather-wise that is. Looking at today’s wet weather across the Lakes and the Borders of Scotland, compared to that of the mild, dry and bright south of Britain, the north-south divide is alive and well. Lakes destination-towns Keswick and Kendal are flooded, with more rain to come… Read more…
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With just over three weeks to go the Irish organising team behind next month’s SPAR European Cross Country Champs are pulling out all of the stops to get the media hyped and get the fans along to watch, with a stream of stories and press releases this last 2-3 weeks… Read more…
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Well podcast actually. The wonder of modern technology captured former Olympic marathoners Charlie Spedding and Richard Nerurkar during the recent UKA Endurance Conference. These two know what it takes to succeed, and both have been equally outspoken… Read more…
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Women’s Mountain Region champion Jenny Barringer and men’s Southern Region champion Sam Chelanga could be the ones to watch at next Monday’s NCAA National XC championships to be held in Terre Haute, Indiana… Read more…
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The kids were alright last weekend at the McCain Gateshead International XC races. Thanks to top local news outlet ChronicleLive.co.uk and their intrepid hack Bill McGuirk we also have some excellent in-depth races reviews too… Read more…
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The scottishathletics hill running weekend takes place at Wanlockhead Outdoor Centre on January 9th and 10th 2010 and bookings must be made as soon as possible and no later than Saturday 12th December 2009. Read more…
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Long-time ultra legend Pascal Fetizon is hanging up his international running shoes and taking his running at more of a leisurely pace in the future. The Frenchman excelled at many disciplines XC, ultra trail and road and finished with a 100km best of an amazing 6:23… Read more…
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The series of 12 individual meetings which make up the calendar of IAAF Cross Country Permit Series 2009/10 begin next weekend in Oeiras, Portugal, on Saturday 21 November 2009. he Permit series concludes in Albufeira, Portugal on Sunday 7 March 2010… Read more…
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MST has another new writer. Louis Clark will be ‘our man in the South’ – of England that is – covering all things trail and XC. Louis lives in the city, he lives for the weekend and getting our of urbania. Read more…
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18 year-old Deeside athlete Robbie Simpson easily beat the Druim Fada hill race course record near Fort William, on Sunday. The Banchory runner covered the 6.5-mile course, with 1,200ft of elevation in 42:57. Read more…
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The British and Irish Masters Cross Country took place on Saturday in, Birmingham, African XC from Ethiopia, the Torres Vedras XC took place in Lisbon on Sunday, and Mary Cullen calls on Ireland to get behind the Euro XC champs in December… Read more…
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Great local report exclusive to the men’s 9km race and Mike Skinner, from Saturday’s Gateshead International XC at the Riverside Bowl. Bill McGuirk scribes his event report for local North-East news outlet Chronicle Live and also gets an interview with the Bromley and Blackheath Harrier… Read more…
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The final of the year long 2009 Vertical World Circuit hits Singapore this weekend for the Swissotel Vertical Marathon. Thomas Dold and Daniela Vassalli hold unassailable leads going into the last race… Read more…
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More excellent filming from the Gripmastermatertrails.com crew. This little film is a taster of a premiere to be shown at the Salzberg Festival at the end of November. Read more…
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One week out from the NCAA National XC championships all of the regional divisions were decided over the weekend, forming the teams to compete at Indiana State University hosted Championships… Read more…
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It will be no surprise to many in the UK that fell racing in the north and mid Wales this last weekend were a bit…wet! Yesterday’s Penmaenmawr fell race was reduced from the normal 11 to 8 miles due the wet and wild conditions in Gwynedd… Read more…
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In the opening ‘big’ cross country event of the 2009 /10 season the Gateshead International XC races took place on Saturday (14) at a blustery Riverside Bowl. As with the corresponding meet some 12 months previous GB international Steph Twell came out on top… Read more…
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Irish athletics legends Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan have been named as ambassadors for this year’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Ireland for the first time in December. Read more…
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With 60% of the proceeds going to charity this was a kind gesture from Lakeland artist Jonathan Trotman. Stan B waded in with a £960 for the unique painting depicting Joss Naylor in his heyday. Well done Stan, now you just need to decide where to put it! Read more…
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Judging by this headline I think we can guess what the underlying feeling of Kenyan national daily newspaper the Daily Nation feels about Athletics Kenya Read more…
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The timer has pinged, and it’s time to get those spikes out of the oven. The first race of the 2009/2010 McCain Cross Challenge is off (well on Saturday) at the Riverside Bowl, Gateshead. Local press think it’s a local club turn-off, however UKA is pretty excited... Read more…
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With just over 30 days to go before this year’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Dublin, UK Athletics preparations are well under way for the event. The conditions in Santry will be very similar to that in Britain… Read more…
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Cast your eyes right and click on the Joss Naylor story, regarding an auction that has a great cause and could bag one lucky bidder a piece of historic art. The auction for Jonathan Trotman’s painting portraying Naylor’s descent of Crib Goch ends at 7pm this Friday (13)… Read more…
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(I get the feeling I may be preaching to the converted. But here goes!) It’s fair to say that in the last year or so the Inov-8 X-Talon 212 has become the ‘shoe of choice’ for many a fell runner in the UK… Read more…
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This is what it’s all about. The fell running community has many people who give up their time freely to support races, clubs and events, this is often unseen by the wider world. That community is one of the most down-to-earth in running. Read more…
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Last weekend, Ashland, Oregon played host to the Lithia Loop Trail Marathon – this year’s USATF trail marathon national championships. Two days prior to the race, the forecast called for cold rain low on the course and snow. Reports Byron Powell. Read more…
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USA and Germany produced the overall Windstopper® Trailrun Worldmasters winners this weekend, after three stages of trail and industrial wasteland racing in Dortmund, Germany. Read more…
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The opportunity to run Everest Marathon is something many an off-road runner would behold. 2009 Commonwealth Mountain Running Champion Anna Frost is no different. The Wrexham-based athlete is well on her way to the ceiling of the world… Read more…
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The Al Andalus Ultra Trail is a very tough 5 day, 5 stage race of around 225km. The course provides a very demanding test not just for your legs but for your character and determination. Temperatures will be high (35-45C), climbs numerous and long. Read more…
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The inaugural votwo Pembrokeshire Coast Challenge took place from the 6th – 8th November 2009. Following in the footsteps of the established Jurassic and Atlantic Coast Challenges this was the first time that votwo events team headed across the Severn Bridge… Read more…
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Break-neck descents were the decisive factor as the last major race of the IMRA season took place around Djouce Mountain for the traditional Powerscourt Ridge race. Read more…
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Aldershot youngster Steph Twell is head and shoulders above the rest of the UK women on the XC scene right now. As the reigning European Junior champ, Twell can arguably be considered as one of the best in Europe too… Read more…
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One of the greatest living runners of our time is still making headlines. Joss Naylor MBE is considered by many to be the greatest fell runner of our times, and although Joss can sometimes be found out on the fells still, his time was the 1960’s and 1970’s… Read more…
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There is no denying the fact that the first Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series meeting in Machakos belonged to the locals. Training partners John Mwangangi and Caleb Mwangangi swept the senior men’s and junior men’s races in style… Read more…
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Denmark took a clean sweep in the Men’s 9km at the Nordic Cross Country Championships in the southwestern city of Perniö, Finland on Saturday. Morten Munkholm took the win in 26:18, only one second ahead of Andreas Bueno. Read more…
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Seems a good time was head by all if the forum comments and the race photos at Sunday’s Roaches 15 mile race are anything to go by! The lengthy race (for this time of the year) saw victory going to Horwich man James Kevan. In the women’s race Dark Peak’s Karen Davison had a stormer, coming 16th overall and winning her class by a massive 15 minutes… Read more…
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Horizontal rain, stinging hail, mist and even a little snow is all a summit marshall needs. Having left a little late for comfort the summit marshalls “hurried” from base control in damp , slightly breezy weather at a creditable pace. Read more…
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The 2009-10 European Athletics Cross Country permit series starts on Sunday with the 6th Cross de Atapuerca in the Spanish town of Burgos. The first race of the nine-meet series will also mark the unofficial beginning of the XC season in Europe Read more…
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Spanish title defender Alemayehu Bezabeh narrowly lost out to current World XC Champion Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia over 8.76km on Sunday at the 6th Cross de Atapuerca – the opening EA Cross Country permit meeting of the season. Read more…
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Scottish Hill Runners report: Prasad Prasad took the Tinto race firmly in his grasp and, on a fine day to be out on the hill, came home a clear winner in a record size field. Claire Gordon was first woman. Full results to follow. Read more…
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In the bid to prepare for next month’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Dublin on 13 December, several of Ireland’s top Cross Country runners will be in action across Europe this weekend. Four Irish athletes will compete at the European Athletics Cross Country Permit race… Read more…
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You know that they say behind every great man is a great women, well it looks like behind Kilian’s Tahoe extravaganza there were several women, and men, and a film crew, and pacers, and masseurs, oh and Tim Twietmeyer…. Read more…
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The WINDSTOPPER® Trail Run Worldmasters will be held in Dortmund, the heart of the Ruhr district. The finish on the site of a former coal mine close to downtown Dortmund, right next to a former blast furnace… Read more…
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The great man has joined the gossip revolution sweeping the globe. The social media phenomenon that is Twitter is now proving to be an essential media tool for sports people, sports fans, news organisations and charities the world over… Read more…
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As the world’s finest cross country runners prepare for the beginning of the upcoming season, so too is the northwestern Polish city of Bydgoszcz as it prepares to host the 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships on 28 March 2010. Read more…
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Looking at this weekend’s fell programme there are no fewer than 7 fell races in England and Wales. Add to this the Tinto Race near Biggar, and classic Powerscourt Ridge race in the Wicklow hills… Read more…
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Interesting to see UKA encouraging blogs from some of it’s talented youngsters. Also interesting to see prospective future champions loathe the discipline of cross country as much as their forefathers. The likes of Steve Ovett outwardly exclaimed their dislike for the muddy sport, yet equally realised that it was as essential part of their endurance base… Read more…
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Considered one of the top road, track and XC clubs in the UK Belgrave Harriers are a club steeped in a 120 year+ history. However, their challenge for honours at last weekend’s ECCA relays couldn’t have been more farcical or unfortunate after a fall from opening leg man Steve Sharp… Read more…
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Three coastal path marathons, in three days, on some of the most stunning and significant coastal paths in the world. Yes, that’s the VOTwo Pembrokeshire Coast Challenge, and it starts on Friday. Read more…
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Entries are now being accepted for the 2010 Highlander Mountain Marathon. This is a toughie and check out the emotive 2009 gallery set from rightplacerighttime.co.uk.... enough in itself to make you want to get your entry in! Read more…
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England has selected strong Teams for the Gateshead International on the 14th November, to take on teams from the other 3 Home Nations. All the runners have already demonstrated good form this season and are sure to do well at Gateshead and a number ran for GB in last season’s World Cross Country Champs. Read more…
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As the Scots’ hill season draws to a close, three of the main protagonists of 2009 continued to dominate the men’s event at last weekend’s Meall a Bhuachaille race. Youngster Catriona Buchanan had a storming run to upstage another dominant force in 2009 women’s hill racing, Clare Whitehead… Read more…
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We reported a little prematurely on this one on Monday. However the authoritative take in the Saturday’s Dublin Seniors XC comes from our man across the Irish Sea, Rene Borg. With great detail and links to some excellent images Rene delivers (and even had the time to race himself!). (Ed.) Read on… Read more…
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The 12th Skyrun race takes place in around 4 weeks. This one takes the runners across some of the toughest terrain in the southern Hemisphere from the Witteberg range of mountains, ending at the famous Tiffendel ski resort 100km later. Read more…
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Consistency was the name of the game for Bedford and County AC’s men as they retained their English Cross Country Association relay title in Mansfield on Saturday. Although none of the quartet managed to dip under the magical 15 minutes for the 5km course… Read more…
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Maria McCambridge, now based in Letterkenny, regained the women’s senior title at the Dublin Cross-Country Championships in Sat Ann’s Park after leading from the start. In the men’s race, Tallaght’s Sean Connolly took a decisive lead on the final lap after the lead had changed hands several times. Read more…
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The Ron Hill Great Whernside race doubled up as the Yorkshire Senior and U23 championships this weekend. At 4m/1555’ it’s a sharp one, and took a mere 30:45 for P&Bs John Heneghan to complete… Read more…
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Mark Hanrahan overcame the tough conditions to win his third Cork senior cross country title at The Showgrounds Clonakilty yesterday. Heavy overnight rain made underfoot conditions tough and a heavy shower during the last lap ensured athletes would have plenty to talk about… Read more…
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Because of the severe weather – strong winds and blustery showers the bad weather route was used. The race was won by Steven Cale of Shrewsbury in a time of 45 minutes and 31 seconds. The ladies race was won by Andrea Rowlands of Eryri in 50.11. Read more…
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Partnering up with Steve Birkinshaw, Jethro Lennox took yet another great mountain marathon last weekend, adding the OMM to the LAMM and the BAMM titles won earlier in the year. Now he has had time to dry off and get some kip, he tells his tale from the Elan Vale… Read more…
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It was a wonderful day for all mountain running supporters in Morbegno, Northern Italy, at the famous Trofeo Vanoni Race. A total of 130 relay teams participated in the race, along with 50 women and 300 youth competitors in the junior race for a total of 740 runners. Read more…
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A sunny windy day in the Wexford village of Adamstown set the scene for this year’s Leinster Novice Cross-Country. The organisers had designed a loop slightly longer than 1500m on a farmer’s field with gentle descents and climbs… Read more…
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Gibraltar is the site of the final race in the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) calendar – the 50 km Trophy Final – on Saturday 31 October. Athletes were selected on the basis of 50km races organized around the world. Lucas Nonyana (RSA) and Kami Semick (USA) are the men’s and women’s leaders going into the race. Read more…
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Adventure marathoners and ultra athletes are always looking for the next big challenge. It could be a remote desert marathon, a high altitude mountain marathon or a jungle marathon. However, mainland Antarctica represents the last frontier… Read more…
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inov-8 are pretty good at making off-road shoes – fact. But how good are they at making a more road-specific shoe? Well, after taking delivery of the brand new F-Lite™ 220 I can tell you – pretty damn good… Read more…
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Halloween 2009 additionally marks a special occasion for the glorious Berry Hill Park in Mansfield as this year, the Nottinghamshire venue will be celebrating as they reach their 20-year milestone of hosting the annual Saucony English Cross-Country Relays Read more…
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Registration for the 2010 GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run is now officially open, an early initiative designed to manage the increased interest in the unique event. Runners from all over the world will be signing up for one of the coveted entries to take on this spectacular challenge… Read more…
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In episode 9 of Kilian’s Quest Mr. Jornet takes us through those hazy times of sleep deprivation, when you never quite know what day it is! You can only imaging how it must have felt to have been running the Tahoe Rim Trail with very little sleep in 38 odd hours! Read more…
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Britain’s Mo Farah has indicated his intention to compete at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Dublin on 13 December. After winning Sunday’s Great South Run in Portsmouth, Farah spoke of his desire to compete in Ireland. Read more…
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Not being an avid viewer of the youngsters news programme I missed this little feature. Mel Hyder takes reporter Jon through the ups and downs of fell running, at last months English Schools fell running champs… Read more…
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Last year, the presiding IMRA chairman Tony Kiernan, decided to resurrect the Stone Cross to Lug Relay, bringing it back on the calendar from an 8 year hiatus. This year, the event has survived despite, or perhaps, because of, modest attendance… Read more…
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2008 WLDMRC champ Jethro Lennox will be on hand this Saturday in Glasgow to open a new Run4It concept that will dedicate itself to off-road running. Lennox will take questions and a 30 minute run with fans and the media… Read more…
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The men’s race was won by Jean Ndayesinga (Birchfield) in 30:25 from Tom Humphreys (Cannock & Stafford) 30:45 and Chris Davies (Telford) 30:52. In the women’s race Kate Avery (Shildon U20) started her season in fine form with victory in 22:38 from Kirsty Milner and Sara Treacy… Read more…
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France’s Julien Rancon reigned supreme in the 52nd running of this famous race in Morbegno (Italy). As reported last week, three top British runners traveled representing the International Snowdon Race. Read more…
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Preparations for Ireland’s first SPAR European Cross Country Championship are now in full swing, with just 50 days left until the event, which is taking place on the 13th of December. Read more…
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Kilian Jornet was crowned Skyrunning World Champion at the final of the Skyrunner® World Series in Malaysia, Sunday, October 25, his second world title. The young Spaniard lived up to expectations by ascending the 4,095m Mount Kinabalu leading the pack of top international skyrunners… Read more…
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There was a sense of déjà vu at Saturday’s Scottish National Cross Country Relay Championships, Central AC dominated the senior women’s race from start to finish as they did 12 months ago; Shettleston’s men came out on top in both junior and senior events Read more…
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The new wave of media and technology sees the OMM at the forefront in coupling this with the wilderness and personal challenge of the event. This year a series of podcasts have been put together relaying the finishers as they arrive… Read more…
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On Saturday 31st October, Run4It officially opening their Inov-8 Off-Road Running Centre at the Glasgow Outdoor Experience . Read more…
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The Snowdonia Marathon, now in its 27th year, yesterday showed why it can still be considered one of the very best marathons in the UK. With the entry limit (2000) reached in August demand for this scenic, challenging and wild marathon continues unabated… Read more…
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Time to for OMMers to pack up their troubles in their old kit bags and head for the hills and trails of Builth and Llandrindod Wells this weekend. North Wales also hosts one of the greatest British marathons on Saturday in Snowdonia. Read more…
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Some great images of last weekend’s UKA Fell relays courtesy of Chris Upson. This man gets everywhere, and the images currently find their home on the Scottish Hill Runners site. Chris also runs the Scottish Hill Racing site, visit them both to keep up to date with all the news! Read more…
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Ten athletes have been pre-selected by Athletics New Zealand for 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland which takes place on 28 March 2010. The selections are: Kimberley Smith, Fiona Crombie, Kellie Palmer and Sarah Biss… Read more…
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A star-studded line-up is forecast for the Skyrunner® World Series final in Malaysia on October 24 and 25. The steepest race on the eight-race circuit reaches the summit of Asia’s second highest mountain, Mount Kinabalu (4,095m)… Read more…
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From Kent to Gwent, from the Chilterns to the Highlands. From local league, to big league and everything in between. If you are a cross country league, race, series organiser… Read more…
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Top African mountain running nations have confirmed their participation in the first African Mountain Running Championships next month in Nigeria. The championships will hold alongside the Obudu International Mountain race Read more…
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There have been some heated debates on various forums regarding Sunday’s outcome to the UKA fell relay champs in Ennerdale. John Heneghan, a member of the DQed Pudsey & Bramley team feels pretty strongly about the outcome… Read more…
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The dates for next year’s British Fell Running Championships have been announced. With one in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland – kicking off with Slieve Binnian (Mourne Mountains) in April. Read more…
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It is the policy of the English Cross Country Association, backed by England Athletics, to send teams to International XC events to help athletes to develop and gain experience of travelling and competing against good quality athletes… Read more…
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Phillipa Jackson had already sewn-up the 2009 women’s English Fell Running Championship prior to last weekend’s final race at Langdale. However, with all to run for at the last race the men’s championship went down to the wire… Read more…
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From élite athletes to amateurs, the challenge of running up cityscape landmarks is spreading across the planet. Now, a selection of the best skyscraper races is united in the first-ever Vertical World Circuit ®. Read more…
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Irish internationals Mary Cullen and Mark Christie proved too strong for some quality opposition at the first big XC event of the 2009/10 season, the Aviva Health Gerry Farnan Cross Country held in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Sunday (18). Read more…
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Following the sad death of our Treasurer and good friend, Ron Skilton, to Motor Neurone Disease in Dec 2005 this event was added to our Green Events calendar. The route for the half marathon is a figure of 8, mainly off-road and approx 13 miles long. Read more…
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There was an abundance of pre-NCAA collegiate cross country action over in the US at the weekend. Women’s hot favourite Jenny Barringer was in scintillating form yet again, winning at Terre Haute in Indiana. Read more…
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From a young age those who knew Alistair Brownlee knew he was destined for greatness. As a youngster Ali was a top-class fell and cross country runner. However, it is in the sport of triathlon that the Yorkshireman has found fame… Read more…
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2008 winners and runners-up, Bingley and Mercia, and Pudsey and Bramley were all disqualified from the UKA British Fell relay champs, held in a misty and damp Ennerdale Hills on Sunday. Although the detail is currently a little vague, it appears all three missed CP1 on the fourth leg… Read more…
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We seem to have missed these fantastic shots from Dave and Eileen Woodhead, posted a few days after the recent British and Irish Junior fell running champs. Some great images as usual. Make sure you check by the Woodentops site regularly for some of the best images on the net… Read more…
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Last week we had news from the Novice Cross-Country series in Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow. However, there was more action in Leinster on the weekend’s of the 3rd and 11th of October Read more…
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With a prize money of $50,000, the Obudu Mountain is a must for all long distance racers in the world, as no other road pays so much in prize money. And according to a release signed by Bruno Gozzelino, the president of World Mountain Race Association... Read more…
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On this weekend (Sun 18), taking place at Kirkland Leaps (GR 087184). Last year saw a mammoth battle between Bingley and Mercia, with the Yorkshire men coming out on top. Calder Valley beat the Bingley girls in the women’s race. Read more…
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Top finishers at this year’s Snowdon Race have been invited to race under the Great Britain banner at this year’s Trofeo Vanoni to be held in Morbegno (Italy) next weekend (Oct 24-25). The historic race up Snowdon enabled a twinning of host village of Llanberis and Morbegno. Read more…
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Martin Cox’s latest blog on the Team Inov-8 Europe site tells it like it is to race at a high level – hard work! Really great reading, getting inside the mind of a committed British mountain runner who resides in Italy and is ready to take on the Africans on the roads and mountains of Europe. Read more…
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Apologies in advance to reader Steve H who said that I would kiss the butt of these shoes. I suppose hundreds of fell runners can’t be wrong, and have to say that my first run (7.5 rolling miles, watching the sun come up) in Inov8’s X-Talon 212 was very impressive… Read more…
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Not for the fainthearted Ultramaratón Fuego y Agua is an extremely challenging foot race on Isla Ometepe in Nicaragua. The race is composed of four different event options, the 25k, 50k, 100k and a 2/3-person 4-stage 100k relay… Read more…
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“I’m definitely aiming to defend my title in Dublin. Not only that, as many people know and it’s almost as important for me, I’m the only person to have run in all 15 of the previous SPAR European Cross Country Championships” Read more…
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Well it is today anyway. The entries lottery draw for next year’s Western States 100 closes at 11.59 on the 15th (Thursday). Were thinking that this is US eastern time (?), so you have got ‘til about 4am on Friday if you are in Europe! Read more…
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The current UK weather systems have seen some absolutely amazing evening skies – especially up in Snowdonia by the looks of it. Sarah and Iain (Ridgway) usually provide me with enough visual stimulus to get me through the endless flatlands of the Home Counties… Read more…
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It won’t have escaped your notice that the British raiders at last weekend’s World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge did rather well. Firstly there was a great run from England’s Ricky Lightfoot to claim a bronze medal. Read more…
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In Builth Wells that is. Full details are now on the new Race Calendar site, a great new resource launched only last month. The event takes place over the weekend of the 24th and 25th of October. Let’s hope that the race is a little drier than last year. Read more…
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After a ten year hiatus, the Belgrade Race Through History takes place in the Serbian capital on Wednesday (14) afternoon. “This event is unique,” said Paul Tergat, “there is not another race in the world like it. It’s not a road race, nor is it cross country…” Read more…
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Rene Borg brings all of the latest XC news from Wicklow, Wexford and Dublin Cross-Country Round-Up. Last weekend, the cross-country season kicked-off with the County Novices all around the country… Read more…
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Part one of Kilian Jornet’s epic Tahoe Rim Trail record run. Superb film-making from Migoo, capturing the huge Tahoe wilderness, as Kilian says: “You need to reach your inner self, something like the very essence of your being”. Read more…
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Answers on a postcard as to why Borrowdale’s Jim Davies was seen carrying a GOLDFISH during last Saturday’s Langdale Horseshoe race. I suppose that combination of hydration, protein and fish oils is as good as many gels and sports drinks can offer these days!? Read more…
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A little late coming through this one. Now online is the report from last weekend’s PUMA Coniston Trail Race & Challenge held on Saturday 3rd October in the Lakes. Leeds’ James Walsh and Bingley’s Vicky Wilkinson triumphed over the 15km course… Read more…
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Oleg Chepelin (Shettleston) blew away the field at the Pentland Skyline to win in a staggeringly fast time of 2:25:56, given the windy conditions. Fiona Maxwell, was first lady in 3:02:00. Read more…
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Simon Booth took the win at Saturday’s Langdale Horseshoe race, however it was the the other Simon – Bailey – who took the English Fell Running Championship. His third place on Saturday was good enough as 2009 British Champion Rob Hope (who could have theoretically challenged Bailey) finished in fourth place on the day… Read more…
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GB international Tim Davies took an easy win at Sunday’s Breidden Hills race in Criggion. Held in lovely early-Autumn conditions Davies led from the start and never looked back as he won by over three minutes from Shrewsbury’s Steven Cale. Read more…
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29 year-old dentist Marc Lauenstein blew away a world-class field at yesterday’s 6th World Mountain Running Long Distance Challenge in Söll. The Swiss orienteer was running his first non-O of the season and won the 42km race by almost six minutes! Read more…
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News that the newly-crowned World women’s mountain running champion Elisa Desco had tested positive for a (as yet unnamed) banned substance may come as a shock to many in the mountain running scene. Read more…
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I have to admit to not being an avid reader of the world’s most popular running magazine. In the past I saw the publication as more of an advisory mag, helping those running newbies obtain shoe, race and training advice for road races, marathons, the odd off-road or charity event… Read more…
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Thus is the yell from Rob Jebb as he descends in the atrocious conditions at this year’s Ben Nevis race. Thanks to a link from the Scottish Hill Runners site to fellephant’s You Tube page and this great 5 or so minute b & w film from this years race… Read more…
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After my posting of the image below on the Langdale preview piece yesterday, reader Guy Russell emailed to with a tale or two on the great man, one particular story was one I thought worth sharing with all of those who remember the Ambleside legend… Read more…
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Otherwise known as the Kaisermarathon (42,195 km), takes place in the beautiful village center of Söll. Further it goes via Scheffau, Ellmau, the Ski-region Wilder Kaiser towards the finish at the top of the Hohe Salve (1.829m sea level) Read more…
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This weekend sees the last race in the English Fell Running Championships, taking place at Langdale on Saturday. The Langdale Horseshoe is a tough 14m affair with 4000ft of climbing – a race where lines and navigation mean everything… Read more…
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In a weekend that sees many championships culminate, the BOFRA 2009 championships conclude at Wasdale. Alastair Dunn and Jenny Dybeck lead the mens and ladies champs going into the last race… Read more…
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Well the parcel man does anyway. Not 1, but 4 pairs of Inov8 shoes were delivered to MST on Tuesday, thanks to those good people from Durham who are taking footwear technology to the next level. It’s gonna take me a few weeks to get through this little lot… Read more…
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Meeting two of the McCain UK Cross Challenge Series- Liverpool (incorporating the European Cross Country Trials) on Saturday 28th November – is now open for online entry 2009/2010 … Read more…
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Still lots going on north of the border. Racers at the Newtyle Hill Race and Bennachie thankfully dodged the gales of Saturday as Sunday dawned. The long trip north from London was made all the more worthwhile for Chris Smith, as he broke the course record at Bennachie… Read more…
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Let’s face it any international XC event worth their salt in this day and age needs to get social. Media that is, and this December’s European Cross Country Championships, to be held in Dublin, are getting their act together on Facebook and Twitter. Read more…
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This is astounding. We cannot do this effort justice on these pages. As the humble Kevin Carr relays his solo off-road run from Lands End-john O’Groats via the forums of the FRA – hardened fell dogs on the board were left mouth a gape. Read more…
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After Saturday’s last race in this year’s series the final podium positions for the WMRA GP have been confirmed. Read more…
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Victory in this one went to Eryri man Sam Smith, with Helen Fines taking the women’s record – in 10th overall. You can feast your eyes on some excellent images from yesterday’s race courtesy of Gwynfor James and Al Tye of fellrunningpictures fame, and Emlyn... Read more…
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The US XC college racing season is now well under way and this weekend saw one of the more prestigious events on the circuit. The Rocky Mountain Shootout is different because of its geographical nature (it’s at altitude and has some big climbs)… Read more…
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Scotland bagged two individual prizes in the U18 boys and girls races at this weekend’s Junior Home Internationals at Sedbergh. Robbie Simpson took the u18 boys race by a sizable 40 seconds, with fellow Scot Catriona Buchanan easily winning the corresponding girls race… Read more…
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The Smarna Gora race (forming part of the WMRA GP series for 2009) produced a thrilling finale to this years Grand Prix – the seven-race series which crosses the European continent taking in some classic routes and venues. The men’s race saw a huge tussle, with 55 seconds covering the first 6 runners… Read more…
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The gusting 80mph wind forced a course change, but nothing could dampen the friendly atmosphere or the competitive racing for Bellahouston Road Runners’ inaugural Ben Venue race. Read more…
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BBC 2 Scotland’s The Adventure Show this Sunday (4th October, 7.00pm) will feature coverage of this summer’s West Highland Way Race. At 95 miles long, the race is Scotland longest permitted event. Read more…
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The weather looks a little iffy, however there are lots of races to get the pulse racing of the UK’s fell runners over the next couple of days. Read more…
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According to the Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara the 2016 Olympics will be the last ever, as we could all be doomed by then. Who knows, he could be right. One thing is for sure, the green concerns of Tokyo should be applauded and unless the mindless excess of the Games is checked the Olympics are in danger of becoming a embarrassing commercial ogre… Read more…
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Kilian’s amazing feat this week seems to have caught the eye of Runners World – it’s good to see the sport receiving some mainstream coverage. Some superb images are also starting to emerge form the large contingent of media that witnessed his Tahoe Rim Trail effort… Read more…
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The race is full, but should be a great event around this most famous of lakes in the Lakes. Starting and finishing at John Ruskin School in Coniston village, the 15km circuit along well marked and marshalled footpaths and bridleways takes in panoramic views of Lake Coniston… Read more…
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This weekend see the Open British and Irish Junior Fell Running Championships take place in Sedburgh on Sunday. All 5 ‘home’ international countries of England, Wales, Scotland, N Ireland and Ireland will be sending teams… Read more…
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The challenging mountain running course of 9,5km on Smarna gora just outside Ljubljana has an ascent of 750m and descent of 290m. Due to its technical difficulty and the profile that is changing all long this is a very demanding course that gives advantage to a complete, powerful and brave athlete. Read more…
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A big thanks to MST follower Andrew Kitts who put me right on last weekend’s Three Peaks Cyclo Cross race. I do a bit of PR work for some pro bike teams and in the bike industry, and didn’t think that this would float the boat of all of you runners out there… Read more…
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The votwo Atlantic Coast Challenge 2009 started on Friday 25th September in the glorious sunshine we have come to expect for this event. Now in it’s 3rd year what started out as the little brother to the Jurassic Coast Challenge… Read more…
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Kilian Jornet’s time around the Tahoe Rim is yet to be confirmed officially, however 38 hours and 32 mins is near as damn it. We expect that they have all probably gone for a lie down – they all deserve it! The salomon running Twitter page was a great source of news on this epic effort… Read more…
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Apologies, we are a bit late on this one! What with all of the news flying around on the World champs that weekend we missed one of Europe’s greatest mountain marathons, the Jungfrau Marathon. Thanks to inov8 Europe for the pointer… Read more…
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This weekend’s Puyada Oturia race, part of the 2009 Skyrunner® World Series’ Trials, took place on Sunday (27) and saw wins for Spain’s Tófol Castaner Bernat and Esther Gil in a race dominated by the Spanish ‘home’ runners… Read more…
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Freshly crowned Commonwealth MRC, for both uphill only and up and down titles, Wilson Chemweno will chase a first prize of $50,000 at the Obudu Ranch race in late November. The Kenyan will be hoping to capitalise on his new found talent for mountain running… Read more…
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STOP PRESS: This is the behind-the-scenes glamour of trail running. The best of the lot. Probably the world’s number one ultra trail and mountain runner – Kilian Jornet takes a break form his Tahoe Rim record attempt. Sounds like he is well on-target… Read more…
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It was a repeat performance for GB international mountain runners and SSOT members Natalie White and Nick Swinburn at this weekend’s Saab Salomon Turbo X race in Sheffield – following the pair’s winning runs in Mugdock a fortnight earlier… Read more…
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GB international orienteer Scott Fraser won a close-fought Two Breweries race on Saturday, with a helping hand from Broughton Ales, one of the sponsors of this most scenic of events starting in Traquair. Read more…
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Kilian Jornet has already bagged two amazing ultra-trail records this year, at the GR20 and recently the UTMB title. However, as reported last week the attempt on Tim Twietmeyer’s Tahoe Rim record could be his toughest as he embarks on some of the wildest and most arid terrain. Read more…
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The classic Scafell Pike race took place on Saturday, starting in Wasdale, Cumbria. The race is a 4.5m/3000’ straight up and down race with a great atmosphere. As with much of the country this weekend the weather was superb for the race. Read more…
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The North Wales XC league kicked off on Saturday at Erias Park, Colwyn Bay, in weather more akin to a summer track meet than the front-end of our glorious autumn / winter discipline. With the great weather came some excellent racing… Read more…
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Fell runners are partial to their pre race recces, normally for the purpose of checking out the terrain, working out what shoes are suitable, ascertaining where there’s water available on the course and most importantly sussing out the best lines between hilltop checkpoints… Read more…
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Some lovely images from Al Tye here of this weekend’s Black Mountains Fell Race, starting in Llanbedr and visiting, you guessed it, the Black Mountains near Abergavenny. The weather looked glorious… Read more…
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The past weekend allowed me to get a first-hand experience with the new Fell and Mountain Running Level 2 Coach which was kicked off earlier this year after collaboration between the FRA and UK Athletics. The course bases itself on the standard “Endurance Level 2” course… Read more…
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This Saturday sees the third of this year’s ever-growing Saab Salomon Turbo X races arrive at the fantastic off-road venue that is Wharncliffe Woods, just outside of Sheffield. This one is bound to attract yet another huge entry… Read more…
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The North Face® sponsored ultra-distance runner, Jez Bragg, finished top of the podium over the weekend after an outstanding 100km at the Commonwealth Ultra Championships. Jez, who was representing England… Read more…
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The last of this year’s English Fell Running Championship races takes place at Langdale on the 10th of October. If you have an entry but are unable to run please contact the race organiser, Roger Bell, by 4th October, as there is a large waiting list! Read more…
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With temperatures predicted to hit the low 20’s in some parts of the UK this weekend it’s gonna be dust rather than mud that awaits some the hardy XC runners up and down the country. Read more…
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The last trial race in this years Skyrunner® World Series’ Trials takes place in Spain this weekend. Runners will virtually be guaranteed perfect weather for the 38 and 21,5 km races in Sabiñánigo at the Oturia Puyada race. Ricardo Mejia still leads the men’s World Series overall standings... Read more…
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Sit back and watch this visually stunning BBC HD programme on Scotland’s mountains. Whether you’re a runner or not you will enjoy this journey depicting the evolution of Sir Hugh Thomas Munro’s epic cataloging of all Scottish peaks above 3000ft. Read more…
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Another fantastic weekend in the Mourne Mountains finished with Deon McNeilly and Eamon McCrickard winning the Elite class with a total time of 11hrs30min. 2nd place team Billy Reed and Gerry Kingson were only a few minutes behind them… Read more…
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After 13 miles and 4000ft of climbing just 11 seconds covered the first four men at Saturday’s Three Shires fell race in Ambleside. Victory went to Borrowdale man Chris Steele ahead of club-mate Jim Davies – from a fantastic 276 finishers! Read more…
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In case you missed it last night on Channel 4 (UK), The Ice Man follows Dutchman Wim Hof as he runs a marathon across one of the coldest and most remote parts of the world, in shorts and sandals – inspirational and slightly bonkers… Read more…
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“A delegation from European Athletics recently visited the Local Organising Committee of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships over two days in September.” Media and TV plans are full-steam in Dublin in readiness for December’s Euro XC Read more…
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Well we are not sure if last weekend’s Commonwealths were filmed, but there is certainly a revolution afoot. The east Africans have dabbled in mountain running over the last few years, and have always attacked this big Nigerian race... Read more…
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Whilst the prestigious Commonwealths were sucking most of the domestic races dry of elite athletes this weekend Calder Valley runner Helen Fines broke a nigh-on 20 year old record at the Llyn y Fan race on Saturday. Read more…
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On some of the world’s top mountain runners that is. At yesterday’s CMRC up and down race the Inov8 Talon 212 shoe dominated the racing with the top 5 men all wearing the shoe, plus women’s victor Katie Ingram. Read more…
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On the 28th of September, Kilian goes west to the Sierra Nevada to run the Tahoe Rim Trail long-distance hiking trail, for the third episode in his mountain-running quest. (Preview video NOW ONLINE) Read more…
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These wee beasties make our humble UK wasps look friendly. As you’ll see from the image they are also about 4-5cms long, not the sort of thing you want to encounter whilst driving up a hill at 180bpm! Known as the suzumebachi it appears that the swarm affected around 30 of the 370 runners taking part in the Yosano Mt. Oe Mountain Race. Read more…
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After his emphatic uphill win on Friday Wilson Chemweno delivered a second knockout blow in three days as he took the up and downhill title today in Keswick. These inaugural CMRC’s have proved to be a great success… Read more…
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At the inaugural Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships today Anna Frost and K Wilson Chemweno took the uphill only titles on a dry but overcast day in Keswick. Frost has come into to great form in the last few weeks and won convincingly from England’s Katie Ingram. Read more…
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Banchory’s Robbie Simpson is the youngest runner competing in the inaugural Commonwealth mountain running championships near Keswick which got under way yesterday and run until Sunday. Read more…
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This blog is definitely one for your bookmarks. Sarah Ridgway, and husband Iain, know Snowdonia pretty well and her regular updates make for excellent reading. This site is worth checking for the images alone – of course the content ain’t bad either! Read more…
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The last of the summer sun was setting in the west as the runners stood atop the east cairn of Caerketton on a perfect evening for the eighth running of the Caerketton Doonhiller. What lay ahead for the 29 runners was a 1.8km plunge down the hillside, a vertical drop of 300m. Read more…
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Competitors for this year’s Navigational Challenge could exchange the mist and fog from last week’s race for much better conditions at Up Leinster, the final race of the series. Newcomer Brian O’Meara, running his first season with IMRA, recorded a stunning victory… Read more…
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An interesting October 2009 Running Times article from Roger Robinson on the origins of certain names and terms in this most historic of sports. Did you know that the word “harriers” – as in club name – derives from “hare hunters”? I didn’t… Read more…
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After a long, hard season it’s about to get longer and harder for many of the Commonwealth’s top ultra and mountain runners as this weekend’s Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championship takes place in Keswick. Read more…
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Due to a high number of requests, this winter’s major domestic cross country fixtures, in addition to Scottish East District League dates, have been made available prior to the distribution of the scottishathletics’ winter fixture list in PB magazine later this month. Read more…
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Athletics Ireland has confirmed that world champion Marta Domínguez will compete at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Dublin in December. The Spaniard, who won the 3000m steeplechase at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin last month… Read more…
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Just one week after the World Mountain Running Championships in Campodolcino, where the best athletes in the world met to see who would be the best this year, their Masters colleagues met for the same reason in Zagreb. Read more…
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Anna Frost took her second win in as many weeks on Sunday, convincingly beating Italian Maria Roberti to win the Drei Zinnen ‘three peaks’ race in the Italian Dolomites. Helmut Schiessl won a close fought men’s race from Timo Zeiler and Gaiardo Marco. Read more…
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Ilkely Harrier Helene Whitaker won the shorter women’s section, with Josh Beech winning the shorter men’s event. However it was Team Inov8 Europe man Steve Birkinshaw who took the spoils in the historic main event. Read more…
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Images courtesy of Al Tye @ fell running pictures from yesterday’s classic Shropshire ‘long’ event the Stetton Skyline. The weather looked idyllic for this 18 miler, and although results aren’t up yet it looks like top Welsh racer Richard Roberts took the win… Read more…
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GB international Nick Swinburn took the Mugdock Country Park mud in his stride this weekend at the second of this year’s Saab Salomon Turbo X races, as he comfortably beat a loaded international field of over 400 starters… Read more…
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A great flickr set here from last week’s rather wet Ben Nevis race, giving a flavour of the environment that the runners experienced on their way to the top of Britain’s highest peak. Interesting to see how the dress codes differed… Read more…
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The two British racers Andrew Symonds and Tom Owens of Team Saab Salomon Outdoor won today’s last stage of the GORE-TEX® Transalpine- Run 2009 from Schlanders to Latsch, Italy… Read more…
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Geoffrey Kusuro won the 2009 World Mountain Running Championships in Italy last weekend. He was wearing a brand new pair of INOV8 X-talon 212’s – straight out of the box! Read more…
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The Lake District Mountain Trial was started in 1952 by the Lakeland Regional Group of the YHA as part of their twenty-first anniversary celebrations. The first Trial started in Langdale, the runners ascending Bowfell, Esk Pike and Scafell Pike… Read more…
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Andrew Symonds and Tom Owens of British Team ‘Saab Salomon Outdoor’ were back on track today pocketing another stage triumph. The overall leaders mustn’t have spent much time taking in the spectacular sights alongside the trail… Read more…
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10 miles of mud (with hopefully dry weather this weekend!), sweat and tears in the Scotland greet the runners. Read more…
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It doesn’t seem 5 minutes since we were doing in-depths about the World XC champs. Well you had better dig those spikes n brollies out again because the 2009 /10 XC season is here. With some UK XC leagues starting this weekend(!), UKA have today (10th) announced details of the their successful XC series… Read more…
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“Nestled high in the Italian Alps on the border with Switzerland, the towns of Campodolcino and Madesimo made a fitting and spectacular setting for the 1st IAAF World Mountain Running Championships”. Read more…
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By design, the uphill sprint to Motta Naluns above Scuol, Switzerland, is meant to serve as a ‘restful’ interlude halfway through one of the toughest trail-running races out there Read more…
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The crowd-gathering Wednesday evening races are over for another year but the Irish hill running season still has a few fixtures left to talk about. Read more…
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So, this is the sort of money that one of the greatest track and XC stars of our time can expect to earn in an ‘average’ year. When compared to a Premier League footballer or the likes of Tiger Woods, it aint a lot, however it’s not to be sniffed at either… Read more…
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Yep, its number six in this fascinating series from the team behind Kilian’s Quest. From 8/9 hour training sessions to inspiring others to embark on their own challenges… Read more…
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The racers’ arrival in Scuol Switzerland marks the halfway mark on the GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run with four stages down and an equal number still to come. Today held more of the same of experiences the runners have enjoyed already over the last few days… Read more…
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Mercia man Pete Vale romped his way to the fifth fastest Peris Horseshoe race in history on Saturday. Andrea Rowlands won the women’s race. In the Half Paul Jenkinson won the men’s race with international Anna Bartlett leading the girls home… Read more…
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The second of this year’s three Navigational Challenges took place yesterday around Aughavannagh in Wicklow. Only 12 runners braved the challenges put up by the thick mist and persistent rainfall with visibility down to 10m on parts of the route – reports Rene Borg Read more…
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Some stunning images from the German gripmastertrails site of the TransAlpine Run adventure to date. Seeing this, reading blogs and listening to competitors it seems that the TransAlp is the race of a lifetime! Read more…
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Yep, it was business as usual for Tom Owens and Andy Symonds as they went for their third stroll in the Alps today. It’s no so much that they have no competition, more the fact that they are a pair of the best endurance mountain runners in Europe! Read more…
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After Moire set sail to south Asia for a spell our Irish feed has been down – until now that is! We wanted someone with, wit, style and creative juice to fill the lil’ Irish girls’ mountain shoes, and we think that we have found a suitable replacement… Read more…
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East African nations have clean-swept in the mens race at the 25th WMR Champs in Italy on Sunday (6th). Going one better, the Italian nation took all three medals in the women’s race, with Elisa Desco winning convincingly from compatriot Valentina Belotti. Read more…
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Full race report now online coutesy of Lauri at skyrunning.com. It looks like there was a friendly welcome from the Scottish weather gods, especially for those from sunnier climes! We’re sure that a few were not ready for the wet and windy conditions that they were met with… Read more…
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Andrew Symonds and Tom Owens of Scotland left no doubt as to their superiority among the Men’s teams as – once again – they were first to dash across the finish line in the renowned resort community of St. Anton/Arlberg… Read more…
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Winning by almost 3 minutes from Danny Hope and Tofol Castanyer, Bingley Harrier Rob Jebb once again won the classic that is Ben Nevis. No report as yet, but full results are on the BN homepage (click bottom R/H, list of finishers). Mireia Miro won the women’s race from Natalie White and Emanuela Brizio. Read more…
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Scotland has named strong teams for the Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships, which will be held for the first time from 17th-20th September 2009 in Keswick, Cumbria (England), including Angela Mudge… Read more…
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Nine athletes have been selected to represent Scotland at this year’s World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, which is incorporated within the Kaisermarathon event in Soll, Austria on Saturday 10th October. Read more…
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As reported earlier in the week Lizzy H placed second at last weekend’s UTMB. She was also joined in podium positions by fellow North face athletes Sebastien Chaigneau and Tsuyoshi Kaburaki who claimed second and third place respectively in the men’s event… Read more…
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The TransAlpine Run is no ordinary day at the office! As Tom Owens and Andy Symonds (men’s event) and Angela Mudge and Ben Bardsley (mixed event) get ready for the eight days of racing that will see them visiting Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy… Read more…
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2008 winner of the Ben Nevis race Augusti Roc returns to Scotland attempting a repeat win this weekend (5 Sept) looking to add to his 2009 Skyrunner® World Series points tally. Hoping to get in his way will be Ben multiple winner Rob Jebb amongst others… Read more…
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With just three days left until the racing begins it is time to get serious for some of the world’s best mountain runners at the WMRC. Defending champ Jono Wyatt goes for number 7(!), but will come up against the strongest competition yet… Read more…
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The Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team will compete in the 25th World Mountain Running Championships in Campodolcino, Italy, on Sunday, September 6, 2009. Read more…
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We have one man to thank for the 2009 WMRC event gaining Championship status, the late Danny Hughes. He was instrumental in getting a greater recognition for the event and it is thanks to Danny that this year the event will gain a higher global standing and media recognition… Read more…
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The TA site states “The prestige of this hard-running challenge retracing Hannibal’s footsteps mainly bases on two facts: the routing with its almost 240km in distance and about 14,000m of elevation gain to be covered in seven stages speaks volumes…” Read more…
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Yep, this one has been on the fell calendar for years and at around 40 minutes (for the quick ‘uns!) it’s a lovely afternoon sojourn in the Welsh hills. Although it didn’t quite work out like that on Sunday (30), as Al Tye’s photos show, it was a tad soggy. Read more…
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It was a pretty predictable win for the untouchable Kilian Jornet this weekend at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. The Spaniard romped to his second win in as many years. However, what wasn’t expected was the resounding victory for American female Kristin Moehl over last year’s winner Lizzie Hawker – by over an hour! Read more…
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The Mercia man pipped Rob Hope by 13 seconds in this the penultimate round of the 2009 English Fell Running Championships. Dentdale is classed as ‘short’ and at 25 minutes or so for the winners it’s pretty much a dash, when compared to the likes of Wasdale... Read more…
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From organiser Alex King Runners in this year’s Ochil 2000s had to put up with a strong head wind and some wet conditions underfoot, but the cloud had cleared the hills before the race had started. The race was won by Alasdair Anthony of Ochil in an impressive 2:48:23… Read more…
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Athletics Kenya (Isaiah Kiplagat) and cross-country legend Paul Tergat have not taken the recent decision to make World Cross Country Championships a biennial event kindly. Read more…
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Not long now until one of the world’s classic ultra mountain events. The UTMB is part of a festival of endurance mountain races taking place this weekend. Kilian Jornet and Lizzie Hawker were victors in 2008, with both back for more in 2009… Read more…
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After 4 stages American runners Ted Russell and Greg Kotzbauer hold a lead of around 20 minutes (not long on this course). It’s not so close in the women’s race as Anita Ortiz and Prudence Lheureux hold on to a lead of 1hr and 48 mins… Read more…
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Having been kindly pointed in the direction of this captivating article I thought it would be the done thing to share it with MST readers. An absolutely fascinating piece on one of the most talented fell and road runners in history. With many of his records still standing today Kenny Stuart truly was King of the Mountains! Read more…
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It’s no secret that many of the African nations have a history of barefoot running, from as far back as the 60’s with Abebe Bekele, through to the infamous Zola Budd (is this really 25 years ago!?), through to many top youngsters of today (until they are told put on the sponsors’ kicks!). Read more…
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Good report on the Brecon Beacons race from the vibrant Eryri Harriers site . A comfortable win for Mynydd Du runner Martin Shaw, who has shown some great form this summer, from Richard Roberts who hands his Welsh Fell Running champion’s title to Shaw. Read more…
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The Irish men’s team won the Matterhorn mountain race in Zermatt on Sunday. The race was won by Eritrean Michael Mehari in 59:50, nine seconds ahead of Swiss runner Stephan Wenk. Columbian Juan Pablo Rangel was third and Brian MacMahon (Clonliffe) fourth, around one minute behind the winner. Read more…
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With 900ft of climbing in less than 1 mile of uphill racing (the whole race is only 1.5 miles) the Burnsall Classic is a lung burner. Still the weather held good for this Saturday evening classic dash with Ian Holmes and Helen Glover taking the wins Read more…
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Whilst the south of the UK basked in glorious sunshine it seems that the weather at the Sedbergh Hills Race was non too clement yesterday. With results still unavailable it’s good to see that the runners come through with fresh blogs to tell the tales… Read more…
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Erik Skaggs wins the 2009 USA 100km Ultra-trail Championships, Joelle Vaught wins the women’s section by fully 45minutes and comes an amazing 9th overall. Full results here, reports, images and videos to follow… Read more…
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From August 23-28, up to 150 teams of two will take on the Colorado Rockies for a running experience like no other. The GORE-TEX™ TransRockies Run sees runners from all over the world will run, eat and live together as they cover 113 miles of spectacular scenery Read more…
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With a temporary halt to the frenetic European action of late, it is time for some domestic bliss for many of the UK’s fell racers this weekend. England offers-up the Sedbergh Hills and Weasdale Horseshoe, with the big Welsh classic, Brecon Beacons, taking place on Saturday at 10.30am… Read more…
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Yep, its nearly 10 months since we first started this thing, and as with any youngster it needs feeding as it grows, and as the traffic grows we want to meet the demands of the users. We also think that it is about time that we added some new features and gave the site a new feel, but all in nice clean way, keeping customers happy. What d’you reckon? Read more…
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The UK line-up for next months inaugural World Mountain Running Championships has been selected by UKA, following last weekend’s Trails. Absent from the trials race but deemed a strong enough contender is Sarah Tunstall, whos pedigree at championships races speaks for itself… Read more…
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…taking place this weekend at the Where’s Waldo 100K Ultramarathon. starting at Willamette Pass Ski Area (Oregon) at elevation 5120’, climbing up mountains including Fuji, The Twins, and Maiden Peak, returning to the ski area Read more…
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Plenty of activity over the last week in Scotland with great wins for youngster Robbie Simpson, veteran Colin Donnelly and Veronique Oldham amongst others. Read more…
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After their superb win at LAMM this year Jethro Lennox and Andy Symonds got themselves together again and ventured north to the Björkliden Arctic Mountain Marathon. The following recall by Andy is kindly reproduced courtesy of the SSOT blog Read more…
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Matt Carpenter lived up to expectations by winning the fifth Skyrunner® World Series race Pikes Peak Marathon on Sunday (16) in Colorado, he led from start to finish, sailing home to victory in 3h37’02”. Read more…
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Yeah, this is the easy option(!). As part of the weekend festivities over 1500 people take part in the ascent only of Pike’s Peak. Some even do both the Saturday race and the Sunday marathon – they are called doublers… Read more…
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Full results and images (click on Club News) are now online from Sunday’s World Mountain Running and Commonwealth trial races. The fields were absolutely loaded with talent and by the looks of it the racing was intense – good news for the UK scene! Read more…
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Adam Grice and Katie Ingram were convincing winners of the men’s and women’s races at yesterdays World and Commonwealth trials race in Cumbria. Strong junior runs from Scots teenage sensation Robbie Simpson and local lass Mel Hyder also secured their berths on the plane to Italy next month… Read more…
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Antonella Confotola, Italy and John Sombol, Kenya won the 5th WMRA Grand Prix race in Skaala Uphill in Norway. Sombol was only 5 seconds ahead of Jonathan Wyatt, New Zealand, five times World Trophy winner in mountain running. Read more…
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Domestically it doesn’t get much more pressurised than this. This Sunday (16) trials races for places at the World Mountain Running Championships and the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships are up for grabs, all in one race. Read more…
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Bristol runner Kate Goodhead, winner of the European Uphill trial race in June and 8th placer at the Euro Champs, is fully prepared as she goes to this weekend’s World and Commonwealth trials races with the intent of selection for both events. Read more…
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One of the strongest men’s line-ups of the Grand Prix season to date gather in Norway this weekend for round 5 of the WMRA GP series. The Skaala race is now in its eighth year and is used to elite mountain runners gracing it with their presence… Read more…
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This weekend sees one of the most challenging mountain races in the States. The Pikes Peak Ascent® and Pikes Peak Marathon® are deemed as America’s Ultimate Challenge and form the US leg of the Skyrunner® World Series races… Read more…
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This little piece of news was probably lost in the more heady news of false starts and World Athletics Champs fever, but the IAAF motion for the World XC champs to be held every two years (instead of annually) has been passed unanimously by 132 votes to 22. Read more…
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The last round of this classic Scottish series took place on Wednesday evening (12) with a fourth Caerketton win in 5 years for Al Anthony. The Scottish Hill Runners has results and a brief report online now. Read more…
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After our brief report on Sunday regarding the result of the race, a full report by Tomo Sarf is now live on the WMRA site. One very notable result from a British perspective was a great run for third place from winner of the GB Euro trial Adam Osbourne… Read more…
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Yep, Scottish Hill Racing man Chris Upson told me last week that Tom Owens was on for this one, and so it proved on Sunday as the Shettleston Harrier ran a great race over the challenging 36km event to take his pal Andy Symonds’ record of 2008 by an impressive 6 minutes… Read more…
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Returning home to his native Australia, after a spell exiled in Britain running for top English club Belgrave Harriers, Russell Dessiax-Chin has written an excellent article on the art of cross-country running – he is obviously pining for the black stuff! Read more…
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Classic Swiss race Sierre-Zinal was no obstacle for Kilian Jornet as the 22 year-old Catalan continued his superb mountain season. The 31km race was apparently a recce for Jornet in 2009! Read more…
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The 14th edition of the Feuerkogelberglauf, one of the WMRA Grand Prix events saw pre-race favourites Geoffrey Gikuni and Andrea Mayr being crowned champions in perfect condition in Ebensee on Sunday. Read more…
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It was crunch time earlier today (Aug 8), as the the Irish World Mountain Running Championships hopefuls went head-to-head at the Trial race in Crone Wood, Wicklow. IMRA’s amazing results resource and report system had all you need to know online, within hours of the finish… Read more…
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The WMRA Grand Prix stays in Austria this weekend as the Feuerkogel berglauf in Ebensee takes place on Sunday (9). The race is steeped in history, with this year being the 14th edition. Andrea Mayr will look to move into a clear lead in this year’s Grand Prix title race… Read more…
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Behind every great mountain runner, there is a team, sometimes it’s a coach, sometimes it’s a partner, a family, a team of helpers – especially when attempting long-distance records or ‘rounds’. Read more…
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After his win at the US MR champs Team Inov-8 USA runner Joseph Gray heads to Europe. His target is the WMR Championships, however we are sure that he will take in a few other races whilst over in Europe… Read more…
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Following some great results in Europe over the last few months (including a superb win at Zergama), Ellenborough runner Ricky Lightfoot made the trip to France to take on the Charberton Trail Marathon (Aug 2). Read more…
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Members of the 2009 Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team were announced on August 2 and will compete in the 25th WMR Championships in Campodolcino, Italy on September 6, 2009. This is the inaugural ‘championships’, following on from the former Trophy races… Read more…
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Better late than never! Since the MST Welsh mountain running holiday a lot of Scottish water has run under the bridge, still here is a nice round up courtesy of Scottish Hill runners and Scottish Hill Racing – with wins for Robbie Simpson amongst others. Read more…
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After 3 of the 7 WMRA Grand Prix races Jonathan Wyatt is looking ominously good once again, after a convincing win at the Harakiri Berglauf race in Austria. However, the battle with Robert Krupicka will be very interesting to watch, as the season unfolds… Read more…
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In a race that he has made his own in the last few years (8 wins in 8 years!!) Simon Booth had to settle for 4th at the 2009 edition of the Borrowdale fell race. The victory in this classic race went to form-man Rob Jebb, chased home to a mere 50 seconds by Borrowdale’s Ben Bardsley. Read more…
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In a race that was described as “brutal! My feet are in shreds, perhaps being wet for 27 hrs may have something to do with it? Hardest race in the UK: YES!” by third-placed Jez Bragg on his Twitter page, the Lakeland 100 took place last weekend. Read more…
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After the hiatus in normal MST activity things should be back to normal this week. Reports to come on the Lakeland 100, a Scottish round-up, European news and Borrowdale – plus a look ahead to the coming weekend’s racing in the UK and worldwide.. Read more…
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Today’s British Fell Championship final round at Y Garn produced a fantastic new course record, which had stood since 1989. Nick Swinburn turned out a storming run to defeat a class field, and take Colin Donnelly’s long-standing record in the process. Read more…
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The fourth, and final, round of the 2009 championship takes place on Saturday (1 August) at the short and super-steep Y Garn race. The titles were all but decided after round 3 at Tebay, leaving 2008 men’s champ Rob Hope and Keswick’s Phillipa Jackson in unassailable leads… Read more…
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Events survive on volunteers. The 2009 European XC Champs, to be held in Dublin in December, are no different. Given the fact that the event is charging an entry fee it is likely that they will need every pair of helping hands free-of-charge… Read more…
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No sooner has the Slovenian dust settled, with superb wins for Robert Krupicka and Anna Pichrtova, than the traveling Grand Prix circus hits Austria on Sunday (Aug 2), for the 1st Mayrhofen Harakiri Run for round 3 on this year’s GP championship… Read more…
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The popular Lakeland Trails Festival of walking and running comes to the town of Keswick on Sunday 6th September for the third round of the 2009 series. 71 year-old running legend Ron Hill MBE will compete in the PUMA Derwentwater Trail Race. Read more…
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Following on from the Mourne Way Marathon it’s time for another unique event to Northern Ireland – The Causeway Coast Marathon. This race will be an “out and back” route and will follow the paths, beaches and coastline of the Causeway Coast Way… Read more…
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Standing skyrunning world champion Kilian Jornet wins the fifth World Series race and sets an incredible new course record in Italy, July 26, beating Mexico’s Ricardo Mejia. Stefanie Jimenez outstrips rival Emanuela Brizio, who maintains the world ranking lead with Mejia. Read more…
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After a few weeks scaling European heights it was time for Andy Symonds to return to Scottish earth and the heart of the Grampians. The Ben Rinnes 5 Tops is part of the Dufftown Highland games and Andy utilised his current form to claim the 9 yr-old course record Read more…
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It was business as usual for Anna Pichrtova at the second round of the WMRA Grand Prix in the Kamniska Bistrica valley on Sunday. However, reigning champion and winner of the first round Jonathan Wyatt was beaten into second place by Robert Krupicka… Read more…
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MST is growing fast (site traffic continues to grow almost 20% month-on-month, thank you!). But like everyone we all need a break. Since the first words were written in October 2008 barely has a day gone by without some news or views… Read more…
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The Dufftown Highland Games take place on Saturday, including one of Scotland’s finest hill races the Ben Rinnes 5 Tops. Jon Duncan and Angela Mudge hold to two outstanding records on this tough 14 mile event which gains almost 5000ft. Read more…
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Over the weekend of the 1/2 August the inaugural Adidas Thunder Run 24hour race takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Catton Park. Read more…
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After the success of 2008 it seems that there were a number of issues for the GB team at last weekend’s orienteering World Games, resulting in disqualification in the team event. However, a strong performance by Sarah Rollins in the Sprint event offered some consolation for the British squad. Read more…
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The first part of the International Mountain running season has just finished with the European Championships held on July 12 in Telfes (AUT) with great success for the Turkish runners in individual races and for the Italians in team competition. Read more…
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Round 4 of the Skyrunner® World Series races takes place at the Giir di Mont SkyMarathon on Sunday (26). There is a weekend festival of events, as we have come to expect on this great series that crosses four Continents. Read more…
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2008 “trail race of the year” takes place once again this Saturday (25) at Dettifoss, Iceland. The race site says, “It is safe to say that when it comes to the scenery, this run is one of a kind”. So, why not hop onto a cheap flight and head for Iceland this weekend? There are three distances to choose from too… Read more…
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3.00am isn’t normally a good hour to be getting up at! But when one is offered the opportunity to be part of a mountain race relay squad – in Annecy, France – alongside the British Fell running champion, the winner of this year’s Zergama SkyRace Read more…
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Whilst on my little ‘press trip’ to the recent Annecime race, I was handed some new kicks by those lovely people at Salomon. The XT Slab 2 is a new shoe from the French innovators and we think it could be a 2010 product, as there is no sign of it on the Salomon site? Read more…
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The excellent highlights programme from this year’s race is now available on demand via the S4C Clic source. There are plenty of images out there now too. The best, as ever, come from Dave Pinnington, Gwynfor James and Al Tye over at fell running pictures Read more…
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Whilst runners of all shapes and abilities were sharing the path of Wales’ highest mountain with the masses on Saturday (18), a few miles down the road in Capel Curig a large field of fell runners gathered for the 6.5 mile Moel Siabod race… Read more…
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This set of mountain running images from last weekend’s IAU World Trail Challenge are amongst the best I have ever seen. The atmosphere and panorama that akunamatata achieves is quite breathtaking – of course the fact that they are taken in one of the most amazing back drops in Europe helps! Read more…
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After Friday’s Vertical Kilometer® win, there was no doubting that Antonella Confortola would take the overall European Skyrunning title. By also winning todays’ 22km Dolomites SkyRace® the Italian proved dominant across the two days Read more…
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The fourth episode detailing Jornet’s epic GR20 run last month, is now online. The second part shows some great night-running images, awesome scenery and some tired facial expressions from the young Spaniard! Read more…
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Andi Jones took an unrivaled fourth-straight win this afternoon at the 34th International Snowdon Race. In a race which saw the Salford athlete carve out a massive lead at the summit, Jones held steady on the descent to win by a comfortable 45 seconds from super-descender Ian Holmes. Read more…
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On Saturday (18) the 34th International Snowdon Race will once again present a field loaded with international quality. Fell runners, and road runners with climbing ability, target this great Welsh mountain race as one for the history book.. Read more…
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The Ultimate Wardrobe War continues as Salomon Sports takes on The North Face. After a closely fought Paclite Jacket fight in Round 1, the North Face is just ahead. This week it’s the turn of the Technical T-Shirts, when Salomon’s Trail Tee battles it out with The North Face’s Optimus Tee. Read more…
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An impressive line-up of Europe’s strongest skyrunners will battle for the third European Championship title in Canazei in the Italian Dolomites on July 17-19 in the Vertical Kilometer® and the SkyRace®. Top names include three world champions. Read more…
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Superb film from the recent Andorra SkyRace courtesy of ocisport. The amazing terrain the Skyrunner® World Series takes in is shown perfectly in this film. Heat, rocks, grassy descents, glacial ascents – its all here! Read more…
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It was a race of achievements at the Hardrock 100 this weekend. Karl Meltzer won the race for a fifth time, and Diana Finkel finished an unbelievable third overall to win the women’s prize. The inspirational Diane Van Deren also finished the event... Read more…
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The 5th Annecime ultra trail and mountain race took place on Saturday in the amazing surroundings of Lac d’Annecy, France. With races across 80km of Alpine trails the racing was highly competitive in this most beautiful of locations… Read more…
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There is a wealth of news now up on the excellent Scottish Hill Runners site. Three-time Ben Nevis winner David Rodgers warms up for this weekend’s International Snowdon Race with a strong run at the Half Nevis race… Read more…
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“It was a difficult decision to make – it has been on my mind for ages and it only really hit me that I wanted to do it last week, I didn’t feel pushed away at all by England – it is just that Scotland has made me so welcome.” Read more…
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Angela Mudge and Lizzie Hawker showed why they are amongst the world’s best mountain and ultra runners by taking 2nd and 3rd respectively at this Sunday’s IAU World Trail championships held at Serre Chevalier. The men’s title was convincingly won by France’s Thomas Lorblanchet. Read more…
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The inspirational race director of the West Highland Way race sadly died whilst out on a run in the mountains that he loved. The 46 year-old collapsed whilst near to the summit of Lochnagar on Saturday. Read more…
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Although the closest any GB athlete came to winning was a superb 5th place by Central’s Scott McDonald in the junior men’s race, the overall team performance was one to take heart from at the European Mountain Running Champs… Read more…
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Two-time defending champion Ahmet Arslan of Turkey completed a hat-trick winning the men’s title at the 8th European Mountain Running Championships in the Austrian village of Telfes im Stubai on Sunday. The gold medal in the senior women’s category went to the 22-year-old Swiss mountain runner Martina Strähl. Read more…
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A fantastic gallery from Saturday’s race has been posted up by Ian Weetman via his picasaweb page. Without the likes of Ian and many, many others who give up their time to walk the fells to take photos (in all weathers), the racing scene would be much the poorer… Read more…
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In very hot conditions, fell-master Rob Jebb handled the giant that is Wasdale with relative aplomb. The 21 mile race was an English champs counter, and with current leader Rob Hope racing in France the last two races will be very interesting. Read more…
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One of the classic fell races on the British calendar takes place on Saturday. Wasdale is an English champs counter this year too, just to add some spice. The course record is also one of the longest standing in the fell calendar. Read more…
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In the middle of the night, Diane Van Deren will leave her house against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. She will cut west through the dark canyons with her running shoes and a headlamp… Read more…
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The 2009 World Orienteering Championships take place in Hungary from August 16-23. The Great Britain team has been selected in the hope that they can repeat the successes of 2008. Read more…
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This one is part two of a three-race series. Taking place on July 25 the 50+ mile race, with up to 5000m in vertical gain (!), is part of the Endurance Life series which can be cited as one of the UK’s toughest endurance series Read more…
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The Classic Quarter Coastal Ultra came of age this year, a fantastic turn out and one of the best days of the summer so far, combined to make it a day to remember. A total of 206 people registered to take part in this, the third edition of the event… Read more…
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This nice little route starts at the end of the Old Kirk Road, goes up over Fala Knowe, indulges the organiser’s penchant for heather and bog by heading north down the hill to a wall corner before heading direct to the top of Carnethy… Read more…
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The greatest shock of the night came from Sli Cualann failing to have a team out but with the league almost wrapped up you couldn’t blame them. Clonliffe Harriers would not let that steal their thunder and recorded a very fine score of 28 pursued by the still rising UCD and Sportsworld… Read more…
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The European Mountain Running Championships take place in Austria this weekend, and team GB looks strong. After the trials races last month the first 4 runners in the men’s, women’s and junior men’s races secured their berths, with the first three junior women assured of selection. Read more…
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Website online detailing the World Long Distance Mountain Running challenge for 2009. Jethro Lennox has accepted the Scottish invitation and will be a tough man to beat, considering that this race combines two of his great strengths – distance running and mountains… Read more…
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Yep, now he has had a little lie down to recover and contemplate his next conquest, top UK ultra man Jez Bragg has chronicled his feat of placing third at the recent Western States 100. There can’t be too many athletes of Jez’s calibre out there who can write so well and perform at the highest level. Read more…
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This weekend sees the second IAU Trail Challenge taking place in Serre Chevalier. The IAU will keep you fully up-to-date with their as live updates via the website. Read more…
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As temperatures reach 40 degrees plus in parts of France, many UK athletes travel to Europe this weekend as the continental race and championship season really hots up. Though the forecast for the weekend ahead is a little cooler, there are some key things to remember when trying to stay cool… Read more…
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We can only imagine how it feels to achieve this feat. Scot Manny Gorman completed this amazing trek of a “successful round of all 219 Corbetts in 70 days, in one continuous journey by foot, cycling and sailing”, yep 70 days!! Read more…
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Salomon Sports vs The North Face. Round 1: The Battle of the Paclites. It’s the fight we’ve all been waiting for: Salomon Sports takes on The North Face. Who will win this war to be the ultimate victor of outdoor gear? Read more…
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Llanbedr played host last Saturday lunchtime to the 3rd fixture out of 6 which constitute the 2009 Welsh Fell Running Open Championships. The race chosen was the Rhinog Horseshoe Fell Race, a gruelling 15.5 mile event which took in the peaks of Rhinog Fawr, Rhinog Fach, Y Llethr & Moelfre… Read more…
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North Face athlete Jez Bragg needed to be sure that on the Western States 100 race his feet were well looked after. News comes from North Face media that the shoes that did the business were – the Voza... Read more…
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Scot James Stevenson was the outstanding British individual performance at last weekend’s International Youth MR Challenge held in Ostheim, Germany. Although England packed two runners into the top 6 of the girls race they did not field a third runner, leaving them out of the team race. Read more…
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Winners of the International Snowdon Race are guaranteed their place in history. To be one of the men and women that have won one of the 33 races held since 1976 takes tenacity, talent and qualities that only the elite mountain runners possess. To be one of those athletes that has won the race more than once assures almost legendary status. Read more…
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After a (by his standards) disappointing run in Andorra last weekend international fell runner John Heneghan was pragmatic in defeat as he looks ahead to the rest of the season. His main focus for the late season is the big American Skyrace, Pikes Peak, on the 15/16 August… Read more…
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Part one of Kilian’s recent incredible record-run on Corsica, with the second part to be screened on July 15. The video traces the Spaniard’s run to his sub-33hr completion of the GR20. Read more…
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Round-up from Scotland courtesy of Scottish Hill Runners. The super weather that has drenched the UK over the last two weeks has ensured that courses are hard-packed, meaning for fast running and record times! Read more…
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Standing World skyrunning champion Kilian Jornet, is back on the top rung of the podium while Italy’s Emanuela Brizio seizes her third consecutive win in third stage of the Skyrunner® World Series held in Andorra Sunday, June 24. Read more…
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All eyes were on Lugnacoille on Sunday for round 3 of Ireland’s Mountain Running Championship. With races up Croagh Patrick in the West and Carrauntoohil in the South already run, the East’s Lugnacoille was to throw down the gauntlet… Read more…
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Great report and images from the WFRA and Alastair Tye on Saturday’s race at Ganllwyd in Snowdonia. Great to see ex-international fell racer and mountain biker Dafydd Roberts, coming in second, a minute behind Meirionydd runner Ifan Richards… Read more…
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The legendary Western Sates 100 took place yesterday (28) in what were described as ‘sweltering’ conditions. 2007 winner Hal Koerner defended his title (there was no race in 2008) and after a steady start Anita Ortiz stormed through the field to finish first woman and an amazing 9th overall. Read more…
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The Pontesbury Fell race took place last Weds (24) in balmy conditions – the fourth round of the six-race Shropshire Hills Summer Series. Welsh international Tim Davies strode out to a comfy win, with Anna Bartlett taking the ladies race. Read more…
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The Snowdon Race is an event steeped in history. Since its inception way back in 1976 the race has hosted such winners as Kenny Stuart, John Wild, Carole Greenwood and Fausto Bonzi – all living legends of fell and mountain running. Read more…
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This weekend sees the third round of the Skyrunner® World Series in Andorra. Round 2 winner Ricky Lightfoot won’t be at this one, however a strong British contingent travel, including 2005 Skyrunning champion Rob Jebb. Read more…
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Top U.S. mountain runners will compete in New England this Sunday, June 28, at the Cranmore Hill Climb to earn the title of USA Mountain champion. This is the second time the five-year-old USA Mountain Running Championships (held since 2003, but not in 2005) have come to North Conway. Read more…
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Top British ultra-man Jez Bragg is barely 72 hours away from the race that has pervaded his every waking day in 2009 – the Western States 100 – and Jez has been sleeping at altitudes as high as 9500ft to acclimatise. Head over to his second letter from America to read about his final tweaks… Read more…
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After the dust had settled we caught up with some of the leading runners at this year’s Tebay Fell race to get their thoughts and reactions and how the day went for them. Although not crowned yet Rob Hope looks to have the 2009 championship in the bag. Read more…
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With full results still a little hard to come by there are a few sets of Picasa images starting to appear. Couple of the best are from GR who’s captured some nice atmospheric shots and Stephen Firth who has focused on the athlete/racing aspect… Read more…
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It’s a road race, but not the traditional type. It’s a mountain race, yet it climbs on tarmac up to nearly 6300ft. One thing is for sure, you need the mountain runners engine to win this great American race which has Anna Pichrtova in its past-winner roll call. Read more…
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This is the Grand Raid season in France and yesterday as adverse weather conditions descended on an 80km mountain event, the Grand Raid du Mercantour, 50km north of Nice, 3 runners perished in tragic circumstances. Read more…
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Although race reports are as yet unavailable news comes to MST of yesterday’s British fell champs fourth round battle on Tebay. It seemed that the field was completely loaded with internationals and some of the best fell runners in Britain descended on Cumbria. Read more…
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Plenty going on in Scotland this weekend and last week, and with some of the countries’ best fell runners in England at the Tebay round of the British champs race it was an opportunity for some others to shine at the Glen Rosa and Eildons races… Read more…
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The 8th Four Town Mountain Marathon in Petrovo Brdo on Saturday (20) triples up as the 1st Slovenian MM champs and round 4 of the 2009 Skyrunner series. The 35km race takes in 2550 metres of climbing close to the Austrian / Italian borders. Read more…
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Last night’s Scarr mountain race left few unscathed as the battle for Ireland’s Leinster League continues. It was the ninth Wednesday league race this season, and with only four races left to gain vital points, it was another raging battle out on the hills. Read more…
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With less quality, heritage and strength in-depth compared to their Antipodean neighbours, the Australian National Mountain Running Champs still produced some excellent racing, and no doubt some emerging talent. Read more…
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As the fell season unfolds the 2009 British Championships enter a crucial stage. This weekend’s Tebay Fell Race also doubles-up as an English champs ‘medium’ round and should see most of the championship hopefuls descend on Penrith. Read more…
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Sure aren’t all running jackets all the same these days? Well, it’s time to think again, because Salomon has just decided to prove otherwise. Enter on stage the fabulously named, Fast Wing Hoodie Jacket II. Read more…
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The Salomon Running facebook page states: “Kilian quest in Corsica – 12.59 PM – NEW RECORD !!! Kilian just arrived, new record is now set at 32hours, 54 minutes and 24 seconds !!!! Please send out your congrats to Kilian on our FB page… “ Read more…
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One of the UK’s best ultra runners, Jez Bragg, is counting the days to one of the most grueling ultra races on the global calendar. The Western States 100 is also one of the oldest events of its kind, with the first race dating back to 1974. Read more…
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As Kilian’s ‘journey’ continues on the island of Corsica, Salomon Running have set up a Facebook page to enable a virtual tracking of the Spaniard’s attempt to break the long-standing record of 36 hours and 53 minutes held by Piero Santucci. At the last check he was around 2 hours up on schedule and seems to be in pretty good shape… Read more…
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With the GB uphill only European Mountain Running trials held in relatively warm and fast conditions the races were always going to suit those runners whose qualities are leg speed over fell running prowess. Read more…
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As the last few days of painstaking preparation come to a close, Kilian’s quiet resolve and fine-tuned determination conceals an eager exhilaration. Read more…
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The British weren’t the only ones with their European Trials this weekend: The Irish were also hard at it on Saturday, running strictly uphill only to win a prized green vest to be worn at the European Mountain Running Championships in July. Read more…
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It’s not too late if you fancy a GB mountain running vest to add to your wardrobe. This weekend (Sunday 14 June) sees the EMRC uphill only trial race in Llanberis, Snowdonia, as Britain’s top fell runners battle it out for selection. Read more…
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One of the most famous races on the calendar takes place on Saturday (13 June) in the glorious mid-Wales countryside nr. Llanwrtyd Wells. The legend that is Gordon Green set up this intriguing battle way back in 1982, and has gone on to add such mad cap events as the World Bog Snorkeling Champs! Read more…
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As the brand new cafe opens on the summit of Snowdon this weekend those runners who get caught short or are simply taking in a leisurely run to the top of Yr Wyddfa will now have luxurious surroundings of a Hafod Eryri in which to enjoy a quiet moment! Read more…
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Sunday’s Skyrunner® World Series Trial saw two mountain running icons, Anna Pichrtova and Robert Krupicka take the podium in the International SkyRace® on the Italian-Swiss border. Bad weather conditions forced the organisers to reduce the usual 31km course to a mere 20km to safeguard the 506 participants. Read more…
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As reported last week fell running seems to be gaining strength as the sport of choice for those looking for something a little different. It seems that these runners aren’t one-hit wonders either, as the FRA reports a 17% increase in membership… Read more…
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The sign of a committed athlete is one who knows when to stop. Most of us mere mortals just plod on when we feel tired – not so for Kilian Jornet. His Vertical Kilometer attempt was put on hold a few weeks back. Read more…
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At a wet and windy Stretton Hills race on Saturday Rob Hope took the win to lead the English Fell running championships after two rounds. His lead is now a rather slender two points, over Pudsey & Bramley team mate John Heneghan. Read more…
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This race is a little tricky in good weather. It is also one of the classics, and one on the ‘list for ticking’ of most fell runners. A couple of years back it made the headlines for all of the wrong reasons, luckily this year all returned safe and sound. Read more…
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In what was one of the most hectic race weekends this year much of the activity was north of the Border. With the main focus for long-distance types at the LAAM, the shorter, faster stuff was taking place all across the region… Read more…
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Heavy downpours couldn’t deter a record 34 teams from turning out for IMRA’s Wicklow Way Relay on Saturday. Teams of 8 duly battled it out in sopping conditions to complete this 104 km race along Ireland’s most famous walkway… Read more…
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Rob Hope is good with a pen, well a virtual pen anyway. He is also a pretty decent mountain runner. The 2008 British Fell Champion is well on his way to once again retaining his title this year, and to keep himself sharp he is also mixing it with the world’s best in Europe this summer… Read more…
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The list of fell races this weekend is astounding. Across the UK and Ireland I have counted 19 races, and they are the ones that are listed. Such classics as Ennerdale Horseshoe in England, the Welsh 1000m Peaks race in Snowdonia and of course the LAMM all take place. Read more…
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On Wednesday night Scottish teenager Robbie Simpson showed just why he could well be the next big thing in UK fell racing over the next decade or so. Beating Kenny Richmond by over two minutes Simpson took a record that had stood for over ten years, set in 1997 by Ian Murphy. Read more…
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In what was only the second edition, the Balkan Mountain Running Championships took place last Sunday (31). The discipline is still pretty new to this part of the world, however it is encouraging to see the WMRA getting behind the region as it no doubt unearths some strong running talent… Read more…
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Yep, I don’t half choose ‘em. Two weeks ago I was battling 80 mile-an-hour winds and hail, on Sunday I was battling 80 degree temperatures and 4 feet deep water, at the first of the year’s Turbo X races. Proper mud, sweat and tears… Read more…
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This weekend sees one of the UK’s best mountain marathons taking place in the Scottish Highlands. The Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon takes place on 6 / 7 June, with the final location and course details to be released tomorrow (4 June) at 13.00hrs. Read more…
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Irish national daily the Irish Times thinks so. As do the growing number of people that are coming into the sport. This excellent article could have been written about any one of the four UK nations too… Read more…
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This is an interesting strategy. Charging spectators at a cross-country event is an alien concept to most running events. We are all used to turning up at races, ducking under race tape, running across the course, coming and going as we please. Read more…
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John Lenihan has seen a bit of mountain running. At nearly 50 the Irish multi-champion is still at the top of the sport. A recent Irish Times article reports that the great man has won the classic Carrauntoohil race a staggering 18 times. Read more…
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There has been plenty going on over the last couple of weeks north of the Border. With a return to warmer weather this last week or so the racing has also hotted-up once more with wins for top Scots fell racers Brian Marshall and Clare Whitehead, amongst others… Read more…
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It was hot, dry, wet and muddy. Yep, all types of conditions were endured at Swinley Forest for the series opener of the Saab Salomon Turbo X race series. Neck-deep bogs meant that it was, at times, a survival of the fittest, however, the popularity of this type of racing must be gauged by a field of almost 900 runners. Read more…
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A story of a special piece of running, from a couple of leading lights in the Irish mountain running scene. This weekend two Irish runners completed the Wicklow Round – one man, one woman. One of ‘em happens to be a writer on MST, yep our very own Moire O’Sullivan! Read more…
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With temperatures reaching 26 degrees in mid-Wales today (30) the pictures coming through from today’s Cader Idris race exemplified that – the runners looking a tad hot as they ascended the summit… Read more…
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10 miles of mud (well maybe dust this weekend!), sweat and tears in the Surrey Hills greet the runners. Read more…
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The results took a while to come through from last week’s WMRA Grand Prix opener in Grand Ballon, however by all accounts Jonathan Wyatt is already in the sort of form that saw him take the Series in 2008. The 5-time world champ didn’t have things all his own way it seems… Read more…
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It was a day for experience and class at this weekend’s Isle of Jura fell race. The reports coming back from the west coast of Scotland tell tales of wind, mist and runners losing their way. Read more…
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Waiting around for runners to appear can be a long wait, waiting around on a mountain for runners to appear can be an even longer wait, waiting around for fell runners to appear on a mountain, in good or bad weather, takes dedication. Read more…
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It seems Ricky Lightfoot is still on a high – and why not. A text to MST told of him being “really chuffed” and talked of a “brilliant atmosphere”, this was underlined with his reaction at the end of this great report from Lauri van Houten at the Skyrunner® World Series Press Office Read more…
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When you get to a certain age injuries tend to stick around. Take my dodgy achilles. It doesn’t like too much running on the rough stuff these days and after 7-8 miles on a hill or trail I can pretty much guarantee that there will follow a couple of days of niggling pain… Read more…
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In what must be considered his biggest win to date, Ricky Lightfoot surprised the former world champion Ricardo Mejia to take the first Sky race in Europe. The 24 year old Ellenborough runner took the win in the last kilometer… Read more…
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On a warm day in Kendal, Pudsey and Bramley athlete John Heneghan won the 2009 Inter-Counties fell championships. Heneghan was a convincing winner, taking the title by over a minute from the super-consistent Morgan Donnelly. Read more…
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Legendary runner Ron Hill sold out his first love in 1991 to the Peaco Group. From 2001 onwards Dr Ron focused on his sock empire to the point today whereby his garters are some of the most trusted foot-huggers out there. Read more…
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The full press release of this years’ second round of the Skyrunner® series has arrived ahead of Sundays’ Maratòn Alpina Zegama-Aizkorri in the Basque country. In addition to the preview this appeared on MST this week key competitors and course details are listed… Read more…
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Continuing on from the earlier MST report, the 29th La Montée du Grand Ballon is a season-opening race where race favorite Jonathan Wyatt lay down his challenge for the 2009 crown, and the French racers will prepare for their National Championships. Read more…
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The organisers of the 34th edition of the International Snowdon Race are asking the pre-registered runners who wish to withdraw to do so before the 1st of June. This will help them re-assess the entries… Read more…
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The most striking feature about this top is its weight. It’s light. Very Light. I wouldn’t be surprised if my socks were heavier than this running shirt. But that isn’t the only difference to my normal running tops as the fit is more like the new style orienteering tops that have appeared in recent years. Read more…
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Moire brings news of a couple of events to target in the Irish and Northern Irish ultra and off-road marathon scene in the coming weeks and months. Read more…
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After the first round in the clouds of Costa Rica, this year’s Skyrunner® World Series comes to Europe for round 2 – the first of three races in Spain, Andorra and Italy, with the racing head back across the Pond to Colorado, before returning to Ben Nevis in September. Read more…
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“I heard the noise and saw the dust cloud before I realised what it was. Then the first rider shot past me whooping, hollering and waving his hat in the air like a scene from a bad 1970s Western.” RW editor Steve Seaton experiences the Cuban Trail Marathon… Read more…
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The Moel Eilio fell race means something to me. It’s a race steeped in history, starting in Llanberis – the home of the much more famous Snowdon Race – it ascends Moel Eilio, takes in Foel Gron, Foel Goch and Moel Cynghorion before plummeting to the village once more… Read more…
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Rob Jebb took time out from dad duties this weekend to take wins on consecutive days. First up was a storming win on Saturday at the Fairfield Horseshoe race, with Rob winning by a full four minutes from fellow England international Morgan Donnelly. Read more…
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Three-time winner of the International Snowdon Race, Tim Davies, showed a (relatively!) clean pair of heels at the Moel Eilio race on Saturday. In conditions that could described as biblical at times the fact that all of the runners got round was a miracle! Read more…
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From the beginning, it was destined to be a great race. Not only was Saturday’s Ballybraid showdown the second in the Leinster Mountain Running Championships series. Read more…
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After a strong winter, and a recent win at Moel y Gest, Eryri’s Matthew Roberts continued his good form by taking the second round of the Welsh Fell Running Championships at Sarn Helen on Sunday. Read more…
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Kenny Richmond and Emma Birnie triumphed for Bellahouston Road Runners (a misnomer, if ever there was one!) and with Andy Birnie taking the male vet prize… Read more…
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We missed this one from last weekend’s news – sorry! The Fellsman is a 60 mile high level traverse over very hard rugged moorland, climbing over 11,000 feet in its path from Ingleton to Threshfield in the Yorkshire Dales. Read more…
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Super-woman Rosie Swale-Pope was a special guest speaker at this week’s Keswick Mountain Festival. It was great to hear that she seemed to be un-phased by the speech, and prepared for it just a few hours beforehand. We suspect that is was a case of what to leave out, as opposed to what to include! Read more…
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The World Mountain Running Grand Prix series is now firmly established as the ‘champions league’ of international mountain running. It’s considered by many athletes as one of the most coveted prizes in mountain racing. Read more…
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The North Face 100 series hits Australia this weekend – the pinnacle of trail runs in Australia. A challenging, spectacular course through some of Australia’s most iconic landscape of the Blue Mountains. Read more…
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Final call for this weekend’s Moel Eilio race. It doesn’t seem to be on the FRA site, but it is definitely on! As publicised some weeks back it also has a new twist this year in the form of charitable status… Read more…
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Not content with a global Salomon Running site the French-based outdoor apparel and shoe company has also opened up the love to the many corners of the globe. Most notable, and perhaps the most active, is the one across-the-Pond. Read more…
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One of the most famous races in the Northern Ireland racing calendar takes place on Saturday. The Annalong Horseshoe has been running since 1982 has such greats as Robbie Bryson, Deon McNeilly and 10 times Annalong winner Brian Ervine amongst its past champions… Read more…
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The Festival started on Wednesday (13) with the Latrigg fell race (also covered on the excellent CumbriaLive TV) and runs to Sunday the 17th. Those sharp cookies at Keswick AC have already got the race images online, just follow the links from the homepage. Read more…
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Gear reviews are forever going on about shirts, shorts, and shoes. But to speak of vital underwear garments like bras: well that’s a whole other story. But I’ve had enough of this self-sanctioned censorship. Read more…
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The Salomon Trail Running series kicks-off this weekend in Keswick. Get involved! Read more…
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Moire pointed us towards this new Tracks and Trails Alpine Trail running holiday offering. The London-based company was set up by International Mountain Leaders, Lindsay Cannon and Julia Tregaskis-Allen. Read more…
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If the Tuesday and Wednesday night fell racing scene is anything to go by then there is a big demand for this type of shorter, less time consuming racing. For those whose weekend time is precious it now seems mountain runners up and down the country can easily get their fix mid-week… Read more…
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As the Northern Hemisphere warms up, it’s time for those Down-Under to get their cross country spikes on. Victoria Athletics staged round 2 of its XCR 09 series, with a host of cross country races for all age groups. Athsvic TV covered the action last weekend… Read more…
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Yep, after all of the the dry and warm weather over the last couple of months mountain runners have been lulled into a false sense of security. The dry conditions have been reflected in the fast times and course records that have been run around the country. Read more…
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After two rounds of the British Fell Running Championships the updated overall standings are now online over at the FRA site. In the women’s event Phillippa Jackson has slender lead over Helen Fines. Read more…
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Anna Frost is a bit of one-off. The Kiwi school teacher come super international mountain runner, lives life to the full, and doesn’t take things too seriously. As this recent visit to a top London photo studio also shows, Frosty is quite the glamour girl… Read more…
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South Africa’s top trail runners will team up in Kleinmond this weekend to take on the action-packed three-day stage race, the ProNutro AfricanX Trailrun. The competition promises to be a tough challenge with some of the country’s top athletes signed up Read more…
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Despite some pretty mucky weather this week the ‘midweekers’ still got out there and ran the hills. It was relay time in the last Bunny Run of 2009, the Leinster League continued in Ireland, wind and rain greeted the hardy souls at Dumyat Hill Race, and last night the Sheinton Steeple Chase took place on the England / Wales border… Read more…
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Irishman Eoin Keith entered the world stage at this weekend’s 7th IAU World Challenge in Bergamo, Italy. By running into a fantastic 5th place, he ensured that he would be breaking records at this level. In warm, sunny conditions he covered a tremendous 237.2 km… Read more…
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The well documented downfall of Olympic champion Rashid Ramzi casts yet another shadow for many. For some it brings delight that the fight against doping is still being fought. Take Steve Cram. He commentates on these things and waxing lyrical about Ramzi has never come easy for the BBC man. Read more…
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Its looks like Kilian’s attempt on the world vertical kilo record is not to be today. The salomonrunning site states that the Spaniard is “not feeling at the top of his game” and so has decided to hold back until he is. Read more…
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On May the 16th the historic Moel Eilio race will this year break new ground in fell running by welcoming racers, walkers and fund-raisers as the event gains charitable status. Read more…
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We might just be witnessing something historic this year in the world of mountain running. As reported last week, Kilian Jornet is embarking on a series of endeavours, in an attempt to establish new mountain running records across the world… Read more…
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Jon Duncan is a world class athlete. Better known for being part of the world orienteering championship winning GB team of 2008 his prowess in the mountains was also underlined this weekend at round 2 of the British fell championship. Read more…
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Tring is a beautiful Hertfordshire market town, in south of England. It’s rural, its nestles near the Ridgeway and Ashridge, peaks of barely 250m. Not the sort of place you’d expect gnarly mountain goats to congregate… Read more…
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Following on from this week’s article on Kilian Journet, Salomon have released the first video journal on his quest to advance the mountain running feats achieved by man to the next level… Read more…
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As many folk roll out their barbeques this Bank Holiday weekend, the fell racers of the UK will have plenty to keep them away from the charcoal. On Saturday the super-quick and serious racers head to the Trossachs to take on the might of Stuc a’ Chroin. Read more…
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If the 2008 World XC’s visit to Edinburgh is a yardstick then we should be encouraged to hear that major events can leave a legacy, which benefits future generations. As this article outlined some weeks back, legacy planning doesn’t always come off… Read more…
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It was a medley of mist and mud at the IMRA Leinster League second round race last night. Fortunately the weather didn’t stop 162 runners from running out of work to head on up the hill for two laps of the Howth circuit. Read more…
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Salomon has a long-standing tradition of providing people the means to fulfil their sporting dreams, meticulously crafting equipment to meet the needs of the world’s top athletes then making that expertise available to a broad customer base. Read more…
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The time was that you had to wait a week or so for the results of a race to appear, time was when you had to wait for an equal amount of time for a winner’s quote. No more so, with the power of the blog. Read more…
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The mountains are a cool place to be – quite literally. Ireland’s perennial cold, wet, and windy conditions mean that most days I have to wrap up well against the elements. As a result, I’m normally wearing a long sleeved top out on my training runs… Read more…
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Jez Bragg was second in the Highland Fling when it was first run in 2006 with 17 finishers. He won it in 2007 and 2008, breaking the course record on each occasion. He repeated the feat on Saturday, when the number of finishers was 270. (SHR) Read more…
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Racing for the titles at the newly renamed WMRC will be on the 6th of September at Campodolcino – Madesimo, Italy, with 2009 location and team information now posted for download at a new WMRC site. The Sunday’s races are the culmination of an excellent 4-day build-up. Read more…
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After last year’s sojourn to international status normal business was resumed at the Three Peaks race on Saturday. Normal in terms of the winner too, as triple-winner Rob Jebb once again crossed the line at Horton well ahead of the competition. Read more…
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The man is a legend. He is arguably Britain’s greatest ever marathon runner. (Steve Jones might argue with that, but doesn’t have the longevity of Ron) He has won fell races, major games marathon titles and has run every day since Dec 1964. Amazing! Read more…
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After the international flavour of the 2008 event, the 2009 Three Peaks race returns to relative normality and to battles of a more domestic leaning. There is a very large field as always and you can bet that racing will be no less fierce this year… Read more…
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Wednesday saw the start of Ireland’s Leinster League with the first League race up Bray Head. Eoin Keith took the spoils, still fresh from his win on the Wicklow Way Ultra only 10 days ago. Read more…
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The Three Peaks Race is all about the runners. Tales are told that become folk lore down the years, however it’s generally the winners that are remembered – here a few snippets from those who have experienced the joy of winning… Read more…
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The fantastically named Whangie Whizz, the Wrekin Streak and the Bunny Run 3 all took place this week. (Still awaiting the results from the Midweek Series in N. Wales) Great reports, great photos, good weather, big fields – what more could you want? Read more…
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As part of our build-up to that classic of classics, the Three Peaks, we look forward to Saturday by first of all looking back. The following captivating extract is a race history from 1954 – 2004, when this piece was written by Bill Smith. Read more…
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It’s not everyday that runners get the chance to compete on a classic mountain bike course – but that is exactly what is happening this weekend at the Wiggle Thunder Run 10k. Held in the grounds of Catton Park the level of organisation on this one is exceptional. Read more…
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Sorry: Road running alert! I know, it’ll be all over the telly, radio, internet and newspapers between now and Sunday; so before we get down to the event this weekend (3 Peaks) we thought that we would filter out some of the more interesting stuff in the lead up to this great marathon… Read more…
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The classic Ras Y Moelwyn took place on Saturday (18). Fell Running Pictures were there to capture the action. With results a bit scarce at the moment we thought we would give you a little photo montage for you to enjoy from the comfort of your chair! Read more…
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Last Sunday was a gloriously sunny day. For the first time this year I went running in a t-shirt! So off I went up Lugnacoille, the highest mountain in the Wicklow Mountains, sporting my new Salomon Moto Tech tee. Read more…
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Runners at the 15km 2009 PUMA Hawkshead Trail Race on Saturday enjoyed perfect conditions, and even better scenery, as a festival of events – including the PUMA Hawkshead Challenge – took place in this beautiful part of the in the Lake District. Read more…
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The exotic Skyrunner® World Series got under way in the rare atmosphere of Costa Rica on Saturday (18). Italian Emanuela Brizio and Mexico’s Ricardo Mejia dominated the 40 km course to the 3,480m Irazú volcano, situated in the Cordillera Central. Read more…
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Clare Whitehead continued her winning ways at Screel this weekend with a 2-minute win – with Tom Owens having a superb up-and-down to takes the men’s race – and in the stunning Scottish Highlands the Cioch Mhor race-record fell to local man Alec Keith… Read more…
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This year’s Jan Kjellström International Orienteering Festival recently took place in the North East of England in some complicated and physically demanding areas. It was made especially welcoming by this year’s sun and blue skies, unlike last year’s snow and mud. Read more…
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Plenty of choice once again this weekend from all points on the compass. The classic Ras Y Moelwyn takes place at Blaenau Ffestiniog in north Wales, Screel and the Highlander MM in Scotland, and the Coledale Horseshoe in Keswick – plus much more… Read more…
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A call on the IMRA news section seeks urgent help from volunteers to help racing go ahead at Bray Head. Equally future events at Howth and Three Rock are also under threat if helpers don’t come forward… Read more…
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A report in this week’s Athletics Weekly says that the IAAF will create a bi-annual staging of the World Cross-Country Championships due to the of dominance from east Africa, coupled with a fall in sponsorship revenues and dropping European TV audiences. Read more…
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The project aims to provide Federations officials and coaches with the knowledge and skills necessary to raise their competence in Mountain Running and recognise it as a modern and precious part of athletics which helps improve the athletes’ performances in all endurance races. Read more…
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Up and down the country it seems that Tuesday night fell racing is bigger than ever. With 100 turning up (in pouring rain) the to first Great Arette Midweek Series in North Wales, and similar numbers this week at round 2 (Foel Lus), by the looks of it... Read more…
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The 4-day Keswick Mountain Festival encompasses all that is great about outdoor activities in this country – from running, rock climbing, water sports, walking, food and alpine films, there really is something for every outdoor type amongst us. Read more…
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The rapid growth of Salomon as an off-road running brand has always been aligned to tough off-road events – Saab Salomon Hellrunner was legendary. So, it’s logical that their new site – saabsalomontrails.com – should be dedicated to their consumer race and training experiences. Read more…
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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… Read more…
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In what looks like a really earthy race this weekend’s MMM took place in glorious IoM weather. A great little video here depicting the event, with the author having a bit of fun filming at one of the more dicey parts of the course! Read more…
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Terrific conditions greeted Andy Symonds and Clare Whitehead as they were convincing victors at the Scottish Athletics hill running championships at Clachnaben near Banchory on Saturday. The race is also part of the Scottish hill running 6-race series. Read more…
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A total of 86 runners were tempted out by the glorious weather to tackle the Wicklow Way Trail. This annual 22.2km race is run along one of Ireland’s most famous paths through the Wicklow Mountains, from Lough Tay to Johnny Fox’s Pub in Glencullen. Read more…
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With some really good weather and a plethora of races to chose from, it was a great weekend (10th-12th) of racing on the hills and fells of the UK. It was time for the Welsh and Scottish national series’ to kick off, (reports to come) and the famous Rivington Pike race in Lancashire. Read more…
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Tim Hutchings says that until UK athletes approach something like ‘competitive’ against the African and Eastern nations they should not be sent to events such as the World Cross Country championships. Read more…
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Well frozen water anyway. In temps of -37 degrees C the North Pole Marathon took place on Weds afternoon. Across the shifting ice field Russian hard-man Evgeniy Gorkov ran the 42km distance in an amazing 4hrs and 27mins. Read more…
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Sunday saw the annual Leinster Orienteering Championships take place in Rossmore Forest, Co. Monaghan. Anyone with a wee bit of Irish knowledge would quickly recognise that Co. Monaghan isn’t actually in the Province of Leinster. Read more…
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It’s not off-road, but it’s very interesting. The London Marathon race director doesn’t think that the British marathon scene is as strong as it was 20 years ago, feels that the Beijing Olympic marathon wasn’t up to scratch, and that Mo Farah has “some chance” of winning the 2012 Olympic marathon. Read more…
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After a great run at Slieve Bearnagh on Saturday we caught up with reigning British Fell champ Rob Hope. We find out what top mountain runners do the day after a big win, and discover all about their post-race meals! Read more…
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I opened the box. They were red. Very red. Too red. How could I possibly go running in such bloody obvious shoes? Matt from MST had sent me through some shoes in the post and had asked me to try them out. The S-lab XT Wings from Salomon no less. Read more…
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After many years at the top of British Orienteering Jamie Stevenson has called it a day. Announced on the British Orienteering site last week it may come as a surprise to those involved in the sport he devoted so much of his life to. Read more…
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Kenyan newspaper The Standard reports that the World Cross Country Championships could go biennial due to a lack of sponsors. As yet this is not fully confirmed, however this may be no bad thing in our view. Read more…
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The hills were alive this weekend as all four Home nations and Ireland saw fell race action. With many of the top runners over in Northern Ireland at Slieve Bearnagh it was an opportunity for some new, and not so new winners around the country. Read more…
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We’re thinking that there cant be too many XC races still to be run this winter, and this weekend’s Trofeo Alasport race in Sardinia was probably newly-crowned 2009 World XC champion Florence Kiplagat‘s last before she dusts off those track spikes. Read more…
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After 5 torturous days Fredrik Olmqvist has completed this year’s MDS. His daily chronicles and superb imagery leave you in no doubt that this event is one of the toughest challenges in the world of endurance running. Read more…
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With his British champion crown to defend Rob Hope started 2009 where he left off in 2008 with a great win at the opening round of the British Fell Running championships in the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland on Saturday (4th). Read more…
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Can the rest of the world close the gap on Kenya and Ethiopia? Can the white man be as good without living somewhere above the clouds, surviving on rice and beans? And is it not money, survival, that’s motivating the Kenyan dominance? Read more…
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We like to get them whilst they are hot here at MST and they dont come any hotter than ultra man of the moment Jez Bragg. Fresh from his fantastic win at the Celtic 100k last weekend Jez describes it as “the best run of my life – no question”. Read more…
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In part one of Chris Smithard’s view on how technology has brought Orienteering into the 21st century is was all in the timing. Here he talks mapping, race formats and going urban… Read more…
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This weekend sees the opening round of the British Fell Running Championships in the beautiful Mourne mountains, Northern Ireland. The race at Slieve Bearnagh is only 4 miles in length but still has 2690ft of climbing. Read more…
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An intrepid crew of Tring RC runners made the long trip north to the Edale Skyline race last Sunday. Led by Steve Long the southern-based gang showed the hill-billies of the north that you don’t have to live in the hills to be able to run in the hills. Read more…
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The waiting is over. The race is on. Since stage 1 was canceled the race began with the 33K second stage, starting with a 14K crossing of the magnificent and somewhat terrifying sand dunes at Erg Chebbi Read more…
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3-time English fell running champion Simon Bailey scored a comfortable 50 second win over fellow international and Mercia team-mate Tim Davies at the classic early-season Wrekin fell race in Shropshire on Sunday. Read more…
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There wasn’t a happy Kenyan face in the house after the men’s race at this weekends World XC. The post-race reflection will go on deep into the summer for their task-master Julius Kirwa, who yesterday blamed himself for not triumphing in Jordan. Read more…
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It’s great to see mountain running going from strength to strength, especially when it’s in the younger age groups. Last Weds the Irish Schools Mountain Running Championships took place in Phoenix Park – with over 350 competitors… Read more…
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With many top athletes in Jordan for the World XC it was left to the schools teams to offer the very best athletes in the Home Nations. With 6 titles from a possible 8 the English raiders took most of the glory at this weekend’s Aviva SIAB XC International. Read more…
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Ireland were hosts of this year’s Anglo-Celtic Plate 100km road race, the annual home nations ultra-distance competition. England’s Jez Bragg ran superbly for a win that also saw him go under seven hours for the first time. Read more…
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The super-site’s guys on the ground have delivered a superb set of images, detailing the spoils of the race day. With coverage of all 4 races, and some apres-run shots too, we think that this is the most comprehensive photo-chronicle of the 2009 World XC you will see on the net. Read more…
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Putting one or two strong runs from the junior women aside, the UK’s showing at Amman this weekend was not great. Steph Twell was being heralded by all, even the organsiers saw her as a prospect, at the IAAF VIP press call. Read more…
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Gebre Gebremariam secretly picked his way to this title, not showing his hand until 100m from the finish when his devastating finishing kick left Moses Kipsoro in his wake. Kenya’s losing streak is now ten years, dating back to Paul Tergat’s win in 1999. Read more…
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With a burst of pace in the last 200m akin to that of a track race, Kenyan Florence Kiplagat stole the women’s World XC title from under the nose of long-time leader Linet Masai, her consolation was a team gold medal. Read more…
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The 8km junior men’s race was an affair dominated by the Africans. USA athletes tried hard to stay in contention, but had to relent when the speed really picked up around the 6km mark. The pace was the fiercest of the day and young American German Fernandez can leave Jordan happy. Read more…
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After a valiant effort from Kenya’s Mercy Cherono her form on the last hill was left wanting as defending champion, and sister of the great Tirunesh, Genzebe Dibaba strode up the hill to take the junior women’s title by a few metres. Kenyan faces were left even longer as the Ethiopians took the team prize too. Read more…
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Plenty of races to choose from around the UK this weekend (28th/29th March) for all you mountain goats. In Wales the racing is at all points from the Pen-Y-Cerrig Calch in the south to the Llangyhafel Loop in the north. Across the border the classic Wrekin Fell race also takes place. Read more…
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Those kindred spirits at Letsrun.com have recce’d the Amman course ahead of tomorrow’s championships. Having had a good look at these photos, the course profile and the weather, all should suit the African contingent. It’s cross-country Jim, but not as we know it. Read more…
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With Formula One dominating the BBC this weekend, the World XC doesn’t get a look-in on standard terrestrial telly. Neither does it seem to get listed on Eurosport, which is a bit odd. Anyway, live coverage of the racing starts at 11.15 GMT on BBCinteractive. Read more…
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As part of MST’s further foray in the world of O (Orienteering) Chris Smithard looks into how the sport is perceived in the new millennium and in the wider running world. This two-part article will help gain a better understanding of the sport and what you need to make it to the top! Read more…
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The big US site has made the trip to Amman for some pre-race insights, interviews and photo opps. and will no doubt be hanging around for the racing. This little montage of images from the city, its surroundings and some great undercover shots of the African teams, is as underground as it gets. Read more…
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With extensive previews on the men’s, women’s and junior races at Saturday’s World Cross Country Championships, there is nothing more to add. The IAAF’s Len Johnson and David Powell have the inside line and leave no stone unturned as they look forward to the festival of XC racing in prospect. Read more…
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Welsh Athletics and the Welsh Schools Athletics Association are proud to host the prestigious Aviva SIAB Schools Cross Country International and Home Countries International. Read more…
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Yass runner Angela Bateup of Weston Creek Athletics Club had a strong run to win Saturday’s ACT Mountain Running Championship on Mt Majura. Bateup, third in the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championship last year, overcame the unseasonal 30 degree afternoon heat. Read more…
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The Kenyans really are taking the World Cross seriously. With incentives from the KCB to the tune of $30,000 for an individual winner in either the men’s or women’s races. The Kenyan Sports Minister was also there to wave them off to Amman. Read more…
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The domestic races have been won, and now it’s time for Steph Twell to step up to world-class. The Aldershot athlete’s improvement curve has been dramatic over the last 12 -18 months, to the point where she must now be considered in the top 3 European cross country runners. Read more…
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Compared to my younger days my running is a lot more varied. I used to be a road-mile eater. I devoured tarmac on a weekly basis. Venturing onto the fells and trails was, due my to re-location to the urban landscape of the south of England, a rarity. Read more…
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As World XC fever begins to take hold the Kenyan XC team will leave their high-altitude holding camp at Mt. Kenya on Tuesday evening and head for the heat of Jordan, with temps forecast for the mid twenties, come the weekend. Read more…
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The English Schools XC champs has once again come and gone, with a fantastic day’s racing at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire on Saturday (21st). Star of the show was pre-race favourite Emelia Gorecka whose winning streak now stretches to an incredible 2 years. Read more…
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It seems that the IOC do listen. A few months back the ‘big three’ of African endurance (and probably the world) running Geb, Tergat and Bekele all voiced the view that XC racing could be a part of the Winter Olympic games. Read more…
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Dumfries hosted the PMS Criffel hill race on Sunday (22nd), with Andrew Wright and Catherine Niblock winning. At the Chapelgill races on Saturday it was a very close affair as Prasad and Robbie Simpson continued their battles… Read more…
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Well I’ve now recovered and almost forgotten how much this event hurt. I have to say that being more used to multi-hour events, this one was a bit of a shock and a lot painful. Dizziness kicked in at about floor ten, legs tripled in weight as blood turned to lactic by about floor twenty. Read more…
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Ras Yr Aran took place in nr Bala on Saturday (21st) in what can only be called ‘unseasonal’ weather. As this great set of images from Alastair Tye over at fellrunningpictures show, the fast conditions made sure that records tumbled. Read more…
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I mentioned in my introduction to MST that I am a member of TASS. It is unlikely many of you have heard of it or understand what it does so I will try and explain a bit about what it’s all about as well as the impact it has had on my training as an orienteer. Read more…
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All legs are heading west this weekend for Ireland’s Connemarathon. This year, a total of 3,600 runners and walkers from 30 countries have entered for the half, full and ultra marathons. Read more…
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In an effort to add scope to the growing appeal (we hope) of MST we will aim to point you towards races and other interesting stuff from the Ultra-running scene. This month includes a couple of great articles on the Independent website, Jez Bragg and the Indo Ultra. Read more…
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This weekend sees one of the bedrocks of cross-country running. The English Schools Cross Country Championships (for ‘English’ insert any other nationality) embody the essence of running, and are the place where dreams are born and shattered… Read more…
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Tower 42, the City’s tallest building, and Shelter hosted the UK’s first ever tower running event Vertical Rush, held in London earlier today (19 March). The 800m run was attempted by over 600 competitors. Read more…
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This guy is special. He has carried all before him on the indoor track this winter, running an unbelievable 3:55:02 for the mile, gun to tape on his own, smashing his world junior record – yet again. Read more…
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This excellent Guardian article written by Donald McRae gets deeply into the mind of the UK’s top endurance runner, right now. Mo Farah talks training, failure, Dave Moorcroft’s British-record and how photography is his next biggest love… Read more…
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I’m always on the look-out for a good pair of pants. Not just any pants mind you. I need the type that keeps water firmly away from my legs and bottom during wet and windy runs in the Irish mountains. Read more…
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Kenyan XC coach Julius Kirwa doesn’t want to just beat their closest rivals (we presume he means Ethiopia!) next week in Amman, he wants to crush them too! Read more…
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Times may be hard when it comes to bankers bonus’, but cross country runners need not worry. With over a quarter of a million dollars on offer at next weeks World Cross Country championships the incentives to perform for more than a medal are there. Read more…
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Apologies to those people who have posted a comment in the last couple of weeks, as it may have disappeared! Last night the site was hit by a spam email hitting the comments boxes, 170 were posted on an article. So, please continue to post (legitimate!) comments, we will try and combat the spamheads!! Read more…
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There can come a time when your daily run becomes a little monotonous, which can lead to a halt in improvement and a general lack of motivation. The following article recently appeared in the Performance Basics section of Athletics Weekly with some nuggets to keep us runners happy… Read more…
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With each week that passes it seems that Mo Farah is becoming a bit of a talisman for UK endurance running. No sooner has he raced to the UK record and European 3000m gold, than he is fighting the fight against school playing field sell-offs. Read more…
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Germany’s great hope for the World Cross, Sabrina Mockenhaupt, convincingly win her home XC title on Saturday with Arne Gabius taking the men’s in a similar fashion. They will now both head-up the German teams heading out to Amman next week. Read more…
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The IAAF looks back at its Permits meetings this winter, as they continue to build towards the World Cross a week on Saturday. We will bring you views galore between now and then in an effort to capture the drama of what is the pinnacle of the sport. Read more…
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He was one of the enigmatic and galvanising figures in sports administration. He was a lover of the mountains, and of mountain racing. He brought the World Mountain Running Championships to fruition for 2009. He will be sorely missed. Read more…
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The UK team for Amman next weekend has been announced. The team will travel to Jordan in the hope of ‘mixing it’ with the world’s best endurance runners and can expect tough racing in the very different middle-eastern conditions. Read more…
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Japan and Australia have released their squads for Amman. They are both looking to their youth to deliver the goods, Japan being hopeful in the junior women’s race and Australia in the junior men’s with Ryan Gregson leading the charge in the hope for a top ten. Read more…
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The fell racers are hard at it. Andy Symonds had a good weekend with wins at Deuchary Hil and the River Tay Dash, with Karen Alexander taking the first round of the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Championship at Slieve Gullion on Saturday. Read more…
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After hitting the world scene hard as a junior Sentayehu Ejigu has spent some hard years in the running wilderness. However, after a superb win at the Boston Games last month she has now set her sights firmly on a medal the World Cross Country Championships. Read more…
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Personally I am much happier with the sound of the birds and the wind rushing through my hair, however it seems that the latest research by Dr Costas Karageorghis shows that music can improve perceptions of effort… Read more…
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Good article in the April 2009 issue of 220 Triathlon magazine. Written by Nik Cook the feature in the Performance section dedicates three pages to technique, training, kit and a guide to some of the better events in 2009. Out now… Read more…
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I was bored of running up the same mountains. I was tired of looking for someone to show me new trails. I was frustrated that I couldn’t read my own map. I wanted to find my own way. Read more…
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The 2009 Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon is still taking entries for this year’s race to be held in the Scottish Highlands (although is 80% full) – course details are only released shortly before the grueling two-day event. Read more…
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This weekend saw the British University Orienteering Championships hosted by Oxford University. It therefore came as no surprise to find this year’s British University Champions would be crowned on a flat and fast woodland course. Read more…
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However, the real racing was behind as the home athletes battled for places on the Japanese World XC team. Atsushi Sato was first home in men’s race, finishing a close second behind Kenyan Joseph Kiptoo. Read more…
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He is down to earth. He likes flying kites. He loves his running. He loves off-road running especially. He would quite like to do more mountain running and was GB’s top Olympian in the Beijing triathlon. He is Alistair Brownlee – one of the biggest talents in triathlon right now. Read more…
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The Saab Salomon Outdoor Team have once again shown vision – and the determination to build a great team of mountain runners – by signing mountain running star Robbie Simpson. Still only 17, Robbie has taken the Scottish scene by storm in 2009, winning 4 races in the last couple of months. Read more…
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Steph Twell took her first senior title at Saturday’s Inter-Counties XC champs in Nottingham, which doubled as the trials race for the World XC. Frank Tickner was aiming to carry on where he left off in London at the National XC, however Andy Vernon had different thoughts and overturned Tickner by 3 seconds Read more…
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Mo Farah delivered on the promise he has shown this winter both in and outdoors. It started with silver in the European XC back in December, and has culminated in a gold medal in the 3000m at the European Indoor Championships today in Turin. Read more…
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With backing from athletics golden girls Blanka Vlasic and Paula Radcliffe on the new WADA Whereabouts system will be split further. Athletes from many sports have expressed their dislike, but now the IAAF has thrown it’s weight behind it… Read more…
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runnerslife has been launched by a group of international road and track runners in an aim to document the ups and downs of, well, a runner’s life. With a race series and forum in addition, there should be plenty to get involved with… Read more…
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Excellent film from Jouneyman Pictures on running in Eldoret, Kenya. It documents Kip Keino‘s orphanage, the intensive training, and how so many champions have been realised from this pocket of the Kenyan nation. Read more…
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After the National, after all of the talk on MST, it’s time for the UK to decide who will represent them at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Champs. This weekend’s Inter Counties XC champs will act as the selection race. Read more…
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Rikuren has announced the elite field for the 23rd Fukuoka International Cross Country Meet, to be held Mar. 7 in Fukuoka’s Uminonakamichi Park. Fukuoka serves as a selection race for the national team which will compete in the Mar. 28 World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan. Read more…
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Last weekend saw the kick off of the new orienteering season with the British Champs for juniors and seniors on Saturday followed by the British Relay Champs on Sunday down in the New Forest. Read more…
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It’s hard for a girl not to get excited about shoes and bags. So when Chris posted about the Inov8 RocLite 315 shoes on MST just a few days ago, I simply couldn’t help myself but tell everyone about the gorgeous matching bags that are also available in the Inov8 range. Read more…
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After last years’ clean sweep of the titles Ethiopia has once again selected a squad full of quality for the forthcoming World Cross Country Championships. But the question remains – after his injury and subsequent low profile, will Kenenisa Bekele be there? The Kenyans aren’t so sure... Read more…
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Deeside athlete Robbie Simpson scored yet another win over his older contemporaries at the Bishop Hill race in Fife on Sunday. Robbie was treating this as tester event for the Slieve Bearnagh race (part of the British fell champs) in the Mourne Mountains on the 4th of April. Read more…
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Whether its the 2012 London Olympics, the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 or the World Cross Country championships, its all about the legacy. What will be left behind, once the last caravan departs from any given sporting traveling-circus? Read more…
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He has been to the Olympic Games, World Championship and the World Cross Country Championship on six occasions in total, but he is yet to secure the one coveted medal. Since he emerged on the international scene in 2002 as a junior at the Dublin World Cross Country Championships, Moses Mosop has successfully carved out a niche… Read more…
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With the World XC only a few weeks away the world’s endurance nations are finalising teams, and the athletes are honing their form. IAAF reports on Asian Champs, Southern Region and the Almond Blossom Cross Read more…
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On the 19th of March the UK’s first stair-climbing race, Vertical Rush, takes place at Tower 42 in London. Saab Salomon Outdoor Team member Andy Symonds will be taking part, convinced it might be a good idea after his interview on the Chris Evans Radio 2 show a few weeks back! Read more…
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It seems that scientists have confirmed what us runners already knew, we were born to run. An article on Wired Science talks about our ‘stubby toes’ being custom-made to enable us to chase prey. Read more…
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The Southern Region XC held in Mauritius (beats Parliament Hill for a venue!) saw South Africa dominate proceedings – winning all four major titles on offer. The races also act as a kind of selection race for the World XC champs in Amman later this month… Read more…
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Almost a week after the battles took place on Parliament Hill we have just picked up on the Eightlane footage from last weekend’s English National Cross Country championships. Read more…
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A beautiful portrayal of orienteering in Wicklow, Ireland. The short film, shot by Finn van Gelderen, David Healy and Ondrej Pijak for a Dublin film festival, gives insight into the stillness and purity of orienteering, with superb cinematography. Watch here. Read more…
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We have our fair share of fast lads alright on the Irish mountain running scene, ones that top the results table race after race. But to be fair, we also have loads of not-so-fast lads, the ones who consistently turn up to each and every event. Read more…
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As you may have gathered we are fans of the Brooks brand here at MST. Why? Well number one they retain an air of independence in the world of brand-behemoths and number two they have fantastic shoes – full stop. Read more…
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Spira shoes came onto my radar some time last year, when I first heard about the World’s Fastest 10k. The shoes have been somewhat controversial with people claiming the the users are cheating and has led to USA Track & Field claiming that Spira ‘breach the unfair advantage rule’. Read more…
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So, it seems like yesterday that the world’s top mountain runners were hanging up their race shoes and getting out their skis. But on the 8th of March the first race in the 2009 Skyrunner World Series Trials takes place in Mexico. 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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UKA Head of Endurance Ian Stewart has reiterated his vision for the future of distance running in the UK in a recent article in Athletics Weekly. This replicated article sees Stewart talking about “more miles”, groups of “70 runners” and general theme of “hard work”. Read more…
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I had reservations about trying Inov8 products as I had heard all sorts of opposing views and opinions on them. The main one that put me off the most was the fact that most inov8s have low heels and which would to me feel like the shoe could come off at any time. But I was desperate. Read more…
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The Scottish National Cross Country Champs took place at a mild and dry Callendar Park on Saturday. Tom Russell may be starting to think that the gods are conspiring against him as he lost in a sprint finish for a second consecutive year! The spoils went to deserved Central AC man, Ali Hay. Read more…
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You may say, relay running, Cup events, but cross country? Well this how Kenyan World XC coach Julius Kirwa sees it. Following Moses Mosop’s convincing win at the weekend he wants more ‘team drill’ come the World Cross Country Championships in Amman next month. Read more…
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After his successful foray on to the country before Christmas Mo Farah has shown that 8 weeks in Kenya can make a big difference to a runners physical state, and state of mind. Read more…
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26 year-old Wells City Harrier and GB international Frank Tickner added a second National Cross Country title to his growing list of wins at a sunny Parliament Hill on Saturday. The unseasonably mild weather meant that the racing was fast and furious across the board. Read more…
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The Kenyan and Ethiopian teams for the World XC in Amman in March are one step closer after their respective national championships (the trials races) took place this weekend. With athletes absent at both events the racing was wide open… Read more…
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So after much searching, and an X Factor-style audition, MST has appointed two new contributors. The two lucky winners – who don’t know what they have let themselves in for – are Moire O’Sullivan and Chris Smithard Read more…
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It’s the night before the English National XC champs. You can do no more. The spikes are clean, the bag is ready, the vest is proudly packed and don’t forget that Vaseline – although looking at the weather forecast I think sun cream might be more appropriate! Read more…
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For those of you that keep a close eye on all things sport you might have seen a worrying trend in the last few months – early death in young athletes. Quite often unexplained, possibly preventable, with what seems to be a simple screening programme. Read more…
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Few would back against the great new hope for women’s endurance running in the UK, Steph Twell, adding another National XC title to her bulging junior trophy cabinet. She is unbeaten by a British athlete this winter and we really can’t see that changing on Saturday. Read more…
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Not wanting to be left out of the big UK XC party this weekend, Callendar Park in Falkirk hosts the Scottish National Cross Country Champs on Saturday. It’s hard to see past 2008 senior women’s champion Freya Murray retaining her title Read more…
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That’s right, its National weekend! ‘The oldest cross country race in the world’ at the most famous of venues – Parliament Hill – takes place this Saturday. Spikesmag beat us to a history of story, which we were planning to write today (honest!) Read more…
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The KCB Nairobi Cross, which acts as the national trials and is an IAAF Cross Country permit meeting, takes place this Saturday at Nairobi’s Ngong Racecourse. Thoroughbreds on show include Linet Masai and Eliud Kipchoge, vying for places on the plane to Jordan. Read more…
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The Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championships take place between the 17th and 20th of September, with a real running festival planned. Read more…
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In a race that is known for being the fell season opener Rob Jebb immediately opened his 2009 account at the 9th ‘Tiso’ Carnethy 5 on Saturday. A distance of 6 miles, with 2500 feet total climbing over 5 summits makes the race a testing opener for February! Read more…
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In an episode that has wider implications for growing sport-bureaucracy in 2009 the cold snap over the last few weeks had one victim, that stood up in the face of officialdom and slipped under the MST radar. Read more…
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Tucked away in the last 10 minutes of the Radio 2 Chris Evans show last Friday (1hr 48 mins in) was a piece on Vertical Rush Read more…
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Last weekend saw some truly international XC racing in Japan, Luxembourg, Uganda and Kenya. The Kenyan’s seem to be taking this winter very seriously and with their trials for the World XC champs this Saturday the competition for places will be hot. Read more…
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Having worked tirelessly for 15 years as the WMRA President Danny Hughes will not live to see the inaugural World Mountain Running Championships in 2009, something which he had pushed the IAAF to recognise for nearly a decade, as he sadly passed away on Monday. Read more…
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Melissa Moon is no ordinary world champion. After twice winning the World Mountain Running trophy she went on to run 1500km across 16 countries in the Blue Planet run, a campaign for safe drinking water in Africa. But she isn’t stopping there… Read more…
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Endurance athlete Sharon Gayter is aiming to break a 25 year-old long-distance record as she attempts to run 510 miles over the next six days. The quest started yesterday morning at Croft Circuit, UK and will see her running for almost 21 hours a day! Read more…
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Steph gives great media and this interview reinforces the view that she has her head firmly screwed on. In this little BBC profile she talks about role models (her dad!), her great 2008, the London Olympics and comparisons to Paula. Read more…
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There isn’t a lot that hasn’t been said about one of the UK’s great fell runners, Rob Jebb. He’s a 7 time winner of the classic Three Peaks cyclo-cross race, so he could be mentioned in the same ‘great’ vein by the cycling fraternity. Read more…
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Okay, so it might appear that we are some kind of drugs crusade. No, we aren’t trying to be judge and jury to the world’s doping ills, but what we are trying to do is highlight a view that this has all gone on too long and the tipping point is nigh for the sports dopers. Read more…
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A fantastic set of images from this weekend’s Long Mynd Valleys Race courtesy of Alistair Tye over at Fell Running Pictures – without guys like Alistair the grass roots of our sport would be all the poorer! Read more…
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As we get into the sharp end of the season for many leagues throughout the UK, there were a flurry of meets all going ahead despite the weather. From Bovey Tracy in the South West to the Scottish Master Champs in Irvine. Read more…
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The US XC championships act as the trials event for the World XC, so the talent on show in Mayland on Saturday was deep. Meb Keflezighi went off super-fast, and got reeled in, but managed to win by less than a second. Read more…
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This fantastic homage to Jon Tvedt once again shows us why the internet has been so instrumental in connecting people. The film, made by Mary Rye at dancingsun.com, is a great example of the power of social media. Read more…
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UK Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe has announced radical new plans that places the UK ahead of the pack in its fight against doping. The new NADO will see that ahead of 2012 anti-doping in the UK will become evermore prevalent. Read more…
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As reported some weeks back the newly formed Saab Salomon Outdoor Team are shaping up for 2009 and this weekend saw the first team get together in Langdale, Cumbria, with stalwarts Jebby and Angela Mudge joined by new recruits John Heneghan and Anna Frost… Read more…
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The life of a ‘running monk’ whilst in Kenya seems to have really paid off for Mo Farah. In an interview with spikesmag.com he explains that the African trip helped focus his mind and “reinvigorate his career”. Read more…
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With the announcement by UKA they are to have a holding camp in Aldershot prior to this year’s World XC in Amman, Jordan, the news also comes from the IAAF that there will be 63 nations represented at the event. Read more…
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So the time has come, we think. Let’s open this thing up. Share the love. Cast the net wider. We’re going worldwide. MST want you, to enable us, to keep the site even fresher. It’s time to get some guest reviewing, reporting and interviewing going on! Read more…
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Its not often you get a load of world class mountain runners, in the wilds of winter, in the mountains of the Lake District, being joined by world-class triathlete. But then again Alistair Brownlee isn’t your everyday athlete. When Saab Salomon Outdoor Team manager Tim Lloyd spoke to me about their launch weekend he mentioned in passing that they were joined by the Leeds University man. Read more…
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Want to step up to a challenge? Test yourself up 86 flights of stairs in the Empire State Building Run-up. A quick 1,576 steps will get you from the ground floor to the Observation Deck that looms nearly a quarter of a mile above Fifth Avenue. So goes the NYRR website. Our buddies over at Spikesmag have a super feature on today’s wacky 1576 stair Empire State Building Run-Up. Read more…
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The WMRA has published this year’s calendar and at the same time hinted at much more in the way of news for 2009. In an email to MST they stated “Several news items are due to be published …visit the web page regularly to keep abreast of these.” So, why not bookmark it! Read more…
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Whilst Steph Twell and Frank Tickner were leading the senior XC athletes in Italy on Sunday the juniors were on a Portuguese mission. With Nick Goolab and Louise Small winning is the UK starting to enforce the notion that they are best XC nation in Europe? Read more…
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This one is set to run and run. After news of the Belgian challenge WADA has moved quickly to clarify with the publishing of the document below. In an effort to quell those suggestions that it is aimed at inconveniencing athletes it outlines the ADAMS Wherebabouts code in a little more detail in a Q&A style: Read more…
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In the mud and cold of northern Italy renowned front runner Aniko Kalovics was simply too strong for British youngster Steph Twell at yesterday’s classic XC race, Cinque Mulini, held at the legendary San Vittore Olona course. Read more…
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Great article on Italy’s big XC race – the Cinque Mulini – over on spikesmag.com “It is known as one of the world’s greatest cross country races. Athletes scramble over banks and through ditches…during five grueling 2km laps”. Read more…
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Runner’s World comprehensive guide to the world’s leading trail shoes. With a long list of brands from Adidas to Inov8 this series of videos covers most angles and gives a nice overview of the features of each. Course it’s no substitute for trying ‘em on, but at least you can narrow your selection… Read more…
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It seems that since the chimes of Big Ben took us into 2009 the bells begin to toll again and doping rears its ugly head in many sports. Read more…
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Those great guys at Brooks UK have been supportive of the site since we launched in October and of course it helps that their shoes are amongst the best on the market… Read more…
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Mo Farah has finally had enough of the thin air of Kaptagat and Iten in Keiyo district, Kenya. The Daily Nation reports that he is heading home for some indoor racing (this weekend in Glasgow, for a start). Read more…
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This weekend saw the English regional champs and the Scottish national 4km champs take place with some great racing taking place up. Following on from his great run at the Great North Cross Steve Vernon trounced a good quality field in the North of England champs at a muddy St. Helens. Read more…
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The Running Bug is on it, of course we are on it – hell even Lance Armstrong is on it. It’s the latest way to keep in touch and find people, and is a kind of Facebook without all of the faff. Read more…
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It is barely 2 months since the last of the 2008 series took place, but SAAB Salomon have got 2009 in their sights already with some fantastic races planned in trail, marathon and turbo x style racing. Read more…
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With racing taking place in Belgium at the Lotto Cross Cup and in Kenya at the Discovery XC race, many of the world’s top athletes are starting to round their form and hone their skills in readiness for the World XC Champs in Jordan, which are just around the corner. Read more…
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There is change in the air. First it was Tanni Grey-Thompson’s long overdue report with 22 new recommendations on anti-doping measures, with drug tests for all employees, including office staff, at UKA. Read more…
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The Masai’s are one of the most feared family units in the world of endurance. spikesmag.com hooked up with them in Bushy Park, Teddington to discover the secrets of their success. Read more…
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World-class mountain racer Jon Tvedt has died. He perished doing what he lived for – mountain running, whilst out on a training run with his brother Øyvind above his home town of Bergen. Details on the incident relate to exhaustion and cold being the key factors in Tvedt’s death. Read more…
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It seems that human rights issues are high on almost every new piece of legislation these days. On the 1st of Jan WADA published its new code. Read more…
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The Times article that followed his unsuccessful record attempt in Dubai, tells me that Haile Gebrselassie’s status is beginning to transcend the sport. However, with quotes like “If I stop I think maybe I’ll die”, the most famous endurance runner in the world is just going to run ‘til he drops… Read more…
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“Some of the most scenic and inspiring running and walking events in the UK, for all ages and abilities, held within the iconic landscape of the Lake District National Park…” Read more…
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Top UK steeplechaser and international cross country runner Adam Bowden has decided to hang up his spikes and head for the high-tech world of triathlon. Speaking in the February edition of 220 magazine he spills the beans, and tells us why he has turned his back on the sport. Read more…
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It certainly seems to be a year of the ‘comeback’, first Lance Armstrong and now one Paul Tergat. Arguably the greatest XC racer ever Tergat made a return to his first love this weekend. Read more…
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Another busy weekend of cross country across Europe was topped off with the highly prestigious ‘27th Cross Internacional de Itálica’ – the second Spanish leg of the 2008/2009 IAAF Cross Country permit series. Read more…
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When you wear 4 layers on top and 3 on the bottom, you know that the weather is extreme. It was minus 12 centigrade in the UK last week, and all I had was 2 layers – beat that Tim! Read more…
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This weekend’s Cardiff X Challenge should be a fantastic event. Read more…
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2008 WMRA Grand Prix champion – has a nice ring to it! PE teacher, and new Saab Salomon recruit, Anna Frost is one of those human beings that make the world go round. With sport in her blood from a young age, coupled with that Kiwi tenacity, Anna was always destined for the top. Read more…
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The 2008 world XC champs won’t be fondly remembered by the Keynans. With rivals Ethiopia taking all four titles, there was any element of soul searching like never before within the camp. Read more…
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The last word from last weekend’s Great North cross comes from the UK Athletics new Head of Endurance Ian Stewart. Sharing the mud with big Bren, he hinted at some changes – words aren’t exactly minced! Read more…
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Speaking on the BBC at the Great North cross race Steph Twell give us a before and after viewpoint, and lets us know how she ticks – such confidence from a 19 year old! Read more…
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Andy Baddeley, speaking last weekend, talks about his 2008 exploits in Oslo and Beijing, his training, and in a post-race interview, how he ran away with this year’s 4km GNWR event… Read more…
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This interesting piece came through on the IAAF news feed demonstrating that the African nations are evermore intent on pushing on when it comes to endurance, cross-country and no doubt mountain running. With former great Said Aouita now at the helm this will be an interesting story to follow. Read more…
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MST hits Europe this weekend, so news could be a bit sketchy (depends on t’internet connections). We’ll be back on Tuesday to fill you in on anything important that you might have missed in the world of off-road running, and be full of nice to stories to post later in the week. (Oh, and it might not be off-road but check here on Friday morning to see if the great man does it again). Read more…
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90 minutes of top coverage from yesterday’s event is now up online. With interviews from Andy Baddeley and Steph Twell, before and after. Plus a nice measured interview with new UK Endurance Coach Ian Stewart – oh, and all of the action of course… Read more…
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With an injection of pace akin to many of his Ethiopian endurance running forefathers, Abebe Dinkesa upstaged the favourites at today’s Great North Winter Run cross country event at a windswept Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. Read more…
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Yet another African star came of age today at the women’s Great North Winter Run international cross country in Edinburgh. Linet Masai majestically negotiated the Scottish terrain and the classy international field to romp home a convincing winner. The 19 year old never looked in trouble as she waited until the second big lap to make her move for a very comfy win. Read more…
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We are very good at placing pressure on sports people. We want success, we want our runners, footballers, cricketers and cyclists to win. We expect. But it doesn’t always happen quite like that. With 2012 just around the erm, corner, we are already taking about medal hauls and the ‘most likely to’ – and why not, there is only 4 years to go after all! Read more…
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In what should be one of the best XC meets of the year in the UK, the Bupa Great Edinburgh International happens this Saturday. With Kenenisa Bekele still out the door should be wide open for 2007 World champ Zersenay Tadese to romp home… Read more…
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The current economic downturn has not been a barrier for race elite coordinator Zigor Díez to bring together a star-studded cross country field for the “66th Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza” meeting which will be held on Sunday (11 Jan) in Elgoibar, Spain. Read more…
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Never ones to shirk our responsibility to the grass roots here at MST, we’d like to big-up a very nice urban trail race up in the Manchester area – taking place this Sunday the 11th of Jan, 2009. For all you ‘urban trailsters’ who are fed up with the icy pavements and traffic – Hit the Trail! Read more…
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Those nice people at the FRA have posted up the 2009 race calendar. Highlights for the season will be the usual classics at Borrowdale, 3 Peaks, Moel Elio and Jura, but hey there are so many races you’ll be spoiled for choice! Read more…
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“an exceptionally snowy day” is how the IAAF saw it, it certainly looked a whole load of fun at yesterday’s Campaccio EA Permit cross-country race in sunny Italy, as the Kenyan star out-gunned the Ukrainian 2008 Euro XC champ. Aniko Kalovics (pictured) dominated in the women’s race. Read more…
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The all-conquering Team Saab Salomon mountain racing team has a new name for 2009. The association of the two brands will continue, however from this year they will now be known as the Saab Salomon Outdoor Team. Read more…
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This isn’t your average running news story, but former cancer sufferer William Sichel isn’t your average runner – He admits to three Kit-Kats a week and a pint of Guinness after a race – legend… Read more…
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The 2009 Three Peaks race will be open for business a week today on the 12th of January. In it’s 55th year, the race has endured through the decades to become one of the most famous in the world of mountain running. Read more…
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Steph Twell is now officially a senior – and it’s taken her all of 3 days of the new year to make her mark. As the cold winds blow across Europe another busy weekend of XC action has taken place with some of the world’s top racers racing in Northern Ireland and Spain in preparation for this weekends up-coming big one in Edinburgh. Read more…
