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Organisers of the legendary Dragon’s Back Race™ have today announced that YHA (England and Wales) will be supporting the event in 2015. The race follows the mountainous spine of Wales, from Conwy Castle in the north to Carreg Cennen Castle in the south… Read more…
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The classic Ennerdale Horseshoe race played host to round two of the 2014 British Fell Running Championships and round three of the English champs last weekend, on a day which saw storms and torrential rain enforce a route reduction… Read more…
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A fantastic interview with Anna Frost by Ian Corless has just appeared on the ISF site, following her stunning win at Transvulcania a couple of weeks back. Open and honest as ever Frosty makes for a great interviewee once again… Read more…
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Looking for some adventure in 2014? Well, luckily for some the ISF has just put the 2014 Skyrunner World Series magazine (e-zine) online. With events across the continents, it highlights some of the world’s most iconic races… Read more…
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Former winner Jez Bragg embarked on another tilt at the classic Fellsman race last weekend, but after some nav issues on route had to settle for third place this year at one of the UK’s original ultra races… Read more…
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After a number of attempts at glory and a second place finish in 2009, Cumbrian Ricky Lightfoot eventually added one of fell running ‘monuments’ to his growing list of big wins, as he stormed to victory at the 60th 3 Peaks race… Read more…
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Each year Ourea Events™ donates 1% of its total sales to grassroots environmental organisations at the forefront of the protection of the mountain environment. Ourea Events’ MD, Shane Ohly outlines the company’s association with 1% For The Planet. Read more…
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Ahead of this weekend’s Three Peaks race, Cumbrian athlete Chris Steele headed out to Tenerife to tackle the gruelling 42km Santa Cruz Extreme. Returning to the UK with a big international win under his belt, he will be one-to-watch at the big race in North Yorkshire this Saturday… Read more…
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It’s not every day that you get the chance to rub shoulders with mountain running greatness. but every year at the Keswick Mountain Festival the opportunity arises with the festival playing host to a number of lectures over the course of its ever-popular week… Read more…
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The North Face® has this week announced the ‘Longer Days’ campaign, encouraging everyone to spend more time in the outdoors. Spring is dawning, and more daylight means more time to explore. As the clocks go forward, there will be more hours to embrace and a chance to run, hike, climb and explore longer. Read more…
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Top fell and mountain marathon man Steve Birkinshaw is to set his sights on one of the longest and toughest fell records this summer, as the Cumbria-based runner attempts The Wainwrights, 214 peaks, taking in 511km with 36000m of ascent! Read more…
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An iconic Welsh MTB trail centre provided the backdrop for the training summit of the 2014 Salomon Trail Team UK, as some of the world’s best trail runners enjoyed some of the world’s best trails last weekend. Read more…
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Following on from his epic win at the Transgrancanaria a couple of weeks back, South Africa’s Ryan Sandes is utilising his excellent form right now to have a FKT crack at one of the biggest ‘big hikes’ The Drakensberg Grand Traverse, starting this friday (21 March) Read more…
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Top sky and mountain runner Robbie Simpson has joined some of the UK’s finest trail, fell and mountain running talent at the Salomon Trail Team UK for 2014, bolstering the team to be one of the strongest domestic trail teams in the world. Read more…
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Something for the weekend via an excellent show this week from Ian Corless at Talk Ultra, with reaction and views from the winners at Transgrancanaria race last weekend, including British revelation Casey Morgan… Read more…
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Considered as on of the toughest off-road ultra-marathons in the UK, the High Peak Marathon requires teams of four tackle some the Peak District’s toughest climbs, takes in 69km and 2,400m climb, and is to be conducted mainly at night! Read more…
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Jo Meek is a name we only start to see at the international level and it is one great addition to the ultra running scene. After her win at The Coastal Challenge, 6 days stage race covering 235km over grueling terrain, burning hot 4 wheel drive dirt roads, lush green forest, dense jungle and stunning beaches, Martin Gaffuri caught up with her… Read more…
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The ISF has today announced that SCOTT Sports will partner with the 2014 Skyrunner® World Series – joining other prestigious outdoor brands: Salomon, Arc’teryx, inov-8, La Sportiva and Compressport on their growing roster of brand partners… Read more…
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The Museum of the Great Outdoors is a new initiative led by the University of Sheffield. Building on Sheffield City Council’s rebranding of Sheffield as the UK Capital of the Great Outdoors, the aim is to explore the unique relationship between Sheffield, the Peak District and its diverse communities of users. Read more…
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Newly crowned 2013 UK Ultra Runner of the Year Robbie Britton thrives on pushing his body to the limit. The new team inov-8 recruit has revelled in a phenomenal past 12 months and is now looking ahead to a 2014 calendar stacked with some of the world’s toughest ultra distance races… Read more…
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Giving the girls some excellent column inches today, Calder Valley fell runner Holly Page stars in a Daily Telegraph feature on women in fell running. The article follows sports minister Helen Grant hilarious claim suggesting women might want more ‘feminine’ sports on offer, like cheerleading! Read more…
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Via a highly interesting blog post on the Inov8 team page, Orlando Edwards gives us his views on how his brilliant Carnethy 5 race win came about last weekend. The HBTrunner has now made it 2 wins in 3 years with Saturday’s victory… Read more…
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Sports tape brand ROCKTAPE has been announced as the first sponsor to support the Skyrunner® Series UK. The ROCKTAPE team are avid athletes and already support various UK based events and athletes; notably Lakeland 100 winner Terry Conway… Read more…
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COMPRESSPORT®, leader in compression products designed for athletes, has been announced a new partner for the 2014 Skyrunner® World Series and Skyrunning World Championships Read more…
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The new inov-8 Race Ultra Vest has been named a 2014/15 ISPO AWARD GOLD WINNER by expert judges at the world’s leading international sports business trade show. In total inov-8 won 3 awards, with new innovations in footwear and apparel also impressing the ISPO judges… Read more…
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RunTramp head honcho Robbie Lawless has done the business again in his latest in-depth chat with mountain legend Marco de Gasperi. Written for the iRunFar site, the article sees the Italian in great form as he chats all things mountains… Read more…
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As the winter draws on the FRA have worked with Ian Smith to digitise the excellent Fellrunner mag back catalogue, running from 1971 to 2006. So, you’ll all be able to settle down with a nice cuppa and relive some of the greatest reports and results from fell running’s annals… Read more…
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No prizes for guessing this location. It’s been a great year for trail, fell and mountain running. MST would not even exist without our dedicated readers so thank you, and… Read more…
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The South African Skyrunning Association (SASA) has announced the launch of a national Skyrunner® Series. South Africa’s Skyrunner® Series will see runners clocking up ranking points at each skyrunning event in which they participate during the season… Read more…
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Alex Nichols has vowed to ‘run smart and run fast’ at this weekend’s elite-stacked TNF Endurance Challenge 50-mile Championships. The 28-year-old heads to San Francisco brimming with confidence following a third-place finish in the 2013 International Skyrunning Federation Sky Series… Read more…
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Within the history of fell and mountain running in the UK there are a group of champions who are in a class of their own. Their achievements are legendary, and they are members of a very select group who are held in awe by the community… Read more…
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GB mountain runner Martin Cox has had a long and successful career, spent on the mountains and hills of the world, taking part in some of the most iconic races on the planet… Read more…
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Those into world trail running will be well aware of the exploits of Kilian Jornet, and probably by now his trademark red and white shoes, the Salomon Sense. This shoe is at the heart of the current R&D goings-on of Salomon in France… Read more…
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Tim Olson is no ordinary trail runner. Apart from being a super-talented athlete, he is also very humble, extremely grateful for his opportunity in life and the talent he has, and overall a very positive guy… Read more…
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The UTMB was a significant milestone in the evolution of world trail running. The performances by Xavier Thevenard and Rory Bosio were jaw dropping from a performance point of view… Read more…
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In 2013 inov8 have made their mark on the international mountain, sky and trail running stages with some outstanding results from their team of international runners. This continued recently with some great results at Pikes Peak, Sierre-Zinal and the Matterhorn Ultraks… Read more…
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From rubber choice (on his shoes), meticulous route planning, 9 whole route recces and 100% mental focus, it’s all in here. Ian Corless catches Kilian at his insightful best, post-Matterhorn. Read more…
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In his post-Leadville blog, Nick Clark has produced a candid piece of writing craft. The Pearl Izumi runner beautifully captures the essence of the race from a front- runners’ viewpoint, and perfectly depicts the race from inside the ‘race-bubble’… Read more…
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In recent years there has been a quiet revolution building in the Lake District. Each May, the Great Lakeland 3Day™ – or GL3D™ to its friends – has been attracting more and more participants to its unique three-day format.. Read more…
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Prior to the Skyrunner World Series event in Chamonix, France, six weeks ago, Eirik Haugsnes was a relative unknown in the sport of athletic superhumans. Two outstanding performances under the shadow of Mont Blanc, however, changed all that. Read more…
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iRunFar have taken a little selection from the OR show over in the US, showcasing what trail runners can expect when it comes to footwear in 2014. There seems to be a swinging towards about 6mm as an average on heel to toe drop too… Read more…
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Tom Owens’ 2013 season has been a bit of a washout, to date. After the Salomon and Scotland international skyrunning specialist was diagnosed with ruptured peroneus longus tendon in the spring he underwent some pretty extensive surgery… Read more…
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A brand new off road ultra marathon event has sold out within weeks of launching, with entries flooding in from all over the UK, and attracting international visitors from as far afield as USA, Japan and Australia… Read more…
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Ben Abdelnoor is having a pretty good 2013. The Ambleside and inov8 runner won the classic Wasdale a few weeks back, along with the Old County Tops earlier in the year. Last weekend he realised his goal of 2013 – winning the Lakeland 50. Read more…
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Canadian adventurer Ray Zahab has already run a staggering 2,000km from his start point in Mongolia and still faces a final 300km before he reaches the planned finish line… Read more…
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At last weekend’s Arco Grand Prix mountain race (part of the World Mountain Running Association’s series) GB athlete Emma Clayton came of age on the international GP scene as she took a superb win against some of the world’s best at this Italian classic… Read more…
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Given a few days to download exactly what he achieved, Ricky Lightfoot has put in words his IAU world title winning run the weekend. Humble and relaxed as ever, the Cumbrian-based Salomon athlete explains to MST how the day panned out… Read more…
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inov-8 has launched its first mountain running apparel range, now available in the UK. The British-born brand is renowned for its production of stripped back, high-gripping footwear for committed athletes wanting to run fast on all terrains. Read more…
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Day 3 of the 2013 Kilian’s Classik week saw the Salomon International team get to grips with some future kit testing and some tech coaching from uphill master Jono Wyatt… Read more…
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Culminating with a big roster of races the 2013 Kilian’s Classik week is underway, with the Salomon international team taking some time out to run, relax and test ahead of the weekend… Read more…
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Last weekend top Cumbrian fell man and Salomon UK trail team member Ricky Lightfoot stormed around the 2013 Trail International du Colorado route on La Reunion island, smashing the course record to boot… Read more…
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21- year old Robbie Simpson has blazed a trail on the hills, fells and mountain over the last few years and this summer the young Scot is planning to take to the mountains of Europe Read more…
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Let’s hope this isn’t the thin end of the wedge as far as issues with the authorities go for fell and mountain race organisers. The 20km Glen Rosa race is renowned for it’s beauty, but tomorrow’s race will not go ahead as planned… Read more…
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External life factors have made top fell runner Steve Birkinshaw take stock this last year or so, this added to a knee injury which forced the Borrowdale man out of the OMM late last year after his big win at the 2012 Dragon’s Back Race.. Read more…
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In the world of off-road performance shoes Inov8 have blazed a trail (and fell) over the last decade, and by 2013 the UK-based business has forged a path that reaches over 60 counties… Read more…
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The author of Magic, Madness & Ultramarathon Running Andy Mouncey is reaching out to all ultra-trailers to be short-listed as possible subjects in his new book to be published in 2014, provisionally titled ‘So You Want To Run Ultras?’… Read more…
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“British-born sports manufacturing brand inov-8 celebrates its tenth anniversary in June, and it looks like there’s more than one reason to celebrate” – reports the ISF... Read more…
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I was lucky enough to spend time with all three of the people involved in this interview last weekend. Joe in the days before Transvulcania, chatting about fell running. Adam on a flight out of La Palma, talking all sorts… Read more…
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Last weekend I was privileged enough to be at the Transvulcania La Palma race. I was lucky enough to be on the inside too, behind the scenes and supporting some of the elite athletes and to soak up the amazing atmosphere that this beautiful race produces… Read more…
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Two months after conquering 350 miles of frozen wilderness in Alaska, hardcore inov-8 athlete Joe Grant is preparing to make his racing comeback – this time on much drier ground – at the 2013 SWS opener, Transvulcania… Read more…
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Robbie Lawless is over on La Palma mingling with the racers ahead of this weekend’s Transvulcania, and caught-up with Salomon contenders Kilian Jornet, Emelie Forsberg and Cameron Clayton… Read more…
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This summer top trail running brand Salomon will be out and about across the country visiting parks and parkland in many of the UK’s biggest cities, inviting runners to get trail running in their urban environments… Read more…
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We often concentrate on the sharp-end of fell, trail and ultra running here at MST. But events such as this weekend’s Fellsman only go to prove just how much goes into these events for the ‘mid packers’ point of view too… Read more…
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On Saturday 18th April at 10:10pm, the British endurance athlete and The North Face® ultrarunner Lizzy Hawker, 37, completed a 319km run from Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu, Nepal in 63 hours 8 minutes. Read more…
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Apologies to all readers of the site for the lack of updates over the last two weeks. I’ve been travelling and working in the US and France, which hasn’t made things easy, however the main reason? Hackers! Read more…
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Run247.com columnist Kirsty Reade was invited along to the TORQ Trail Team assessment day in London this weekend. The concept is a new one in team ‘sponsorship’ too, as according to Reade it’s less about the winning and more about the taking part… Read more…
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It’s a sign that a sport is growing at a rapid rate when an international governing body has to be set-up. ITRA (International Trail Running Association) here sets-out it’s thoughts and vision for the future of the sport – read on… Read more…
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Last weekend saw Salomon UK launch their 2013 team in Manchester, and also a very interesting concept in youth development on the trails and fells – as Salomon Avenir was unveiled… Read more…
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After his report a couple of weeks back on a somewhat bittersweet affair at the Moel Tryfan race, (he took a wrong turning and ended up dead last !) new-found North Wales fell runner Russel Bentley had a better time of it at Sunday’s Ras Bwlch Maesgwm fell race in Llanberis… Read more…
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As one of the most unassuming and talented fell and skyrunners in the world, Tom Owens is a likeable chap. Ian Corless (via the excellent Talk Ultra show) recently caught-up with the Glasgow-based Salomon athlete for a little look at his career so far! Read more…
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Winter returned this weekend to add a little bit of spice to the Spring edition of the Fell Runners Association Navigation Course in Kettlewell. The aim of the course is to give runners more skills and confidence to enable them to navigate safely on the fells… Read more…
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inov 8 runner Brendan Davies has targeted this weekend’s Tarawera Ultra as one of his ‘A’ races for 2013, and here Aussie Brendan gives us his thoughts and chances as he takes on this mighty race in New Zealand… Read more…
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Talented trail and skimo star Philipp Reiter recently migrated South in the hope of some winter sunshine at the Trans Gran Canaria race. But what the young German can’t have been expecting were sub zero night time temperatures… Read more…
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Scottish Hill Runners are putting another of their excellent navigation courses on at the beginning of April, following on from the the success of previous courses and “in an effort to help more runners run safely in the hills”… Read more…
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Last weekend saw South African ultra trail star Ryan Sandes win the ‘advanced’ race at the Trans Gran Canaria festive of trail running, and thus meant that the Salomon athlete has now won an ultra trail race on all seven continents… Read more…
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Kilian Jornet has today announced his trail running race programme for the coming season, which sees the Catalan legend take on such staples in his season as Transvulcania, Zegama and Grand Raid Reunion… Read more…
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In the digital space it seems that the outdoor and trail running running sphere is growing all of the time. Read more…
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iRunFar and Run Tramp writer Robbie Lawless have teamed-up to present another absolutely fascinating article on one the world’s top ultra-trailers. Anna ‘Frosty’ Frost has risen from WMRA GP star to a trail runner capable of ‘chicking’ world class men! Read more…
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Top UK off-road running magazine Trail Running continues to buck the trends of the magazine and print publishing sector by excelling and growing its readership and online following… Read more…
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British ultra-runner Jez Bragg has successfully completed New Zealand’s arduous Te Araroa Trail, entirely under human power, in just 53 days – nine days quicker than the previous record. Read more…
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In a superb interview with top US ultra-trail and mountain man Anton Krupicka, Advendure open-up Tony about FKT’s, injuries, minimalism and generally what motivates him to get up into the mountains, and just run! Read more…
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After 53 days 9 hours and 1 minute, UK ultra runner Jez Bragg has arrived in Bluff, New Zealand, to complete the amazing trail of Te Araroa, which crosses from the north to the south island and covers over 3000km… Read more…
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Okay, he is not quite brand Beckham, but Catalan Kilian Jornet would not want to be, and anyway he represents more, much more to those fans who everyday live their dreams through one of the most inspirational endurance athletes on the planet… Read more…
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Alpine Oasis have announced that Dark Peak Fell Runner Dave Taylor now offers his a guiding service for fell running novices and seasoned hill runners alike. After teaching on various FRA courses Dave has a large amount of outdoor educational experience to pass on… Read more…
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The Grough reports that the Trigger race which took place earlier in January raised a tremendous £2700 for the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team which covers the north-eastern Peak District… Read more…
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In one of the most interesting insights into the back ground of mountain and trail running we have read for a long time, Run Tramp speaks to International Skyrunning Federation co-founder Lauri van Houten about the 20-year evolution of the ISF and skyrunning as a sport… Read more…
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Runner Richard Lenden gives fascinating insight into his week on the wilderness of the Pennine Way as he took on the Spine Race. Richard told Melvyn in the Morning dropping out of the 2012 event had made him determined to come back and conquer the 268-mile race… Read more…
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Top Sheffield retail and events business Accelerate is this evening holding a footwear and bio-mechanics workshop, with free advice, Q and As and refreshments for all attendees for this free event… Read more…
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The International Skyrunning Federation has laid-out an elite ranking system to “create a basis for 2013 for the Sky, Ultra and Vertical Kilometer® distances, a first list of élite athletes… based on an analysis of the results of the most significant races in 2012”… Read more…
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The council of the World Mountain Running Association met over the last few days in Monte Carlo to explore such subjects as future World Mountain Running Championships and the WMRA Grand Prix circuit, going forward… Read more…
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A team of amateur runners from the UK has launched an ambitious challenge to complete the first ever non-stop running relay around the world.‘The World Relay’ will travel 28,000 miles across 6 continents and over 30 countries, starting and finishing in London. Read more…
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British ultra runner Jez Bragg is well onto the South Island of New Zealand as he continues on the arduous 3000+km trek of the Te Araroa trail. He has tweeted and instagramed plenty to date, but this is the first video footage dispatched from his trip… Read more…
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Western States 2012 winner Timothy Olson has been unveiled as a North Face athlete for the coming season. The 29-year old has a big future in ultra-running and will have been courted by many of the big brands over the last few months we suspect… Read more…
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Not only does the Keswick Mountain Festival nestle in one of the countries great outdoor environments and feature some great speakers from the world of outdoor and adventure sport… Read more…
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The Scottish Watershed is the line of high and mountainous ground that defines whether rainfall runs into the Atlantic or the North Sea. It weaves its way through the full length of Scotland and includes some of the country’s most remote and trackless areas… Read more…
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After 24 days and bang on schedule, Jez Bragg has arrived at Cook Strait and the bit of water between the North and South islands of New Zealand on his 3054km Te Araroa adventure Read more…
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He is one of the nicest men in trail running, he is British, and has one of those enviable positions as a runner who has the respect of the world’s mountain, trail and fell running community having performed at the highest level on all three surfaces… Read more…
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Bob Graham Round ‘queen’ Nicky Spinks has announced an alternative take on the Dragon’s Back race next July, as she and “like minded friends” undertake the ‘Dragon’s Belly’, following as closely as possible the 1992 race route… Read more…
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In an excellent interview with Spanish website, www.carreraspormontana.com , ISF president Marino Giacometti talks to about the near and long term future of skyrunning, 100 milers and the sticky subject, the Olympics! Read more…
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2012 draws to a close and it’s been a great year. MST is still gaining new followers and viewers across the world, and over the next week we’ll be putting out some more of the articles of 2012. We would not even exist without our dedicated readers so thank you, and… Read more…
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Between now and the end of 2012 we thought we would re-post some of the better MST articles from the year, some of the longer, more in-depth ones, the inspirational ones, the ones which will help motivate you to get out there and avoid that Festive slump in your running! Read more…
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British ultra runner Jez Bragg has today begun his trail running trek on the Te Araroa. A trip that will see the North Face man cross from the North to the South of New Zealand, covering over 3000kms… Read more…
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Iain Ridgway is a pretty talented mountain runner. For those of us who know him will know that his is a steely competitor, with a big engine and great technique, especially on the climbs and technical descents… Read more…
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A super new book exploring all that the Scottish trails have to offer will be celebrated with an evening at top Scots run retailer Run and Become next Tuesday (4 Dec)… Read more…
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Want to test some great kit and then tell the community all about it? Well, great British waterproof socks, hats and gloves specialists SealSkinz are seeking applications for guest bloggers to join their brand new SealSkinz Blogging Community and share their story. Read more…
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The North Face® has announced the exciting expedition plans of British ultra runner, Jez Bragg, who in December 2012 plans to run the length of New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail (1898 miles/3054km) within 50 days… Read more…
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Are you a trail runner who lacks a little in the way of navigation skills? Fear not, as adventure company NAV4 have a few places left on their Navigation Skills Training Day this Sunday up in Ambleside… Read more…
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Alpine Oasis, the alpine adventure specialists, have launched a series of women only night running courses for 2013 designed to give women the confidence to run off-road at night… Read more…
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If like us you miss ex-pat GB fell runner Andy Symonds, who now resides with his young family in southern France, Ian Corless and the Talk Ultra platform have recorded an excellent interview with the Kendal and Carnegie runner… Read more…
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An exciting new trail in Scotland has been launched this week running from Kirk Yetholm to Cape Wrath. Stretching a huge 470 miles (756.3km) the Scottish National Trail was masterminded by Cameron McNeish… Read more…
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UK fell specialist Ricky Lightfoot took on his first 100km race last weekend at the TNF 100 in Singapore and found that the humidity and local wildlife all helped make it a race to remember for the Maryport man! Read more…
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Having had a stellar year in 2011, UK mountain man Tom Owens had a difficult start to 2012. The Scots-based Salomon athlete was beset with hamstring issues meaning that his racing plans were scuppered earlier in the year… Read more…
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After reading that she was quoted as saying that last weekend’s 3 Peaks cyclo-cross was a “horrendous experience and not what I want to be doing!” in a British Cycling report, Vic Wilkinson got in touch with MST… Read more…
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You note that two late night scribes on Cavalls del Vent and the Kielder Blast have since gone missing off the site! Yes, we we are pretty annoyed too, as the server admin seems to have deleted them… Read more…
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We at Mud, Sweat and Tears take our hat’s off to James Hallett and Go Trail. Now onto issue #11 the South African-based publication has global appeal for those looking to discover the trails… Read more…
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Veteran of the first incarnation of this classic event, Helene Whitaker has found the energy to put together a fascinating blog on her experience of the 5-day race that is The Dragon’s Back Race... Read more…
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We have started to run out of superlatives when it comes to some of the stuff that Kilian Jornet achieves in the mountains. After this week’s little escapade in the Alps we, like many others, were left almost speechless… Read more…
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The last weekend in September sees the opportunity a final tweak for those experienced mountain marathoners who may be taking on the might of the OMM up in the Howgills this autumn, or for first-timers who may want to add some skills that they never had! Read more…
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A recent training camp held in Wales for young mountain runners, was aimed at nurturing talent and enabling our future in the sport a taste of high performance training techniques, sports therapy and creating a positive and professional attitude… Read more…
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Last Friday Frenchman Francois D’Haene made a dream come true. The Salomon athlete stormed to a victory at the shortened 10th anniversary UTMB, and could lay claim that the foundations of his win we laid months in advance… Read more…
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Top UK ultra man Terry Conway has bagged himself a kit deal with the Arc’teryx brand and a berth in this year’s Spanish ultra Cavalls del Vent in late September, thanks to the help of Talk Ultra host Ian Corless… Read more…
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The Manx Mountain Marathon is a challenging 31 mile race which takes in some of the greatest hills and views that the Isle of Man has to offer. In 2012 the event moves to a new date of September 29th and includes a new 2-person Relay option too… Read more…
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Ahead of the Pikes Peak Marathon and post his Grand Teton FKT (fastest known time) record, Kilian Jornet speaks to Bryon Powell about the experience and how this weekend’s race in Colorado may pan out for him… Read more…
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FRA chairman Graham Breeze via the FRA site writes that the FRA Committee has agreed in principle to make all past copies (over 100) of The Fellrunner available via the FRA website, subject to the resolution of any technical issues. Read more…
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Inspiration ultra and fell runner Nicky Spinks is set to appear at the forthcoming Big Running Weekend in the Peak District, as she joins Stuart Walker and others at the Runners Talks event on Saturday 25 August… Read more…
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Fresh from smashing his own course record at the recent Lakeland 100, Terry Conway has just been announced as special guest at the Andy Mouncey Ultrarunning Day at The Climbers Shop, Ambleside, The Lake District on August 18th… Read more…
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The North Face® has partnered with Polartec® inviting runners to a new challenge – The North Face® TracKING APP and Polartec® Contest – to win high technical garments and a trip for two people to the legendary TNF Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®... Read more…
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Though the precise nature of the venue and route details are yet to be announced, the location for the 4th Trail World Championships has been unveiled as North Wales, taking place on the weekend of the 6/7th of July… Read more…
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Joe Symonds’ fabulous 2012 season continued this weekend as he sealed a maiden British Fell Running Championship at the super-tough Arrochar Alps race in Scotland on Saturday… Read more…
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With one of the longest tapers I have heard of, Ellie Greenwood certainly was well rested before her epic run at the WS100 last weekend. It seems that along with her Comrades taper the Montrail athlete spent around 4 weeks gearing-down for the Western States… Read more…
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Ultrarunner and climber Colin Meek reached the end of his epic Scottish Watershed run on Sunday at 2.30pm at Duncansby Head – 30 days after he set off from the border with England on Peel Fell. Read more…
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Great to see Anton Krupicka running strongly and in the environment he loves – mountains and high altitude. His sojourn last week to the New Balance base gave him the opportunity to visit Longs Peak in the Colorado Rockies… Read more…
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Running Holidays Ireland is a new company catering for trail running holidays and training camps for trail runners. The venture has been set up by Don Hannon and a group of experienced trail runners with a passion for running and adventure based in beautiful Co. Wicklow… Read more…
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Graham Patten’s series of trail races across the Lake District go from strength-to-strength, and after 9 years the bulging events company are looking for an events and operations manager… Read more…
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Dark Peak Fell Runner Dave Taylor has just started a guiding service for fell running novices and seasoned hill runners alike. After teaching on FRA courses, and with a large amount of outdoor educational experience, Dave has now ventured into passing on these hill skills… Read more…
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We have (finally) got round to adding a dedicated Mud, Sweat and Tears Facebook page to our channels. Like us if you like, as there will be things on there that might not make it onto here… Read more…
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At 6pm (CET) on Tuesday (29 May) you probably need to head to the Summits of my Life website and find out exactly what the mighty Catalan has in mind for the next three years of his life! Read more…
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So, there it is. The Summits of My Life project would make many a mortal dizzy in its vastness, but for Kilian Jornet it’s what he must do next, it’s a fire that has been burning inside him since he was a lad. You get the feeling that the Catalan would succeed in pretty much whatever he turned his hand to, so should we be surprised at this? Read more…
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The Endurance Life crew went to see the Olympic Torch in Devon last week and thought, how come this relay involves shuttling the Torch about in a car!? Being ones up for a challenge or two, they developed a cunning plan for a real relay… Read more…
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Following a trip to Europe this last few weeks Anton Krupicka felt the force of European ultra trail and Skyrunning, as he witnessed two of the biggest races of the year in the space of a week… Read more…
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When a runner of Kilian Jornet’s status announces he is to set-out on one of the ‘greatest projects of my life’, you know it’ll be special. For a runner who has set new standards in trail and mountain running we wonder what a new challenge would entail… Read more…
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The FRA has recently reiterated Competitors Safety Rules and Equipment, underlining the responsibilities of fell runners when racing. Though there have been tragic events over the years, the FRA and the sport in general has a very good safety record… Read more…
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If titles were given out for a post-race blog, I think Joe Symonds would have the British sewn up by now. This excellent piece by the HBT runner lets us in to the fact that he had to pull out all of the stops last weekend. Read more…
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It must be the wine and good living that have given Andy Symonds his wings this year, as heading into this weekend’s Transvulcania he is (as far as MST is concerned anyway) once to watch… Read more…
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Looking for some adventure in 2012? Well, luckily for some the ISF has just put the 2012 Skyrunner World Series magazine (e-zine) online. With events across the continents, it highlights some of the world’s most iconic races… Read more…
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Sarah O’Neil explains the turn of events that took her to victory in the 2012 3 Peaks race. Having finished in14th in 2011, and 30 mins slower, her win is even more impressive… Read more…
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The International Snowdon Race today announced the details of a brand new sponsorship deal with Shotz Sports Nutrition. The Aussie brand is distributed in the UK by Assist with MD Steve Raven forging the deal with the race… Read more…
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The Alps are one of the most famous mountain ranges in the World and dominate central Europe with the highest Peaks towering over 12,000feet. From West to East they stretch for around 1000miles… Read more…
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As part of our build-up to that classic of classics this weekend, the Three Peaks, we look forward to Saturday by first of all looking back. This article first appeared on MST a couple of years ago, and is a race history from 1954 – 2004… Read more…
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This Saturday sees the inaugural UKA McCain Mountain Running Coaching Conference in Loughborough. The day will see coaches and attendees addressed by the likes of 2011 WMR Champion Kasie Enman… Read more…
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In 1988 Hugh Symonds won the Coledale Horseshoe race. Some 24 years later son Joe took a famous win on this classic route. To add some spice to the family theme Joe’s parents-in-law were on Grisedale Pike to watch their first fell race. Joe’s wins was in the stars! Read more…
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Gone were the really high temperatures of the previous two stages, however runners on stage 3 of the 2012 Marathon des Sables had to cope with high winds making visibility and breathing conditions at lot more difficult… Read more…
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Scott Sports in association with Plan B (organisers of the Trans Alpine Run) have announced a ‘women’s specific’ trail running weekend. The event takes place from September 21st to 23rd in Neukirchen, Austria… Read more…
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Very well written article by Iain and Sarah Ridgway via the UKC site. No stones left unturned in advice on technique, kit, clubs and so on… Read more…
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The International Skyrunning Federation today announced a new partnership with the Canadian outdoor apparel brand, Arc’teryx. Read more…
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Cracking podcast this week from the Talk Ultra boys Ian Sharman and Ian Corless. A tribute to the late Micah True and a great interview with ultra-girl Ellie Greenwood – great Easter weekend listening! Read more…
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A champion of the Raramuri / Tarahumara runners and a central character of Chris McDougall’s book Born to Run, Micah True, has been reported as missing after venturing out on a trail run in Gila, New Mexico this week… Read more…
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This one is a visual cracker. Go Trail editor James Hallet and contributors have crafted a diverse offering from across the world of trail running, with features on the Western States 100 (and that iconic buckle)… Read more…
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When you watch an athlete like Killian Jornet storm down difficult descents or inserting little sprints late in his ultra-running journeys, you see man to whom mountains are only a playground, nothing to fret about before the start, nothing to fear during the event. Read more…
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Since relocating to France in the summer of 2011 Andy Symonds has re-discovered his trail feet – following a period of frustrating injury. Last October he returned with a bang at Templiers to take a great win… Read more…
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The former Olympic track runner Andres Jones has returned to the hills (along with brother Filipe) in the last two years to great effect, and on a beautiful day in north Wales today he demonstrated his quality once again in winning the classic Ras yr Aran.. Read more…
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There is a lot going on via SA, New Zealand and Australia at the moment. Trail and ultra-trail running is gaining greater traction and athletes and events continue to excel… Read more…
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KilIan Jornet is to host a live webcast the brand new Salomon S-Lab Sense from Salomon head quarters in France next Monday (26 March)… Read more…
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Top mountain men Tom Owens and Andy Symonds, along with top German mag Trail.de and top German photoman Stephan Gripmaster Repke, will be putting on a top Trail Mountain Running Camp this summer – what a combination! Read more…
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This Saturday sees Angela Mudge, 5-time British fell champ, appearing at the Tiso Outdoor Experience in Glasgow to talk about hill and mountain races in the UK and abroad… Read more…
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Last weekend saw the initial get together for the Salomon Trail Team. In 2011 the likes of Tom Owens excelled, and 2012 sees a new line-up with some great additions to strengthen the team in the form of Emma Clayton and Joe Symonds… Read more…
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The 2012 SHAFF should be a runners feast this weekend, with the likes of Unbreakable showing on the opening night. Also appearing will be mountain running legend Angela Mudge and Scots international Jethro Lennox… Read more…
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Following an amazing winter season the newly-crowned National XC champion Gemma Steel has laid down her thoughts in this athleticos blog. The Charnwood athlete gives us an insight into what goes through the mind of a champion – and what it means to win the National at last… Read more…
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So this film states. Leaving you to think about the trail and other impending obstacles as darkness descends. Apparently the Reactive Lighting technology assesses the amount of light coming to the head lamp and produces enough light for those conditions… Read more…
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Suunto’s new flagship GPS sports instrument, the Ambit, has some pretty impressive features. With a 15 hour battery life in training mode and FusedSpeed™ technology, it promises be a serious contender in this competitive sector… Read more…
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UK trail running mag Trail Running is out this Thursday, 23 February. The off-road mag gets a preview via this 2 minute You Tube film, with a snapshot into what readers can expect… Read more…
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With our appetite for the next big thing when it comes to trail or mountain running and racing, it is easy to sometimes forget what we already have. The National Trails could be seen as one such resource which we may have overlooked, as 2500 miles of ‘ready made’ trails… Read more…
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Anton Krupicka is used to long roads. But the one which has presented itself to him in the last year is probably not one that he wishes to travel too often. This horror injury is the sort of thing that can sometimes end an athletic career… Read more…
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Salomon Trail Team UK member and multiple fell running championship winner, Rob Hope, had a difficult 2011. Here he details how it feels to be on the wrong side of injury, how his training is currently going and what he is hoping for in the year to come… Read more…
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An exciting new website has emerged tracking the lives of some of the UK brightest endurance running talent. NoSweatRunning.com has been launched as an ‘Endurance running and coaching resource‘, featuring such athletes as Charlotte Purdue, Emelia Gorecka and coach Mick Woods. Read more…
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The International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) continues to push the world of skyrunning forward in 2012. It will be a big year for the sport with the Sky Games and newly-launched Ultra Series and part of this movement forward is a brand new website, which is launched today. Read more…
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Athletics Weekly’s words not mine, describing one Kilian Jornet who adorns their front cover this week! Yes, ultra trail running makes the mainstream, if only for one week… Read more…
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At the recent AGM of the World Mountain Running Association in Monaco, there was a pledge for greater financial support for the sport of mountain running and an alignment with the ‘infrastructure‘ of the IAAF. Read more…
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In a fascinating article iRunFar writer Meghan Hicks peers into the world of Lizzy Hawker, arguably the greatest British ultra distance runner in history, and finds that behind that familiar smile lurks a steely and thoughtful character. Read more…
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After pretty much being the outstanding long distance female runner of 2011, Lizzy Hawker has been named the IAU Athlete of the Year by its global member federations, taking over 30% of the vote. Read more…
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Mayan Running Adventure is a week-long, all-inclusive, trail running adventure tour based at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The tour is aimed at runners who want to run trails and enjoy year-round, spring-like temperatures in this beautiful South American region… Read more…
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This excellent publication now has its very own app. In January 2012 Collins and Aimer Media launch the Ultimate Running Races app. This is the digital version of the World’s Ultimate Running Races, the book reviewed and praised by RunBritain, Athletics Weekly and Runner’s World. Read more…
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No one can accuse Anna Frost of not living life to the full. When not out there winning big races, the Kiwi likes nothing more than having fun with friends and family – and of course doing a bit of running. Read more…
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That is the view from a BBC News Magazine article published today. As a nation we (apparently) now run further, and in more extreme situations, than ever before. Though I’d wager that your average fell runner has been doing such things for decades! Read more…
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There’s a new fitness phenomenon sweeping the world at the moment, which combines trail and cross country running with military style obstacle courses. Think swimming across freezing cold water, squelching your way through a mud swamp, climbing over a 10 foot wall… Read more…
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We aren’t a tri site, but we do recognise along with most UK sporting sites that the Talented Brownlee Boys are a real asset and inspiration to the sporting community in this country. Of course the real link for us is that they are fell runners at heart! Read more…
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Dave Ward of Pennine Fell Runners this weekend joined that illustrious club of runners who have completed a mid-winter Bob Graham round. The stipulation of a ‘mid-winter BGR’ (considered one of the hardest due to minimal daylight hours) is… Read more…
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FRA general secretary Morgan Williams does a great job of spreading the fell running (and more specifically the Bob Graham Round) word across the Pond, with this excellent iRunFar article on the BGR and Nick Clark’s recent effort... Read more…
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The 2012 calendar for this great championship is now on the FRA site, and looks very interesting. No doubt 2011 champions Morgan Donnelly and Pippa Maddams will be rubbing their hands too, as there are some proper technical races in there. Read more…
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Sarah and Iain Ridgway have a fancy new site for their excellent Run Snowdonia business, as they continue to attract clients and put on new events in 2012… Read more…
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Indeed a strong statement, and the advent of Twitter, You Tube and Facebook will have some running for the hills. But, there is no denying that social media has revolutionised the way that information is disseminated… Read more…
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The December issue of the US magazine is online now, and is a great festive read on all things trail running Stateside. What we like about TR mag are the issues covered and in particular the style of writing… Read more…
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This could be a book, well at at least a magazine article anyway. Nick Clark’s journey to the heart of Bob Graham Round darkness would have left many a runner broken, however the experience left such a mark on him that he is talking of a return to the Lakes! Read more…
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This is a very interesting article. Not only because it raises the differences in what trail running means to the different corners of the world, but also because Anton has acknowledged a shift in his personal philosophy to what ‘running’ means to him too… Read more…
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For those of you reading this who are not deep in the fell running scene you may not be aware of Bob Graham. Equally, you may not therefore be aware of just how much his Bob Graham Round challenge means to the fraternity… Read more…
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With more winter kit, lights and ice gripping shoes on show than you could shake a hiking pole at, the December / January edition of Trail (Germany) is out… Read more…
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This is a ‘running holiday’ with a difference. All Star Running Retreats offer three days, with three of the US’ top ultra runners, in Las Vegas. Featuring Geoff Roes, Ian Sharman and Devon Crosby-Helms. That’s a pretty special recipe. Read more…
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Described as a musical diary of (Joss) Naylor’s memories the Salford-based BBC Philharmonic orchestra will perform Running in the Clouds by Maurizio Malagnini, at a world premiere in Kendal early next year… Read more…
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Rene Borg looks at the year ahead in Ireland, with plenty going on as ever. Another year, another selection of off-road races to choose from delivered by the great volunteering organisation that is the Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA). Read more…
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There is no global slowdown in ultra and trail running right now it seems. Certainly in terms of prize money anyway, as going by this article on iRunFar the 2012 Run Rabbit Run 100 miler will aim to provide a cool $100,000 in prize money! Read more…
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Go Trail by James Hallett sees another excellent edition online. The December / January has the usual great mix of imagery and inspiration, including trail running in NZ, an interview with Krissy Moehl and a journey to the roof of the world and the Himalayan 100… Read more…
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The GB & NI team for the forthcoming European Cross Country Championships on December 11 has been named. There aren’t too many surprises in there following last weekend’s trials though the junior and U23 women’s squads looking particularly strong… Read more…
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The scottishathletics hill running weekend takes place at Wanlockhead Outdoor Centre on January 7th and 8th 2012 and bookings must be made as soon as possible and no later than Saturday 12th December… Read more…
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After an eventful month or so in the Himalayas for Lizzy Hawker, Roger Henke reports that British ultra runner Lizzy Hawker has completed her personal trail goal of running from the Everest Base Camp to Kathmandu… Read more…
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But not necessarily for the competition, more for the way that Kilian Jornet has gone about his running in 2011. The young Catalan is wise beyond his years, of that there is no doubt. Read more…
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In a follow-up to their excellent book the World’s Ultimate Running Races, Jethro Lennox and Angela Mudge will be appearing at Edinburgh running store Run and Become next Weds evening to discuss the book. Read more…
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A BBC 4 documentary shown last weekend outlined an extensive campaign to ban off roading from the Peak District National Park. The documentary, which was shown as part of a series highlighting different threats to national parks across the UK… Read more…
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After their superb performances at the World Mountain Running Championships this September, Kasie Enman and Max King have been handed the USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Council mountain runners of the year… Read more…
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Portugal’s Jose Manuel Goncalves has been stripped of his bronze medal at this summer’s European Mountain Running Championships in Turkey after ‘testing positive’ for drugs… Read more…
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Whilst you enjoy a comfortable cuppa this morning, spare a thought for the courageous Lizzy Hawker. The recent news was sketchy. It wasn’t quite clear why she had abandoned her Great Himalayan Trail run. All we knew a week or so ago was that her date with the great trail was over, for now. Read more…
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Top coastal events co. Endurance Life have announced that their new ultra-trail event the UTSW will be a qualifier for the UTMB in 2013 – giving finishers 4 of the 5 points that they need to be considered for the big French event… Read more…
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After regular updates and inspiring thoughts during the early days of her GHT Sky Dance, Lizzy Hawker’s last tweet was a little more concerning when it came on Monday. Since then, nothing… Read more…
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The North Face have just released an exclusive book commemorating some of the outstanding achievements of the some of the their global mountaineering, climbing and trail running athletes. Read more…
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If you are following Lizzy Hawker’s Sky Dance across the Himalayas via her updates on Twitter, then you’ll know that the British ultra runner is progressing well in her 1000 mile trek Read more…
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In a joint venture taking place in Dortmund’s ‘Westfalenhallen’ next February, Runner’s World, shoe brand ECCO and the event company behind the Trans Alpine run, PLAN B, have teamed up to bring us the ECCO Indoor Trail Read more…
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Not content with dominating the world of women’s endurance running again this year (a fourth UTMB title and recent world 24 hour record), Lizzy Hawker is set for something altogether more solitary as she heads out onto the Himalayas… Read more…
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The weekly bible on track and field in the UK Athletics Weekly has this week published a bumper issue looking ahead to the winter of content for XC lovers. The 84-page special previews the season, and reviews the best spikes to tackle the mud… Read more…
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Kilian Jornet’s exploits over the last few years have been nothing short of phenomenal. The young Catalan stormed onto the scene winning such monuments as the UTMB in his first serious season of trail running… Read more…
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This month’s (November issue) Runner’s World magazine see a full 24-page inside supplement devoted entirely to trail running. Fronted by arguably the world’s greatest trail runner, Kilian Jornet, the pages cover technique, kit, trail events… Read more…
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Last week we profiled the original TV programme which accompanied the inaugural Dragon’s Back race. This week more news has emerged about the 2012 version, which is being re-ignited by Shane Ohly Read more…
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Plenty more content coming through from last weekend’s World Mountain Running Champs in Albania. Most notably men’s champion Max King has written a detailed account of his experience over at his Montrail blog… Read more…
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Following another epic event last month, The North Face® have announced an extended three-year partnership of Europe’s premier ultra-running event, The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® through to 2014 Read more…
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Whether you are a novice, or an OMM veteran, there is probably something for everyone at this excellent looking training camp in the heart of Snowdonia this October. Read more…
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It is pretty fair to say that when it comes to South African sportsmen and women there is an innate mental toughness that prevails through their competitive culture. Ryan Sandes is one such person. Read more…
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Not really in any substantial sense… but my daily routine has very much begun to take on its old…comfortable rhythm of wake up, tag a summit, sit at a desk trapped at a computer for a few hours (thesis…), read a book, fall asleep, do it again. It is rewarding… I’ve missed it. Read more…
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Whilst the world’s track and field media have all eyes on Daegu for the World Championships, it’s refreshing to see UK weekly mag Athletics Weekly doing a nice 4-pager on ultra trail running… Read more…
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Very low, if the the news coming out the US Outdoor Retailer show is to be taken as a benchmark. The trend towards minimal shoes continues unabated, with the likes of New Balance and Brooks showing off their Minimus and Pure ranges for 2012… Read more…
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This article on the Grough examines the rate at which we seem to get though kit these days. Most of us would probably admit to replacing kit before it’s natural lifespan is through and the average dedicated runner’s wardrobe is pretty full these days… Read more…
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Following the success of the navigation courses held in 2010 and continuing interest shown by members, SHR are organising another course for hill runners on the weekend of 15th/16th October based in Fort William… Read more…
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Micah True lives in the Batopilas Canyon of the Sierra Madre in Mexico. Over the last decade he has been instrumental in encouraging the local tribe Raramuri / Tarahumara to keep running which has always been a part of their traditional way of life… Read more…
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Tom Owens‘ rise to the top of UK fell running has been a controlled ascent. After many years of ‘knocking at the door’ the unassuming Shettleston runner has this year found his mountain wings and carried all before him… Read more…
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Go Trail ed. James Hallett once again puts his heart and soul into a great read. Online now, with some really great features on the high altitude sport of Skyrunning and what it’s all about, the Aussie beast that is The Track Outback race through the lens… Read more…
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Ahead of this weekend’s International Snowdon Race, Rene Borg catches up with one of the sport’s legends in the truest sense, a man capable in his prime of winning world mountain running titles and competing with the best on the road – John Lenihan. Read more…
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This spring Trailblaze was launched. Starting on the South Downs Way, the concept is proposed to be adopted on a hand-picked selection of the UK’s most stunning fully waymarked routes, called the National Trails… Read more…
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Fiona Glen recently got in touch with me about the MST coverage. As much as she likes the site, Fiona felt that we concentrated a lot on the front-end of the races, which is true, and that we needed a view from the back now and again… Read more…
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GB team member Nick Swinburn is confident of team success at this Sunday’s European Mountain Running Champs in Turkey, and having viewed the course he feels that he is ready to perform well on an individual level too… Read more…
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The North Face® has announced an exclusive live book signing by renowned American ultra-runner, Dean Karnazes, of his book Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss Read more…
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The excellent Go Trail mag is out now, and online to view. This South African e-zine sits alongside the excellent German Trail in the global online trail mag-scape, and we think this is the future of publishing (though maybe not for a few years yet)… Read more…
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Going largely under the radar this weekend, long distance specialist Nicky Spinks has updated a 17 year-old record today, by topping an amazing 64 Lakeland peaks in 24 Hours, followed by champagne and curry! Read more…
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The Western States 100 isn’t entirely Kilian Jornet’s cup of tea. He likes things a bit more mountainous when it comes to racing. However, the young Catalan sees can see the magnitude of the event, and how it has embossed itself on trail running history… Read more…
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Not too many surprises in the UKA selections for the forthcoming European Mountain Running Championships in Turkey on July 9th. The team is headed-up by trial category winners Steve Vernon, Victoria Wilkinson, Garry Rankin and Scout Adkin… Read more…
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Jonny Muir is an adventurer, runner, writer and proponent of UK-inspired travel. Bemused by a weatherman branding the west coast islands of Scotland “nowheresville” , Jonny decided to prove him wrong, quit his job and embarked on a journey which has sparked a new book… Read more…
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One of the best interviews with top US ultra-trail man Anton Krupicka that I have read comes courtesy of the blog Conversations with the Trail. ‘Tony’ has been injured since the Rocky Raccoon 100 in January, and so hasn’t been running much in the last months… Read more…
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After his third-place run in 2009 the UK’s Jez Bragg returns to California and the Western States 100 later this month to attempt in an attempt to be the first ever British winner of this great ultra-trail event Read more…
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This is to be confirmed, but a number of social media sources and the FRA forum are talking of a 14:59 Bob Graham Round today by Mynydd Du’s Mark Palmer. He has been in sparkling form of late winning the Brecon 40 and Helvellyn races… Read more…
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Some of the images coming out virtually live from Kilian’s attack on Mt Olympus this morning were breathtaking, this one below for instance, the rock face looks almost sheer, yet he looks at ease! Read more…
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I had a little trouble tracking this one down, but it’s worth it! Great read once again, with some super features on Epic Trails, summer shoes, hill techniques with Victoria Wilkinson, dedicated trail runners, heart rate monitors and much, much more… Read more…
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Up against some of the greatest mountain runners in the world, the UK’s Tom Owens celebrated his debut at the great Zegama-Aizkorri Maraton Alpina race in the Spanish Basque region with a superb second place… Read more…
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UKA have announced details for the first running of a UK Mountain Running Championships, taking place in Keswick, this June 12. The races for senior men, women and U20 age groups will also be the selection races for the upcoming European Champs in Turkey on July 9 and 10… Read more…
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That’s Natalie White doing the chasing, in her pyjamas. You couldn’t make this story on the front page of the Westmorland Gazette up, but it’s true, every word. So much interest has this story gathered that it has now reached the national press, and now national radio! Read more…
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When you get Jonathan Wyatt and Angela Mudge coming together to talk “motivation”, you know it’s gonna be interesting. Add to that Martin Jones and a whole host of the UK top senior and junior mountain talent and you know it’s gonna be special… Read more…
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Thinking of venturing out for some skyrunning or ultra trail action this summer? Well the mGzn2011, the official magazine / programme of the Skyrunner World Series could be just what you need… Read more…
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In this article – Part 1 of MST “25th Anniversary Celebration for Carrauntoohil” – our man with his finger on the trail and mountain running pulse in Ireland, Rene Borg, meets with one of the legends of world mountain running, John Lenihan… Read more…
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Edu Martinell is a busy guy. He runs the excellent Trail Running Soul site, and has now launched a fantastic trail running tours service in the amazing Pyrenees environment. He kicks off by explaining a but more about Traiectus Read more…
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On the 7th and 8th May 2011, the Flete Estate in South Devon will host the inaugural Endurancelife Festival! This two-day festival of endurance and adventure is essentially a mash-up of sporting challenges (including The Edge Coastal Trail Series Final)… Read more…
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Except this is 2009. After Elisa Desco’s doping ban came into effect a few months ago it was pretty clear that the results of the 2009 World MR Champs would need to be revised. The Italian team now moves down to silver and the GB team moves up to gold medal position… 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 that joy of winning… Read more…
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We’ll be winding-up to this weekend’s Three Peaks Race with previews and some nostalgic looks back through the history of this iconic race… Read more…
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Over 160 pages of features including the 40th Dinner and Dance (and those cracking P&B shirt ‘team’ shirt and tie combos!), a look at the Rossendale Fell Race from 1990, reports on the World and European champs from 2010 and a look ahead to the English and British Fell Champs in 2011… Read more…
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The Brooks Pure Project is something different. Aimed at taking the ground of the ‘new runner’ and pitched through its technologies as improving forward motion upon strike with its Ideal Heel strike, this new Brooks line is fresh, its story uncomplicated… Read more…
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The last few years has seen a boom in off-road running tours/guides/breaks. One of the best out there is Run Snowdonia driven passionately by international fell and mountain running couple Iain and Sarah Ridgway… Read more…
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The Trailblaze concept is about to be unleashed next week (22 April) via a stunning section of the South West Coast Path, with the press and media all invited to a launch… Read more…
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If your navigation isn’t up to scratch you should really think about doing this. At the very least it will save a few places and a few mins in the mist on a tricky race route, at best good mountain navigation skills could save your life one day… Read more…
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Though this story on the Grough site is about a stretch of coastal path that will benefit all visitors to the Dorset coastline, the overall plan is for England to have an expansive pathway which connects its coastal outline... Read more…
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Top ultra-mountain event the Fellsman has joined forces with outdoor brand The North Face. The Fellsman – one of the toughest endurance running events in the UK – takes place on 14th & 15th May, 2011 in the Yorkshire Dales… Read more…
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Salomon’s “An” Team of Angela Mudge and Anita Ortiz are ready to team-up to tackle the Gore-Tex TransRockies Run this August, with more momentum behind them than even this rugged course in front of them is capable of slowing. Read more…
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When a relatively young Stephen Edwards took on the organiser’s mantle of one of the biggest and most historic mountain races in the UK two years ago, the weight of expectation weighed heavy on his shoulders as he headed up the Snowdon Race... Read more…
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Definitely. As I have one. Be much easier if I was on the TR subs list (nudge, wink) but I had to wait til I got to civilisation and WH Smith before I got the evidence that the new Trail Running mag is actually out… Read more…
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Linet Masai is a classy runner. She has conquered the world on the track, and devours XC ground with her long and elegant stride. But she is yet to be crowned World Cross Country Champion. Read more…
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Apparently. That is according to one or two posts on facebook. However, the Live for the Outdoors site is a bit sparse on info, and the Trail Running mag facebook page is not saying much about a new issue… Read more…
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Some of our newer readers might not remember this bit of news from September 2009. For a short space of time it blew the world of elite and international mountain running apart – a world MR champion had tested positive! Read more…
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If this news running on the BBC site is true then it’s great news – and great testimony to power of collective protest. David Babbs’ 38 Degrees site must take some credit for this too, as the online petition generated over 500,000 signatures and the mainstream media really latched onto it… Read more…
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There wasn’t a hint of fog on the Tyne river this morning as bright sunshine heralded the launch of the 2011 Salomon Kielder Marathon, deemed ‘Britain’s most beautiful’… Read more…
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GB endurance star Steph Twell’s career was dealt a heavy blow today as she suffered a shocking ankle injury at an international XC meet on Sunday. Having just returned from some Kenyan altitude training the Aldershot athlete had been in some great form… Read more…
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The exciting news of the 2nd Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Running Championships coming to North West Wales, was reported on MST a few months back... Read more…
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Trail running kit specialists Montrail yesterday announced their race-team line up for 2011. WS100 winner Geoff Roes is once again included, along with the UK’s Ellie Greenwood... Read more…
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Top Scots waterproof innovators Gore have released details of a brand new waterproof technology, to be unveiled at ISPO in Germany next week. Named Active shell laminate the product will feature on many top brand’s products this year… Read more…
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Some early teases of next winter’s Salomon releases have made their way online, via the Salomon running UK Facebook page. The most interesting shoe to many of the readers of this site may well be the all new Fell Cross shoe… Read more…
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Top Scots retailer Run and Become is hosting an evening that is set to inspire 2011 West Highland Way competitors. Entries for this years event are now closed, unfortunately, however the evening aims to inspire those taking part, whether WHW old hands or first-timers… Read more…
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Whilst a certain Andrew Murray is making the headlines in Melbourne, another Scot, and namesake, has just made history with a fantastic feat of endurance running. Dr. Andrew Murray set out on the 8 November last year with the aim of running 2650 miles in just 85 days… Read more…
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After reading this report by Kenyan news paper The Standard you have to wonder. Was their crime of ‘academic underachievement’ due to them striving, excelling and devoting time to running for their country? Read more…
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Kilian Jornet is just one of a number of elite ultra-trail and mountain runners who seem to be a little different to the rest of us. The same can be said here in the UK of some of the great fell runners of the past… Read more…
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guardian.co.uk “asks the sporting stars the big questions”, but grabs some sound bites with the UK’s number 1 endurance athlete, Mo Farah – as he becomes the newest member of their Small Talk interviewees… Read more…
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Whilst out and about on t’internet this week I spotted this. Spanish website Whereiz helps you manage and share you plans and movements. Being Kilian Jornet you need to be on top of these things… Read more…
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Whilst crazy bargain hunters were queuing up at 4am on Boxing Day to grab a ‘deal’ many runners were using the Christmas break to get in some quality running. But we all like a deal, so with the 2011 season looming it’s a good time to get the new kit sorted… Read more…
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Interesting stuff this. American institute Somax’s Bob Pritchard implies in this video that the current crop of UK runners are “stiffer than the runners of 15-29 years ago”. He looks at the stride angle of the likes of Steve Cram and Steve Jones… Read more…
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The headline says it all really. Once again our natural heritage (and the next generation’s playground) is in line to be ‘sold off’ to the highest bidder (the Government tried in 1990). When I first read about this I thought it might be one or two forests… Read more…
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As part of the excellent looking 2011 line-up Inov8’s Bare Grip 200 should soon come – and looks the business. US online blog / store Running Warehouse also think so. See what they think here... Read more…
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Denis Wischniewski has delivered his latest trail masterpiece, with news, views, shoes and winter clothing tips (very handy at the minute!) via his excellent Trailmagazin portal… Read more…
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Only a handful of days to Christmas now, and if like me you leave it til the last minute you could do worse than heading over to top Scottish independent Run4it and have a butchers at their gift guide. And for those not sure what to buy running buddies, why not ask them to suggest something via the wish list? Read more…
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Breaking into the running market with a new brand of shoe in this day and age is a hard act to pull off. On Running aim to do just that with an innovative look and high-profile athlete advocation. They recently debuted in the UK at London’s Running Show... Read more…
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Having fully sold out last year, the IMRA Yearbook makes a return for 2010. Again this year, it features 80 pages of articles and photographs in 8×10 inch format, which capture the magic that was mountain-running in Ireland this year. Read more…
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First it was the cyclists, now it seems (if reports are substantiated) Spain’s endurance athletes are under the doping spotlight. Athletics Weekly and many other media outlets are reporting that the darling of Spanish athletics Marta Dominguez has been arrested… Read more…
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Jez Bragg entered many observers psyche after his great win at the UTMB in August. The North Face athlete was a hugely popular winner, especially in the UK, and in doing so forever elevated himself to pre-race favourite status… Read more…
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The North Face®, announced at a press conference in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria the long-term partnership of one of Europe’s leading ultra running events, TransGranCanaria, taking place in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands Spain, 5-6 March, 2011. Read more…
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The English Cross Country Association has decided on the programme of international fixtures for 2010/11.The events have been chosen to avoid most of the key Cross Country events in the UK… Read more…
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The World Mountain Running Association have announced plans for the 2011 season, and how championship racing will fit into the hectic mountain running calendar. However, their premium series known as the Grand Prix is by no means certain to go ahead… Read more…
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Walsh, the British shoe brand which has been producing quality footwear for over 40 years, is launching a new style to add to its trail running offering for Winter 2010. The brand new Spirit React is a multi-functional shoe which is ideal for use in all off road conditions… Read more…
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Stories like this one, courtesy of the Grough, always put things into perspective. So that’s over 50 miles, with a total ascent of 17,500ft ish, with the weight of a young child on your back, in 21 hours?! Read more…
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You have to hand it to iRunFar.com man Byron Powell. I thought MST was pretty in-depth when it came to pulling a shoe apart and putting it back together again, but his fresh post on the new MT101 trail shoe from New Balance takes things to another level… Read more…
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The good guys at Orbana Healthy Energy have teamed up with Mud, Sweat and Tears to provide fifty new consumers with a complimentary pre-launch sachet of their revolutionary drink. All you need to do is click here and they’ll send you a free sachet… Read more…
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When Trail Running magazine hit the news stands earlier this year, it was a welcome sight for many an off-roader seeking an accessible print mag for their sport… Read more…
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7 hour and 14 minutes – sounds like a long time to be out running, but not when placed into the context of running up Mt. Kilimanjaro and back. Seems incredible then that this is all it took Kilian Jornet to achieve the amazing feat earlier today… Read more…
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Yep, the little Catalan is on the mighty Kilimanjaro as I type at 9am UK time. His attempt on the up and down record on the highest peak in Africa started around 3 hours ago and is being amazingly tracked on Facebook… Read more…
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The news that broke earlier today is significant for Welsh environmental culture. The giant of the Glyders – Glyder Fawr – has a new status, now in the big league of mountains. However, the wider question as far as fell runners are concerned is will this affect the classic Welsh 1000m race? Read more…
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It’s time for yet another Quest for Kilian. It’s the first time he has attempted anything in Africa, and he has chosen the highest point on the African continent to do it. Kilimajaro. But this is no ordinary run. Kilian is chasing a record at altitudes of almost 6,000 metres… Read more…
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After the success of issue one, issue two of Trail Running has hit the print mag shelves – once again bagged with the October edition of Trail magazine. This time round they take a look at night-running (something we’d urge everyone to try!), a shed-load of trail shoes (18) and nutrition. Read more…
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The growing tower running scene in the UK gains further gravity in October as Shelter broaden their Vertical Rush spectrum with a run up the St John’s Beacon / Radio City tower in Liverpool on the 17th of October… Read more…
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After the recent height survey of Tryfan, the super-mountain (a mountain over the height of 1000m) quest goes on in Snowdonia. The next target is Glyder Fawr, logged as 999m on OS maps, and if the Welsh giant is over a 1000m it will become Snowdonia’s 5th. Read more…
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Following his awesome run at the UTMB last month Jez Bragg is the ultra man-of-the-moment. Of course those in the know will be conversant with Jez’s ultra prowess, after a couple of highly successful years on the road, fell and trails. This week he spills the beans with Martin Yelling and Tom Williams… Read more…
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Over the coming week or so we will be previewing one of the world’s biggest ultra trail races, the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, from a number of angles. Apart from the obvious race preview we will look to unearth some of the more individual aspects… Read more…
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Time was fell racing consisted of getting to the top and back, or around a loop of hills, faster than anyone else. Well that is still the case, I suppose, only now you can become an expert – and pass on your knowledge to others… Read more…
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Time was when some folk couldn’t get enough EVA. It now seems that the barefoot / minimalist movement is fast becoming the zeitgeist for runners, walkers and shoe brands alike. And now can you even learn how to walk again (!), thanks to shoe makers Terra Plana… Read more…
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Sock-makers Bridgedale are backing an ultra run by three runners across the Kalhari Desert. The attempt will see a South African / Norwegian team embark on the 1000km run which it appears has never been undertaken before… Read more…
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We weren’t. For most of Sunday and half of yesterday our servers were offline. So, apologies for those tuning into MST for news on a packed weekend of racing at home and abroad, we will be catching up and delivering all of the goodies over the next day or so… Read more…
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2010’s cracking forth edition of Trail magazin has hit the virtual shelves, is there no stopping Denis Wischniewski?! This has to be one of the best online pubs., period. If you want this quality publication available in English start your online petition now! Read more…
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Pudsey’s Rob Hope is still on target to lift a fourth straight British Fell Championship after a commanding win at Rd3, the Dollar Hill Race. Still leading going into the final Long race at the Black Mountains Rob will now just need to keep his nerve, and finish in a leading position, to take the title. Read more…
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inov-8’s™ impressive track record at the annual OutDoor Show Awards continues with a Gold Industry Award for new bare-grip™ 200. This is the first Gold Award for inov-8™ but their third OutDoor Show award in four years Read more…
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This is certainly a big stick giving it some in the hornets nest that is cushioning and control Vs neutrality – when it comes to running shoes. Chris McDougall digs a little deeper into the big brands psyche and gets some juicy nuggets from Gordon Valiant, Nike’s head of biomechanical research… Read more…
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We have profiled Ryan Sandes on MST before, and realised that this world-class ultra trail man is deep. Urban Ninja gets even deeper in this interview, asking the Sandman some left-field questions about his rise to the top, his running economy and coping with solitude… Read more…
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iRunFar’s Heidi Dietrich argues the long-held theory that ultra running is more mind than matter. Mental strength can win over physical strength when it comes to the long stuff. Read on Read more…
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Apologies to readers who like their daily fix of MST. As regulars will know we update on many occasions throughout the day. A few technical hitches, coupled with what seem like 24 hour days at work and house building, have resulted in very little time for this passion… Read more…
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First of all, welcome to the new Top-10 column at MST where we will be hoping to give you a bit of an insight into both the current and former elite from the Irish mountain running scene… Read more…
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Martin Yelling and Tom Williams‘s weekly podcast that is Marathon Talk is rather good. You can just log on, let it play and put the kettle on. 90 minutes or so of anything-goes chat about the world of running… Read more…
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Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Ranger Matt Neale has raised more than £7,000 for charity by running 190 miles from St Bee’s Head to Robin Hood’s Bay. The 37-year-old completed his grueling continuous coast-to-coast ultra-marathon in 61 hours and 13 minutes. Read more…
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Certainly when it comes to some footwear brands right now. I don’t think Merrell would mind us saying that inov-8 have the upper hand here, indeed ‘barefoot guru’ Chris McDougall is pretty clear and where he thinks the leading minds in this field are… Read more…
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When it comes to this daddy of ultra-trail races you need some local knowledge. So, when looking ahead to the hotly anticipated 2010 edition of this American classic it’s best left to those Stateside. Who better then than iRunFar.com: Read more…
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The 2012 SkyGames® were officially presented by ISF President Marino Giacometti on Wednesday, June 23, in Ribagorça Románica in the Spanish Pyrenees where the event will take place. Read more…
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The Welsh mountain that is Tryfan has blown away its doubters and proven to be even higher than first thought. In this Grough article it seems that there have been doubters on the giant’s authenticity in being a 3000 footer! Read more…
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Midges and the Scottish Highlands and Islands, they go hand in hand. But by all accounts 2010 is a bad year for those hoping escape to the hills and enjoy some sport. This BBC report shows just how prevalent the wee beast is this year… Read more…
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Slightly off the beaten MST track this, but interesting none the less. A report published by NPD Group shows that running footwear and apparel has fared better than most in the… Read more…
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The camera never lies. Especially when you take a look at this image of the feet of ultra-legend Anton Krupicka. After the MIWOK earlier this year the great man’s feet took a battering… Read more…
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Chris McDougall is the zeitgeist right now. His book Born to Run unearthed the amazing Tarahumara tribe and extols the virtues of running barefoot, and how it freed him from injury… Read more…
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The 35th International Snowdon Race / Ras-yr-Wyddfa organising committee are very excited to announce the presence of 2009 Commonwealth Mountain Running Champion Wilson Chemweno on the start line of this year’s race taking place on the 24th of July… Read more…
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Another incredible feat of ultra-distance running is under this remarkable 22 year-old’s belt. A total 850km in 8 days with an ascent of over 42,000m, for an amazing trans-Pyrenées adventure. No doubt there will be a Kilian’s Quest film to properly book end his run in due course… Read more…
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After encountering some difficult terrain in the first part of his run across the Pyrenees, Kilian Jornet is by all accounts making good progress as he heads east across the great range. The earlier part of the week saw the little Catalan hit some really rough terrain… Read more…
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283 Munros in 39 days, 9 hours and 6 minutes. Think about it, that’s just over 7 peaks a day. All of which are over 3,000ft. After his failed 24hr attempt of 2008 Stephen Pyke had the taste, and starting on the 25th of April set about Charlie Campbell’s record of 49 days… Read more…
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Top ultra man Jez Bragg has had a frustrating 2010 so far. After a an excellent 2009, which saw him take a superb third place at the Western States 100 in the US, a stress fracture to his heel has seriously hampered his running this year… Read more…
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Thanks to the inov-8uk Twitter page for giving us the heads-up on Stephen Pyke’s amazing Munro Round – an attempt to run all of the Scottish Munros in around 40 days, some 8 days faster than the record! Read more…
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After months of preparation Catalan wonder Kilian Jornet is off and running in his 7-day quest to cross the mighty Pyrenees from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and Cap de Creus. On his run Kilian is ably aided by a gang of helpers and pacers – it’s a huge team effort… Read more…
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40 years after his ‘world record’ run in Edinburgh Ron Hill returned to the Scottish capital last weekend to take part in the Edinburgh Marathon. He isn’t an off-roader but old Ron is such a legend that a runner of any discipline should find his story inspirational… Read more…
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Saturday 22nd saw IMRA celebrate its 30th birthday. Much younger than the FRA and BOFRA, thirty years still holds a lot of history and IMRA has decided to celebrate this with a re-running of the very first organised hill race: Fairy Chase. Read more…
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The much-anticipated new Trail Running magazine has hit the newstands. Bagged with Trail mag, the new publication is aimed at plugging the muddy gap in the trail running market that the average running mag only scrapes at… Read more…
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England Athletics has selected its men’s and women’s teams for the 7th World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge to take place at the classic Pikes Peak race in the US this August. Recent 3 Peaks winners Morgan Donnelly and Anna Lupton have been selected, along with last year’s bronze medalist at the Kaiser Marathon, Ricky Lightfoot. Read more…
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If my (very sketchy) calculations are right, Rob Hope‘s second place at Coniston over the weekend has put him in the lead of the 2010 English Fell Running Championships, after two rounds. The Pudsey and Bramley man was pleased with his run on Saturday… Read more…
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This interesting little story was sent into MST by reader and runner Stephen Edwards. Steve is just an everyday guy, who loves the sport of mountain and trail running. Steve’s tale could be written by anyone of thousands of runners who travel for hours to events every weekend – for the love of running… Read more…
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The guys at inov8 are obviously getting busy. (and no this isnt an advert, and no we are not on commission, yet!). We were sent a job opportunity for the UK company that may well interest one of our readers out there… Read more…
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Here at MST we like to keep up to date, but we aint Reuters, so time and resources limitations mean that there is only so much content that we can chuck together. Take iRunFar though. Byron Powell seems to do nothing else but run and write… Read more…
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The International Skyrunning Federation (the body that overseas Skyrunning) held its first ever referees course that will enable officials the ability to ratify such things as race and event records… Read more…
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Legendary mountain runner Kenny Stuart is to return to the place of one of his greatest mountain records on the 24th of July, as he is the guest of honour and official starter at this year’s 35th International Snowdon Race, some 25 years after his record run. Read more…
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Interesting news comes to us from our fell contacts that two of the race favourites for Saturday’s 3 Peaks are now ‘non-starters’. The biggest news comes in the form of Rob Jebb, who has pulled out of the race. Read more…
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Okay, it may be financially tough out there right now, but one great British world record holding runner is struggling to make ends meet right now. Ultra man William Sichel has taken to his blog to appeal for a major sponsor. Having recently become the oldest ever Briton to run 1000 miles at the recent Athens race, William has been all over the Scottish press and media. Read more…
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The ancient moon-like landscapes of Mount Sedom come alive as more than a thousand riders and runners flock to the biggest sports festival of the year. Read more…
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The talk on the forums is about how tough the Silent Valley race was on Saturday, with its apparent big ascents and craggy tops it wasn’t for the light-hearted. For winner Andy Symonds all of that technical stuff was “right up his street”… Read more…
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After ‘wintering’ in the UK Anna Frost is now back home in New Zealand. Kiwi Anna is looking forward to another successful year in Europe on the Grand Prix and Skyrunning circuit, with a big goal at the World Mtn Running Champs in September… Read more…
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With one of the most significant publications in off road running being announced this week, we couldn’t leave it there. MST wanted to get to the bottom of this new title and to the heart of the question: Why? Read more…
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The Q2 edition of Trail magazin has hit the virtual shelves, and yet again it’s a cracker! Denis Wischniewski has put together another work of trail running art with such features on downhill only running and compression wear! Read more…
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After many ‘trail running supplements’ from various publications in the last year or so the owners of Trail magazine have taken the plunge and announced a brand new title fully dedicated to “Trail running, Fell Running, Mountain Marathons, Adventure Racing & Orienteering” Read more…
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The 2012 SkyGames® will be hosted for the first time in Spain, home to some of the world’s top athletes in the field. The nomination went to Ribagorza Románica in the Pyrenees, an ideal location for the fourth “high altitude Olympics” situated at 2,000 metres above sea level. Read more…
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It has been a tough few months out there for mountain, xc and road runner Sarah Tunstall. With no races to her name for the whole of 20009/10 cross country campaign, and a range of injuries that have held her back, the Kendal athlete is looking forward to the summer. Read more…
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IAAF Ambassador Wilson Kipketer was in Bydgoszcz last weekend to promote next Sunday’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships (28 March). Kipketer’s positive personality lit up the dull sky above Bydgoszcz. Following on from a rainy day on Saturday… Read more…
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Fell and mountain runners are said to be some of the toughest athletes about. Are you one of these people? Do you think you have what it takes? Well, if you want to be part of a TV programme that is looking for the fittest people in Wales, read on… Read more…
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South African ultra-man Ryan Sandes took his place in Atacama Crossing history last week as he completed the 6 day brute in less than 24 hours – winning by almost 6 hours in the process. For the uninitiated the Atacama Crossing is a footrace across one of the most unforgiving desserts in the world – through the heart of Chile… Read more…
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What a day! Here I am in the bar of the Hotel Florens, Jonathan Wyatt to my left, checking his mail, Thomas Lorblanchet to my right sharing a joke. The UK team are in bed (Anna, Andy and Ricky) after a long day of product testing, seminars, photoshoots, runs and focus groups – oh and some pretty good food and lively social discussion. Read more…
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Well Mt. Ventoux anyway. We are happy guests at the 2010 Salomon Advance Week, here in Bedoin, France. Advance what? Advance Week is the time of year when Salomon athletes, product people and journalists come together for a look into the future! Read more…
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England international mountain runner Emma Clayton is a bit of an all-rounder, she excels on the road and track, however the Scunthorpe athlete shows most talent on the fells. With a coach, a running dad and a supportive family, Emma has all of the ingredients to make it to the top… Read more…
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Unlike some other national XC events, the English National attracted record numbers of competitors to last weekend’s championships in Leeds, according to a report over at England Athletics. A total of 4303 runners finished in the ten races that were staged… Read more…
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Belete powers to a convincing win at the Diekirch IAAF permit meeting, Freya Murray at the Fukuoka International XC, Ritzenhein out of world cross and new Kenyan coach Leting gets a grip with his charges… Read more…
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Inov-8 athlete and top all-rounder Jethro Lennox has had a busy start to 2010. On his Inov-8 blog he documents a mix of fell and cross country racing, and loading in the miles (100 a week at the mo’) for mountain marathons later in the summer… Read more…
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Last week’s Vertical Rush race pushed tower (or vertical) running another step closer to being a sport that engages with the consciousness of everyday and elite runners… Read more…
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It’s a real job keeping up with what’s going on across-the-Pond when it comes to trail and off-road news. Some great resources out there such as Trail Runner, Trail running Soul and Byron Powell’s excellent iRunFar.com. Read more…
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Fascinating and apt little article on ice spike from the Run to Win guys. Personally I might think twice about putting screws into my favourite trail shoe, and you can buy off-the-shelf shoes like these... Read more…
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We like to practice what we preach here at MST. The trails in the Dyfi Valley area are some of the best in the UK – fact. So I thought I would share some of what I saw out there today, as I happened to have my camera with me. For the record – 8 miles, 61 minutes. Read more…
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The floods of November 2009 in Cumbria have directly effected over 1500 households and businesses. Many businesses are still closed severely affecting local employment… Read more…
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Map My Tracks, the outdoor social network for sports and fitness enthusiasts, has launched OutFront, a multi–sport iPhone app for sports enthusiasts. OutFront provides F1-style performance runners of all discipline… Read more…
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Some important changes were made to the council membership and to races under the auspices of the World Mountain Running Association at the council’s annual meeting, which took place on the 23rd of January in Monte Carlo. Read more…
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Reigning womens World Cross Country champion Florence Kiplagat will not be on the start line in Poland for the 38th edition, on the 28th of March. Understandable really when you consider that the Kenyan has not run in anger since last year… Read more…
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Northern off-road specialist Steve Vernon is getting his sights set on landing the big prize in English cross country this winter at the National XC champs in Leeds later this month. He can expect a tough challenge as ‘the National’ is on the shopping list of many an XC racer… Read more…
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Not off-road running, but we are always attracted to inspirational running stories and thought it appropriate to point you towards this inspiring little interview by Pre’s Mustache of marathon legend Dick Beardsley… Read more…
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Olympian and Olympic commentator Steve Cram has unveiled plans for a brand new race around Kielder Water & Forest Park. The marathon doesn’t appear to have a name yet, but Athletics Weekly reports that all will be revealed in their magazine, out this Thursday… Read more…
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Some of you might remember the Irish pocket-rocket that is Moire O’Sullivan? Now residing in Vietnam, Moire is still putting here running abilities to test in the heat and hilly terrain just outside of Vietnam City. You might also remember Moire’s XT Wings review? Read more…
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That seems to be the question right now, as mainstream media, big brands and the likes of inov-8 battle it out over the question of barefoot / minimalist running, with inov-8 stating, “Slowly there is a weight of impartial scientific evidence emerging… Read more…
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This must be one of the best magazines on the world’s newstands. Except it is online. I can’t read German, but it didn’t stop me from spending 20 minutes looking at the imagery and taking in the emotion of the superb off-road running e-zine that is Trail Magazin… Read more…
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Uber-road races the Great North Run and the London Marathon are placed on investigative journalists operating table to be sliced and diced in how they operate when it comes to charity entries and donations. Read more…
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One lucky winner of this prize contest will get to travel to the South of France to run alongside the likes of Kilian, Jono, Adam Chase and Ricky Lightfoot, have a closer look at the 2010 Salomon range, and some exclusive future products, developed by the world’s best. Read more…
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You can never have enough mountain-craft, so the good people of the Scottish Hill Runners have called on clubs to come forward should they be interested in taking part in navigation and safety courses. The courses would be open top all runners, not just SHR members.. Read more…
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Montrail has signed four new elite trail runners to Team Montrail including Max King, the winner of the 2008 and 2009 XTERRA Trail Run Championships and the 2009 USATF Trail Marathon Championship. Read more…
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This is old news in a way. But the more barefoot running research comes out against heavily cushioned shoes, the more the body of evidence grows. Yes? No? All I will say on the matter is that since I have resorted to 90% of my running off-road, I have far less injuries, take from that what you will… Read more…
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The head of endurance running at UKA, Ian Stewart, doesn’t think that there is too much wrong with Mo Farah, but none the less still sees the need to send the Brit distance ace off to see the UKA specialists to make sure that he is physically sound… Read more…
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The great Ethiopian graces the Scottish capital on Saturday at the BUPA Great Edinburgh international XC. In a super little interview with Herald Scotland Kenenisa talks about his first race of 2010 and his expanding business empire back in Addis… Read more…
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The 2009 Yearbook is the first of its kind for IMRA. It features 80 pages of articles… which capture the magic that was mountain-running in Ireland in 2009. With articles from 17 contributors and featuring the amazing photographs of John Shiels, this yearbook is a limited-edition hardcover book that will grace any coffee table. Read more…
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Diego Perathoner, organizer of the 2009 European Championships in Canazei, Italian Dolomites, was killed together with three other rescuers in an avalanche on December 26. Perathoner died in a rescue attempt to find two tourists who had gone off-piste, they were also killed in the tragedy. Read more…
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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“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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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“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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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“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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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What I have found since starting this site is that so many of the top runners in the sport of mountain running are approachable and genuinely great people, and this 5 minutes with … pipe-dream has quickly taken shape due to their kind cooperation – all I can say is that it makes my job even easier! In 2009 we will bring you conversations with some of the best runners in the world of off-road running, and we kick-off at home (real ‘home’ for me!), with the unassuming Welsh Fell Running Champion for 2008, Rich Roberts. Read more…
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You would think that after 16 years of world records and gold medals it would be time to ease off a little, wind down, drop the odd speed session – not a bit of it. When it comes to working hard Haile hasn’t even got started. Read more…
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Not satisfied with his fantastic Shoe4Africa organisation Toby Tanser has just released a book on the Kenyan way-of-life that is, running. Read more…
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Following a tough time at the European Championships on Sunday, and a decade at the top of UK athletics, GB international Hayley Yelling has decided to make the hardest decision of any runner’s career and hang up her spikes. Read more…
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Yes, if the reports on the BBC Sport website are to be believed then top UK marathoner Mara Yamauchi quite fancies switching to cross country skiing. The Japan-based Briton was top-UK finisher at this year’s Olympic marathon, and has a number of great big-city-marathon runs to her name. Read more…
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As the weekend is once more upon us MST has a shufty at the happenings of the global XC merry-go-round as it gathers even more momentum. From European Athletics permit races to an announcement on IAAF permit racing at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh in January. Read more…
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In an article in the East African newspaper the Daily Nation 5-time World XC champ Paul Tergat and Athletics Kenya secretary David Okeyo are more than displeased that the lack of home quality at the Kenyan AK series races so far. Read more…
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Former world XC champion Benita Johnson has been a little off-colour in 2008. It’s easy to look at an athlete, in whichever sport, and think that they are past their best, especially when results start going south. It’s also easy to forget that world class runners are just like you and me really… Read more…
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In a story that first emerged after the Beijing games, the subject of cross-country running at the Olympics has moved one step closer to reality after the IAAF approved the idea at a meeting in Monaco last Friday. Read more…
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In a move designed to pump experience into the system, UK Athletics has announced a raft of high-profile appointments to shake-up our ailing distance running team. Spearheading the endurance efforts will be former world cross country champion Ian Stewart. Read more…
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In this Part 2 of an exclusive online interview with World Champ Jonathan Wyatt, he talks to us some more about his racing, diet, all time favourite shoe and la dolce vita! For those who missed Pt1 just recap here, and enjoy… Read more…
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As a new service (so as you dont have to leave the comfort of your seat!) the nice people at the IAAF (thanks Chris) have agreed to a direct MST link for breaking cross-country news stories from around the world. So, each week we’ll bring you the rich pickings from their site, fresh-filtered, so you get only the best beans! Read more…
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In this two-part interview the multi-world champion Kiwi took time out from his busy schedule to give us an fascinating insight into his career, training techniques, favourite product and how his inspirations are just everyday people. Read more…
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You’ve seen the photos, you’ve read the report, now listen to 7 minutes of verbal. Gracious winner Martin Cox and wonder-woman Marathon Coordinator Jayne Lloyd give us a little insight into what it takes to win the race and organise a top marathon… Read more…
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When former athletes decide to “put something back into the sport” you normally have to cover your eyes and ears – as it invariably entails them wanting to hog the limelight, again. Enter former French great and two time World Champ, Annette Sergent. Read more…
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Okay its hardly off-road racing, plus we dont advocate vigilantes here at MST, but when three teenagers snatched a bag belonging to 68-year-old Janet Lane they didn’t bargain on her giving chase. The fleet-footed grandmother, a champion athlete in her school days, hurtled after the three youths and managed to grab one by the collar. Read more…
