Tag: world masters

The 20th World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Telfes

Written by Tomo Sarf on 07/09/2021. Posted in Latest News.

The 20^th World Masters Mountain Running Championships enjoyed wonderful late summer weather and we saw some brilliant performances in the Stubai Valley, Austria. It was the second time that Telfes has hosted the Masters Championships, with the first being 2014.

A warm opening ceremony was the start to a perfectly organized event. 18 individual titles for men and women in the categories M/W 35 to W/M75 were successfully issued to the contenders.

600 athletes from 21 nations took part in the event. Germany’s contingent was the biggest with 210 runners, before Italy and Austria. These numbers were also reflected in the medal table: Germany in the lead with six individual gold medals and nine team gold medals, followed by Italy (9) and Austria (5).

The overall best performance was delivered by the winner of M40, Thomas Roach (GBR), who finished in the incredible time of 58:05,5 !

The female winner with the best result was Simone Raatz (GER) from the category W45. Her score was 44:29,7. Web small IMG 1934 IRL BLACKBURN Patricia W55 2022 organizer

All female categories had to do a distance of 7,4 km, with a difference in altitude of 775m. The same applied for the male categories of 55 years and up. The winner here was from Italy: Franco Torresani became world champion the day’s best score of 41:25,2.

The male categories M35 to M50 had to run the long distance of 11,5 km and a difference in altitude of 1157m.

The finishing line for all runners was the Kreuzjoch (2130m).

The medal award ceremony of this enormous event took place in large festival tent with 600 athletes and spectators. All medalists got their well-deserved applause. In the end, Andi Stern – the chief organizer – handed over the flag of the WMRA to Patricia and Thomas Blackburn, chief organizers of the WMMRC 2022 in Clonmel County Tipperary, Eire.

Web small IMG 1967 WCh2022 organizers team

The athletes there will have to face a challenging course with a profile of 10km, ascending 593 m and descending 308m in marvellous countryside scenery.

www.wmmrch2022.ie

Date: 2nd to 4th September 2022

Results. www.schlickeralmlauf.com

I Want My Kids To Remember That I Take My Work Seriously

Written by Tomo Sarf on 27/08/2021. Posted in Latest News.

Our latest athlete article is the latest in a series from Fujio Miyachi. Here he talks about his experience at Masters level mountain running (ahead of our forthcoming Masters World Championships in Telfes on 3 – 5 September) and what it means to him to represent his country in the sport.

I have been participating in the Masters World Championships since 2018. In athletics, Masters is open to those 35 years old or older (the age to participate in Masters varies depending on the sport. For example, in swimming, Masters is open to those 25 years old or older). In 2018, the race was held in Slovenia, and in 2019 in Italy. My first Masters World Championships race was “Tek na Ratitovec” in Slovenia, where I have competed in the World Cup several times. Because I knew the race course, I thought that it was a good race for my first challenge at Masters level. It was a tough course with 1200m of climbing in 10km. Even though it was a Masters race, there were many talented runners. I finished 66th overall and 14th in my age group. I would take this disappointment into the next year. That race, held in Gagliano del Capo in southern Italy, was a fairly runnable course of 11km ± 500m. The course was a roller coaster of climbs and descents, except for one steep gradient. Supported by the cheering of the gallery, I finished 12th overall and 7th in the age group, a big improvement from the previous year.

This year’s Masters World Championships, which was originally planned in 2020, is an uphill race, just like the 2018 race in Slovenia. Patience will be the key to win this race. Last year I was unable to participate in any races, including the World Cup (the series was not held). So, If I am able to travel safely this time, I would like to put my heart and soul into the race for the next two years. I was hoping to bring my family and show my little ones how I run, but that’s not going to happen. So, if I could run the race, I would aim to win a medal this time in order show it to them.

Recently, I’ve been thinking that as I get older, I tend to run more intelligently, focusing on persistence and how to run efficiently without wasting time, rather than relying on instantaneous power. I think this is due in large part to physical and mental changes. Instead of losing youth and vigor, I may gain experience and cunning. I don’t expect this to be an easy race at all, but if I’m right, many of the runners who will challenge for the Masters will probably excel in a vertical race like this time. They will all use their experience to do their best. It’s going to be another tough race.

I have two kids, a three-year-old son and an eight-month-old daughter. They are still small. My son understands that I am running in the mountains but he probably does not understand that I am representing Japan at World Championship. I want my kids to play hard, find what they like, no matter what it is. That’s why I want them to remember that I take my work seriously.

As I entered my thirties, I started to get injured more and more. In my twenties, I could run hard and got some good results with my youth and vigor. Now, my injuries healed slower and slower, and my fear of injury made me run timidly. So, I am unable to descend with courage. It is very hard now for me when I am not able to run for a long time due to injury. So, I decided to go back to basic training in order to avoid injury and still run fast. Firstly , I try to create a body that will not break down rather than just doing races and hoping it will be ok. Then I also keep take it easy and relax. I also try to do my best in the current environment without being bound by quotas such as distance. COVID-19 made it difficult for me to travel. In Japan, I am required to quarantine myself at home for two weeks when I return to Japan, which naturally reduces my chances to race. That’s why I’m going to channel all my feelings from all the races this year into this Masters. This is a big challenge for me at the age of 42.

I want to stick with mountain running. I know there are a lot of people who ask why I’m going all the way from Japan to participate in a race in Europe or the United States, or tell me that I’m old enough to retire from this sport. I’ve also been criticized on social media for representing Japan, even though there are higher ranked Japanese runners than me. My running activities are minor in Japan, even among trail running community. I can understand why some people would question my decision to represent the country at the Mountain Running World Championships, as the reality of the world is not well known. I had a hard time participating in the World Mountain Running Championships, partly because there were no standardized records or other criteria to determine who to send, but also because there were no pioneers. Then, I contacted the Japan Association of Athletics Federation, which was the focal point for the dispatch of athletes at that time, and finally obtained the right to participate as a representative.

Now, I have changed my focus to Masters (and of course I will return to the World Cup when I have the chance), but for me, participating in the World Championships itself is important. I believe that the meaning of life changes dramatically depending on whether or not I am desperate for something, whether or not I am willing to hang on, and whether or not I am willing to give up what is important to me. Traveling is always troublesome, and the weather can be rough when running in the mountains. The race is tough, the language is difficult, and there are times when it is hard to understand. But I think it’s great to be able to overcome those difficulties and be desperate in a race, and I’m happy to have something to be passionate about at any age.

I may be overreacting, but as a pioneer of mountain running in Japan, it is my mission to spread this message to many runners in Japan, and if there are people (especially children!), who can relate to this from my life, I will be extremely happy.

As I get older, my role will change from being a front-line runner in the world race. No matter what my position is, I want to run as hard as I can on the stage, enjoy running as much as I do, and continue to be an example to the children and younger generation. The next article will be the last. Please bear with me a little longer.

FUJIO

Announcement About 2023 World Masters Mountain Running Championship

Written by Tomo Sarf on 19/08/2021. Posted in Latest News.

The 20th World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Telfes is fast approaching (3rd to 5th September) and today we’re very happy to announce the venue for the 2023 World Masters. Read on to find out!

The 2023 World Masters Mountain Running Championships will take place on the island of Madeira! As most runners will already know, it’s an incredible destination for mountain running, which we look forward to experiencing. Here’s a statement from the race director, Nélio Parreira:

“We are very happy to receive this event on our island, where other international Mountain Running events have already taken place, and this time in the municipality of Calheta, on the southwestern shore of the island, known for it’s great weather, and nature. And we can’t wait to welcome athletes from the four corners of the earth to participate in this event, that we hope will be an all-round success.

“On the uphill race the athletes will be challenged over a course that comprises many types of paths, going from dirt roads, to single tracks along the forest (that provide shade for the athletes), with short passes by meadows, and even a pass by one, of the world famous madeiran levadas (small water channels, famous for its hikes), and will finish in the scenic Location of Fonte do Bispo, with its picturesque altitude forest and quietness.

“And in the long distance race, athletes will run trough the locations of Ponta do Pargo and Fajã da Ovelha, having changing views at each corner, and also different types of terrain all along the course, with it’s also different levels of technical terrains.”

We look forward to bringing you more details in the coming months. Find out about this year’s World Masters Mountain Running Championships here (and information regarding Covid-19 if you are travelling there).

World Masters Mountain Running Championships to be held in the Stubai Valley

Written by Tomo Sarf on 19/07/2021. Posted in Latest News.

The mountain running world championship for participants aged 35 and over will take place – a year later than planned – as part of the Schlickeralmlauf in the village of Telfes in the Stubai Valley.

The first major sporting event of summer 2021 in Stubai, the 4^th STUBAI ULTRATRAIL, ran smoothly, boosting the confidence of the organising team that the 20^th World Masters Mountain Running Championships can also be held as planned at Telfes in the Stubai Valley. Any athlete over the age of 35 can take part in the championship, which takes place between 3 and 5 September 2021. For the younger age groups, the Schlickeralmlauf will be held as an open race on 4 September. To build the atmosphere, the now traditional children’s races, the charity race and the Telfer Wiesen Run will take place in the Stubai Valley on the preceding day.

Over the first weekend of September 2021, all eyes of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) will again be on Telfes in the Stubai Valley. Once again, the sunniest village in the valley is the venue for a major mountain running event. Now for the second time, the 20^th World Masters Mountain Running Championship will take place using the course of the Schlickeralmlauf, as it did in 2014.

Established trust and proven safety

‘Our many years of successful cooperation with the World Mountain Running Association have paid off with the organisation of the 20^th World Masters Mountain Running Championships. When we had to cancel the championships last year, the WMRA stood by us. The award to hold the event was reserved for us. It did not go elsewhere, but was simply pushed back by a year,’ says Andreas Stern, head of the organising committee.

‘As things currently stand, the event will be able to go ahead provided that we abide by the Austrian ‘3G’ rules for Covid safety (tested, vaccinated or recovered). The safety policy has proven itself a success, as we were able to demonstrate with the first major running event of the year, the 4^th STUBAI ULTRATRAIL. We nevertheless ask all participants to familiarise themselves carefully with the regulations from their various countries and to exercise appropriate caution. Then nothing should stand in the way of another weekend of running sport,’ adds Adrian Siller, chairman of the Stubai Tirol Tourism Association.

Two starts, one finish line

The 20^th World Masters Mountain Running Championships on 4 September 2021 will start from two locations. The finish line, at 2,136 metres above sea level at the Kreuzjoch mountain station at the Schlick 2000 Hiking Centre, is the same for everybody. Women and men will be judged across nine age groups each. All women’s groups and the men over 55 will start from the Middle Station of the Kreuzjochbahn and will face a course of 7.4 kilometres involving a climb of 775 metres. Participants in the age groups M35 up to and including M50 will start from the village square in Telfes. Their course is 11.5 km in length and climbs by 1,157 metres to the finish.

The 20^th World Masters Mountain Running Championships are open to all keen mountain runners aged 35 or over. The upper age limit is 79 years.

Aside from the world championships, of course, there will also be the opportunity to take part in an open competition on the Schlickeralmlauf once again. As usual, this starts from the village square in Telfes. It has a course of 11.5 km with a climb of 1,157 metres.

Supporting programme

In addition to the race on Saturday, runners and spectators will be offered an attractive supporting programme.

The children’s races that have now become a tradition, and the charity race in which participants can earn a donation per lap for social purposes, will be held on Friday 3 September. Meanwhile the Telfer Wiesen Run invites all running enthusiasts to take part in a flat 8-km circuit, before the official opening ceremony for the World Championship takes place in the evening, followed by Tyrolean hospitality in the community hall and in the Music Pavilion in Telfes.

There also the winners will be chosen after the races on the Saturday, after which the World Masters Mountain Running Championship will reach its finale with live music.

On Sunday, visitors and participants will again have the chance to try one of the highlights of Stubai, such as the WildeWasserWeg, the Summer Toboggan Run at Mieders or perhaps to visit the Top of Tyrol summit platform on the Stubai Glacier.

Registrations, still at a reduced rate until 31 July 2021, and further information are available at: www.schlickeralmlauf.com

Any changes to the programme as a result of the Covid situation will also be communicated via the home page.

Masters Mountain Running Competitions

Written by Tomo Sarf on 07/07/2021. Posted in Latest News.

In our next athlete article Kasie Enman gives us the lowdown on Masters mountain running championships, and how they can inspire runners in various age groups.

While the spotlight often shines brightest on the top podium at championship mountain and trail events, there are quite a few additional opportunities for competitions within the competition. Masters championships, age group prize categories, and friendly rivalries with those in a similar stage of life as yourself can be fun and motivating. I am just starting to learn what masters age group competition is all about, and thought I would share some of what I found. Please add your own recommendations in the comments!

Simon Gutierrez, comparing the experience between competing in the open and masters Mountain Running World Championships: “I was fortunate to be able to attend both Championships and was always in awe with the comradeship, encouragement and will of the athletes. Age is not a limiting factor, as far as being able to enjoy the sport of Mountain running.”

A “Masters” athlete is defined as 35+ years at the World Mountain Championship, or 40+ years at some regional competitions, including my home country, the US. Categories are often split into 5 year increments so your 45th, 50th, 55th and so on, so a birthday becomes a reason to celebrate gaining a new advantage as the youngest in your age group! My experience so far has been that masters competition is very welcoming while still providing a high level of competition. The biggest limitations may be a lack of funding for races requiring international travel and an overall shortage of mountain and trail races that make a point to recognize the upper age groups.

Dave Dunham: “I love that the championships are run in five year age groups. It is so much fun to compete head to head with my peers. Although we’ve all grown older the competitive fires still burn fiercely. We may not be as fast as our halcyon days but still enjoy getting out there and testing our limits.”

Masters Competition Resources

World Masters Mountain Running Championships

This annual event features different start times for each 5 year age category, making for some exciting head to head competition. This event also features team competitions, with the top 3 for each nation scoring points – a motivating element and chance to represent your country.

Next Up: 3-5 September 2021 in Telfes in the Stubaital

USATF Mountain, Ultra, Trail (MUT) National Championships

Awards top 3 in 5 year age groups for 40 and beyond. Multiple race opportunities across multiple disciplines throughout the year. The masters competitions are usually held in combination with the open competition, with everyone wearing their age on a back bib number so you know who to target.

European Masters Athletics

Oversees the biannual European Masters Mountain Running Championship; the European Master Mountain Running, Trail Running, Nordic Walking (EMMTRC) Championship; and the European Masters Off Road Championships.

World Masters Athletics

Comprehensive site for global masters competition.

Photos credit Dave Dunham from the 2014 World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Telfes.

Announcement from World Masters Mountain Running Championships

Written by Tomo Sarf on 21/06/2021. Posted in Latest News.

We’re pleased to say that we’ve received confirmation that the 2021 World Masters Mountain Running Championships is on. The event will take place, as planned, from 3rd to 5th September, at International Schlickeralmlauf in Telfes in the Stubai Valley.

Here’s a statement from the organiser:

“At the moment we have a good situation in Austria/Tirol and we are happy to finally plan the event.

We can inform the runners that nothing stands in the way of hosting the Masters World Championships. Testing or vaccination will certainly be necessary, and the possibility of testing will be offered in Telfes. Registration is risk-free for the athletes. Should the event have to be cancelled for whatever reason, the entry fee will be returned in full. We are very pleased to be able to present Telfes in the Stubai Valley again at the centre of mountain running events.”

For more information: https://www.stubai.at/en/schlickeralmlauf/

Highlights From the 2019 Mountain Running Season

Written by Tomo Sarf on 10/12/2019. Posted in Latest News.

As 2019 draws to a close we wanted to reminisce about some of the amazing racing we’ve seen in the mountain running season. From a sensational World Cup series, to the 40^th Smarna Gora race, to the World Championships in Argentina, what a year it’s been.

It was a difficult job narrowing them down but we’ve collected together the highlights of the year from the WMRA Council.

Sergio Mayayo goes for this year’s historic race at Sierre Zinal in August.

Two long-standing records fell in one of the most exciting races of the year. While Maude Mathys absolutely dominated the women’s race and smashed the record by an incredible five minutes, Jornet had to fight to keep ahead of Mamu and, in a nail-biting finale, broke Jonathan Wyatt’s record by just 20 seconds.

For Sarah Rowell her highlight of the year was the European Mountain Running Championships in Zermatt in July. With a finish line featuring the iconic Matterhorn in the background and some fantastic individual and team performances, races don’t come much better than this one.

Tomo Sarf picked out a couple of particular highlights. Firstly, the World Championships in Argentina. This was the first time the championships took place in South America and even the first time a Spanish speaking country hosted a major WMRA event. This was a historic moment for World Mountain Running.

Secondly Tomo picked a race close to his heart – the Smarna Gora Race. This year marked its 40^th edition and this was the race that led Tomo to become heavily involved in mountain running, initially as part of the Slovenian Mountain Running Association and then as its president from 1992 – 2017. It also led him to sit on the Slovenian Athletic Federation Council and, of course, the WMRA. A new team will take on the organisation of the Smarna Gora Race from 2020.

For Nancy Hobbs the highlights of 2019 have been more general. She’s really enjoyed seeing the growth of the sport and participation from youth to masters level. She’s also proud to have witnessed the opportunities for athletes of all nations to compete at events at the world level.

Lastly, Jonathan Wyatt found it impossible to pick a single highlight so we allowed him a few! Here’s what he said: “Others have already given some good highlights and I agree with them all. It is always exciting to see the U18 runners race so hard and make friends with all the other teams, with most running for their country for the first time. We walked together on the Sunday morning to attend the memorial service on top of the mountain, remembering the fallen youth fighting in the war. That was a poignant and special ceremony for all the young athletes.

“I enjoyed seeing the opening ceremony in Argentina with the combined Long and Short race teams all marching together and seeing the hundreds of athletes ready to race – very impressive. Bringing the event to South America was tremendous for the visibility of Mountain Running in the region and being able to network there and keep these contacts is a great opportunity for us.

“The Masters was amazing with the huge number of participants we had in a place that doesn’t even have big mountains! but was still a testing mountainous trail.

“I would like to add the World Cup coming together with 7 mountain races that were really all of a high level and coming to America with the Cup and they were all races that are iconic in one way or another showing the diversity and beauty of mountain running.”

WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION