We’re packing a lot of races into this week’s set, with highlights coming from the Skyrunning World Series Limone Skyrace in Italy and a preview of next weekend’s Otter Trail Run in South Africa, the latter the finale of the Golden Trail Series. It’s Monday, let’s hip hop to it.
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Limone Extreme Skyrace – Limone sul Garda, Italy
That’s a wrap on this year’s Skyrunner World Series. The 29k Limone Extreme Skyrace marked the year’s end for what was an 18-event series from April to October across 12 countries.
Women
Tove Alexandersson (Sweden) repeated as women’s champ. Her 3:31 finish was just 25 seconds back of last year’s time. Second-place Ragna Debats (Netherlands) finished in a distant 3:40, and third-place Sheila Avilés (Spain) followed in 3:45.
Other notable finishers:
- Michelle Maier (Germany) – 4th, 3:48
- Holly Page (U.K.) – 7th, 3:59
- Stephanie Jimenez (Italy) – 8th, 4:01
- Kathrin Götz (Switzerland) – 15th, 4:26
Page won the Sky Classic category of races, for which Limone was the final race, and Debats won the Sky Overall title across all divisions.
Tove Alexandersson, 2018 Limone Extreme Skyrace champion. Photo: Skyrunner World Series
Men
Up front it was Davide Magnini (Italy) breaking the course record in 2:59. The 21 year old was almost eight minutes better than the previous course record. Rémi Bonnet (Switzerland) was second in 3:04 and Oriol Cardona (Spain) was third in 3:06.
What’s this, Kilian Jornet (Spain) was beaten? I overstate that question somewhat, but other than UTMB, which Jornet didn’t finish, he’s otherwise gone unbeaten in every single race he’d entered this year. That streak stopped here though and afterward on social media Jornet alluded to a recent injury that had kept him from running. He finished sixth in 3:10.
The field was competitive, and here are some other notable finishers:
- Petter Engdahl (Sweden) – 4th, 3:06
- Stian Angermund-Vik (Norway) – 5th, 3:09
- Marco De Gasperi (Italy) – 7th, 3:11
- Finlay Wild (U.K.) – 9th, 3:13
- Pascal Egli (Switzerland) – 10th, 3:15
- Jan Margarit (Spain) – 13th, 3:18
- Zaid Ait Malek (Morocco) – 15th, 3:19
Egli gained the Sky Classic division crown, and Jornet won the Sky Overall title.
Davide Magnini on his way to running the Limone Extreme Skyrace. Photo: Skyrunner World Series
Other Races and Runs
Moab 200 Mile
Already 238 miles, early season snow forced an in-race course reroute at the Moab 200 Mile in Utah, and about 1.7 miles were added to the haul. It’s still going on, but at the time of this writing Jessica Pekari is the women’s frontrunner, having run 200 miles and recently taken over the lead from longtime leader Sofi Cantillo (Argentina), who now five miles in arrears. All-race leader Piotr Hercog (Poland) captured the men’s win on Sunday evening, finishing in 60 hours and 14 minutes. Tracking.
Cave Creek Thriller
Aravaipa Running’s Cave Creek Thriller races happened just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. Both Michelle Hawk and Catlow Shipek set new 50k course records at 5:08 and 3:57. Full results.
Le Grizz 50 Mile
Montana’s Le Grizz 50 Mile dates to 1982. There’s the chance to be chased by a grizzly, and the promise of a start and finish at an iconic, remote mercantile. Mary Satterthwaite and Matt Zuchetto won this year’s race in 7:08 and 6:17, respectively. The men’s race was separated by just three minutes. Second-place Branden Joy finished in 6:20. Full results.
New River Trail Races 50k
Virginia’s New River Trail Races 50k is flat and entirely along its namesake river and inside a state park of the same name. Sonya Kiziah and Christopher Moore won this year’s 50k race in 4:32 and 3:49. Full results.
High Bridge Ultra
Virginia is for lovers, and 50k races too. The High Bridge Ultra is on an old railroad bed and was won by Heather Berthelson and Nicholas DiPirro in 4:58 and 3:36. DiPirro’s run was a new course record for the three-year-old race. Full results.
No Business 100 Mile
Starting and stopping in an abandoned coal-mining town, Kentucky’s No Business 100 Mile happens over a single loop through the best of the Big South Fork National Recreation Area. It crosses into Tennessee too, and is named for one of the trails that the race takes in. Amy Macintire and Jonathan Faryiad won the race. Macintire ran 25:52, but Faryiad’s time was not yet clear. Full results (when available).
Amy Macintire, 2018 No Business 100 Mile champion. Photo: No Business 100 Mile
Water Gap 50k
Red Newt Racing’s Water Gap 50k is along the northern part of the Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania. In the women’s race, Amelia Kaufman edged Kehr Davis, 4:15 to 4:17, and men’s winner Michael Heimes finished in 3:22. Full results.
Runner’s Flat 50k
This one was in Iowa. The Runner’s Flat 50k went to Sara Mahoney and Phil Young in 4:27 and 3:35. It was Young’s second-straight win here. Full results.
Gnarly Bear Endurance Run
Lets keep the 50k roundup going. The Gnarly Bear Endurance Run is in Idaho and was led by Melissa Moore in 5:28. She too was less than two minutes ahead of second-place Erika Fox. Gary Messina won the men’s race in 4:11, a new course record. Full results.
Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra
There was both a 50k and 50-mile race at North Carolina’s Pilot Mountain to Hanging Rock Ultra. In the 50k, Anna Evans and Joshua Satterfield prevailed in 5:14 and 4:05. In the 50-mile contest, it was Chelsea Factor and Rob Arend in 8:25 and 6:40. Full results.
Oregon Coast 50k
Rainshadow Running puts on some of the country’s most scenic races and they were on the Oregon Coast for the second weekend in a row. The appropriately named Oregon Coast 50k was won by Callie Cooper Uhan and Keith Laverty in 4:57 and 3:54. Full results.
Corner Canyon Ultra 50k
One more, why not. Utah’s Corner Canyon Ultra 50k saw both Bethany Lewis and Blaine Benitez set new course records in 5:44 and 4:40. Full results.
Phil McCarthy’s Transcon
Phil McCarthy ran across the U.S., going truly coast to coast for a New York finish in 49 days. It is the third-fastest run ever.
Next Weekend – Otter Trail Run – Nature’s Valley, South Africa
After five races, the first-year Golden Trail Series concludes at South Africa’s Otter Trail Run. This year’s 42k run goes east to west on the coastal route through Tsitsikamma National Park. Those who’ve finished top 10 in the series are awarded a trip to compete in the series final. While there appears to be no other international competition aside from series competitors, a passel of locals, including last year’s full women’s and men’s podiums, look to challenge the international visitors.
Women
- Sheila Avilés (Spain) – 3rd 2018 Limone Skyrace
- Fanny Borgström (Sweden) – 6th 2018 Ring of Steall Skyrace
- Ruth Croft (New Zealand) – 1st 2018 Mont Blanc Marathon
- Eli Gordón (Spain) – 1st 2017 and 2nd 2018 OCC
- Megan Kimmel (USA) – 1st 2018 Pikes Peak Marathon
- Céline Lafaye (France) – 5th 2018 Pikes Peak Marathon, 8th 2018 Ring of Steall Skyrace
- Meg Mackenzie (South Africa) – 1st 2017 Otter Trail
- Toni McCann (South Africa) – 1st 2018 Rhino Peak Challenge
- Ida Nilsson (Sweden) – 1st 2018 Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon
- Robyn Owen (South Africa) – 2nd 2018 Trofeo Kima, 1st 2016 and 2nd 2017 Otter Trail
- Holly Page (U.K.) – 7th 2018 Limone Skyrace
- Silvia Rampazzo (Italy) – 6th 2018 Mont Blanc Marathon
- Carla van Huyssteen (South Africa) – 3rd 2017 Otter Trail Run
Spain’s Laura Orgué was supposed to race, but isn’t due to a cycling injury.
Men
- Stian Angermund-Vik (Norway) – 2nd 2018 Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon
- Thibaut Baronian (France) – 4th 2018 Mont Blanc Marathon
- Aritz Egea (Spain) – 5th 2018 Mont Blanc Marathon
- Sage Canaday (USA) – 6th 2018 Pikes Peak Marathon
- Oriol Cardona (Spain) – 3rd 2018 Limone Skyrace
- Christiaan Greyling (South Africa) – 1st 2017 Otter Trail
- Kilian Jornet (Spain) – 6th 2018 Limone Skyrace
- Marc Lauenstein (Switzerland) – 1st 2015 and 2016 Otter Trail
- Thabang Madiba (South Africa) – 2nd 2014 Otter Trail
- Bartłomiej Przedwojewski (Poland) – 3rd 2018 Zegama-Aizkorri Marathon
- Kane Reilly (South Africa) – 2nd 2016 and 2017 Otter Trail
- Robert Rorich (South Africa) – 3rd 2017 Otter Trail
- Rory Scheffer (South Africa) – 2nd 2017 Ultra-Trail Capetown 65k
- Alexis Sévennec (France) – 4th 2018 Ring of Steall Skyrace
- Johardt van Heerden (South Africa) – 1:08 half marathon, two-time South African Skyrunning champion
- Stephan Wenk (Switzerland) – 6th 2018 Mont Blanc Marathon
Next Weekend – Les Templiers – Millau, France
France’s historic Les Templiers 76k (47 miles) puts in 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) of elevation gain. It seems this race is less internationally competitive than the last five years or so, with the bulk of the competition coming from in country.
Women
- Juliette Benedicto (France) – 2nd 2014 Les Templiers
- Amandine Ferrato (France) -2nd 2017 Trail World Championships
- Azara García (Spain) – 2nd 2016 Trail World Championships
- Lucie Jamsin (France) -7th 2017 Les Templiers
- Sandra Martin (France) – 9th 2017 Les Templiers
- Claire Mougel (France) – 8th 2017 Les Templiers
- Adeline Roche (France) – 1st 2017 Trail World Championships
- Anne-Lise Rousset (France) – 2nd 2016 Transvulcania
Men
- Henri Ansio (Finland) – 5th 2017 Les Templiers
- Fabrice Couchoud (France) – 9th 2017 Les Templiers
- Sylvain Court (France) -1st 2015 Trail World Championships
- Fritjof Fagerlund (Sweden) – 1st 2018 Ultravasan 90k
- Tom Erik Halvorsen (Norway) – 14th 2018 Trail World Championships
- Joacim Lantz (Sweden) – 4th 2018 Ultravasan 90k
- Johan Lantz (Sweden) – 11th 2017 Les Templiers
- Romain Maillard (France) – 7th 2017 Les Templiers
- Nico Martin (France) – 2nd 2017 Les Templiers
- Nicolas Miquel (France) – 6th 2017 Les Templiers
- Ludovic Pommeret (France) -2nd 2018 High Trail Vanoise
- Sebastien Spehler (France) – 1st 2017 Les Templiers
- Andy Symonds (U.K.) – 3rd 2018 Tromsø Skyrace
Call for Comments
Hey, hey, hey, it’s comments time! Leave a comment with results from a race not covered in this article or to give us your first-hand report from a race we did cover. Thank you.
