World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge
Encyclopedia
The World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge is an annual international mountain running competition organised by the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA).
The race is a one-day long-distance running contest for both sexes which has individual and national team aspects. The host for the event changes on an annual basis, with the minimum requirements for the challenge being that the course is no longer than 45 kilometres (28 mi) in distance, includes an uphill ascent of at least 1.6;nbsp;km (1 mile), and has a rough duration of between one hour and forty-five minutes and four hours for the elite men. The challenge does not take place on specially-made courses, but rather it is incorporated into pre-existing, traditional races.
The competition was first held in 2004 on a course from Sierre
to Zinal
. Since its inception, the challenge has been hosted at competitions including the Three Peaks Race
in the United Kingdom, Switzerland's Jungfrau Marathon
, and the Pikes Peak Marathon
in the United States. The event has significant variance in its level of participation: the 2007 race at the Jungfrau Marathon attracted over 4200 runners of fifty nationalities, while at the 2011 of the competition there were 405 runners representing a total of 18 countries.
The race is a one-day long-distance running contest for both sexes which has individual and national team aspects. The host for the event changes on an annual basis, with the minimum requirements for the challenge being that the course is no longer than 45 kilometres (28 mi) in distance, includes an uphill ascent of at least 1.6;nbsp;km (1 mile), and has a rough duration of between one hour and forty-five minutes and four hours for the elite men. The challenge does not take place on specially-made courses, but rather it is incorporated into pre-existing, traditional races.
The competition was first held in 2004 on a course from Sierre
Sierre
Sierre is the capital of the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of 14,355.It is situated on the French–German language border of the canton of Wallis...
to Zinal
Zinal
Zinal is a village located in the municipality of Anniviers in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies at an altitude of 1,675 metres in the Swiss Alps in the Val d'Anniviers, a valley running from the Zinal Glacier, north of Dent Blanche to the village of Ayer...
. Since its inception, the challenge has been hosted at competitions including the Three Peaks Race
Three Peaks Race
The Australian Three Peaks Race is a short-handed offshore sailing and endurance mountain running event held in Tasmania, the southern-most state of Australia, over the Easter long weekend...
in the United Kingdom, Switzerland's Jungfrau Marathon
Jungfrau Marathon
The Jungfrau Marathon is one of the best known mountain marathons in the world, in full view of the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains in the Bernese Oberland area of the Swiss Alps....
, and the Pikes Peak Marathon
Pikes Peak Marathon
The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon is a racing event that begins at the base of Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and climbs over 7,700 feet to the top of the 14,115 foot peak...
in the United States. The event has significant variance in its level of participation: the 2007 race at the Jungfrau Marathon attracted over 4200 runners of fifty nationalities, while at the 2011 of the competition there were 405 runners representing a total of 18 countries.
Editions
| Edition | Year | Race | Location | Country | Date | No. of runners |
No. of nations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2004 | Course des Cinq 4000 | Sierre Sierre Sierre is the capital of the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of 14,355.It is situated on the French–German language border of the canton of Wallis... – Zinal Zinal Zinal is a village located in the municipality of Anniviers in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies at an altitude of 1,675 metres in the Swiss Alps in the Val d'Anniviers, a valley running from the Zinal Glacier, north of Dent Blanche to the village of Ayer... |
8 August | |||
| 2nd | 2005 | Marathon du Vignemale | Cauterets Cauterets Cauterets is a spa town, a ski resort and a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France.-Geography:Cauterets is located southwest of Lourdes in the beautiful valley of the Gave de Cauterets and borders the Pyrenees National Park.... |
24 July | |||
| 3rd | 2006 | Pikes Peak Ascent | Manitou Springs, Colorado Manitou Springs, Colorado The city of Manitou Springs is a Home Rule Municipality located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,980 at the 2000 census.Students are served by Manitou Springs School District 14 and Manitou Springs High School.... |
20 August | |||
| 4th | 2007 | Jungfrau Marathon Jungfrau Marathon The Jungfrau Marathon is one of the best known mountain marathons in the world, in full view of the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains in the Bernese Oberland area of the Swiss Alps.... |
Bernese Oberland Bernese Oberland The Bernese Oberland is the higher part of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the southern end of the canton: The area around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the valleys of the Bernese Alps .The flag of the Bernese Oberland consists of a black eagle in a gold field The Bernese Oberland (Bernese... |
7 September | |||
| 5th | 2008 | Three Peaks Race Three Peaks Race The Australian Three Peaks Race is a short-handed offshore sailing and endurance mountain running event held in Tasmania, the southern-most state of Australia, over the Easter long weekend... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform... |
26 April | |||
| 6th | 2009 | Kaisermarathon | Söll Söll Söll is a municipality with 3571 inhabitants in the district of Kufstein in the Austrian region of Sölllandl. It is located 9 km south of Kufstein as well as 9 km east of Wörgl. The village consists of 25 parts. Main sources of income are agriculture and tourism.- Tourist attractions :Söll is one... |
10 October | |||
| 7th | 2010 | Pikes Peak Ascent | Manitou Springs, Colorado Manitou Springs, Colorado The city of Manitou Springs is a Home Rule Municipality located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The population was 4,980 at the 2000 census.Students are served by Manitou Springs School District 14 and Manitou Springs High School.... |
21 September | |||
| 8th | 2011 | Gorski Maraton | Podbrdo | 18 June |
External links
- Event page at WMRA