Highlights from Recent Global Races

As December marks the transition into winter, the racing scene quiets down following the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. However, several significant events were held globally, reflecting the resilience and determination of ultrarunners. Notable among them were the Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB in Australia and the SaintéLyon in France, showcasing remarkable achievements from elite athletes across different terrains.

Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB – Snowy Mountains, Australia

The Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko by UTMB, with its demanding 100-mile race featuring over 15,000 feet of elevation gain, tested the limits of endurance for its participants. Australian runner Stephanie Auston clinched victory in the women’s category, finishing in an impressive 19 hours and 45 minutes. Her perseverance was matched by the U.K.’s Morgan Glazier, who secured first place in the men’s race with a time of 17 hours and 38 minutes.

The 66-mile race also witnessed stiff competition, with Sophie Broome from the U.K. completing it in 11 hours and 58 minutes, while French runner Loris Lassere finished in 9 hours and 53 minutes for the men’s segment. In addition, the leaders of the 50-kilometer race were Andrea Kolbeinsdóttir from Iceland and Michael Dimuantes from Australia, finishing in times of 4 hours and 24 minutes and 4 hours flat, respectively.
Full results are available here.

SaintéLyon – Saint-Étienne, France

In France, the SaintéLyon race celebrated its 71st anniversary, becoming a crucial fixture in the ultrarunning calendar. This well-established event, one of France’s largest, attracted over 15,000 participants competing in eight different contests. The premier race connected the cities of Saint-Étienne and Lyon over an 80-kilometer (50 miles) route, commencing at night, adding a distinct challenge to the participants.

The podium was dominated by French athletes, as Adeline Martin, Sarah Rouquier, and Diane Rassineux triumphed in the women’s category with times of 6:42, 7:18, and 7:23, respectively. In the men’s race, Sylvain Cachard narrowly defeated Virgile Moriset, finishing in 5:36 compared to Moriset’s 5:39. Third place was taken by Pierre Defontaine with a time of 5:52.
For those interested, full results can be accessed here.

Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Part of the UTMB World Series Major, the Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB, is an international event that consists of multiple races over two weeks. While the ultra distances are set for next weekend, the Inthanon 50 has already concluded, showcasing an impressive climb of 7,217 feet over a distance of 24 miles. Swiss runner Maude Mathys seized the women’s title with a time of 3 hours and 54 minutes, while Miguel Arsénio of Portugal led the men’s race, finishing in 3:27. For complete results, click here.

Quad Dipsea – Mill Valley, California

The 42nd edition of the Quad Dipsea was another highlight of the weekend, featuring a challenging 28.4-mile double out-and-back course on the famous Dipsea Trail that includes hundreds of stairs. Women’s champion Megan Roche set a new course record of 4:35, surpassing the previous mark established 15 years ago. Meanwhile, the men’s race saw Nick Handel claiming victory for the fourth consecutive year, also achieving a course record of 3:39, beating the previous record set in 2015 by over a minute.
For more details, you can view the full results here.

Additional Noteworthy Events

A number of other races were held as part of various ultrarunning series, highlighting significant contributions from runners across the globe. Among these events, the 3 Días Trail Ibiza and the Shanghai Marathon have notable results. In the 3 Días Trail Ibiza, Spanish runners dominated the competition, with Gemma Arenas and Pablo Ibáñez winning the 73k race. Additionally, the Shanghai Marathon featured Miao Yao finishing in 2:30:13.

Conclusion

As the year draws to a close, these races demonstrate the unwavering spirit of ultrarunners as they tackle formidable challenges across various terrains. The passion and commitment displayed by athletes in events such as the Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko and SaintéLyon continue to inspire others in the sport. For those looking to stay informed about the latest in ultrarunning, websites and portals like iRunFar provide regular updates and comprehensive coverage of events.