Heading for the hills in China’s Sichuan Mountains for the Skyrunner® World Series first race of the season, are top ranked runners from across the globe. The Yading Skyrun, the Series’ highest race, will take place on April 30 in a spectacular setting, reaching an altitude of 4,700m among Bhudist temples and mountain-clad prayer flags.
Reigning Sky Champion Tadei Pivk from Italy will be joined by Spaniards Pere Rullan (7th), Nil Cardona, Just Sociats and Andreu Simon together with the Casal Mir brothers, Oscar and Marc, from Andorra and Pavel Paloncy from the Czech Republic.
The ladies’ field is led by Megan Kimmel from the USA, who soared to 2nd place on the 2015 ranking in her first season of skyrunning. “For me, the Yading Skyrun represents the main reason I run, which is to explore mountain regions all over the world. I am excited to have this opportunity to run in a place that is very far from home, within a culture that is new to me and near such magnificent peaks,” she commented. “I know the slow tired feeling of high altitude running well. My home is at 3,000m in Colorado. It is going to be a very slow race!”, she added.
In fact, research carried out by the International Skyrunning Federation in Tibet established that racing at 5,000m reduces performance by 25%.
Needless to say everyone will be affected in the same way. From Spain, Dutch national Ragna Debats is back on the Series and from China, Dong Li completes the ladies’ field. She excels in the longer distances with a 4th place in the Mont Blanc 80K in 2015, a 3rd at Transgrancanaria, 2nd at HK100 and won the TNF 100.
This new race, between 2,900m and 4,700m altitude, represents a real challenge and, for many, a new experience.
Among the novelties the Skyrunner® World Series has in store this year is live tracking and Yading Skyrun is no exception. Follow the top athletes as they battle with the thin air in the first Sky Series race reaching new heights in the land of “Shangri La”.
Follow us on Facebook and twitter for updates and check out the new live tracking system available here on the day.
