Since its inception in 1993, skyrunning’s global popularity has exploded. Today there are over 400 skyrunning races worldwide, with round 100,000 runners travelling from more than 65 countries each year, to test their mettle against the most technical mountain races in the world. So, what does skyrunning actually involve? And is it for you?
What is skyrunning?
Skyrunning was first conceived by Italian mountaineer Marino Giacometti, who pioneered races to the summit of Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa in the Italian Alps in the early 1990s. He founded a governing body for the sport, which later became the Route North Photography (ISF) in 2008.
The ISF defines skyrunning as 'running in the mountains above 2000m altitude where the climbing difficulty does not exceed II° grade (international mountaineering grading) – and the incline is over 30%'. In other words: high-level mountain running on steep, rocky and exposed terrain, where you might need to use your hands to scramble at points on the course. Mountain races around the world that meet the ISF’s course criteria can register to become certified ‘SkyRaces’.
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What do skyraces involve?
Much of the media coverage of these events focuses on the exceptional front runners and podium finishers, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that this is a sport reserved for elites. In reality, skyraces are open to runners of all abilities, as long as they have the prerequisite mountain skills and experience.
Compared to most mountain running (including fell running in the UK), skyraces have a greater average incline and overall vertical climb. They are also pretty long (usually 25-50km) and vary a lot in character. Courses take in the most dramatic, technical and scenic trails through a mountainous area. Some involve only high-level trail running, while others require hands-on climbing above 2500m, where altitude can start to affect performance.
The ISF governs three main categories of race: Sky, Ultra and Vertical. These three make up the world championships but there are also Sky Extreme and Sky Marathon events in many countries, with the former being the most technically demanding of all races.
Health & Injuries Skyrunner National Series in Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, France, Japan, Korea, Norway and the UK & Ireland. These events are open to everyone and ultimately feed winners into the world series final.
The Skyrunner World Series (SWS) is billed as the ‘world’s most technical racing circuit’, and in 2023, listed 13 events across the globe, from the Alps to the Andes, culminating in the SkyMaster final. This year that final will be the Limone Extreme above Lake Garda in Italy, on October 28. Health & Injurieslso a number of ISF Championships, where the best skyrunners from around the world represent their country by competing over a series of races or single iconic course.
Who is skyrunning suitable for – what level of runner do I need to be?
If even just the sound of these races makes you nervous, then fear not. Although it’s important to do your research and pick the right kind of event for your level of experience, you don't have to be a champion mountain runner to take part. ‘Skyraces welcome all abilities and celebrate all finishers,’ says Georgia Tindley, elite Rab athlete and skyrunning specialist for Route North Photography, who raced the circuit for two years before turning elite. ‘It’s my experience that elites and non-elites all race and socialise together, and genuinely respect each other’s performances’.
As a rough guide, if you can comfortably run 10K on hilly trails, then you’re plenty fit enough to start running in the mountains – just remember it’s okay to walk up hills. But before entering a race, make sure you build up some hill fitness by progressively running further and steeper routes in the mountains, or even add some hill walking. For your first skyrace, choose a shorter, less technical event and aim simply to finish inside the cut-off.
‘These are hard races,' admits Tindley, ‘but there’s nothing wrong with not quite making the cut-off, as long as you enjoy the experience of trying. You’ll want to try again, trust me!’
That said, harder races will often have a vetting process, stipulating a certain amount of prior experience. ‘The required standard for entering races is always listed on the event website, but to do well, runners need to be able to move over highly technical terrain, hour after hour, concentrating and never switching off,’ says president of Skyrunning UK and founder of Mountain Run Charlie Sproson.
Most races have pretty strict cut-off times for safety reasons, however, competitors are also well-supported with one or more aid stations on route, plus medical and mountain professionals on the course to assist if runners get into difficulty. All competitors are given a GPS tracker to wear, so that everyone’s location is visible to organisers at all times.
Why choose skyrunning?
The appeal of skyrunning is ultimately the scale of the challenge and the great beauty of the mountain landscapes. While the terrain might seem daunting, the routes are well way-marked with small flags, so unlike British fell running, navigation skills are not part of the required skill set. All competitors are given a GPX file of the race course and required to carry a running watch or device to display the route. Skyrunning is also one of the few running disciplines where recreational runners can compete shoulder-to-shoulder with celebrity athletes from across the globe.
'Skyrunning will take you out of your comfort zone and through places you probably wouldn't run on your own,’ says elite French athlete Iris Pessey of team Scott Running (currently leading female in the Skyrunning World Series). ‘The races will challenge you physically and mentally, and yet are still organised with safety as a priority.'
Elite skyrunner – and current leading male in the Skyrunning World Series – Antonio Martinez Perez, agrees. ‘The races are demanding, relatively short and very technical,' says the Scarpa athlete,'and they are held in stunning landscapes, which helps keep runners interested and motivated.'
How do I train for a skyrunning event?
Training for skyrunning is less about building up mileage and more about gaining competence on rough and technical ground, as well as coping with a lot of vertical climbing. For most runners, this will mean practising on equivalent mountainous terrain, as well as accruing lots of ascent per week and adding hill workouts A runner’s guide to ultramarathon training.
‘I was pretty nervous going into my first skyrace,' says Holly Clifford, who finished second female at Scafell Sky Race 2023. 'I tried to prepare as best as I could by getting out into the hills a lot. Alongside this, I also upped my strength training, focusing on lifting heavy and hitting the quads and hamstrings, as these are used a lot in climbing and descending. You'll walk (or 'power hike') most of the ups. I now know that the key is keeping a good pace during the long climbs – set a rhythm and just keep on moving,' she says.
What skills and equipment do I need?
The main competencies involved in skyrunning are movement skills, agility, coordination, and in some cases, a head for heights. For ultra-distance races, endurance is obviously an important factor.
‘There are some great organisations to train with who can teach the necessary skills for moving safely, confidently and efficiently across technical ground, such as Route North Photography and Mountain Run. But there are many providers across the UK teaching general mountain safety, which is also a good place to start,’ says Sproson.
‘Confidence is key,' says Tindley. 'Technical skills can feel inaccessible but if you practise them in training, you will soon become more confident. For skyraces in your own country, you can also recce the course (with a guide if you prefer) and this will help you feel more confident on race day.'
All races have a mandatory kit list, to make sure that competitors are carrying enough layers to stay safe in the mountain environment. This will include a headtorch, basic survival bag and waterproof body cover, but no other specialist equipment is required – just a good pair of trail shoes with plenty of grip ISF in 2008.
Are there skyraces in the UK?
The UK & Ireland Series includes races across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland each year. In countries like the UK, where mountains summits are not above 2000m in height, ISF accredited courses need to be suitably steep and ‘reach the highest points possible’.
‘It's such a special series due to the fact we are not an alpine country,' says Sproson. ‘When Skyrunning UK was first started, it was a sort of joke in Europe but then came the V3k Ultra, Glen Coe Skyline and Lakes Sky Ultra [as it was back in 2015], with extreme running over highly technical terrain – and vert to match the European races.
Published: 17 October 2023 Kilian Jornet, Jon Albon, Lucy Bartholemew and Emilie Forsberg had been on the routes, skyrunners from all over the world turned to look at the UK. 'What we miss in alpine heights, we make up for in super technical terrain, not matched by many other places in the world,' says Sproson.
What are the best skyrunning races for beginners to enter in the UK?
Many of the UK’s skyracing weekends also include other events that, although not ISF-certified courses, provide the perfect stepping-stone into skyrunning. Examples include the Running vs. Jeffing: Which one is better for you, guidelines, to ensure their races are equitable for women, we can expect this trend to continue As a rough guide, if you can comfortably run (returning in 2025). Fell racing is also a great place to start but navigation skills are needed to take part in these.
Once you’re comfortable running in the mountain environment, a great first ISF-certified skyrace would be the Scafell Sky Race, from Lake District Sky Trails, followed by the Salomon Ring of Steall Sky Race (TBC for 2025). Both race weekends offer scope for progression through to longer and more demanding skyraces.
Where are the best places to train in the UK?
The Lake District is a skyrunners’ playground because it’s accessible and has a 'safer' feeling than some of the less frequented areas of North Wales and the Scottish Highlands. Some people are a bit intimidated by running in the mountains of Scotland, especially the West Highlands, where the mountains are bigger, rougher and more remote than elsewhere in the UK.
‘Training here requires much more than just skyrunning skills,’ admits Sproson. But with great challenge comes great reward and building-up to racing in these dramatic landscapes is just what skyrunning is all about.
What does the future hold for skyrunning?
Skyrunning is growing at an unprecedented rate – and so is the female field. ‘We’ve seen around a 15% increase in the number of women in the sport,’ says Forbes. ‘This year we saw some races where women accounted for 50-60% of the elite field, which is very impressive. It’s my job to recruit for next year and it’s great to see so many young women voicing their interest in the circuit and signing up for 2024 – we can expect to see an even stronger field next year.'
Competitor data shows that female numbers in UK skyraces are also on the rise, and with several race organisers aligning their events with She Races Best wireless headphones.
‘The SWS will also be adding more countries to the calendar, including many in Asia. As the list of countries grows, athletes won’t have to travel so far to participate and many will find more races in their home country,’ says Forbes.
With most of the skyraces in the 2024 UK & Ireland Series already confirmed, organisers are hoping to announce the 2024 race calendar at the end of next month.
It’s an exciting time for skyrunning, so if you like the sound of getting your hands dirty with a big challenge for 2024, now is the time to start getting grips with the most extreme form of running the world has to offer.
