The Nuria Classic in the Pyrenees is an absolutely amazing race - a real high mountain race.
And the area of Catalonia you stay in is stunning and v cheap.
Loads of options for cheap flights: Barcelona, Girona, Perpignan.
Pretty tough though - think Borrowdale or Duddon.
You might pick up some useful info from the links in this thread from last year:
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...untain-running
Last edited by ZootHornRollo; 15-05-2012 at 09:49 AM.
Unlike Switzerland which is eye-wateringly expensive! Just a warning.Originally Posted by ZootHornRollo
Nuria sounds fun, I go to Austria a lot as I feel at home there and I can eat my favourite food. But my training runs in the Alps are generally steeper and more extreme than the uphill races! I'm racing in Seefeld on July 1st at the end of a training trip. (Not the European Masters, which is in Austria on the same day).
Yep not half - I went and did Sierre-Zinal last year when the pound was at a record low vs the Swiss Franc.
Ouch.
Some races listed here.. english language site..That may be a bit OTT for me.
I've had a browse and http://www.tourdesalpages.ch/site/do.../Flyer2012.pdf caught my eye.
Stats look more my cup of tea
http://www.runinternational.eu/
This will be out if guaranteed sun is an important criteria!!
http://www.imra.ie/events/
W.Park,
a good bet for some info on all of the mountain races held in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and Italy is to order the little mountain running bible named the 'Berglauf Journal'.You can find it by looking on www.journal.berglauf.info/bestellformular.htmlI notice the Grossglockner race was mentioned earlier, great finish to that one! that's if you haven't already run out of steam by then like me last time I ran it! If you like steep uphill races look no further than Slovenia (Look on the Grintovec mountain race site...I'd love to have a crack at that one (well, maybe back when I was a little fitter!) Good luck with what ever you decide on.
Grintovec is a lovely (steep!) mountain! Sadly the race was shortened last summer due to the exceptionally bad weather. A few of us went on to the summit anyway, having recovered and donned loads of kit after the race. Meanwhile, (mountain running superstar) Ahmed Aslan, having just arrived from balmy Turkey, was lost under a mound of blankets in the (half-way-ish) hut as the organisers did their best to warm him up! A great feel to the event too, a low-key Grand Prix race where you'll be made very welcome.
If you fancy the Pyrenees then there is of course chez-Devine PyreneesHaven.com.
Nuria Classic is within reach. there are 3 races across 15 days in late July.
Nuria,
Dent d'Orlu, which I ran a couple of years ago and enjoyed very much - mountain top finish with Griffon Vultures circling. (just make sure Gary knows when the start is)
La Pujada Ax/Bonascre
They don't have the benefit of a stage finish this year but the Tour passes through the Pyrenees around the time of these races, well worth making the effort to take in a stage or two.
You could try contacting Gwilym, a Clayton harrier resident in Vienna. He's on the Clayton message board and he has a blog; http://bardontherun.blogspot.co.uk/
Last edited by AndyA; 15-05-2012 at 05:35 PM. Reason: spelling
Slovenian hospitality really is second to non. A guy named Tomo Sarf, a really nice chap looked after us each time I've raced in Slovenia. He loves foreign athletes to experience the Slovenian races, and I'm sure he would welcome other brits over to his races just like he did with us. I know he doesn't organise Grintovec, but he passed on my details to the race organiser who was only too happy to put me up in the 'mountain hut' on the course. Unfortunately I ended up not being able to make it in the end, but would love to go back one year. If you need Tomo's contact details please drop me a message. I'm sure he wouldn't mind.
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