International Mountain Race Merano 2009
In this event, the male runners can choose between a long course of 14km and a short course of 10km. Women and juniors will take the short course.
In the long course, which starts on the Kurpromenade in the beautiful spa town of Meran, you will have to run a staggering elevation gain of 1700m up to the ski resort of Meran 2000.
The runners of the short course will take the same route but will start a bit higher up in the village of Schenna. However, it's still 1400m up and certainly not a race for beginners. It's a true test but you will be awarded with some breathtaking mountain scenery.
The course records are held by the reigning mountain running world champion Jonathan Wyatt from New Zealand (1:15:57) and South Tyrol's elite athlete Renate Rungger (1:08:22) who beat New Zealand's Anna Frost last year by 1.5 seconds.
Jonathan Wyatt of New Zealand, seven times mountain running world champion
Country: Italy (South Tyrol)
Venue (Map): Schenna / Scena (32km from Bolzano, 153km from Innsbruck, 180km from Verona)
Date: 31 May 2009 (Sunday)
Long course (men): 14km (+1700m) - (3km asphalt road, 4km dirt road, 7km mountain path)
Short course (men, women, juniors): 10km (+1400m) - (3km asphalt road, 7km mountain path)
Start (long course): 9.45 on the Kurpromenade in Meran/Merano
Start (short course): 10.15 in Schenna/Scena
Finish: Piffinger Köpfl (1905m)
Entries: advance entries online with bank transfer, late entries in the race centre
Entry fees: advance entries: 15 EUR until 30 April, 20 EUR until 27 May; late entries 25 EUR
Race centre: Saturday, 30 May, from 14.30 to 18.00: Tourist Information Centre Schenna/Scena; Sunday, 31 May, from 8.00 to 9.00 in the start areas in Meran and Schenna
You get: transport of personal clothes to the finish; ticket for the cable car after the race
Prizes: first 15 M, first 5 F; first 3 in the categories
Presentation: at approximately 14.45 in Falzeben
Number of finishers 2008: 184
Event website (in English, German and Italian): www.telmekomteam.com
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information on this page.