Masters runners are gearing up for the 21st WMRA/WMA World Masters Mountain Running Championships which will be held on Saturday September 3rd, 2022, in the Comeragh Mountains outside Clonmel, Ireland. The race is open to athletes ages 35 to 79. Athletes 55 to 79 will run 8.4km with 510 meters of climbing, while athletes 35 to 54 will run 10.6km with 602 meters of climbing. Individual athletes need only be members of their National Athletics Federation to participate. As of this writing over 750 masters mountain runners have registered for this championship.
Within each five year age category, medals will be given to the first three individuals and the first three Country/Nationality teams in all categories. There can be only one team per country and in all categories, team results shall be decided by the aggregate of places recorded by the first three runners. Teams with only 2 members are classified, but after all teams with 3 members.
To compete for the United States, an athlete must be a US citizen and a current USATF member. Athletes are responsible for their own travel, lodging and any related expenses including race registration. To review the complete masters regulations, check out the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) regulations for this annual event [PDF].
Tim Van Orden, Francis Burdett, “Phelaphant” and Dave Dunham at the 2013 World Masters Mountain Running Championships.
For this article, I interviewed some of the twenty-four US athletes competing at this masters championship about what they are looking forward to most and what it means to represent the United States.
The Athletes
Sara Wagner (Flagstaff, AZ) – W50
[Tayte Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[Sara Wagner] Three; Wales in 2015, Slovakia in 2017, and Italy in 2019.
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[Wagner] I love that this particular race rotates countries each year. Racing others in our five-year age brackets makes it an even playing field – so it’s appealing, no matter how old we get. It’s really fun competing with an international field – many of us become friends. Of course joining our American contingent for continued adventures is a huge motivator as well (they are stellar people, decorated athletes, and savvy travelers whom I’ve learned a lot from).
[Pollmann] What does it mean to represent your country?
[Wagner] It’s very special to carry the American flag in the opening ceremonies, sport our racing kits, and hear our national anthem played during awards ceremonies. Even more meaningful is flashing upon everyone who has supported us (family, community friends, running clubs we’re part of) – when we compete, they’re all there with us, giving us extra fortitude.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[Wagner] I visited the Irish Hunger Memorial in NYC in February and was reminded how dire things were (in Ireland) when so many emigrated to the United States long ago – we’re fortunate to be traveling overseas for something as light-hearted as a running race. Growing up, my grandma (with Irish roots) instilled in my brother and I that the best part of us was Irish; naturally Ireland was the place I landed on my very first trip to Europe (in 2015). Since then, a DNA test revealed that I’m more Irish than anything – I’m excited to return and explore more of that wonderful country and perhaps toasting “slàinte” over live pub music with kindred spirits!
[Pollmann] Is there anything else you’d like to add?
[Wagner] Nancy Hobbs has been an amazing advocate over the years – if it weren’t for her, I likely would have never gotten involved in these races, nor continued returning to world masters – she is an inspiring person at a personal level, too (the more I get to know her, the more I realize how dedicated she is!). I truly appreciate ALL of you whose efforts have made this possible for us, and celebrated our efforts.
Suzy West
Suzy West (Brattleboro, VT) – W55
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[West] I ran two or three masters championships in the early 2000s, and I believe five more recently.
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run and what does it mean to represent your country?
[West] I love the camaraderie of the event. You’re traveling with your fellow US athletes and competing against the other countries. It becomes most poignant at the award ceremony as all of the age group winners are announced, the teams are singing the anthems, sometimes as they’re played multiple times, and everyone is cheering and jeering the other runners. It’s just a big party.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[West] One of the great things about the masters champs is that the same runners go every year. You get to catch up with runners from other countries. Last year, I had a day-long tour from another runner who grew up near the race, and gathered insights from them.
[Pollmann] Is there anything else you’d like to add?
[West] It’s a great excuse for traveling!
Mary Sharkey (Grosvenordale, CT) – W70
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[Sharkey] The race in Clonmel will be my first World Masters Mountain Running event.
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[Sharkey] This will be the first time I’ve traveled outside the US for a race. My sister lives in Ireland and this seemed a perfect time to pay her a long overdue visit with the race as a bonus.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[Sharkey] The race itself, meeting other competitors and visiting another part of Ireland.
[Pollmann] Is there anything else you’d like to add?
[Sharkey] Here’s hoping the Irish weather is kind to us on race day.
Tim Van Orden, Steve Brightman and Todd Callaghan.
Steve Brightman (Providence, RI) – M50
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[Brightman] This will be my first World Championship and my first time racing in Europe.
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[Brightman] Mountain racing in the US is still very much a niche thing where, my understanding is, in Europe it is on a much larger scale. I’m really looking forward to the competition and the passion from the runners and hopefully spectators as well. There will be over 70 men in my 50-54 age group running a mountain race! I’ve never run a mountain race like that in the states.
[Pollmann] What does it mean to represent your country?
[Brightman] It will be an honor and so much bigger than the individual (me). Team events are so much fun and to be running and representing my country, it will definitely be a very proud and surreal moment for myself. My family is coming to Worlds with me so I am really excited to share this experience with them as well. My daughters love watching the Olympics so until they add mountain running this is as close as I can get! I think they will really appreciate and be proud to see their dad in a USA uniform.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[Brightman] Hopefully, my teammates and I will run really well but regardless I look forward to sharing an amazing experience with them. Having my family see me representing the US will also be really special. I look forward to drinking a pint of Guinness after the race, taking in the excitement and buzz of a World competition and to see how I compete on a world stage.
[Pollmann] Is there anything else you’d like to add?
[Brightman] My first mountain race was the 2014 USATF Mountain Running Championship at Loon Mountain (New Hampshire). My friend and I did bib pick up the day before and, on the way out he turned to me and said, “Wow, I’m really scared now for that was the first time you haven’t looked like the fittest person there.” Admittedly, I also had the same observation and concern. It didn’t take long into the race to question if I was in way over my head but I ended up doing ok (2nd in my age group) and I certainly didn’t think at the time that it would lead to buying a treadmill that goes 40% grade to train on. This also progressed to eventually winning a USATF 50-54 age group title at the 2022 Vertical Mountain Running Championship and having this incredible opportunity to go to the World Masters Mountain Running Championships.
Paul Le Blanc
Paul Le Blanc (Minot, ND) – M60
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[Le Blanc] This will be my first world masters.
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[Le Blanc] This race will be different due to all the athletes being from all different countries, most of whom you would have never met instead of the people you are used to running against week in, week out.
[Pollmann] What does it mean to represent your country?
[Le Blanc] It means a lot to me to be able to represent my country and I just want to run up to my fitness level since I am representing the team and not just myself.
[Pollmann] Is there anything else you’d like to add?
[Le Blanc] I think it will just be a great chance to meet like minded people and savor the entire experience. It should be a blast! Thanks!
Paul Carr
Paul Carr (Seattle, WA) – M55
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[Carr] This will be my first World Masters Mountain Running Championship.
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[Carr] I am particularly excited about this event as it will be my first international competition and my first time competing for the US.
[Pollmann] What does it mean to represent your country?
[Carr] I’m grateful to see some of the major efforts being made by the current administration including the recent significant achievement in moving the US in the direction of sustainability, so that makes this an even better year to represent my country than it might have been otherwise. I have faith that good will triumph over greed or at least mitigate the worst tendencies of the greedy, so yes, I’m proud to represent the USA.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[Carr] I’m looking forward to meeting fellow trail runners from around the world and to exploring the surrounding area. This is my first visit to Ireland. My wife and I are planning a week-long bike trip to get to know the southwest part of the country. We’re both very excited about the entire adventure – racing in a world championship and exploring the countryside on bike.
[Pollmann] Is there anything else you’d like to add?
[Carr] I started running in my mid 40’s as part of a rehab program after back surgery. That was about 15 years ago. I’ve been getting faster ever since to the point where I’m starting to almost catch some of my running colleagues/contemporaries who have been competing since high school or college. Running has become a spiritual journey for me, but continuing to improve competitively into my very late 50’s has been like having my cake and eating it too. Being able to compete in an event like the World Masters Mountain Running Championship is icing on the cake.
Linda Usher
Linda and Doug Usher with their daughter Trista Brown. My husband Doug, age 67 and I age 73 are from Upton, Massachusetts. Our daughter, Trista is 51 and also lives in Upton. We will all be competing at the masters championship.
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you all competed in?
[Usher] It will be our first world running event, we have done ITU off-road triathlon championship worlds before.
[Pollmann] What are you all looking forward to most about this experience?
[Usher] We thought it would be fun to compete in the world masters championship in Ireland, as we love Ireland. It is always an honor to be representing the USA!
Sandy Dolby (Germany) – W50
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[Dolby] I participated in my first World Masters Mountain Running Championship last year in Telfus, Austria. (Ranking 17 in the women’s age group 50).
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[Dolby] It is a different kind of challenge. I have participated in several international events in the last years, especially
triathlons,like the Ironman Frankfurt, Ironman Hamburg, Íronman Wiesbaden and Ironman Luxemburg. But mountain running is quite challenging. In Austria, I thought that it was worse than an Ironman!
[Pollmann] What does it mean to represent your country?
[Dolby] It means so much to me to represent the USA. I still feel like an American even though I have been living abroad almost all of my life. I still have contact with Americans here in Baumholder. They are so nice. They let me use their swimming pool (MWR Baumholder, Army facility) and encourage me to keep training.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[Dolby] I am especially looking forward to Ireland! I’ve been to Ireland once before, and now being able to compete in such a race in such a beautiful country is so awesome. I am really looking forward to going there and seeing other runners from the USA.
David White-Espin (Seattle, WA) – M60
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[White-Espin] This will be my first time running the World Masters. This will be my first time visiting Ireland.
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[White-Espin] I’ve done many road, cross country and trail races but this will be my first time running a race on a mountain. Since this is my first time running I don’t know for sure, but I suspect it is a subculture of running and runners. The mountain men and women of running have a unique ability to run uphill and while racing 10K or 8K as a masters can be challenging adding mountain climbing is uniquely nuts. I’ve often looked for easier, faster courses to get a fast time. I’m not sure why I am making this race harder on purpose.
[Pollmann] What does it mean to represent your country?
[White-Espin] This is a tough question. If I ignore the current divisiveness and recent Supreme Court decisions and focus on my own family history and nature I can be grateful for the opportunity to represent the United States of America. My Great Grandfather immigrated from Ireland as a teenager. I was told he became deeply thankful and patriotic. He knew what was available to him if he stayed in Ireland and was able to compare that to the United States. The fact that he built prosperity for himself and future generations makes me believe that he would be proud that his great grandson is fit and financially secure enough to return for a race and have a chance to visit the homeland. And from the point of nature: the mountains of the United States deserve respect and are something I am excited to be associated with. Although I live at sea level, Seattle is between two mountain ranges: The Olympics and the Cascades.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[White-Espin] I like being part of the running community and being surrounded by other passionate runners. I am excited about running in Ireland. I look forward to the competition and the pain.
Todd Callaghan
Todd Callaghan (Beverly, MA) – M50
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[Callaghan] This will be my first world masters race–in fact my first international race–so I’m really stoked!
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[Callaghan] I’ve done USATF mountain and trail running championships in different states (NH, NC, OR), have run in ultras in several states (VT, ME, NH, MA, CO, CA), and I’ve also done several cross country national championships (MA, PA, FL), so I know what it’s like to run with a team in a big race. I guess what will be different about this race is the added complexity/logistics of traveling out of the country, trying to have a vacation with my family, and not freaking out too much about the enormity of racing against teams from other countries. I’ve run against teams from Mexico and Canada and a few solo runners from Italy when they came to the US for some big races in New England but this will be on someone else’s turf and home course. I’m actually looking very much toward running in Ireland as that is where my great great grandparents emigrated from back in the 1850s. I am also really glad that my family decided to come over and support me and the team. They are definitely my loudest fans.
[Pollmann] What does it mean to represent your country?
[Callaghan] It means a lot to me to be representing the US and wearing the “Team USA” jersey. I’ve had some teammates compete internationally but I never have myself so this is going to be a big deal for me and I’m taking it very seriously. I’m not normally a flag waver, but I will proudly wear “USA” on my singlet since we’re competing against teams from several other countries in this international race.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[Callaghan] I’m really looking forward to competing with my teammates against teams from other countries. Two of my Team USA teammates are also my USATF teammates (Steve Brightman from RI and Tim Van Orden from VT). We’ve competed in national mountain and cross country races together so I will be really stoked to run with them in Ireland. Richard Bolt, who used to live on the East Coast and ran for our USATF team will be on our 50 to 54 team also, so it will be great to run alongside him again too.
2nd place Seven Sisters Skyline – Kathryn O’Regan (USA) – 4:33:14
Katie O’Regan (Lititz, PA) – W35
[Pollmann] How many World Masters Mountain Running Championships have you competed in?
[O’Regan] This is my first championship. I was turned onto the mountain running series when I raced the Seven Sisters Skyline 30k in Donegal (Ireland) this past May.
[Pollmann] What makes this race experience unique and different from other types of races you’ve run?
[O’Regan] I really like the more open mountain running approach that is more common in Europe. It’s exciting to not have well worn, smooth single-track to follow. I love the challenge of the straight line climbs instead of switch backs.
[Pollmann] What does it mean to represent your country?
[O’Regan] I’m honored to be able to wear this kit up the mountain. I’ve competed for various clubs over the years. I feel like my running career has gotten a second wind on the trails, so it’s incredibly special to level up and represent the US on the world stage, especially since I never expected to.
[Pollmann] What are you looking forward to most about this event?
[O’Regan] The camaraderie.
Other US athletes participating include: For the women: Nancy Hobbs, 60-64 category. For the men: Sean Abeyta, Miguel Gomez and Brett Winegar, 40-44 category; Chris Grauch, 45-49 category; Richard Bolt, 50-54 category; Alistair Hodgett and Tim Van Orden, 55-59 category; Francis Burdett (pictured top of page), 55-59 category; Craig Kenworthy, 60-64 category; and Paul Bazanchuk, 65-69 category.
Nancy Hobbs at the 2014 World Masters Mountain Running Championships.
Want to learn more about international masters’ running opportunities? Read our other top articles on the World Masters Mountain Running Championships below:
- https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/american-runners-compete-at-world-masters-mountain-running-championships/
- https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/us-masters-mountain-runners-take-on-the-world-championships/
- https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/why-the-world-masters-mountain-running-championships-should-be-on-your-bucket-list/
