Haría, Spain on the island of Lanzarote will host the 2020 World Mountain Running Championships and World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships on November 14-15. Building on the success of the recent world championship in Argentina, the 2020 event will combine the 36th edition of the “classic” distance races for senior (13 km) & junior (4.5 km) mountain runners with the 17th edition of the Long Distance (44 km) race. The 10 km race will be a primarily uphill race with 700 meters of ascent. The 44 km race will feature 1900 meters of ascent and descent. Click the links below to download gpx files for each course:
- Junior Classic 4.5 km (GPX download) – View Map
- Senior Classic 13 km (GPX download) – View Map
- Long Distance 44 km (GPX download) – View Map
The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) has been a global pioneer for off-road running all over the world, with the first world trophy event held back in 1985, and it has run continuously ever since. After reviewing several different candidate events, the WMRA Council selected the Spanish race Haria Extreme on the volcanic island of Lanzarote as it came up as the most complete project allowing for the Junior event, plus the Senior Classic and Long distance to be held together in the same way as with the recent 2019 world championships in Argentina.
WMRA President Jonathan Wyatt on the island of Lanzarote. Photo: Sergio Mayayo.
At the beginning of November two members of the WMRA Council, President Jonathan Wyatt and Sergio Mayayo, visited Lanzarote, inspecting the courses and discussing details with the organizers. The final inspection reached a positive conclusion on the quality of the courses and expertise of the organizers to handle the 36th edition of this world championships.
Some of the course highlights will include a spectacular ridge to be climbed during the classic uphill race at the iconic Risco de Famara, while the long distance marathon race will enjoy a journey from the charming Haría Village to the Malpais volcanic landscape, then on to the Famara ridge and finish at Haría, home to the mythical figure of Cesar Manrique, talented architect and environmentalist who has been responsible for the preservation of the traditional beauty of local villages and traditions all through Lanzarote.
Photo: Haria Extreme Lanzarote.
President Jonathan Wyatt said: “We are excited to include this unique volcanic terrain as a unique mountain running landscape, together with the magic atmosphere created by the tiny white villages and palm trees that dot out the island as it emerges from the Atlantic Ocean. Following an iconic race such as K42 Villa La Angostura in 2019, we are really happy to be traveling to Spain for 2020, who will be the host country for the first time for a World Mountain Championships and I would like to thank the Real Federación Española de Atletismo (RFEA), Haría Town Hall, Cabildo Lanzarote and the Canaries Island trail running Community as a whole for their support and enthusiasm during all the process. Last, but not least, we would like to thank all other candidates who worked hard and made it so challenging for us to make a final decision.”
Keep up to date with news about next years World Mountain Running Championship at #WMRALanzarote
Photo: Haria Extreme Lanzarote.
To see Team USA results, photos and videos from the recent 2019 World Mountain Running Championships in Argentina, check out our article links below:
