Iconic mountain races vie for greatest of all time title

June 19, 2020

Fans to choose from a list of 22 races representing 15 nations

The American Trail Running Association is supporting the World Mountain Running Association as they conduct a worldwide fan-driven competition. While the majority of races have been cancelled, the World Mountain Running Association has been generating mountain running content for its community by profiling athletes, featuring historic performances, and seeking interaction from fans.

The WMRA took a look at the greatest of all time (GOAT) mountain runners earlier this month, and now attention has shifted to the greatest of all time mountain running races – a.k.a. “GROAT.” As was done with the GOAT athlete competition, fans get the chance to vote for their favorites.

Using feedback from the WMRA athletes’ commission, the WMRA council and members of the mountain running community at large, the WMRA came up with a shortlist of classic and long distance races who will all fight it out for the title of ‘greatest mountain race.’ The WMRA wanted to celebrate races with history so they had to be over 10 years old to be included.

The first stage of this contest is the group stage. There are 10 long races – distances over 21 kilometers – and 12 short races – distances under 21 kilometers. These are divided into 4 groups. Fans cast their ballots for the greatest race in each group. The deadline to vote is June 22.

The top 2 races from each group will go through to the knockout stage where they will go head-to-head to decide the greatest mountain race of all time. You can download your own wall chart to follow the competition.

For a review of the mountain running races featured in the GROAT contest and to vote, click HERE.

About WMRA

In 1984, the World Mountain Running Association (formerly called ICMR) was formed with Angelo Biasi as President.  Since that time, annual International competitions have been held to test the World’s best mountain runners both seniors and junior (U20) runners. From 1985 until 2008 as a World Trophy and since that time as an official World Championships recognized and held under the jurisdiction of the IAAF (now World Athletics).  Presently, the WMRA also holds competitions for Masters’ runners as well as Under 18 year-old-runners.  A World Cup of Mountain Running is held as well as the Long Distance Mountain Running Championships.

About ATRA

ATRA is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 corporation based in Colorado. Founded in 1996, ATRA’s mission is to promote trail running, mountain running, ultrarunning on trails, and to provide resources for race directors and participants in our sport. To learn more about ATRA and the Event Standards Program, visit www.trailrunner.com.

ATRA will again partner with Active at Altitude for the eighth annual US Trail Running Conference slated to be held October 21-24, 2020 in Fayetteville, AR. Additionally, ATRA is the fund raising arm for the U.S. Mountain Running Team.

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