A new 6 Day race will take place this year begining May 1st and ending on May the 7th in Antibes Juan les Pins. Details in French are available on the main site as a pdf. and an English translation will be available shortly. This is an exciting developemnt as France has a great ultrarunning community with many 100k races and a growing number of 24 hour races. Germany has offered two 6 day races in the last 2 years hosted by Conny and Sigi in Erkrath and it appears that this year Theo Cloosman will take the race to the Netherlands, pending permission.

This years 6 Day race season will kickof

Andy Lovy, an ultrarunner,doctor/medical help at many races has collected his thoughts and observations about this years Across The Years event and discusses steps that athletes can take to improve their efficiency during a multiday event. Andy received a jacket awarded for completing a 1000 miles at Across The Years events. A self-giving, humble person, Andy helped lots of people at the race which reduced his overall mileage considerably, taking care of many blisters and unexpected aches and pains from novice runners as well as helping more experienced runners. Recently returned from Australi

Interesting article that comes via Ultra Adventures by one of America's best 24 hour runners, Roy Pirung. This is a good topic as it is one of the most common questions asked by a non-ultrarunner and Roy discusses several ideas.

Roy Pirung: Contrary to myth, running does not cause arthritis

For the next 2 weeks all news and updates will be posted here instead of the main site. As a back up facility, in these turbulent times I have also installed a WordPress blog so if anything untoward should happen here, there may still be news there.

Arun Bhardwaj sent me a message saying that he will begin a 1000 km journey run tomorrow. More details and updates later hopefully. W.U.N.has a few more details.

The American team for the World 24 Hour Championships in Taipei,Taiwan February 25th 2006 has been posted on the IAU site.

John Geesler
Roy Pirrung
Rudy Afanador
Scott Eppelman
Danny Ripka
Pam Reed
Sue Olsen
Sandy Powell
Laura Nelsen

Any info, rumors etc. has to when and where the U.S. 24 Hour Championship is going to be held in 2006. Since it appears that not only Olander but also San Diego races are no more? Just trying to plan out my year and I'm interested in doing at least one 24 Hour race this year (my debut) and would really like to run in the Championship.

1-24-06

The Coastal Challenge: Race Update; Ticos Take Charge … Nauyaca Falls Thrills All

It is the third day of The Coastal Challenge Expedition Run™, and the Ticos are pushing ahead, while England’s favorite daughter continues to prove powerful.

1-25-06

The Coastal Challenge: Race Update; A Shorter Stage Sets a Faster Pace

Juan Carlos, who finished second over-all in The Coastal Challenge’s inaugural event last year, finished first for the second straight day during a relatively short run that turned up the pace. The 11-km stage, a break for the Expedition Runners who have covered more than 100 km of distance in the past three days, had the leaders making a break for the finish as soon as they started. Ronald Tores, the other local Costa Rican battling for the top over-all spot, finished a close second.

Kungsleden Running Extreme Adventure Marathon (KREAM)

Kungsleden ultramarathon is a hiking/running race which travels along the well-known trail "Kungsleden" from Hemavan to Abisko in the far north of Sweden.

Posted on W.U.N.
Irish team for World 24hr championships in Taiwan announced

Richard Donovan
Eoin Keith
Martin Rea
Tony Mangan.

Po

The Coastal Challenge: Tores Holding Strong; Spirit of Competition Not Overcome by Spirit of Camaraderie

In the friendly spirit of the event, Ronald Tores and Juan Carlos, the two Costa Ricans who have been battling for the prize money in an incredible expedition running performance, crossed the finish line together today. Although Tores still leads the over-all competition by more than an hour, the two friends completed the 49-km stage in approximately four hours and 45 minutes side-by-side today.

Would you please post our 24-hour Ultra on your site?

It's called "Nathaniel's Run/24-Hour Ultra" and is
scheduled for Friday, April 28th beginning at 6pm and
ending the following day at 6pm. It will be held in

Dear ultrarunners!

We would like to invite ultrarunners from all over the world first time ever to participate in 12h ultrarun in Tallinn, Estonia on July 21st to 22nd.
Running venue is beautiful park in Tallinn where ultrarunners can achive good results on 1,3 km loop with elevation 2,4 m.

Loutraki Running Festival 2006

Dear all,

Please have one more careful look at http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/baxevani

Make sure to follow the instructions in the Application Form and Waiver. In order to confirm your participation pay, by bank transfer, your fees and keep the receipt. Deadline February 29. In case, for any reason, you cannot participate, please, let me know, so that I can recruit some people the reserve list.

1-28-06

The Coastal Challenge: Tores, Johnson Win Second Annual World’s Expedition Run™ in Costa Rica

Ronald Tores, from Costa Rica, and Claire Johnson, from London, England, won the over-all men’s and women’s divisions of the second installment of The Coastal Challenge today finishing the 250-km course on the beach at Carate deep in southern Costa Rica. Tores finished first over-all with a total seven-day time of 28 hours, 56 minutes and 31 seconds, and Johnson, a newcomer to the sport of expedition and ultra running, finished third over-all with her time of 32:21:39.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 30, 2006

THE COASTAL CHALLENGE 2006, WORLD’S EXPEDITION RUN™ WRAPS;
TORES AND JOHNSON WIN DIVISIONS

Athletes from 10 Countries Raced Over 250 KM for Seven Days Battling the Heat While Crossing Mountain Ranges, Sand Beaches, Jungle Trails and Rain Forests Along Southwest Costa Rica.

About the Challenge

The Coast to Coast Challenge is a 1 or 2 day ~30mile walk/run (if you're tough enough), run by Mid Cornwall District scouts.

The event usually has around 500 walkers taking part. We can supply catering for the whole event for just £3.50 so all you need is a tent and sleeping bag to stay the night.

W.U.N. has news concerning Arun Bhardwaj who has completed over 500km.

Also mentioned on WUN is World Walker Jean Béliveau who is taking a twelve year walk around the world.

The world‘s coldest and toughest race starts on Feb. 11th in Whitehorse!

65 athletes from 13 different nations have signed up for the 4th edition of the Yukon Arctic Ultra. This is a record for this extremely difficult race with a marathon, 100 and 320 mile distances.

Larry Katz from New York Ultrarunning writes:

Ralph Balsamo 11/17/46 to 1/30/06

We are very sad to report the passing of ultra runner and dear friend, Ralph Balsamo. Ralph died on Monday, January 30 in the late afternoon at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff, NJ. At his side was his long-time love and partner, Betty Marolla. Fellow BUS Member, Bill Fischer was also there for support. The cause of death is unknown, but Ralph have been suffering from acute Alzheimer's Disease for the past five years. But both Betty and Bill said that Ralph died in peace, ending his long battle with that horrible disease. He was 59. No wake will be scheduled, and Ralph will be cremated. His wish was for ashes to be spread along the Palisades. A memorial service will be held later this year.