Events Preview: 2023 Season Closers

The first of 6 stops in the XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series - each taking place within Maricopa County - heads just outside Phoenix to the city of Tempe for a scenic run through the Papago Buttes.

Each of the 6 stops is designed to offer seasoned trail runners the kind of challenge they’re looking for while also providing accessible races for beginners and youngsters looking to get into the sport and experience what XTERRA racing is all about. 

‍

The 26K Half Marathon will put local and travelling runners to the test with a 2-loop course that takes full advantage of the urban desert terrain, with those who return quickest in their age group awarded with slots to the 2024 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship. For those not ready to take on the full 26K, there is also a single-loop 10K and a 5K that offers an equally scenic run in the company of one of the most welcoming communities there is. But no matter the distance, every event in the 6-stop series finishes with a huge post-race breakfast where war stories from the day will be plenty and plans for the next race in the series will surely be made.

‍

The XTERRA Trail Vallee de Joux is set to once again put the beauty of the Swiss mountains on full display as the trail running event heads into its 7th year with 5 races that wind through the Vallee de Joux in the Jura Mountains. 

‍

The longest of the 5 races is the Ultra Trail Run. The 56K course with 3000m+ of elevation is designed for the endurance purists and requires good mountain and trail race experience plus the physical and technical skills required to overcome the challenge. But as every trail runner knows, the bigger the challenge the greater the reward. 

The 36K Marathon and 22K Half Marathon, taking on 1835m+ and 800m+ of climbing respectively, both offer a combination of technicity, speed, and enjoyment through the varied terrain of the Swiss mountains, with 2024 XTERRA Trail Run world Championship slots on the line for those leading their age division during the race.

‍

The event, however, is not just for the seasoned runner. The 13K is ideal for trail runners who enjoy shorter distances and those looking to take their first step into the XTERRA Trail Run World, while the kids races - divided into 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15 age groups - are designed to give XTERRA’s future starts their first taste of mountain running.

‍

Described as ‘the hardest and longest kilometres in Zittau Mountains Nature Park’ the XTERRA O-SEE Ultra Trail is not for the faint of heart, but that’s also what makes crossing the finish line feel so good. 

‍

The Zittau Mountains Nature Park is located in the tripoint of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, and offers a variety of challenging trails with stunning scenery in the backdrop for all 4 races on offer during the 1-day event. 

The 65K offers the ultimate test, taking on over 2600m of climbing and what was originally known as the hardest and longest kilometres of the Zittau Mountains, before doing another 15K more. 

‍

The 50K and the 25K will leave runners breathless with a combination of 2000m+ and 1000m+ of climbing and some of the most spectacular views the Zittau Mountains have to offer. Each of these races offers Trail Run World Championship slots and includes a duo division for those who prefer not to suffer alone. 

‍

There is also a 16K for those who prefer not to suffer at all. This course is perfect for beginners and lovers of slightly shorter routes - just 16K full of fun and the pure joy of running, peppered with highlights of the Zittau Mountains.

‍

Sardegna is headed back to the Hotel Garden Beach resort on the second-largest Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea for the final XTERRA Long Distance race of the year. 

The triathletes will get the 2-day event started, with Saturday seeing a Sprint Triathlon (2K swim, 12K bike, 4K run) held alongside the feature race of the day - the Long Distance Triathlon. The LD race is 78K in the best of company that showcases almost every reason why Sardegna is one of Italy's must-visit destinations, and is one of the few XTERRA races open to gravel bikes.

‍

The Long Distance Triathlon begins with a 2K swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea before heading into a 58K bike ride that includes sand and gravel stretches, as well as some short bumpy sections that can be particularly challenging with gravel bikes, so MTBs are encouraged. The 18K run takes athletes back into the resort to end the season in true Italian fashion. 

‍

Sunday is all about the trail runners, with a 43K Marathon and a 24K Half Marathon giving runners a full tour of the trails surrounding Castiadas, a place on the starting line of the  2024 Trail Run World Championship for those who make it back the fastest.

‍

The 10th edition of the Open Water Swim Challenge heads back to the waters of Voula beach in Athlens for a busy 2 days of swim races. 

For those just getting started, the Kids Cross Aquathlon combines open water swimming and running to give youngsters a taste of XTERRA racing, with 2 separate categories for those in elementary school and junior high. 

‍

From there, speed is gradually replaced by endurance as the distances of each race increase. The 200m Open Water Sprint will crown the king and queen of speed, with a 1K, 2.5K, 5K, and 10K included in the 2-day event for those able to go the distance. 

‍

The last XTERRA triathlon of 2023 could arguably also be the best end to a season any off-road triathlete could ask for. XTERRA Tahiti mixes all the grit, grime and glory you could possibly dream of with an unforgettable tropical paradise experience that awaits as soon as you cross the line.

‍

But those looking forward to days of white sand beaches, blue lagoons, and whale watching will need to earn it first. The Full Distance Triathlon begins with a 1.5km lagoon swim on Moorea island before heading into a 34K mountain bike with 1,000m of elevation gain, and finishes with a 10K trail run through tropical jungle with 340m of elevation gain. At stake will be the $9,000 elite and amateur prize purse as well as 28 slots to the last XTERRA World Championship to be held in Trentino, Italy next year.

The 2-day event ends with the Fast Track athletes putting on a show for those in attendance, taking on the condensed off-road tri course to give fans and spectators a front row seat to the action. 

‍

Kids will also have the opportunity to get in on the action too, with the VINI Triathlon XS combining a 250m swim in the Moorea Lagoon, an easy 6K MTB ride, and a 3K trail run on the island of Moorea.

‍

The second stop in the XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series heads to San Tan Regional Park in the Sonoran Desert outside Phoenix, Arizona, for a tough but scenic adventure through San Tan Regional Park‘s 10,000 acres of Sonoran Desert. 

‍

Upping the ante from the first stop in Tempe, San Tan will offer those looking for a serious challenge a 41K race across the desert terrain with over 1500m of elevation along the way. Those who finish top in their age group will be awarded with slots to the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Maine, USA. 

Expect the 22K to be equally as tough but also just as rewarding as the trail winds its way through the signature terrain, and much like the 41K, those who finish fastest will have earned a spot on the starting line at the Half Marathon of the 2024 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.

‍

Being a community-orientated series, there is also a 10K and a 5K race for speedsters, youngsters, and those taking their first steps into the world of trail running.

‍

XTERRA Mato de Miranda takes the XTERRA Community back to the trails just outside Golegã for a second time this season, but this time for a purely trail run event that will once again showcase the quaint beauty of Portugal’s horse capital. 

‍

Both the 42K Marathon and the 21K Half Marathon feature as part of the XTERRA Trail Run World Series and offer slots to the Trail Run World Championship when it heads back to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, USA next year.

The 11K rounds out the single-day event and is open to anyone who enjoys to get out and take part in outdoor and off-road sports. Whether you are looking for a fast time, or just a good healthy experience, this race is designed to be inclusive and offer a taste of Portuguese hospitality for each and every runner.

‍

The final event of the 2023 season comes just a week before the festive season sets in, giving the trail run community in and around Arizona the chance to end the year on a high note and in the company of the XTERRA Family.

‍

Taking advantage of the cool December weather, the third stop in the XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series heads to the Estrella Mountain Regional Park for another desert adventure designed to challenge the beginner and experienced trail-runner alike.

For those who just can’t stop, the 42K Marathon takes runners on 3 different loops of differing length, elevation, and difficulty through the sandy and sometimes rocky terrain of Estrella Mountain with the fastest in the pack rewarded with Trail Run World Championship slots. The 24K will take on just 2 of those loops with championship slots also on offer for age group leaders, while the 10K and 5K ensure that everybody, whether they run, walk, or both, can finish 2023 on a high.

‍