Transvulcania Ultramarathon fields stacked

Some of the biggest names in Skyrunning and Ultrarunning are set to kick off the Skyrunner Ultra Series this year at the Transvulcania Ultramarathon on the island of La Palma, Spain.

Last year’s ultramarathon champions, Kilian Jornet and Emelie Forsberg, will return to defend their titles, but it won’t be an easy run around the island. Both were also 2013 Skyrunner world champions. Previous winners from 2012, Dakota Jones and Anna Frost, will both be back to reclaim their titles after both missing the race in 2013. Frost also holds the women’s record for the course, which climbs and drops a total 8.5K worth of elevation over the 83K route. Jornet holds the men’s record from last season’s win.

The rest of the field in both and men’s and women’s race is stacked with regular podium personalities in major ultra and skyrunning races.

New this year in La Palma will be the Vertical Kilometre event, two days before the ultramarathon. The Vertical Kilometer will see contestants start at the beach in Tazacorte and race the switchbacks up an old goat herders path to a 1.16K high lookout point. The route totals 6.6K and climbs over 1K.

Dates of the races are May 8 for the Vertical Kilometre and May 10 for the Transvulcania Ultramarathon.