Activities

Lanquimay Valley, Chile

Mountain Trail Running in Chile, South American Andes

by 6th December 2017Categories: Activities

Here we explain what it is, how to prepare for it and we have prepared a calendar of Mountain Trail running events scheduled in Chile for 2017-2018, prepared as of November 2017.For current details of specific events, please see dedicated mountain trail running sites such as www.tusdesafios.com or go to the specific facebook pages of each event

Mountain trail running is, as the name suggests, running in the mountains where there are large elevation gains and rather than being on paved roads, is done on tracks or rough terrain. It is a growing sport in Chile and worldwide as people look to take on physical challenges that take them away from their otherwise sedentary or city-based routines.

Mountain trail events in Chile are offered year-round but there are few in winter, most being scheduled from spring to autumn. Events in Chile are held throughout the length of the country from the Atacama Desert in the north to the Magallanes in the far south of the country, in some of the most spectacular volcanic mountainous countryside in the world.

The regions that are dominating the scene in 2017 and 2018 are Los Lagos in the far south, especially the famous National Park Torres del Paine, Los Rios region based around the tourist towns of Pucon & Villarica, and lastly, the Araucanía region based around the indigenous cultural centre of Chile, the well known National Park Conguillio & the quiet rural townships of Melipeuco & Malalcahuello. See below for a calendar of upcoming events.

How to train for a mountain trail race

  • Mix up your training routine. According to Brandy Ernholz, interviewed by Runners World and a top American competitor, it´s important to mix up your training with one long trail run per week, some short speed sessions and some paced runs but all should be done on rough, hilly terrain that are similar to what you find in organized competitions. She advises it is important to become fast on the downhill slopes. If you´re limited to city running, the treadmill is fine as the incline can be gradually increased. Running stairs in a high rise is also good practice.
  • Don´t ignore pain, instead adapt your behavior and if need be, stop or abandon a race/run.
  • Avoid self-medicating. A medical doctor of the most famous mountain trail race of the world, the UTMB in Chamonix, the French Alps, says that non prescription drugs can be very dangerous when combined with mountain trail running. For example, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause severe kidney damage when combined with dehydration.
  • It is commonly said that athletes should run their own race according to their coach or their pre-race preparation/plan. This advice is important for new mountain trail runners, who may be tempted to try and keep up with the fastest and go too hard in the beginning or not listen to their body´s warning signals.
  • According to Hayden Hawks, 2017 winner of the Chamonix, and fairly new to the sport, it is important to not over-train but do your training in blocks.
  • Plan your nutrition. High energy snacks during long races are usually required but just a light meal that´s easily digested, before the start of a race without too much fat or fibre, particularly if you are nervous
  • Pre-hydrate as it´s difficult to drink enough water during a race & never drink alcohol the night before a race as it adds to dehydration

December 2017

  • Andes Trail Train, Valparaiso; Hill Trail Gran Final, Santiago;Trail Termas del Flaco, San Fernando; all of which are in central Chile
  • Suzuki Climbing Tour, Bio Bio region central-southern Chile
  • Lago Ranco Trail, Los Rios region central-southern Chile
  • Trail Running Desafío Tronador& Vulcano Ultra Trail, both in Los Lagos region, central-southern Chile
  • Trail de los Valles La Junta & Outdoors Week Cerro Castillo Trail in the Aysen region, southern Chile

January 2018

  • Andes Infernal Ultra Skyrunning, central Chile
  • Selva Costera Trail Running, San Juan de la Costa; Tantauco Trail Discovery, Island of Chiloe; Isla Trail Quihua, Calbuco; Explora Puyehue Trail Running; all of which are in the Los Lagos region in the central south of Chile.
  • Pucon Trail Run; El Cañi Trail Run, Pucon

February 2018

  • Trail Parque Peumayén, Rio Bueno; Futangue Challenge, Lago Ranco; both in the Los Rios region of central-southern Chile
  • Chaiten Indomable Trail, Chaiten, Los Lagos region, central-southern Chile

March 2018

  • 4 Days Chile Transversal, El Coquimbo, central-northern Chile
  • Desafio Cumbres Mountain Hardware, Santiago, central Chile
  • Ultra Sendero de los Volcanes, Parque Nacional Conguillio, Araucanía region; Huilo Huilo Trail Run,Los Rios region central-southern Chile;
  • Desafío Cabo Froward, Punta Arenas en the Magallanes region, southern Chile

April 2018

  • Corralco Challenge, Malalcahuello, Araucanía region central-southern Chile
  • Ultra Fiord Vertical Km & the Ultra Fiord, Puerto Natales, Patagonia, region Magallanes, southern Chile

June 2018

  • Torrential Valdivia Trail, Valdivia, Los Lagos region, central-southern Chile

September 2018

  • Atacama Crossing,San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile
  • Ultra Trail, Torres del Paine, Magallanes region, southern Chile

November 2018

  • Cochrane Patagonia Trail, Cochrane, Aysen region southern Chile

December 2018

  • El Cruce Columbia, Pucon, Araucanía region, central-southern Chile

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