To me, it doesn't seem like it. There is no doubt a few people travel from far but there are only some wealthy countries represented with most athletes being americans. Friend claims its as legit as world xc in terms of the athletes capabilities. Thoughts?
World mountain and trail running championship is a separate entity. The other big names for trail mountain running would be UTMB, Golden Trail series and Sky Running. Personally I don't take Xterra to be a world championship or that serious.
The 2021 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (abbreviated WMTRC 2021) was an inaugural event which combined the World Mountain Running Championships and IAU Trail World Championships. The event was organised by the...
There are plenty of "championships" out there that aren't really championships or rather aren't competitive. For example...I won 3 US national champs. However, the fastest guy I had to beat/race against was a late 13min 5k and a 2:10 marathoner. That was it. So was it a championship...not really!
To me, it doesn't seem like it. There is no doubt a few people travel from far but there are only some wealthy countries represented with most athletes being americans. Friend claims its as legit as world xc in terms of the athletes capabilities. Thoughts?
It's definitely a real world championship, but that doesn't mean is means anything significant.
I did some Xterra events (trail races and off road triathlons) back in my younger days. They were legit competitions. It’s a unique breed of athlete that participates in those events (some of the toughest people you will meet). I’d say the world mountain running championships are the real world championships when it comes to trail running, but I would say that the Xterra off road triathlon championships are the real world championships for the trail running / mountain biking / open water swim crowd. It takes one tough hombre to win that assortment of events.
I think there are always questions about "brand name" championships as compared to "governing body" championships. But sometimes the brand championship has the best athletes.
Example: Triathlon has the Ironman World Championships for 70.3 and 140.6 distances. World Triathlon has World Championships as well, including a long course that is typically neither of those distances (it is usually triple the Olympic Distance, so in between 703. and 140.6).
The Ironman brand has better athletes and is harder to qualify for.
The World Triathlon allows you to represent your country.
I did several events back in the day. I enjoy mountain biking and trail running, so this was always more interesting to me. Why do people, who will never be a champion, obsess over what defines a champion.
10-12 years ago, the shorter than ultra trail running scene was pretty sparse. Xterra had a pretty well established circuit of regional races that funneled to its championships. Top runners would show up. Over time though, I don't think they spent the money to go big and they lost a ton of ground to other series competitors especially at an elite level. I think prize $$ was only offered at the championship so not a series to earn pro money.
To me, it doesn't seem like it. There is no doubt a few people travel from far but there are only some wealthy countries represented with most athletes being americans. Friend claims its as legit as world xc in terms of the athletes capabilities. Thoughts?
I dont know what it means to be a TRUE world championship, but what I do know is that Josiah Middaugh, the 11 time XTerra USA champ and 2016 world XTerra champ is an absolute beast. And helluva nice guy.
His son Porter Middaugh just recently qualified for NXN too (Battle Mtn, CO).
To me, it doesn't seem like it. There is no doubt a few people travel from far but there are only some wealthy countries represented with most athletes being americans. Friend claims its as legit as world xc in terms of the athletes capabilities. Thoughts?
World XC, historically, has been the second most competitive sporting event in the world, after only the World Championship / Olympics 100 meters. What other event can put the best ~100 athletes directly in competition with one another all at once? Not the NBA championships, for instance, where just two teams compete at a time, and by mathematical necessity, most of the best players aren't playing in the championship game. I will say World XC has fallen off a bit lately, but is still EXTREMELY competitive, with many all-time greats competing at every meet.
I dont know what it means to be a TRUE world championship, but what I do know is that Josiah Middaugh, the 11 time XTerra USA champ and 2016 world XTerra champ is an absolute beast. And helluva nice guy.
Literally never f-ing heard of this guy. And I apparently live pretty close to him.
I dont know what it means to be a TRUE world championship, but what I do know is that Josiah Middaugh, the 11 time XTerra USA champ and 2016 world XTerra champ is an absolute beast. And helluva nice guy.
Literally never f-ing heard of this guy. And I apparently live pretty close to him.
That's kinda on you, isn't it? Seriously though... introduce yourself. Josiah is a great guy.
To me, it doesn't seem like it. There is no doubt a few people travel from far but there are only some wealthy countries represented with most athletes being americans. Friend claims its as legit as world xc in terms of the athletes capabilities. Thoughts?
Come on. No one takes that sh!t seriously. It’s a known fact.
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