Lucija Krkoc and Ahmet Arslan eye the 2011 WMRA Grand Prix title: Smarna Gora Mountain Running Race
The International Smarna Gora Mountain Running Race, which is regarded amongst the most prestigious mountain running events, is going to witness this year’s showdown on Saturday, October 1. In the 32nd edition of the event, runners like Lucija
Krkoc and Ahmet Arslan will look forward to chase the 2011 WMRA Grand Prix titles.
The Smarna event was first organised in 1979, when it was first hosted by Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. At that time, what the organisers of the event had in mind was to have an event that may provide quality running opportunities to local athletes.
However, none of them had envisioned that within few years, the event will mark a global success and would host the final meet of the 2011 WMRA Grand Prix.
In the history of the WMRA, the Smarna event has its own importance. Back in 1990, this was the place which provided a platform for the national championships of Slovenia and a decade down the line, hosted world champion, Lucio Fregona. These two events
played a key role in bringing global recognition to Smarna Gora. Presently, the Smarna Gora race is regarded as the founding member of the WMRA Grand Prix.
Since the inception of the event, numerous exceptional performances have been displayed on the track which requires a run on an altitude of 360 degrees, which is immediately followed by a 300m technical descent. Runners with good fitness levels do not take
longer than fourty minutes before covering the course which has been stretched over ten km.
This Saturday, the showdown will once again put together a field that is comprised of runners who are well equipped with speed, strength and talent. Thus, while appearing in the event, every runner will strive for finishing on top of the podium in Smarna
Gora. Presently, the WMRA Grand Prix event is being lead by Slovenian athlete, Lucija Krkoc, who is all set to claim her third victory in the event. On Men’s side, Turkey’s Ahmet Arslan is also aiming for finishing high in the event.
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