In January 2020, Arduua was born - a community dedicated to trail running, founded by Swedish trail runner Katinka Nyberg and Spanish trail running coach Fernando Armisén, specialized in online coaching for trail running, skyrunning, and ultra trail from the very start. The name Arduua itself carries special meaning, as it is not just a name but an entire philosophy. As Katinka explains, it originates from the Latin roots of the word "steep, demanding", but at the same time, it symbolizes the deep satisfaction and true happiness one feels when surpassing their limits and achieving their goals. The reason for today's—what we believe to be a unique—article/interview is the rapid international expansion of Arduua. Today, its athletes come from more than 35 countries, including Greece, forming a global community of trail runners. Our collaborator, Antonis Tsimpogos, spoke with Katinka Nyberg, who shared the fascinating journey of Arduua—how it was founded, how it successfully expanded worldwide, and what philosophy and training methodology it follows to support runners in such a highly demanding sport. After all, international trail running involves races with entirely different terrains, mountains, distances, and goals. Undoubtedly, Arduua's story can serve as an inspiration and valuable guide for Greek elite trail running coaches who aspire to take the next step and make their mark on the international stage, but also a strong training option for athletes looking for something different!

Η πρώτη εντύπωση που σου δίνει οπτικά το Scarpa Rush μόλις βγει από το κουτί του,  είναι ενός καθαρόαιμου παπουτσιού για ορεινό τρέξιμο. Μόλις όμως το φορέσεις και βγεις στα μονοπάτια, καταλαβαίνεις ότι έχεις στα πόδια σου ένα εργαλείο που “μεταμφιέζεται”, όταν χρειαστεί, σε παπούτσι είτε για πεζοπορία και fastpacking, είτε για τρέξιμο. Αυτή η υβριδική μορφή παπουτσιών ανεβαίνει σταθερά στην αγορά τα τελευταία χρόνια και ιδιαίτερα μέσα στο διάστημα της πανδημίας. Εξυπηρετεί δε άψογα outdoor εξορμήσεις που απαιτούν πεζοπορική σβελτάδα που μπορεί άνετα να περιλαμβάνει και αρκετά χιλιόμετρα trail running. Μπορεί ακόμη να λύσει τα χέρια σε εκδρομές, όπου θα συνδυάσουμε ημέρες πεζοπορίας, fastpacking αλλά και δρομικής προπόνησης και δεν θέλουμε να κουβαλάμε πολλά ζευγάρια παπουτσιών μαζί μας. Μεγάλη άνεση, σταθερότητα, εξαιρετική πρόσφυση και ικανοποιητική αντικραδασμικότητα είναι τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά του Scarpa Rush που ενισχύουν τον υβριδικό του χαρακτήρα και τα οποία θα αναλύσουμε στη συνέχεια.

The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are already visible in mountain running, domestically and internationally, with almost all organizations worldwide – including major championships like the Ultra-Trail World Tour and the Skyrunner® World Series - canceling or postponing their races. So, after the article regarding the domestic races, we host today the opinions of organizers and technical directors representing significant mountain running and ultra-trail races from around the world, in order to get a general picture on critical questions that concern our sport in this difficult period. What are the possible economic implications that they believe have been or will be brought about by this unprecedented situation to the mountain running organizations? What do they think could be the next day in mountain running? Discussions have already begun on the hygiene rules that should be followed from now on in the races, especially in the aid stations. Do they have any first thoughts or suggestions on this subject? To what extent do they think that the mountain running and outdoor in general will be affected in the future, based of course on the current data and the developments so far? Many thanks to all, for answering our questions and provide us with their valuable perspective on the developments in mountain running after the pandemic.

It is a common place nowadays that trail running, as well as ultra trail races, meet a growing development world – wide much as it happens in our country. During 2014, the Trail Races in the Greek mountains surpassed the number of 100 with many new events trying to attract the attention of athletes and others having already left their trademark through years and being already characterized as “Classic” races in the community of the people involved in this sport. Such examples abroad are the Western States and the UTMB and in our country are the Olympus Marathon, the Rodopi Advedurun and Spartathlon in the category of Ultra Road races.

North Face Endurance Challenge 50-miler στο San Francisco. Έτος 2007. Σκληρή μάχη για την πρώτη θέση μεταξύ του ήδη θρυλικού Matt Carpenter και του Uli Steidl. Ο Carpenter προηγείται φτάνοντας στο 44^ο μίλι του αγώνα, ακούγοντας πίσω του τον μεγάλο αντίπαλο του να βαριανασαίνει. Νιώθει πλέον μέσα του την σιγουριά ότι άλλη μια νίκη θα προστεθεί στην «συλλογή του». Και μάλιστα επί ενός μεγάλου αντιπάλου. Καμιά φορά όμως τα πράγματα δεν είναι όπως φαίνονται. Στην τελευταία μεγάλη ανάβαση πριν τον τερματισμό νιώθει ξαφνικά να αδειάζει. Του βγαίνουν προβλήματα που καμουφλαρίζονταν στα τελευταία χιλιόμετρα από την ευκολία που προσέδιδε το χωρίς έντονες κλίσεις μονοπάτι.