Mountain running legend Jonathan Wyatt considers Innsbruck-Stubai the perfect trail running center. He rejoices in the sport’s development – but he’s also somewhat cautious.
Even though John Wyatt, 50-year-old running legend from New Zealand, has long since ended his active career, the seven-time World Mountain Running Champion still has a passion for running in the mountains, and on top of that he’s also involved professionally. Wyatt lives in Italy with his family, and he works in the development of running sports goods for La Sportiva. Additionally, he was President of the World Mountain Running Association until 2022. “When I heard that Innsbruck-Stubai would be hosting the WMTRC 2023, I thought: Wow, that’s perfect for our sports.“
For Wyatt, the combination of the city with the high mountains surrounding it, coupled with the experience in staging World Championships is a big plus. “And on top of that Innsbruck comes with expertise and the local population’s interest in the World Championships,” he says. He concludes that finally having combined championships is a great thing for mountain and trail running because “the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships are a bigger event and thus getting more attention,” as he says, adding “which obviously means there is more pressure in terms of logistics.
He considers Innsbruck-Stubai to be well prepared for the title races which are going to take place from June 6 to 10. “Judging by everything I have seen so far, I can definitely say that the organizational efforts are top-notch. So are media relations and marketing. The organizers follow a 360-degree approach when it comes to distributing fantastic content. They are doing a great job in promoting the sports beyond the mountain and trail running community, which is where Innsbruck has a very positive effect.”
Wyatt is in favor of the two disciplines’ growth. “Especially in trail running, and here in the long distances, we have seen exceptional growth in recent years. There is quite some growth in mountain running too, albeit not as extensive.” The WMRA, with its expertise, history and tradition, works closely with associations such as World Athletics. “Trail runners attract high numbers of spectators as well as major public interest, which is a perfect combination.”
That being said, Wyatt is critical of the increasingly popular sports’ future. “During my time as an active athlete both myself and others had the vision of mountain running being an Olympic discipline one day. Now that I have witnessed what has happened in ski mountaineering I have to say that I don’t think it is a positive development. We have to be careful not to lose the mountain spirit on our way to the Olympics.”
He is planning on coming to experience the WMTRC in action, “as an extremely interested spectator.” His memories of the region are good - and lively - ones. He was crowned World Mountain Running Champion in Innsbruck in 2002. “An incredible race. There was such thick fog we could only see 50 meters, and I didn’t know how far away the next runner was, either in front of or behind me, so I just kept on running. It definitely wasn’t a great day for the spectators, which is why I hope that the weather is going to be better this year.”
