Welcome to our exclusive series highlighting the outstanding mountain running athletes of the 2023 season! Today, we embark on a journey delving into the fascinating world of the season's top mountain runners were we will learn and explore where the top Mountain Runners of the world live, train, run and what do they do when they are not running. 

Kicking off with today's  interview with Andrea Mayr, the seven-time Mountain Running World Champion from Austria. 

LET'S TALK MOUNTAIN RUNNING EPISODE 1: ANDREA MAYR (AUT)

 
Anrdea Mayr (AUT) started this season winning her 7th Mountain Running World Championship in Stubai, her home land Austria. After wining the Uphill World Championships at "home", we also had the pleasure to see her winning for the fith time at the Piz Tri Vertical (Golden Label race at the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup) in Malonnno (ITA) in 37.14, breaking her own course record! 

Just the day after she finished second in the Classic distance at the Fletta Trail (Golden Label race at the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup) , only taken by Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN), who at the end of this season was the World Cup winner.

Later in the season, she run and won the Challenge Stellina and in September, we also saw Andrea running  again in Italy, this time at the Trofeo Nasego. She is also a legend in Casto, where she won the Vertical Nasego race in 2019, setting the course record of 38.39, and in 2021 and 2022. She is also the only woman to have run under 40 minutes there and this 2023 edition was not exception where she Mayr took the win in 38.06, a new course record!

The day after of winning the Vertical  Nasego, Andrea Mayr (AUT) successfully defended her title and won also the Trofeo Nasego, Gold Label Long Distance Race of the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup.

At the end of the season, Andrea has finished 4° in the Women's overall Valsir Mountain Running World Cup.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM, WHAT IS YOUR HOMETOWN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?

I am from Austria, I grew up in Linz, moved to Vienna to study medicine and finally moved to Gmunden in 2012.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE COMPETING IN THE VALSIR MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP 2023?

The Valsir worldcup gets bigger and more professional every year.

MOUNTAIN RUNNING IS A PHYSICALLY DEMANDING SPORT. COULD YOU SHARE SOME INSIGHTS INTO YOUR TRAINING AND PREPARATION LEADING UP TO THE WORLD CUP? HOW DO YOU TRAIN IN WINTER? DO YOU COMBINE DISCIPLINES SKI, BIKE, RUNNING?

Some years ago, I started doing skimountainiering in winter when there was enough snow; it took away some pressure from me, because before I was always worried about the snow. Now I don not mind: if there is snow I go with the ski, if there is no snow, I take my runningshoes.

And all year long I do about 40 % of my training on the bike.

SPONSORSHIP PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN AN ATHLETE'S SUCCESS. COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR SPONSORS/TEAM?

I think that not being in a team made it possible for me to be successful for so many years, because I was never told which races to run. I could always decide for my own.

WITH 16 RACES IN 8 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, EACH COURSE HAD ITS UNIQUE CHALLENGES. CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT

THE BEST LANDSCAPE RACE- TROFEO NASEGO

Andrea Mayr (AUT) wins the Trofeo Nasego 2023. Photo © WMRA- Marco Gulberti

THE FASTEST- ŠMARNA GORA 

Andrea Mayr (AUT) wins the Šmarna Gora 2022. Photo © WMRA- Richard Bolt

THE MOST DIFFCIULT/TECHNICAL  ?

THE COMPETITION IN THE MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP IS FIERCE. HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE AND STAY MOTIVATED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON?

I just think about the race next to come.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY PRE-RACE RITUALS OR MENTAL TECHNIQUES YOU RELY ON TO KEEP YOUR PERFORMANCE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CUP?

I realized that I always had my best races when I just felt comfortable and happy at the warming up so I always have my family with me.

FINALLY, WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE RACE/MOMENT DURING THE VALSIR MOUNTAIN RUNNING WORLD CUP, AND WHAT MADE IT SPECIAL TO YOU?

The victory with the new course record at  the Piz Tri Vertical, because I never thought I could run so fast again.

Andrea Mayr (AUT) wins the Piz Tri 2023 with 37.14, breaking her own course record. Photo © WMRA- Marco Gulberti

WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE

Being part of the Valsir Mountain Running athletes really fells good: there is always a warm wellcome; it is like a big family.

Further statistics and results from Andrea Mayr can be found here: https://wmra.ch/results/statistics