I find that watching sky running videos hugely inspiring and motivating me to grab my shoes and hydration vest and head into the mountains. That leads to the question of how to start sky-running so that we can experience the adventure for ourselves.
Choose the most well-used/popular mountain trail for your first sky run to make sure you are not in an isolated area. Make sure that you have enough water and calories and always go into the high mountains with at least one other runner/hiker.
Let’s look at the essential things that you need to know in order to be able to take up sky running.
How To Start Sky Running?
Skyrunning is different from mountain running or fell running because it takes running to greater heights, literally. International Skyrunning Federation President and Skyrunning Founder Marino Giacometti even created this tagline for the sport: “Less cloud. More Sky.”
Running from plains to mountain ranges above 6,600 feet or 2,000 meters with over 30% incline and II grade or below climbing difficulty, skyrunning is truly a challenging sport that requires beginners to have the proper equipment, knowledge, and training.
In order to start skyrunning, novice runners should be able to prepare themselves physically and mentally and they should have the proper equipment that would help them accomplish their skyrunning goal.
What Is Skyrunning?
Skyrunning is the form of running sport that encompasses the beautiful and wonderful outdoors – from the sea to the plains to the mountain ranges that almost touch the sky. This concept was pioneered by Italian mountaineer Marino Giacometti together with his fellow climbers.
Skyrunning involves running through mountains that have an altitude of 6,600 feet or 2,000 meters with an incline that is above 30% and with a climbing difficulty that does not go beyond II grade.
At present, there are 200 official skyrunning competitions happening worldwide yearly or bi-annually with approximately 50,000 participants that represent 65 countries.
To learn more about exactly what sky-running is, here is the article that I wrote on Trail Run Planet explaining it in detail.
The International Skyrunning Federation
Every ultra sport has a governing body and so does skyrunning. The International Skyrunning Federation or ISF is the authorized entity that governs skyrunning. The ISF directs, regulates, develops, and promotes the sport of sky-running all over the world.
Skyrunning has three disciplines, and these are Sky, SkyUltra, and Vertical. Their differences are not just based on distance but also on technical difficulty and vertical climb.
The ISF coordinates and sanctions the following skyrunning races: Skyrunner National Series, Skyrunner World Series, Continental Championships, Youth Skyrunning World Championships, Vertical World Circuit, and World Championships.
The ISF was formed and founded in 2008 and its president today is Skyrunning Founder Marino Giacometti.
Basic Equipment To Start Skyrunning
Skyrunning is very unlike your usual run on flat surface roads around your neighborhood. Some people would say that skyrunning is the ultimate running sport ever.
If you are a novice sky runner who is about to start skyrunning, you should take note that you need to have the proper equipment in order to be able to do and accomplish the sport successfully.
Here are some of the basic equipment that you need in order to start skyrunning:
- A specialized pair of trail running shoes – They should fit you well and have a really sticky grip. The shoes that you must use when you do skyrunning should be able to handle mountain trails, forest grounds, mud, wet stones, and rocky terrain.
- A light backpack – Your backpack should be lightweight (and waterproof if possible) but it should be able to carry your other equipment listed below.
- Water bottle for your water, and snacks and other food – Skyrunning is very challenging and tiring, therefore you will need to pack some water and food for you to eat during short breaks or light walks.
- A hat, gloves, windproof trousers, and jacket with taped seams
- A map and compass
- Pole/s to help you in uphill sections
Tips In Sky Running For Beginners
1) Read and learn everything you can about the sport. It is not like your usual running workout at the park or in your neighborhood.
2) Join orientation seminars or activities in order to really immerse with the sport.
3) Do the proper training so that you will be ready to do skyrunning physically and mentally.
4) First join beginner’s races. Once you’re ready, you can level up and join more challenging races.