Monday, October 24, 2011

Runners fear format change will make Mount Kinabalu climbathon less attractive

KOTA KINABALU: Top-ranked male runners in the just-concluded 25th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon feel that the popular mountain race will lose much of its novelty when the competition takes on a different format next year.

This is because the race will not culminate at the peak any more.

Italian Marco de Gasperi believed that the race to the summit was the main attraction and was the reason why the world’s best mountain runners took part.

“A change in the format will have a negative effect as the race to the peak and down is already a tradition,” said the 34-year-old who has competed in three Mount Kinabalu Climbathons, winning in 2003 and 2010.

“I hope the organisers will retain the present format,’’ he said, adding that he might not compete next year if they did not.

Local runner Saffrey Sumping echoed de Gasperi’s views.

He said the race should be retained and held separately from the proposed new competition – the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon: Adventure Series.

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