Team Ireland Masters Ready for World Masters Mountain Running Championship in Meduno, Italy

For Irish runners, there’s a special pride in pulling on the green vest - whether it’s for a parkrun in the rain, a community 10K along the coast, or on the world stage against the best in the mountains. This summer, that pride will be on full display as 94 Irish masters athletes travel to Italy for the 24th World Masters Mountain Running Championships (WMMRC) in Meduno, Italy, from 28 - 31 August 2025.

A Strong Irish Presence

The Irish team is sending one of its largest delegations in recent history, with athletes competing across three grueling races:

• 72 in the Uphill Race
• 32 in the Long Distance
• 82 in the Classic

That’s a phenomenal show of strength from the masters community, building on last year’s performance at Canfranc, Spain (2024). There, over 100 Irish athletes competed, with five brave souls tackling all three races - helping Ireland finish 5th on the medal table and 4th overall in total medals.

For a small nation, Ireland consistently punches above its weight on the world sense, driven by resilience, camaraderie, and a love of the sport that runs deep through our hills, bogs, and backroads.

The Meduno Challenge

Meduno is no Sunday long run. The championships are set against the dramatic backdrop of the Friulian Dolomites, a region famous for paragliding, mountain trails, and steep, punishing climbs. Irish athletes will take on:

• Uphill Race (Fri 29 Aug): 5 km with 800 m of relentless climbing to Monte Valinis.
• Long Distance (Sat 30 Aug): 33.5 km with over 1,700 m of ascent and descent - a true test of endurance.
• Classic Race (Sun 31 Aug): 14.1 km through forest, trail, and hard-packed track, with 735 m ascent/730 m descent.

Each course demands not only fitness, but also mountain craft - pacing the climbs, trusting the descents, and finding rhythm on uneven ground.

Irish Spirit, Italian Mountains

Any Irish runner who’s slogged up Ticknock in the rain, chased the sunrise on Croagh Patrick, or battled headwinds along the Wild Atlantic Way will know the kind of grit required for Meduno. While the climbs are steeper and the descents sharper, the spirit is the same: dig in, keep moving, and lean on your teammates.

Team Manager Aidan Cleary captured this perfectly:

“I wish all competitors strength on the climbs, speed on the descents, and joy in every stride. Embrace the challenge, savour the journey, and take in the stunning beauty of the Friulian Dolomites. Go n-éirí libh go léir - good luck to all, and see you on the mountains.”

Why This Matters for Irish Runners

For everyday runners at home - whether you’re training for the Dublin Marathon, chasing a PB at your local 5K, or just heading out for a jog around the block - the achievements of the Irish Masters remind us of what’s possible. Age is no barrier, community is everything, and the joy of running can take us from the Phoenix Park to the Italian Dolomites.

So next time you lace up, think of the green vests powering up Monte Valinis. Draw a little strength from them - and remember that every step on Irish soil connects us to something bigger.

📲 Follow along with #Meduno2025 and #WMMRC2025