Lycian Way Ultramarathon

Lycian Way Ultramarathon
Date September
Location Lycia, Turkey
Event type Multiday trail
Established October 11, 2010
Course records
  • men's: 29:29:42 (2011)
  • women's: 38:43:57 (2012)
Official site http://www.likyayoluultramaratonu.com/EN/
Start
Finish
Start and finish locations of Lycian Way Ultramarathon.
Trail signs on the Lycian Way.

Lycian Way Ultramarathon (Turkish: Likya Yolu Ultramaratonu, shortly LYUM) is an international multiday trail running ultramarathon event that takes place across the ancient Lycian region in southwestern Turkey. The event is run around 220–240 km (140–150 mi) of the 509 km (316 mi) long historical Lycian Way eastwards from Fethiye to Antalya in six days. The elevation of the route varies between sea level and 800 m (2,600 ft).[1][2] The Lycian Way Ultramarathone was established in 2010 taking place on October 11–17.[3]

Changing ground conditions such as sandy and rocky trails, dirt roads, slippery terrain in conifer forests and steep slopes make the ultramarathon extremely difficult.[2]

Map of the Lycian Way.

The route starts at Ölüdeniz in Fethiye district of Muğla Province. Following the Turkish Riviera coastline, it passes through Sidyma and then in Antalya Province the places Kaş, Simena, Finike, Olympos and Phaselis. The race ends in Antalya.[4]

The fourth edition of the event in 2013 was cancelled because many foreign ultra runners stayed away or annulled their entry due to perceived risks in connection with the 2013 protests in Turkey and 2012 Syrian–Turkish border clashes. The cancellation caused reaction by local athletes, who had already arranged their training, holiday and airline tickets in accordance with the race term.[5]

Winners

Key:       Course record

Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
2010[6] Turkey Mustafa Kızıltaş 31:52:11 Turkey Aylin Savacı Armador 48:36:57
2011[7] Turkey Mustafa Kızıltaş 29:29:42 Russia Elena Polyakova 39:25:20
2012[8] Turkey Faruk Kar 32:35:08 Russia Elena Polyakova 38:43:57
2013[5] Cancelled
2014

References

  1. ↑ "Rota" (in Turkish). Likya Yolu Ultramaratonu. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hakkında" (in Turkish). Likya Yolu Ultramaratonu. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  3. ↑ "LYUM 2010" (in Turkish). Likya Yolu Ultramaratonu. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  4. ↑ "Route map". Likya Yolu Ultramaratonu. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ataer, Kazım (2013-09-05). "Likya Maratonu neden iptal edildi". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  6. ↑ "LYUM 2010-Genel Sıralama" (in Turkish). Likya Yolu Ultramaratonu. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  7. ↑ "LYUM 2011-Genel Sıralama (Bireysel)" (in Turkish). Likya Yolu Ultramaratonu. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  8. ↑ "LYUM 2012-Genel Sıralama" (in Turkish). Likya Yolu Ultramaratonu. Retrieved 2013-11-27.