2024-04-16 16:54:18
On Saturday, April 13, more than 130 hardy runners gathered in Jēkabpils Mežapark to challenge themselves in Latvia’s second “backyard ultra” (BYU) run “Lūša pėdas”, which was organized by Jēkabpils Sports Center together with the heralds of the competition – ultramarathonists Rūdolfs Bondars and Aivars Bondars. The participants of the competition started at 11.00 in the morning. The composition of the participants and the representation of countries with the strongest representatives of domestic and neighboring countries showed that the Backyard Ultra “Footsteps of the Lynx 2024” is becoming more and more prestigious.
This year, the “Footprints of the Lynx” race also led around the Raju Reservoir, and as is customary in the “backyard ultra” or “backyard run”, the participants had to run a distance of 6,706 meters every hour. After completing a lap, runners could use the remaining time until the next hour as they saw fit to prepare to start at the start of a new hour. This type of race is considered closed when only one runner is left to complete the next lap. He is also a competition winner.
Last year, the first face-to-face BYU race in Latvia was attended by a similar number of participants – 140 runners, and the race ended only after three days – on Easter morning, when after completing 46 laps (~308 km) around the Radžu reservoir, Ritvars Kalniņš from Valmiëria became the winner, leaving behind him in second place the eighteen-year-old Polish runner Patrika Svetochowski, who at that time set the Polish record with 45 laps.
A year ago, two foreign runners entered the starting line – one each from Poland and Lithuania. This year, out of more than 130 applications received, eight participants are from Estonia and seven – from Lithuania, thus gathering more foreigners.
In order to win this year, Ritvar Kalniņas, whose record of 64 laps is also the Latvian record, had to run 33 laps, which is equivalent to approximately 221 km, as the fiercest competitor from Estonia retired at the beginning of the 33rd lap. Therefore, the competition ended after 33 hours, or before eight in the evening on Sunday. As the happy winner and main favorite Kalniņš admitted, he had hoped that the Estonian would make it to 40 laps. Ritvar himself was ready to make as many laps as necessary to defend the title of winner.
The winner received the “Footprints of the Lynx 2024” cup, a cash prize of €100, a Coros Apex 2 Pro sports watch from Eleme Latvia and COROS Baltic, as well as various competition presents.
Estonian Prits Valks (SK Estonia Trail Running) was in second place with 32 laps, improving his personal record by one lap, while in third place was Latvian Artis Zvejnieks (VecbebriSporto/Aizkraukles district) with 31 laps (207.7km), who set the second best in Latvia the “backyard ultra” result, improving by one lap what Rihardas Kanna achieved last year in Jēkabpilis. Last year, persistent and responsive Zvejnieks finished the competition in 4th place with 26 laps.
All seven Backyard Ultra “Footprints of the Lynx 2024” participants, among whom were three Estonians, two Latvians and two Lithuanians and who had completed 24 laps, took part in a draw where they could win a vacation at Camping “Ezerrasti” by Lake Baļote. The lucky lot was drawn by Lithuanian Marius Zakarauskas.
After 22 laps, the competition Backyard Ultra “Lūša pėdas 2024” was closed by Rihards Āboliņš (“Agra”), who completed 13 laps last year, improving it by 9 laps this year and entering the TOP3 of Latvian runners.
at At 8.00 in the morning on Sunday, the winner of the ladies’ competition was determined. It became last year’s third place winner Gita Muceniece (Marathon Club/Rundāles Water Mill). She completed 21 laps (~140.7 km), but last year 16 laps. Sigita Vāce-Vecvagare took second place for the second year in a row, who was not allowed by the coach to do more than 20 laps (~134 km), because Sigita, who completed Spartathlon 246 km in 35 hours, is preparing for the Latvian 24h running championship on May 24. Elīza Actiņa, the third place winner, completed three more laps for the position this year than last year – 16 laps (107.2 km).
All those who did not make it into the 100 most resistant received a beautiful commemorative souvenir – a magnet, while the 100 most resistant were awarded with wonderful medals and original sports pipes.
2024-04-16 16:54:18