Jim Walmsley and Katie Schide, the brilliant winners of the feature 82km race at last week’s World Mountain & Trail Running Championships 2025 have both hailed the Pyrenean course around Canfranc in Spain.
The pair made it an American double having prioritised the biennial event after being selected for the US team earlier in the year.
Walmsley took in – and won – the 61km OCC race at UTMB this year rather than the 174km blue riband event, while Schide swerved Chamonix entirely to keep herself fresh for the World Champs.
‘Rewarding memories’
And those decisions paid off spectacularly – Walmsley had to withstand a two-pronged French challenge before coming out on top in Spain, while Schide powered to a dominant success in the women’s race.
The scenery was both challenging and stunning and Walmsley posted on Instagram: “The hardest fought battles leave the most rewarding memories 🫶
“This was a special battle with @louisoncoiffet @benjaminroubiol and early with @petter_engdahl. The course was absolutely spectacular but wow, it definitely dished out the challenges all day long.
“The world championships delivered big this year and it definitely has a foot hold in our sport at the moment. Where else do I get to race as a team with guys like @calebolson123 @adampeterman_ @zachmiller38 @tracenknopp @narrowgreenarrow So special to bring home a 🥈 together with you guys.
“I have a feeling there won’t be another ~80km course like this again anytime soon. It was amazing, thank you so much to @wmtrc2025_canfrancpirineos“
‘A true race’
That was echoed by Schide, who posted: “Long Trail World Champion 🥇🌈
“Happy, tired, sore. A true race through the mountains that kept challenging me all day. So, so cool to be part of this event and share parts of the course with runners from all over the world. And wow the energy from the crowds (even in the middle of nowhere) was total🔥
“Finished it all off with a🥈for the American girl squad- the best ending to an already great day.”
And in terms of the trails, she told the WMRA: “Running on technical terrain like Canfranc felt very natural to me because of where I grew up in the US and my years living in France.”
The next World Mountain & Trail Running Championships are scheduled to be held in 2027 in Cape Town, South Africa, around Table Mountain.
