MIUT® – Madeira Island Ultra Trail is one of the largest national trail running events and proposes the total crossing of the island of Madeira in the Northwest-Southeast direction. The eighth edition took place between 20 and 24 April 2016 and was included for the first time in the UTWT – Ultra Trail World Tour and scored for the Portuguese National Trail Ultra Endurance Championship 2016.

 versão original em português

The veteran Tobias Mews wrote in his book “50 Races to Run Before you Die”  that MIUT has something for everyone. The event has four races, all of them linear and non-stop: the main-MIUT (114.9 km; 7066m D; degree of difficulty: 3), ULTRA (83.9 km; 4630m D +; degree of difficulty: 3), MARATHON (43.2 km; 1106m D +; degree of difficulty: 1) and MINI (15.6 km; 375m D +; degree of difficulty: 1).

In this edition, MIUT, Ultra and Marathon assigned 5, 4 and 2 points, respectively, for participation in the “Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc ®“ 2017.

The participants of this event can testify in loco and actively all the dazzling or, at least, some of the most spectacular scenery of the Pearl of the Atlantic.

The huge success of this event, organized by the Clube de Montanha do Funchal, can be proven by the tremendous rythm of the inscriptions and large number of top athletes who attended. In little more than 24 hours after its opening, a third of vacancies was filled. The event was attended by 2030 participants from 39 countries .

For someone with origins in Madeira Island, running one of the MIUT races has special significance. And Tobias Mews was right, the MIUT had something for me too. Being new to trail running, the 16-kilometre race appeared as the ideal distance to participate in a world-class event.

The trail follows towards Boca do Risco offering unforgettable views of the crystalline vastness of the sea touching the base of the majestic cliffs that rise up at our feet. Here we find many tourists, in narrow trails, allowing our passage and uttering incentives in several languages.

The feeling of challenge fulfilled appears accompanied by a huge desire to enjoy more of these tracks. For 2017, my challenge will be the 43.2 kilometers.

THE WINNERS

The 26-year-old American, Zach Miller (Nike Elite Trail) was the big winner Queen MIUT with the fantastic time of 13:52.17 hours. The Spanish Tofol Castanyer (Salomon Etixx) took second place with a time of 14:12.45 hours. In the feminine, Caroline Chaverot, who recently won the Transgrancanaria, was shattering and reached the 8th place in the overall ranking with the total time of 14:18:45 hours.

MIUT (115 km/7000D +)

RESULTS (MEN)

1-Zach Miller (Nike Elite Trail) 13:52:17

2-Tofol Castanyer (Salomon Etixx) 14:12:45

3-Sébastien Camus (Team Garmin Adventure) 14:18:45

RESULTS (WOMEN)

1 – Caroline Chaverot (Team Hoka One) 15:00:55

2-Andrea Huser (Mammut) 15:55:29

3-Emilie Lecomte 17:25:32

Ultra (85 km/4400D +)

RESULTS (MEN)

1-Damien Douvry (WAA Team) 10:21:19

2-Gerald Bauer (Clube de Montanha do Funchal) 10:57:45

3-Luis Fernandes (Track of the Templars – Green Roc) 10:58:38

RESULTS (WOMEN)

1-Magali Gigon (Entraid49) 13:06:31

2 – Aoife Quigly 13:32:09

3-Sylvie Quittot 13:41:16

MARATHON (43 km/1100 d +)

RESULTS (MEN)

1-Francisco Freitas (ACD-Jardim da Serra) 3:51:09

2-Nelson Free (Run.pt) 3:58:36

3-Fernando Gomez (Athletic Club of Ferreira do Zêzere) 4:01:04

RESULTS (WOMEN)

1-Amandine Ferrato (Team Trail New Balance) 4:02:39

2-Nadege Vignand 4:56:02

3-Carla milk (Porto da Cruz School Sports Club) 5:09:57

Mini (16 km/350 d +)

RESULTS (MEN)

1-Jorge Pimenta (RC Travel) 1:13:34

2 – Vitor Rodrigues (Tomiauto Trail Team) 1:18:39

3-Paulo Aguiar 1:19:50

RESULTS (WOMEN)

1-Ida Tjørsvaag (IL SKJALG) 1:22:20

2-Vera Pinto (A.D. Amarante Trail Running) 1:42:45

3 – Elsa Freitas (Santana school sports club) 1:43:43

Photos: Sílvio Silva