Ultra trail runners are heading for North Cyprus again this year to join the May 23 Crusader Castles Mountain Ultra Challenge, formerly known as the Two Castles and an Abbey trail.
The 80km mountain ridge route runners, dubbed Lionhearts, include desert runner Devrim Celal and UK charity marathon runner Gerry Dance. Mr Dance suffers from the disabling arthritic back condition ankylosing spondylitis and runs in his trademark orange Morph suit to raise funds for the national charity.
Last year he completed 70km before his body refused to continue but he has sworn to reach the finish line this year and began his 100-mile ultra training plan this month. Mr Dance, who sold one of his motorbikes last year to fund his passion, said: “I have a marathon in April and lots of ultra trails but I am waiting to hear if I won the ballot for Mont Blanc.”
Lionhearts notch up two ultra points which are necessary to enter a ballot for a place in the top international Alpine Ultra race at Mont Blanc.
Cypriot ultra marathoner Devrim Celal, a 2013 and 2014 Lionheart, will be back in action this year after finishing the 2014 Crusader Castles Mountain Ultra in a time of 12hrs 47mins, a vast improvement on his 15:29 in 2013. Mr Celal has a long track record of distance running and has completed 250km desert races, the 110km Ultra Trail Mont Blanc and the 80km Iznik ultra.His most recent adventure was the 110km North Face Cappadocia trail ultra in October.
Registration opened on the www.castleultra.com website this week for the 30km and 10km categories, dubbed Braveheart and Mountain Goat.
By Anne Canalp for Cyprus Today
Devrim Celal in 2013
PHOTO: Castlesultra
