Someone who isn’t a stranger to the Fast Running pages, Sarah McCormack is one of Ireland’s greatest mountain runners and we’re delighted to have her on board for the Fast10 in 2021.

In the short and unusual summer season of 2020, McCormack was making good on all the training from the first half of her year. Even as early as February the Irish athlete took the win at the Montserrat Sky race and then in the summer had multiple wins and strong performances in Italy.

A sixth in the elite only Sierre Zinal event in September was followed up by a fine win at the Trofeo Nasego in Italy, which had doubled up as an Italian Championships, and a late season trip to the Golden Trail Championships in the Azores.

The 2019 World Mountain Running Series champ has represented Ireland at the uphill only and up and down mountain running champs and this year will be looking at more local fell running events near her home in the Lake District, as well as mountain running events in Europe again.

Profile

Name: Sarah McCormack
Age: 34
Hometown: Windermere, Cumbria, UK
Club: Ambleside AC
Main discipline: fell/mountain running
Other disciplines: a very small amount of flatter running (track, xc, road)
Job: Running coach

Goals or targets for 2021: local fell races, possibly Mountain Running World Cup, Mountain Running World/European Championships

Past Running highlights

Travelling anywhere to race is always a highlight; some notable races have been Montserrat Skyrace, Mallorca 5000 skyrace, Snowdon, Fletta Trail, Dreizinnen, Grossglockner, Smarna Gora, Vertical Fenis, Trofeo Vanoni, Trofeo Nasego, Lagunc VK, Mountain Running world champs in Argentina

Interesting or fun fact: I have a lucky empty gel packet in my racing shorts, it actually isn’t very lucky but taking it out might still be a bad idea

I run because… I love spending time in the mountains and I feel best when I have a goal to work towards

At the European Mountain Running uphill Champs in Zermatt, Switzerland. Photo: Robbie Britton

Favourites

Favourite training session uphill tempo run
Least favourite training session 800m reps are always a no from me
Favourite pre-race food porridge
Favourite post-race food ice cream
Favourite running shoes inov8 xtalon ultras
Brands or organisations that support me inov8, suunto, vaga