Elhousine and Philemon set to take on the world in Japan at Golden Trail Series opener

The Golden Trail World Series (GTWS), now in its sixth edition, commences its 2024 season in Kobe, Japan, tomorrow (Saturday 20 April).

The series, which pits elite-level trail runners from around the world on rugged mountain courses that range from 15 to 26 miles, has previously centred on Europe and North America and includes two races in Asia for the first time, further increasing the series global reach.

Tomorrow’s highly technical race in Kobe (Saturday 20 April) over 21 km includes more than 2000m  of vertical gain and will be followed by a 23 km race with over 1500m of vertical gain on April 27 in Sichuan, China.

Two of Africa’s leading trail athletes, Moroccan Elhousine Elazzaoui and Philemon Kiriago of Kenya, spoke to GTWS media manager, Mickael Mussard, on their chances ahead of the weekend.

“2023 was a very good year for me with my first victory on the Dolomyths race in Italy and later victory in the GTWS final, also in Italy,” said Elazzaoui. “I think above all I gained a lot of experience during this season. I missed a lot of opportunities during the time I’ve competed on the Golden Trail Series circuit as I think I lacked experience. Now I think I’m ready!

“I had to find the right people to advise me, so I think I made mistakes. I mismanaged certain races like the Marathon du Mont-Blanc and sometimes the pressure was such that I did not come to the races.

“I didn’t manage to get a visa for the United States GTWS races, which could have suited me.  With one or two results a little better, I could have hoped for better overall result. But trail racing is like that and we’ll see what the future has in store for us.

“After the GTWS final, I returned to Morocco,” Elazzaoui continued. “I always need to return to my origins to recover and take a break from running. It’s important for the mind and I have difficulty understanding people who run all year round.

“But I have been able to train since then and I was encouraged recently when I ran a 10-km road race under 29 minutes. We will just have to see how things will go in this first Golden Series race. In any case, I’m going to give it my all.

“I’ve joined the Nnormal team of Kilian Jornet. They have a vision that fits quite well with my long-term ambitions and an eco-responsible aspect that I like. It is a new adventure which is beginning and I found very professional people who are my friends and a real source of motivation for me.

“I know nutrition has been my weak point and I have tried to work on it. Already last year I tried to pay more attention to hydration during races, and it has worked well so far.

“This year’s Golden Trail Series is clearly the highest level ever!” Elazzaoui acknowledged.”There are the best athletes in the world competing.  But if things go well this year, I say to myself why not go for the title!

“I think there are plenty of runners who have things to prove tomorrow! And there are newcomers like (Kenyans) Philemon Kiriago or Patrick Kipngenyo, who weren’t able to show their full potential last year, so it’s going to be interesting. I think there will be some surprises this year.”

Kenyan Philemon Ombogo Kiriago is back on the GTWS circuit and preparing for tomorrow’s opener in Japan. After winning 2023 GTWS’s Sierra Zinal in Switzerland and finishing on the podium of series final in Italy (second to Elazzaoui), joint winner of SPNA’s Africa Trail Runner of the Year (short distance), Kiriago, will certainly be competitive in this year’s series.

“Last year was my first time on the Golden Trail World Series and I really enjoyed it,” said Kiriago. “I managed to finish on the podium twice last year and that represents a lot for me. I hadn’t expected to make a podium at the start of the season, so that’s already a great success.

“I’ve learned the importance of getting to know the course before a race! It might have saved me from getting lost in races in the USA last year! I’ve also learned that sometimes you don’t have to give your all on the descents so that you can keep some strength on the climbs.

“In my preparation this year I just continued on the same basis,” Kiriago explained. “I did a lot of speed work, intensity, sequences of climbs and descents which are very important on the Golden Trail Series. I feel stronger this year and can’t wait to see what happens.

“For the moment I’m concentrating on Japan and China but then I will defend my title in Sierre-Zinal before returning to the GTWS races in the United States. I am the first Kenyan to win at Sierra Zinal so I want to go to defend my title, and if the legs are there, why not try for the race record? But it will be hard, as Kilian Jornet set the record!

“The race here in Japan is really super technical, certainly the most technical race I have seen. If I run well, I think I can make a top 5, but the downhills are scary… I don’t want to get hurt and risk everything just in this race.”