The inaugural 2024 Tough Mudder Infinity AlUla event in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, witnessed an impressive prize purse of $480,000 awarded to top competitors, with trail runners emerging as beneficiaries, notably Canadian runner Ryan Atkins.
Taking place over the weekend, athletes hailing from 40 different nations tackled a challenging 10-kilometre course adorned with 20 obstacles per lap, aiming to complete as many circuits as possible within an eight-hour timeframe.
Despite a brief delay due to overnight rain, the event commenced on Saturday, February 24, amidst the anticipated scorching and sandy conditions synonymous with Saudi Arabia.
Individual victors Jonathan Albon, representing the U.K. and residing in Norway, and Alisa Petrova from Russia, each claimed a substantial $80,000 prize. The generous prize pool extended to the top ten finishers in both the men’s and women’s races.
For context, while obstacle course racing typically offers first-place prizes ranging from $30,000 to $50,000, this event’s payout sets a new standard for OCR.
In the men’s competition, seasoned rivals Jonathan Albon and Canadian Ryan Atkins, renowned figures in the obstacle racing domain since their iconic showdown at the 2014 Spartan World Championships, once again found themselves at the forefront.
Albon’s strategic choice of full-leg white compression tights aided in managing the harsh environmental conditions as he completed an impressive 100 kilometres, securing the top prize of $80,000. Atkins followed closely behind, also covering 100 kilometers, earning $32,000 for his commendable effort. Mark Batres, a relative newcomer to the scene but possessing remarkable speed credentials, claimed third place, also covering the same distance and securing a prize of $16,000.
Yesterday I competed in the Tough Mudder infinity in Alula. Pretty happy with how I ran,” wrote Atkins, on a post following the race. “100k in just over 8 Hours. Big kudos to the organizers who put on a great event. First time to Saudi Arabia. It was nice to run around the desert and commiserate with a bunch of likeminded wonderful people.”
In the women’s category, Alisa Petrova showcased her endurance and skill by overtaking early leader Nicole Mericle to clinch victory with a distance of 90 kilometers, earning her a well-deserved $80,000. Mericle and Janka Pepova finished closely behind, each completing 80 kilometers and securing prizes of $32,000 and $16,000, respectively.
Notably, all three podium finishers in the women’s race boast extensive experience in trail running, further exemplifying their versatility and prowess in endurance sports.
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