European Off-Road Running Champs 2026: Results
From June 5 to 7, 2026 in Kamnik, Slovenia, Europe's top off-road specialists faced brutal conditions at the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships. The outcome: an exceptional showing from Great Britain and a strong French performance in the long-distance race.
Key Results
- Women's uphill: Morven Goodrum (Great Britain) in 58:00 - her first ever international competition
- Men's long distance: Frédéric Tranchand (France) in 3:55
- Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 35 athletes, their biggest-ever delegation at these championships
- Organizers described Day 1 as "brutal" conditions
Morven Goodrum: A Revelation on Her International Debut
She's the story of these championships. Morven Goodrum, a British mountain runner, lined up at an international competition for the first time. She didn't just podium. She won. 58 minutes to the summit, the only woman to crack the hour mark in the uphill event. Laura Hottenrott (Germany) and Nelie Clement (France) completed the podium, separated by just seconds.
Winning on your first international selection is rare in a discipline as technical as mountain running. It demands years of muscular adaptation and terrain-reading. The fact that Goodrum could dominate on debut says a lot about what's coming from her — and she's exactly the kind of emerging talent featured in the next generation of mountain running.
Frédéric Tranchand Confirms His Long-Distance Status
On the men's long-distance side, Frédéric Tranchand (France) crossed the line in 3:55. Already known on the international trail circuit for his TDS (Tour du Mont Blanc) victory the previous year, Tranchand opened a gap in the downhill section and came in alone. Daniel Pattis (Italy) fought through stomach problems to finish second in 3:59. Antoine Charvolin (France), last year's TDS winner, rounded out the podium in 4:05.
GB and NI: Record Delegation, Record Results
British Athletics sent 35 athletes to Kamnik, the largest team GB&NI has ever fielded at these championships. It paid off. Beyond Goodrum's win, several British runners placed inside the top 10 across multiple events. It signals a growing depth of talent in British off-road running that wasn't there a few years ago.
Brutal Conditions Made the Performances Sharper
Organizers called the first competition day "brutal" - technical Slovenian terrain, irregular surfaces, and tough early-week weather. That context makes the results even more impressive, particularly for Goodrum who was experiencing this level of competition for the first time.
What This Signals for the Trail Season Ahead
The trail and mountain calendar accelerates in the coming weeks with the World Mountain Running Championships, followed by the summer's biggest European trail races (UTMB in August, and beyond). These European Championships often serve as both a selection event and preparation for those targets.
For Morven Goodrum, a European Championship win on debut opens every door for what comes next.