March 1st sees Transgrancanaria return for its 11th year. The race around the Spanish island of Gran Canaria brought together 2,500 runners last year (a big improvement on the 65 it attracted when it began back in October 2003) of varying abilities, thanks to the different options it provides its runners, mixing up the elevation, distance and time allowed to complete:

Transgrancanaria – 125km; 8,500m elevation; 30 hours to complete
Transgrancanaria – 84km; 4,700m elevation; 22 hours to complete
Transgrancanaria – 44km; 1,365m elevation; 12 hours to complete
Transgrancanaria – 30km; 818m elevation; 10 hours to complete
Transgrancanaria – 17.4km; 470m elevation; 6 hours to complete

The race isn’t just open to professionals, allowing 30 hours to complete it, meaning that the top athletes will finish when it’s light, and the slower competitors completing after nightfall.

Despite this, the race has gained a solid reputation in professional circles, and some big names are due to compete in this year’s event, with Sebastien Chaigneau, Scott Jurek, Timothy Olson, Ryan Sandes, Dylan Bowman, Julien Chorier, Jez Bragg, Mike Wolfe, Jason Schlarb and Miguel Heras being some of the men to watch. Chaigneau is a top tip, having won the race for the past two years – with incredible times of 12 hours, 50 minutes in 2012 and 14 hours, 30 minutes in 2013 (the slower time being due to severe rain and fog).

Amongst the female competitors, it’s worth keeping an eye on Francesca Canepa, Nathalie Mauclair, Nuria Picas, Nerea Martinez, Fernanda Maciel, Julia Bottger, Uxue Fraile and Karine Sanson.

You can get an idea of the race ahead in the video below. Wish you were there? Who’s your pick of the competing athletes? Be sure to let us know in the comments.