Ridley Secured Two Podiums in Romania Masters Races
Susan Ridley took third in her age group for both the vertical and trail events at the European Masters Championships.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Running
Susan Ridley earned third-place finishes in the W60 age category during the European Masters Mountain Running Championships in Rasnov, Romania. She successfully completed both a vertical race and a challenging 40km mountain trail marathon.
Why it matters
The event highlights the extreme physical demands placed on older athletes in mountain running, where navigational and technical skills are as critical as endurance. These results reflect the high level of competition found in elite age-group master series events.
Ridley competed in a 3.7km vertical race with 800m elevation gain and a 40km trail race featuring 2,000m of total elevation and descent. The trail marathon concluded with a final climb of 30 flights of steps.
The players
Susan Ridley
Susan Ridley is a competitive distance runner who specializes in mountain and trail racing.
The details
During the 40km trail race, Ridley navigated a difficult course that resulted in four separate falls. She sustained a left hip injury after her final fall, which occurred at approximately the 18km mark of the race.
Timeline
Susan Ridley competed in the European Masters Mountain Running Championships in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
This performance marks a significant achievement in Ridley's master running career and highlights the ongoing intensity of the continental championship season. Her ability to medal despite injury shifts her standing in the regional masters hierarchy as the season concludes.
Ridley secured two third-place podium finishes despite suffering a hip injury at the 18km mark. The grueling 40km trail course required climbing 30 flights of steps at the finish line, testing the limits of recovery for master athletes.
The takeaway
Mountain running demands constant attention to terrain, as demonstrated by the four falls Ridley experienced on the trail. Athletes in this discipline should prioritize technical descent training to minimize injury risks on similar mountain tracks.
Further reading
For more on competitive endurance trends, visit the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Border Telegraph.
