St Patrick's AC trail runner Sue Mercieca took part in Ecotrail Sicilia's Etna Ultra Trail (Sicily) finishing second in her category. 

The trail race on the unforgiving lava trails and rugged lava rock-fields was 50.5km long and had an elevation of 2300m. An ultra marathon also called ultra distance or ultra running qualifies as such if it is longer than 42.195m - that is the classic length of the marathon.

But apart from the length of the race, trail running involves elevation and rough terrain - with this race taking place amid black lava beds, a challenge to walk through, let alone to run through.

Forming part of Ecotrail Sicilia's - the Etna Ultra Marathon was the fifth  race out of 12 races in this year's calendar in the Sicilian territory which also included a race on Pantelleria.

Having picked up running two and a half years ago Mercieca was happy she finished in 8hrs 28mins. The race was won by Salvo Pillitteri in 4hrs 34mins for the men and Antonella di Carlo for the women in 6hours 23mins - they both described the race as a tough and technical race on the igneous rocky trails, held in very hot and unusual conditions for Etna.

According to the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) the Etna Trail carries 2 new UTMB points. Mercieca looks forward to other upcoming trail challenges this year whilst hoping to maintain training momentum in the July and August heat waves.