A South African trail runner is among the favourites to be crowned world "Skyrunning" champion – considered the pinnacle of trail running titles.

Lucky Miya‚ the South African Skyrunning champion‚ has arrived in Spain‚ where he will join the world's toughest trail runners for Saturday's gruelling 42km BUFF Epic Trail SkyMarathon in the Pyrenees mountains.Not only will runners jostle each other along a narrow trail threading mountain peaks for much of the route‚ they must negotiate a cumulative altitude gain of 3200 metres and a final drop of 1500 metres to the finish line.“It is very‚ very competitive‚ but he (Miya) is probably in the best shape of his life‚” said Miya's coach‚ Neville Beeton.Miya‚ 35‚ is South Africa's current Skyrunning champion‚ and has won five of the six last local Skyrunner Series races. He was previously a top road runner‚ with a personal best marathon time of 2h15mins.Miya also competed in the previous Skyrunning World Championships two years ago‚ as part of a two-man team‚ but had to withdraw due to injury just 7km from the finish.In a statement issued by his sponsor‚ Cape Union Mart /K-Way‚ he said he had "unfinished business" at the Skyrunning Champs.Times Media was unable to reach Miya in Spain today. However‚ in an interview ahead of the race with the South African Skyrunning Association (SASA)‚ Miya said he was looking forward to Saturday's challenge.“Having an opportunity to test your body against these extremely tough conditions is such an overwhelming experience that makes me proud and love the concept of the Skyrunning‚” Miya said.“It will be a tough race and I’m not sure who my competitors will be but it will be a very experienced group of guys no doubt‚ so the strategy will be to run my own race."I will start with a medium pace and gradually pick it up but carefully as there will be big climbs for the first part of the course and so I’ll need to maintain that to carry me throughout the race.”..