Elite ultrarunner Dakota Jones will be hosting the second edition of Footprints Running Camp from July 24, to 31, 2022. This camp combines environmental activism with trail running in the beautiful high alpine environment near Silverton, Colorado. In recent years, Jones has been outspoken about protecting the environment/trail systems and has used his platform as… Read more »
My ultrarunning career began when I ran the 2016 Broken Arrow 52-Kilometer Skyrace. At the time, the 52-kilometer race distance seemed so far and I wanted to test my limits at the distance. Since then, I have remained curious about how far I could run and I’ve recently wondered what it would feel like to… Read more »
Jeff Thies achieved his dream of becoming a professional track runner, experienced its highs and lows, and is ready to chase new dreams beyond the “oval office.” Thies’ running journey is filled with exceptional mentors, camaraderie, and intense training environments that propelled him from being a relatively unknown high school athlete to the top of… Read more »
“When it hurts, speed up!” –Matt Carpenter (Pikes Peak Marathon course record holder) The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon, held annually in Manitou Springs, CO since 1956, is one of the most iconic mountain races in the United States. The course takes runners from the town of Manitou Springs (6,400 feet/1,950 meters) to the summit… Read more »
Photo Above: Bobby Florio. The fourth edition of the Running Up For Air (RUFA) Staunton trail running event was held Friday and Saturday February 25 and 26 at Staunton State Park, located 45 minutes from Denver, Colorado. This was the final event of 2022 in the Running Up For Air races, “an endurance mountain challenge… Read more »
Cross training – also referred to as physical activity(ies) in which athletes participate in addition to their primary sport training – allows runners to supplement their running volume, increase strength and improve their fitness in new and different ways. Common cross training activities for runners include cycling, weight training, ElliptiGo rides, swimming, rock climbing, skimo… Read more »
The 15th annual Vail Winter Uphill was held Sunday February 20, 2022 at Vail Ski Resort in Vail, CO as a fundraiser for the US Mountain Running Team. Participants ascended 2,200 feet on Vail’s world famous ski slopes two hours before the resort opened for operation. The race began at the bottom of the Eagle… Read more »
Alex Willis, born and raised local from America’s highest incorporated town, Leadville, Colorado (situated at 10,200 feet), has made a name for himself as an accomplished athlete and endurance coach in a variety of sporting disciplines. Willis is a former USA Triathlon Team Member, collegiate runner and currently competes at the elite level in many… Read more »
Over the past five years, running shoes with carbon plates have earned the reputation as “supershoes” among the road running community. These shoes have undeniably improved race performances in nearly all road racing distances and aided athletes in setting new world records. These days, every elite runner at the startline of any major marathon (Boston,… Read more »
The moments when top runners “break the tape” at the world’s largest trail races are often the media’s primary focus, yet these moments are not where the magic really happens. Any race champion will agree, the real magic happens behind the scenes in an athlete’s daily trading grind. The day-to-day moments in life that fuel… Read more »
Montana’s iconic trail race, The Rut Mountain Runs, is taking action to make its events more inclusive in 2022. Race director and ultrarunning legend, Mike Foote, has partnered with Inclusive Outdoors Project, an organization that aims to provide equal access to the outdoors for everyone. The organization states its mission: “At Inclusive Outdoors we know… Read more »
At just 19 years old, Texas-based race director Briston Rains has successfully completed his first full year of race directing. In 2021, Rains founded his own race directing company, Texas Outlaw Running Company, which included six races across Texas. Rain’s race series included a variety of distances and race styles including a half marathon, marathon,… Read more »
Saturday, April, 16, 2022 kicks off the eleventh edition of the Born to Run Ultra Running Extravaganza, a four-day trail running festival, held in Los Olivos, CA. This year’s event will include a new race, Born To Adapt, the first-ever adaptive athlete specific trail race. It will be a three-hour race on a 5-kilometer trail… Read more »
New Year’s resolutions often bring a renewed commitment to training plans, but not all training plans are created equal. Organized training plans can be a great way to establish race goals and improve running performance, but there are also a few common “pitfalls” to be aware of when amping up your training routine. In this… Read more »
“Pure living. That’s what fishing all comes down to for me, and it’s what keeps me going back every year to spend eight weeks on a 32-foot aluminum drift net boat with no toilet, shower, or access to land. Something about being out on the water with one focus, one goal, and no outside news… Read more »
Traction devices are essential accessories for many trail runners during chilly winter months. Icy and snowy conditions often make it difficult to run on trails without slipping or falling, even when wearing shoes with grippy tread. Traction devices, which come in a variety of forms such as removable or built-in cleats, metal studs or screws,… Read more »
As the American Trail Running Association’s (ATRA) designated “Trail Trotter,” I have had many wonderful experiences in 2021 traveling to events and connecting further with people doing amazing things in our trail running community. In spite of ongoing challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic, the trail running community has become closer, stronger and more resilient… Read more »
Race director Megan DeHaan is progressing trail running inclusion and Indigenous rights at The Crazy Mountain 100, which will be held for the first time on July 29, 2022. The Crazy Mountain 100 will be the only 100-mile race in Montana this upcoming year. The point-to-point course takes runners through the remote Crazy Mountain Range… Read more »
Nicholas Turco, twenty-three year old trail runner and recent Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder, is following up his senior research project on the sports climate for LGBTQ+ student-athletes in the NCAA with a scholarship program that will increase LGBTQ+ inclusion in college sports. The scholarship, known as The Colorado Athletics… Read more »
This holiday season is a wonderful time to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for as trail runners. We have opportunities to run on beautiful trails in all different environments from forests to deserts and mountains to city parks. We all share a simple connection to the natural world that only requires… Read more »
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