Origin Stories of Top American Trail Runners – Part 1

Redemption, Wrong Turns, Silver Linings and Cigarettes: How a Few of the Nation’s Top Mountain/Ultra/Trail Runners Found Their Way to the Trails. Written by Shannon Payne. Shannon is a Colorado native currently residing in Auburn, California. She was a 2-time qualifier for the US Mountain Running Team, 2-time winner of the Mt. Washington Road Race,… Read more »

Spring 2020 Trail Runner Survey Results

Each spring, the American Trail Running Association conducts a survey to measure trail running trends from our national audience. This year we had over 2700 respondents. Complete survey results are made available to corporate members at the Switchback, Steep & Rocky and All-terrain levels. The following selected outtakes are from our most recent trail running… Read more »

Trail Runner Product Review: Mudroom Backpack’s Quartable

Mudroom Backpacks Quartable 18L reviewed by American Trail Running Association (ATRA) advisory board member and Wisconsin trail runner Susan Kendrick. Susan is the Director of Sponsorship for the American Birkebeiner® Ski Foundation and was featured in our View from the Pack series of articles. This product was provided at no charge by Mudroom Backpacks for… Read more »

How ATRA Member ElliptiGO is Managing Business in the Coronavirus Era

Tayte Pollmann’s articles are supported by American Trail Running Association corporate member Nike Trail Running. You can follow Tayte’s adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you liked this article, read even more of Tayte’s articles on our website. ElliptiGO is an American Trail Running Association corporate member and has provided products free of charge…. Read more »

LEKI Unveils UNGROUNDED: Four Films Featuring Trailblazing Women in the Outdoors

Press release from American Trail Running Association corporate member LEKI USA. LEKI is proud to announce the launch of their new digital series UNGROUNDED, created and directed by Ben Clark, starring four LEKI-sponsored women athletes all with unique paths to the outdoors. Ski mountaineer Caroline Gleich, ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin, trail & ultrarunner Meredith Edwards… Read more »

Are You Interested in a FREE Trail Running Coaching Package?

We’re excited to partner with American Trail Running Association (ATRA) corporate member Lifelong Endurance and Denver, Colorado based Coach Andrew Simmons to give away 90 days of one to one coaching. You must be an ATRA member to be eligible. Check out our Membership page to join now. Here’s how this coaching giveaway works in… Read more »

2020 NACAC Mountain Running Championships Cancelled Due to Coronavirus

The 2020 NACAC Mountain Running Championship in Golden, BC, Canada has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Limits on the number of participants in events to no more than 50 imposed by the British Columbia government means the host Golden Ultra will have to be cancelled. The 17th annual North American, Central American & Caribbean… Read more »

Runners for Public Lands Publishes Its Environmental Commitments

Launched on Earth Day, 2019, Runners for Public Lands (RPL) is a laboratory for experiments in runner environmental activism. RPL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organization committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, and to doing conservation work and environmental advocacy based on training in these areas. Consistent with our 2020 theme of “Climate Action”… Read more »

Tayte Pollmann’s Top 7 Foam Rolling Tips for Trail Runners

Tayte Pollmann’s articles are supported by American Trail Running Association corporate member Nike Trail Running. You can follow Tayte’s adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you liked this article, read even more of Tayte’s articles on our website. Foam rollers are one of the most effective recovery tools for trail runners. They can be… Read more »

2020 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup is Cancelled

Started in 1999, the World Mountain Running Association’s (WMRA) World Cup has been a proving ground for elite level off-road runners preparing themselves for the annual World Mountain Running Championships. Featuring up to seven European events per year, this series travelled to America for the first time last year, adding the American Trail Running Association… Read more »

Pack Burro Racing Community Stays Strong During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Tayte Pollmann’s articles are supported by American Trail Running Association corporate member Nike Trail Running. You can follow Tayte’s adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you liked this article, read even more of Tayte’s articles on our website. The trail running community has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with many races cancelled… Read more »

Get Dirty; Run Clean – Our Handmade ATRA Soap is Back!

Handcrafted by Soap Master Creighton in Douglas County, Colorado, this is our third edition of the ATRA Run Clean soap. The base oils are all 100% natural with an “energy” blend of essential oils. To order this artisanal soap send a check to: American Trail Running Association, PO Box 9454, Colorado Springs, CO 80932. $11… Read more »

MUT WiLD Drops New “Social Distancing” T-Shirts to Benefit ATRA

Elite trail runner and 2017 World Mountain Running Championship women’s team gold medalist Allie McLaughlin’s (pictured below) MUT WiLD brand has just released a series of social distancing T-shirts to benefit the American Trail Running Association. These original “My Kind Of Social Distancing” designs are printed on Tultex brand 100% ring spun cotton fine knit… Read more »

New England’s Emer O’Donoghue Honored for 24 years of Mountain Running Accomplishments

Article courtesy the USATF New England (USATF-NE) Association. USATF-NE has been the host association for several mountain and trail running national championships at events including the Mt Washington Road Race (Mountain), Cranmore Mountain Race (Mountain), Loon Mountain Race (Mountain), Waterville Valley Mountain Race (Mountain) and Ragged Mountain 50K (Trail). Photo above by Freddi Triback. With… Read more »

Trail Runner Product Review: KT Tape Pro

KT Tape Pro reviewed by American Trail Running Association (ATRA) advisory board member and Wisconsin trail runner Susan Kendrick. Susan is the Director of Sponsorship for the American Birkebeiner® Ski Foundation and was featured in our View from the Pack series of articles. This product was provided at no charge by KT Tape for this… Read more »

Update from 2020 US Trail Running Conference in light of COVID-19

Announcement from American Trail Running Association partner US Trail Running Conference. Written by conference director Terry Chiplin (pictured above – photos by Peter Maksimow). So much has changed since our last newsletter. In these uncertain times, we trust that you, your family and loved ones are staying healthy. We are committed to enabling the US… Read more »

GU Energy Labs Joins Our Event Standards Program

The American Trail Running Association (ATRA) welcomes GU Energy Labs as a brand partner in our Event Standards Program. The ATRA Event Standards Program debuted in 2012 and includes vendors and suppliers as partners to assist trail race directors in meeting our 15 criteria necessary for staging a safe and well-organized event. As part of… Read more »

Marcy Schwam: Pioneer of Women’s Ultrarunning

Tayte Pollmann’s articles are supported by American Trail Running Association corporate member Nike Trail Running. You can follow Tayte’s adventures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you liked this article, read even more of Tayte’s articles on our website.  After my enjoyable interview with Ian Maddieson, accomplished ultrarunner and Adjunct Research Professor for the Department… Read more »