XTERRA, the world’s most popular off-road triathlon series, is dedicating more energy and attention to its trail running. In 2023, XTERRA is organizing a World Series in which runners across the globe can compete in to earn their place at the XTERRA Trail Run World Championships scheduled on October 1 at Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort, Maine. The event consists of six races: the World Championship Marathon, World Championship Half Marathon, XTERRA Sugarloaf Trail Runs (5K, 10K), Sugarloaf Marathon, and the Sugarloaf Half Marathon. The two World Championship events offer a $10,000 prize purse and are open to both elite and recreational runners. Whatever a runner’s age, trail running experience, or competitive level, there is a race for everyone at this event.
XTERRA’s Place In The Trail Running World
XTERRA, founded in 1996, is a global organization that hosts events in thirteen off-road categories (including Triathlon, Aquathon, Aquabiking, Short Track, Kayaking, and Trail Running), across forty-seven countries. In 2008, XTERRA hosted its first Trail Run World Championship competition, allowing trail runners to test themselves against the best competitors from the XTERRA series around the world. The championship was held annually at Kualoa Ranch on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii every year from 2008 until the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, the race was canceled and in 2021 it was relocated to Maui.
XTERRA Trail Run World Championships is moving to Maine. Photo: XTERRA
Elite Trail Athletes Speak About The XTERRA World Championships
An increasing number of the world’s top trail runners have been competing at XTERRA trail races in recent years. The 2021 XTERRA World Trail Championships was a special year in the history of XTERRA trail running that introduced more top athletes to the XTERRA trail racing scene than ever before.
Due to the lasting impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the US Trail Running Team, originally scheduled to compete at the World Mountain Running Championships (WMRA) in Europe, competed instead at the XTERRA World Trail Championships. This allowed Team USA athletes the opportunity to compete against international competition and represent their country in the sport of trail running. Team USA athlete Bailey Kowalcyz had to say about being given the opportunity to race on the world stage through XTERRA, “It was so exciting to race on my first US mountain team! During a hectic time in the world, it is really great that we were given the opportunity to race as a team in some capacity. I have dreamt of being on a US team since running track in high school and college, and it was amazing to live out that dream.”
Grayson Murphy, 2019 and 2021 XTERRA Trail Run World Champion also gave praise to the event, “It was a blast to get to defend my title and have Team USA here with me. It’s a great event and a fun place to end the year!”
Grayson Murphy winning her 2nd XTERRA Trail Running World Championships. Photo: Jesse Peters/XTERRA
Andy Wacker, two-time podium finisher at the XTERRA Trail World Championship and professional runner said about the event, “XTERRA has been on every sub-ultra pro trail runner’s must-race list for years. That’s because of the timing, the exotic location, and the prize money. For years before I raced, XTERRA brought the likes of Max King, Pat Smyth, and Joe Gray.”
Emily McIlvaine, XTERRA’s trail running series manager, describes XTERRA’s increased focus on trail running in recent years, “Over the last two years the trail running part of XTERRA is getting more attention. We are on a path to making this series as strong as possible and developing our trail running community. I’m not alone in thinking that trail running is accessible and has a large reach, more so than triathlons. The sport doesn’t require a lot of equipment and it’s grassroots. We’re excited to tap into that and to bring people around the world together under this series.”
A Year of Firsts in 2023
2023 will be the first year since its inception in 2008 that the XTERRA Trail World Championships will not be in Hawaii, or held in December (there was no XTERRA Trail Run World Championship held in December 2022). McIlvaine, explains the decision to move the championships, “This will be a year of firsts. We’re excited to host the race at Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine in October. The New England fall colors will be spectacular. We want to show the world a new beautiful place in the US, and the goal moving forward is to rotate the championship every couple of years to new regions.
Being a global company, we want to highlight the many incredible destinations and events around the world through this championship. We know there are some extremely talented runners in Europe, Asia, and on the other side of the United States, and we want to make sure these athletes are getting the same opportunity to showcase their talents.”
Wacker shares how the location and date change will impact elite athletes’ decision to compete, “This year may be a test to see if XTERRA can endure. Changing the location to Maine and the timing to early October may be less tempting with conflicts like Golden Trail Races (Mammoth Trail Fest the week before and the final two weeks later). I’m excited to see XTERRA back as another competitive sub-ultra race in the US.”
A World Of Championships
In the sport of trail running, “championships” or even “world championships” are frequently used words. Elite athletes seeking to compete on the most competitive stages in their country and internationally turn towards events such as the Spartan Trail World Championships, World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, US Mountain Running Championships, Golden Trail National/World Series Championships, the UTMB World Series, and the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship. With so many championships to choose from, it can be difficult for athletes to decide which championships to prioritize each year. Prize money, world prestige, media attention, event style (distance, terrain, etc.), or time/location all play pivotal roles in athletes’ decisions of which championships to compete in.
McIlvaine shares her vision of how XTERRA fits into the world of championships in trail running, “We certainly look into what other race series/championships are doing and how best we can fall in line with their practices while fitting in with the community, and trying to be the best ambassadors for the trail running world. We know there are many trail races out there but we at XTERRA want to show that we are promoting the sport in the best light, following suit with the best practices. We’re growing every day but we want to make sure we’re also doing our best to grow in a way that’s good for the sport as a whole.”
She continues, describing what makes XTERRA races unique from other high-profile trail running events, “A big factor over the years has been the family aspect. We have many athletes in both the triathlon and trail running community that participate to share these experiences with their friends and family. They know the staff, and they know that when they come they share a bond. Athletes are not just bib numbers and we are seeing them as people first. I want it to feel like a family both in the race directing and the athletes’ experiences.”
Joe Gray winning the 2021 XTERRA Trail Running World Championships. Photo: Jesse Peters/XTERRA
XTERRA and Youth
Another factor that makes XTERRA trail racing unique is their focus on youth. XTERRA trail events have 5K and 10K races with nine and under age categories as well as 10 to 14 and 15 to nineteen age group brackets in their longer distance events to encourage youth participation.
Historically, many talented young athletes have competed in XTERRA events, preparing them for longer distance or more competitive youth competitions. Youth stars rising out of the XTERRA racing scene include the Middaugh brothers, Sullivan and Porter (sons of the legendary XTERRA racer Josiah Middaugh), and twelve-year-old Katylynn Welsch, who won the XTERRA 21K Trail Run in Waco, TX.
Looking for more youth-related trail running content? The ATRA 2023 is “Celebrating Youth on Trails” and stay tuned for more articles and content for youth running.
Interested in running the XTERRA Trail Run World Championships? Check out resources for the XTERRA World Series, Championships, and how to qualify below:
XTERRA Trail Run World Series – https://www.xterraplanet.com/trail-run-world-series
XTERRA Trail Run World Championship – https://www.xterraplanet.com/event/xterra-trail-run-world-championship
XTERRA Trail Run World Championship Qualification – https://www.xterraplanet.com/race-rules/trail-run-world-championship-qualification
XTERRA Americas Trail Run Championship – https://www.xterraplanet.com/event/xterra-oak-mountain
