Speedgoat by UTMB announces a new race: The Summit:

Take on the challenge of Speedgoat’s first Vertical Kilometer (VK) race.

Except, well it’s only 921 M of vertical gain in a distance of 5.6 kilometers.

From Wikipedia:

In skyrunning, a vertical kilometer is an uphill mountain running race with an elevation gain of 1,000 metres. The Vertical Kilometer World Circuit also defines it as covering less than 5 km.

That’s 8% of vert missing on a race distance that’s over 5K. You think this is a metric vs. imperial system? Maybe the Skyrunning Federation should’ve measured in football fields and elephants… or something.

Here’s the International Skyrunning Federation official rule book for a Vertical race (not a VK mind you!):

Uphill only races with minimum 800m vertical climb over variable terrain. The minimum average incline must be 20% and 5% of the total distance must be over 33% incline. A tolerance of 5% in the minimum height is accepted.

According to some handy online calculator the incline percentage of Speedgoat’s ‘The Summit’ is 16%.

So, it’s neither a VK nor a classic Vertical race. If we keep doing this soon VK races will just be any “uphill only” races and the whole point of how steep it should be will be entirely eroded.

Anyways… sharing this for no particular reasons.

On TrailFans, a fanzine and platform for the trail running scene, sadly without byline:

When we walked through Chamonix during UTMB week last summer, something felt different. Not just busy. Strategic. Brand-hosted chalets weren’t simply handing out caps and gels. Founders and senior leadership had flown in from across the globe.Entire executive teams were present.
…
UTMB week no longer feels like just a race. It feels like an industry summit.
…
Chamonix showed us the shift. Nike’s declaration of intent validates it.

The outdoor industry has been in a doldrum over the past couple of years. It previously could rely on higher cost sports like biking and skiing to fuel their growth, but these markets have been struggling as consumers had stocked up on all their gear during the discount boom during COVID. Then Trump’s beautiful tariffs hit, prices increased and consumers stopped spending. Except in trail running. Participation is growing still and that is a market opportunity and seems to “bring all the brands to the yard”.

Trail running stands at an inflection point. And if it is now the outdoor industry’s new frontline, the responsibility for how it evolves doesn’t sit solely with brands. It sits with athletes. With race directors. With communities. And with all of us who care about what trail running becomes next.

The big elephant in the room and one that Nike is trying to address – or rather cover up by hiding behind the ACG brand – is that trail running has been supported by brands that mostly were ‘born on the trails’. These brands that have shown true staying power over the past few decades, have supported the sport, have made an attempt to understand the culture. These brands have long-standing history in the outdoors. Nike hasn’t. But they are now reviving old advertising campaigns to pretend that they have a history in the sport.

I am not afraid of newcomers, I am not a gatekeeper, I welcome the participation. I don’t even claim to suggest that these newer brands are supposed to ask me for permission, or play by some invisible rule book. But! I am also not one that’s frothing at the mouth because of one orange shoe and a train colored in the same way. It’s cute, it’s marketing, but will it move the needle? Will all this attention be a net-positive for our sport? All that shall be seen and I will watch out for and document.

Via RNZ News Zealand news:

Nepal’s government is considering the new rule that would require climbers to have previously summited a 7000m high mountain in Nepal before attempting Everest which is 8848m high.

Taking a cue from the UTMB World Series?

I kid, I kid.

Via press release:

The Trail Running Film Festival (TRFF) is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever Audience Choice Award presented by Electric Cable Car.

Massively excited for this. Two weeks until the first screening. Get your tickets.

M.G. Siegler on his blog Spyglass:

Congratulations on saying the biggest number, Paramount. $111B for a company that a year ago had a market cap of around $20B. For a company that shrunk in their most recent quarter, and in fact, for the entire year, with revenue down 5% to $37.3B. Paramount may not be buying the Titanic, but only because they already own that IP.

We (trail media fans) sort of had this all figured out: Netflix, home of much-loved ‘Drive to Survive’ would own WBD and with it the Golden Trail Series coverage. This seemed… fun, and the correct move for the sport, and well, the world in general. Now, WBD will be owned by Paramount and that means it’ll be owned by Trump-friendly Ellison family—billionaire Oracle founder Larry and his son David.

I don’t want to me a massive doomsayer here, but it’s worth nothing that the the people who are increasing own all our media platforms are all, well, massively compromised, to say the least.

Starlink, WBD, Substack, Instagram. What would our trail media be with these services gone, or toxic enough that they really really shouldn’t be used anymore? Or do we just not care enough?

Word on the street is that this year’s Chuckanut 50K will have a proper livestream. One provided by Mountain Outpost (is there another livestream provider in the US?).

Update: Here’s the official announcement.

New book ‘Run Forever’ about to drop (not sure on an US release date yet) by British runner Damian Hall:

Is it inevitable that our running performance slides as we get into our forties and beyond? Or are there things we can do to slow or pause the decline and harness the benefits of age? In Run Forever, Damian Hall examines the reasons why our strength and speed might deteriorate, yet how it isn’t certain if we do something about it. With contributions from Renee McGregor and Pete Stables. 

Fascinated that Europe still has this avenue for athletes to get book deals. Who are the big names in the US trail space that have published books out in recent years (outside of Scott Jurek)?

New U2 EP, new documentary film. Still the same message and still the same fight for freedom:

For four years Ukraine has been resisting Russia’s full-scale invasion. Soldiers of the Khartiya Corps are among the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who conduct daily military operations to defend their country against the invading Russian army. This film contains footage from a documentary about Ukrainian soldiers fighting for freedom.

If this doesn’t move you, you’re not hooked up right.

Announced today by UTMB:

Due to recent events in the State of Jalisco, and circumstances beyond the Organization’s control, Puerto Vallarta by UTMB has been rescheduled to take place from April 16 to 18, 2026.

Correct decision, let’s hope things have calmed down by then.

Wow, what a place, what course, what a highlight reel.

Yes, I am obviously a bit biased this year with Beast of Big Creek part of the Skyrunner World Series, but man, these races look stunning and exactly what trail running needed. What an honor to be part of this series this year!

Greg Heil for Singletracks (the MTB magazine!):

The Verde Valley Circle Trail will be a 200-mile bikepacking loop in Arizona

Who will be first to put on a new race on these trail? Aravaipa or Destination Trail?

Raziq Rauf for his ‘Running Sucks’ blog:

What ICE is doing in the USA right now is even more sinister than anything TSA was created to do, of course, but it’s the same Dept of Homeland Security agents of chaos at work. This time, however, they’re also dangerously ill-trained. This all means that I have to carry my papers with me. Even then, I know it won’t be enough to be bundled off the street into an unmarked van.

This article arrives in my inbox at the perfect moment. I have been sitting on my previous post about the unrests in Mexico for the past hour and wanted to make sure we’re not digressing into the abyss of xenophobia with the notions so often way too hastily thrown around that “these things only every happen beyond our borders in ‘developing countries'”.

I just emailed the UTMB press office asking about the situation in Mexico and how it might affect their upcoming event in Puerto Vallarta. From USA Today:

Many American tourists visiting Mexico are stuck in the country after the killing of a drug cartel leader over the weekend.
…
The operation set off a wave of civil unrest, with vehicles being torched and gunmen, believed to be supported of Oseguera, blocking highways in a more than a dozen states.

Not commenting on the actual situation in Mexico, I have no insight. But this sure shines light on the challenges of organizing a global sporting event. I mean, the IOC and FIFA regularly run into these issues and the responses by the people in charge rarely make them look good.

Update: UTMB emailed me back with the following:

The UTMB organisers monitoring the situation closely in Puerto Vallarta and remain in close contact with local authorities to ensure the safety of all runners and staff. They will keep participants informed of any further updates.

The event is a couple of week out, so things might calm down, but that’s not much of solace for folks having to decide on their travel plans.

Greg rants on Instagram (by the way, what’s up with all these rants on IG lately… something in the water?):

Let’s not forget that in ski mountaineering, there is one essential word: MOUNTAINEERING.

Tell me: in what you saw, was there even a hint of mountain?
A small rock? Something slightly intimidating?
Or just grandstands and influencers in puffer jackets?

The IOC has won again: another outdoor sport… brought in a stadium, and everyone congratulates each other. Bravo. Magnificent. “So inspiring.”

So, to quickly recap: Greg’s responsible for the Golden Trail World Series and his critics have largely said the same thing: the flower format, designed for TV will the spirit of trail running.

The addition of skimo to the Olympics have been largely praised as a positive: by product suppliers, general fans of the Olympics who got to experience a new sport, and the athletes who got to experience the actual event.

Do I consider this to be actual skimo racing? Of course not, in the same way mountain biking or climbing in the Olympics aren’t true to the sport either. So, what Greg is pointing out, and ranting against seems to be the inevitable. This is how this will go for the trail running if it’s to become an Olympic sport.

If you’ve been championing this trajectory for the sport over the past few years this post today seems rather confusing. Were you not aware that this would happen? Do you think you have a better solution in mind? Do you think the IOC will listen to you? And in addition: Aren’t the flower format courses you’ve designed not exactly taking us to a world where trail running will be great for TV on a largely artificial course to fit the Olympic presentation format?

This one’s for real (and apologizes one more time for my mistakenly jumping on the Barkley rumor).

Nnormal shares their athlete’s event calendars and here’s what on deck for Kilan Jornet in 2026:

• 27 June 2026: Western States, USA
• 8 August 2026: Sierre-Zinal Race, Switzerland
• 28 August 2026: UTMB, France

From Kilian’s Instagram with more on the announcement:

This year, the goal is simpler: show up at start lines that mean a lot to me. Western States, Sierre-Zinal and UTMB.
…
And then there’s @utmbmontblanc, one of the few ultras in the world where the depth of the field pushes you to a different level. Although we haven’t always agreed on everything, we’re aligned on what matters, towards a better future for the sport we love. I’ve been impressed by everything done with @protrailrunners in the past year.

Fabrice Perrin, UTMB Chief of Sports on LinkedIn (translated):

I’m delighted. Not for the “headline” effect. But because it says something about how trail running is evolving. And on the way in which we choose to build it.
…
Seeing Kilian return to racing in 2026, in this context, is also the symbol of a more mature sport. Who can go through tensions, then come back to the basics: discuss, build, progress.

If the sport is supposed to mature and professionalize you don’t just add more cameras and bigger prize purses, you also expect everyone in it to grow up with it. This will be an exciting summer in Chamonix, let’s just hope he, and all the other heavy hitters who announced they’ll be toeing the line, can stay healthy and actually make it to the starting line.

Carrera 4 Refugios in Bariloche, Argentina kicked off the Skyrunner World Series this weekend with the first race of the new season. Course records were broken in both the men’s and women’s races on this brutal course where helmets are required gear and runners wear them right from the start line.

Here are the current rankings and below are your top podium finishers:

The 4 Refugios – 40km, 3350m+

Women:

1. Kalie McCrystal – Canada – 06:21:10
2. Tanja Löwenhagen – Germany – 06:52:51
3. Rosalia Zegarra – Peru – 07:18:47
4. Ayelen Liberal – Argentina – 07:25:22
5. Lina El Kott Helander – Sweden – 08:03:31

Men:

1. Jose Manuel Quispe Mallma – Peru – 05:39:40
2. Genaro Crisóstomo – Argentina – 05:48:39
3. Morgan Elliot – USA – 05:49:49
4. Weston Hill – New Zealand – 06:08:51
5. Fran Muñoz – Peru – 06:28:51

Next up the Skyrunner World Series travels to Chile for the Merrell Andes Mountain Skyrace on 7 March, 2026.

Find all Skyrunning coverage on Electric Cable Car’s dedicated page.

Update: @dylisms_ is back.

Over the past few months several meme accounts have popped up on Instagram poking fun at and commented on trail running news and culture. Some with more elegance than others, most are doing their work anonymously. This week one of the athletes, Max Jolliffe previously featured – or skewered – seems to have clapped back in the comments of the account and in response @dylisms completely disabled his account.

I don’t have much to say about the delicate balance between ‘celebrities’ needing to be able to take a bit of roasting and these accounts using their endless needling of said celebrities to build a following. But it’s fascinating to me how popular these accounts get and how humor is a way of how we process our surrounding and our lives. Who hasn’t shared or received several of these posting with the comment “funny cause it’s true”.

I’m linking here to Jeff Garmire who had Dylan the creator of the account on his podcast to talk about the inspiration behind it all. As I am scrubbing through the conversation a interchange toward the end struck me:

Jeff: “keep making fun of people, because everyone loves it, and we gotta quit taking the sport too seriously, it’s not like we’re CrossFit or Hyrox”.

Dylan: “And not just sport, but life in general…”

I hope this account didn’t go dark because someone took things too serious.

From Suunto’s micro-site celebrating the occasion:

Our journey began in 1936 when Finnish inventor Tuomas Vohlonen set out to create a more accurate and reliable compass capable of enduring the harshest Nordic conditions.

It’s an impressive milestone worthy of celebration.

The spirit of Finnish functionality, quiet confidence, endurance and clarity of design, has shaped every Suunto instrument since the beginning. ​

In my perfect world a company with roots on one country and culture wouldn’t have to sell themselves to someone multinational conglomerate (Suunto is nowadays owned by Liesheng from China). I don’t have answers for this, it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but these global, faceless corporate ownership models let these celebrations of traditional roots ring hollow.

The upside to all this is that since Suunto has been under new ownership the company has been firing on all cylinders and is releasing new products at a exciting pace.

To celebrate the anniversary Suunto released a Vertical 2 Anniversary Gift Box:

The Limited Edition gift box celebrates Suunto’s 90-year heritage, featuring the Suunto Vertical 2 Limited Edition, the MC-2 G Mirror Compass as a tribute to the brand’s origins, and a commemorative magnet highlighting Suunto’s versatility and history.

The watch is orange and black… and looks gorgeous.

Announced today and posted on the Daybreak Racing website:

• 100K: $15,000 for 1st Place; $7,000 for 2nd Place; $4,000 for 3rd Place
• 50K: $5,000 for 1st Place; $2,000 for 2nd Place; $1,000 for 3rd Place
• 30K: $2,000 for 1st Place; $1,000 for 2nd Place; $500 for 3rd Place

ACG is doling out $75,000 in total. This is starting to feel like real number and is a good yardstick to measure that crowdfunded prize purse at Black Canyon against. While a novel idea to ask live viewers to “tip their server runner” it just can’t be a replacement for real prize money from real sponsors with – let’s face it “unlimited” marketing budgets.

Kyle Frost makes a few great points about the Satisfy vs. Currently beef, this one sticks out to me most:

I think the fact that other brands are riffing on the aesthetics Satisfy helped define, is evidence that Satisfy succeeded. It’s probably annoying, and may or may not be cutting into Satisfy’s bottom line, but it’s also inevitable. It’s a signal to keep pushing forward, not a reason to publicly attack a one-person operation.

Some might feel like Satisfy is getting too much shit ‘currently’ (hahaha, sorry!), but as a trendsetter the way you silence the nay-sayers and separate yourself from the competition is by releasing something fresh.