By Mathias Eichler
Sponsor:
The Trail Running Film Festival presented by Brooks -
Back on Tour for 2025.
The Trail Running Film Festival presented by Brooks -
Back on Tour for 2025.
Birkenstock, the German sandal and recovery shoe company has a page on their website dedicated to ‘running’:
Running isn’t just about the miles you log, it’s about your recovery between runs.
Two of the four athletes featured are trail runners:
Be sure to watch the short video segments. Lots of fun clips I didn’t expect to find on the Birkenstock website.
Speaking of design and how to do it well: Pit Viper, the “joke that has gone too far…” (or something like that), just redesigned their website to make it look like the early days of Apple Mac OSX operation system and accompanying marketing website. Go now and look, cause their team seems to redesign their site quite often and I have no idea how long this design will last.
Fantastic blast from the past, and clearly done in jest (the Apple lawyers will probably not like their use of some of Apple’s icons and other trademarked elements), so who knows how long this design will last. According to the Internet Archive the previous design was very reminiscent of the old Microsoft Windows OS.
Spencer Harkins, VP of Brand at Pit Viper was just on Second Nature and shared the beginnings of the business and what they are up to now.
I mean of his training methodology. It’s called KoopAI. It’s in the early stages, looks rough, undesigned, a blast from the 1998 area of web design. Here’s what it’s trying to be:
Working directly with Koop, we’ve developed a mathematical model that captures his proven coaching methodology. This isn’t just another training app – it’s a sophisticated system that delivers personalized, adaptive training plans based on the same principles Koop uses with his athletes.
Genuinely curious who decided to ship a ‘sophisticated system’ looking like this. But to be fair, they acknowledge that ‘polish is missing’:
We’ve prioritized getting this core functionality right over polishing the UI/UX, which explains the current rough edges in the user experience. While we’ll certainly make the app more polished in the future, our primary focus now is perfecting the underlying training algorithm.
I’m generally down on AI products, so it’s easy for me to slam this. Paired with the name and the user interface it feels like a product that should not have shipped yet/never. But, hey, maybe I should give some points for trying? Ah, who am I kidding, “just because you could doesn’t mean you should”?
At this stage, we can only accept runners who fit certain criteria.
So not that sophisticated of a system yet, I guess.
Gary Robbins’ Coast Mountain Trail Running announces a new trail race ‘The Alpenglow100‘.
Event dates are July 4-6, 2025.
Distances:
More details will be announced on Feb. 1. Registration will open mid-February.
After their disappointing cancelation of their revenge race in Chilliwack and them vowing not to go back to Whistler (CMTR since took over the Whistler Half Marathon) it’ll be fascinating to see where it will be located.
Speaking of HOKA and London, Jack Lynch reporting for HypeBeast:
HOKA has unveiled its latest community-centric ideation: a new convenience store in East London titled the “Run Stop Corner Shop.”
Groan to the word ‘ideation’… But in all seriousness: The loafer and that corner store sort of fit together. Who wants to tie their shoes when walking a couple blocks to grab some ice cream/beer/chips (oh sorry, crisps, the shop is in London). But that walk is going to be one cushy ride.
What’s inside the store? I found some pics that aren’t the official marketing shots. Amazing that retail is now increasingly just good for a temporary marketing stunt. How far away are we from these sort of pop up stores being built entirely on a movie studio set?
Every trail runner knows of the (in)famous Instagram meme account ‘Yaboyscottjurek‘. And while I don’t follow them I can’t help getting their posts shoved into my feed by the algorithm and by eager trail friends of mine who connect with their posts (“funny, cause it’s true”). I’m not a hater, some/most of their content is well done, quite elaborate, and funny. Today though they posted a dress down of the Skyrunner World Series which apparently ‘copied/stole’ one of their memes. I couldn’t find the post, probably already taken down. I’m not here to pass judgment if it’s okay to copy someone’s work, you know how I feel about someone stealing the name of your podcast. But what this kerfuffle made think of is that we still don’t know who is behind that account. UltraSignup once tried to investigate but got caught being mislead and they ended up having to remove their article. I’m old school, and while I understand that there are benefits to the anonymity on the internet in certain situations in this case I think it’s not necessarily helping the account creator and also not our community. Sure, the account posts funny stuff and the fun they poke at brands or individuals is mostly acceptable. I haven’t seen too much tasteless stuff, but am also not paying too close attention. But is it a good thing that we have an account regularly being the talk of the town when no one knows who the person behind it is? My general take is that transparency is a good thing. And if we don’t like it when corporations hide behind anonymous communications should we be okay with it in this scenario?
“Ah, chill out man, it’s just a funny meme account.”
Fine, you’re right, I’m taking this probably way to serious. But! Why hasn’t it been uncovered who the person/people are behind this account? It can’t be that hard.
PS: Whining when someone uses your stuff when your entire shtick is to use movie clips, images, and products that other people created to make jokes is just *chef’s kiss*.
Is this a real product or a marketing stunt? Whenever a brand launches a product that doesn’t fit into their regular lineup, and let’s be honest, really feels more like a product meant to turn heads than actually sell units, I wonder if how many were actually produced. Because, no matter these things have to immediately upon going on sale show ‘sold out’ on their website to continue the buzz. If they would have to put them on sale it would draw laughs from all corners of the internet. Either way, it’s funny and people are talking about it. Especially folks in London I am told, as ‘loafers’ are the latest fashion there, Aaron Shimmons tells me.
Alright, now running really has arrived on the runway.
PS: Right after Paris Fashion Week Brooks will be heading to the Trail Running Film Festival as title sponsor of our Global Tour 2025 kicking off in just a few weeks. You’re welcome.
What a line from this article by Ian Servantes in Footwear News on the upcoming and overhyped ‘The Rocker’ shoe release by Satisfy.
Their ability to create marketing hype for their product reminds me of Steve Jobs’ (in)famous “reality distortion field“.
DCRainmaker dives into the story, the issues, and the (possible) fixes:
Here I was, just minding my own business trying to take photos for my Instinct 3 review, when some, but not all, of the watches kept crashing and rebooting every time I opened up the sports menu. Little did I know, this was the beginning of a very bad day for Garmin. The end of which isn’t yet known.
Not a good day for Garmin and their users.
Episode 325 with Fiona Hayvice and Courtney Dauwalter
This special episode was made possible through the amazing support from Tailwind Nutrition.
Maggie Guterl joins Singletrack as co-host on this first episode of a very special two-part series dedicated to the wonderful, crazy, and often endlessly long world of Backyard Ultras. We bring two champions of the sport, Courtney Dauwalter and Fiona Hayvice to the mic to share insights, strategies, and laughter on how to approach these events, how to master them, and most of all how to have fun at them. Backyard Ultras are popping up everywhere, maybe even nearby where you live, or dare I say, maybe in your backyard?
Thank you Tailwind for partnering with Singletrack to share the stories of these incredible people of our sport.
The northern end-point of the Pacific Crest Trail has always been the Canadian border. Up until now northbound hikers were able cross the border into Canada and head to the nearest towns and from there head back to the US.
… this policy is consistent with the United States’ policy which does not allow for entry into the United States via the PCT.
Hikers from the U.S. without a permit who wish to complete the Canadian portion of the trail will from now on be required to first enter Canada via a designated port of entry.
After years of expansion, openness and global partnerships our world finds itself dictated by small men and their even smaller worldview again. “Me first” thinking and totalitarianism is taking over, reshaping what we can and cannot do and in the process our world is getting narrower and dumber again. What a win.
r/Trailrunning joins the Reddit communities taking a stand against nazis. And the splintering in the social media world continues.
How will Keith Dunn get information out about this year’s Barkley? How will iRunFar respond, which have made Twitter/X updates about popular races like Hardrock 100, UTMB, and Western States their mainstay?
The Trail Running Film Festival announced their 2025 Grant Recipients:
Kelp and Fern (Martin Larsen-Jones) – Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Martin Kelp’s 8-minute short film provides an immersive, first-person journey through the highs and lows of an ultra-marathon. Using striking visuals, raw emotion, and artistic cinematography, the film offers viewers an intimate glimpse into the physical and mental extremes endured by runners. This film is an ode to the ultra-marathon experience—a powerful depiction of the human spirit and the emotional depth of the trail running journey.Patrick O’Leary – San Francisco, California, USA
Dipsea Generations takes a fresh and inclusive look at the Bay Area trail running community, using the iconic Dipsea race as a lens to tell its story. Patrick’s film follows young runners from diverse backgrounds as they prepare for and take part in the Dipsea. By intertwining their personal stories with the race’s rich history, the film highlights the opportunities for greater inclusivity and accessibility in trail running. Combining breathtaking visuals of Bay Area trails with a celebration of youth involvement and community spirit, the film explores how tradition and innovation can come together to shape the future of the sport.
The 2025 Tour is kicking off in a few weeks. Ready to get inspired?
Last week Devon became character of the week after her post on Instagram announcing being dropped by her sponsor Lululemon. Her personal post sharing what happened and how she felt:
I sacrificed everything, exceeded the requirements of my contract in days, energy and commitment. And ultimately I was told it was not enough. I was used and discarded. And that feels brutal.
The general response online has been entirely not surprising or uncommon and boils down to two things:
Of course, these response are as tired as old running shoes, but Devon shares a bit more in her newsletter:
The landscape of ultrarunning is a challenging one for me and I am not certain where or how I fit in.
I hope that amidst our efforts to grow the sport and professionalize it we’re not losing sight of what matters. I hope we’re not losing people like Devon to the grind of growth and experts sharing their armchair opinions on how things are supposed to be done.
Back for another year on March 14-16. And we added a 3hr race for those of you who wanted something shorter, but still just as twisted. LBA will also be part of Rock Candy Running’s inaugural Olympia Trailfest this year. An entire weekend dedicated to celebrating the trails in Olympia, Washington. Race on Saturday, join us for Trail Running Film Festival on Sunday, and there’s so much more planned.
I had mentioned SheRaces new trail races aimed at ONLY women before. Here’s Jenny Tough weighing in on her newsletter:
By barring trans women from entering your events you have aligned yourself with bigotry, fear, and hate. You have nominated yourselves as the police for who is In and who is Out, and have hurt women on both sides in the process. You have made the world a more closed-off, fearful place, not a welcoming, positive home for people. In short, you’ve made yourself into a bully.
This.
My favorite Canadian sharing his story on how he became the Trail Running Film Festival ‘uber’ host, hosting six locations for 2025, including a fundraiser in Jasper, AB
This festival will be a fundraiser in support of the great town of Jasper and recovering from the terrible fires in 2024. All proceeds will be split between Jasper Community Habitat for the Arts and the Jasper Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Host of the pod Troy on Adam:
Adam’s journey is packed with creativity, grit, and a whole lot of heart. We dive into his move from Vancouver to the stunning Crowsnest Pass in Alberta, where the Rockies are literally his backyard.
Great weekend listen.
The previous professional soccer player for the Seattle Sounders, with 3 caps for the USMNT, Nate Jaqua won the Hurt 100 in Hawaii this year for the third time after 2023 and 2019.
I continue to be fascinated by the professional soccer to ultra running pipeline.
UTMB is pulling the plug, temporarily in their Quindio Trail Colombia which was meant to happen in May of 2025. Here’s the message posted to Instagram by race director Mauricio Quintero (auto-translated):
We have decided to reschedule the open enrollment and the 2025. From transparency and commitment, we work to meet the high UTMB®️ standards you deserve. New dates to be announced soon.
In the video message Mauricio mentions broad structural, technical and safety issues, but doesn’t go into specifics. This message was posted back on December 12th. It’s now the end of January, just four month until the official race date and the website still doesn’t show any changes to either the race date or the registration being reopened.
Of course this is a huge bummer for folks who already had their entry and potentially flights booked, but maybe it’s better UTMB pulls the plug on this now rather than delivering a compromised event. But in any case this shows that this World Series expansion is a lot harder and this absolutely doesn’t turn into a giant monopoly rolling over everyone. There have almost been as many issues with new events over the past 18 month as new events been added to the Series.
Electric Cable CarTM is a product of Einmaleins. © 2018 - 2025. All Rights Reserved.
