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Category: Ultra Running

Speedland GL:PDX Review
The post Speedland GL:PDX Review appeared first on iRunFar.

The Speedland GL:PDX. All photos: iRunFar/Bryon Powell

The Speedland GL:PDX ($250) has a lower stack height and higher volume than many other shoes from the Speedland and offers exceptional comfort over longer distances. Equipped with a single BOA and a strap, the upper has a unique design that’s a departure from the brand’s more regular use of two BOAs. The Michelin rubber outsole provides plenty of grip on a variety of surfaces, and the 6.5-millimeter lugs are substantial enough to work in mud as well as drier trails. The shoe has an actual weight of 10.6 ounces (302 grams) for a U.S. men’s 9. With a stack height of 35 millimeters at the heel and 28 millimeters at the toe, it’s lower to the ground than other Speedlands. The shoe has a similar fit to shoes from Altra or Topo, but the 5-millimeter drop makes it more accessible than zero-drop shoes.

Even with the lower stack height, this shoe excels when the miles start to add up. The HTPU midsole combined with a thick insole sock liner makes for a comfortable ride, and the shoe’s higher volume allows feet to swell. The upper is a bit difficult to lock down, especially if you have a narrow heel, so this may not be a great shoe for extended miles on technical terrain.

iRunFar’s Travis Liles takes a deep dive into the Speedland GL:PDX and the conditions where it thrives.

Shop the Speedland GL:PDX

Speedland GL:PDX Review Transcript

Hey and welcome to Trail Trials, the video review section of iRunFar.com. My name is Travis Liles, and in this video, we’re going to take a look at the Speedland GL:PDX. Let’s check it out.

Alright, so let’s start off with the statistics. This is a 5-millimeter drop from heel to toe, coming in at 33 millimeters of stack at the heel, 28 at the toe. This is a unisex shoe in a men’s size 9, women’s 10.5. This is about a 10.5-ounce shoe. It has the BOA lacing both forward and backward. Instead of having two BOA dials, this one has a strap up here. It is the GL platform. Versus the Speedland GS line, the GL line is a little lower to the ground, a little shorter on the foam, maybe a little more narrow than that shoe. It’s kind of luggy and comes with this green colorway, the PDX edition. This is the color of the St. John’s Bridge. It’s supposed to take inspiration from Forest Park, which is a giant park right here in the city of Portland, where I actually ran a bunch of the miles of this shoe.

So, with all that said, let’s get up close and personal. Let’s see what this shoe is all about.

Speedland GL:PDX Outsole

The outsole of the Speedland GL:PDX.

Let’s start off by taking a look at the Speedland GL:PDX outsole here. The first thing you might notice is this is Michelin rubber, like the tire company. Even a little Michelin Man waving here on the bottom.

Overall, really good tread pattern and grip compound. I felt really good and confident when I was wearing these. You can see they’re pretty toothy. These are 6.5-millimeter lugs, which is fairly long, especially when you compare that to a lot of stuff out there that is a little more lower profile. These do bite. They do grip. When I wore these in wet and muddy-ish type conditions, I always felt like they gripped really well. No complaints on the rubber. Didn’t feel like they were slick. If I wore them for a road run and stepped on the white lines that get slick with organic material, especially here in Portland in the rainy season, these didn’t seem to have a problem sliding around on that, which is definitely not the case with all trail shoes.

I think overall, a really good tread pattern. It’s deep enough. It’s flexible enough on the bottom that the shoe kind of grips and molds. I think this shoe excels on the gravel-y, loose type of stuff versus the more mountain-y hard, but that has more to do with the fit, which I’ll talk about here in a second, and less to do with the compound. I think this is the first pair of shoes I’ve had with Michelin rubber, and I don’t have any complaints at all.

I think one other area of note is this little dot right here, and if we look closely here, it actually says to cut out for drainage. This shoe, as you can see, is buttoned up pretty tight. You’ve got some overlays and some other things here. If you’re going to be going in water a lot, and you want the shoe to drain better, it literally has a drain plug, which I think is kind of interesting. Obviously, once you pop this out, that’s the end of it, right? And you’re always going to have that hole there, but it lets water out. A couple of other things to note here. You can see this midsole poking through on the bottom. This is a 10.5-ounce shoe, so not heavy, not light, but that is one way that they’re saving some weight on the bottom. I never really noticed anything poking through in these areas, but obviously, those are slightly weaker spots that you might want to look out for because there’s not a rock plate in here.

Speedland GL:PDX Midsole

A medial view of the Speedland GL:PDX.

Ok, next up is the Speedland GL:PDX midsole. Being the GL line, this is a considerably shorter stack height. As I mentioned, it’s a 5-millimeter drop, so the drop is still pretty low. When you compare it to something like the GS line, the difference is pretty substantial when it comes to the size of the midsole. I’ll just pop in the Speedland GS:TAM here as an example. If you look at this green here, and then you look at this white here, it’s a considerable amount of additional material up here. Now, your foot does sit inside this GS:TAM a little bit more, but of the two, this is a lower-profile shoe that feels a little more controllable, feels a little more athletically fit.

And this is an HTPU midsole, which it’s similar in feel and kind of bounce to some of the Saucony shoes that have this styrofoam-y, pebble-y type of look. It’s got that same sort of feel. Very high rebound. Feels very cushioned. It is single-density foam all the way around. It’s not too tall, but it provides plenty of cushion without being over the top. This is probably a medium-cushion type of shoe, if I were to compare it to the industry at large.

The other thing I’ll have to call out on this is the way that the shoe leverages the midsole sock liner insert. You can see it’s very, very thick. This is amped up a little bit on the arch, but it’s very thick, and this is a big part of the midsole. This shoe can’t take insoles, if that’s what you’re into. These are specific to the shoe and really a big part of it, so this plays a big piece. These all play a part in this overall cushioning that you’re getting with the shoe.

And this is, again, similar to the Saucony Peregrine line that I’ve talked about. This entire sock liner here is made out of that same TPU-type of foam. It’s very high rebound, feels really good, and doesn’t wear down. There’s no pitting in here. This is meant to last a long time. I’d say as far as footbeds go, these are very high-end footbeds, at least in terms of durability. You’re not getting a bunch of places where the foam is busted out and getting flat, and those types of things. That’s just not what’s going to go on here, because this is definitely a midsole-type of foam that they’re using for that part.

The other thing I’ll note here is that there is a place to add a carbon plate, and so you get a view of that here. It simply snaps on here. It’s an additional part that you can order. It just sits down here in this sort of midsole, clips onto the bottom, and then you pop that back into the shoe, and you’ve got a shoe with a carbon plate on it. For that point I made earlier about some of these weak points, a carbon plate can be used for additional protection, but also for having a little more pep in your step, and adding some spring to your run. I wanted to call that out, even though it’s not midsole, it’s part of what Speedland considers their midsole technology.

Speedland GL:PDX Upper

A lateral view of the Speedland GL:PDX.

Let’s take a look at the Speedland GL:PDX upper. Again, interesting concepts here. This has two things that are a little bit different than some of the other Speedland models, or I guess one thing that’s different. The BOA is very, very common, of course, on these shoes, and the way that the BOA system works is pretty simple.

This is a two-way BOA, so you can pull this out, and that gives you all of your stretch here. You can see that the cords come out, and then you push this in, and you’re able to put your foot in, twist that down, and you can see the shoe getting tighter.

Now what’s interesting about this is that it also goes the other way, and so if we pop out, we get a little more space. For lack of a better term, dial this in. These wires sort of crisscross, and they go over these two pieces of fabric over here. These are a little bit gross from the weather here, but you can see these things are going to come across. One’s connected right behind the back of your big toe, and this one’s a little bit more through that arch area of your foot. You’re going to get this sort of squeeze down here at the bottom, and it adds a really consistent pull. It’s putting a connection between this side of the shoe, the medial and lateral parts of the shoe, and creating a bit of a wrap here. I actually really liked that part of this shoe and the way that it fit.

The other thing here is this upper strap, and this is not common. The other GL model does not have this, and the GS:TAM doesn’t have this either. This is a strap that you can pull down and pull across. It has a couple of areas that it connects to at the back part of the heel, across the top of your foot, and again on the arch inside of your foot, and pulling that across.

What I will say is that, in general, the lower part of this shoe, I was able to really lock down. The upper part of this shoe, I wasn’t. The majority of it is, I use upper eyelets on my shoes to tie them and to really create a lock. You can’t really create a lock, because there’s nothing here that pulls these things together. It’s more that you’re creating pressure here, but the heel is still sort of independent. It brings all this together by creating tension here and here that sort of pulls this together. It’s more in the front.

Now, does it work? Sure, but if it’s over really technical stuff, this is not really my favorite type of fit, but if you’ve got a higher volume foot, maybe it works just fine. Just for comparison, I’ll show you the GS:TAM. The first thing I’ll call out is the lacing system. This one has two dials versus one. Again, they’re the same type of thing, but this dial goes up higher, so you’re trading a dial for this strap. I don’t know that one does anything different necessarily than the other, but just worth calling out. I felt like this strap worked better than the secondary dial. Neither one of them was really super, super locked down for me in the upper part. The bottom part of the foot was just fine.

Ok, let’s call out another couple of things here. On the upper, there’s some stretchy material down here on the foot. It is a fairly wide fit across the shoe, so even though this is a more narrow fit than the GS:TAM that I just showed, there’s still quite a bit of room in here. I would compare this to a Topo or an Altra in the fit, that it’s a little bit wider. It’s a little bit more comfortable. It’s a shoe that you can just sort of slide your foot into really easily, especially if these things aren’t locked down and just sort of like have it hanging off your foot. And then, of course, you can do all these various things here to lock it down, but it’s a very comfortable type of fit. Plenty of room for your toes. There’s stretchy fabric here at the top that has kind of just enough movement in it. Doesn’t make your toes feel too locked in.

And then there are overlays on the front to keep the water out and those types of things. And then, as you move across the back, you see the same type of engineered material all the way around. This calls out the carbon plate that you can put in the shoe. For the most part, it’s really a very fabric-y, unstructured, not too bad, upper. The only thing that adds structure here is that you’ve got this hard, little BOA thing here. If you’ve got a sensitive part of your foot and you really have to lock this thing down, that could be a problem. I actually experienced that on the GS:TAMs. I didn’t experience that at all on this shoe.

The last thing I’ll call out here is the heel collar. It is a structured heel collar from here down, and there’s a little gaiter attachment there. There’s some pads in here, but to my point about this strap, I was never able to fully lock it down to the fit that I exactly wanted with these mechanisms.

The last thing I want to show is the width of what you’re getting into between these two models. Because again, the Speedland series goes GL and GS, and those platforms arrange different. This is a top-down view of the GS:TAM, and you can see that it is significantly wider. These are both men’s 9.5s, but the amount of volume that is different between these two is pretty significant. I would probably say almost an inch in width if you were to go from this here to this here. Just something to keep in mind, if you’ve got a really wide foot, you’ve got options here. I would still say this is a more generous fit than a lot of shoes, but you do have options in the way that these things fit. And of course, with the BOA systems, you’ve got a way to dial it down.

Speedland GL:PDX Overall Impressions

A top view of the Speedland GL:PDX.

In closing, what does the Speedland GL:PDX do really well? This shoe does really well on more groomed, fire road, gravel, stuff that doesn’t have a lot of twists and turns and technical terrain on it. Because just for my heel, I can’t get it to lock down the way that I want, despite this nice midfoot wrap and even this strap across the top. It alleviated the pressure that I had with the GS:TAM, with the dials pushing on my foot, but I still was never able to lock it down enough. There just wasn’t enough here, in this space, because it’s kind of loose and floppy. And again, you don’t have upper eyelets, which I always use on all of my shoes. Some shoes I even add upper eyelets to. So hopefully that gives you a little bit of extra knowledge on where my foot fits in.

This is a fat tire bike. That’s what I feel like about these shoes. When I was on longer distance, gravel-y, kind of groomed or dirt type trail, this thing just loped and did its thing and felt really good. My foot could expand, and the grip felt really good on the bottom of it. And it was comfortable with this nice foam, and this really thick midsole, and really thick insole that’s in there as well. It just really performed well on that. Where it didn’t perform well is where I wanted my foot to be locked in, and I just couldn’t ever quite get that.

So, who’s this for? I’d say if you’re doing a bunch of technical terrain and you’ve got a narrower heel, this might not be exactly it. And I don’t know if any of the Speedland models are it if you’ve got a low-volume foot and a narrow heel, because it’s just hard to get it locked in, despite having all these cool dials and things like that. If you’ve got a more high-volume foot that takes up a lot of space and you’re into Altras and Topos and that style, these might actually work even better because you can get a little bit more dialed-in fit in these than some of those types of shoes. Plus, you’re not fighting a zero-drop, this being at a 5-millimeter drop.

So overall, lots of cool stuff on this shoe. It’s comfortable. Does really great on that less technical terrain, longer distance. Seems to be holding up really well. The insole is super thick. The midsole is really comfortable. It grips well. There are all kinds of fun customizations. Like you can add a carbon plate. You can pop holes out of this to let the shoe drain. There’s a lot of technology and a lot of ideas thrown in here, which I think is just fun for the industry in general. Bonus that it’s PDX colors, and I live in Portland.

Any questions, comments, place those below this video. Thanks for watching. We’ll catch you next time.

Shop the Speedland GL:PDX

Call for Comments
- Have you had a chance to run in the Speedland GL:PDX? What were your impressions?
- Are you a fan of BOA dials on trail running shoes?
Our Favorite Trail Running Shoes

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Speedland GL:PDX Review by Travis Liles.

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“Crewing:” A Film About Showing Up For Each Other
The post “Crewing:” A Film About Showing Up For Each Other appeared first on iRunFar.

From the outside, it may seem like ultrarunning is an individual sport, but anyone who has ever had someone crew them at a race — or has been part of a crew — knows it is actually a team sport.

“Crewing” is a new film following professional runners and partners Martina Valmassoi and Dakota Jones as they swap roles between racing and then crewing for each other this past summer. It highlights just how important crews can be and offers sage advice for being a good crew member. The added fun of this film comes from the fact that Valmassoi and Jones are lighthearted, fun, and clearly able to enjoy their racing and their time with each other.

[Editor’s Note: Click here to watch the film on YouTube.]

Both sponsored runners who live together in the Dolomites of Italy, the pair shares insights into what it is like to crew and support each other, first as Valmassoi tackles the Lavaredo Ultra Trail, her hometown race, as Jones crews, and then as Jones runs the Val d’Aran 100k in the Pyrenees, as Valmassoi crews. As the two race and crew, the film walks us through eight “golden rules” of crewing, including those that anyone who has crewed can well relate to, like “survive the wait.” The cinematography keeps it personal and real while capturing the often hectic nature of crewing at big races.

Jones, originally from the U.S., is no stranger to ultrarunning and broke onto the scene at the very young age of 17. Throughout the film, he offers words of wisdom on how to manage your mood when things go sideways in a race — both as a racer and crew member. He’s more than happy to talk about how running mirrors life.

Dakota Jones and Martina Valmassoi plan their crewing strategy ahead of the races. All photos are screenshots from the film “Crewing.”

Meanwhile, Valmassoi, originally from Pieve di Cadore, Italy, and an accomplished runner and ski mountaineer, gets playfully exasperated when he’s not listening to her. The interactions between Jones and Valmassoi are endearing and familiar. The two never seem to take themselves or life too seriously. Their vibe is refreshing, and they feel approachable and grounded. Maybe as the biggest lesson they can teach through this film, they tackle their less-than-ideal races with grace and stoicism.

Much of the humor arrives in the preparation. As all good crew and runner combos do, they review their gear and plans for the race ahead. “My goal is 80, 90 grams of carbs an hour without shitting my pants,” states Valmassoi. Jones doesn’t bat an eyelash. This moment bridges the gap between the elite and average ultrarunner. Aren’t we all just out there trying not to soil our pants?

Similarly, you can see the excitement and nerves in Jones’ eyes as Valmassoi heads off into the night at the start of the race. When Valmassoi’s race doesn’t go as planned, they move on, following another one of their golden rules: “respect red flags.”

Talking through the plan before Valmassoi heads out on the Lavaredo Ultra Trail.

When it’s Jones’ turn to race, he says, “I think racing is just trusting in yourself, no matter what you are doing, whether you are racing well or poorly.” While neither of their races goes as hoped, the quirky and candid moments between the pair and their perspective and silliness provide the example of what it means to show up — or in this case, to crew — for your people.

Their final golden rule might be the most important of all: “celebrate together.”

Valmassoi celebrates getting pizza between races.

Call for Comments
- Do you have a favorite crewing experience?
- Do you swap crewing and racing duties with your friends?
“Crewing:” A Film About Showing Up For Each Other by Maggie Guterl.

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David Goggins Just Crushed the Moab 240…Again

David Goggins has once again tested the limits of endurance, and passed. The 50-year-old ultrarunner, author, and former Navy SEAL finished the 2025 Moab 240 Endurance Run early Monday morning in around 3 days and 13 hours, placing 22nd overall after 240 miles through Utah’s desert canyons and mountains. It’s his second 200-plus-mile race in … Read more

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October 15, 2025
Run for Your Life 5K Medal Delivers Double the Thrill — Color-Changing by Day, Glowing by Night

NORMAN, OK — The 2025 Run for Your Life 5K, part of the popular Zombie Run series, is turning heads this Halloween season with a medal that offers not one, but two surprises — it changes color under sunlight and glows in the dark.

Designed and produced by X T-shirt, the medal captures the event’s spooky spirit from dawn to dusk. In daylight, the jack-o’-lantern design transforms from pale white to a deep pumpkin orange under UV light. When night falls, the eerie green glow brings the haunted theme alive — perfectly matching the race’s chilling, playful energy.

“We wanted to create something that evolves with the race — from the starting line in sunlight to the after-dark celebration,” said Ryan Zhu, founder of X T-shirt. “The color-changing and glow effects make this medal more than just a keepsake — it’s a living part of the Halloween experience.”

Every detail, from the bat silhouettes to the haunted-house ribbon, was tailored to echo the Run for Your Life theme. The result is a finisher medal that feels both festive and mysterious — a reward runners will love showing off long after the race.

The Run for Your Life 5K will take place on October 18, 2025, in Norman, Oklahoma, inviting participants to embrace the fun and fright of the season.

Registration is open now at: https://runsignup.com/Race/OK/Norman/ZombieRun5Kand1MileDashandDance

About X T-shirt / Magic Race Shirts

Who We Are

X T-shirt creates interactive race apparel and medals, including glow-in-the-dark, color-changing (UV reactive), and sweat-activated (hydrochromic) technologies. Our mission is to transform standard race merchandise into memorable experiences that enhance participation, sponsorship, and community engagement.

Runner Feedback

Runners consistently highlight how these products add fun and motivation to events. See runners real reactions here: Magic Race Shirts & Medals Runner Feedback.

Free Design Service

Every race is unique. We provide free design services, tailoring shirts and medals to match each event’s theme — from 5K to marathons — ensuring every piece of merchandise feels like part of the story.

Free Samples

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Compassion Over Competition at the 2025 Speedgoat 50k
The post Compassion Over Competition at the 2025 Speedgoat 50k appeared first on iRunFar.

It’s an ask made on the start line of many trail races: If you see someone in trouble, stop to help.

This year, on the rugged backcountry trails of the 2025 Speedgoat 50k, a group of racers showed that caring for each other came before race results when they happened upon another runner lying motionless on the ground. It’s a nightmare scenario no one wishes to encounter — on or off a race course — but in this case, everyone involved quickly realized that their own races were now of secondary importance and helping the fallen runner was their top priority. One of the runners, Majell Backhausen, applied his wilderness first aid training to check for responsiveness and assess the runner’s possible injuries. After a few long seconds, the injured runner, Scott Klingonsmith, responded by lightly squeezing Backhausen’s hand. While others ran ahead to the next aid station to get help, Backhausen stayed with Klingonsmith, sacrificing any race goals for the day.

While his evacuation was slow, Klingonsmith was eventually able to walk out, assisted by the race’s medical crew. The stories from that day provide hope that when things get serious, people are more than willing to put their personal goals aside in order to help others.

Majell Backhausen, a man of the mountains, used his wilderness first aid training to help a hurt runner, sacrificing his own race ambitions at the 2025 Speedgoat 50k. Photo courtesy of Majell Backhausen.

A Fall on the Speedgoat 50k Trails

The Speedgoat 50k takes place in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains in late July. Over two days, the event hosts three races that start and finish at Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon, approximately 30 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. Sunday’s 50k premier event, which was started in 2008 by ultrarunning legend Karl Meltzer, is known for its more than 11,000 feet of vertical gain over 31 miles and is advertised as the toughest 50k in the U.S.

About 14 miles into the race, Backhausen was descending from Hidden Peak on a rock-strewn trail. “The race was feeling tough on the first climb, but that’s Speedgoat, I guess, and I had found some more rhythm descending a very technical section of the course in its first major downhill,” recalls Backhausen. “Myself and a number of other runners were in close proximity descending this section, and the next moment, we just saw Scott lying on the ground, motionless.”

Scott Klingonsmith wrapped in an emergency blanket while Majell Backhausen (orange shirt) manages the situation. Photo courtesy of Scott Klingonsmith.

Backhausen said the group stopped to check on the unconscious runner, and to his relief, Klingonsmith stirred after a few moments. “The second big relief came when he slowly pressed pause on his watch,” Backhausen shared. “Like a true racer.”

Both Backhausen and Klingonsmith are competitive athletes and experienced trail runners. Backhausen is an athlete for the Australia/New Zealand The North Face team and has been trail running and ultrarunning since 2012. He’s completed several 100 milers and notable races such as UTMB, the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, Marathon des Sables, and the Skyrunning World Championships. Klingonsmith is 20 years old and started running four years ago as a high school cross-country and track athlete and had goals of finishing in the top 10 at Speedgoat. “Before my fall, I was doing well,” said Klingonsmith. “My fueling plan was going perfectly, and I was in a good place as we were about halfway into the race. I was excited to see what my body could rally in the second half of the race.”

The Fall, Rescue, and Priorities

Klingonsmith recalls running downhill fast, trying to make up ground on the runners ahead of him, when he fell: “I was in a good rhythm until my toe snagged on a rock and I fell hard on a rocky part of the trail. My knees took 90% of the weight of my fall as I landed on some sharp rocks I remember falling and closing my eyes after I came to a stop. I was lying down in the middle of the trail. From that point, I don’t remember much except that I started to gain consciousness when Majell came down the trail and had me squeeze his finger. I remember he kept feeding me the Precision gel I was carrying, as well as some of my liquid carbs.”

Unfortunately, the competition came to a halt for both athletes, although Backhausen did eventually go on to finish the race. “As the seconds ticked by and [Scott’s] movement and awareness were slow but evident, it occurred to me that any sort of racing was well and truly finished for the day,” said Backhausen. “I think it was tough for us both to accept, but ultimately, I had to believe the words I told Scott, which were: ‘This is a blip on the radar of life, man; there will be many more opportunities to race and don’t sweat it. There are bigger things in life.’” For the next 40 minutes, Backhausen stayed with Klingonsmith as he slowly recovered and waited for medical attention.

Scott Klingonsmith was eventually able to walk out with assistance from the race medical crew. Photo courtesy of Scott Klingonsmith.

Meanwhile, about a mile and a half down the trail at the American Fork Canyon aid station, Ryan Cooper, part of the event’s operations team with medical training, started organizing a rescue as soon as he received reports of an injured runner. Cooper shared, “It’s a remote area between Snowbird and Midway, and takes two to three hours to get there on a gnarly, boulder-ridden 4×4 road.” He noted, “It’s not a good place to get hurt.”

As Cooper was making his way up the trail with medical supplies, Backhausen and Klingonsmith, wrapped in an emergency blanket and with lacerations on his hands and legs, were slowly walking down. Cooper noted that he showed some signs of shock, but he was coherent and able to walk and talk. The group got Klingonsmith to the aid station, where he rested and hydrated while Cooper cleaned and bandaged his cuts. “He said he was able to hike out,” said Cooper, and Klingonsmith made it to the medical tent at the finish line by the time Backhausen ran the second half of the course and finished the race.

The Selflessness of Trail Runners

Since the incident, Klingonsmith has almost fully recovered. “I had a deep puncture wound on my left knee that required stitches, my right knee was swollen to the size of a grapefruit, but luckily had no internal fracture, my finger was broken, and my hands had a lot of cuts and scrapes,” Klingonsmith shared. Fortunately, he did not sustain a head injury. “Perhaps I had the wind knocked out of me,” he said. He is now running again — mostly pain-free — and he recently returned to racing by taking third at the 2025 Big Cottonwood Classic, a local race.

Backhausen went on to compete at the 2025 TDS in August, part of the UTMB Mont Blanc festival.

Majell Backhausen and Scott Klingonsmith reunite in the medical tent at the end of the 2025 Speedgoat 50k. Photo courtesy of Scott Klingonsmith.

The two runners have kept in touch over social media. “We both got a new Instagram follower out of it, so I guess that is huge success in this sport,” said Backhausen with a laugh. “I’ll be watching his profile for the next race celebration.”

Klingonsmith shared, “I have learned so many lessons from my experience at Speedgoat. The main one being that there are good people out there who are willing to stop what they’re doing and prioritize someone in need over themselves. I’ve learned that the trail running community has some of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. Every runner who ran down that trail as I was lying down in pain was willing to stop and help. Training months and months for a race only to throw it out the window to help a random person who fell, that’s a true act of selflessness and kindness. I experienced an immense amount of gratitude that day, for everyone who was involved.”

Call for Comments
- Have you ever encountered an injured runner on the trail who needed help or been in a situation where you needed assistance on the trail?
Compassion Over Competition at the 2025 Speedgoat 50k by Alli Miles.

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October 15, 2025
2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships Preview
The post 2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships Preview appeared first on iRunFar.

Fixed-time ultrarunning fans, get ready! The 2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships take place on Saturday, October 18, in Albi, France.

The race starts at 10 a.m. local time and follows a 1.5-kilometer (0.93 miles) course looping in and around the Albi stadium. The Albi venue in southwest France is no stranger to hosting championships, having held the 2016 IAU 24-Hour European Championships and the 2019 IAU 24-Hour World Championships.

With both 2023 champions — Aleksandr Sorokin (Lithuania) and Miho Nakata (Japan), who are also the world record holders — returning, the 15th edition of the generally biennial world championships promises a strong field in both the men’s and women’s races. And as long as weather conditions are favorable, the world records will likely be challenged.

The current world records for the 24-hour distance are held by Sorokin, who ran 319.614k (198.599 miles) at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships in Italy, and Miho Nakata (Japan), who ran 270.363k (167.996 miles) at the last edition of this event in 2023.

In this article, we take a quick look at the history of this world championships and a deeper look at who we expect to be at the front of the women’s and men’s races. A full entrants list is also available.

Japan’s Miho Nakata working hard during the final hour of her world-record-setting effort at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships, held in Taipei on December 1 and 2. Photo: International Association of Ultrarunners

IAU 24-Hour World Championships History

The inaugural IAU 24-Hour World Track Championships were first staged by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) in 2001. The fact that it was held on a track limited the entries to 54 competitors. Two years later, the first IAU 24-Hour World Championships on a road loop took place, and 141 athletes participated. It was held in conjunction with the IAU 24-Hour European Championships. This 2025 edition has a record 397 entries, with 222 men and 175 women on the start lists from 47 national federations. This is way up from the last edition in 2023, where 245 entrants raced, with 138 men and 107 women.

Although recent rankings always play a part in predicting leading contenders, the outcomes of these fixed-time world championships can be difficult to predict, as athletes may have run a qualifying distance as far back as 12 to 18 months, or more. So, although past performances and qualifications can be a guide, they do not always indicate an athlete’s current form.

As with all IAU events, there are both individual and team events. The team result is calculated by adding the cumulative distances of a nation’s top three runners, with the highest cumulative distance winning. In 2023, Lithuania won the men’s event, with Poland and Great Britain placing second and third. Poland won the 2023 women’s team event, followed by Japan and the Czech Republic.

To learn more, read our History and Evolution of the 24-Hour World Records article or check out our Data-Driven Primer on the IAU 24-Hour World Championships article, the latter of which was written before the 2023 event but is just as relevant today.

Lithuania’s Aleksandr Sorokin on his way to winning the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships. Photo: International Association of Ultrarunners

2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships Women to Watch

Podium Potential Women

The women’s world record has been broken at the last three world championships. In 2017, Poland’s Patrycja Bereznowska set a then-world record of 259.991k (161.551 miles). Two years later, in 2019, Camille Herron improved the record to 270.116k (167.842 miles). At the last event in 2023, Japan’s Miho Nakata pushed the mark up just a tiny bit further, to 270.363k (167.996 miles).

All three of these athletes are entered and set to be on the start line, although it’s worth noting that Herron broke her wrist in a rollerblading accident in September, which could affect her ability to run. Nakata has also been working through health issues, but appears to be racing.

In 2024, Herron ran 263.004k (163.423 miles) at the Soochow Track Invitational in Taipei and remains the only female athlete to have won IAU world titles in the 50k, 100k, and 24-hour events. Bereznowska ran 263.178k (163.531 miles) at the 2024 ABM Jędraszek UltraPark Weekend and, since winning the world title in Belfast in 2017, has been one of the most consistent 24-hour performers. Nakata ran 249.198k (154.844 miles) at the 2024 Hirosaki 24-Hour Run, and then 249.303k (154.909 miles) at the 2025 Jingu Gaien 24-Hour Challenge.

All three, if running to previous standards, could end up on the podium, but there are plenty of others with the credentials to challenge them.

Camille Herron on her way to setting a world record at the 2019 IAU 24-Hour World Championships. Photo: U.S. National 24 Hour Running Team

Holly Ranson of Australia leads the 2025 rankings with 263.548k (163.761 miles) achieved at the Sri Chinmoy 24/48 Track Festival in her home country, in March. In doing so, she set an Australian 24-hour record, as well as an Australian 100-mile record.

Great Britain’s Sarah Webster, the bronze medalist at last year’s IAU 100k World Championships, an event in which Nakata finished fourth just behind her, will also be one to watch. She made the step up to 24 hours in April this year, recording 243.393k (151.237 miles) off a 14:05 100-mile split, to qualify for the this race.

Noora Honkala (Finland) has a best 24-hour distance of 246.496k (153.165 miles) from the 2022 Loutraki International Ultramarathon Festival, her last serious attempt at 24 hours. She ran close to Herron in the 2023 Spartathlon, placing second, and returned to win the race in 2024. She also placed eighth at the 2023 Comrades Marathon and 11th in 2025.

Japan’s Miho Nakata celebrates after setting a new women’s 24-hour world record at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships in Taipei on December 1 and 2. Photo: International Association of Ultrarunners

Other Women to Watch and Their 24-Hour Personal Bests
- Hanna Bergwall (Sweden) – 241.269k at the 2025 VXO Ultrafest
- Therese Fredriksson (Sweden) – 241.658k at the 2025 VXO Ultrafest
- Stéphanie Gicquel (France) – 253.580k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
- Corinne Gruffaz (France) – 245.549k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
- Lauren Jones (U.S.) – 247.923k at the 2024 Desert Solstice Track Invitational
- Aiko Kanematsu (Japan) – 247.070k at the 2023 Jingu Gaien 24-Hour Challenge
- Marisa Lizak (U.S) – 244.756k at the 2024 Desert Solstice Track Invitational
- Olena Shevchenko (Ukraine) – 254.463k at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships
- Anne Stephan (Germany) – 250.572k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
- Daniela Tarnutzer (Switzerland) – 252.822k at the 2024 24-Stundenlauf Aare-Insel Brugg
- Jo Zakrzewski (Great Britain) – 247.984k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
[Editor’s Note: Jo Zakrzewski was disqualified from the 2023 Manchester To Liverpool Ultra 50 Mile for traveling in a car for a few miles of the race and then crossing the finish line. She received a one-year ban from U.K. Athletics.]

2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships Men to Watch

Podium Potential Men

The top four finishers from the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships are all on the start list.

Aleksandr Sorokin from Lithuania is the defending champion from 2023, when he ran 301.790k (187.523 miles). He is the current men’s world record holder with 319.614k (198.598 miles), set when winning the 2022 IAU European 24-Hour Championships. Over the last five years, he has been impressive at both 24-hour and 100k events, having world records in both disciplines. He ran in the recent Adidas “Chasing 100” at the end of August, recording 6:04:10 for 100k, slightly faster than his official world record of 6:05:35, in an aided marketing event by the brand. The event was not run under World Athletics rules, and the times run are not record-eligible.

Aleksandr Sorokin, after winning the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships, in a new world record. Image: Marius Antanaitis screen capture from race video

Fotis Zisimopoulos (Greece) was the 2023 silver medalist, running 292.254k (181.598 miles), his personal best. He is a four-time winner of Greece’s classic Spartathlon and the current course record holder. He has run a few shorter events in the last 12 months but skipped this year’s Spartathlon.

Fotis Zisimopoulos (center) celebrates winning the 2023 Spartathlon. Photo: Sparta Photography Club/Flickr

Andrii Tkachuk of Ukraine was third at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships with 284.540k (176.804 miles). He ran a personal best of 295.363k (183.530 miles) at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships. A string of strong results at shorter races in the past two years shows form.

Francisco Mariano Martinez of Spain was fourth in the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships with 282.061k (175.264 miles), which is his personal best to date.

Andrzej Piotrowski was sixth in the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships with 265.886k (165.213 miles). His personal best is 301.858k (187.565 miles), which he ran at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships when placing second behind Sorokin. He is one of only three men to have bettered 300k (186.411 miles). Sorokin and retired Greek ultra legend Yiannis Kouros are the other two.

Elov Olsson of Sweden ran 284.669k (176.885 miles) at the 2025 VXO Ultrafest, splitting 100 miles in 12:50:31. He ran a 6:30:14 at the 2022 IAU 100k World Championships, where he placed seventh, and he also won the 2023 Tunnel Hill 100 Mile with 11:26:19.

Other Men to Watch and Their 24-Hour Personal Bests
- Robbie Britton (Great Britain) – 277.439k at the 2023 24 Hours of Torino
- Matthew Field (Great Britain) – 281.303k at the 2024 Gloucester 24-Hour Track Race Invitational
- Chris Kelly (Great Britain) – 273.375k at the 2024 24 Hours of Albi
- Dan Lawson (Great Britain) – 273.003k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
- Amar Singh Devanda (India) – 272.537k at the 2024 IAU 24-Hour Asia and Oceania Championships
- Stijn Van Lokeren (Belgium) – 280.020k at the 2025 Belgian 24-Hour Championships
- Luka Videtič (Slovenia) – 265.322k at the 2023 IAU 24-Hour World Championships
- Marco Visintini (Italy) – 288.437k at the 2022 IAU 24-Hour European Championships
Robbie Britton running the 2021 Valencia Marathon. Photo: Zoe Salt

Call for Comments

The 24-hour event format is unique compared to many other styles of ultrarunning. There will always be emerging runners a little under the radar, waiting to make a breakthrough. Let us know if you think we have missed someone!

2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships Preview by Adrian Stott.

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October 14, 2025
The Fastest Shoes at the 2025 Chicago Marathon

When it comes to the shoes that ruled the 2025 Chicago Marathon, the story was one of longevity versus novelty. On one end, the Nike Alphafly 3, now two years old, proved its staying power with Jacob Kiplimo’s commanding 2:02:23 victory and Conner Mantz’s new American record.

On the other, Puma’s Fast-R Nitro Elite 3, the most aggressively styled and innovative super-shoe on the market, broke through with personal bests and top-10 finishes across the women’s field.

Chicago became the meeting point of two design eras: the veteran still defining the standard, and the upstart rewriting the rules. The result wasn’t a passing of the torch, but a dead heat between the old guard and the new wave—a rare equilibrium in the super-shoe arms race.

Below, we break down the fastest shoes at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, and what this balance between legacy and innovation says about where the super shoe arms race stands today.

Jacob Kiplimo, Conner Mantz, and the Enduring Reign of the Alphafly 3

Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda won the Chicago Marathon in the Nike Alphafly 3. He was among five of the top 10 athletes in the men’s race to wear the shoes. (Photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris)

Heading into the 2025 Chicago Marathon, all eyes were on John Korir—the defending champion and reigning Boston Marathon winner—who had boldly announced plans to chase a sub-2:01 finish. But Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda, the 24-year-old half-marathon world-record holder (56:42), proved that his world-class talent extends well beyond the 13.1-mile distance.

Kiplimo took risks. While no runner plans to positive-split a marathon, his decision to press the pace early effectively disrupted Korir’s rhythm. He crossed the halfway mark in 1:00:16, putting him on pace for the late Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 world record set at Chicago in 2023. Near the 35km mark, Korir dropped out, and Kiplimo surged ahead uncontested, breaking the tape in 2:02:23, 91 seconds clear of Amos Kipruto (KEN, 2:03:54).

It wasn’t just a statement win for Kiplimo—it was another major victory for the Nike Alphafly 3, the same shoe that has dominated marathon podiums for more than two years and was worn by Kiptum during his aforementioned world record.

Kiplimo wasn’t the only Nike athlete making moves on the men’s leaderboard. Mantz, wearing the latest dev model of the Alphafly 3 (Nike Dev 16141), set a new American record that surpassed Khalid Khannouchi’s long-standing mark of 2:05:38, finishing in 2:04:43 and fourth overall. That matches his fourth-place finish in Boston earlier this year and underscores his dominance among Americans in the marathon distance.

Conner Mantz set a new American record at the Chicago marathon wearing Nike Alphafly 3. (Photo: Getty Images)

All told, five of the top-10 men crossed the Chicago finish line in Alphafly 3s—including Huseydin Mohamed Esa (ETH, 2:04:50), Seifu Tura (ETH, 2:05:17), and Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN, 2:05:31)—further proof that even two years after launch, Nike’s flagship marathon racer remains the benchmark for performance.

The Alphafly is no longer the lightest super-shoe on the market—that title now belongs to Asics’s new Metaspeed Ray—but its blend of propulsive foam, signature Zoom Air pods, and optimum stability often matter more than weighing a few less grams on the scale, and continues to make it one of the most trusted tools in elite racing (and favorite of many citizen marathoners too).

Hawi Feysa and the Growing Legacy of the Adios Pro Evo Series

Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia broke away after the halfway mark and never looked back, winning in the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2 with a time of 2:14:56—delivering yet another major-marathon victory for Adidas’s Evo series, the ultra-minimal racer that also helped Tigst Assefa (ETH, 2:11:53) smash her own world record at this year’s London Marathon.

Feysa—who, like Kiplimo, is just 24—secured a win that further cements Adidas’s role as a first-place contender in the marathon shoe wars, continuing to innovate at “Lightstrike” speed. Weighing just 138 grams (4.9 ounces), with a stiff carbon platform and aggressive rocker geometry, the Evo 2 stands as the second-lightest elite marathon shoe currently on the market—roughly 10g heavier than the recently debuted Asics Metaspeed Ray (129 g/4.5 oz).

While Adidas claimed the crown, Nike, Asics, and Puma filled out the women’s leaderboard. Runner-up Megertu Alemu (ETH, 2:17:18) likely raced in Nike’s Vaporfly 3, while Loice Chemnung (KEN, 2:18:23) and Magdalena Shauri (TAN, 2:18:03) delivered podium-level performances for Asics, wearing the Metaspeed Ray and Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, respectively.

And just as in the men’s field, Nike’s Alphafly 3 continued to make its presence known—under the feet of Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN, 2:19:25), Florencia Borelli (ARG, 2:24:23), and Gabriella Rooker (USA, 2:26:32)—proving that two years after its launch, the shoe remains a defining force across both sides of the elite podium.

Puma’s Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 Makes An Even Bigger Splash

Following its heavily promoted—but somewhat underwhelming—debut at this year’s Boston Marathon, the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 made a strong statement in Chicago, emerging as the second-most-popular shoe among the women’s top 10.

Three athletes—Natosha Rogers (USA, 2:23:28) (top American finisher), Dakotah Popehn (USA, 2:24:21) (second American), and Melody Julien (FRA, 2:27:09)—all ran personal bests in the model, helping solidify Puma’s reemergence as a serious player in elite racing.

Dakotah Popehn ran a personal best wearing Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3. (Photo: Getty Images)

Puma’s lightweight, split-midsole design—with its ultra-soft-and-responsive A-TPU Nitro Elite foam and rigid carbon bridge—has officially moved beyond novelty status. With such a deep field choosing to lace up in it, the Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 cements Puma’s reputation as the comeback brand of the 2020s—a company once known for its sprinting heritage now carving out space in the marathon super-shoe conversation.

The Other Super-Shoes in the Top 10

With Nike’s Alphafly 3 and Adidas’s Adios Pro Evo 2 taking the wins and Puma taking up more space on the leaderboard, three other shoes made major statements in Chicago—each showcasing how diverse the marathon footwear landscape continues to become.

The Asics Metaspeed Trifecta: Ray, Sky Tokyo & Edge Tokyo

Apparently, one marathon super shoe wasn’t enough for Asics. Their current top-tier lineup has three different models. Loice Chemnung (KEN, 2:18:23) raced in the Metaspeed Ray, a featherweight design that now stands as the lightest in the field at 129 grams (4.5 ounces). And defending Chicago champ John Korir was aiming for an audacious sub-2:01 before he DNF’d, and chose to race in the Metaspeed Ray to help him get there.

Meanwhile, Magdalena Shauri (TAN, 2:18:03) impressed in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, while Bashir Abdi (BEL, 2:07:08) represented the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, both using Asics’s dual-foam system (FF Turbo + FF Leap) and full-length carbon plate to deliver a smooth, energetic ride.

All three Metaspeed models share a 39.5 mm heel/34.5 mm forefoot stack and a 5 mm drop, but they’re tuned for different stride mechanics: the Ray for maximal energy return for forefoot runners, the Edge for higher cadence, and the Sky for maximal stride length. Together, they signal that Asics is no longer chasing the leaders—it’s running stride-for-stride with them.

Hoka Cielo X1 3.0

In one of the day’s biggest surprises, Alex Masai (KEN, 2:04:37) placed third wearing an unreleased prototype of Hoka’s Cielo X1 3.0. It is rumored to be slightly lower-stacked and lighter than its predecessor, and to refine Hoka’s signature rocker geometry with a stiffer carbon plate and more aggressive toe spring. While not yet available to the public, the Cielo X1 3.0’s debut on the Chicago podium cements Hoka’s return to the front of the super-shoe conversation.

On Cloudboom Strike

Although it didn’t appear on the podium, the On Cloudboom Strike continues to draw attention from pros and testers alike. Weighing 210 grams (7.4 ounces) with a 39.5 mm stack and 4 mm drop, it pairs Helion HF PEBA-based foam with a full-length carbon Speedboard for a firm yet efficient ride.

The shoe’s Chicago appearance came courtesy of Ryan Ford (USA)—who had only just announced his new affiliation with On’s Boulder-based elite team on Saturday. His entry marked one of the first official marathon outings for On’s newest racer. Unlike the softer trend dominating other brands, the Cloudboom Strike favors responsiveness and ground feel, appealing to forefoot-striking athletes who value control and turnover over plushness.

Men’s Results and Fastest Shoes at the 2025 Chicago Marathon

The post The Fastest Shoes at the 2025 Chicago Marathon appeared first on RUN | Powered by Outside.

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October 13, 2025
“Katharina:” A Film on the Struggles and Triumphs of Katharina Hartmuth
The post “Katharina:” A Film on the Struggles and Triumphs of Katharina Hartmuth appeared first on iRunFar.

There’s an often-quoted adage that says, “Be kind to everyone you meet, because you don’t know what they’re going through.” It asks us to acknowledge that life can be difficult for everyone, regardless of how happy or successful they seem on the surface.

This is the theme that will resound in your head as you view “Katharina,” a raw, deeply honest, and awe-inspiring film following Katharina Hartmuth over an 12-month period starting in 2024. While the highlights of the period include a win at the 2024 Tor des Géants and third-place finishes at the 2024 and 2025 Hardrock 100, there were also seemingly endless injuries, a knee surgery, and mental health struggles.

[Editor’s Note: Click here to watch the full film on YouTube.]

This film is edited and directed by Ethan Newberry, often known as The Ginger Runner. Newberry is arguably one of the most prolific and talented trail running filmmakers in our sport right now. Besides editing and cinematography, the elegantly placed music in his films — including this one — elevates the experience and gives you all the feels.

Katharina Hartmuth near the end of the 2024 Tor des Géants after overcoming a summer of injury. All photos are screenshots from the film “Katharina.”

The opening scene immediately immerses us in Hartmuth’s world. The purposeful shots follow Hartmuth to the 2024 Hardrock 100 start line in Silverton, Colorado. She describes the mountains as her “happy place” and says that running in them is “almost like visiting friends.”

Hartmuth, who is German but lives in Switzerland, is one of the most prolific runners on the global circuit. Her most recent accomplishment is a third-place finish at the 2025 UTMB, where this film made its world premiere. But for anyone who’s been following her career closely, it’s clear that her runs at UTMB and other events in the past two years have not come easily.

Katharina and others at the start of the 2025 Hardrock 100.

Early on in the film, Hartmuth candidly reveals her struggles with mental health and her series of unfortunate and frustrating injuries. Her string of bad luck started with a knee injury after being hit by a car while riding her bike in the spring of 2024. The second was a bad fall while running just 2.5 weeks before the 2024 Hardrock 100 during which she injured her back. The way she speaks about these challenges is honest and relatable. She never begs for sympathy in her tone. Hartmuth exudes dignity and grit, and it is utterly inspiring. She lines up for the 2024 race even with less-than-ideal preparation and finishes third, despite additionally suffering from loss of vision, a condition well-documented during ultrarunning events. The way Hartmuth ultimately navigates the course with no vision, never wavering, will give you chills.

Subsequently, we follow Hartmuth to her victorious finish at the 2024 Tor des Géants in September of that year. The scenery in the Italian Alps is spectacular and at times looks like a movie set. Despite the grueling nature of this 330-kilometer race, Hartmuth never stops smiling and never loses her patience. She struggles all the while with her lingering knee pain. Her success is achieved not without hardship, and her approach to mental health is both rational and mature.

Katharina in the Italian Alps during the 2024 Tor des Géants.

Knee surgery in November 2024 and the subsequent rehabilitation marks the winter months between race seasons, and the movie concludes with its final chapter at the 2025 Hardrock 100. During this time, Hartmuth reminisces on her 2024 race and describes one of the most relatable situations in ultrarunning when she says, “I had so many problems during the race, but my back was never a problem.” It highlights what is often true both in life and running: In the end, it’s never the issues we are most worried about that become the concern.

The film is an emotional roller coaster from the start to the final finish line of the film. Hartmuth is engaging and lovable, and you will become a fan if you weren’t already. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a reminder that many people are struggling, and it’s ok to reach out for help.

Overcome by emotion at the finish of the 2025 Hardrock 100.

Call for Comments
- Have you had a chance to watch the film? What did you think?
- Have you found yourself navigating mental health struggles while dealing with physical injuries as well?
“Katharina:” A Film on the Struggles and Triumphs of Katharina Hartmuth by Maggie Guterl.

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October 13, 2025
This Week In Running: October 13, 2025
The post This Week In Running: October 13, 2025 appeared first on iRunFar.

It was the year’s last Golden Trail World Series contest, the Kodiak Ultramarathons was a UTMB World Series Major, and the Skyrunner World Series went to Northern Ireland.

Those are the big highlights for this week.

Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale – Trentino, Italy

The event was the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) final. Many top runners were doubling back from the World Mountain Running Championships two weeks ago. But whether because they were instead prioritizing the GTWS finale or didn’t have the opportunity to race at worlds, others were fresh, and that made for some intriguing match-ups.

Prologue

The three-day event started with the Prologue, a 6.9-kilometer race that went up from the beaches of Lake Ledro to the forests of San Martino, and back downhill, gaining and losing 500 meters of elevation in the process. It was staged in a time trial format with runners leaving the start line individually one minute apart.

Women’s Race

Mădălina Florea (Romania) entered the race as the series leader, and she was a notable absence at the aforementioned World Mountain Running Championships. Florea instead raced last weekend’s Brasov Running Festival 10k and won the women’s amateur race in 35:23. That must’ve been the final tune-up she needed because Florea blasted from the start line and climbed to the high point with a minute lead on the field. Lauren Gregory (U.S.) ate into that gap on the second-half descent, but Florea’s early lead stuck for a first-place 39:55 finish. Gregory was second in 40:06, and Joyce Njeru (Kenya) was third in 41:17.

Women’s Top 10
1. Mădălina Florea (Romania) – 39:55
2. Lauren Gregory (U.S.) – 40:06
3. Joyce Njeru (Kenya) – 41:17
4. Sara Alonso (Spain) – 41:19
5. Rosa Lara (Spain) – 42:04
6. Malen Osa (Spain) – 42:16
7. Naomi Lang (U.K.) – 42:36
8. Céline Aebi (Switzerland) – 42:56
9. Marie Nivet (France) – 43:09
10. Courtney Coppinger (U.S.) – 43:12
Madalina Florea, the 2025 Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale Prologue women’s winner. Photo: GTWS/Justin Galant

Men’s Race

This year’s GTWS has belonged to Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco). Known for his downhill skill, Elazzaoui outclimbed everyone here, too. He hit the high point 41 and 86 seconds better than his chief rivals, Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya) and Philemon Kiriago (Kenya). Already ahead at the top, Elazzaoui was predictably uncatchable on the downhill. He won the men’s Prologue in 32:24, over two minutes better than anyone else.

Joey Hadorn (Switzerland) and Taylor Stack (U.S.) were second and third in 34:38 and 34:54, respectively.

Men’s Top 10
1. Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco) – 32:24
2. Joey Hadorn (Switzerland) – 34:38
3. Taylor Stack (U.S.) – 34:54
4. Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya) – 34:55
5. Christian Allen (U.S.) – 34:57
6. Paul Machoka (Kenya) – 35:05
7. Theo Burgeois (France) – 35:18
8. Philemon Kiriago (Kenya) – 35:24
9. Manuel Innerhofer (Austria) – 25:33
10. Daniel Pattis (Italy) – 35:43
Elhousine Elazzaoui, the 2025 Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale Prologue men’s winner. Photo: GTWS/Justin Galant

Sky Trentino

On Saturday and Sunday, the women and men moved to a 21k race with 1,600 meters of elevation gain. The Prologue was a bit of a warm-up or undercard, and this was the last chance to shine on the year’s series.

Women’s Race

Florea again moved to the front early, but as the lead group neared the top of the climb, Gregory moved to the front and outclassed the field the rest of the way. Gregory, who was fifth at the 2025 World Mountain Running Championships Up and Down race two weeks ago, won in 2:22.

Early leader Florea held on for second in 2:25, 32 seconds better than third-place Sara Alonso (Spain).

Florea was the overall series winner with 958 points. She won the Il Golfo Dell Isola Trail race in Italy in May and was second in two other GTWS races, and third in yet two others before the finale. Alonso and Gregory were second and third in the series with 913 and 878 points, respectively.

Women’s Top 10
1. Lauren Gregory (U.S.) – 2:22:51
2. Mădălina Florea (Romania) – 2:25:22
3. Sara Alonso (Spain) – 2:25:54
4. Lucija Krkoc (Slovenia) – 2:27:00
5. Malen Osa (Spain) – 2:27:45
6. Barbora Bukovjan (Czech Republic) – 2:27:46
7. Rosa Lara (Spain) – 2:28:37
8. Joyce Njeru (Kenya) – 2:29:19
9. Marie Nivet (France) – 2:33:59
10. Anna Gibson (U.S.) – 2:35:40
The 2025 Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale women’s podium (left to right): 4. Lucija Krkoc, 2. Mădălina Florea, 1. Lauren Gregory, 3. Sara Alonso, 5. Malen Osa. Photo: GTWS/Anthony Deroeux

Men’s Race

It was the last GTWS race of the year, but it looked like so many others. Elhousine Elazzaoui was still top dog. He started slow and gained the lead group before the high point, and then eventually raced past Paul Machoka (Kenya) for the win with about 5k to race. Elazzoui finished first in 1:58:30.

Patrick Kipngeno overtook early pacesetter Paul Machoka for second, and the two finished in 1:58:50 and 1:59:32.

Whether he was tired or was simply outrun, recent World Mountain Running Championships Up and Down winner Philemon Kiriago (Kenya) was a non-factor on the weekend. He followed up an eighth-place finish in the Prologue with a fifth-place finish here.

Elazzaoui, of course, won the overall GTWS series too. He dominated this year’s series, and his only blip was a ninth-place run at Sierre-Zinal. Kipngeno and Kiriago finished the series in second and third.

Men’s Top 10
1. Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco) – 1:58:30
2. Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya) – 1:58:50
3. Paul Machoka (Kenya) – 1:59:32
4. Taylor Stack (U.S.) – 1:59:42
5. Philemon Kiriago (Kenya) – 2:00:15
6. Michael Selelo Saoli (Kenya) – 2:00:18
7. Joey Hadorn (Switzerland) – 2:02:08
8. Fabián Venero (Spain) – 2:03:07
9. Daniel Pattis (Italy) – 2:03:27
10. Ïu Net (Spain) – 2:05:24
Full results.

Paul Machoka leads Eloussine Elazzaoui during the 2025 Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale. Elazzaoui would pull away for the win. Photo: GTWS/Anthony Deroeux

Kodiak Ultramarathons – Big Bear, California

The two-day event in southern California was a UTMB World Series Major, and that made it a late-in-the-year chance for runners to secure entry to next year’s UTMB, CCC, and OCC races.

100 Mile

Lin Chen (China) won the Canyons 100 Mile race in April, missed the Western States 100 in June with injury, dropped from UTMB in August, and came back here to win the women’s race in 19:31. She’ll be back in the U.S. in February 2026 for the Black Canyon 100k too. It was a close race, as Madison Liechty was only 12 minutes back in 19:43, and Genevieve Harrison was third in 20:15.

In the men’s race, Hayden Hawks bounced back from a drop at UTMB in August to win here in 16:40. Joe McConaughy kept it close in second in 17:01, and Jhon Barrera (Colombia) ran 17:29 for the final podium spot.

100k

The 2024 Leadville Trail 100 Mile winner Mary Denholm crushed the women’s race with a 9:28 finish, and Erin Moyer and Imogen Ainsworth were next in 10:03 and 10:50.

The men ran it closer with Kellen Blumberg beating Guillaume Tiphene (France) for the win by just 64 seconds. The two finished in 8:30 and 8:31. Ryan Raff was third in 8:53.

50k

In her 50k debut, road marathoner Makena Morley won in 4:03. In June, she ran 2:30 at the Grandma’s Marathon. Alicia Vargo was second in 4:14, and Sofie Schunk was exactly a minute behind in 4:15 for third.

Recent Trail World Championships Short Trail third-placer finisher Andreu Blanes (Spain) won the men’s race in 3:30. Alex García (Spain) edged Anthony Costales for second. Both García and Costales ran 3:38, but with García 28 seconds ahead.

Full results.

Mourne Skyline – New Castle, Northern Ireland, U.K.

The Skyrunner World Series moved to the Mourne Mountains for a 35k romp with 2,700 meters of elevation gain. The course crested the highest point in Northern Ireland.

Naiara Irigoyen (Spain) won her third Skyrunner World Series event this year and set a new women’s course record in 4:13. Irigoyen followed Marta Martínez (Spain) up the race’s first climb, and then led the rest of the race. Martínez outdueled Natalie Beadle (U.K.) for second. The two were only 55 seconds apart in 4:19 and 4:20.

Just off a Trail World Championships Short Trail second-place finish, Manuel Merillas (Spain) won the men’s race here in 3:23. It was a new course record. A wrong turn took Merillas’s closest chasers off course, and Oier Zubeldia (Spain) and Damien Humbert (France) benefited by moving up to second and third, both in 3:36 but 45 seconds apart.

Full results.

Naiara Irigoyen, the 2025 Mourne Skyline women’s champion. Photo: Skyrunner World Series/Evan Davies

Manuel Merillas, the 2025 Mourne Skyline men’s champion. Photo: Skyrunner World Series/Evan Davies

Additional Races and Runs

Rock Bridge Revenge 50k – Columbia, Missouri

Zita Hubler won the women’s race in 6:08, and Ben Eiffert was first home for the men in 4:20. Full results.

Zita Hubler, the 2025 Rock Bridge Revenge women’s winner. Photo: Avery Abbott

Ben Eiffert, the 2025 Rock Bridge Revenge men’s winner. Photo: Avery Abbott

Defiance 50k – Point Defiance, Washington

The race went through the old-growth forests of Point Defiance, and Teresa Makowski and Ben DeMeerleer won in 5:03 and 4:01. Full results.

Mad Meadows 50 Mile – Leavenworth, Washington

Christine Mosley and Ryan Leaming led the race in 11:05 and 9:43. Full results.

Middle Fork Trail Run 50k – North Bend, Washington

Race winners Carlie Stowe and Charlie Lahud-Zahner took it in 5:00 and 4:06. Full results.

Carlie Stowe, the 2025 Middle Fork 50k women’s winner. Photo: Agustin Sanchez

Charlie Lahud-Zahner, the 2025 Middle Fork 50k men’s winner. Photo: Agustin Sanchez

Angel’s Rest 50k – Cascade Locks, Oregon

The second-year race had a small group of 50k runners with Amy Robichaux and Grant Farrell winning in 5:44 and 5:00, respectively. Full results.

Le Grizz 50 Mile – Polebridge, Montana

Rosie Rigas and Oliver Bieser won in 8:08 and 6:05. Full results.

Moab 240 Mile – Moab, Utah

They’re still going, but at the time of this article’s writing on Sunday night, Manuela Vilaseca (Brazil) and Rebecca Rick are dueling at the front of the women’s race, and 200-mile pro Kilian Korth is closing in on another win in the men’s race. Tracking.

Rebecca Rick leading the 2025 Moab 240 Mile. Two days in, she’s battling with Manuela Vilaseca (Brazi) for the lead. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Kilian North, who leads the men’s 2025 Moab 240 Mile two days in. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi

Sage Burner 50k – Gunnison, Colorado

A small 50k field had race locals Hailey Loeffler and Ty Reed at the front in 5:26 and 4:58. Full results.

Chicago Marathon – Chicago, Illinois

It slim pickin’s for ultrarunner results in here, but 50k world-record holder CJ Albertson was 19th in 2:10:38. Full results.

Wolverine State 100 Mile – Petoskey, Michigan

Laura Pahren, Cody Powers, and Eleanor Kallo took home the wins in the women’s, men’s, and non-binary categories in 21:51, 16:50, and 31:31, respectively. Full results.

Laura Pahren, the 2025 Wolverine State 100 Mile women’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.

Cody Powers, the 2025 Wolverine State 100 Mile men’s winner. Photo: Adam Hughes

Virginia Trail Running Festival – Fries, Virginia

The first-year flat and fast 100 miler had Erica Reinsel and Brian Zickefoose run 17:13 and 13:50 at the very top. Full results.

CanLake 50 Ultras – Canandaigua, New York

The 50-mile winners Liz Chafik and Hunter Tedder won in 8:28 and 6:22, and Alex Steigelfest and Doug Wingate were best in the 50k in 4:54 and 3:39. Full results.

Rainbow Ridge 50k – Rainbow, Oregon

Racers faced snow in this first-year event, and Elyria Kabasenche and Taylor Spike took home the women’s and men’s wins in 7:37 and 6:20. Full results.

Elyria Kabasenche, the 2025 Rainbow Ridge 50k women’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.

Taylor Spike, the 2025 Rainbow Ridge 50k men’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.

Call for Comments
- What do you make of the GTWS finale?
- Is it ok to lament that Elazzaoui wasn’t at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, too, or that Nina Engelhard (Germany) wasn’t at the GTWS finale?
- What else caught your eye this week in running?
This Week In Running: October 13, 2025 by Justin Mock.

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October 13, 2025
Ultra Weekend Recap — October 12, 2025

This week’s race results include Le Grizz, Kodiak Ultramarathons, Grizzly Ultra, and Moab 240.

The post Ultra Weekend Recap — October 12, 2025 appeared first on Ultra Running Magazine.

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October 13, 2025