In a historic achievement, Tom Evans, a 31-year-old British athlete, has etched his name in the annals of endurance running by becoming the inaugural British male winner of the renowned Western States 100-mile race in California. The iconic race stretches from Olympic Valley near Lake Tahoe to Auburn, California, and Evans conquered the demanding course in an impressive time of 14 hours, 40 minutes, and 22 seconds. This remarkable feat places him as the fourth fastest participant in the event's history, trailing only the exceptional performances of Jim Walmsley in 2019 and 2018, as well as Jared Hazen in 2019.
Gary Cantrell, better known by his pseudonym Lazarus Lake, is a legend in the ultra-marathon world as the founder and race director of the Barkley Marathons. This race is infamous for its sheer brutality, and only a handful of people have ever completed the five-lap, 100-mile course within the time limit of 60 hours. Lake's eccentricity and unforgiving style have made him a cult figure in the running community, and his quotes are often seen as sources of inspiration, if not outright terror.
In an alarming development, an experienced trail runner has vanished during an adventurous 28-mile journey through Rocky Mountain National Park. Chad Pallansch, a 49-year-old resident of Fort Collins, Colorado, embarked on this challenging expedition, which encompassed the formidable Continental Divide and rugged terrain.
The energetic buzz in Chamonix's narrow streets echoed the historic moment during the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Thousands flocked to witness the conclusion of the punishing 106-mile race, renowned for its toughness and competitiveness. UTMB, spanning three international borders and encircling Europe's highest peak, is globally acknowledged as one of the most demanding ultra-marathons, characterized by both a festive ambiance and a staggering elevation gain surpassing Mount Everest.
On Thursday, the Barkley Marathons in Morgan County saw three runners cross the finish line. Keith Dunn, who has provided live coverage for the event for many years, confirmed that Aurélien Sanchez, John Kelly, and Karel Sabbe completed the 2023 "world's toughest trail race" in less than 60 hours.
Chamonix, France - In the world of trail running, an awe-inspiring spectacle unfolded on the afternoon of September 2, as Jim Walmsley and Courtney Dauwalter etched their names in history at the renowned Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, France. Their remarkable achievements were celebrated with exuberant cheers from the crowd, surpassing even the stirring strains of Vangelis's "Conquest of Paradise," the official UTMB theme.
The Golden Trail World Series commenced its thrilling journey in Kobe, Japan, igniting the global trail-running community with excitement and anticipation. The event showcased a formidable assembly of athletes, setting the stage for an electrifying competition.
kunanyi Mountain Run returns for its second year with an exceptionally strong field of 800 plus runners, including some of Australia’s fastest trail runners. With automatic spots up for grabs for the Australian team at the 2023 World Trail and Mountain Championships and the 2024 Skyrunning World Champs, the Ultra 67km and Vertical Kilometre have quickly made the event a huge drawcard.
Amidst the spotlight on the remarkable achievements of the five runners who conquered this year's Barkley Marathons, the impressive display of resilience by Damian Hall at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee deserves equal recognition.
George Murray from New Zealand and Emily Gilmour-Walsh from Australia showcased their exceptional athletic prowess by clinching resounding victories at the highly anticipated UTA100 races, part of renowned Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB event. These outstanding performances solidified Murray and Gilmour-Walsh's positions as formidable contenders, earning them prestigious recognition in the form of the UTMB Running Stone awards.
