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- Sub Hub Headlines - July 2025
Sub Hub Headlines - July 2025
July 2025
Dani Emkay
July 01, 2025
WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME to the July 2025 edition of Sub Hub Headlines!
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Upcoming Episodes - Rick Floyd on coaching America’s top 50K athletes and Anna Gibson after her incredible back to back US Championship wins!
The Scoop: Calling Your Shot -Why We Should Celebrate Boldness and Humility Equally
Francesco Puppi winning the 2025 Lavaredo 50k
If you're new to trail running or already a super fan, let me give it to you straight: go ahead and permanently block off the last two weeks of June in your calendar every year from now on. Whether you're watching a race in person or following along from home, it's honestly hard to get anything else done during this time.
In the past two weekends, we've witnessed so many races, but by far the most iconic, both historically and currently, are Western States 100, Broken Arrow Skyrace, Mont Blanc Marathon, and Lavaredo.
While there's crossover among fans, each race has its own unique spirit and essence that makes it special.
What’s also fascinating this year is the increase in cross-pollination of marketing efforts and media coverage. With more eyes on the sport, there's more attention on what athletes are saying and how they’re putting themselves out there. And this year was no exception. One of the most notable moments was Italian versatile running star Francesco Puppi boldly stating that he aimed to break 4 hours at Lavaredo 50k, which would’ve made him the first person to do so. Ironically, this coincided with Nike’s “Breaking 4” project, where Faith Kipyegon aimed to be the first woman to break 4 minutes in the mile on the same weekend. Another interesting narrative was the ongoing debate around if a male athlete would break 14 hours at the historic Western States 100 this year.
What was especially intriguing was how the public and media responded to these audacious goals. With an ample amount of commentary in the weeks and even months leading into the events. And then, the races happened. What did we see? None of the shared goals were achieved.
Francesco ran 04:02:31, just shy of the 04:02:16 he ran in 2023; Faith ran 4:06:42, seconds short of her goal; and Caleb Olson won Western States 100 with a time of 14:11:25. It’s worth mentioning that Caleb never publicly claimed he would break 14 hours, though other men did share openly that breaking 14 was their goal, most famously David Roche.
What’s been fascinating in the aftermath, though, is the backlash athletes often face when they miss the mark. Francesco Puppi shared on Instagram that he was being criticized for falling short of his goal. Immediately my question became: why? Why is there often resistance to boldness? Why is there skepticism when athletes declare big goals, even though they push the sport forward and inspire others to dream bigger?
Admittedly, even my own realistic mindset can make me skeptical at times, but I also have an overwhelming sense of self-awareness that this exact mentality can hold me back. Because while an athlete who proclaims their goal may not always hit the mark, these are the exact athletes who are playing by a different set of rules: they are defining their limits, not waiting for someone or something to tell them what they should be. And I think that is so freaking admirable.
I think what’s also interesting is considering how none of us truly know what is possible yet in the sport of trail running. We all say it, and we see it: every year, the sport gets faster. As a professional athlete myself, I’ve now become extremely comfortable with the understanding that if I want to win a bigger race, I need to mentally prepare myself to run faster than any female has ever run the race.
Another layer is running in general; it’s a humbling sport. And I do think that humbling nature bleeds into how many personify how the sport should “operate”, an unspoken set of guidelines, if you will. The “work hard in silence, let success be the roar” mentality. But when you look at other sports like football, basketball, and soccer, there are many bold figures. Yet, when a track and field athlete like Noah Lyles calls their shot, it often makes people uncomfortable. The reality is, athletes being confident and setting high goals for themselves, even if they don’t always achieve them, is ingrained in sports culture.
So, how can we let these ideals coincide and live simultaneously? I think when it comes down to it, even if you don’t admire boldness, there’s someone out there who does. Because, believe it or not, boldness is part of human nature, and it’s boldness that changes human history. From Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to Muhammad Ali’s bold proclamations in the boxing ring to Amelia Earhart’s solo flight across the Atlantic, these are moments where boldness altered the course of history. People want to see others take risks, and there’s something inherently inspiring about someone willing to call their shot and put their ambition out into the world.
In sport, we wouldn’t have Title IX in the United States without boldness, or the impact of Serena Williams’ dominance in tennis despite widespread skepticism. It’s these bold individuals that reshape our understanding of what is possible.
I’m not saying boldness needs to overshadow everything else. No, I’m saying that it pairs well with humility. And it is possible to have both.
At the end of the day, the magic happens when boldness and humility coexist. Boldness pushes the boundaries, daring us to imagine a future greater than what we thought possible. Humility keeps us grounded, reminding us that every goal, whether achieved or not, is part of the journey.
In sport and in life, we don’t need to choose between these two. We need both. Boldness without humility risks arrogance, while humility without boldness can lead to missed opportunities and untapped potential. When we embrace both, we unlock our true power, facing challenges head-on, and showing up with the courage to take risks, no matter the outcome.
As we continue to watch athletes push the limits, let's celebrate their ambition as much as we celebrate their resilience. Because, ultimately, the heart of every sport is not just about winning, it's about the courage to try, to dream, and to fall, only to rise again stronger.
So, the next time you see an athlete calling their shot, whether it’s a sub-4 hour race or breaking an iconic record, remember this: boldness is a necessary ingredient for progress, and humility is what makes that progress meaningful. Together, they shape the future of sport, and the future of who we all can become.
Sub Hub Stories: Grayson Murphy on Going Ultra
Most of our listeners are already familiar with Grayson Murphy, but we thought it would be fun to catch up with her after her ultra-debut. Grayson is a two-time world champion in the Classic Mountain event, but this month she decided to throw herself into her first ultra. The Broken Arrow Skyrace 46K also happened to be the U.S. team qualifier for the Short Trail team for the World Championships in Spain this September. Grayson lined up against some of the best marathon to 50K distance athletes the U.S. has to offer and she put herself in the race from the beginning. Grayson was in third for much of the day, but ended up finishing 5th. Grayson was also recently diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and is figuring out how to navigate training and treatment. You can read more about her story on her Instagram.
Grayson on her way to a 5th place finish at Broken Arrow Skyrace. PC: @ryanthrower
Why did you choose Broken Arrow for your ultra debut?
Well I really wanted to run my first marathon this year and I was all signed up for the Vancouver marathon. But then Crohn’s kind of got in the way of that and I wasn’t able to race. But I had had a goal for a long time that I wanted to run a marathon before I turned 30 this year, so after Vancouver didn’t happen then broken arrow was kind of my last chance to accomplish my goal. It just so happened that it was a marathon plus a little extra! And it was nice that it also happened to be the short team selection race and I had already been kind of curious about maybe switching from the classic distance for worlds so it kind of worked out great. I definitely did not choose it for the course which I learned very quickly was quite challenging!
You’re already a two-time Mountain Classic champion, what’s motivating you to now go after the 42-50k distance this year? Has your recent diagnosis changed the way you approach training and racing?
I have had to significantly change how I train because of the Crohn’s. For the 12 weeks leading up to BA I was in the “induction “ phase of my medication and my dr asked me to reduce training to a minimum. The 12 weeks leading up to the race included an avg of 35 mpw/8 hrs a week of training and no workouts. Because of this I thought that maybe I would do better at the 50k ish race distance compared to a classic race distance because I was able to get some volume but virtually no intensity in training. And aside from the training perspective, I thought that it might be hard to be comparing myself now with my previous self so the 50k is a chance to explore something new without expectations and a lot less pressure. Lastly long runs have always been my fav day of the week so I’m excited to lean more into that finally ¨̮
What’s something you learned from your ultra experience that surprised you and will help you in other ultra distance races?
I definitely have some nutrition/sodium puzzles to solve for my next ultra. I was pretty surprised how quickly you can go from feeling to great to feeling bad if your nutrition is off even just a little and your stomach turns. But I also learned that I can actually run pretty far and be fine! I had never run 28.5 miles before BA and after doing it, I know I can run farther and faster too which is pretty cool to think about and human bodies are so resilient (*when healthy so thank goodness for medication and modern medicine!)
What are your goals and plans for the rest of the year?
My goals are pretty loose right now. My main goal is to get into remission with Crohn's and continue to feel better. A side quest is exploring the 50k distance and maybe even getting the chance to race a new distance at world champs. But mainly just getting through the season without flaring again would be a huge win.
You’ve achieved so much in mountain running , what keeps you excited and passionate about the sport right now?
There are so many races and trails out there that I have yet to run, so that keeps me excited and motivated to stay in the sport. It is also fun to be a part of the wave of American women’s dominance in mountain and trail running right now. It’s a fun time to be in the sport!
Results Recap
Is it just us, or did June fly by? Well, in case you missed any action in the short trail space, we’ve got you covered. Here, we’ll share races worthy of attention in this niche corner of the sub-ultra trail running world.
***indicates an athlete who has previously served a doping ban
Women’s podium at the Broken Arrow Skyrace 46k. PC: @ryanthrower
June 1
🇺🇸 Sunapee Scramble - USATF Mountain Championships and USA Team Qualifier
Women
Anna Gibson - 1:22:30
Lauren Gregory - 1:22:53
Allie McLaughlin - 1:23:05
Courtney Coppinger - 1:24:34
Men
David Norris - 1:09:55
Mason Coppi 1:10:00
Taylor Stack - 1:10:03
Cameron Smith - 1:10:41
June 6-8
🎥GoPro Mountain Games 10K
Women
Courtney Coppinger - 50:00
Dani Moreno - 50:08
Lara Hamilton - 52:00
Men
Tyler McCandless - 41:50
Liam Meirow - 42:35
Andy Wacker - 43:03
June 6-8
🎥GoPro Mountain Games 20K
Women
Jane Maus - 1:46:52
Hillary Allen - 1:52:15
Natalie Kalin - 1:53:04
Men
Mason Coppi - 1:26:55
Cade Michael - 1:27:58
Jonathan Aziz - 1:29:37
June 6-8
🎥GoPro Mountain Games Pepi’s Face Off
Women
Courtney Coppinger - 31:54
Lara Hamilton - 32:23
Kimber Mattox - 33:34
Men
Joseph Gray - 30:24
Cam Smith - 30:45
Joseph Demoor - 31:35
June 7
🇫🇷Gorges du Tarn - Skyrunner World Series
Women
Patricia Pineda - 3:04:00
Celia Barcells - 3:08:55
Alice Bausseron 3:10:32
Men
Luca del Pero - 2:23:18
Frederic Tranchand - 2:24:52
Finlay Grant - 2:30:01
June 7
🏔Cannon Mountain - Cirque Series
Women
Laurel Moyer - 1:09:15
Jamie Brusa - 1:09:16
Charlotte Winkler - 1:10:57
Men
Remi Leroux - 55:11
Dan Curts - 56:02
Zack Bursell - 1:00:27
June 8
🌉114th Annual Dipsea Race
Audrey MacLean (F, 19) - 46:28
Mark Tatum (M, 65) - 46:48
Chris Lundy (F, 54) - 48:09
Clara Peterson (F, 41) - 49:10
Heidi Refenstein (F, 47) - 49:20
Eddie Owens (M, 31) - 49:26
Alex Varner (M, 39) - 49:42
Dominic Vogl (M, 38) - 49:57
Nolan Hosbein (M, 22) - 50:15
Paddy O’Leary (M, 37) - 50:39
June 14
🍴Twisted Fork Trail Festival 30K
Women
Nancy Jiang - 2:33:18
Hayden James - 2:37:13
Andrea Stofko - 2:39:05
Men
Garrett Corcoran - 2:00:06
John Raneri - 2:03:24
Caleb Olson - 2:04:53
June 14
🍴Twisted Fork Trail Festival 15K
Women
Taylor Tuttle - 1:07:26
Jocelyn Todd - 1:15:49
Lindsey McDonald - 1:20:04
Men
Christian Allen - 55:39
Devin Pancake - 59:18
Anthony Costales - 1:01:26
June 14
⚠️Mount Washington Road Race
Women
Rena Schwartz - 32:33
Jenna Gigliotti - 32:43
Anne-Marie Comeau - 32:55
Men
Alexandre Ricard - 27:12
Joseph Gray - 27:15
David Sinclair - 27:35
June 15
🇵🇱Tatra Race Run – WMRA Mountain Running Cup
Women
Scout Adkin - 2:50:36
Weronika Matuszczak - 2:56:06
Iwona Januszyk - 3:02:45
Men
Paul Machoka - 2:22:16
Kevin Kibet - 2:26:14
Marcel Fabian - 2:33:50
June 20
🇺🇸Broken Arrow Skyrace Ascent (Shortened Course) - USA Team Qualifier VK and WMRA Mountain Running Cup
Women
Anna Gibson - 27:32
Joyce Njeru - 29:06
Jade Belzberg - 29:23
Team Qualifiers outside of top 3 - Sydney Petersen (4), Hillary Allen (6) and Jessica Brazeau (7)
Men
Christian Allen - 23:49
Joseph Gray - 24:12
Cameron Smith - 24:24
June 21
🇺🇸Broken Arrow Skyrace 46K - USA Team Qualifier Short Trail
Women
Jennifer Lichter - 4:42:32* New Record
Helen Mino Faukner 4:43:08
Dani Moreno - 4:43:48
Men
Eli Hemming - 3:50:48* New Record
David Sinclair - 3:54:10
Ryan Becker - 3:59:35
June 22
🏹Broken Arrow Skyrace 23K- Golden Trail World Series and WMRA Mountain Running Cup
Women
Joyce Njeru - 2:01:16* New Record
Mădălina Florea - 2:02:03
Anna Gibson - 2:03:46
Men
Elhousine Elazzoui - 1:43:53* New Record
Philemon Kiriago - 1:43:57
Patrick Kipngeno - 1:44:11
June 29
🏔Mont Blanc Marathon
Women
Joyline Chepngeno - 4:15:20
Judith Wyder - 4:16:28
Naomi Lang - 4:17:43
Men
Davide Magnini - 3:42:55
Raoul Raus - 3:46:00
Thomas Cardin - 3:46:29
June 29
🇲🇽Tepec Trail - Golden Trail World Series and
Women
Lauren Gregory - 3:26:28
Joyce Njeru - 3:31:10
Mădălina Florea - 3:47:12
Men
Elhousine Elazzoui - 3:00:01
Patrick Kipgngeno - 3:00:11
Philemon Kiriago - 3:00:23
Current Series Rankings
***indicates an athlete who has previously served a doping ban
Women’s | Men’s |
|---|---|
🇬🇧Scout Adkin | 🇰🇪Josphat Kiprotich |
🇰🇪Philaries Jeruto Kisang | 🇰🇪Michael Selelo Saoli |
🇫🇮Susanna Saapunki | 🇰🇪Paul Machoka |
🇩🇪Nina Engelhard | 🇮🇹Andrea Elia |
🇨🇭Judith Wyder | 🇰🇪Richard Omaya Atuya |
🇨🇭Andrea Mayr | 🇰🇪Philemon Kiriago |
🇺🇸Lauren Gregory | 🇬🇧Joe Steward |
🇷🇴Mădălina Florea | 🇮🇹Henri Aymonod |
🇰🇪Gloria Chebet | 🇮🇹Tiziano Moia |
🏔Golden Trail World Series Top 10 - The big 3 have taken back over on the men’s side after races in California, USA and Mexico. Madalina is back on top after continuous podiums this season.
Women’s | Men’s |
|---|---|
🇪🇸Sara Alonso | 🇰🇪Patrick Kipngeno |
🇰🇪Joyce Njeru | 🇰🇪Philemon Kiriago |
🇯🇵Takako Takamura | 🇮🇹Daniel Pattis |
🇫🇷Marie Nivet | 🇨🇭Roberto Delorenzi |
🇺🇸Courtney Coppinger | 🇷🇴Bogdan Damian |
🇺🇸Lauren Gregory | 🇫🇷Theo Bourgeois |
🇪🇸Malen Osa | 🇫🇮Juho Ylinen |
🇪🇸Rosa Lara Feliu | 🇨🇭Joey Hadorn |
🇮🇹Alice Minetti | 🇯🇵Ryunosuke Omi |
🏔Skyrunner World Series Ranking - Skyrunner had a bit less of a busy month this year as they prepare for their third quarter, but rankings have changed quite a bit after the June races.
Women’s | Men’s | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 🇷🇴Denisa Dragomir*** | 1 | |
2 | 🇫🇷Lucille Germain | 2 | 🇫🇷Frederic Tranchand |
3 | 🇷🇺Anastasia Rubtsova | 3 | 🇨🇭Roberto Delorenzi |
4 | 🇪🇸Patricia Pineda Cornejo | 4 | 🇮🇹Alex Oberacher |
5 | 🇫🇷Iris Pessey | 5 | 🇪🇸Nicolas Molina Augustin |
6 | 🇪🇸Marta Martinez Abellan | 5 | 🇵🇪Jose Manuel Quispe |
7 | 🇫🇷Alice Bausseron | 7 | 🇪🇸Manuel Merillas |
8 | 🇦🇩Ariadna Fenes Areny | 8 | 🇮🇹Daniel Antonioli |
9 | 🇨🇴Paola Morales | 9 | 🇮🇹Gianluca Ghiano |
10 | 🇪🇸Lide Urrestarazu | 10 | 🇪🇸Marcos Villamuera Izquierdo |
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Trail Training Tip
With summer rolling in, so does high mileage as folks prep for more mountainous races. Well, time on feet means more energy required, which means eating to fuel your body. Below is a great post from Nutritional Revolution, pro trail runner Dani Moreno’s nutritionist, explaining how to improve your gut training! Because in order to absorb more food, your gut needs to be ready for it! You can learn more about fueling in our podcast episode with Kyla Channel here.
Sub-Ultra Athletes of the Month
At the start of 2024, we set out to highlight the best in Sub-Ultra trail running—not just at year’s end, but all year long. Through our Athlete of the Month series, we celebrated standout performances, rising stars, and unforgettable moments that shaped the sport. Now, in 2025, we’re keeping the momentum going and adding something new: Special Mentions: athletes who may not be in the monthly spotlight but still deserve a serious shoutout.
The year-end Top 10? That’s still happening. But until then, we’re here to celebrate the athletes who keep pushing the limits of what’s possible one performance at a time.
Jennifer Lichter wins the Broken Arrow Skyrace 46K. PC: @ryanthrower
Jennifer Lichter
Jennifer Lichter is no stranger to the 50K distance. She is arguably one of the best in the world - finishing 4th at the World Championships in 2023 in the “short trail” distance - a 27 mile race with 13,000 feet of gain. This past month she showed up to the Broken Arrow Skyrace and proved that she is still one of the best in the U.S. and the world. After dropping out of Canyons 50K just last month due to stomach issues, Jenn turned that momentum around and went back and forth with second place finisher Helen Mino-Faukner all day. Both of these women have won this race in the past and know the course very well, but Jenn had the better final downhill and took the win by just 36 seconds.
Jennifer broke her own course record at Broken Arrow by 13 minutes and grabbed an automatic spot on Team USA for the Short Trail team competing at the World Championships in Spain this fall. Jenn has already accepted a spot on the long trail team (80K distance) for worlds and is unlikely to switch to the short trail, but it’s exciting to see her line up against this incredibly stacked women’s field and come out on top.
Honorable Mentions: Anna Gibson (2 U.S. Championship wins this month), Joyce Muthoni (Broken Arrow 23K winner), Lucille Germain (earned her 4th straight win on the Skyrunner World Series), Rena Schwartz (5th at U.S. Classic Champs and winner of Mt. Washington Ascent)
Joseph Gray
Joseph Gray on his way to his way to making ANOTHER USA team. PC: @ryanthrower
Joseph Gray is already a short trail legend, but he continues to show his dominance 17 years after making his first U.S. Team. Joseph put his name in the hat this last month at the Broken Arrow Ascent, which was the Team USA qualifier for the World Championships Vertical Race in Spain this September. It’s been a while since we have seen Joseph line him against this “next gen” of short trail athletes and I’m sure there was more than one skeptical fan out prior to the race. Would Joe Gray make another team? Joseph left no room for discussion, pressing Christian Allen in the 23 minute race and crossing the line in second place.
When I asked him after the race how many teams he had made he said “it’s easier to tell you that I’ve made every U.S. team since 2008.” 😂 I am very excited to have Joe lining up in a U.S. jersey again after finishing 5th at the 2023 Vertical World Championships. He will no doubt bring incredible experience, grit, and class to the start line. Joe also won Pepi’s Face-Off at the Vail GoPro games this month and was second at the Mount Washington Ascent.
Honorable Mentions: Christian Allen (U.S. Vertical champion and 4th at the Broken Arrow 23k), Elhousine Elazzoui (2 GTWS wins this month), Luca Del Pero (continuing his dominance of Skyrunner)
USA Championship and Selection Races
All the USA Team selection races have taken place, and last but not least, the spots for the Short Trail team will be reviewed. The team will be announced on the podcast on July 15th! There’s one more championship left, so be sure to check out the Tamalpa Headlands if it fits into your schedule.
DATE | CHAMPIONSHIP | RACE | LOCATION |
August 16 | USATF 50K Trail Championships | Marin, CA | |
Looking Forward
July is here, we repeat July is here. Woof, this year is halfway through and we can’t believe how much action has already and is yet to happen! In past years July has slowed down, but in true trail running fashion, we have plenty of action. Check out what fun is on deck for this month.
An American classic, this race includes grueling climb and treacherous descent of Mount Marathon, the majestic peak that overlooks Seward and Resurrection Bay. As one of the oldest races in the world, Mount Marathon will be celebrating it’s 97th edition. Will newly American Mountain Running champ David Norris claim another victory?
A SoCal Trail classic this Malibu race is a surplus of fun. It is fast, steep, non technical trails along the coast, truly breathtaking. The fastest overall runners in the 2025 Tough Mugu 25k (man & woman) will also each take home a $500 cash prize! After the race enjoy coffee, breakfast, and a beer garden. Plus, the event supports the community by partnering with local and minority-owned businesses.
Cordillera Blanca Skyrace® — July 6th | Huaraz, Peru
Since its inception in 2014, the Ultra Trail Cordillera Blanca (UTCB) has brought trail running to the Huaraz region, covering the most breathtaking landscapes of the Peruvian White Mountain Range. Expect high alpine terrain, ropes, and open landscapes. Designed for those who are accustomed to running, trekking, or mountaineering, they highly recommend prior acclimatization as some of the track goes as high as 14-15k feet above sea-level.Tatra Skymarathon — July 26th | Zakopane, Poland
A stunning addition to the Skyrunner World Series, this race made its debut in the GTWS last year. Unfortunately, it was canceled due to weather, but here's hoping it makes a return this year. The Tatra Skymarathon combines technical sections with runnable ridgelines, making it a perfect blend of challenge and beauty. Set in the Tatra Mountains, this race will take you through rugged paths and spectacular views—a true test of endurance and skill in the heart of Poland.
Snowbird Skyrace — July 12th | Snowbird, Utah
This 8.7-mile race with 3,610 feet of climbing begins with a runnable service road, then transitions to steep ascents up the Peruvian Gulch and Ridge Trail. Expect stunning views of Snowbird’s Cirque and Mt. Baldy before summiting Hidden Peak and finishing with a tough climb to the top of Mt. Baldy. A true test of endurance, this is the third race in the Cirque Series.Alyeska Skyrace — July 26th | Alyeska, Alaska
A 7.8-mile race starting near sea level, with a climb up to Silvertip and a steep scramble up Center Ridge. Runners are rewarded with incredible views of the Chugach Mountains before descending through mossy woods to the finish. The fourth race in the Cirque Series, this course combines technical climbs and scenic Alaskan terrain.