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- Sub Hub Headlines - March 2025
Sub Hub Headlines - March 2025
March 2025
Dani Emkay
March 03, 2025
WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME to the March edition of Sub Hub Headlines!
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🌟 Oh my goodness its starting to feel like spring and that means that trail season is off to a hot start! If you missed February’s newsletter, don’t worry, you can catch up here!
✨ PSA: If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Instagram—don’t miss out!
🎙️ Coming soon on the pod:
An episode with 50K extraordinaire David Sinclair
Previews and updates on March races like Way Too Cool, Chuckanut, Big Alta
Skyrunner season begins and we will be doing as many previews as possible of the series
The Scoop: The Trail Combine: A Wild Idea for Testing the Next Generation of Trail Runners by Dani Moreno
Trail Running's NFL Combine: What If Our Sport Had a Rookie & Free Agent Showcase?
The NFL Combine is a spectacle—an annual showcase where the top college football prospects and free agents are put through a gauntlet of physical and mental tests before the draft and contract negotiations. It’s a chance for rookies to prove themselves, for teams to scout talent, and for the public to get hyped about the next generation of stars. It’s something that has been flooding my social media feed lately, and after diving into NFL fantasy during my injury recovery, I’ve gained a real appreciation for the game. To say I enjoy football now is an understatement, I still have a lot to learn, but it’s been fun to start understanding the sport millions of people love.😁🏈
That got me thinking: What if trail running had its own version of the NFL Combine? A yearly event where not just newcomers, but also seasoned pros with expiring contracts, could showcase their raw talent in a controlled environment—where brands, teams, and fans could witness the future of the sport before contracts are signed and major races are run. Imagine a centralized testing ground where we could see an athlete’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential before they start stacking up race results.
This event could take place every October, before brands finalize contracts for the next year and athletes decide which teams they want to join. Not only would it give new talent a chance to shine, but it would also generate hype for the upcoming race season. Imagine fans tuning in to watch runners hammer uphill sprints, bomb down technical descents, and see who can fuel like a machine. Brands could scout the next big names, teams could refine their rosters, and athletes could benchmark themselves against the best.
Would this be an actual predictor of race success? Maybe, maybe not. But it would be a spectacle—and in a sport where sponsorships are increasingly competitive, having a platform for newcomers and free agents to showcase their skills could be a game-changer.
What Would We Call It?
The NFL has the Combine, a term that originated because it "combined" drills in a centralized location where teams "combine" their resources to test draft prospects.
I’m partial to “The Trail Combine” because it keeps the essence of what we’re going for, bringing raw athletic talent to the forefront and evaluating it in a competitive setting.
Who Gets Invited?
Unlike an open-entry race, the Trail Combine would be exclusive—limited to 50-75 of the best up-and-coming talents and free agents , any individual could apply but categories that would be highly considered could include:
Rookies (Next-Gen Stars)
Free Agents (Expiring Contracts & Unsigned Elites):
Multi-Sport Crossovers (Wild Cards):
Elite ski mountaineers & skimo athletes
Steeplechasers & mountain runners with raw trail potential
OCR (Spartan, DEKA) or hybrid athletes with endurance & strength
Fell runners
Etc.
Top Team Athletes Looking to Go Solo
International Athletes Breaking into the Global Scene:
By making the event invite-only, it keeps the focus on scouting the best—just like the NFL Combine, where only a select group of elite prospects gets the chance to prove themselves.
What Would We Test?
The NFL Combine evaluates an athlete’s speed, strength, agility, and endurance through drills like the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, and shuttle runs. So, if we were to design a trail running combine, these are the events I’d love to see:
1. Uphill Sprint Test 🏔️
What We’re Testing: Raw power, uphill speed, and climbing efficiency.
How We’d Do It: Athletes would sprint a 400m section of steep terrain (10-15% grade) and be timed. Metrics like vertical speed, power output, and stride efficiency would be analyzed. Bonus points for anyone who doesn’t collapse at the finish.
Why It’s Important: Uphill efficiency is crucial for success in mountain and trail racing. This test isolates an athlete’s ability to generate power on climbs without the variability of race tactics.
2. Downhill Technical Test 🏃♂️💨
What We’re Testing: Technical descending ability, reaction time, and adaptability to different terrain.
How We’d Do It: Athletes would complete a 5k downhill course where every 1k section features a different terrain such as mud, smooth singletrack, wet rocks, sand, and one additional unpredictable challenge. Time and efficiency on each section would be measured.
Why It’s Important: Some runners thrive on smooth descents, while others dominate technical terrain. This test highlights who can adjust their technique in real-time based on footing and conditions.
3. Max Carbs Per Hour Test 🍌 - I am still unsure about this one, but fun to think about.
What We’re Testing: An athlete’s ability to fuel efficiently during high-output efforts.
How We’d Do It: Athletes would run at race effort while consuming increasing amounts of carbohydrates (gels, chews, drinks) to see how many grams they can absorb per hour without bonking or GI distress. Blood glucose levels, heart rate stability, and overall pacing ability would be monitored.
Why It’s Important: Nutrition can be the difference between a podium and a DNF. This test determines who has the gut training and fueling efficiency to perform at the highest level.
4. Heat Chamber Run 🌡️🔥
What We’re Testing: Heat tolerance, sweat rate, and hydration management.
How We’d Do It: Athletes would run a controlled 10km effort in a heat chamber set to 85-95°F with high humidity. Weight loss due to sweat, hydration effectiveness, and pace management would be tracked to determine who thrives in extreme conditions.
Why It’s Important: Races like Western States and OCC demand strong heat management skills. This test simulates those brutal conditions in a controlled environment.
5. Altitude Tolerance Test ⛰️
What We’re Testing: Oxygen efficiency, endurance sustainability, and the ability to adapt to altitude.
How We’d Do It: Instead of traveling to high elevation, athletes would perform a controlled flat loop run while wearing an altitude mask that simulates reduced oxygen intake.
Why It’s Important: Many major trail races take place at altitude. While this isn’t a perfect substitute for real altitude, it allows a fair and standardized way to test an athlete’s ability to perform with less oxygen.
6. Trail Agility & Plyometrics Test 🏃♀️⚡
What We’re Testing: Agility, explosive power, and reaction time,key traits for technical trail running.
How We’d Do It: Athletes would complete a short obstacle course featuring switchbacks, quick directional changes, jumps, and unstable terrain. We’d also incorporate plyometric drills such as bounding, hurdle hops, and single-leg box jumps to test explosive strength. I personally think this would be a fun test to watch.
Why It’s Important: This test identifies who has the agility and to handle unpredictable courses.
Final Thoughts
Trail running is evolving, and ideas like this naturally push the sport in certain directions; some people might love it, others might not. That’s okay. The beauty of trail running is that it has room for both tradition and innovation.
This concept leans into a more structured, performance-driven version of the sport, but it doesn’t mean it’s the only way forward. Just like the NFL Combine can’t fully replicate the flow and chaos of a real game, this wouldn’t replace racing, it would simply be another way to evaluate raw talent and potential.
At the end of the day, this is all just a thought experiment, a fun way to imagine what could be possible as the sport grows. And who knows? Maybe one day we’ll see something like this come to life.
What do you think? Would a Trail Combine be a cool addition to the sport?
Sub Hub Stories: Ikram Rharsalla Laktab
Ikram Rharsalla Laktab is a professional runner for Joma and a data scientist from Spain. Ikram had a breakthrough year on the trails this year, finishing 10th at Mont Blanc Marathon, 8ht at Skyrace des Matheysins and 8th at OCC. Since then she has taken to the roads to test herself and recently debuted in the marathon in 2:28 at the Seville Marathon. With this kind of speed block, Ikram is sure to be even more of a threat on the trails this year. Ikram sent her answers in Spanish so we included her original answers as well as a translation.
When did you begin running, and what inspired you to transition to trail running?
Antes de descubrir el trail running en 2015, no tenía experiencia en atletismo ni en carreras. Siempre me ha gustado el deporte, pero lo que hacía era jugar al fútbol de manera informal, sin ningún tipo de entrenamiento.
Conocí el trail gracias a mi pareja, Manuel Anguita Bayo (8* UTMB 2024), quien en aquel entonces llevaba un año corriendo por montaña y ya había sido campeón de Andalucía de ultratrail. Desde el principio, él vio algo en mí y, con mucha paciencia y dedicación, me animó a probar. Creía que se me daba bien, aunque yo aún no lo veía. Acompañándolo a sus entrenamientos y carreras, empecé a sentir curiosidad por este deporte. Al principio solo lo observaba desde fuera, pero su insistencia y confianza en mí hicieron que, poco a poco, sintiera la necesidad de probarlo por mí misma.
Aunque durante un tiempo mi relación con el trail fue intermitente, todo cambió en 2019, cuando vi a Sheila Avilés cruzar la meta en una carrera de las Skyrunner World Series en Livigno. En ese momento, supe que quería luchar por este deporte. Me marqué un objetivo a tres meses vista y logré mi primera participación en el circuito, terminando 11ª en la ZacUp. Desde entonces, el trail no solo es un desafío físico, sino también una lucha mental que me impulsa a seguir adelante.
EN: Before discovering trail running in 2015, I had no experience in athletics or racing. I have always loved the sport, but what I did was play football (soccer) informally, without any kind of training.
I discovered trail running thanks to my partner, Manuel Anguita Bayo (8th place at UTMB 2024), who at that time had been running in the mountains for a year and had already been the Andalusian ultratrail champion. From the beginning, he saw something in me and, with a lot of patience and dedication, he encouraged me to try it. He thought I was good at it, although I didn't see it yet. Accompanying him to his training sessions and races, I began to feel curious about this sport. At first I only observed it from the outside, but his insistence and confidence in me made me, little by little, feel the need to try it for myself.
Although my relationship with trail running was intermittent for a while, everything changed in 2019, when I saw Sheila Avilés cross the finish line in a Skyrunner World Series race in Livigno. At that moment, I knew I wanted to fight for this sport. I set myself a goal for three months and achieved my first participation in the circuit, finishing 11th in the ZacUp. Since then, trail running is not only a physical challenge, but also a mental fight that drives me to keep going.
We noticed that your first trail race was in 2019 in Italy, followed by a break between 2020 and 2021. Was this break related to COVID-19, and how did you spend that time?
Parte del parón entre 2020 y 2021 se debió al COVID-19, ya que, como todos, tuve que adaptarme a las restricciones. Sin embargo, cuando nos permitieron salir en verano, volví a correr con muchas ganas, lanzándome en las bajadas como a mí me gusta. El problema fue que en aquel entonces no tenía la musculatura adecuada para soportar ese impacto, lo que me causó una inflamación grave en la grasa de Hoffa de ambas rodillas.
Tuve que parar de correr durante varios meses y centrarme en la rehabilitación y el trabajo de fuerza. En ese proceso, conté con la ayuda de Roger Soler, que en paz descanse, quien me enseñó la importancia de fortalecer mi cuerpo para prevenir lesiones. Gracias a su apoyo, gané masa muscular y pude reincorporar la carrera poco a poco hasta recuperarme por completo.
En 2021, con una base mucho más sólida, pude afrontar mi primera temporada de montaña como tal.
EN: Part of the break between 2020 and 2021 was due to COVID-19, as, like everyone, I had to adapt to the restrictions. However, when we were allowed to go out in the summer, I started running again with great enthusiasm, launching myself into the downhills as I like. The problem was that back then I didn't have the right muscles to withstand that impact, which caused severe inflammation in the Hoffa fat pad of both knees.
I had to stop running for several months and focus on rehabilitation and strength work. In that process, I had the help of Roger Soler, may he rest in peace, who taught me the importance of strengthening my body to prevent injuries. Thanks to his support, I gained muscle mass and was able to return to running little by little until I fully recovered.
In 2021, with a much more solid base, I was able to face my first mountain season as such.
You recently had impressive performances in three road races. Is this your first dedicated road racing block?
Sí, esta ha sido mi primera vez compitiendo en ruta. Después de terminar OCC, mi entrenador me animó a buscar mis marcas en asfalto y a hacer carreras más rápidas, como el campo a través. Era un reto que me motivaba, así que empezamos con algunos crosses antes de dar el salto a la ruta.
Decidí debutar en media maratón en el Campeonato de Andalucía, donde me proclamé campeona con 1h13’59”. Me quedé con ganas de correr una media más llana, así que antes quise probarme en los 10K de Valencia, donde logré una marca de 32’49”. Después, en la Media Maratón de Sevilla, corrí en 1h11’05, consiguiendo la mínima para el Europeo.
Justo la semana siguiente, viajé a Albufeira, Portugal, para competir en el Campeonato de Europa de campo a través por clubes con mi equipo, donde conseguimos un séptimo puesto. Y recientemente, debuté en maratón con un tiempo de 2h28’37”.
EN: Yes, this was my first time competing on the road. After finishing OCC, my coach encouraged me to try my best on asphalt and to do faster races, like cross country. It was a challenge that motivated me, so we started with some cross country races before jumping to the road.
I decided to make my debut in the half marathon at the Andalusian Championship, where I was crowned champion with 1h13’59”. I wanted to run a flatter half marathon, so first I wanted to test myself in the 10K in Valencia, where I achieved a time of 32’49”. Then, in the Seville Half Marathon, I ran in 1h11’05, achieving the minimum for the European Championship.
The following week, I travelled to Albufeira, Portugal, to compete in the European Club Cross Country Championship with my team, where we achieved seventh place. And recently, I made my marathon debut with a time of 2h28’37”.
Do you work with a coach? If so, could you tell us about your coach and the nature of your relationship?
Sí, trabajo con un entrenador, que en este caso es también mi pareja, Manuel Anguita. Es licenciado en Ciencias del Deporte (2022) y el encargado de planificar mis entrenamientos. Aunque soy una persona muy autodidacta y me gusta analizar mis propios datos (quizás porque soy estadística, jeje), trabajamos de forma muy compenetrada. Manu siempre está abierto a escucharme y valorar mis sensaciones y sugerencias. Llevamos casi 10 años juntos, y nadie me conoce mejor que él, lo que nos permite ajustar los entrenamientos cuando es necesario. Sabemos que lo que está en el papel no siempre se puede cumplir al 100%, porque hay días en los que el cansancio, el estrés o cualquier otro factor pueden influir. Su capacidad para adaptar el plan según mis necesidades es clave para evitar sobrecargas y mejorar el rendimiento.
Tener a mi entrenador como pareja puede ser un reto, pero creo que hemos encontrado un equilibrio muy bueno. Intentamos separar la relación personal de la deportiva, y eso nos permite funcionar como un verdadero equipo. Confío en él al 100%, y él en mí.
Desde el primer momento, incluso antes de obtener su titulación, Manu ha sido mi mentor. Siempre ha tenido un gran interés por entender cómo entrenar a una mujer de la mejor manera posible, sabiendo que el ciclo menstrual influye en el rendimiento debido a los cambios hormonales. Por ello, siempre tiene en cuenta en qué fase del ciclo me encuentro y cómo me siento para ajustar la carga de entrenamiento de manera adecuada.
Además de su formación y experiencia, Manu tiene dos virtudes que considero fundamentales en un buen entrenador: su capacidad de escucha y su habilidad para motivar. Es una persona que sabe leer a sus atletas, entender cuándo es momento de apretar y cuándo es mejor dar un respiro. No solo transmite conocimientos, sino que también sabe generar confianza, lo que hace que trabajar con él sea muy fácil y productivo. Gracias a su guía, he podido evolucionar como corredora y afrontar retos que antes veía inalcanzables.
EN: Yes, I work with a coach, who in this case is also my partner, Manuel Anguita. He has a degree in Sports Science (2022) and is in charge of planning my training sessions. Although I am a very self-taught person and I like to analyse my own data (perhaps because I am a statistician, hehe), we work very closely together. Manu is always open to listening to me and assessing my feelings and suggestions. We have been together for almost 10 years, and no one knows me better than him, which allows us to adjust training sessions when necessary. We know that what is on paper cannot always be fulfilled 100%, because there are days when fatigue, stress or any other factor can influence. His ability to adapt the plan according to my needs is key to avoiding overloads and improving performance.
Having my coach as a partner can be a challenge, but I think we have found a very good balance. We try to separate the personal relationship from the sporting one, and that allows us to function as a real team. I trust him 100%, and he trusts me.
From the very beginning, even before he got his degree, Manu has been my mentor. He has always had a great interest in understanding how to train a woman in the best possible way, knowing that the menstrual cycle influences performance due to hormonal changes. Therefore, he always takes into account what phase of the cycle I am in and how I feel in order to adjust the training load appropriately.
In addition to his training and experience, Manu has two virtues that I consider fundamental in a good coach: his ability to listen and his ability to motivate. He is a person who knows how to read his athletes, understand when it is time to push and when it is better to take a break. He not only transmits knowledge, but also knows how to generate trust, which makes working with him very easy and productive. Thanks to his guidance, I have been able to evolve as a runner and face challenges that I previously saw as unattainable.
Can you describe what your training block looked like from November to January?
Mi bloque de entrenamiento de noviembre a enero no ha estado centrado exclusivamente en la ruta, ya que en las semanas sin competición seguía saliendo a la montaña un par de días, acumulando entre 2.000 y 3.000 metros de desnivel positivo. Solo abandoné por completo la montaña en las tres últimas semanas previas a la maratón.
Tampoco ha sido un bloque con un volumen de kilómetros excesivo. Antes de la media maratón, tuve un periodo de cinco semanas en el que acumulé entre 100 y 120 km semanales. Luego, acercándose la maratón, hubo dos semanas con un volumen algo mayor, llegando a 130-139 km. Sin embargo, también hubo semanas más ligeras, ya que he competido bastante en diferentes pruebas como carreras de campo a través, 10K y media maratón. Debido a ello, muchas semanas estuvieron marcadas por el tapering para llegar fresca a las competiciones.
En general, ha sido un bloque muy variado, donde he ido ‘picoteando’ de todo. En las semanas sin competición, solía incluir dos sesiones clave: una de intervalos (por ejemplo, 10x1K o 2x8x400m) y otra de ritmo controlado (como 2x6K, 3x5K o 2x8K). Algunas semanas solo hacía un día de intensidad, combinando ambos tipos de entrenamiento en una misma sesión, por ejemplo, con 6x1K seguido de 6K a ritmo controlado, o al revés. Además, hemos mantenido dos sesiones de fuerza en las semanas sin competición y una de mantenimiento en las semanas de competición.
En líneas generales, esta preparación ha sido una primera toma de contacto. Sabemos que se puede hacer una planificación más específica y mejor estructurada, y sin duda la haremos, pero cada cosa a su debido momento. Es muy importante ir poco a poco. Cada temporada mi capacidad de trabajo y asimilación mejora, pero para este debut en maratón, por ejemplo, aún no estaba lista para semanas de carga de casi 200 km o de alto volumen de intensidad, como suelen hacer muchos maratonianos.
Si alguien tiene curiosidad por ver más detalles, mi Strava está abierto para quien quiera echar un vistazo.
EN: My training block from November to January has not been exclusively focused on the road, since in the weeks without competition I still went out to the mountains for a couple of days, accumulating between 2,000 and 3,000 meters of positive gradient. I only completely abandoned the mountains in the last three weeks before the marathon.
It has not been a block with an excessive volume of kilometers either. Before the half marathon, I had a period of five weeks in which I accumulated between 100 and 120 km per week. Then, approaching the marathon, there were two weeks with a slightly higher volume, reaching 130-139 km. However, there were also lighter weeks, since I have competed quite a lot in different events such as cross-country races, 10K and half marathon. Because of this, many weeks were marked by tapering to arrive fresh for the competitions.
In general, it has been a very varied block, where I have been ‘pecking’ at everything. In non-competition weeks, I used to include two key sessions: one interval session (for example, 10x1K or 2x8x400m) and one paced session (such as 2x6K, 3x5K or 2x8K). Some weeks I only did one intensity day, combining both types of training in one session, for example, with 6x1K followed by 6K at pace, or the other way around. In addition, we have maintained two strength sessions in non-competition weeks and one maintenance session in competition weeks.
In general terms, this preparation has been a first contact. We know that more specific and better structured planning can be done, and we will certainly do so, but each thing in its own time. It is very important to go little by little. Each season my work capacity and assimilation improves, but for this marathon debut, for example, I was not yet ready for weeks of loading of almost 200 km or high intensity volume, as many marathoners usually do.
If anyone is curious to see more details, my Strava is open for anyone to take a look.
Ikram after finishing 8th at OCC in 2024.
As primarily a skyrunner and trail runner, what motivated you to pursue road races?
Siempre he notado que tengo cierta facilidad en el llano, y eso no ha pasado desapercibido para mi pareja y entrenador, Manuel Anguita. Desde hace tiempo, él me ha animado a explorar esta faceta porque realmente cree que podría lograr grandes cosas en la ruta, además de que me aportaría mucho de cara al trail.
La curiosidad por descubrir de lo que soy capaz y las ganas de ser una atleta más completa me motivó a dar el paso y probar en la ruta. Siento que cada disciplina puede aportar algo valioso a mi rendimiento global, y este desafío me ha permitido seguir evolucionando como corredora.
EN: I have always noticed that I have a certain facility on the flat, and this has not gone unnoticed by my partner and coach, Manuel Anguita. For some time now, he has encouraged me to explore this facet because he really believes that I could achieve great things on the road, in addition to the fact that it would contribute a lot to me in terms of trail running.
The curiosity to discover what I am capable of and the desire to be a more complete athlete motivated me to take the step and try the road. I feel that each discipline can contribute something valuable to my overall performance, and this challenge has allowed me to continue evolving as a runner.
What are your main goals for 2025? Are you focusing on trail running, road racing, or both?
Estoy a la espera de saber, en dos semanas, si finalmente seré una de las integrantes de la selección española para el Europeo de Bruselas en la modalidad de media maratón. Si se confirma, mi primera carrera de trail seguramente sea Zegama. Otras carreras importantes en mi calendario serán Sierre Zinal, OCC y el Mundial de Canfranc, en caso de ser seleccionada.
En cuanto a la ruta, ha llegado para quedarse. Cuando finalice mi temporada de trail, volveré a la ruta con el objetivo de seguir mejorando mis marcas.
EN: I am waiting to find out in two weeks if I will finally be one of the members of the Spanish team for the European Championships in Brussels in the half marathon. If confirmed, my first trail race will surely be Zegama. Other important races on my calendar will be Sierre Zinal, OCC and the World Championships in Canfranc, if I am selected.
As for the roads, it is here to stay. When my trail season ends, I will return to the road with the aim of continuing to improve my times.
Results Recap
Jeshrun Small enroute to his victory at Black Canyon 50k - pc: Ryan Thrower @ryanthrower
February gives us a taste of the beginning of the 2025 season. Not too many races are contested at this time of year, but the races that do happen are hot and fast!
🤠Black Canyon 50k
Allison Baca - 3:45:09
Caroline Alcorta - 3:53:37
Robyn Lesh - 4:00:38
Jeshurun Small - 3:22:52
Eric Lagerstrom 3:25:41
Chris Myers - 3:30:50
🇳🇿Tarawera 52k
Bianca Tarboton - 3:45:55
Madison Reynolds - 4:11:38
Julia Grant - 4:13:24
Hayden Hawks - 3:18:46
Robbie Simpson - 3:20:01
Michael Voss - 3:23:13
🇪🇸Transgrancanaria KV El Gigante
Judith Wyder - 45:27
Naiara Irigoyen - 47:12
Jennifer Lichter - 47:37
Henri Aymonod - 39:22
Alain Santamaria - 39:35
Yoel de Paz - 41:35
🇪🇸Transgrancanaria 21K
Judith Wyder - 2:01:11
Marta Martínez - 2:06:19
Naiara Irigoyen - 2:07:00
Antonio Martínez - 1:43:49
Alain Santamaria - 1:47:23
Adrian Ivars - 1:48:54
🇪🇸Transgrancanaria 47K
Jennifer Lichter - 3:59:42
Sylvia Nordskar - 4:07:27
Celia Balcells - 4:28:53
Francesco Puppi - 3:23:26
Robert Pkemoi - 3:23:44
Tiago Nobre - 3:31:02
🐸Way Too Cool 50K
Jennifer Schmidt - 3:53:43
Emily Clarke - 3:54:34
Careth Arnold - 4:09:58
Hans Troyer - 3:19:22
Finnian Jacobson-Schulte - 3:26:45
Tommy Sullivan - 3:28:24
🔥Half Marathon and Marathon Times from the Month
Lauren Gregory won the Mesa Half Marathon in 1:09:12. Allie Ostrander (1:11:10) Tabor Hemming (1:16:21) and Courtney Olsen (1:18:34) also competed in the race.
Jacob Kiplimo (56:42), Alex García (1:03:35), Sara Alonso (1:11:46), and Alice Gaggi (1:13:29) all competed at the Barcelona Half Marathon in Spain.
Matthias Kyburz ran 2:06:48 and finished fourth place at the Seville marathon. Ikram Rharsall debuted in the marathon, finishing 11th and running 2:28:37. See her Q&A above.
Rachel Tomajczyk won the Ventura Half Marathon in 1:12:56.
Current Series Calendars
🌍World Mountain Running Association - many of the races in the 2025 WMRA calendar are races that will duplicate in the Golden Trail World Series calendar as well. The WMRA season and final will finish a month in advance of this years World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in September.
May 3 | Zmeu X-Fest | Romania 🇷🇴 |
May 24-25 | Vertical Nasego and Trofeo Nasego | Italy 🇮🇹 |
June 15 | Tatra Fest | Poland 🇵🇱 |
June 20-22 | Broken Arrow Ascent and 23K Skyrace | United States 🇺🇸 |
July 5-6 | Chongli World Cup Uphill and Classic | China 🇨🇳 |
July 19-20 | Vauban Mountain Trail Uphill and Mountain Trail | France 🇫🇷 |
July 26-27 | Giir di Month Uphill and Giir di Mont | Italy 🇮🇹 |
August 9 | Sierre Zinal | Switzerland 🇨🇭 |
August 23-24 | World Cup Finals | Slovenia 🇸🇮 |
✨Golden Trail Worlds Series - this year the Golden Trail goes shorter and earlier than normal. With the World Mountain and Trail Championships happening in September, Golden Trail has decided to finish their regular season at Sierre Zinal in August.
April 19 | Kobe Trail (21.3K) | Kobe, Japan 🇯🇵 |
April 26 | Great Wall (24.2K) | Chengde, China 🇨🇳 |
May 17 | Il Golfo Dell Isola (26K) | Noli, Italy 🇮🇹 |
May 25 | Zegama-Aizkorri (42K) | Zegama, Spain 🇪🇸 |
June 22 | Broken Arrow (23K) | Olympic Valley, California 🇺🇸 |
June 29 | Tepec Trail (32K) | Huasca de Ocampo, Mexico 🇲🇽 |
August 2 | Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail (23.5K) | Mandarfen, Pitztal, Austria🇦🇹 |
August 9 | Sierre Zinal (31K) | Sierre, Switzerland 🇨🇭 |
October 9-12 | Golden Trail World Series Final | To Be Revealed 🤷🏻♀️ |
🏔Skyrunner World Series - Skyrunner comes into 2025 season with 22 regular season races and a Skymasters final. 14 of the races are U23 qualifiers. Skyrunner will be the first to start off the short trail seasons with two races in March. Acantilados del Norte and Mexico Sky Challenge will get the first quarter of the season going.
March 22 | Acantilados Del Norte (29KM) | La Palma, Spain 🇪🇸 |
March 29 | Mexico Sky Challenge (35K) | Orizaba, Mexico 🇲🇽 |
April 5 | Calamorro Skyrace (27K) | Benaladena, Spain 🇪🇸 |
April 12 | Andes Mountain Marahon (35K0 | Santiago, Chile 🇨🇱 |
April 20 | Skyrace Des Matheysins (25K) | St Honore, France 🇫🇷 |
April 26 | Kaila Penang Skyrace (30K) | Georgetown, Malaysia 🇲🇾 |
May 4 | Ueda Skyrace (24K) | Ueda, Japan 🇯🇵 |
May 10 | Corendon Tahtali Run to Sky (27K) | Kemer, Turkey 🇹🇷 |
May 31 | Hochkonigman Skyrace (31K) | Maria Alm, Austria 🇦🇹 |
June 7 | Skyrace Gorges du Tarn (25K) | St Enimie, France 🇫🇷 |
June 21 | Minotaur Skryace (33K) | Crowsnest Pass, Canada 🇨🇦 |
June 29 | Ibarra Skyrace (21K) | Ibarra, Ecuador 🇪🇨 |
July 6 | Cordillera Blanca Skyrace (26K) | Huaraz, Peru 🇵🇪 |
July 26 | Tatra Skymarathon (45K) | Zakopane, Poland 🇵🇱 |
August 22 | Ultraks Matterhorn (25K) | Zermatt, Switzerland 🇨🇭 |
September 6 | Saint Jeoire Skyrace (30K) | Saint Jeoire, France 🇫🇷 |
September 20 | Grigne Skymarathon (42K) | Pasturo, Italy 🇮🇹 |
September 27 | Gorbeia Suzien (32K) | Zianuri, Spain 🇪🇸 |
October 11 | Mourne Skyline (35K) | Newcastle, Northern Ireland 🇬🇧 |
October 19 | Climbathon (36K) | Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 🇲🇾 |
October 25 | 2 Peaks Skyrace (26K) | Yeongnam Alps, South Korea 🇰🇷 |
October 26 | Sobrescobio Skyrace (30K) | Rio Seco, Spain 🇪🇸 |
November 8 | Skymasters Final at Marato Dels Dements (42K) | Eslida-Ain, Spain 🇪🇸 |
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Trail Training Tip - Recovery is KEY🗝
Phrases we already know but often forget. Many of us are starting our seasons earlier and earlier every year and finishing them even later as well. With so many different climates around the world to compete on, trail season has turned into a February to December sport. It’s important to make sure that you are recovering properly after these early season races in order to make it to the championships at the end of the year. Take some time off after each of your races! You’re fitness isn’t going anywhere and your brain and body will thank you. Even if your body is feeling ready to go, it’s good to give yourself an emotional rest after a hard effort.
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
Jennifer Licther at TransGranCanaria Marathon in 2024
Kicking off 2025 with a bang—and who better than Jennifer Lichter to set the tone? If you haven’t already, go check out our podcast with her from February 17th, because this woman is on fire.
Not only did Jenn defend her Trans Gran Canaria Marathon title against a stacked early-season international field, but she absolutely demolished her 2024 time by 29 minutes (yeah, you read that right 🤯). That’s the kind of performance that makes you sit up and say, “Okay, what’s next?”
Well, we’ve got our answer: Canyons 50K at the end of April. And let’s just say, if you’re not already thinking about course record potential, you should be. Understatement of the year? Maybe. Excitement level? Through the roof.
Honorable Mentions: Judith Wyder (1st -VK + ½ Marathon Wins at Transgrancanaria, Allison Baca (1st - Black Canyon 50k), Bianca Tarboton (1st - Tarawera 50k)
Francesco Puppi
Francesco Puppi leading the 2024 Chuckanut 50k - pc: Ryan Thrower @ryanthrower
Francesco Puppi’s win over multi-time champ Robert Pkemoi had to be one of the most electric finishes we’ve seen this year. If you missed the clip, go watch it—it was one of the most-watched trail racing moments of February for a reason.
While Hayden Hawks and Robbie Simpson had an epic showdown at Tarawera, what elevated Puppi to our Athlete of the Month pick was his last 400m surge, snatching the win from Pkemoi, defending two-time champion in what we believe is a new course record. (Tarawera’s course history is a bit tricky with multiple variations over the years, but still a huge performance.)
Puppi’s 2025 is shaping up to be a fun mix of distances, and we’re here for it. Next up? Chianti 50K at the end of March, followed by another go at Lavaredo 50K and the legendary Sierre-Zinal.
Honorable Mentions: Hayden Hawks (1st - Tarawera 50k), Robert Pkemoi (2nd - TGC Marathon), Robbie Simpson (2nd - Tarawera 50k), Jeshrun Small (1st - Black Canyon 50k)
USA Championship and Selection Races
All USATF Championships and Team USA selection races we will be following this year, and you should too.😉
DATE | CHAMPIONSHIP | RACE | LOCATION |
April 12 | USATF 50K Road Championships | Madison, WI | |
April 12 | Team USA Selection Race - Long Trail | Columbia River Gorge National Park, OR | |
June 1 | Team USA Selection Race - Classic Mountain and USATF Championships Race | Newbury, NH | |
June 19 | Team USA Selection Race - Vertical | Palisades Resort, CA | |
June 20 | Team USA Selection Race - Short Trail | Palisades Resort, CA | |
August 16 | USATF 50K Trail Championships | Marin, CA | |
Looking Forward
Big Alta Skyline is majestic - pc: Ryan Thrower @ryanthrower
While mountain season still feels a little bit too far away for some, the trail racing season is finally starting to kick up a notch. In the US, we have early season 50Ks and a few sub-ultra races. In Spain and Mexico, the Skyrunner season will start off with 2 of many races for the 2025 season.
The 31st running of the Chuckanut 50K will take place on March 15th in Bellingham, WA. Chuckanut is always a place for many of America’s top athletes to show off their speed early in the season if they haven’t already run Way Too Cool. The course is incredibly fast with a 10K of “flat” dirt road running, 30K on the Chuckanut trails and then back to the finish with another “flat” 10K. We are constantly talking about how to win these races you have to be ready to run course record times…will we see a Chuckanut record go down this year?
The second running of the Big Alta 50K and 28K happen in Marin County on March 22nd and 23rd. Another incredibly fast early season 50K to add to the bucket list. The Daybreak x Freetrail races are single loops on fast dried out Bay Area trails that are sure to see big times. The Hemming’s are on the list to defend their titles in the 50K (Eli) and 28K (Tabor) from the first year of this race. There are a few spots left in the race if you’re looking to join!
On March the weekend of March 20th, the UTMB World Series travels to Chianti Ultra Trail for the third Western States Golden Ticket race of 2025. Alongside this race there will also be a 50K and 20K race, as there are at almost all UTMB race weekends. We have seen an increase in the competitiveness of the shorter distance races associated with Golden Ticket weekends, and Chianti is sure to deliver a similar level. These early season UTMB World Series short trail races are attracting top local talent looking to start off their season with a win and possibly some prize money.
The Skyrunner World Series is getting the sub-ultra game started this month with it’s first two races. The first is Acantilados del Norte on La Palma, Spain March 22nd. Last year we saw an absolute domination in this race by the Spanish women and Roberto Delorenzi’s first win of his incredible season. The next weekend is the Mexico Sky Challenge in Orizaba, Mexico. This race took place much later in the series last year, but has been moved to April. We would assume this is due to how hot the race was last year, but I guess we will see what the weather brings the athletes competing this time around.