Sub Hub Headlines - October 2024

September 2024

Author

Dani Emkay
October 01, 2024

WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME to the September edition of Sub Hub Headlines!

Excitedly yours, Dani and EmKay

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The Scoop: Doubling Tripling Down: Shortening the Distance, Mirroring the Challenge - By Dani Moreno

photo cred : @ryanthrower

Now that August has come and gone (even though it feels like just yesterday that many of us were either following along or in Chamonix ourselves—participating, crewing, supporting, etc.—and considering my current limitations due to a cuboid fracture), I’ve had ample time to reflect on the state of our sport, both deeply and in a more lighthearted manner.

One thing that's been mind-boggling is the fascination with the Western States and UTMB double. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind combination.

First up is Western States, a grueling 100-mile race that takes you through rolling terrain from the Sierra Nevada to Auburn, California, with finish times typically ranging from 14 to 30 hours. Heat is a constant companion, often soaring between 80°F and 100°F, especially since it takes place around the summer solstice, providing plenty of daylight for runners to struggle—I mean…enjoy their long-awaited race day. It’s a non-stop challenge of staying on pace, keeping cool, hydrated, and beyond. If you finish under 30 hours you get a belt buckle and the life-long ability to brag to all of your friends that you “officially” finished the oldest standing 100-mile foot race. But above that and probably most importantly, you get to experience the beauty of the human spirit that is uniquely on display in all the best ways at this community-driven world-class event.

Then, if you’ve qualified for UTMB that same year—whether through stones, a top-3 finish at a World Series race, or a top-10 finish at a major—you face a challenge that is completely on the other side of the spectrum. This is roughly a 106-mile race with 32,940 feet (10,040 meters) of elevation gain, circumnavigating Mont Blanc and navigating high mountains with terrain ranging from timid singletrack to very loose and highly technical granite. The fastest finishers barely go under the 20-hour mark (only 3? people have), while everyone else finished between 20 and 46 hours. Not to mention navigating strict crewing rules, bus schedules, mandatory gear, media galore, and more.

Am I making this sound like a good time? Because, as someone who has witnessed it unfold in real time for two years in a row, it is WILD! But, for some reason, us trail-loving weirdos live for this kind of thing.

So after getting home from Chamonix this year and quickly being reduced to laying on my couch for a vast majority of the day I got thinking: what was once considered an “unspeakable double”—something only for the “crazies*” (I mean that with love )—has not only been completed but also conquered by some of the sport’s greatest: Courtney Dauwalter (2023), Katie Schide (2024), Marianne Hogan (2022), and Kilian Jornet (2011).

Beyond them, only a handful of other athletes, including world-class competitors like Tyler Green, Emily Hawgood, Mathieu Blanchard, and Leah Yingling, have placed in the top 10 in the same year in recent years.

Similar to the sub-2-hour marathon in road running, the trail running community dreams BIG and makes the seemingly impossible happen.

Regardless of where you place in the results, finishing both of these races in the same year is an incredible feat—something very few humans have achieved in their lifetime. I’d honestly guess the current list includes fewer than 100 people in total, especially considering the lottery and other accessibility challenges for both races. But in sport, especially at the top level, there is always a pursuit of excellence. Regardless of the reasons behind it, this pursuit inspires many. So when it comes to these two races, can someone place in the top 10 at both, reach the podium, or even win the coveted titles at each? Just like in our sister disciplines of running, the pursuit of excellence isn’t confined to one corner of the sport. This leads me to ponder—what are the short-distance equivalents of this brutal double? Are there combinations of shorter races (say, in the 20–50 km range) that challenge runners in similar ways? Ones with a long history worthy of comparison and record books comparable to the best who have ever done it?

I’ve thought a lot about this, but I know I’m probably missing something obvious to others. So let’s explore potential race combinations that, while shorter, test the same balance of speed, endurance, and versatility. The subject of distance will always be debatable, as each category requires different skill sets and mindsets. Plus, the fatigue from redlining a 50k versus enduring a hot 100-miler will never be a 1:1 comparison. After giving it some thought, the only way I could potentially replicate dealing with dead legs and fatigue in the way a top runner would when going from WSER to UTMB was by creating triples instead of doubles. Ideally, all the races would fall within a 3-month span, though you’ll see some are more and some are less. At the end of the day, both challenges are hard—just in different ways. Alright, enough disclaimers; here’s what I’ve come up with so far...

Dani at Zegama this year. photo cred - ?

Option 1 - Versatility at Its Finest: Zegama, Mont Blanc Marathon, Sierre Zinal
This trio highlights the vibrant European trail running scene. With Zegama in May and Sierre Zinal in August, the time span between them is about four months. However, the versatility required to win all three of these marathon-distance races would demand a runner with the skill set of a true Swiss Army knife.

Zegama is iconic for a reason—its electric atmosphere, technical course, and passionate crowd make it a must-do for trail runners. The Mont Blanc Marathon has gained popularity, especially as a key part of the Golden Trail World Series and a perfect tune-up for the OCC. Lastly, Sierre Zinal is a prestigious, high-altitude race with a rich history, attracting top talent from around the globe.

Only a few athletes have won two of these three races in a single year, most recently Sophia Laukli (MBM + SZ 2023). But from what I know, Kilian Jornet remains the only one to win all three in 2014. And has managed to win 2 of the 3 a handful of times, insane I know. My only concern? If Zegama and/or MBM ever get booted from the GTWS, they might lose some of their shine and media exposure, similar to what we’ve seen with some past golden ticket races here in the States. So, it makes you wonder: does the GTWS have that much influence on what we consider our most notable “sub-ultra” races each year? And if so, can this first option become irrelevant in the next year or two?

Clemente Geoffery cresting Col De Balme @ OCC - photo cred: @ryanthrower

Option 2 - The Fast, Faster, and Fastest: Mont Blanc Marathon, Sierre Zinal, OCC
For these three, if an athlete won all three, it would be the truest mark of all-around speed. Considering I went in-depth on MBM and SZ above I will spare some of those details here. But I will say while no race is incredibly technical, MBM and OCC still require the ability to navigate some tougher sections with fluidity if you want to emerge the winner. SZ and OCC typically have much deeper talent, but MBM always presents a fight for the podium. Plus, being ready to go for OCC post-SZ—typically only 14-20 days apart depending on the year—requires a certain type of fitness to compete in these incredibly deep races within our sport.

2023 Chuckanut 50k - photo cred: @ryanthrower

Option 3 - West Coast Spring Dream: Fourmidable 50K, Way Too Cool 50K, Chuckanut 50K,
If you thrive on the ups and downs of the trail, this West Coast combo is a wild rollercoaster challenge. First up, typically in early February, is the newer Fourmidable 50K—a hidden gem that many top American athletes have tackled. This race has served as a selection race for various USA teams, which adds to its competitive edge.

Next, in early March, you have the classic Way Too Cool 50K. It’s a staple in the early ultra calendar, known for its fast, flowing singletrack and a long history of U.S. greats showing up to take on the challenge. Then, just a couple of weeks later, you’ve got the 31-year-old Chuckanut 50K, a true Pacific Northwest gem. With heavyweights like Adam Peterman, Hayden Hawks, Max King, Drew Holman, Tyler Green, Ellie Greenwood, Magdalena Lewy-Boulet, and Devon Yanko on the roster, it’s clear this race serves as a rite of passage for WSER legends. Seriously, the list of notable names is almost ridiculous!

The challenge of maintaining speed and fitness—especially with the quick turnaround between Way Too Cool and Chuckanut—requires some serious attention. But if you’re looking to experience beautiful places in early spring, this combo is perfect for you!

Dragon’s Back climb of MTF - photo cred : @ryanthrower

Option 4 - Some Combo of These American Mountain Classics: Broken Arrow, Speedgoat, Pikes Peak, The Rut, Mammoth Trail Fest
Alright, this is a cop-out, but admittedly I am unsure how to package this one. You have reputable 20-ish k options at Broken Arrow, Pikes Peak, and now the newly minted Mammoth Trail Fest. However, the 50k options at both Speedgoat and The Rut have seen some stellar past participants, and recently they’ve garnered some new course records, showing that this current crop of American 50k runners is fierce and talented—many of the best to ever run this distance. So, I will leave this option open for your thoughts and friend-wide discussions. There’s something here. I also think there is a Colorado combo that could occur, but I am having trouble with my third race selection from the Centennial state.

Now, I’d love to hear from you! What do you think? Are there other short-distance race combos that deserve a spot in this conversation? Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the newsletter comments or send us a DM on Instagram. Let's keep this dialogue going, I WOULD love to hear what “crazy” combos you are dreaming up😉

Sub Hub Stories: Elhousine Elazzaoui – Morocco’s Trail Sensation and Current GTWS Leader

photo cred: @adventurebakery @goldentrailworldseries

Elhousine Elazzaoui has been on an absolute tear this year. He has achieved numerous top tens and podiums in the Golden Trail World Series, but it’s clear that this is his year. With wins at the Marathon du Mont Blanc and both Golden Trail World Series races in America—Headlands 27K and Mammoth Trail Fest 26K—along with incredibly strong second-place finishes at Zegama and Four Sisters China, he is currently leading the standings. The ‘Fantastics’ (Elhousine, Patrick Kipngeno, Philemon Ombogo, and Rémi Bonnet), along with several other gentlemen, will be competing in Switzerland in just a few weeks. We sent him some questions to answer, and while he is currently spending a lot of time working in the desert, he made time to send us back some responses.

Photos below provided by Elhousine

1. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you first discovered trail running?

First of all, thank you very much for all the questions you asked me. A little presentation. Elhousine - I am a son of the desert, born into a nomadic family and a Berber family. Today I am an official guide in Morocco, I have organized excursions all over Morocco. When I was young I always took care of goats and camels and I always loved running with camels. I first discovered trail running in Switzerland in 2018. Compared to other running on the platform or on the road, this running would allow me to live in nature.

2. ⁠What does your typical training routine look like, and do you incorporate any specific types of workouts to improve your performance?

This year, I manage to train about 200 kilometers per week. I incorporate specific training sessions, focusing on endurance while always aiming for quality in my workouts.

3. ⁠Do you work with a coach or train with others, and how has that influenced your success in trail running?

Yes, so a coach helps me even if I want to adapt the training according to my feelings. My coach is a Catalan Spaniard Andreu. It was my team who suggested him and it has gone well. I generally train alone.

4. ⁠Where do you train when you are at home in Morocco?

I live in the south of Morocco the gate of the desert Zagora. I train at home in the south of Morocco, in the desert sand sometimes with the big mountains. We also have the Little Atlas range near where I live in Zagoro.

5. ⁠What has the experience been like traveling from Morocco to compete internationally? How do you handle the challenges of adapting to new environments?

The first big trip I took was in 2018. Switzerland is the country where I was able to grow as an athlete, and from there, I started traveling to participate in international competitions. Through the Golden Trail World Series, I have had the opportunity to experience extraordinary sporting adventures. While adapting to new environments is not easy, it has become increasingly common for me.

6. ⁠What was the highlight of your trip to America? Was there anything about the experience that stood out for you beyond racing?

I experienced my trip to America as both a personal and sporting challenge. Last year, I couldn’t make the trip because my visa was issued late. This year, I decided at the last minute to participate, even though these long journeys still make me a bit apprehensive. I was really touched by the kindness of the American people. The land reminded me of Morocco, and I found myself pleasantly disoriented, admiring the advanced yet humane society. I saw enormous cars that I had never encountered before.

Results Recap

Bailey Kowalczyk on her way to her third consecutive win at the Rut 28K. Photo: Majell Backhausen/Anastasia Wilde

🇮🇹Trofeo Nasego - September 1

  1. Joyce Muthoni - 1:51:33

  2. Andrea Mayr - 1:53:02

  3. Susanna Saapunki - 1:54:00

  1. Patrick Kipngeno - 1:31:26

  2. Philemon Kiriago Ombogo - 1:33:59

  3. Paul Machoka - 1:34:28

🇪🇸Skyrunning World Champs Vertical - September 6

  1. Naiara Irigoyen - 50:08

  2. Paola Stampanoni - 50:27

  3. Benedetta Broggi - 50:43

  1. Alain Santamaría Blanco - 40:56

  2. Joseph Demoor - 41:00

  3. Alex Oberbacher - 42:11

🇪🇸Skyrunning World Champs Sky (37K) - September 8

  1. Louise Jernberg - 4:25:36

  2. Barbro Fjällstedt - 4:27:50

  3. Karina Carsolio - 4:30:26

  1. Alain Santamaría Blanco - 3:33:11

  2. Lorenzo Beltrami - 3:34:12

  3. Ruy Ueda - 3:39:17

🐐Cirque Series A-Basin - September 7

  1. Patrick Kipgneno - 1:04:31

  2. Johen DeLeon - 1:05:13

  3. Joseph Gray - 1:05:48

  1. Jane Maus - 1:19:26

  2. Alexa Aragon - 1:21:45

  3. Jamie Brusa - 1:24:10

🌁Headlands 27K - September 13 and 14

  1. Joyce Njeru - 2:17:36

  2. Madalina Florea - 2:18:23

  3. Lauren Gregory - 2:19:16

  1. Elhousine Elazzaoui - 1:55:27

  2. Philemon Ombogo - 1:55:29

  3. Patrick Kipgneno - 1:56:01

🐐The Rut Vertical Kilometer - September 12

  1. Jennifer Lichter - 56:57

  2. Klaire Rhodes - 58:28

  3. Caitlin Patterson - 1:00:26

  1. Cam Smith - 46:08

  2. Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau - 47:41

  3. Ryan Becker - 48:40

🐐The Rut 28K - September 13

  1. Bailey Kowalczyk - 3:35:13

  2. Jennifer Lichter - 3:37:30

  3. Denali Strabel - 3:55:22

  1. Cam Smith - 3:03:45

  2. Scott Patterson - 3:10:38

  3. Johnny Luna-Lima - 3:11:34

🐐The Rut 50K - September 14

  1. Klaire Rhodes - 5:45:29

  2. Jazmine Lowther - 5:53:14

  3. Hannah Osowski - 5:56:26

  1. Michelino Sunseri - 5:01:13

  2. Ryan Becker - 5:09:10

  3. Scott Patterson - 5:20:07

🇪🇸World Masters Mountain Running Championships Uphill - September 13

  1. Camilla Magliano - 53:34

  2. Viktoria Wilkinson - 55:26

  3. Sladjana Zagorac - 55:31

  1. Eduard Hernandez - 43:45

  2. Thomas Roach - 44:04

  3. Andrew Douglas - 45:04

🇪🇸World Masters Mountain Running Championships Long Distance (34K) - September 14

  1. Camilla Magliano - 3:40:23

  2. Mylène Da Costa Reis - 3:54:50

  3. Maud Comarieu - 3:59:15

  1. Thomas Roach - 3:06:29

  2. Daniel Remon Senoran - 3:16:01

  3. Antonio Alfonso Ruiz Rojo - 3:16:31

🇪🇸World Masters Mountain Running Championships Classic (17K) - September 15

  1. Camilla Magliano -1:41:57

  2. Kealey Tideswell - 1:45:11

  3. Maria Rebeca Marino Torrado - 1:50:11

  1. Andrew Douglas - 1:22:56

  2. Eduard Hernandez - 1:23:09

  3. Xavier Tomasa Serrano - 1:28:09

🇮🇹Maga Skymarathon - September 21

  1. Hillary Gerardi - 5:31:55

  2. Madalina Amariei - 5:36:18

  3. Oihana Kortazar - 5:45:37

  1. Nadir Maguet - 4:21:55

  2. Christian Minoggio - 4:24:06

  3. Gianluca Ghiano - 4:35:25

🦣Mammoth Trail Fest Dragon’s Back Ascent - September 20

  1. Abby Lock - 43:53

  2. Summer Allen - 46:04

  3. Pema Franchi Antelme - 49:08

  1. Rémi Bonnet - 33:18

  2. Jonas Soldini - 35:01

  3. Chad Hall - 36:12

🦣Mammoth Trail Fest 50K - September 21

  1. Chad Hall - 4:12:47

  2. Chris Myers - 4:22:43

  3. Cole Watson - 4:28:19

  1. Sylvie Abel - 5:23:14

  2. Lauren Puretz - 5:26:27

  3. Dayna Stimosn - 5:30:41

🦣Mammoth Trail Fest 26K - September 22

  1. Joyce Njeru - 2:11:56

  2. Madalina Florea - 2:14:51

  3. Anna Gibson - 2:20:03

  1. Elhousine Elazzaoui - 1:49:35

  2. Patrick Kipgneno - 1:49:36

  3. Philemon Kiriago - 1:52:30

🚂Pikes Peak Ascent - September 21

  1. Allie McLaughlin - 2:45:36

  2. Hali Hafeman - 2:46:10

  3. Kristin Johnson - 3:01:40

  1. Joseph Gray - 2:11:13

  2. Seth Demoor - 2:14:58

  3. Meikael Beaudoin-Rosseau - 2:15:48

🚂Pikes Peak Marathon - September 22 (course shortened to 15 miles due to weather)

  1. Sarah Guhl - 2:10:55

  2. Sarah Biehl - 2:13:22

  3. Shannon Dowlearn - 2:15:13

  1. Jonathan Aziz - 1:46:10

  2. Tate Knight - 1:49:25

  3. Kevin Vermeulen - 1:49:49

🇫🇷La Skyrhune

  1. Sara Alonso - 2:13:16

  2. Cecile Jarousseau - 2:16:48

  3. Malen Osa Ansa - 2:20:17

  1. Sylvain Cachard - 1:56:18

  2. Robin Juillaguet - 1:59:38

  3. Daniel Izquierdo Alonso - 2:00:28

🇪🇸Gorbeia Suzien - September 28

  1. Julia Font - 3:45:39

  2. Daniel Oemus - 3:45:46

  3. Onditz Iturbe - 3:49:37

  1. Luca del Pero - 3:00:25

  2. Manuel Merillas - 3:01:28

  3. Lorenzo Rota - 3:03:19

🇺🇸USATF Trail Marathon Championships - Birkie Trail Run Festival - September 28

  1. Anna Dalton - 3:24:02

  2. Gracia Sich - 3:38:23

  3. Katia Wanish - 3:51:04

  1. Brian Whitfield - 2:59:04

  2. Benjamin Blankenship - 3:03:46

  3. Jack Spaulding - 3:14:35

Current Series Rankings

World Mountain Running Ranking Top 10 - 5 events remain on the WMRA calendar prior the final even in Italy October 12-13. Two of the events happen in the U.S. at Birkie Trail Run Festival and Flagstaff Sky Peaks, hopefully adding some American athletes to the rankings.

Women’s

Men’s

🇬🇧Scout Adkin

🇰🇪Patrick Kipngeno

🇰🇪Joyce Muthoni Njeru

🇬🇧Joe Steward

🇰🇪Philaries Jeruto Kisang

🇰🇪Philemon Ombogo Kiriago

🇫🇮Susanna Saapunki

🇮🇹Henri Aymonod

🇷🇴Madalina Florea

🇰🇪Josphat Kiprotich

🇩🇪Nina Engelhard

🇨🇭Roberto Delorenzi

🇰🇪Gloria Chebet

🇩🇪Lukas Ehrle

🇬🇧Sarah Willhoit

🇰🇪Micahel Selelo Saoli

🇨🇭Judith Wyder

🇳🇿Michael Sutton

🇨🇭Andrea Mayr

🇸🇮Timotej Bečan

Merrell Skyrunner® World Series Top 10 - After the September races, Hillary Gerardi takes the lead from Karina Carsolio and Oihana Kortazar bumps some other Spanish women down the rankings. The Italian men are taking over the series heading into the final month of the regular season. Their are still a handful of races left in the series before the final in November.

Women’s

Men’s

🇫🇷🇺🇸Hillary Gerardi

🇨🇭Roberto Delorenzi

🇲🇽Karina Carsolio

🇮🇹Luca Del Pero

🇪🇸Oihana Kortazar

🇪🇸Manuel Merillas

🇪🇸Julia Font

🇮🇹Daniel Antonioli

🇪🇸Naiara Irigoyen

🇪🇸Antonio Martínez Pérez

🇪🇸Lide Urrestarazu

🇮🇹Lorenzo Beltrami

🇷🇺Anastasia Rubtsova

🇮🇹Gianluca Ghiano

🇫🇷Iris Pessey

🇵🇪Jose Manuel Quispe

🇫🇷Olivia Magnone

🇪🇸Alain Santamaria Blanco

Emma Cook-Clarke

🇮🇹Nadir Maguet

Golden Trail World Series Top 10 - After the American races, the Golden Trail World Series rankings are set heading into the final in October. It’s been an exciting season, but will we see any upsets in Switzerland? Anna Gibson is holding it down for American’s in all the major series at the moment.

Women’s

Men’s

🇰🇪Joyce Njeru

🇲🇦Elhousine Elazzaoui

🇷🇴Madalina Florea

🇰🇪Patrick Kipngeno

🇨🇭Maude Mathys

🇰🇪Philemon Kiriago

🇪🇸Malen Osa

🇨🇭Rémi Bonnet

🇨🇭Judith Wyder

🇮🇹Daniel Pattis

🇨🇭Theres Leboeuf

🇵🇱Bart Przedwojewski

🇨🇳Miao Yao

🇨🇭Roberto Delorenzi

🇺🇸Anna Gibson

🇨🇭Joey Hadorn

🇳🇴Sylvia Nordskar

🇪🇸Alain Santamaria Blanco

🇪🇸Marta Martinez Abellan

🇵🇱Marcin Kubica

Trail Training Tip

We all know that recovery is the most important part of any training block, but many of us get caught up in paces run, miles moved, etc.. All that data can get in the way of a true recovery day. Here are some things I like to do to ignore the watch and focus on my body:

  1. Start your watch and then tuck it in a pocket or belt💆🏻‍♀️

  2. Change the data screen to time of day⏳

  3. Run with a friend and catch up on all the tea🍵

  4. Run with your dogs so you have to stop for lots of water and pets🦮

Happy running! ❤️ EmKay

Sub-Ultra Athletes of the Month

As we waved goodbye to 2023, we cooked up a plan for future years: ending the year with a bang by handpicking our top ten Sub-Ultra athletes. But hey, why wait until December to start the celebration? Every month, we're spotlighting athletes whose performances have dazzled, impressed, or just put a big grin on our faces. So while it might not be a perfect match for our 2024 list, it's sure to sprinkle some fun along the way!

Our picks for performances in September 2024.

photo cred: @adventurebakery @goldentrailworldseries

American Women

The American women understood the assignment (as the kids might say) for the two Golden Trail World Series stops in California this past month. The first stop of the series was the Headlands 27K in Marin, California. Lauren Gregory makes her comeback to the trail and finishes as top American in 3rd place. Coming in hot on her heels Anna Gibson finished in 7th followed by Allie Ostrander in 9th and Rachel Tomajczyk in 10th.

It’s not over yet….the next weekend at Mammoth Trail Fest, the U.S. women were back with even more star power! Anna Gibson comes out as the top American with a third place finish - out kicking Rachel Drake after a long fought battle in the Sierras. Tabor Hemming rounds out the champagne toast with a 5th place finish. Following closely behind were Lauren Gregory (6th), Allie Ostrander (8th) and EmKay Sullivan (9th) - topping the U.S. ladies finish from the weekend before. Rachel Tomajczyk, who had been sitting in 7th most of the day, got a bit lost in the final miles, but still managed to finish 11th - JUST outside of that top ten. 6 AMERICANS IN THE TOP TEN? That’s only the second time in GTWS history.

The only other time 6 Americans have finished in the Top 10 of a GTWS race was 2022 Flagstaff Sky Peaks. From first American (Sophia Lauklie in 2nd) to 6th American (Bailey Kowalczyk in 9th) the time spread was 11 minutes. This year at Mammoth Trail Fes the spread from first American (Anna Gibson in 3rd) and 6th American (EmKay Sullivan in 9th) was just over 3 minutes.

American women are pushing each other to new heights whether it’s an international field or not. We saw this at the Rut where Bailey Kowalczyk and Jennifer Lichter finished within minutes of each other, pushing each other the entire day. Klaire Rhodes eventually came out on top of the 50K with a new course record, being pushed along by fellow American Hannah Allgood and Canadian (pretty close - same continent😂) Jazmine Lowther.

Let’s give these women a round of applause!

photo cred: @adventurebakery @goldentrailseries

Elhousine Elazzoui

Elhousine has been on the trail scene for quite some time, but has just missed winning many of the big races he has competed in until recently. Last year at the Golden Trail World Series Final Elhousine surprised many by taking the win in both stages - beating out the dominant Rémi Bonnet (although not in the overall standings). Elhousine came back to he 2024 season with an enormous boost from his wins at the end of the season last year. He looked to be the favorite for the Kobe Trail in April, but took a big fall and still finished 3rd.

In 2024 Elhousine has been on the podium of Kobe Trail, Four Sisters China and Zegama, but the second half of this season he has looked to be unbeatable. With a win at Mont Blanc Marathon over previous champ Rémi, he told the trail world that he was not playing around! In some of the most riveting finishes of the year Elhousine won the Headlands 27K by 2 seconds over Philemon Kiriago (2023 Sierre Zinal winner) and Mammoth Trail Fest 26K by 1 second over Patrick Kipgneno (2 time world champion).

Elhousine’s next race will the Golden Trail World Series Final in Ascona Locarno, Switzerland October 17-20. Reports from other athletes in the series are saying that this race is very technical, with not many runnable sections to make up time. Elhousine has shown that he can perform well on both technical and runnable, but he is one of the better technical runners in this series. The final is looking to be even more in his wheelhouse that many of the previous races of the season.

Looking Forward

It’s hard to believe it’s October, but between the pumpkin spice lattes we’re drinking like water, the trees covered in yellow and orange, and the cooler evening temperatures, the signs of fall are undeniable—and so is the urge to watch Hocus Pocus. With that, we’re nearing the end of the peak summer mountain racing season and entering a time filled with series finals and faster, runnable courses once again. Here are the races we're most excited for to satisfy our shorter-distance trail running hearts.

Golden Trail World Series Final
Remember when we were hyping up the start of the 2024 Golden Trail World Series in April with Kobe and Four Sisters?! Well, time sure does fly because the 2024 edition is now culminating in the highly anticipated Grand Final which will occur on October 17th to 20th, Ascona-Locarno, Switzerland. Here, the top 30 male and female athletes from the season will compete. After hosting previous finals on island and coastal routes (El Hierro 2021, Madeira 2022, and Noli 2023), the series returns to the Alps for a breathtaking course.

This year’s Grand Final will follow the “flower” format — a design the series has established for easier viewership. The race covers 23.5 kilometers with 1,400 meters of elevation gain, approximately 14.6 miles and 4,600 feet of gain. From what we've seen, read, and heard, the course is steep and features some pretty technical terrain. You can check out Francesco Puppi’s Strava here from when he previewed it, and it seems like the first 10 miles are especially hefty. Also note his strava is 16 miles, not 14.6. 👀

As always, the final promises to deliver some surprises and a thrilling race, which we’re big fans of. Keep an eye out for our upcoming preview of the final. Given that Dani has hit 3/3 podiums in her last fantasy efforts and Emkay predicted the podiums 100% accurately for Mammoth Trail Fest😉, our hopes are high that we can provide you with enough insights to help you with your FreeTrail Fantasy picks!

WMRA World Cup Final
The World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) wraps up its 2024 World Cup season with two back-to-back finals:

  • Lagunc Vertical KM (October 12th): A brutal 3.2 km uphill-only race with 1,000 meters of vertical gain, set in Switzerland. Vertical KMs push athletes to their limits, requiring sheer strength and mental toughness over the steep incline.

  • Val Bregaglia Trail (October 13th): Covering 23 kilometers with 900 meters of elevation, this trail weaves between Switzerland and Italy, offering a mix of technical challenges and beautiful alpine scenery. The final race is set to crown the overall World Cup champions for 2024.

We are excited to see a couple of athletes compete here and then double back for the Golden Trail World Series Final. As well as the handful of athletes who have appeared to focus on this series including Scout Adkin and a couple of other Run2gether members on the men’s side.

Skyrunner World Series
Skyrunning seems to be gaining momentum again after a highly saturated August and September. An incredible battle recently took place at the Gorbeia Suizen SkyRace between Julia Font (2nd at Calamorro earlier this year) and Daniela Oemus (2023 Zegama champion). In a thrilling sprint finish on the road, Font came out on top, echoing the battle she had with Sara Alonso earlier this year. We look forward to seeing other runners return to the series after their expected breaks following the packed August race calendar.

October brings three exciting Skyraces:

  • Inthanon SkyRace – October 5, 2024
    31 km | 2,500 m | Chiang Mai, Thailand

  • 2 Peaks SkyRace – October 26, 2024
    26 km | 2,080 m | Yeongnam Alps, South Korea

  • Sobrescobio SkyRace – October 27, 2024
    32 km | 2,100 m | Sobrescobio, Spain

It’s really cool that there are two races in Asia, and based on the footage, both look quite unique compared to their European counterparts. It will be interesting to see if these races impact the rankings much.

UTMB World Series
While OCC feels like it just happened yesterday, the UTMB World Series keeps rolling with more chances for runners to earn stones and qualify for the finals. In October, three exciting options include races in Nice, Mallorca, and Big Bear Lake :

  • Ultra-Trail Nice Côte d'Azur by UTMB – October 6, 2024
    50 km | 3,200 m | Nice, France

  • Mallorca 100 by UTMB – October 19, 2024
    54 km | 2,400 m | Mallorca, Spain

  • Kodiak Ultra by UTMB – October 19, 2024
    50 km | 2,000 m | Big Bear Lake, California, USA

We’re hoping for the best for the Big Bear community. At the time of writing, the areas around Big Bear Lake, including Moonridge, Sugarloaf, and South Erwin Lake, remain under evacuation warnings. It’s never easy navigating a situation like this, and we hope the Kodiak race team is staying safe and feeling supported during this time.🩵