News of the week
- Kilian Jornet and Zach Miller are calling for a boycott of UTMB, in order to defend the trail running community against the rising of the UTMB brand power. For instance, a runner cannot participate to UTMB unless he had run an UTMB branded race during the year, irrespective of the ITRA classification. There are also other points involved in this call for boycott, related to UTMB growing influence and money-making business
Trail running training plan: how to build a strong base at the start of the year
Starting the year without a clear structure is one of the most common mistakes in trail running. Motivation is high, races feel close, and intensity often arrives too early. A well-designed trail running training plan helps you avoid injuries, build durability, and prepare your body for the demands of technical terrain and elevation gain. The goal of the preseason is not speed. It is preparation. A strong base allows everything else to work later. This article explains how to structure your preseason into three complementary blocks: strength, volume, and technique. Why starting the season with a structured trail running training plan matters Trail running is not road running on dirt. It requires strength, stability, coordination, and long-term resilience. Without a base, intensity becomes risky. With
Ultra Trail Guara Somontano: Inside One of Spain’s Most Authentic Trail Races – Interview with Organizer Santi Santamaria
Ultra Trail Guara Somontano (UTGS) has quietly become one of Spain’s most respected trail running events — not by joining major international circuits, but by staying true to its roots. Set in the spectacular landscapes of the Sierra de Guara and the Somontano region, UTGS offers runners a raw and authentic trail experience: rocky terrain, deep canyons, historic villages, and a strong sense of community. Created more than 17 years ago by a group of passionate local runners, the race has grown steadily while remaining focused on what matters most — the runner, the territory, and the people behind the event. In this interview with Santi Santamaria, one of the organizers of Ultra Trail Guara Somontano, we explore what makes UTGS different from large international
Winter Spine Race: Antonio Codina on Finishing One of the Toughest Ultra Races in the World
The Winter Spine Race is widely regarded as one of the toughest ultra-trail races in the world. Covering 268 miles along the Pennine Way, in the heart of a British winter, it demands total self-sufficiency, navigation skills, resilience to cold, darkness, sleep deprivation, and the ability to keep moving when conditions become truly extreme. Finishing the Winter Spine Race 2025 is not simply a sporting result — it is a profound physical and psychological achievement. In this interview, we speak with Antonio Codina, a multiple-time Winter Spine Race finisher, who has completed both the Challenger and the full 268-mile race across several editions, including Spine Race 2025. Drawing on years of experience, Antonio shares what it really takes to survive one of the world’s most
Trail running race calendar 2026 – the first 10 races of the year
The opening months of a trail running season are rarely about peak performance. Instead, January to March are about rhythm, adaptation, and building a competitive base that will support bigger objectives later in the year. Weather variability, terrain diversity, and limited daylight make early races demanding, but also extremely valuable. This trail running race calendar for 2026 focuses on ten established European races traditionally held in the first quarter of the year. All of them are events that runners use to test fitness, regain race sharpness, or prepare strategically for spring and summer goals. The selection covers Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy, regions that consistently offer reliable winter and early spring trail racing. How this calendar was selected Rather than chasing novelty, this calendar prioritises
