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 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
Best 5 Trail Races in the UK – Recommended by Ultra-Runner Gareth Jones
Trail runner Gareth Jones, widely recognised as “The Mental Health Wanderer,” is known for transforming his life through endurance running. After overcoming drug addiction and severe mental health struggles, Gareth created the Mental Health Wanderer platform during the COVID-19 lockdown to share his story and support others facing similar battles. Since then, he has completed extraordinary challenges including a 300-mile run across Wales, a 200-mile Offa’s Dyke effort, multiple Fastest Known Times across Welsh trails, and charity runs dedicated to raising awareness for mental health and children’s causes. His resilience, openness, and passion for the mountains have earned him deep respect within the UK trail running community. With years of experience across brutal terrains and long-distance ultras, Gareth’s race recommendations come from a place of
UTMB 2026 Registration: A Technical yet Passionate Guide for Trail Runners
HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc 2026 is the summit of the trail running world, but getting there takes more than endurance—you need to understand the qualification system, lottery mechanics, and registration timeline. If you’re aiming for OCC (50K), CCC (100K), or UTMB (100M), here’s everything you need to know. Key dates for UTMB 2026 registration Pre-registration opens January 8, 2026 and closes January 19, 2026. You must apply via your MyUTMB account within this window. Lottery draw happens January 19, 2026. Results are published January 22, 2026. Confirmation deadline: If selected, you must pay your entry by February 4, 2026—otherwise, you lose your spot and half of your Running Stones. Waiting list notifications begin February 5, 2026. You can only apply for one UTMB Mont-Blanc race. Duplicate
How to Train for Trail Running in Winter and Cold Temperatures
Winter can be one of the most rewarding seasons to train for trail running — but also one of the most challenging. Shorter days, freezing temperatures, snow-covered paths, slippery terrain, and a drop in motivation can make winter trail running feel intimidating. Yet, winter training builds strength, resilience, mental toughness, and technical skills that are invaluable for spring and summer races. Whether you’re preparing for your first trail event in April, maintaining your fitness during the off-season, or embracing winter mountain adventures, the right approach can transform cold-weather training into a powerful advantage. In this guide, we explain exactly how to train for trail running in winter and cold temperatures, covering gear, training plans, safety, nutrition, and winter-specific workouts. 1. Adjust Your Training Plan to
