Kings of the Trail #171
- Luke Jarman
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
Go Further & Explore More...
“We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words — to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.”
C.S. Lewis
The amazing elite runners who competed in the Western States Endurance Run 100-miler last weekend didn’t stop to admire or bathe in the scenery around them; they barely stopped at all, but there is no doubt they were all experiencing a deep relationship with the natural world they traversed. Unusually cool conditions meant Jennifer Lichter and Vincent Bouillard both tore up the record books, with Bouillard knocking over 23 minutes from the men’s course record. The front runners are only a small part of the story, though. All the athletes, right through to the incredibly inspiring back of the pack finishers who barely made the cutoff time and crossed the line during the fabled golden hour, had to read and answer the same brutal terrain. When faced with challenges from massive elevation, heat soaked canyons and the legendary American River crossing at mile 78, you don’t get the luxury of sitting back and admiring from a distance; you need to adapt, accept and overcome, or you won’t finish at all. It is only by getting out there, spending time exploring the beauty and majesty around us and learning to appreciate the natural world that we can try to become part of it…
Until next week, be safe and enjoy the trails...
From homeless and living in an orphanage in Bogota, to conquering one of the most prestigious races in the ultra calendar, Jennifer Lichter has conquered many hurdles…
In the men’s race at WSER, the amazing Vincent Bouillard became only the seventh person to win both the main races at WSER and UTMB, his coach outlines how he managed it…
Two separate falls earlier in the year threatened to derail his race preparations, but instead Francesco Puppi powered to a second place finish…
As most of the northern hemisphere swelters in record high temperatures, how can trail runners train in the heat to overcome the challenge and dangers it poses...
📸 Ponte de 25 Abril, Alcântara, Lisbon
I have had this cheeky banger on my reserved list for a while, but this week’s quote seemed an appropriate pairing and therefore time to bring it out. The original track, by Way Out West is from almost 30 years ago, but this progressive remix livens it up, just enough. It’s a meditative tune, bringing to mind a cool breeze washing over you on a hot day…
Each week, I update the Kings of the Trail playlist with a new selection of music. Like trail runs or hikes, the playlist will be varied and eclectic, but hopefully, there will be something for everyone to enjoy…
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