Kings of the Trail #180
Go Further & Explore More...
"You know what a champion is? A champion is someone who's ready when the gong rings—not just before, not just after—but when it rings.”
Jack Dempsey
We train, we prepare, we map out our travel and logistics, we study course routes, plan aid station needs, figure out when we will be able to push or when we may need to slow down…but none of this matters if we can’t be physically and mentally ready at the right time in the right place. That moment when we step up to the start line; whether for an epic trail race, a road marathon or a hike in the mountains we must be ready when that time comes. As some of the biggest names in ultrarunning demonstrated in the lead up to the 2026 UTMB, it is also important to know the opposite…to recognise when we are not ready, when our bodies (and minds) are telling us something isn’t quite right. Some of the best known competitors pulled out of the famous race rather than risking something. For Kilian Jornet it was physical — a knee injury that needed surgery rather than a start line. For Ruth Croft, the defending champion, it was something else entirely: her fitness had never been better, but as she put it, her “heart and mind want to be somewhere else.” This takes an incredible maturity and highly tuned recognition of what our internal signals are telling us. So, do what you can to get in the best possible shape to take on any challenge and be ready to tackle it with all your energy, but don’t do it at the risk of damaging yourself or causing injury. There will be other times to try again and other opportunities to test yourself…
Until next week, be safe and enjoy the trails...
Where else could this week’s newsletter start but with a full race recap of last weekend’s UTMB race? Ben Dhiman finishes the men’s race in a (kind of record) sub-19 hours and Blandine L’Hirondiel becomes only the second woman ever to win UTMB, CCC and OCC…
Australian Endurance running legend, Phil Gore may have fallen just short of the mind blowing 168 consecutive hours of running the same loop he was aiming for, but that doesn’t diminish what he has achieved…
He may have had a disappointing UTMB race this year, but 2024’s winner and the course record holder at Western States Endurance Run is anything but boring…
Ultrarunning is rapidly growing in popularity with more races, more runners and more interest across the world, but with nature playing such an integral part of the experience, what dangers does the increasing risk of wildfires pose to the sport…
📸 Tankerton, Kent, England
A little spot of nostalgia for the old-school laid back hip hop sounds that have a mellow, soulful flavour and rolling melodic beats. King Tetrus is a Miami native and brings a bit of chilled summer vibes to his tracks. A little change of speed when you need to kick back and have a good head nod session…
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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