Competition
The pointy end of the trail. Trailhead’s Trail Race Competition section covers the sharp end of trail and ultrarunning — race results recaps, athlete profiles, head-to-head previews, championship coverage, and the storylines driving the world’s biggest races. From Black Canyon Ultras and Western States to regional series championships and emerging American ultra talent, this is where competitive trail running gets the analysis it deserves. Brought to you by UltraSignup, the world’s leading trail running registration platform.
Chasing a result of your own?
UltraSignup hosts results from tens of thousands of trail races, 50Ks, 100Ks, and 100-mile ultramarathons. Find your next race — or look up an old one — at ultrasignup.com.
How Two Trail Runners Earned a Spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics
Trail runners Cameron Smith and Anna Gibson are heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics, representing the U.S. in the new discipline of skimo racing.
Brian Metzler
December 30, 2025
6 Takeaways from Anne Flower’s Stunning Breakthrough Season
A glimpse into 2026 suggests next year could be even brighter for this Colorado Springs runner.
Brian Metzler
November 18, 2025
Will We See Courtney and Katie Race Each Other Again? I Sure Hope So.
For a moment, it looked like Courtney Dauwalter and Katie Schide might finally meet at UTMB. The matchup never happened, but the story behind it reveals how the sport is changing.
Brian Metzler
October 28, 2025
The World’s Fastest Gynecologist
Meet Lauren Puretz: a self-proclaimed "hot mess" mom who does it all—whether she's performing surgery or crushing hundred-mile races. Team Hooha is unstoppable!
Zoë Rom
November 25, 2024
Quest for the Crest: In Pursuit of What’s Possible
From the Cascade Crest 100 to Angeles Crest 100, ultrarunner Jeffrey Stern shares the story of running two hundred mile races in two weeks.
Jeffrey Stern
August 27, 2024
Captains of Performance: Katie Schide and Jason Koop’s Coach-Athlete Voyage
Great communication and the right coach have helped rocket Katie Schide to the front of the most competitive races in the world.
Corrine Malcolm
May 7, 2024
The Formation of The Trail Team
Andy Wacker saw a gap in professional development of trail runners and decided to quit waiting around for someone to fill it.
Andy Wacker
March 4, 2024
Facing the Unknown: Guidance for Negotiating the Hidden World of Athlete Contracts
The unknown can be torturous when it comes to athletes entering the sponsorship market with a vacuum of information.
Adam Chase
December 22, 2023
From the track to the mountains
Dan Curts on his path to mountain running and why he loves New England as a training ground.
Anneka Williams
October 3, 2023
We Have Nothing, but We Have Everything
Katie Schide on life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.
Doug Mayer
June 22, 2023