Culture
Trail running is bigger than any one runner. Trailhead’s Culture section tells the stories of the people who make the sport everything that it is, the people at the heart of trail running culture. Read on for runner spotlights, race stories, and everyday humans showing up at to volunteer, pace, race, and support one another around the world. From first-time 5K finishers to people like Mike Smith stacking over 250 100-miler finishes, this is where the trail community lives on the page. Brought to you by UltraSignup.
Find your people, find your race.
Search trail races, ultramarathons, and community events near you on ultrasignup.com — from 5K charity runs to 300-mile epics.
Catching up with ultra legend Krissy Moehl
Few names carry as much weight in trail running as Krissy Moehl. Over more than two decades at the sport’s highest level, she has crafted a legacy that stretches well beyond ultra finish lines and podiums. With 65 wins in women’s races and a few more outright victories across some of the world’s most grueling…
Brian Metzler
March 3, 2026
History of the Belt Buckle in Ultrarunning
What do belt buckles have to do with ultrarunning? The history of the belt buckle as a reward for completing a 100-miler stems from the horse world.
Jen Sotolongo
February 12, 2026
2025 Keep Trail Running Weird Award Winners
For the past five years, UltraSignup has closed out the year with the Keep Trail Running Weird Awards. Unlike traditional end-of-year running awards, these honors aren’t about the fastest finishers or the most innovative brands. They exist to celebrate the trail running community itself. These are the friends who got us into trail running in…
UltraSignup
January 13, 2026
2025 Keep Trail Running Weird Finalists – Vote Now
We consider the Keep Trail Running Weird awards a “podium finish” for the everyday runner, honoring the community, quirkiness, and authenticity of our sport. It’s the fifth year of these awards, and we consider it a privilege to celebrate with everyone once again. The Keep Trail Running Weird awards recognize five award categories that are…
UltraSignup
December 23, 2025
2025 Keep Trail Running Weird Awards – Now Open
UltraSignup's annual awards to celebrate the run community. Consider it a podium finish for every runner.
UltraSignup
December 13, 2025
One Has Been Chosen: Heather Huggins
As a partner of the Western States Endurance Run, UltraSignup has a single race entry available to grant to a runner of our choosing. In 2025, that runner was Nick Bassett, who set the record as the oldest finisher at Western States when he completed the event in 2018 at the age of 73. In…
UltraSignup
December 8, 2025
The Order of the Unchosen: Win Your Way Into Western States
Welcome to the Order of the Unchosen — a fellowship for those who refuse to give up on the Western States lottery. If you’ve been hoarding 4 or more tickets year after year, only to see rejection emails in return, this is your moment.
UltraSignup
August 22, 2025
Running the Circle of Hell: in Pursuit of a Full Life
In the peak of the Phoenix summer heat, an unsanctioned, unpromoted, unknown fatass race takes place. Despite sky high temperatures, runners leave the climate controlled comfort of their homes to enter the Circle of Hell. UltraSignup and LMNT sent Annemarie to check it out.
Annemarie Kruse
July 28, 2025
Age is Just a Number: The Inspiring Stories of WSER’s 70+ Runners
Six runners aged 70+ are taking on the Western States 100, defying limits, chasing buckles, and proving that adventure has no age. Meet the legends rewriting ultrarunning’s aging narrative.
Zoë Rom
June 10, 2025
Breaking the Age Barrier: How One Researcher is Changing the Game for Older Ultrarunners
Ken Ward’s research on aging in ultrarunning could redefine how older athletes train, race, and recover.
Zoë Rom
April 10, 2025