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.
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
2024 Keep Trail Running Weird Award Winners – Celebrating the Trail Community
Zoë and Buzz dive into what community means to them and why the Keep Trail Running Weird awards matter.
UltraSignup
January 22, 2025
THE WINNERS: 2024 Keep Trail Running Weird Awards
Wow! Every single nomination sent us spiraling down a rabbit hole of stalking UltraSignup results and scrolling through the IG profiles of truly amazing members of our trail community. The votes have been tallied! Keep reading!
UltraSignup
December 31, 2024
2024 Keep Trail Running Weird Awards
We are excited to announce that the 2024 Keep Trail Running Weird Awards SZN is here! Nominate your buddies and don't forget to vote.
UltraSignup
November 25, 2024
It’s these people who make the trail running community special.
Introducing Faces of Trail Running a column where we spotlight community members from our beloved sport of running on dirt.
Shelby Farrell
August 28, 2024
Comedy & Running with Zoë Rom
If you enjoy spending a lot of time preparing for something with minimal payoff, don’t mind talking to yourself, and have a high pain tolerance (emotional and physical!), then running and comedy might be for you!
Zoë Rom
August 27, 2024