In our Trail and Ultra News Recap for April 6, you’ll read about how Des Linden is off and running in the Marathon des Sables in Morocco, that Adam Kimble and Heather van Sickle dominated this year’s American River 50, and that 72 runners finished the second annual Arizona Monster 300.
Plus, there are lots of recent trail running shoe drops, a comprehensive guide to hut-to-hut running, and a thoughtful report about how an autistic runner has engaged in ultrarunning.
Read more in this week’s Trail and Ultra News Recap here, cutting through the noise to the trail running headlines you don’t want to miss from media outlets across the sport. And be sure to browse for your next trail or ultra race on UltraSignup.
Trail and Ultra News Recap for April 6
Headlines
Kimble, Van Sickle Post Dominant Wins at American River 50
Adam Kimble ran away with the win at this year’s American River 50 from Folsom, California, to Auburn, California. The 39-year-old runner from Truckee, California, averaged 8:02 mile pace to win in 6:40:56, nearly 40 miles ahead of runner-up Chris Whelan (7:19:29). Heather van Sickle, 43, of Sacramento, was even more dominant in the women’s race, winning in 8:28:00, more than 50 minutes ahead of Carrie Peterson-Kirby (9:18:03).
In the 25-mile race, Zach Heberlein (3:58:28) and Anna Olsen (4:44:27) finished on top, while Jacob Banta (1:03:15) and Emily Hawgood (1:18:48), both entrants in this year’s Western States 100, were the runaway winners of the 10-mile races.
Read More: Ultrarunning Magazine
Des Linden Off and Running in the First Stage of Marathon des Sables
The 35K opening stage of Morocco’s six-stage, 250-kilometer Marathon des Sables got underway on Sunday with with Moroccan brothers Mohamed and Rachid El Morabity leading the men’s race after finishing in 2:26:29 and 2:26:50. France’s Ludovic Pommeret, sits in fifth place, about 8 minutes behind the leaders. In the women’s race, Maryline Nakache of France and Aziza El Amrany of Morocco hold the top two spots with times of 3:04 and 3:09, while two-time U.S. Olympic marathoner and 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden is fourth, 21 minutes behind Nakache.
Results: Marathon des Sables
72 runners finish 2nd annual Arizona Monster 300
The final runners of the Arizona Monster 300 reached the finish line near Patagonia, Arizona, late last week, with 72 of 120 starters making it through the second annual race. In the women’s race, Selee Mallone, 31, of King, Ontario, Canada, (99 hours, 55 minutes, 2 seconds) won in record time after finally put a sizable gap on runner-up Anne Tisdell, 37, of Mount Lookout, West Virginia (106:11:32) to lead 18 women’s finisher.
In the men’s race, Mike McKnight, 36, of Smithfield, (8 hours, 49 minutes,45 seconds) Utah, also set a new course record, outrunning Ryan Snickles, 42, (90:48:45) of Chandler, Arizona, and Sam Carroll, 41, of Yuma, Arizona, (94:52:20). In the race’s debut in 2025, 201 of the 287 runners finished the race.
Results: UltraSignup
Read More: Slowtwitch
Everything You Need to Know about the Western States 2026
For 50 years, the Western States Endurance Run has been an epic test of endurance, resilience, and perseverance across one of the most iconic trail running routes in the world. This year’s race figures to be one of the best yet, given the depth of elite runners in the front of the pack and the compelling stories of determined age-group competitors. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about Western States 2026.
Read More: UltraSignup’s Trailhead Media
6 Tips to Optimize Aid Station Experiences
Here are some tips on making the most of an aid station that will help you run the next section of the course as best possible.
Read More: UltraSignup’s Trailhead Media
Autistic Runner Explains What Ultrarunning Taught Her About Belonging
Danielle Aubin said she never considered endurance racing until recently. As an autigender mom of two neurodivergent biracial/bicultural children, she said she associated races with crowds, unpredictability, and performance. Being perceived while exerting myself sounded overwhelming. But opening an autistic-centered psychotherapy private practice, the 37-year-old runner from Roseville, California, has experienced nature therapy, personal growth, self-regulation, and social connection through the ultra races she’s run.
Read More: Autism Spectrum News
She Started Running at 35 and Set Many Records by 51
Record-breaking ultra-endurance runner and Peloton instructor Susie Chan spent her 20s partying but started running to balance some of her drinking. Now 51, she’s run the Marathon des Sables more times than any other British woman, set the female 12-hour treadmill world record, completed all seven major world marathons and Badwater 135 in 2023, all while surviving thyroid cancer and raising a 24-year-old daughter.
Read More: Women’s Health UK
The Ultimate Guide to Hut-to-Hut Trail Running
Writer and photographer Andy Cochrane launched a thorough guide to the small but growing niche of hut-to-hut trail running. He highlights 11 of his favorite hut-to-hut running adventures around the world and includes information and tips about about training, etiquette, safety, durability, and packing, as well as a list of his favorite gear.
Read More: Inside Hook
GEAR
Dirty Dozen: 12 Great Trail Running Shoes for Running in Mud
It depends on where you live, but springtime running often means running on muddy trails. That’s OK if you’re wearing the right pair of shoes, specifically a pair of toothy trail runners with an outsole that boasts sizable lugs. We’ve picked out 12 of the best mud-eating trail runners available this spring.
Read More: UltraSignup’s Trailhead Media
Runner’s World: The 8 Best Trail Running Shoes for Spring
Runner’s World launched its spring 2026 guide to its best shoes for running dirt trails and gravel roads. It named the Salomon Pulsar Trail as its top pick for this spring, while the Saucony Peregrine 16 was its choice for technical trails and the Altra Experience Wild 3 its pick for multiple surfaces.
Read More: Runner’s World
GQ Names its Top 6 Trail Runners of 2026
You know trail running is booming in the mainstream when GQ gets in on the act. Known as Gentleman’s Quarterly, the prominent international monthly magazine focusing on men’s fashion, style, culture, and lifestyle named its six best trail running shoes for 2026.
Read More: GQ
French Brand Kiprun Officially Launches in U.S.
Kiprun, the performance running brand born within French sports retailer Decathlon, has officially launched in the U.S. Guided by a mission to make high-performance running more accessible, Kiprun has launched three footwear models in the U.S.: the Kiprun Max, Kipstorm Elite, and KipSummit Max. Together, these three lines showcase the brand’s advanced foam compounds, performance-driven geometries, and race-tested designs for both road and trail runners. Each model aims to deliver modern performance features at price points that are more approachable for everyday athletes.
Read More: Kiprun
More Coverage of Trail and Ultra Races
UltraRunning’s Ultra Weekend Recap: April 5
Read More: UltraRunning Magazine
iRunFar’s This Week in Running: April 6
Read More: iRunFar
VIDEOS
Ultra Marathon Reality Check: Big Mistakes
In this video, YouTuber “William H Still in the Race” heads out on a trail run and takes a step back to break it all down — a reality check — what went well, where things started to unravel, and the key lessons he’s taking forward.
This is What You Need to Know About Ultrarunning
Lytle Labs and Derrick Lytle explore the evolution of extreme distance running from historic pedestrian matches to modern trail competitions. They discuss the iconic races, legendary athletes, and the unique culture shaping this growing sport.
Ultra Running Isn’t About Running. Here’s Why.
Running isn’t really about running. If it were just exercise, nobody would wake up at 4am… no one would run 100 miles… and none of this would exist.
Podcasts
The Buzz Podcast with Karl Meltzer
Karl Meltzer has 50 hundred-mile wins, a perpetuity royalty deal on one of the best-selling trail shoes in the world, and a goal that almost no one else would attempt: 100 hundred-mile finishes by the summer of 2027, with Hardrock 100 as his final race. He’s currently at 93. Buzz Burrell sat down with the Speedgoat in Moab, fresh off a Hoka Japan photo shoot, still wearing the ratty hat Cheryl keeps trying to throw away, for one of the most candid conversations about what a professional ultrarunning career actually looks like from the inside.
The Trailhead Podcast with Ryan Goodman
What does cattle ranching have to do with running 100 miles? More than you’d think. Ryan Goodman — @BeefRunner, Beef Cattle Operations Manager at Washington State University, and ultrarunner — joins Zoë and Brendan to talk about the mental overlap between managing a herd through calving season and finishing a hundred-miler: the sleeplessness, the problem-solving under pressure, and the “one thing at a time” mindset that gets you out of an aid station at mile 70 the same way it gets you through a broken piece of equipment at 2 a.m.
The Freetrail Podcast with Jacob Banta
Jacob Banta is a pro trail runner and photographer based in Mill Valley, California. He’s been building a strong racing resume in the sport for a few years before achieving a big breakthrough in February when he finished second place at the Tarawera 100k in New Zealand, a result that earned him a Golden Ticket to the Western States 100 in June and a new shoe contract with Altra.
RELATED: Trail and Ultra News Recap for March 30
RELATED: Smart Tips to Recover From a Mid-Race Bonk
RELATED: How The Trail Team Has Built a Pipeline to Trail Running Success
RELATED: 6 Smart Tips to Successfully Navigate Aid Stations
RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Western States 2026
RELATED: Running Through Motherhood: 10 Tips for Managing Trail Running as a Mom
RELATED: Rich Roll to Headline TrailCon 2026 as Keynote Speaker
