As we celebrate our one-year anniversary of this community newsletter, we look back at all the articles we’ve published that involve love. It’s possible that all of them do—love of running, love of community, love of nature, love of hard challenges, etc. This week, we bring you three special articles for Valentine’s Day.

• The LA love story of Mayra Lopez-Garcia and Jerry Garcia, who cover the tough miles of life together.
  
  
• Doug Mayer finds love while running 224 miles in the Italian Alps.
  
  
• Emily Halnon writes about how her mother inspired her running and how running helped her manage the grief of her mother’s passing.

This week, Buzz and Corrine talk about the Pro Trail Runners Association (PTRA), a non-profit based in Switzerland that Corrine helped found.

Corrine interviews Andrew Drummond about our UltraSignup News article “Rock hopping with Run the Whites,” and his ultra-journey from helping Scott Jurek set an FKT to putting the White Mountains back on the map.

Buzz then talks to two of our Keep Trail Running Weird award winners: Mike Melton who won the Most Tenacious and Jen Golbeck who has inspired thousands to start running (at any pace) and won our Most Inspirational. She even inspires Buzz along the way! (You can find Jen on Instagram at Jen Runs With Dogs.)

Presented by Ultimate Direction. Use promo code “Trailhead25” for 25% off Ultimate Direction.

While winter is still offering up fresh pow and cold temperatures, Ultimate Direction has you covered with its Ventro Jacket. Recently named in Outside Magazine’s Winter Gear Guide as one of the best pieces of winter running gear, the Ventro keeps you warm and ventilated with its award-winning Clo® Eco Vivo insulation during all adventures and boasts 90% of recycled fibers.

Take it from the pros like Amelia Boone and grab yourself one (we’ll even give you 20% off now through February 28, use code USU20).

? Your Heart Leads: As endurance athletes we rely on our strong heart muscles to supply the oxygen carrying blood that allows us to run. But is your heart healthy? Here is one way to find out.

? Yep, We’re Different: Drop Eliud Kipchoge on the Hardrock 100-Mile start line next to Kilian Jornet—who finishes the 102.5-mile loop first? How would Kilian fair on the paved streets of the Berlin Marathon? Alex Hutchinson looks at a head-to-head lab showdown between road runners and trail runners that exposed key differences in power and efficiency.

? But Is It Good for You? Performance coach Steve Magness puts a chill on ice baths. “Research is still evolving, but a number of studies have found ice baths after training, led to a decrease in anabolic signaling, protein synthesis, and muscle size, power, [and] peak force.”

? Download Knowledge: Join champion trail runner and coach Meg Mackenzie for a free webinar on Thursday. She’ll cover training advice, logistical pro tips, and inspirational stories from the trails.

⬆️ That Long Run Person: Running and health coach Monica provides our love meme today.

?? Quoted: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

? Father & Son: A moving story about a dad who died too soon, and a son left grappling with his legacy, by Dakota Jones.

❤️ I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying: Instead of a year-ending wrap-up video, filmmaker Billy Yang gets a little more personal with his (trail) love story. Watch to the end and try not to cry.

➡️  Lastly, here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week.