The world champs of our sport took place last week in Innsbruck, Austria. More than 1,300 athletes from 68 countries competed in four days of mountain races, including vertical, trail short, trail long, and mountain classic events.

All of which were livestreamed over the internet to 10 million viewers!

Our writer Doug Mayer was there and brings you mountain-top clowns, underfunded athletes, and all the action, including who won gold.

* Also See: Abby Levene’s pre-race commentary.

Come run, come all to a curated day filled with everything we love about trail running:

✅ Running trails together
✅ The spirit of competition
✅ The comfort of community
✅ Entertainment and socializing

Each Dirt Circus will bring the local trail running community together for a 3-5 mile group shakeout run (all levels welcome!), spectating an elite exhibition, Q&As with race directors and run clubs, swag, food, beverages, and more!

Join us July 1st in Denver, Colorado, or at one of the five other locations!

I’m Dean Karnazes and I’ve run everywhere, even the South Pole. Despite all the miles and places I’ve run, I’ve never been able to find a pair of running glasses that I love.

That’s why I partnered with Method Seven to design and build the de facto champion of trail running eyewear.  Our new UltraTrail glasses use advanced notch filtering, proprietary polarization technology, and bright, high-contrast lenses that let you see every rock, root, and obstacle in bright sun or dark shadow. With radically light, titanium frames, the glasses are so lightweight, comfortable, and crystal clear, I forget I’m wearing them!

Method Seven leads the way in trail running innovation.

Sign up for Method Seven’s newsletter to enter to win your choice of brand new Method Seven UltraTrail eyewear! You’ll also receive an exclusive $75 discount code for UltraTrail products.

⬆️ Race course description be like … “gently rolling hills.” ??

? Human Powered: Dakota Jones is riding his bike to his next big race to raise money for his climate nonprofit, Footprints. The Salt Lake City resident set out on Thursday to ride the 650-mile distance to Palisades Tahoe and the start line of the 2023 Western States 100.

⛰️ What in the world is a VK? Andy Wacker explains.

? Video of the VK Worlds: Ryan Thrower and the team at Freetrail bring you this highlight from Austria and the Vertical World Championship race. That’s American Grayson Murphy finishing 3rd in the world! ???
** And as ATRA puts it: “This is the World Championships ?????. This is Zach Miller.  ?

? Alex Honnold Doesn’t Care for Your Out and Back: In this entertaining conversation our podcast host, the legendary Buzz Burrell chats ultrarunning and speed records with arguably the best rock climber in the world, Alex Honnold.

? Tweet of the Week: Comrades Marathon catches 25 athletes faking their qualifying information to get into the race. Yikes.

? Whimsical: Camille Herron races on a whim, wins a birdhouse, and beats all the men at the Texas Trail Festival marathon.

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