The Wonderland Trail. Simply uttering its magical name stirs visions of trail running fancy that belies the challenge of this brutal, yet beautiful 93-mile circumnavigation of Mount Rainier in Washington. A beloved hike, run, and frequent FKT pursuit–last summer Dan Berlin set out to become the first blind runner to successfully run the route.

Jared Beasley sat down with Nick Danielson, filmmaker of the upcoming Every Rock, Every Root, to learn how he captured a visual experience unseen by the hero. Not surprisingly, Nick found that being a witness to Dan’s courage deeply impacted his own approach to tackling pursuits in the face of potential failure.

?The Every Rock, Every Root virtual screening party is this Sunday, April 10th, at 5:30 PST. RSVP here to see the film and chat with Dan and Nick about the experience. 

⛰️Power Hiking: Don’t have burly mountains nearby or simply need to maximize your training time? David Roche says adding just 20-30 min of focused treadmill hiking each week can turn you into a “power hiking BOSS.” His new article offers workouts, form technique, and a helpful how-to video.

?Go Pro: The North Face opened 20 new spots for athletes to receive funding, gear, education, and mentorship. In TNF’s quest to “cultivate a more inclusive outdoor community,” they are encouraging athletes from
“communities that are historically excluded or marginalized to apply.”

?Moon Shot: Not your average running threads, these two brands are incorporating NASA technology into cutting edge apparel including insulation designed to keep spacecrafts cozy at -450°F and “Phase Change Materials” to regulate astronauts’ body temp in space.

?Global Inspo: A spotlight on three international female athletes inspiring us from afar:  

• Valentyna Veretska, who fled Ukraine last month with her daughter, won the Jerusalem Marathon in 2:45:54.  
• Mira Rai, a top Nepalese mountain runner, is using her platform to create professional and athletic opportunities for young women in Nepal.
• Sufiya Khan, of India, just set the FKT running the 6,000km “golden quadrilateral” across India in 110 days–roughly 34 miles a day for over 3 months.

When asked to cover the UTMB Thailand event, renowned photographer and ultrarunner Hilary Matheson had preconceived notions about what the UTMB experience might be like. Instead, she was deeply impressed by the intertwining of Thai culture, art, and local involvement all into one vert-packed event. 

Hilary’s photo essay offers a compelling window into a global event executed with regional care.