Stephen Mokoka of South Africa ran a blistering 5:06 pace per mile in his ultra debut to break the 50k world record by almost two minutes. 

Want to share your weekend with us? Tag @ultrasignup in your pics so we can find and feature your fun. 

If you held a notable Fastest Known Time, would you encourage a new comer to break your record? Would you help her train, prepare, and even pace her, cheering enthusiastically, as she bested your time?

That’s exactly what happened when Emily Halnon ran the FKT on the 460-mile Oregon stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. After deciding to attempt the run, her first call was to the existing FKT record holder, Danielle Snyder, who responded within seconds: “I’m so excited for you! How can I help?”

Read on for a mindset shifting piece on the power of camaraderie over rivalry. 

A Polish immigrant, Olympic athlete, and Western States champion–Magda Boulet has filled her years with perseverance and positivity. And, after twenty years driving innovation at GU Energy Labs, Magda was recently named President of the company.

Brian Metzler delivers this in-depth feature as Magda considers what brought her to this moment, what being a leader means now, and what important work in our sport is still to be done. 

Pop Quiz: What’s Magda’s favorite GU flavor? Answer in the DFL.

Today’s Drop Bag, carefully packed with just the goods to keep you going, reflects the independent ethos of trail culture. Or, like my family says, “you do you.”

?Be Frugal: Waterproofing your gear for $0.03 is just the first of 12 dirt-cheap trail hacks offered in this practical piece on how to equip your kit for less.

?Be You: “I was born with a twist in my right femur and have an asymmetrical gait and arm swing … These body quirks are a blessing for ultrarunning and pushing the human limits,” says Camille Herron. See her unique gait in action in this captivating flyover.

?Keep it Real: How to look like a “real” runner? Run, repeat. This heartfelt piece from Trail Sisters reminds us that neither fancy gear, pace per mile, or social media following determine a runner’s worth. 

?Start Soft: It’s a small upgrade, but boy a cushy new pair of socks makes starting the weekend long run easier. iRunFar offers 10 tested faves in their 2022 Guide to Best Running Socks.

?️Spicy: @WeRunOnArt shares the “secret sauce” for optimal performance. Pour it on thick, y’all!

?Colorful: Glitter, donuts, unicorn onesies, 100 skydive jumps, and 100 miles. The Skydive Ultra is indeed a real race, guaranteeing participants their “fastest first two miles” ever. Dive into a first timer’s recap of the crazy event here.  

?Funny: You win some, you lose a lot. Or maybe you’re just completely off course.

?GU Quiz Answer: Magda loves Salted Lime Roctane on hot days, but her all time favorite is Chocolate Outrage, especially with coffee before an early morning run.