How to become a trail race director, according to someone who created 12 races without a plan
Shalini Bhajjan stumbled into race directing, made every wrong turn, and built 12 trail ultras in St. Louis.
Her best advice? "Don't replicate someone else's blueprint. Be the person who brings the weird, the wonderful, and the unexpected."
Delivering East Coast trail and ultra running adventures
Runners experience community, challenge and adventure thanks to race director David Compton and his team who deliver East Coast trail and ultra running events.
Best 100-mile races for first-timers: A runner's guide to your debut 100
From the Hennepin Hundred to Rio del Lago — ultra runner and running coach Henry Howard picks the 12 best beginner-friendly 100-mile races in the U.S, with dates, course types, and firsthand race experience.
How to go from 5K runner to Palmetto Ultras race director
Kayla Fitzgerald stepped in to save Charleston's ultra running scene and built Palmetto Ultras into a thriving series of trail races. “Our mission is to inspire everyone to embrace the trails, push seasoned runners to new heights and cultivate lasting bonds in our community,” she says.
5 reasons to run the Night Owl Trail Marathon
The Night Owl Trail Marathon in Waynesville, Ohio, features the challenge of running trails at night, a terrific race director and a welcoming race community.
Women's History Month spotlight: Race director Angie Lake is changing trail running for women
Meet Angie Lake, co-RD of Wild Woman Trail Runs — the team behind America's first all-women's trail marathon. She's building bold, inclusive spaces and popularizing trail running for women.
10 incredible women ultra runners you’ve never heard of — until now
Ultra running has a visibility problem when it comes to women. Not because women aren't doing incredible things. But because those incredible things often go unreported. Here are 10 world record holders, community builders, advocates, history-makers for Women's History Month.
Strength training guide for ultra runners: Building the engine for the long haul
This strength training guide for ultra runners offers tips on how to incorporate it so you are ready to handle the demands of ultra running. Learn the best exercises for climbing power, downhill control and trail stability — from a certified running coach and experienced ultra runner.
How to find a greater purpose through race directing
Aimee Kohler, founder of The Running Kind, was on a quest to learn how to how to find a greater purpose. Now she hosts gnarly trail and ultra races in the Northeast with a mission rooted in sustainability, inclusivity, and community.
Running through grief: How DeShawna Joe honored her daughter with the Grand Slam of 200s
Navajo ultra runner DeShawna Joe thinks about the worst day of her life every time she wants to quit a race. In 2025, that mindset carried her through the Grand Slam of 200s —four races of more than 200 miles each, totaling over 800 miles of mountain trails.
