It’s virtually 2025! As path operating, mountain operating, and ultrarunning develop and evolve, we at iRunFar evolve alongside and frequently discover new methods to serve you, our readers. As we shut out 2024, we take a second to mirror on this 12 months for iRunFar.
This 12 months, we had been honored to step into the position of media accomplice with the World Mountain Working Affiliation. We used the chance to delve extra deeply into mountain operating by means of information tales, in-person race protection, and athlete profiles.
The 12 months 2024 was one other large 12 months for our ever-evolving crew. After stepping again as Editor-in-Chief simply final 12 months, our Founding Editor Bryon Powell stepped again as much as the plate, alongside editor and author Eszter Horanyi, to cowl the Managing Editor position throughout my maternity go away from March by means of July. Bryon continues to steer our crew of drugs reviewers, making certain we keep on high of all the newest improvements within the sport. Meghan Hicks, now in her second 12 months as Editor-in-Chief, has steered our ship all through this busy 12 months.
Underneath the management of Nathan Allen, who has turn into an important crew member since his appointment final 12 months, our purchaser’s information division has continued to develop and be your go-to for any gear questions.
Lance Hartzler additionally grew as our social media and advertising and marketing coordinator and has completed a terrific job making certain that every one we publish on iRunFar reaches your screens regardless of the time of day — or evening.
As all the time, we thanks, our readers, for being with us by means of one other 12 months; with out you, there can be no iRunFar.
And thanks a lot to the people and corporations who assist iRunFar financially. Supporting iRunFar helps us increase our protection of the game we love.
Learn on for a number of highlights from iRunFar in 2024, and tell us within the feedback part what your standout iRunFar picks are for the 12 months.
P.S.: In case you’d prefer to look again, listed here are our best-of articles from 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
iRunFar in 2024, by Numbers
Right here’s what our 12 months appears to be like like in numbers:
- This 12 months, iRunFar was a 57-person crew.
- In 2024, we produced 512 articles and 61 movies to tell and entertain you.
- We did in-person protection at 4 occasions this 12 months — the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, UTMB, and Mountain Working World Cup Finals.
The beginning of the 2024 Western States 100. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Training
Training is on the coronary heart of iRunFar. We consider an geared up runner will benefit from the sport extra, and we endeavor to create articles that can assist you prepare, plan in your subsequent race, recuperate that niggle, and extra.
- This 12 months, our Working the Numbers column noticed some adjustments with the appointment of Zander Chase as co-columnist alongside Mallory Richard. The 2 have labored collectively very cohesively, and it’s been nice to have two contrasting voices within the column. This 12 months, readers loved Zander’s article Quick, Sooner, Quickest: Decoding the Information Behind Appalachian Path FKTs, and Mallory’s A Information-Pushed Environmental Scan of the Path and Extremely Teaching Trade.
- A standalone article from our common contributor Eryn Barber, Three Plyometric Workout routines for Endurance Runners, proved widespread with our readers.
- This 12 months, we completed republishing the most effective of Ian Torrence’s teaching articles. His article, Working Periodization: It Isn’t Rocket Science, was notably properly acquired.
- Coach and professional runner Gabe Joyes joined the iRunFar crew this 12 months, bringing his information and wit to the Ask Gabe column. You all actually loved his article about energy coaching, operating meals, and extra.
- Joe Uhan’s Keep the Course column continues to be a beneficial useful resource for harm prevention and administration. This 12 months, lots of you appreciated how he addressed a standard downside in Tight Hamstrings? Strive This Three-Dimensional Thigh Mobilization!
- Adrian Stott continues to be our go-to for highway and observe ultrarunning experience. Just lately, lots of you loved his article A Temporary Historical past of the IAU 100k World Championships, which we revealed days earlier than the 2024 championships.
- Justin Mock begins the week proper together with his common This Week in Working column, which is part of lots of our readers’ Monday morning rituals. Justin brings us a very good mixture of outcomes from the largest extremely, path, and mountain races, some smaller grassroots occasions, and the odd standout outcome by path runners on the highway and observe.
- We had been honored to work with scientists and writers Johanna Ohm and Brady Burgess on their article Investigation: Lab Exams Verify Spring Power Misrepresents Carbs and Energy, 7 Different Manufacturers Have Correct Labels, which added information to the neighborhood dialog of holding the corporate Spring Power accountable to its misrepresentation of the dietary content material of a few of their merchandise.
- Exterior our onsite race protection, we recurrently publish outcomes articles from the game’s best races, like our articles from Sierre-Zinal, the Comrades Marathon, Transgrancanaria, and the Black Canyon 100k.
A cold begin to the 2024 Black Canyon 100k. All photographs: Jesse Ellis/Let’s Wander Pictures
Inspiration
Inspiration is vastly essential in operating. It could inspire us to maintain going when issues get powerful and assist us discover our why. This 12 months, as all the time, we revealed plenty of inspirational content material on iRunFar. Listed here are a number of the greatest bits.
- Sabrina Little’s considerate column The Examined Run provides a unique perspective on running-related issues. Her article A Case In opposition to Supershoes generated plenty of curiosity and debate, with sturdy opinions in favor of and in opposition to her argument that supershoes have been detrimental to operating.
- This 12 months, our long-standing author Hannah Inexperienced started a brand new column, The Artwork of Working, the place she interviews varied artists and runners. Thus far, she has profiled artists of many alternative genres, and readers notably loved her interview with photographer Mike Thurk.
Picture: Mike Thurk
- Bryon Powell has continued his month-to-month column the place he retains us updated with what’s taking place in his operating and life. His article, In Reward of (Ultrarunning) Expertise, resonated with many, and celebrated the advantages of a few years of expertise, which may counteract the results of getting older.
- AJW’s Taproom continues into its thirteenth 12 months, and thru his collection of articles on operating and getting older, lifelong runner Andy Jones-Wilkins provides his perspective and recommendation on issues affecting older runners. Many discovered his article The Artwork of Strolling helpful.
- Via his month-to-month column, runner Zach Miller provides us pearls of knowledge gained by means of his years of expertise on the high finish of the game, by means of all its highs and lows. One essential message he had for us this 12 months was delivered by means of his article Digging Holes and Stopping Trains: The Want For Common Restoration Throughout Coaching.
- Whereas highway and mountain runner Rebecca Cheptegei’s passing was an pointless tragedy, we’re so grateful to have the ability to publish a shifting poem in her honor, penned by Angie Funtanilla.
Interviews and Profiles
- Late this 12 months, Morgan Tilton handed on the authorship of the WeRunFar column to Eszter Horanyi. We’re grateful to Morgan for her glorious writing by means of the years, and for shining the highlight on individuals within the sport who maybe don’t get all the popularity they deserve. Your favourite WeRunFar articles this 12 months had been ‘Girls Are Not Small Males:’ Dr. Stacy Sims and the Girls’s Endurance Sports activities Revolution and a profile of William Barkan, the primary legally blind runner to cowl the Western States 100 course, which he did in 2024.
- I’ve continued my column The Lengthy Recreation, which profiles runners on the high of the game, which Bryon Powell and Eszter Horanyi co-authored throughout my maternity go away. This 12 months, we aimed to increase our protection of mountain operating, and as a part of that, I interviewed Kenyan mountain runner Philemon Kiriago and gained an enchanting perception into his coaching and mentality. Bryon Powell and Eszter Horanyi’s profile of Spanish path runner Manuel Merillas was additionally a terrific learn.
- Bryon Powell’s post-race interview with Ludovic Pommeret after his course-record-setting win on the 2024 Hardrock 100, simply days earlier than his forty ninth birthday, impressed many.
- Katie Schide had a stellar 12 months in 2024, successful each the Western States 100 and UTMB — setting a course file on the latter — and Meghan Hicks was there to interview her post-race for each.
- One of many standout ultrarunning outcomes of 2024 needs to be Courtney Olsen’s 50-mile world file. I had the privilege of interviewing her within the days after, and located that she is as humorous as she is quick!
- This 12 months on the Western States 100, iRunFar had a shock visitor interviewer, within the type of former ladies’s course file holder Ellie Greenwood. A revered title in Western States 100 historical past, Ellie’s presence behind the mic actually added some nuance to the interviews, and even left 2023 and 2024 third-place lady Eszter Csillag a bit star-struck!
Courtney Olsen with Tunnel Hill 50 Mile race director, Steve Durbin. Picture: Micki Colson, Colson Pictures
Pictures
Significantly with so most of the races we cowl going down in breathtaking areas, you’ll be able to’t inform the story with phrases alone! Showcasing glorious pictures can also be an enormous a part of what we do. Listed here are a number of the picture highlights of 2024.
Jasmin Paris grew to become the primary lady finisher of the Barkley Marathons on the occasion’s 2024 version, with 99 seconds to spare. Photographer Howie Stern took this unbelievable picture of her end. Picture: Howie Stern
A splendid fall view on Bryon Powell’s final future earlier than racing the 2024 Extremely Gobi. Picture: Bryon Powell
Vincent Bouillard on his strategy to successful the 2024 UTMB. Picture courtesy of UTMB.
The solar units in Chamonix, France, whereas the 2024 UTMB takes place. Picture: Kirsten Kortebein
William Barkan is cheered dwelling on the ultimate stretch of the observe on the 2024 Western States 100. Whereas he missed the race’s 30-hour cutoff by a number of seconds, he grew to become the primary legally blind particular person to cowl the Western States 100 course. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Island Lake within the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Picture: Zach Miller
Joyline Chepngeno closes in on the end, because the 2024 Sierre-Zinal ladies’s winner. Picture: World Mountain Working Affiliation/Marco Gulberti
A runner amidst the luxurious surroundings at one of many 2024 KAT 100 by UTMB races. Picture: UTMB
A yak cow and calf within the Bhutanese Himalayas earlier than the beginning of the 2024 Snowman Race. Picture: Snowman Race/iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Meghan Hicks throughout a chilly fall fastpacking journey in Utah’s canyon nation. Picture: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Reminiscences
Lastly, our crew shares a few of their favourite reminiscences of 2024.
Justin Mock
A number of years in the past, I by no means may’ve guessed that my canines would go to Kosovo. However in July, I took a three-week, nine-country highway journey from Central Europe by means of the Balkans with my two senior pups. Albania stands out as a spotlight, particular lifetime reminiscences!
Chuck and Elly on a canine pleasant seashore in Croatia. Picture: Justin Mock
Eszter Horanyi
Whereas this was a 12 months the place I bought to play many roles for iRunFar, starting from gear editor to freelance author to photographer, the spotlight was attending to pose as part-time interim Managing Editor whereas Sarah Brady went on maternity go away for 5 months. I’d go as far as to name it a profession spotlight, after properly over a decade of taking part in with phrases for a residing. Working with such an incredible group of authors and iRunFar crew members was nothing in need of an incredible privilege, and I really feel like my information of all issues writing, modifying, and operating elevated 10-fold. And if there’s one factor that’s sure, I’ll by no means misspell Kilian or Salomon once more!
Bryon Powell
My post-Hardrock 100 interviews had been my instantly work-related spotlight of the 12 months. I loved all of them, however notably chatting with Ludovic Pommeret and Jason Schlarb about getting older and operating, as they’re barely older than and the identical age as me, respectively. Even a decade in the past, I’d seen ladies like Meghan Canfield and others operating on the high of their sport of their late 40s and early 50s, however it’s been inspiring to see a number of males in the identical age vary excel extra just lately. It helps me maintain my very own getting older course of — and what it’d appear to be — in perspective.
Now, from an iRunFar as an enabler perspective, there’s no means I’d have been in a position to run the Extremely Gobi 250 Mile however for being at iRunFar. That set me up for an exquisite summer season of impressed coaching adventures forward of the race after which the run of my life on the race.
We’re so glad that iRunFar’s personal Bryon Powell was the 2024 Extremely Gobi 250 Mile males’s winner. Picture: Extremely Gobi
Meghan Hicks
I’ve a few core reminiscences from iRunFar this previous 12 months. The primary was changing into a media accomplice to the World Mountain Working Affiliation, which governs mountain operating and is a part of World Athletics, operating’s world federation. iRunFar believes strongly within the significance of federation-level sports activities administration as a prong of a sport’s strategic growth. We consider in utilizing iRunFar to assist advance the storytelling of federation-administered elements of the game, which is why I’m excited that our publication entered into this partnership.
My second core reminiscence from 2024 is that, for a second time, the iRunFar crew volunteered to assist placed on the Snowman Race in Bhutan. The Snowman Race takes place in Bhutan, one of many globe’s few carbon-negative nations, and travels by means of the excessive Himalayas, a mountain vary whose landscapes and peoples are among the many most impacted by local weather change. As well as, the game of operating is nascent in Bhutan, a rustic most actually stuffed with potential world-class athletes. The objectives of the Snowman Race are multi-fold: to share the story of a carbon-negative nation, to elucidate how local weather change unfairly impacts the nation’s landscapes and folks, and to attach Bhutan with the operating world itself. iRunFar believes that operating must be used to assist progress different important elements of humanity. For over a decade, the iRunFar crew has volunteered its platform, crew, and assets to raise individuals, locations, and tales much less represented within the operating neighborhood. I’m so happy that certainly one of iRunFar’s volunteerism focal factors this 12 months was this one.
Bhutan is a carbon-negative nation whose landscapes and peoples are unfairly affected by local weather change. iRunFar volunteered in 2024 on the Snowman Race, an occasion going down in Bhutan meant to convey these tales to a wider viewers. Picture: Snowman Race/iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Sarah Brady
For worry he’ll discover and browse this text in years to come back, I can’t level to something aside from the start of my son, Max, as my spotlight of 2024.
However to convey it again to iRunFar, I relished the journey that Meghan Hicks and I took to Italy to cowl the Mountain Working World Cup Finals. After a number of years now of masking the world’s high ultramarathons and getting immersed within the media frenzy that exists round races like UTMB, the Western States 100, and the Path World Championships, there was a refreshing grassroots really feel to this World Mountain Working Affiliation occasion. We had the chance and privilege to satisfy and interview a unique set of athletes, excelling in a unique nook of the game. We bought to grips with some logistical challenges to offering protection of such fast-paced races — a vertical kilometer in the future and a 23-kilometer path race the subsequent. Better of all, we had the chance to run each inch of the programs ourselves at a extra leisurely tempo — one thing that doesn’t occur throughout a busy week of masking a 100-mile occasion.
In my operating this 12 months, I wished a purpose to get me shifting once more postpartum, however I knew it could be arduous to search out the time to drive out to the mountains, so I signed up for the Dublin Marathon on the finish of October. Street operating is way from my consolation zone, however immersing myself in a unique sort of problem was good, and I even got here away with a brand new private greatest!
Managing Editor Sarah Brady on her strategy to the end of the 2024 Dublin Marathon to attain a brand new private greatest for the gap. Picture: Richard Peyton
Name for Feedback
- What was your favourite iRunFar content material this 12 months?
- What was the spotlight of your 2024?
