Stage Race

13 Awesome Trail Races That’ll Inspire You To Go Running

Last updated on Nov 25, 2020 By Mia Kercher

I’m sharing 13 awesome trail races for you to dream about and sign up for. There’s no better way to inspire or motivate than to show you what you can do in the future.

Training for a trail race can be hard. You need endurance, strength, and even survival skills.

The fun and excitement of a trail outweigh the hardships by far, and seeing awesome trail races will help you embrace the challenges and enjoy every part of it.

Why Trail Running Is So Cool

Whether you’re getting ready for a stage race, or whether you’re just starting out, these benefits of trail running apply to everyone.

Connect With Nature

Running for hours on a trail builds something stronger than a runner’s high. On top of those endorphins, your lungs are filled with natural, fresh air.

While listening to birds and feeling the varying textures of the trail under your feet, you’ll feel something undeniably amazing.

You’re a Wilderness Survivor

Or at least you feel like it! Roughing it in the outdoors during an ultra marathon or stage race adds to the exhilaration of completing such an impressive task.

Learn About Foreign Countries in a Unique Way

Instead of sightseeing and guided tours, running an international trail race gives you a unique experience of the country you’re visiting. You get to connect with the landscape and meet locals who are also running the race.

The 13 Craziest, Most Beautiful Trail Races in the World

1. Manaslu Mountain Trail Race, Nepal

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Almost circumnavigating this eighth highest mountain in the world will take 7 race days.

The Manaslu Mountain Trail is a multi-stage race, which means you run with your own light pack, while the staff carries all your equipment for camping and preparing food.

This race is no easy feat. With a total distance of 130 km and elevation at over 11,000 feet high, you’ll have to fit into a select group of runners to qualify.

During this race, you’ll get to

Sleep in a monastery
Run above a glacier
Peer down over the wild nature of Tibet
Run the mountain range of the Himalaya
Experience a variety of mountain trails and valleys
Meet local people at mountain homes throughout the week
Help sponsor a single-stage race for children on one of the trails (The organization puts it on each year.)

This race happens every year, and this year will be in November 2020.

2. Ultra Paine, Chilean Andes

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The Ultra Paine offers a variety of competitive distances: 14K, 35K, 53K, and 80K races, and the entry requirement is open to all fitness levels.

The trails are located outside of the Torres Del Paine National Park and converge at the southern tip of Patagonia. All distances will finish at Villa Serrano.

During this race, you will experience

Running in the continent’s extreme southwest, a prime location in Patagonia
Seeing the Great Southern Ice Field
Confront a restless and unpredictable climate
Connect with the Torres Del Paine National Park
Climb an altitude of 3,220 meters (for the 80K race)
Visit Chilean towns like Puerto Natales

The 2020 race will happen in December this year.

3. Tengri Ultra Trail, Kazakhstan

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This race route takes place near the Tamgaly-Tas National Park along the Ili river in Kazakstan. It also has a variety of distances to choose from: 15K, 35K, and 70K.

Things you’ll enjoy in this race:

History: petroglyphs are carved in the cliffs. You can reach out and touch them.
A rocky canyon
A sand dune
Green, thick bushes
An open plateau with fields of poppy flowers

The next race will take place in October 2020.

4. China Mountain Trails

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The China Mountain Trails organization heads up an ultramarathon in the mountain trails of China every year. Each year is a different destination covering the scenery in China’s great nature.

This year’s marathon has been canceled, but in 2019, the run took place in Devil’s Ridge. There were 2 distances: 25K and 60K.

Every year offers a unique location, mapped out by experts who have been running in Asia for many years. Be sure to check out their event for next year to inspire you on a diverse and challenging adventure.

5. Kaveri Trail Marathon, India

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This 13-year old race started out as a training run for the Bangladesh ultra marathon. The trail was harder than the Bangladesh trail, with the philosophy, “Train hard, race easy. People loved it so much that they turned it into its own annual race.

The trail runs through rural areas along the Kaveri river. As you run, you’ll pass through paddy and sugarcane fields and see local people working on their farms along the side of the path.

6. Inca Trail, Macchu Picchu

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Want to hike the Inca Trail? Why not run it instead? This marathon is an excellent chance for you to see the wonders of the ancient Cusco and Sacred Valley.

Seeing this archeology will grow your appreciation for Native South Americans and what they’ve done for cultures around the world today.

The terrain on this trail ranges from 18,000 to 13,777 feet high, with camping supplies carried by the trail staff. The most exciting part of the run will be viewing the famous “Lost City” along the Inca Trail.

7. Don Diablo Trail Run, Mexico

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The Don Diablo Trail Run is one of the best trail races in Mexico.

It covers terrain in the Sierra Cacachilas and supports locally run businesses at the same time. The medals at the end of the race are made from Mesquite wood, and the trails are taken care of using eco methods like erosion control and water retention techniques.

At the end of the race is an optional beach party to celebrate the finish of your run. This race has distances of 35K and 54K.

8. Laugavegur Ultramarathon, Iceland

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Most famously known for the Northern Lights, Iceland has incredible nature to offer all over the country. The Laugavegur Ultramarathon is run in Souther Iceland and the trail covers the southern highlands. That same 55K trail connects two gorgeous national parks: Landmanalager and Thorsmork.

Because of the harsh climate in this area, these national parks are only serviced for a few weeks out of every year. So running the Laugavegur trail is a true privilege.

9. Dolomites Ultratrail, Italy

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The Dolomites are part of the UNESCO World Heritage, which means caring for this cultural landmark isn’t taken lightly.

The ultramarathon trail is run on public trails with a variety of landscapes. The area leading to the mountains themselves is green and full of vibrant colors. The mountains are rocky and bare, with lots of interesting critters like marmots.

Running in the Dolomites is an experience you shouldn’t do without because of the individual wonders hidden all over the huge expanse of mountains.

10. Kilimanjaro Stage Run

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You’re not likely to forget about this adventure in your lifetime. The Kilimanjaro stage run lasts 8 days, circling around the entire mountain at 260 kilometers in total.

This trail is a run, not a race. There will be areas you’ll need to walk. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet people living near the trail and hosting runners, so you’ll gain immersion in Tanzanian culture.

The trail itself has been used for hundreds of years by local people and is still in use today. Don’t be surprised if you see mules carrying your gear along the way.

11. Morocco Trail Race

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Get to know the central Atlas mountains with the Morocco Trail Race. Any level of runner can do the race since the distances start at 10K and go up to 110K.

You’ll be running through trails in and above the Atlas, experiencing the differences in temperature between the desert heat and the cold of the high altitudes.

The race starts in the Happy Valley, which many claim to be the place where time stops.

12. Canadian Death Race

This race challenges you to “Cheat death in one of the world’s toughest ultramarathons.”

Extreme athletes have to push themselves to finish this one. The trail crosses over 3 mountain summits in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, gains 17,000 feet of elevation, and passes the Hell’s Gate Canyon over the Smoky and Sulfur rivers.

13. Baikal Ice Marathon, Russia

Run across the world’s deepest, coldest lake in the middle of winter. This frozen lake is covered in ice rubble, making the terrain bumpy and uneven. While it’s mostly covered in a small layer of snow, there are portions that are more like an ice rink.

The race is physically and psychologically demanding since the landscape offers very little variety. You won’t have any perspective of progress as you run through the snow, except for mile markers every 5 kilometers.

Many people prefer to run in a more diverse area but the mental stamina and sense of accomplishment you gain are unmatched.

Training for Your Own Trail Race

It’s impossible not to see these incredible marathons and NOT sign up for one yourself. If you’re just beginning your trail running adventure, read some essential advice and get the proper gear to do your training right.

And of course, you need a plan of action. To train mentally and physically for these challenging but rewarding races, download one of our customizable ultramarathon training plans and hit the trail.

Take Your Running Further With Our Resources...

Preparing for Racing The Planet Georgia – Update

Last updated on Jan 30, 2020 By Thomas Watson

With 10 months before Racing The Planet: Georgia kicks off, I spent a bit of time this week reviewing my gear and mapping out how I’m planning to train for the event.

(to date I’ve done essentially no specific training, and haven’t done a stage race in > 3 years).

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Vardzia – part of the RTP route?

Background Research on RTP Georgia

The RTP team haven’t posted the actual route online yet, but they recently shared some photos from a course reccy.

These images include FB post which include a scene that looks like Vardzia. This is based on some quick Googling on my part, so I may be way off.

But interestingly, Vardzia is in the South of Georgia – while the big mountain range, the Caucasus, rolls across the North of the country – around 200km North, actually.

Which leads me to think that perhaps the RTP route will be sticking strictly to foothill territory, which makes a lot of sense.

Regarding elevations and hills, the 4 Deserts website course info does state the following:

Georgia is a country of hills and mountains so the course has some elevation and hills, but there is no technical climbing involved. The majority of the course is at an elevation of 1,000 to 2,000 meters / 3,300 6,600 feet but there are some sections that are approximately 3,000 meters / 10,000 feet.
– Racing The Planet

So I’m anticipating some gradients, but nothing too challenging for a typical trail runner. The altitude will add in an interesting element, as 1000 – 2000m is certainly enough for the effects to be felt – and slow you down.

Looking at the weather, things should be pleasant . . . hopefully low-to-mid-20’s during the day, and low-to-mid-teens at night. A typical September day in Georgia seems to be cloudy with around 30% change of rain (source).

So all-in-all, this course sounds runnable. Nice but not-too-hot days, and not venturing into the mountains. Hopefully it stays dry for us that week.

Preparing for Racing The Planet Georgia - Update 13

Racing The Planet: Georgia Equipment

I’ve started a Google Sheet to track my equipment as I prepare – you can check it out.

Feel free to download it and make a copy, although it’s far from final – a lot of items are ‘work in progress’.

I also need to start researching and checking out the colder weather gear – this is the first self-supported stage race I’ll have done that’s in less than 30degC heat, so there are some new pieces I’ll need to find room for.

For my pack, I’ll definitely be rocking the WAA UltraBag 20L (+5L front pouch). I used it in RTP Namibia and loved it. It was specifically designed for Marathon des Sables, so is built with stage racing in mind.

I find it holds it’s form better than other packs I’ve tried, and it is just possible to squeeze all of my gear into it’s slight 20 litre capacity (plus the front pouch).

Plus the bottle holder design hugs your body really well, and the long straws are just what you need.

I’ll also definitely be packing the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Rest Lite inflatable sleeping pad. Although sleeping pads are optional on these races, they are totally worth the extra fuss.

I’ve tried foam and inflatable mats, and having discovered the NeoAir on my last SS stage race, I wouldn’t attempt another race without it. I might even splash out on the super light model they’ve put out more recently.

Almost all the other major pieces of gear on my equipment list are ‘TBC’ at the moment – I’ll continue to update my sheet as I solidify my approach.

Many of the little items – compass, blister kits – are things I’ve carted around from other races so don’t need to change out.

At some point nearer the race I’ll do a bigger blog on gear selection and packing.

Preparing for Racing The Planet Georgia - Update 14

RTP Georgia : Training Plan

OK so today I realised that with a little over 10 months to go, I don’t have any kind of structured training plan in place, so sat down and mapped out a quick one.

I’ll share the highlights here – it’s important to note that my training plan is based around my personal goal of running the entire race, not getting injured, recovering quickly, and achieving a certain average speed.

Everyone’s training will differ depending on their goals and lives, but here’s the highlights of my own at the moment:

Next 3 Months (Til End of 2019)

– Focus on strength, speed, and suppleness

– 2-3 gym sessions per week

– 2 x speed work-outs per week

– 1 x longer recovery run per week (slow and easy)

– daily stretching and light cross-training

– I also have some long run mileage targets to hit.

Jan – April 2020

– Focus on building distance, maintaining strength and speed

– 1 x long run of gradually increasing length

– 1-2 x speed work-outs per week

– 1 x regular run

– 2 x strength training days

By March I’ll scale back to 1 speed work-out per week and add in another running day to increase my weekly mileage.

May – July 2020 (Peak Training Window)

The focus for these 3 months will be back-to-backs each week – a long run on a Saturday, then a slightly shorter run on the Sunday.

I’ll probably stop any speed training to lessen the risk of injury, and instead just otherwise strength train / cross train and go for regular short runs.

I have some draft pace goals for all these runs, but will firm them up nearer the time – no need to be too strict with it right now, I feel it’s important to just lay out a plan.

I’ll do the majority of my training runs without a pack – I find it can be bad for your posture and weighs you down unnecessarily. Better to do most runs without the pack, and a few long runs with it to get used to it and sort out any issued you have with it.

My training will peak around the end of July, then I’ll have about a 3 week taper before the race kicks off.

In terms of long run distances and things, I haven’t mapped that out yet. As the race grows nearer, I’ll blog again about my training – and share some numbers and distances.

***

In all, my preparation will probably mirror what I laid out in the Stage Race Handbook (available now for instant download). I’m looking forward to revisiting the process after a couple of years of being out of the game, and I’ll continue to post on here as I do so.

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The Road to Georgia – Racing The Planet 2020

Last updated on Jan 31, 2020 By Thomas Watson

My Path To Racing The Planet: Georgia

Reflecting on my stage race experiences and how I signed up for Racing The Planet Georgia.

***

It’s been almost three years since I ran a full stage race.

After running several in quick succession from 2014 to 2016, it felt like a good time to take a break from them; my appetite for the long hours of training was wearing off, and I felt in danger of losing all enthusiasm for the sport.

In the time since, I’ve kept myself busy (including writing The Stage Race Handbook, among other projects).

The idea of returning to stage races was always in the back of my head, but I wanted to wait until I was ready for it.

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Stage races are races spread over a few days; most of them last 5 or 6 days, and many involve you carrying all your own gear and food. Tents and water are provided.

So I had been tentatively keeping an eye on the Stage Race scene to see if any particular race grabbed my eye…

As the number of stage races each year seems to be on the rise, along with more variations of format and level of support, there’s no shortage of choice.

My first stage was the Racing The Planet race in Madagascar back in 2014. It was an unforgettable experience in a country I had long wanted to visit.

So I’ve always had a soft spot for the Racing The Planet format – they make it challenging but provide an excellent level of organisation and support.

Along with their annual ‘4 Deserts‘ series of races, each year they organise a one-off race in a new location. A race that will only exist once, and won’t be repeated. My Madagascar race was one of them, other locations have included Ecuador, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.

So a couple of months ago they announced the location of their ultramarathon for 2020 . . . Georgia.

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It’s a country that had honestly never been on my radar, but at the same time, had the otherworldly appeal that all good stage races need.

The unique location, culture, and highest mountain range in Europe . . . it ticks all the boxes. So I signed up straight away.

It’s a 250km, 5-stage, 6-day self-supported stage race – the classic format.

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Training for RTP Georgia

My distance running training has been sorely lacking in the past few months – that’s part of the reason I signed up so far in advance.

I’ve got 14 months to get myself prepared, in order to maximise my performance (or minimise the pain, depending how you look at it).

My run training has been limited to a few 5k and 10k runs each week recently, and my strength training hasn’t been much to write home about.

Now I have a target in mind, my aim is to spend the next few months working on speed and short distances along with some strength work. Then towards the end of this year I’ll begin to introduce longer distance runs.

I don’t have a formal training plan, but I’ve got a rough idea of what I need to be focussing on. The plan is to strengthen my core fitness and base running speed, then gradually introduce long runs and back-to-back runs.

The big two wildcards for Racing The Planet Georgia are going to be the altitude and the hills.

Racing The Planet have already let us know that the route is going to be through the foothills of the Causcasus mountain range, with a typical altitude of 1000-2000m but with some sections up to 3000m. This is certainly in a range where some altitude training would be a huge advantage, so in around six months I’ll try and start training in a gym with an altitude room.

As for the hills, historically they’ve been a big weakness of mine – so again, time to hit the trails!

I’ll blog here occasionally on how my Racing The Planet Georgia training readiness is going as the race grows nearer.