Archive | Trail Running

Announcement: Our Next Big Running Adventure


Trevor and Angie here just popping into your podcast feed to make an important announcement! Next July we are running the Eiger Ultra Trail in Switzerland and are inviting any listener to the podcast who is interested in joining us there!

The Eiger Ultra Trail by UTMB is so popular that is already sold out, but we have access to race bibs through our partner Run The Alps. The epic course has unrivaled mountain scenery on highly runnable trails. There’s a distance for every level for those who want to try a European trail race. The race offers a 16k, 35k, 51k, and 101k.

We are doing this race as part of 9 day running retreat that starts on July 12th, 2025. Spots are limited so please email us if you are interested. See this page for all the details. Let’s run!

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The Joy of Trail Running (Bonus Episode!)

In this bonus episode Trevor sits down with Doug Mayer, founder of Run the Alps, to discuss the joys of trail running. Doug shares his biggest tip for achieving longevity in running, and describes the unique trail races in France, Switzerland, and Italy.

Doug Mayer grew up in the US, cross country skiing in New Hampshire’s White Mountains with his older brothers. In a past life he worked as a Producer for the NPR show Car Talk. Today he runs his business Run the Alps and writes for a number of trail running media outlets, including Outside, Trail Runner, and Ultrasignup. His latest book is Run the Alps Switzerland: 30 Must-Do Trail Runs. He lives in Chamonix, France with his partner and dog Izzy.

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The Tour du Mont Blanc (Recap of our Running Adventure)

In this episode we bring you on a 114 mile journey around the highest mountain in the Alps -the famous Tour du Mont Blanc. We begin in Chamonix, France and then cross into Italy, Switzerland, and back to Chamonix with listeners to the MTA podcast.

Listen as we describe the beauty and the challenge of the trail, the mountain culture of the Alps, and the endurance mindset of the runners who joined us there.

*Special thanks to Angie Spencer, Jeff Thompson, Anna Haberzettle, James and Susie Jin, Kelly Heffner, Becca Schaldt, Parker Watson, Deborah Brown, Tamra Ludlow, Alistair Crompton, Marion Giraud, and Run the Alps!

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1st in Age Group at Trail Marathon

Congrats to our coaching client Luis who finished the Ultra Blue Island Marathon in Portugal and won his age group! He writes,

“Completed my trail marathon race with a time of 5:53:48. The race was cut by 6Ks due to high winds at the original arrival location because it is sandy and volcanic ashes; the winds could cause issues to runners.

If I had to continue to 42k, since it was 6K all downhill, based on my last lap of 6:21, I would have had 6:28ish, meaning MTA Coach Henry helped me shave off one hour from last year’s time.

I came in 37th overall out of 208 (42K-runners & young ones too) and 1st out of 7 in my M60 age group!

I’m also fired up because this route was actually harder than last year’s as they made some changes to within the first 20Ks pretty much uphill: we had “1K” of going up stairs (never seen this before) and 2Ks were actually steeper stairs and muddy (it poured the night before) and it felt like dancing tango: one step forward two backwards. Lots of fun! 😉” Continue Reading →

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My Trail Run in Big Bend National Park

I’ve always wanted to visit Big Bend National Park in Texas but it’s so dang far from anything!

I flew into the Midland/Odessa airport, rented a car, and drove 4 hours south on empty highways to Lajitas, Texas.

This part of Texas is like a moonscape if the moon had cacti. Only ten inches of rain falls per year on this harsh land, and when it does it arrives in flash-floods.

I’m glad to have come here in February when the weather is reasonable. I brought my trail shoes, UCAN bars, and handheld hydration bottle.

Now to find a nice trail and crank out a long run!

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The Race That Changed Running


In this episode we speak with Doug Mayer -journalist and author of the book “The Race That Changed Running, The Inside Story of UTMB”. Plus we’ll tell you about a running retreat in the Alps we are hosting next year and how you can be a part! Continue Reading →

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