The year 2025 was big in the worlds of trail running, ultrarunning, and mountain running, and thus in the iRunFar world. At the risk of being overly sentimental, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the past 365 days of iRunFar, which were filled with fun, beauty, challenge, change, and a lot of running.
This year saw a big change-up in the iRunFar staff, with only editor-in-chief Meghan Hicks staying in her same role as captain of the ship. With a second baby on the way, managing editor Sarah Brady decided to step away from the role that she had held since 2023 after starting as an editor in 2022. She was replaced by me, Eszter Horanyi, who you may recognize as a former iRunFar gear editor, photographer, freelance writer, and race coverage team member. The former is a misnomer; I still do all those things, except now I also have to stand in front of the camera for interviews at races, instead of hiding behind it.
Nathan Allen, one of our gear editors, has also moved on, and our founding editor Bryon Powell has shifted his role to manage all things gear at iRunFar. There is perhaps no one who loves running shoes as much as Bryon, and we’re excited to see what his enthusiasm and leadership will bring next to iRunFar’s gear coverage.
The start of the 2025 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
We’re always thankful for our smart, funny, and ever-consistent team of writers, who bring us stories that make us think, feel, and learn. Most of the time, they hit their deadlines, and when they don’t, they reply to my “This is your friendly editor asking for your article” emails with grace and humor.
Of course, iRunFar is nothing without our readers. Thank you for trusting us to deliver stories about all things running — and maybe a bit of powerhiking as well — because without your readership, we would be shouting into the void. We appreciate your thoughtful comments, as well as pointing out when we’ve gotten something wrong.
We are also forever grateful to the individuals and companies that support our mission. Supporting iRunFar enables us to tell the stories that matter.
The following are some of our favorite articles, photos, and memories from the year.
For a trip down Nostalgia Lane, here are our best-of articles from 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
iRunFar by the Numbers in 2025
From an editor’s viewpoint, each article published has unique characteristics, challenges, and charms. Sometimes, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds of everything that goes into producing each story. The end of the year is a great time to step back and see the iRunFar forest for the trees. When assessing the forest, it is not only thriving as a whole, but each tree is also cared for by an incredibly competent and passionate group of people.
Here is our year in numbers:
- We had 94 team members contribute to iRunFar, ranging from editors to writers to project managers to our invaluable volunteers who work tirelessly and through all types of weather to help produce our race coverage.
- We published 582 articles.
- Our pre- and post-race interviews offer insights into the thoughts, backgrounds, and personalities of top athletes, and this year, we did 85 of them.
- iRunFar was at six events for in-person coverage — Transvulcania, the Broken Arrow Skyrace, Western States 100, Hardrock 100, UTMB, and the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships — and UTMB takes the literal and figurative cake for the best pastry shops by the finish line.
Marinne Hogan on her way to finishing third at the 2025 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Education
When preparing to interview for the managing editor role, someone suggested that the most powerful interview question someone could ask was, “What was the last thing you learned?” At iRunFar, we are lifelong students of the sport, and we know many of you share this passion. Thus, we do our best to publish not only articles that provide you with a different point of view on running, but also those that can help you diagnose an injury, make sound training decisions, and, if you read our Ask a Pro column by Gabe Joyes, learn the theory behind wearing armwarmers with a tank top.
- Our Running the Numbers column is one for the data geeks. Zander Chase and Mallory Richard artfully dug deep into the numbers behind our sport to tease out trends that may be invisible to the naked eye. Zander took close looks at pacing, including asking, Are Trail Runners Getting Faster, as well as looking at the pacing strategies of the top racers of the 2024 UTMB, as well as those of this year’s UTMB winners. Mallory, meanwhile, examined the habits of ultrarunners and the qualitative impact that trail runners can have on their communities and trails.
- Gabe Joyes continues into his second year with his Ask the Pro column, where he artfully marries smart advice and humor to answer questions ranging across all aspects of running. While many questions revolve around food — the Joyes household makes a mean Friday night pizza — Gabe answers queries about training, sweat sodium concentration, and keeping toenails attached to your toes.
- There’s a study that claims that 79% of runners get injured at least once per year, so we’re eternally grateful to physiotherapist Joe Uhan for helping us diagnose and resolve issues in his Stay the Course column. Whether it’s a stoplight system for returning from injury or advice on dealing with plantar foot pain, Joe always has an insightful take on subjects that too often receive only surface-level treatment. For the non-injured, Joe has advice on staying that way, including belly-enhanced hip stretches and early-range hip flexor strength exercises.
- In addition to keeping our bodies healthy, we published an article about why and how dental health can impact training, performance, and VO2max.
- Adrian Stott offers a near-encyclopedic knowledge of some of the not-always-trail corners of the ultra world. This year, he provided valuable insights in his 2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships Preview, as well as his reflections on the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
- To an editor in charge of fact-checking, Justin Mock’s This Week in Running column can feel like a wild goose chase for obscure running facts. Want to know the origin of the 100-plus-year-old castle that is the centerpiece of the Conquer the Castle Trail Race in Ohio? Justin has an answer for that! The column keeps all of us current with races, big and small, around the world and provides valuable insights into the performances of the athletes at the top of the sport.
- In addition to our on-site race coverage, we also publish regular in-depth results articles for some of the biggest races, this year including CCC, Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile, and Black Canyon 100k.
- We’ve also had a chance to cover some amazing fastest known time (FKT) efforts this year, including François D’Haene setting a new Nolan’s 14 FKT, and then David Hedges coming back to reclaim his previous FKT on the route.
- We love gear, and we’re proud to bring our readers trusted reviews of shoes and other running accessories. In addition to our in-depth product reviews, we also published a new Best Road-to-Trail Shoes category guide.
Columnist Gabe Joyes appears to experience another psychological dimension at the Chapman Gulch aid station, mile 84.5, of the 2025 Hardrock 100. He went on to finish ninth. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Inspiration
Running is filled with interesting characters. At iRunFar, we’re so proud to have a team of writers that includes philosophers, artists, thinkers, and beer experts. There can be a lot more to running than just putting one foot in front of the other, and these writers offer alternative perspectives, inspiring us to grow as individuals and communities.
- Sabrina Little’s column, The Examined Run, asks us to think more deeply about our running, relationships, and lives — and how all three overlap. Whether she’s pondering why athletes cheat, how to navigate the phase of life after our competitive days end, or advocating for the civic value of sport, Sabrina provides valuable insights into what it means to be a runner and a human.
- Last year, artist-runner Hannah Green started a new series, The Art of Running, where she interviewed runners who were also artists. This year, she continued with interviews with filmmaker Matt Trappe, graphic designer Vernan Kee, and more. Hannah also kept up her Notes from the Trail series, and wrote about the lessons we can learn from the mountains.
- iRunFar founding editor, Bryon Powell, continues with his monthly column about his ever-evolving relationship with running. Whether it’s extolling the virtues of having a Big Hairy Audacious Goal for staying motivated, providing tips for running your own self-supported ultra, or offering warnings of when it’s time to rein in your running, Bryon’s topics resonate with a wide array of runners.
- Zach Miller wears his heart on his sleeve for the world to see, whether he’s writing his monthly column, Finding Words, or racing on the world’s biggest stages. In a running world that seems ever more hyper-focused on details, Zach argues that science is not the death of art. He also deftly weaves the story of his rocking chairs into a questioning of why we’re so quick to judge each other.
- AJW is the longest-running columnist on the iRunFar team — 14 years and going strong — with AJW’s Taproom. This year’s Legendary Aid Stations series introduced us to some of the best aid stations in the sport, including Cow Camp at the Crazy Mountain 100 Mile. His Running and Aging series offers advice on getting older as a runner, including taking what the day gives you. And, of course, we can’t forget AJW’s enduring love for the Western States 100, proudly displayed in his first-timers’ guide to in-person spectating at the event, as well as his analysis of intriguing storylines and predictions for the 2025 Western States 100.
- iRunFar partnered with Hoka to create the Pace Setters series, telling the stories of three inspirational runners, including Chef Tee in Chicago, Adrian Villarreal in Los Angeles, and Miguel Hernandez in New York City.
- Our Community Voices column features stories and views from around the world. This year, Filippo Caon shared a story about the Translagorai Classic and Amy Cockerham talked about how food can be an integral part of memory-making in our outdoor ventures.
Bryon Powell running during his 2025 FINSANITY! self-supported 100-mile adventure. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Interviews and Profiles
In the end, our sport is special because of the people, and we do our best to bring you that human side of the sport through interviews and profiles.
- Our WeRunFar column has undergone a game of hot potato in the past 12 months, but not from a lack of love. I was lucky enough to take over the column in late 2024 and spent the first half of 2025 writing profiles of people who inspired me beyond belief. Some of my favorite experiences included talking to the ever-nonchalant Megan Eckert after she broke the women’s backyard ultra record, learning a huge amount about amputee runners by interviewing Zach Friedley and Adam Popp, and redefining my relationship with gratitude after talking to the first-ever Western States 100 Golden Hour Ticket winner, Neeraj Egbert. Alli Miles took over the column for the second half of the year, penning fun profiles on Sean Meissner and Yassine Diboun. The column now passes to the thoughtful hands of Lydia Thomson for 2026.
- The Long Game, our column profiling top runners in the sport, has also changed hands. Sarah Brady wrote several inspiring profiles during the first half of the year, including ones on Riley Brady and Elhoussine Elazzaoui. I’ve taken over the column since Sarah’s departure and have had several interesting conversations with top runners who take unconventional approaches to their running, including Anne Flower after her stunning 2025 Leadville 100 Mile course record, and Tove Alexandersson after her impressive 2025 Trail World Championships Short Trail win.
- iRunFar is known for its pre- and post-race interviews. We interviewed Katie Schide no fewer than four times over the course of her 2025 Hardrock 100 and 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail wins. We also had some new faces on camera, including Caleb Olson after his win at the 2025 Western States 100, and Chris Myers after his second-place finish. The pre- and post-race interviews with Ludo Pommeret at Hardrock are personal favorites.
Chris Myers having a good laugh in second place at the Rucky Chucky river crossing during the 2025 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Photography
We are fortunate that our sport takes place in stunning locations, and it’s impossible to accurately cover it without capturing the landscapes through which we move. We’ve been fortunate to work with amazing photographers this year and to capture our own images throughout the course of our race and event coverage as well.
Katie Schide touches the rock after winning the 2025 Hardrock 100 in course record time. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Caleb Olson wins the 2025 Western States 100. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Zach Miller running with full focus with 10k to go at the 2025 Trail World Championships Long Trail. Photo: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
Jornet tops out on Handies Peak in Colorado at sunset during his States of Elevation project. Photo: Nick Danielson
Caitriona Jennings looking pleased with her new women’s 100-mile world record. Photo: Micki Colson/Colson Photography
Ruth Croft and Camille Bruyas at the 2025 UTMB finish line after finishing first and second, respectively. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Memories
Our team members have had big years, both professionally and personally, and we asked them to share some of their favorite memories from the year.
Justin Mock
In 2008, you didn’t need a reservation or a four-day permit to go to Arizona’s Havasu Falls. But regrettably, back then, I only spent a single day, and not even a full one, on my adventure run to and from Navajo, Havasu, and Mooney Falls.
Some 17 years later, I finally got back to these amazingly blue waters on the Havasupai Reservation. Navajo Falls wasn’t like in 2008, flash floods had washed it out, but this time I got way further into the canyon on a four-day camping trip with my girlfriend. A chance encounter at the trailhead led to some local villagers letting us take their mules on the eight-mile trip into the village. It was probably slower than hiking, but added to the fun. And whether because of July heat, the high permit cost, or wildfires nearby, the camp and falls were shockingly uncrowded. Our days were spent creekside, with daily trips up and down the sketchy Mooney Falls ladder, and with frequent cool-off swims under the falls.
Revisiting the Havasupai Reservation. Photo: iRunFar/Justin Mock
Bryon Powell
I was thankful for Kilian Jornet sharing part of his States of Elevation project with me, despite not needing any company or assistance. It got me out in good company, in a pretty place, for one of my few long runs of the summer. And then, I got to share that experience with iRunFar’s readers.
On a purely personal front, it was a blast finally attempting an adventure I call FINSANITY!, a run/fish outing with the aim of running 100 miles, climbing 10,000 feet, and catching 10 species of fish within 48 hours. For this run on and around Colorado’s Grand Mesa, I threw in the adventure of making it my first self-supported 100 miler. I made it in around 30 hours and, a day later, joined Kevin B, who became the second person ever to complete FINSANITY! as his very first 100 miler.
The moon reflects on a lake during Bryon Powell’s 2025 FINSANITY! run. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Meghan Hicks
The last few years have been challenging in terms of prioritizing myself amongst life’s other responsibilities. My running and general fitness, unfortunately, reflected this, so a major goal for this year was to work on my physical conditioning. As we close 2025, I am happy to say I’m ending the year fitter and healthier than it began. I ran my first 100 miler in three years — shout out to the Scout Mountain 100 Mile! I built up to undertaking an 8.5-day, 265-mile running adventure on the Trans Bhutan Trail in Asia. And, I’ll be logging my highest mileage year in the last five years. I still have work I want to do, but I’m proud of this!
In November 2025, iRunFar’s Meghan Hicks, Rinzin Dorji, and Anna Frost ran the 265-mile Trans Bhutan Trail in Bhutan in 8.5 days, while supported by Tenzin Wangda. In this photo (left to right) are Tenzin Wangda, Anna Frost, Rinzin Dorji, and Meghan Hicks near Trashigang, Bhutan, the morning after completing the adventure. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Robbie Harms
I really enjoyed writing the story on Will Murray after his breakout performance at the Black Canyon 100k, and before his course record at the Javelina 100 Mile. I loved hearing about how Murray balanced his training with his teaching and coaching jobs, and how a relatively unknown runner went toe-to-toe with some of the best American ultrarunners. My favorite anecdote from the story is when Western States 100 race director Craig Thornley, as he shook Murray’s hand at the finish line, said, “I have no idea who you are.” Murray, like many ultrarunners, was humble and fun to talk to, and I’m excited to continue watching his rise.
Eszter Horanyi
I spent an amazing day above treeline in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains with good friends in the middle of a busy iRunFar summer season, and it was exactly what my soul needed.
Hannah Green (left) and Eszter Horanyi (party shirt) on a San Juan Mountains summit. Photo: Max Robinson
Call for Comments
- Do you have a favorite iRunFar story from 2025?
- What was the highlight of your year?
