The Ultra Minute: September 7, 2026

Hey y'all, we scrolled through 450+ IG posts and checked articles, newsletters, podcast episodes, and videos since Saturday's issue so you could start the week without living on your phone. Most of it didn't make the cut. Here's your MondayUltra Minute: Get the trail and ultra news that matters without spending your day on Instagram. Subscribe to get The Ultra Minute in your inbox. Some people look forward to new product drops or film releases. We look forward toRachel Entrekin's post-race essays. HerUTMB recapjust dropped onSubstack, and it's a must-read, as expected. She takes us inside an overwhelming start, falling behind on fueling and feeling spent by Saint Gervais, withLucy Bartholomewurging her to keep going. We loved the room she makes for other women's achievements, too, and her excitement about what becomes possible when women get support. She's proud she didn't quit, grateful toEmily Schmitzfor making her dig deep to hold second, and full of thanks for the friends and crew who kept her moving. It's a story of learning to trust herself in a race where she'd questioned whether she belonged. And she closes with a message for others who feel that way: 'I did this for us. Make your space and don't be afraid to take it up.' Erin Tonreports two women's FKTson Kilimanjaro: 5:47 for the ascent and 8:33 round trip from Mweka Gate. Both are more than an hour faster than thelisted women's supported records, which allow any route. She describes 26.38 miles with about 14,000 feet of climbing, says the altitude slowed her above 15,000 feet, and credits local guides and runners who joined her along the way. Megan Eckertis on day five of theEMU 6 Day racein Hungary. At 8:37 a.m. Central Monday, the official board had her at 734.727 kilometers, about 457 miles, leading the women and second overall.Simen Holvikled overall with 751.793 kilometers.Szabolcs BedaandJean-Michel Termefollowed Holvik in the men's standings;Zsuzsanna MarázandMarcela Bayerováfollowed Eckert among the women. Nina Engelhardreturned from injury towin Saturday's Vertical Nasegoin Italy, whilePatrick Kipngenowon it for the fourth time. Theofficial podiums: Engelhard,Kirsty Skye DicksonandAndrea Mayr; Kipngeno,Richard Omaya AtuyaandAndrea Elia. Sunday,Philemon Kiriagobroke Kipngeno's course recordat Trofeo Nasego by 38 seconds, using the descent to turn a close race into a 1:30:08 win. Kipngeno andMichael Selelo Saolicompleted the men's podium.Ruth Mwihaki Gitongawon the women's race in 1:47:07, with Engelhard less than half a minute behind andMiriam Chepkiruithird, according to theofficial results. Some return weekend for Engelhard. Natalie Beadleset the women's course recordat Italy's MAGA Skymarathon, with theSkyrunner World Seriesreporting she took about three minutes off the previous mark. She finished in 5:27:50 ahead ofEva DelafosseandRoberta Jacquin.William Boffelliwon the men's race in 4:25:28, followed byLucien MermillonandDaniel Antonioli.Official results here. Jessica Parryfinished second overall atColorado's 40-mile Grand Traverse, running 6:44:21 from Crested Butte.Oliver Bacharachwon in 6:38:13, about six minutes ahead.Hannah CaseyandHannah Campbellcompleted the women's podium;Isaac OvermyerandWeston Muenchrounded out the men's.Official results here. Katie Schideiscautiously building her runningback up. She says she's averaged about 20 hours a week of running and biking since July, alongside strength and foot work. 'Nothing is magically perfect but nothing is acutely bad either.' She has no race plans yet and is waiting another week to reach three months after her cortisone injection before testing the foot more. She's still dealing with frustration and sadness, and creditsGermain Grangierwith helping her through it. Canadian mountain runnerKalie McCrystalremains missing on the Matterhorn. She was last seen September 1 descending the Lion Ridge toward Cervinia while reconnoitering the route.RAIreported Sundaythat helicopter searches had resumed without a sighting. Grand Canyon National Park now listsall inner-canyon water stationsas off, including Havasupai Gardens and Bright Angel's 1.5- and 3-mile resthouses. The Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailhead taps are on. The inner-canyon closures we covered Saturday remain in place, with no reopening estimate. The Ultra Minuteis now supported byAltra.They reached out earlier this summer to say they've been longtime readers and were interested in supporting the project. I've been running in their shoes for well over a decade and am currently really enjoying theirExperience Wild 3+. If you're shopping Altra,you can shop hereand use codeTUM15for 15% off. This lets Altra know we sent you and is a great way to support us. Also worth a look: Abigail West'sfirst postpartum ultraat Lake Z came seven months after giving birth. She's trying to celebrate it for itself before thinking about the next race, and thanks the volunteers who took shifts holding her baby while she ran. Dan Jones'sCCC recapinLessons from the Long Runfinds something encouraging and frustrating in his sixth-place finish: some splits matched or beat 2024 despite the mud, yet he lost the leaders earlier. He's proud of the run, and sees more time in the mountains or more climbing in training as the next step. Jeff Browning's Monday updatebrings him closer to home: another appointment with his cardiac surgeon Tuesday, followed by a few more days of healing before he expects to travel. Lucy Gossageis into day three of thePennine Way FKT attemptwe mentioned Saturday. At 1:40 p.m. Central Monday,her trackerhad her past the A58 White House checkpoint, reached in 59:04:49, with Edale still ahead.Anna Troup'slisted women's supported recordis 72:46:37. Lastly,Ann Trasonhas her100-mile bucklefrom A Race for the Ages. She says the Tennessee heat and storms made for some of the hardest conditions she's encountered, and credits the encouragement around her. 'I got to find out what I had in me. Turns out, enough for 100 miles.' The most viewed links from our last issue: Dakota Jones'sChamonix Again Amelia Boone on finding joy beyond running Tina Muir's conflicted UTMB reflection That's it for today. If TUM helps you follow the sport without spending your whole day on Instagram, the best way to help it grow is to share this issue with one friend who'd get it. Or simply like this post. Thanks for reading. Ken Share