iRunFar

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives might be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

On Sunday, August 16, Switzerland’s Frédéric Splendore reset the men’s supported fastest known time on the roughly 2,000-kilometer (1,242 miles) Via Alpina route — which runs the full length of the Alps — to 23 days, 11 hours, and 42 minutes. But he didn’t stop there. The Via Alpina accounted for less than half of Splendore’s planned run from Monaco to Ukraine, which he is undertaking to raise funds for victims of the conflict in Ukraine. He’s calling his run Beyond Borders.

As the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day weekend usually has outdoor lovers scrambling to soak in the last of the season with one more long run on their favorite backcountry trails or taking part in their favorite warm-weather activity. Living in the moment and checking off those end-of-season adventures is a must. To help you do this, consider snagging discounted outdoor gear and clothing at the Backcountry Labor Day Weekend Sale, which runs through September 7.

The North Face Altamesa 500 V2. All photos: iRunFar/Bryon Powell The word workhorse has become cliche in the running shoe world, particularly for things that are not horses, so I won’t use it to describe The North Face Altamesa 500 V2 ($170). Instead, I’ll characterize it as I did in my notes after one run: a mileage monster, a shoe that’s not especially fancy but simply gets the job done. And sometimes that’s all you need in a trail running shoe.

Brian Reynolds doesn’t know how to quit. “Once I start something, I keep trying to break down that wall until I succeed,” he says. On August 22, in his fourth attempt of the race, Reynolds finally crossed the finish line of the 2026 Leadville 100 Mile. He’s the first double amputee to complete the course. Brian Reynolds on his way to finishing the 2026 Leadville 100 Mile, becoming the first double amputee to finish the event.

A rising tide lifts all ships, and the seas are swelling on the Pacific Crest Trail for the second time this summer. On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Nick Fowler reset the men’s overall and self-supported Pacific Crest Trail fastest known time, completing the 2,653-mile trail in 45 days, 17 hours, and 47 minutes. Nick Fowler at the southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail after setting a new men’s overall and self-supported fastest known time on the trail. All photos courtesy of Nick Fowler.

[Editor’s Note: This Community Voices article was written by Andy Suiter, who is a mental performance coach for athletes and business leaders, as well as a former professional baseball player. He lives in Mexico City, Mexico, where he runs, writes, and makes photographs.] On June 11, 2025, I set off for a 1,200-mile run across Great Britain, from Land’s End on the southern tip to John o’ Groats on the north.

The UTMB Mont Blanc festival of races was the week’s and year’s biggest highlight.

If you missed some adventures this summer, it’s time to start planning a fall trip. Gear up with REI’s Labor Day sale, running from August 28 to Sept. 7. With thousands of products across every category discounted up to 25%, you can push your gear spending further. Take the following brands, for example.

Emily Schmitz, an American living in the Chamonix valley, finished third at the 2026 UTMB. In the following interview, Emily talks about her history with the UTMB Mont Blanc festival races, her relatively conservative start, moving into podium position with about 50 kilometers to go, worrying about getting caught from behind while chasing second place, and the emotion of reaching the finish line. For more on how the race played out, read our in-depth 2026 UTMB results article.