From September 25 to 28, some of the world's top mountain running and trail running athletes gathered in Canfranc, Spain, for the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) to represent their countries in four different events. Historically, many top runners have opted to skip the world championships for various reasons, including busy race schedules, sponsorship conflicts, and financial considerations.
Sunseri set a new record for ascending and then descending Grand Teton; unfortunately, the National Park Service was more concerned with his route, which led to his arrest. An online petition calling for his release observes that Sunseri was following a similar path to other mountain runners who had taken the same trek - and who were not imprisoned as a result of their feats.
When Nina Engelhard, clad in her Team Germany singlet, arm warmers, and shorts, crested the final rise of the 2025 World Mountain Running Championships Uphill race in the lead and crossed the finish line 26 seconds ahead of second-place Susanna Saapunki of Finland, there were admittedly a few whispers amongst the gathered crowd, including myself, asking, "Who is that?" The race was part of the four-day 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, held in Canfranc, Spain,