There are tons of races to choose from, but which one is right for you? Here are some tips on how to select a trail race, from one of Merrell’s trail team athletes, Rachel Tomajczyk.
Begin by searching for races in the US. Rachel’s two favorite sites include, https://ultrasignup.com/ and https://trailrunner.com/race-calendar/ because you can filter your search by location, distance, and time of the year you want to race.
If you’re looking for an international adventure, Spartan Trail races, XTERRA Trail Run World Series, and UTMB World Series are all good races to research.
A few questions to ask yourself when you’re searching for the right race:
- What type of terrain do you like running on? Do you like smooth trails, technical trails, or a mix? Some race websites will have videos or pictures of past races so you can see exactly what the trail looks like.
- What type of vertical do you want? Do you like tons of vert and climbing over mountains or do you like flat, fast trails with rolling hills? Do you want a course that’s net uphill, net downhill, or one where downhills and uphills are equal? Most race websites will have a link to the course profile which will show the distance, overall elevation, and it will show exactly where the climbs and descents are in the race. Studying that map can help you determine if that race is right for you.
- What distance do you want to run and, along with that, how much time do you have to train? When most people think of trail running they think of long ultra races like Western States, Leadville, or UTMB. However, there are plenty of shorter races out there too – a great intro into trail running. Pro Tip: A good coach can help guide you so you can safely build up mileage and crush your race too. Here are two resources for finding a coach in the trail run scene: Run Free and Trail Runner List
Now that you’re ready to select the perfect race, here are some tips on the right race shoes based on some of Rachel’s favorite races from last year.
Broken Arrow in the VK and 26k near Lake Tahoe, CA in Merrell Long Sky 2s: There are 5 different races to choose from so there’s a distance and a race for everyone. Rachel ran in the Merrell Long Sky 2s, and the grip on the shoes did not disappoint. “I felt super secure on the technical parts of the course and the shoes were great on the snowy sections as well”, says Rachel.
Flagstaff Sky Peaks in Merrell Skyfire 2s: In Rachel’s backyard in Arizona, Flagstaff is home to many of the top distance runners in America. This is an iconic town for runners everywhere and it’s only an hour away from one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon. Sky Peaks has 4 different race distances from 10k to 50 miles so there’s a race for everyone here too. You’ll start at 7000 feet and run on beautiful trails around Arizona’s highest point – Mt. Humphreys. Rachel raced in the Merrell Skyfire 2s, a plated trail run shoe that gave her extra bounce on the steep uphills and speed for the smooth downhill to the finish.
2nd Place at USA Championships for Classic Mountain Trail Running & the USA Uphill Mountain Championship in Merrell Skyfire’s:
In 2022, Rachel ran both 6-7 mile races with about 4000 feet of vert in each race. The perfect races for anyone looking for a quick race with punchy climbing. Finishing in 2nd place meant that Rachel qualified for the IAAF World Trail Running Championships and represented Team USA at Worlds in Thailand in Nov. 2023. Rachel achieved two team USA podium finishes, all while racing in a pair of Merrell’s new Skyfire 2s.