Trail Running Weekly Recap: 6–12 April 2026
Heather Jackson winning the 100k Desert Rats
A blockbuster week in the truest sense. The Sahara Desert, the Croatian peninsula, the Colorado high desert, the Columbia River Gorge, and the Costa del Sol of Spain all delivered — and the results from each told a story worth telling.
The Marathon des Sables Closes Out — Mohamed and Nakache Dominate
The 40th edition of the Marathon des Sables — billed as the toughest footrace on earth — concluded across the Moroccan Sahara this week, and the results were emphatic.
Mohamed El Morabity of Morocco and Maryline Nakache of France emerged as unrivaled champions across six stages and around 270 kilometres of self-sufficient desert racing. Over 1,500 runners from 68 countries took part.
The defining moment of the men's race came on Stage 4 — the legendary 100km "long one" — where Mohamed and France's Ludovic Pommeret ran almost step-for-step before Mohamed pulled away to win the stage by just 12 seconds in 8:24:32. Rachid El Morabity, Mohamed's brother and the race's record 11-time winner, finished Stage 4 in third and ultimately took second overall. Pommeret, who had been a podium threat throughout, took third.
In the women's race, Nakache proved herself in a league of her own. She won the final Stage 6 in 2:06:22 and crossed the cumulative finish line in 25:54:29. Aziza El Amrany (Morocco) finished second overall for the second year running in 29:22:34, and American marathon legend Des Linden's steady, gritty week earned her a remarkable bronze in 30:16:32.
Spain Rules the Skyrunner World Series — Again
The Calamorro Skyrace in Benalmádena, the fourth race of the Merrell Skyrunner World Series, delivered a Spanish sweep. Manuel Merillas and Sara Alonso each claimed their second consecutive Skyrunner World Series victory of the season, having also won together at Acantilados del Norte weeks earlier.
In the men's race, Merillas and France's Frédéric Tranchand were inseparable for almost the entire 27.5km course. It was only on the final ridge that Merillas found an extra gear and surged clear, winning in 2:51:13.
Alonso dominated the women's race from the first metres, crossing in 3:25:42. American Jane Maus was a genuine surprise, taking second in 3:33:55, with Norway's Shangave Balendran third in 3:36:48.
After four races, both Alonso and Merillas lead the overall Skyrunner World Series standings with 250 points each. Tranchand sits close behind the men's leader with 213 points. The next race is the Penang Skyrace in Malaysia on April 26.
Istria 100 by UTMB — Croatia Delivers
The UTMB World Series event on Croatia's northwestern Istrian peninsula ran five distances over the weekend. In the flagship 168k, Romania's Marina Oana and Poland's Bartosz Gorczyca won in 21:36 and 17:56. The 110k went to Finland's Anna-Stiina Erkkilä and Slovakia's Patrik Milata in 11:05 and 9:27. In the 42k, Switzerland's Roberto Delorenzi — fresh off his Calamorro 2025 title — won the men's race in 2:50, with Italy's Camilla Magliano taking the women's in 3:21.
Desert RATS by UTMB — Fruita Fires Up the US Season
The Desert RATS Trail Running Festival by UTMB in Fruita, Colorado produced one of the most commanding performances in the 100k's history. Spencer Shellberg shattered the men's course record by a stunning 38 minutes, winning in 8:19. Michael Mitchell and Cody Cook chased in 9:21 and 9:24. In the women's 100k, Heather Jackson won in 9:45, with Tay Cavett second in 9:52 and Corinne Shalvoy third in 10:20.
Gorge Waterfalls 100k — A $15,000 Prize Purse and Course Records
At the Gorge Waterfalls 100k in the Columbia River Gorge, Lotti Brinks shattered the previous women's course record by more than eight minutes, winning in 9:06:23 for her second Gorge 100k victory in three years. On the men's side, Jeshurun Small ran the third-fastest course time ever to claim the win in 8:07:29, with Drew Holmgren second in 8:22:11.
Sunday's Gorge 50k was equally dramatic. Jennifer Lichter edged two-time OCC champion Miao Yao (China) in a showdown of major names — the two were together through halfway before Lichter pulled clear to win in 4:08, with Yao second in 4:11. All three women on the podium bettered the previous course record. Japan's Koken Ogasawara won the men's race convincingly in 3:40.
Mad City 100k — USATF National Championships
In Madison, Wisconsin, the Mad City Ultras hosted the USATF 100k Road National Championships on a 10k loop along Lake Wingra. Brogan Austin ran the second-fastest course time in race history to claim the men's title in 6:34:01. Sarah Morrison won the women's race in a new course record of 7:17:01. The top two men and women earned spots on Team USA for the IAU 100k World Championships in Spain this September.
Lake Sonoma 100k — A Western States Qualifier Goes Off
Out in Healdsburg, California, Ryan Sullivan dominated the Lake Sonoma 100k, winning in 8:36:09. In the women's race, Fiona Pascall took the victory in 10:13:24 ahead of Emily Hawgood in 10:31:06 and Audrey Lawrence in 11:51:34.
American River 50 Mile — Van Sickle Dominates
In Sacramento, California, Heather Van Sickle was nearly an hour better than every other women's finisher, winning in 8:28 in a dominant performance. Adam Kimble led the men's race wire to wire, winning in 6:40.
Looking Ahead
The Skyrunner World Series heads to Asia with the Penang Skyrace in Malaysia on April 26. In North America, the Canyons by UTMB in California looms large on April 24, a key Golden Ticket race on the road to Western States. And for those following the Marathon des Sables narrative — Des Linden, third in the Sahara this week, will be one to watch as the ultra season builds toward summer.
