2025 Trail Run World Champs: Carving The Legend of Wales

There are places in the world where the ground seems to rise up and meet those brave enough to run it. All year, through the XTERRA Trail Run World Series, runners have crossed oceans and climbed mountains to experience the world’s most challenging and beautiful trails. They’ve endured the heat of Tahiti’s white sands, the sweeping cliffs of Puerto Rico, the wild valleys of South Africa, and the volcanic trails of New Zealand. Each race has carried them closer to the heart of Wales.

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This weekend, the 16th edition of the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship arrives in Europe for the first time on the mythical slopes of Eryri National Park (Snowdonia). On July 12, under the shadow of Yr Wyddfa, the world’s best will gather to take on the Half Marathon and Marathon courses, steeped in history, shaped by nature, and ready to reveal the next chapter in this extraordinary story.

When the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship began in 2008, hundreds of runners lined up at Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii for a shot at a world title on the trails. That first race delivered everything trail running promises with steep climbs through the jungle, and the kind of connection that only happens when people push themselves into wild places. Max King (USA) and Cindy Anderson (USA) became the inaugural champions, setting the standard for what this event could be.

For more than a decade, Kualoa Ranch was home. Each December, runners returned to face the tropical heat and technical singletrack. At the time, the championship was a single race at the Half Marathon distance. Legends emerged on that course: King (USA) claimed four consecutive titles before passing the torch to Joe Gray (USA), who would go on to win a record five championships and define an era. On the women’s side, the titles shifted between strong American runners and a few international breakthroughs. Sally Meyerhoff (USA) won in 2010, Fiona Docherty (NZL) in 2009, and Lucy Smith (CAN) in 2012 — at age 45, the oldest overall champion in XTERRA history.

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The mid-2010s brought more names into the spotlight. Polina Babkina (RUS), later known as Polina Carlson, became a two-time champion. Kimber Mattox (USA), Dani Moreno (USA), and Grayson Murphy (USA) all stood at the top. In 2012, the men’s race finished in a rare tie between Ben Bruce (USA) and Joe Gray (USA), further exemplifying the intensity of the growing competition.

By 2021, the championship left Oʻahu for Maui, signaling a new era. That year, Gray (USA) and Murphy (USA) each added another title to their legacies. In 2023, the race crossed the Pacific entirely, landing in Maine for the first time. It was there that the format expanded to include two distances — a Full Marathon and a Half Marathon — each awarding its own world championship title. That autumn, Mason Coppi (USA) and Caitlin Patterson (USA) conquered the Full Marathon, while Andy Wacker (USA) and Rachel Tomajczyk (USA) won the Half Marathon on the foggy, golden trails of Sugarloaf.

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Maine hosted again in 2024, where Patterson (USA) defended her Full Marathon title and Grant Colligan (USA) won his first. In the Half Marathon, Corey Dowe (USA) triumphed in the women’s race, while Rémi Leroux (CAN) broke through to claim the men’s title at the culmination of a global journey through the XTERRA Trail Run World Series.

A single, shared journey now connects the world’s trails through the XTERRA Trail Run World Series. Launched in 2022, it brings together races across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific, creating one ranking system, one path to the championship, and one global community of runners.

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The 2025 series schedule now spans more than 40 races in 24 countries. Each course offers something different from red rock deserts in Arizona, lush jungles in Malaysia, high alpine air in Andorra, and the quiet pine forests of Canada. At every finish line, runners move closer to the World Championship, choosing between Half and Full Marathon distances as they earn points, climb the rankings, and secure their place among the best.

What makes the series special is how open it remains. While some may chase the podium, anyone can take part, earn points, and see their progress on a personal results page that tracks their story through the seasons. Some races even crown Kings and Queens of the Mountain for the fastest climbs or descents. A festival of dirt, hills, and fresh air has now become a way for runners everywhere to test themselves on the world’s most epic trails while feeling part of something much bigger.

There are mountains that feel alive, and Yr Wyddfa is one of them. Its ridges and valleys beneath carry the weight of legend, its trails shaped by centuries of footsteps and storms. This is where the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship comes to write its next chapter.

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The Welsh call it Eryri, meaning “the highlands” or “the land of eagles,” and its centerpiece, Yr Wyddfa, rises higher than any peak in England or Wales. In ancient tales, it is said to be the resting place of a giant defeated by King Arthur. For the runners arriving this weekend, those stories feel alive in the stone underfoot and the clouds overhead.

Glaciers carved these peaks into a rugged playground of steep ascents, rocky ridgelines, and fern-filled forests so lush they’ve been called the Celtic Rainforest. Since 2022, XTERRA has held trail running events here, introducing athletes from around the world to the park’s wild beauty and fierce challenges. 93 peaks tower over 610 meters (2,000 feet), and 15 of them climb beyond 914 meters (3,000 feet). One trail may pull you across windswept moors, while another plunges into mossy woodlands alive with birdsong and the scent of rain. Even the weather plays its part with sun, fog, and showers arriving within a single hour, turning each race into its own story of spontaneous adaptation.

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The people in these valleys have welcomed mountain runners for generations, hosting the famed International Snowdon Race and ultra-distance challenges. Local towns like Llanberis and Betws-y-Coed have become gateways for adventurers, offering trails, maps, music, warmth, and stories by the fire at day’s end. This is a community that understands why we run in places like this: for connection, for exploration, and for the chance to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

Every great event begins with a welcome, and in Eryri, that welcome comes from the heart of the people who know these mountains best and are proud to share them with the world. Jack Sergeant, Welsh Minister for Culture, Skills & Social Partnerships, said it best:

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“I am delighted to have the opportunity to extend a warm Welsh Croeso to the competitors, teams and spectators visiting Eryri for the 2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship and associated events. I am confident that, no matter where in the world you have travelled from to be with us this week, you will feel there really is no better place that could have been chosen for this exciting programme of competitions. Offering breathtaking scenery, welcoming communities and a real physical challenge for athletes, this promises to be an unforgettable setting for your endeavours, at whatever level. We hope you’ll embrace the challenge, the camaraderie, and the unique landscape that makes Eryri so special. To all of you, pob lwc — good luck — and once again, Croeso i Gymru!”

Always Aim High Events, who join XTERRA in bringing this weekend to life, have spent years caring for these mountains and celebrating their magic. Claire Stones, Head of Operations at AAH, put it simply:

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“Working with XTERRA for the Trail Running World Championship is an incredible honour. It means the world to us to welcome athletes from across the globe to Eryri and share the magic of the wild, beautiful place we proudly call home. From the mountain paths to the local communities, there’s a shared energy in this landscape, and together, we’re not just exploring trails; we’re building a global community rooted in adventure and appreciation of the natural world.”

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The mountains are ready. The paths are waiting. And every runner who sets foot here will leave with a story only Eryri could write.

It’s only fitting that we preview the 21K Half Marathon first. This was the distance that crowned the inaugural XTERRA Trail Run World Champions back in 2008, and it remains at the heart of the championship today. 

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Starting and finishing in the iconic Welsh village of Llanberis, the Half Marathon offers over 1,192 m (3,910 ft) of climbing, much of it concentrated on Wales’ highest peak, Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon). Runners begin by climbing through Llanberis into Maesgwm (Telegraph Valley), then ascend the steep Snowdon Ranger Path. After crossing the railway and reaching the Finger Stone, the course plunges down the technical Llanberis Path through woodland past Dolbadarn Castle, before rising again along the Zig Zag path into the Dinorwig Slate Quarries, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A fast descent brings them home to the finish line.

This year’s field includes runners from all corners of the world, each bringing a personal story to these ancient trails. Here are a few voices from the start line:

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Anna Janke (GBR)  placed 3rd in the 45–49 age group at the 2024 XTERRA Snowdonia Trail Half Marathon: “What makes it feel special is seeing so many athletes from different nationalities and cultures coming together. We all have our own journeys and motivation, but we share one thing that brings us together — trail running.”

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Kevin Mitchell (USA) was 2nd in the 35–39 age group at the 2024 XTERRA Sugarloaf Trail Half Marathon: “This will be my first race outside the U.S., and I’m running to prove to myself that I can do hard things, and for the family and friends back home who inspire me every step of the way to chase a little bit of magic on Yr Wyddfa.”

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Gabriela Calderón Rojas (CRI) won 1st in the 35–39 age group at the 2024 XTERRA Costa Rica Trail Half Marathon: “I wanted to discover new landscapes but also experience the energy of this place and let something inside me transform to the rhythm of the terrain. Running brings me back to myself — to the freer, more present version of me.”

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Sophia Morgan (USA) finished 1st in the 25–29 age group at the 2024 XTERRA Snowdonia Trail Half Marathon: “I’m taking on the challenge of Yr Wyddfa to reconnect with my cultural heritage. Running gives me freedom and power and I want to show a different face of where I come from — one that believes in love, inclusivity, and resilience.”

Eric Noel (PRI) rounded out the podium in 3rd in the 35–39 age group at the 2025 XTERRA Puerto Rico Trail Half Marathon: “My wife and friends reminded me how much effort and sacrifice I invested and encouraged me to go for it. Running means health and emotional freedom to me. Standing on the start line will already be a dream come true.”

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Delhoum Salima (FRA) is defending her title in the 60–64 age group after winning at the 2024 XTERRA Trail Half Marathon World Championship: “Running has allowed me to develop skills I never imagined — and regain my self-esteem. My grandchildren now see me as an extraordinary grandmother, and that gives them the strength to achieve their goals. I live in the moment, and only the joy of being alive guides me.”

The 44K Full Marathon winds through the highest peaks and quietest valleys of Eryri, offering runners a true conversation with the land. With 1,685 meters (5,528 feet) of total climbing, it is the pinnacle of UK trail running and the ultimate test of endurance at the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship.

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The course takes runners on a meticulously designed route through some of the most scenic and historic sites in the region. From Llanberis, athletes head toward Rhyd Ddu, a small village known for its views and welcoming atmosphere. The path then leads to Beddgelert, steeped in folklore and lined with riverside trails, before winding through the serene valleys of Nant Gwynant. The real challenge begins as the trail ascends the PyG Track, a rugged and steep climb toward the iconic Finger Stone. From here, runners are rewarded with panoramic views of the park and, on clear days, the Irish Sea glimmering in the distance. The final descent follows the Llanberis Path, running parallel to the historic mountain railway toward the celebration that awaits at race village.

Glen Avery (USA), returning World Champion in the 70–74 age group at the 2024 XTERRA Trail Marathon in Sugarloaf: “This will be my third time running in or near Wales. I run both road and trail, but running in the mountains is the most fulfilling. I take on challenges like this to show people in my generation what’s possible no matter their age — and to inspire them to do the hard things that will make them stronger.”

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Simone Berger (DEU), 5th in the 45–49 age group at the 2024 XTERRA O-SEE Ultra Trail: “Running has become a metaphor for life. It goes up and down, sometimes over stones and rocks that seem impossible, but you keep moving forward. I never thought I’d love running — as a tennis player I used to hate it — but when personal difficulties and injuries forced me to change, running became my way to find myself again. Being here in Snowdonia, standing on this start line, reminds me it’s worth fighting and never giving up.”

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Marlen Arnold (DEU), 1st in the 45–49 age group at the 2024 XTERRA O-SEE Ultra Trail: “I run for my health, to clear my head, and because the people who believe in me give me strength. I started running more seriously only recently, and since then it’s become part of who I am — a way to manage the challenges of being a doctor, a mother, and everything else life throws at me. Being part of this competition in Snowdonia fills me with pride and reminds me that it’s never too late to believe in yourself and take on something big.”

Yoann Stuck (FRA), 1st in the 40–44 age group at the 2024 XTERRA Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan Trail Half Marathon: “Heading into Wales, I feel really good. This will actually be my first trail race of the year, and that makes it even more exciting — and yes, a little nerve-wracking too. I’ve been looking forward to pinning on a bib again, opening this new chapter, and seeing what these trails in Eryri National Park have in store for me. I know it’s going to be special.”

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Maximilian Armstrong (USA), 3rd in the 30–34 age group in the Full Marathon at the 2024 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship and 1st in the 30–34 age group at the 2023 Half Marathon: Armstrong has shared his journey before in Worn Soles to World Stage. As he puts it: “We run to test ourselves on the trails, but also just to be on the trails.”

The World Championship weekend in Eryri will be filled with energy and purpose. Runners will also line up for the ultra marathon, the 10K, and open categories that give everyone a chance to test themselves on these storied trails.

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In the leadup before Saturday’s Full and Half Marathon championship races, some will join a quiet mindfulness walk through the valleys, while others will shake out their legs on a relaxed community run — both offering a chance to move through the landscape and take it all in.

When the racing ends, the village gathers for the awards dinner. Stories of the day will be shared, champions will step onto the stage, and the celebration will continue well into the evening. For those following from afar, XTERRA Trail Run on Instagram help share the experience while the 2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Series continues to carry the sound of footsteps and cheers from the mountains across the world.