The post This Week In Running: May 4, 2026 appeared first on iRunFar.
The Skyrace des Matheysins and Austria’s Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun were the weekend’s big draws, and we look ahead to several races next weekend in this column too.
Skyrace des Matheysins – St. Honoré, France
The race was part of the Skyrunner World Series and featured steep, technical terrain characteristic of the series. The trail was a 25-kilometer loop with 1,950 meters (6,400 feet) of climbing.
Men
It was Gaspard Ravaux-Ouvray (France) who pushed the early pace, with Frédéric Tranchand (France) and Benjamin Roubiol (France) making it a front three. When they hit the technical Devil’s Garden section, Tranchand surged to a lead he’d hold the rest of the way. Tranchand won in 2:19, four minutes back of the course record.
Less than a minute separated the next four finishers. Alex Oberbacher (Italy), Mattia Bertoncini (Italy), Lucien Mermillon (France), and Roubiol were second through fifth, all in 2:24 with a 49-second spread between the group.
Frédéric Tranchand, the 2026 Skyrace des Matheysins men’s winner. Photo: Skyrunner World Series/Vivien Wauthier
Women
The women’s race mirrored the men’s, with Johanna Gelfgren (Sweden) leading the race early but starting to fall back when the Devil’s Garden section came. Eva Delafosse (France) was the first to overtake her, but Malen Osa (Spain) and Fabiola Conti (Italy) were moving up too.
When they hit the course high point, Osa overtook Delafosse and led the rest of the way.
Osa won the women’s race in 2:49, and Delafosse was able to hold off Conti for second with 2:52 and 2:58 on the clock.
Emilie Bulle (France) and early leader Gelfgren were fourth and fifth in 2:59 and 3:00, respectively.
Malen Osa, the 2026 Skyrace des Matheysins women’s winner. Photo: Skyrunner World Series/Vivien Wauthier
The next Skyrunner World Series race is the May 23 Skyrace Gorges du Tarn event in France.
Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival – Innsbruck, Austria
Now in its 11th year, the four-day event hosted some 8,500 runners from 82 countries. It was Austria’s biggest trail running event.
Trail Hunt
The new two-stage race combined an uphill race with a 24k classic uphill and downhill race and had a 30,000 Euro prize purse. The event was staged in a pursuit format, so the classic race on the second day preserved any time gained from the uphill race. The uphill winners started the classic race first, with chasers seeking to make up any time deficit. Whoever crossed the finish line first in the classic race was the combined event winner.
Uphill
In the uphill, Richard Omaya Atuya (Kenya) got to the top first ahead of Ephantus Mwangi Njeri (Kenya) and Daniel Pattis (Italy). The three were up in 48:45, 49:36, and 49:43. Philemon Kiriago (Kenya) was fourth in 50:57. Perhaps the event favorite, Kiriago would start the classic race over two minutes behind Omaya Atuya.
The women’s uphill podium had Ruth Gitonga (Kenya) ahead of Hanna Gröber (Germany) and Laura Hottenrott (Germany) with 58:55, 59:21, and 60:41 on the clock. Uphill pro Philaries Kisang (Kenya) was only fourth in 61:31.
Classic
Unfortunately, wrong turns marred the finish of the second race, particularly disappointing for the runners affected with such big prize money on the line.
Uphill race winner Omaya Atuya started first but was quickly swallowed up. Omaya Atuya, Mwangi Njeri, and Pattis were all within 30 seconds of each near halfway. In the final stretch, a then-leading Njeri took an inadvertent but costly shortcut and was given a five-minute time penalty. That vaulted Pattis into the winning spot.
Pattis won in 1:50, and Mwangi Njeri and Omaya Atuya were second and third, both in 1:52. Kiriago was a surprise non-factor in both races and finished fourth in 1:57.
Course errors happened in the women’s race, too. Gitonga was leading all of it and took a wrong turn in the final stretch. Gröber ultimately won big in the women’s race in 2:15, and Anna Plattner (Austria) was second in 2:21. Renee Cardinaals (The Netherlands) took third in 2:26, and Gitonga eventually backtracked and finished fourth in 2:27.
The 2026 Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival Trail Hunt podium (left to right): 2. Ephantus Mwangi Njeri and Anna Plattner, 1. Daniel Pattis and Hanna Gröber, 3. Richard Omaya Atuya and Renee Cardinaals. Photo: Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival/Freitag Schnellauswahl
K110 Masters of Innsbruck
Long course winners Christian Pecher (Germany) and Alina Daxböck (Austria) finished in 11:35 and 12:52.
K85 Heart of the Alps Ultra
Race winners Andreas Rieder (Austria) and Andrea Vlasakova (Czech Republic) came through in 7:59 and 9:44, respectively.
Andreas Rieder, th2 2026 Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival K85 men’s winner. Photo: @peakpixelcafe
Andrea Vlasakova, the 2026 Innsbruck Alpine Trailrun Festival K85 women’s winner. Photo: @peakpixelcafe
Additional Races and Runs
Oh Meu Deus by UTMB – Seia, Portugal
The 100-mile race had Rubén Diéguez Quiroga (Spain) and Paulina Krawczak (Poland) as its winners in 21:42 and 22:42. Krawczak was also the race’s second overall finisher. Thibault Athané (France) edged countryman Thibaut Garrivier in the 100k. The two finished in 9:50 and 9:59, and the first four men were only 13 minutes apart. Sílvia Puigarnau (Spain) won the women’s 100k in 12:29. Ludvik Fernandes (France) and Brígida Inês João (Portugal) were tops in the 50k in 4:54 and 6:10. Full results.
Trencacims – Paüls, Spain
The longest race here was 54k, and Franc Rallo (Spain) and Lídia Ramos (Spain) took it in 7:07 and 8:38. The 36k had Raúl Ortiz Cabello (Spain) and Ainhoa Garikano (Spain) on top in 3:45 and 4:39. Full results.
Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB – Betong, Thailand
Chinese runners Xiao Lin and Li-Ping Wang were best in the 100 miler in 16:39 and 21:32, and Chinese runners Pei-Quan You and Hua-Rong Fu won the 100k in 10:43 and 13:18. Dorian Houzé (France) and Veronika Leng (Slovakia) stopped the Chinese sweep in the 50k. Houzé and Leng won in 5:10 and 6:02. Full results.
Wild Wild West 50 Mile – Lone Pine, California
Brett Spallina won the 50 miler for the men in 9:36, while Caitlin Fisher finished first for the women in 11:35. In the 50k, Jack Macy won in 5:11, and Brittany Poor was first home for the women in 5:33. Full results.
Brett Spallina, the 2026 Wild Wild West 50 Mile men’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.
Caitlin Fisher, the 2026 Wild Wild West 50 Mile women’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.
McDonald Forest 50k – Corvallis, Oregon
Men’s winner William Rice was just over a minute better than second-place Connor Smith. The two ran 4:29 and 4:30. Women’s winner Jessica Quinn wasn’t far behind in 4:40. Full results.
William Rice, the 2026 McDonald Forest 50k men’s winner. Photo: Elibeth Immel Photography
Jessica Quinn, the 2026 McDonald Forest 50k winner. Photo: Elibeth Immel Photography
San Diego 100 Mile – Lake Cuyamaca, California
Race winners Juan Rocha and Laura Liedle did it in 19:54 and 23:26. Full results.
Miwok 100k – Stinson Beach, California
The long-time race had four men under nine hours. Jimmy Elam scored the men’s win in 8:19, and Joseph Roldan and Conor Callahan came next in 8:41 and 8:49. For the women, it was Anna Fisher out front in 9:25, and Michelle Magagna and Charlotte Cox were second and third in 9:57 and 10:06. Full results.
The 2026 Miwok 100k men’s podium (left to right): 3. Conor Callahan, 1. Jimmy Elam, 2. Joseph Roldan. Photo: Tony DiPasquale
The 2026 Miwok 100k women’s podium (left to right): 2. Michelle Magagna, 1. Anna Fisher, 3. Charlotte Cox. Photo: Tony DiPasquale
Megan Sand, the 2026 Miwok 100k non-binary winner. Photo: Tony DiPasquale
Heaven’s Gate – Riggins, Idaho
The race weekend started with a free vertical race that climbed 2,300 feet up Challenger Peak. Cole Campbell won the men’s contest in 30:16, and Riley Kies won it for the women in 45: 37. In the 23k, Case Vander Ploeg and Lotti Brinks brought home the wins in 3:19 and 3:35. The longest race of the weekend, the 53k, was won by Campbell again for the men in 6:23, and Pollee Brookings won for the women in 8:17. Full results.
Cole Campbell and Riley Kies, the 2026 Heaven’s Gate vertical winners. Photo courtesy of the race.
Greenland 50k – Larkspur, Colorado
A Durango-based trail running power couple came out ahead. Men’s winner Teddy Eyster finished in 3:49, but Robyn Lesh was both the women’s and overall winner in 3:38. It was a new women’s course record, too. Full results.
Teddy Eyster and Robyn Lesh, the 2026 Greenland 50k winners. Photo courtesy of Robyn Lesh.
Trail Mix 50k – Rockford, Minnesota
At Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, Cooper Mumford ran to the win in 3:32, and Olivia Ruis won in 5:19. Full results.
Grayson Highlands – Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
The race is known for the feral mini ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park. Brian Beal and Annette Stevens won the 50 miler in 8:28 and 10:18, and Jamie Obermeyer and Marjelle Coppers were best in the 50k at 4:43 and 4:56. Full results.
Sisters Country 50k – Sisters, Oregon
Andrew McKarney won in 3:40, and Nicole Cade led the women home in 4:42. Anna Daley was first in the non-binary field in 6:53. Full results.
Andrew McKamey, the 2026 Sisters Country 50k men’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.
Nicole Cade, the 2026 Sisters Country 50k women’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.
Anna Daley, the 2026 Sisters Country 50k non-binary winner. Photo courtesy of the race.
Strolling Jim 40 Mile – Wartrace, Tennessee
It was the race’s 48th year, and John Kruckeberg and Crystal Wheatley won in 4:41 and 6:23. Full results.
Big Deal at Great Seal – Chillicothe, Ohio
Elton Martin and Chelsea Whitehouse won the 100-mile race in 22:18 and 21:43, and Siyan Cao and Heather Sukey were first in the 100k in 11:27 and 13:17. Full results when available.
Elton Martin, the 2026 Big Deal at Great Seal 100 Mile men’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.
Chelsea Whitehouse, the 2026 Big Deal at Great Seal 100 Mile women’s winner. Photo courtesy of the race.
Collegiate Peaks 50 Mile – Buena Vista, Colorado
There’s some history here, too. It was the race’s 36th year. Austin Gliottone and Joanna Welle won the 50 miler in 7:12 and 8:28, and Connor Pulvidente and Jacquie Mannhard were first in the 25 miler in 3:06 and 3:37. Full results.
Pine Trail Run – Pine, Arizona
Racing 50k through the Tonto National Forest, Matt Kahn and Catriona Forrest won in 5:37 and 6:54. Full results.
The 2026 Pine Trail Run 50k men’s podium (left to right): 3. Jonah Jones, 1. Matt Kahn, 2. Andrew Malwiltz. Photo courtesy of the race.
3rd Jonah Jones
The 2026 Pine Trail Run 50k women’s podium (left to right): 3. Alicia Judy, 1. Catriona Forrest, 2. Lisa Buzzeo. Photo courtesy of the race.
Next Weekend
Cocodona 250 Mile – Black Canyon City, Arizona
This one’s actually already started! The 250-mile epic left Black Canyon City at 5:00 a.m. local time on Monday, May 4, and runners have until 10:00 a.m. on May 9 (125 hours) to finish the adventure. Among 250 milers, it’s a great field.
There are a bunch of past champions and podium-getters here, but Kilian Korth is favored. He won and set a record at the triple crown of 200s in 2025 by winning all three races. Other top men include 2022 Cocodona 250 Mile winner Joe McConaughy, 2023 winner Michael McKnight, 2025 third-placer Edher Ramirez, 2021 winner Michael Versteeg, 2024 runner-up Jeff Browning, and 2025 ninth-place finisher Jeff Garmire. Joining them are 2024 Moab 240 Mile winner Max Jolliffe and 2025 Badwater 135 Mile fourth-place finisher Adam Kimble.
Two-time defending women’s champion and course-record holder Rachel Entrekin will be challenged by 2025 runner-up Lindsey Dwyer and 2024 third-placer Mika Thewes. Also in the mix are Courtney Dauwalter, Heather Jackson, and six-day world record holder Meg Eckert.
The 2025 Cocodona 250 Mile women’s winner Rachel Entrekin got into it with the weather in the early miles of the race.
Transvulcania – La Palma, Spain
The Transvulcania Ultramarathon is exceptionally deep. For a deep dive on who is racing, check out our 2026 Transvulcania Ultramarathon preview. Top runners include Ben Dhiman (U.S.), Andreas Reiterer (Italy), Ekaterina Mityaeva (Neutral), and Blandine L’Hirondel (France).
Additionally, both the Transvulcania Vertical Kilometer and Half Marathon are part of the Mountain Running World Cup. Our full preview looks at the top contenders in both the men’s and women’s fields, but we can expect Kenyan runners like Philemon Kiriago and Joyce Njeru at the top of both short-course races.
Ekaterina Mityaeva, the 2025 Transvulcania Ultramarathon second woman. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
Quad Rock 50 Mile – Fort Collins, Colorado
The Gnar Runners event, which frequently sees top area runners testing their springtime fitness, should see a match-up between 2024 race winner Tyler Fox and Moises Jimenez, and top women include Cat Bradley and 2025 fourth-placer Silke Koester.
Jemez Mountain 50 Mile – Los Alamos, New Mexico
The old-school mountain run will be a Hardrock 100 training day for Dylan Bowman and Jason Schlarb. They’ll be there against the 2023 Jemez winner, Benjamin Stout. Salynda Heinl, the 2021 High Lonesome 100 Mile winner, will also be there.
Ice Age Trail – La Grange, Wisconsin
Social media shows that she’s been training for a turn at race walking, but Camille Herron is registered for the 50-mile race here. She won the race last year in 7:44.
Call for Comments
What about next weekend are you excited for?
This Week In Running: May 4, 2026 by Justin Mock.
