Editor’sLetter
American Running
I
I’ve run a lot of great trails around the world, but few
match the magnificence—or the difficulty—of the Kalalau Trail on the NaPali Coast of Kauai. The moment you set foot on it, you’re in for an amazing, tropical adventure, complete with stunning sea cliffs, rugged climbs, fast descents, amazing waterfalls and remote beaches. In this issue, we highlight some of the best things about running in the U.S., and certainly Kalalau Trail is among the best trails in the country. For our story we invited pro trail runners Stephanie Howe and Sage Canaday to join us for several days of trail running and hanging out near Hanalei Bay. Sounds like fun, huh? “Simply an amazing place to run,” says Howe, the women’s winner of this year’s Western States 100. “It’s definitely one of my favorite trails in the world.” Read more about their Hawaiian adventure and check out photo editor Scott Draper’s amazing shots from the trip (page 40). Also in this issue, senior editor Mario Fraioli gives us an inside glimpse of the burgeoning trail running scene in Marin County, Calif. (page 50). Although the trails near Mt. Tamalpais have long been amazing, the buzz of a new running shop and the energy that several of the country’s top ultrarunners have brought to the area have combined to make this spot running’s current “it” locale. Also, we give a running-oriented look at “Unbroken,” the Angelina Jolie-directed movie (page 15) that debuts this month about the amazing life of 1936 U.S. Olympic runner and prisoner of war Louis Zamperini. Speaking of amazing, we also catch up with bold, brash and busy American middle-distance star Nick Symmonds (page 18), who, among other things, is preparing to compete in the first-ever beer mile world championships. We also highlight some of the best running gear that’s made in the U.S.A. (page 32), investigate the growing trend of social running groups (page 46), celebrate the top 50 running shops in the country (page 59) and tell you where to run, eat and more when visiting the idyllic getaway of Santa Fe, N.M. We hope you find inspiration in the pages of this magazine. But remember, there are great places to run all over the U.S.—including in your own back yard.
competitor Editorial
Editor-in-chief Brian Metzler Senior Editor Mario Fraioli Managing Editor Adam Elder Web Editor Ryan Wood Associate Editor Caitlyn Pilkington Editorial assistant Emily Polachek Senior contributing editors Allison Pattillo, Jason Devaney Contributing editors Courtney Baird, Jeff Banowetz, Giannina Smith Bedford, Sarah Wassner Flynn, Julie Kailus, Duncan Larkin, Mackenzie Lobby Contributing Writers Erin Beresini, Alan Culpepper, Jay Dicharry, Dan England, Scott Jurek, Max King, Susan Lacke, Linzay Logan, Amanda McCracken, Greg McMillan, Kelly O’Mara, Claire Trageser, Peter Vigneron
art
Photo Editor Scott Draper Graphic Designer Valerie Brugos Contributing Artists/Photographers Matt Collins, Neil Numberman, Victor Sailer, Brad Walters
Circulation & Production
Production Manager Meghan McElravy Advertising Production Manager Gia Hawkins Audience Development Manager Cassie Chavez product innovation MANAGER Aaron Hersh
digital services
VP, Digital services Dan Vaughan Director, Web Development Scott Kirkowski Director, SEO/Analytics Johnny Yeip associate Director, Web Design Matthew McAlexander Web Developers Grace Cupat, Joey Hernandez Web Designers James Longhini, Thomas Phan, Justin Wilson system administrator Bruno Breve Senior Video Producer Steve Godwin
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Coming in January
Run the world with us as we explore the mountain-running mecca of Chamonix, France (pictured), touch down on the remote trails of the Patagonia region of Chile and serve up amazing glimpses of a stage race through South Africa’s Richtersveld National Park.
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A Member of official magazine
Franck Oddoux
Bri a n M etzler, E d itor-i n-Chi ef
Competitor | december 2014
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