The Trailhead with Sarah Hansel
Trails Club Calendar:
2026
July 11 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
August 1 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
September 1, 2026 – Middle School X-Country Meet
September 3, 2026 - High School X-Country Meet
September 5, 2026 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
September 8, 2026 - High School X-Country Meet
September 15, 2026 – Middle School X-Country Meet
October 3, 2026 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
October 20, 2026 – Middle School X-Country Meet
October 22, 2026 - High School X-Country Meet - Senior Invitational
October 24, 2026 – Fall Aiken Trailblazer Marathon/Half Marathon/10k/5k/Kids Fun Run
October 29, 2026 - High School X-Country Meet - Regional Qualifier
November 14, 2026 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
December 5, 2026 - Aiken Trails Club Monthly Group Run/Walk
January 23, 2027 - Battle of the Run Clubs - For More information or sign up HERE
February 26-28, 2027 - Return of the Trail Running Cult
May 15, 2027 - Announcement SOON
June 24-27, 2027 - Camp-Run-A-Muck
Trails Club Monthly Letter
The outdoor summer sauna amenity has arrived throughout the region for added health benefits during trail activity. And over the last month, there’s been a flurry of activity!
Middle and high school coaches have been out mapping & running their courses for Fall cross country meets. The Red Loop painted blazes are complete, and the B
The trails have received a mow at the end of June, some low branches pruned and some fallen trees from summer storms cleared out of the way.
And Camp-Run-A-Muck made its debut, where a new Kool-Aid drinking cult(ure) emerged from a business plan. This inaugural group forged new friendships, created unforgettable memories and may have established traditions for future campers - all while celebrating the joy of running and running together.
Thank you to all of the campers, Kayla Fitzgerald of Endurance Nutrion and Palmetto Ultras, Victoria Seahorn of Marathon Majic,bFleet Feet North Augusta/Augusta, Andy Watford and Cate from Healing Arts at Stable View!
Be on the lookout for the 2027 summer camp dates and sign-up page VERY SOON!
The Trailhead : Summer Racing is Heating Up Fastttttttt
by Sarah Hansel
This spring has been one of the most electric stretches of ultrarunning I’ve ever seen, with records falling, legends stumbling, newcomers surging, and prize money reshaping the sport. Here are the stories worth carrying into your next long run.
1. Rachel Entrekin wins Cocadona outright
After finishing 3rd to Courtney at Chianti earlier in the spring, Rachel Entrekin didn't come into Cocadona as the favorite, despite having won it twice before. She came in with something to prove, and prove it she did.
Rachel didn’t just win Cocadona 250. She won the entire race outright, and set a new OVERALL course record. Her mantra throughout the race was simply, “Why Not Me?" which I could not love more. I’ve always argued that women can absolutely hold their own at these longer distances and Rachel certainly drove that point home for all the world to see. She didn't just raise the bar for women; she raised the bar for everyone. If you want to hear about the race from Rachel’s perspective, this was a fantastic pod: Gracie & Rachel on Running 250 Miles, Breaking Records, & Proving Women Can Do Anything | Ep 15
Rachel will be heading to UTMB this August and holy cow, I can't wait to see how she fairs against the very best mountain athletes in the world.
Courtney Dauwalter, the GOAT, definitely had a difficult race where she had to stop and nap repeatedly late in the course, but she still showed her incredible grit and finished under the previous women’s course record in 2nd place.
Heather Jackson fought through her own struggles to take third, and her YouTube documentary Cocodona 250 | Forever Changed from the race offers an extremely raw look at the effort behind her finish.
Kilian Korth finished second overall behind Entrekin, with a strong men’s field that included past champions and other prominent contenders battling through the heat and long miles.
2. Western States 100 sees records fall
Western States delivered unusually cool temperatures this year, and the result was a cascade of broken records.
Local favorite Hans Troyer swung big, leading the race through 100k before nausea sadly forced him to drop. He joined a surprising list of early exits that included four time champion Jim Walmsley, previous champion and all time legend Kilian Jornet, and fan favorite and two time CCC winner Hayden Hawks.
So who won?
Vincent Boulliard, a Hoka employee who usually works behind the scenes as a product and innovation engineer, stepped into the spotlight once again with another breakout performance, finishing in 13:46, taking 23 minutes off Jim Walmsley's previous course record and becoming the first man to finish the race in under 14 hours. He was followed closely by Francesco Puppi in 13:51 and Ryan Montgomery in 13:53.
The women’s race was just as dramatic. Jen Lichter continued her meteoric rise, closing the final stretch at 5:15 pace and just slipping under Courtney’s record to finish in 15:28. This was her first hundred miler, which follows her first 100k (also a win and CR) at Black Canyon. Jen is headed to CCC in August and will certainly be a fun one to watch.
Finishing in 2nd place, Riley Brady kept the pressure on all day, creating one of the closest battles the race has seen. They spent much of the race within 90 seconds of Jen, often just out of sight, but never out of mind for the leader. Riley’s talent has never been in doubt, but in past years, Western States has not always given them the luck they needed. This year, they finally got the race they were capable of.
Marianne Hogan finished in a solid 3rd, showing her experience and workhorse ethic throughout the day.
3. Nike ACG raises the stakes at Broken Arrow
Nike All Conditions Gear didn’t just sponsor Broken Arrow. They detonated a bomb in the middle of the trail running economy. By dropping $150,000 in prize money across the weekend, including $30,000 to both the men’s and women’s winners of the 23k, Nike instantly turned Broken Arrow into the most lucrative trail race on the planet. The effect was immediate. The world’s best mountain runners showed up. Not just American elites, but European skyrunning specialists, Golden Trail crushers, UTMB podium athletes, and fast climbing phenoms who normally only race in the Alps. The start list looked like a World Championship. The front pack ran like one too.
Broken Arrow has always been a celebration of Tahoe granite, steep climbs, and community energy. This year it became something else: a global battleground and sign that trail running is entering a new era where performance can finally be rewarded at the level it deserves.
I don't even want to list the results here, because the finish of the 23k race was just so fun to watch, you really need to see it for yourself. So no spoilers, instead check out:
4. The Next Big Thing: Hardrock 100
The San Juan Mountains are about to become the center of the trail world again. Sadly, there have been some unfortunate withdrawals on the elite start list. Caleb Olson and Katie Schide are out, Katie with an injury and Caleb choosing to put all of his focus on UTMB in August. With those withdrawals, we won't get the Katie/Courtney showdown we've all been waiting for. Now the front of the race is quite small, but it is certainly still loaded. On the men’s side, Tom Evans arrives as one of the most dangerous contenders. His precision, climbing strength, and ability to stay composed deep into technical terrain make him a natural fit for Hardrock. If you want some fun clickbait, google his downhill treadmill workout that's been trending on all the socials. He will be facing returning champion and course record holder Ludovic Pommeret (age 50!), who I personally am rooting for, after watching him last year absolutely toying with the younger runners; I’m secretly hoping he does this again with Tom.
For the women, Courtney Dauwalter is the gravitational center of the race. She knows the course, she knows the altitude, and she knows how to suffer in the San Juans better than almost anyone alive. Alongside her will be Appalachian Trail record holder Tara Dower and TDS winner Careth Arnold. Tara recently put in a fantastic run at Western States, so it will be an interesting turn around to see her attempt Hardrock just 13 days later.
Conclusion
From Cocadona’s desert dominance to Western States’ record breaking cool spell to Broken Arrow’s new era of prize money, the sport is evolving fast. The summer is heating up; Hardrock is next, and if this spring is any indication, we are heading into another unforgettable chapter.
Coach’s Corner with Victoria
Victoria Seahorn, founding Race Director of the ING Georgia Marathon is a veteran of 30 marathons and numerous half marathons. In addition to her personal experience completing races, Seahorn has created training programs to guide more than 10,000 people to achieve their goal of completing marathons to 5K’s.
Throughout her career, Seahorn has been in demand as a speaker, coach, marathon pace group program organizer and leader. She is the race director of The Aiken Trailblazer at Stable View trail races.
Camp Run-A-Muck: Lessons from a Fun Weekend
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Camp Run-A-Muck at Stable View. An inaugural event geared towards all levels of runners, from beginners to ultramarathoners. It was an experience that left me inspired and motivated. The food provided by The Bistro @ Stable View for breakfast, lunch and dinner was incredibly delicious. Accommodations were awesome. The session on self-defense for runners by Andy Watford was amazing. We learned some important moves as well as most interesting stories.Yoga was much appreciated. And dinner with Sara Hansel was amazing. She is an important member of the trailblazers, a phenomenal athlete, as an ultra runner and also in the equestrian world. We also got to enjoy watching the Hunter Jumpers horse show.
One of the greatest parts of the weekend was meeting experienced ultra runners. Their stories, advice, and passion for the sport reminded me that ultra Running is about far more than covering incredible distances, it’s about preparation, patience, and respect. I have always been satisfied to quit at 26.2 miles. Even though I did venture past the 26.2 mile mark once and actually ran 28 miles just to say I did. But I was never inspired to take the plunge into the ultra world. However, after meeting some incredible ultra athletes, I could almost be convinced to join them��
There seemed to be a theme throughout the weekend, learning to respect your body. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or your first hundred mile race, listening to your body is of the utmost importance. Recovery is just as important as training and every mile should be earned, not forced. There seemed to be a theme throughout the weekend, learning to respect your body. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or your first hundred mile race, listening to your body is of the utmost importance. Recovery is just as important as training and every mile should be earned, not forced.
Learning to respect the mileage was another key point. Ultra marathons aren’t conquered by speed alone, they’re completed through consistency pacing and understanding that every step
Nut ald, a s your body is constantly burning energy and losing fluids through sweat. Refueling isn’t an option, it’s a necessity. Replacing calories, carbohydrates, electrolytes, and fluids throughout a run helps keep both your body and mind performing at their very best. Planning your nutrition can make the difference between finishing strong and not finishing at all.
I’m so very grateful for the knowledge shared, the friendships made, and the inspiration that I gained. I can’t wait to see what next year’s Camp Run-A-Muck brings…
Reviving the Hives: A Promising Recovery for the Bees at Stable View
After last year’s disastrous honey harvest, the recovery we’re watching this year is remarkable.
Last year’s outcome was as a result of neglect - I (Barry) was under the impression that a Stable View employee knew what he was doing, but with the benefit of hindsight, he didn’t.
The Stable View bee hives are now being managed by Jacob Brewer - son of John Brewer who had previously built our hives to 17, prior to retiring.
We feel we’re back in the right track with Jacob and his assistant, who re-started the program last year with three viable hives. With two new Queens and four nuc’s - short for nucleus colonywe’re back up to seven hives. While this is nowhere near where we were, it’s much better than last year.
We’ve seen that the bees are very active this year with significant activity around the large holly trees by the Main Barn. They’re also very active around the Mountain Laurel (Kalmia) on the cross country course. My best suggestion for seeing them later this month will be around the magnolia grandiflora that are dotted around Stable View.
News and Updates
The Blazing of the Trails
Blazing of the trees has begun with fluorescent paint on the trees. The red loop is now complete and above is a diagram of symbols to help guide you on your next adventure!
A Logbook Lasso
In our inaugural year of The Aiken Trails Clubs, we endured an epic battle to keep a pen in our 'Sign In/Sign Out' book. It is now time to embrace a new era with a nostalgic 4color pen that is literally chained to the logbook.
Aiken Trails Cl b L Map:
