Top-Notch Trail and Ultra Running Docs Available on YouTube
Trail and long-distance running is something I enjoy and would gladly chat with you about for hours if you are up for it. What? No takers?? Strapping on my running gear and getting out in nature makes me feel calm, happy, and part of nature. Running takes me away from screens, which is necessary because I am a web developer, a profession that requires you to sit on your rump and stare at code for the majority of the day.
After a stressful day or week, I love hitting the trails and seeing people hiking and mountain biking and encountering all the beauty trails offer: chipmunks darting in front of you, deer staring at you when you round the bend, crazy birds squawking, dogs bounding about in vests, babies in backpacks, toddlers with big old sticks… everything about it rules.
In addition to training often and partaking in races, I like kicking back and watching stories about people who also run trail and ultra races for fun and/or professionally. Here are some of my favorite short films highlighting the highs and lows of professional and amateur athletes training for and participating in trail races big and small, shot in various scenic international locations.
I update this list often. Check out all the latest documentaries here:
For a new doc recommendation every day: follow the newly launched @TrailRunDocs
Life in a Day | The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run
“On June 25, 2016, a collection of trail and ultra runners toed the line at the historic Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run running from Squaw Valley to Auburn. Among the 350+ were 4 women vying for the win and a coveted top 10 finish which is recognized annually at this prestigious event.”
Finding The Limit. Big Backyard 2019
“The documentary is about the pursuit of finding the limit in running. The concept seems almost too simple for the last-man-standing race, where runners have an hour to complete a 4.166667-mile trail loop during the day and a road loop at night. The loops repeat until there is one runner left, so having a plan of not quitting almost guarantees a victory.”
The Source | Courtney Dauwalter Ultra Running Documentary
“The Source is a documentary film that explores elite ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter’s source of will. How does the candy-loving, beer-drinking athlete crush 200+ mile races, in some cases, beating all the men and the women? The film gives viewers a front-row seat as Courtney races the Tahoe 200 and lends insight.”
Unbreakable: The Western States 100
“Unbreakable: The Western States 100 follows the four lead men on this amazing journey. Hal Koerner, two-time defending Western States champion, and running store entrepreneur from Ashland, Oregon. Geoff Roes, undefeated at the 100-mile distance, an organic chef from Juneau, Alaska. Anton Krupicka, undefeated in every ultramarathon he has ever started, a graduate student living in Boulder, Colorado. Kilian Jornet, the young mountain runner and two-time Ultra-trail du Mont-Blanc champion, from Spain.”
Golden Trail Championship 2020 – A Strategic Battle
“Athletes from 32 different countries converged on Faial Island in the Portuguese Azores, in the middle of the Atlantic, to participate in this hair-raising, adrenalin-fuelled, excruciating race week of blood, sweat, and tears that was – the 2020 Golden Trail Championship. ”
Where Dreams Go To Die – Gary Robbins and The Barkley Marathons
“Where Dreams Go To Die is a documentary created by Ethan Newberry (The Ginger Runner) that follows Canadian ultrarunner, Gary Robbins, during his two attempts at completing The Barkley Marathons – a 100+ mile event many consider the toughest endurance run on Earth. Spanning more than 2 years, this journey is emotional, powerful and truly inspirational. Find out what it takes to attempt the impossible and the demons that follow. Learn the sacrifices that come with dedicating one’s life to this endeavor. Follow our intimate look at why The Barkley is where dreams go to die.”
Found on 49| the Story of Jim Walmsley
“The story of Jim Walmsley’s first 100-miler at the 2016 Western States 100-mile endurance run. We follow Jim a few weeks out from race day through his historic day ahead of course record splits and the dramatic conclusion of being lost on highway 49.”
Determined | The Rise of Maggatron
“Maggie has made a name for herself as one of the top ultra runners in the country. Her steady rise to success over the past couple of years peaked this summer when she offered up an impressive debut at the highly revered Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. Her story is one of perseverance, resilience, and determination. Get ready to be inspired.”
Cape Wrath: Inside Scotland’s Epic Ultra-running Race
“Winding through the beautiful lochs, glens, and mountains of the Scottish Highlands, the Cape Wrath Ultra™ is an ultra-running expedition through some of the world’s most inspirational landscapes, including Morar, Knoydart, Kintail, Torridon, Assynt, and Sutherland. This film follows the progress of the inaugural race in May 2016, focusing on some of the first-ever participants to take on this extraordinary adventure.”
MILLER VS. HAWKS | TNF Endurance Challenge 50 Miler 2016
“Hayden Hawks takes on the 2015 The North Face EC 50 champion Zach Miller and one of the most stacked 50 milers on the ultra marathon circuit. They had an epic battle all day finishing within just a couple minutes of one another.”
Marathon des Sables 2017
“10 days in the desert, 8 nights in a bivouac, and 250k on the burning sand. Marathon des Sables, or MdS, is a six-day, 251 km ultramarathon, which is approximately the distance of six regular marathons. The longest single stage is 91 km long. This multiday race is held every year in southern Morocco, in the Sahara Desert. It has been regarded as the toughest foot race on Earth.”
Paul Tierney: Running The Wainwrights
“In June 2019, Paul Tierney set out on an epic adventure to summit all 214 Alfred Wainwright Lake District (U.K.) peaks in one go. His goal was to try and beat the record time of 6 days 13 hours and 1 minute, set five years earlier by fellow fell runner Steve Birkinshaw.”
Chasing Pounamu | Running the Tarawera 100 Mile Ultramarathon from the Back
“An inspirational authentic story that follows a back of the pack runner, as he runs for redemption at the 2019 Tarawera 100 mile Ultramarathon. A moving and dramatic story of the everyday-man, interspersed with insights from the elites of global trail running. Chasing Pounamu will touch anyone that’s ever got back up to try something that seemed impossible.”
Racing America’s Oldest Hiking Trail
“Finding Traction presents the inspirational story of ultra runner Nikki Kimball’s quest to become the fastest person in history to run America’s oldest hiking trail, the 273-mile Long Trail. Through Nikki’s incredible journey, racing towards a dream and against time, we gain a new perspective on what we all share in terms of endurance and the human spirit.”
The Year The Barkley Won | 2018 Barkley Marathons
“The 2018 Barkley Marathons from the perspective of participant Jamil Coury. Nobody finished.”
The Gathering | The Hardrock 100
“A collection of sights and sounds from the front of the pack of the 2017 running of the Hardrock 100. Featured athletes include Kilian Jornet, Mike Foote, Caroline Chaverot, Darcy Piceu among others. In a year that included a separated shoulder to alpine thunderstorms, here are some of the candid moments throughout various parts of the course.”
50 Miles – GOWER ULTRA 50
“50 Miles is an ultra-marathon race documentary following Alyn Tomkinson (Ginger Al), around some of South Wales’ most stunning beaches. The Gower Ultra 50 is a 50-mile race put on by Run Walk Crawl, which starts in the Mumbles, Swansea, and does a complete loop of the Gower taking in all the beautiful beaches and coastal paths along the way.”
The Bob Graham Round: Running the Fells with Friends
“Tony Holt attempts the iconic Bob Graham Round: a 66-mile ultra-distance mountain challenge taking in 42 of England’s Lake District fells with 27,000ft of ascent, which must be completed within 24 hours. More than just a physical and mental challenge for the ultra-fit, Tony narrates his story and explains that it’s running in the hills with friends that makes it so special.”
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc – UTMB 2017
“On a route slightly shortened to 167 km, it was the wine-grower François d’Haene who won the vintage 2017 after an ultra-rapid race (19hrs 01) during which he only stopped for 13’50! The maestro, Kilian Jornet completed the podium alongside the American Tim Tollefson as impressive as ever over the last part of the race. For the women, the Catalan athlete Núria Picas climbed to the top step of the podium, but it would not have taken much for this ‘dream’ to have evaporated a few kilometers from the finish, as she had Andrea Huser on her heels, who finally lacked less than three minutes to make the crucial connection.”
My First 200 Miler in the Italian Alps – Tor des Géants
“The 330 km Tor des Géants is a race in the Italian Alps. The course heads counter-clockwise on the Alta Via 2 along the south side of the Aosta valley for the first half of the race, returning along the Alta Via 1 back to Courmayeur.”
Conquering The Dragon – Film of the 2017 Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race
“Six days | 380km | 17,400m – the legendary multi-stage, ultra running journey down the spine of Wales. This is the world’s toughest mountain race.”
Into The Well: 100 Miles. 32 Hours. 200 Racers.
“An outdoor adventure documentary feature film telling the story of personal endurance. An excruciating test of how far one is willing to push themself to accomplish their goals. Follow three West Virginians as they prepare for the first 100-mile ultramarathon in the New River Gorge National Park where they’ll take on a challenge far greater than they could ever have imagined.”
Race to the podium | Wong Ho Chung’s UTMB 2021
“We followed Wong Ho Chung, one of Hong Kong’s best trail runners as he competes in France in the UTMB to make a documentary recording his journey starting from Hong Kong.
Watch to see if he made it onto the podium and what difficulties he faced.”
I update this list often. Check out all the latest documentaries here:
