My Top 10 Trail Running Videos on YouTube
This is a very unofficial list of my favorite trail running videos on YouTube (and one on Vimeo).
I thought it would be cool to gather all my favorite YouTube videos and make a top 10 list. I’ve gotten so much inspiration from all of these, and if you haven’t seen these (a lot of trail runners probably have) then you might enjoy them and gain a little “inspo” as well. I’m going to start the list at 10, then work my way down to what I think is the greatest trail running video on YouTube. This was tough for me because there’s so many incredibly made films on YouTube, but here we go.
Lets start things off.
Golden Hour - Austin Meyer ( @austinmeyerfilms )
Definitely the biggest tear jerker of the list. Filmmaker Austin Meyer takes a different direction from most films you see about Western States. He finds four runners to follow who won’t be finishing at the front of the pack, but hoping to cross the finish line around the “golden hour”. The Golden Hour of Ultra Running is the last hour before the cut off time. It’s become a favorite time at any ultra marathon race for spectators and racers alike. Many of the top finishers will usually return to watch the last hour of some of the biggest races. At Western States the cut off is 30 hours, so grab a box of tissues and check this beautifully done short documentary.
The Fell Runner - Alex Simpson (@alexsimpsonfilm)
One of my all time favorites. This is the shortest video of the list and the only one not on YouTube. The way this is filmed and how relatable the short story is to most runners makes this one I go back to watch constantly. Enjoy.
Belus Brotherhood - Dylan Harris (@spiritofdylan)
This is the the most underrated film on the list, it’s a great story of Matt Belus returning from injury and running the Tushars 100k. However, it’s not only the story that makes this one great. The music, sweeping drone shots of the Tushars Mountains in Utah, amazingly edited, just an overall visually epic and beautiful film.
Eric Senseman’s Black Canyon 100k Trilogy - Steep Life Media (@steeplifemedia)
I’m cheating a bit here, but these three videos all go together so well I made them into one post. The first video (Golden Tickets - The Hard Way) is mostly just cool race footage of the leaders of the 2017 Black Canyon 100k trying to secure golden tickets to the Western States 100 with Eric coming up short in 3rd place (Need to place top two for a ticket). The second video (Black Canyon Bliss) is similar with a little pre-amble from Eric before the video gets going of the 2018 Black Canyon 100k, where Eric has to drop out due to sickness. Then the third (Desert Redemption - At The Black Canyon 100k) is following Eric’s third attempt at securing a Golden Ticket at the 2019 Black Canyon 100k, I won’t spoil the result of this one for you. I just love these videos with so much raw race footage, I usually let these all play the day before I have a big race for inspiration.
Miller vs. Hawkes - Run Steep Get High (@runsteepgethigh) & King vs. Hedges - Remi Leroux (@remi_leroux_)
I’m cheating again here by throwing two videos in one BUT, I love these two videos and when Remi released King vs. Hedges, it reminded me so much of the classic Miller vs. Hawkes video, I thought they could go well together. I think Miller vs. Hawkes has been a staple for many trail runners to go to for instant inspiration on the trails, but I encourage you to check out Remi’s video as well, because it’s an incredible finish and also incredible footage by Remi keeping up with two of the best at the Breakneck Point Trail Marathon with a spot on Team USA and a trip to the Trail World Championships on the line.
LOST THEN FOUND - Muhrk Media (@muhrkmedia)
You might think this is a biased pick for the list because it’s about a childhood friend of mine Christian Meier. But, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. This is an incredible tale of Christian and his wife Amber’s journey from him retiring from professional cycling to focusing on their business ventures and Christian trying to find himself again through trail running. Absolutely beautifully lit and filmed through the entire doc and an uplifting and inspiring story to prove to us that we all can find meaning in our lives and learn to grow when something we love comes to an end.
The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young - Annika Iltis (@annikailtis) & Timothy James Kane & Where Dreams Go To Die - Gary Robbins and The Barkley Marathons - Ethan Newberry (@ethannewberry)
I’m cheating once again, but who cares at this point, right? It just means more awesome trail running stuff to watch! Two amazing full length Barkley Marathons documentaries. First, about the original Barkley Marathon doc:
This is the most traditional style documentary on the list, and the first ever film about the Barkley Marathons that I know of. I remember I watched The Race That Eats Its Young on Netflix years ago before I even started running. Thankfully it’s currently available to watch on YouTube. I remember being completely enthralled watching this for the first time and still am each time I watch it again. Runners and non runners alike can watch this one and be fully entertained, its hilarious and well worth the watch, and if you haven’t heard of the Barkley Marathons, this will really be a treat.
Now, a newer Barkley doc Where Dreams Go To Die is in my opinion a masterpiece of story telling by Ethan Newberry, following one of my heroes (Newfoundlander) Gary Robbins, at his attempts at the Barkley. I recommend watching The Race That Eats Its Young first, but Where Dreams Go To Die stands up as just as impressive of a full length documentary, and it’s hard to believe they are both online to watch for free.
Return to Leadville - The Evolution of Anton Krupicka - Billy Yang (@billyyang)
If you’ve been a trail running fan for any amount of time, you eventually become a fan of Anton Krupicka. A dominant runner on the trail running scene in the early to mid 2010’s, maybe the most popular blog during those times about his races and life, Anton is a thoughtful, intellectual, and driven athlete which makes him a great follow on Instagram and Strava. Injuries derailed some of his prime years as a trail runner. He eventually picked up the bicycle while injured and found a new love. However this story is about his return to ultra running that the entire trail running world had been waiting for, for years. Beautifully filmed and incredibly told by one of the best trail running filmmakers out there Billy Yang, I just love this doc so much. It also has an incredible soundtrack.
UNBREAKABLE: The Western States 100 - Journey Film (@journeyfilm)
This is probably most peoples #1 pick, and it could easily be mine. I’ve probably watched this film more than any other video on this list. If you are just getting into trail running, I feel like this is required watching. It follows 4 of the best trail runners in the world at the time battling it out at the 2010 Western States 100. The great footage caught here and how lucky the Journey Film crew were to be filming at such an incredible time in history is amazing, its like all the stars aligned and they were there to capture every moment. I love this documentary and it could easily be number one on the list.
LIFE IN A DAY | The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run - Billy Yang (@billyyang)
My personal favorite trail running documentary. Before this film, it didn’t seem as though women’s racing was as represented when it comes to trail running films online. This film doesn’t only change the direction of that, but it blows it out of the water. An epic story of 4 runners taking on the Western States 100. It dives into personal details of each runner and shows the ups and downs of all of their experiences through the day. It’s another tear jerker and just an absolutely beautiful story and film.
What do you think? Would love to hear more trail running film recommendations from anyone. Here’s a few more honorable mentions for videos I love that didn’t make my top ten.