The Ultra Minute 🏔️ February 7, 2025
Hans Troyer seeks redemption at Black Canyon, all your last-minute race week hype in one place, the latest Chipotle Challenge twists, new sponsorship moves, and more
Hans Troyer Seeks Redemption at Black Canyon
Last year, Hans Troyer lined up at Black Canyon 100K as an unknown 24-year-old ultrarunner who had just burst onto the scene with a breakthrough performance at Bandera 100K. This weekend, he returns to the Arizona desert as an Altra-sponsored athlete with something to prove.
The Black Canyon 100K, one of North America's most competitive ultramarathons, offers a fast, net-downhill point-to-point course from Mayer to the northern edge of Phoenix. As a "super" Golden Ticket Race, it awards the top three men and women automatic entry into the Western States Endurance Run, drawing an elite field and serving as a proving ground for emerging talent.
In his 2024 Black Canyon debut, Troyer brought the same fearless front-running style that had turned heads at Bandera and his earlier ultras. He'd never been one to play it safe or sit back—in every race, he pushed the pace from the gun, forcing others to respond. Even though he lined up nursing an achilles issue just weeks off running the Bandera 100k, Troyer ran stride for stride with Hayden Hawks for the majority of the race—though he admits with a laugh, "I didn't know who he was till about 2-3 weeks before the race when people were telling me he was the biggest threat. I followed him on socials soon after, but still didn't quite understand just what I was up against."
What he was up against turned out to be the 2024 Ultrarunner of the Year. While Hawks went on to win in a course-record 7:30:18, Troyer hit a wall and faded—yet still managed to gut out a 10th place finish. But his real battle was just beginning.
After the race, severe dehydration forced Troyer to return to an aid station for IV fluids. Having experienced mild exertional rhabdomyolysis (a serious condition where muscle breakdown overwhelms the kidneys) in college, he assumed simple rehydration would be enough. He was wrong.
Days later, alarmed by a 30-pound weight gain from fluid retention, he rushed to the hospital. The diagnosis stopped him cold: his kidneys had completely stopped filtering. At just 23 years old, doctors told him that if he weren't so young and fit, he would have been on dialysis. The news terrified him—this wasn't just a bad race or a tough recovery, this was potentially life-threatening.
Twelve days in the hospital transformed him, first dangerously swollen from fluid retention, then losing all of it and more. When he was finally discharged, he was severely underweight and facing not just a physical rebuild, but a psychological one. The experience shook him.
"I did not allow myself to even get close to dehydrated for months," he said. "One instance over the summer, I ran out of water on a run, absolutely panicked, and knocked on people's doors for more. It took a minute for me to get over it."
His comeback started with 20-minute walks, gradually building back strength and confidence. In August, he made a crucial decision to work with coach David Roche, the Leadville 100 course record holder, and runner-up to Hayden Hawks in the 2024 UltraRunner of the Year voting. Roche soon had him focusing on durability through "just say no to rhabdo" weekends—back-to-back days of running steep hills on fatigued legs. He also overhauled his fueling strategy after learning he'd been consuming less than half the carbs, sodium, and fluids of his competitors at Black Canyon.
The path wasn't perfect. At September's Grindstone 100K, his first attempt at the distance since Black Canyon, Troyer showed his characteristic aggressive style, running over an hour in the lead past the halfway point. But then everything unraveled—his heart rate wouldn't come down, he became confused, and ultimately decided to drop around mile 45. The DNF was frustrating but reinforced what he already knew: he needed to trust the process.
He kept working with Roche to refine his fueling strategy, partnered with Hyperlyte Liquid Performance, his first sponsor, to dial in a more structured hydration plan, and focused on building the kind of durability that had allowed competitors like Hawks to maintain their pace through 100 kilometers.
It wasn’t long before that patience and persistence started to pay off. In October 2024, he won the USATF 50-Mile Road Championship at Tussey Mountain in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, shattering the course record in 5:16:14. He followed that with a dominant 3:46:53 win at January's Bandera 50K just a few weeks ago—his first race as an Altra-sponsored athlete.
Coming into Black Canyon this year, Hans told me he’s had this race on his mind a lot the past year, noting that he considers himself a very competitive guy and Black Canyon beat him last year.
“And I don’t like getting beat” he said with a laugh.
Tomorrow's race will be his biggest test yet. The field includes Eli Hemming, last year's Black Canyon 60K winner and reigning OCC champion; Craig Hunt, who posted the fastest closing 10-mile split in race history last year; Jupiter Carrera Casas, 2024's runner-up; and Seth Ruhling, a two-time JFK 50 Mile champion, among a number of other incredibly fast runners, any number of which could challenge for the win.
For Troyer, this isn't just a Golden Ticket race. It's a chance to rewrite his Black Canyon story. After last year's near-catastrophic experience, he returns stronger, wiser, and better prepared. Needless to say, I'll be on the edge of my seat tomorrow watching the livestream. Will he go out hard and race off the front? And if he does, can he stick the landing?
If things don't go his way, he'll have another shot at a Golden Ticket at Canyons 100K in April. Beyond that, he's already eyeing up David Sinclair’s course record at the JFK 50 Mile later this year, setting up what could be an epic season.
But first, he has unfinished business in the Arizona desert.
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Editor's Note: This is the first in a new series of mini profiles featuring compelling personalities in ultrarunning. Let us know in the comments if you'd like to see more features like this in future issues of The Ultra Minute.
More Black Canyon Hype
- (Aid Station Fireball), 2023 Freetrail Fantasy champ, breaks down the men’s and women’s fields in his Black Canyon 100K preview, highlighting race favorites, Golden Ticket hopefuls, and dark horses. Read his men’s preview here and his women’s preview here.
I recently came across
on Substack, where he’s putting out solid trail running analysis. His latest Black Canyon 100K preview podcast dives into key storylines and Fantasy Freetrail picks. Check out the episode here.Mountain Outpost’s Chasing Gold series features quick, 20-minute interviews with many of the top contenders for both the 100K and 50K. A great way to put names (and faces) to the top athletes. Check out the full playlist here.
For an audio-only deep dive into the women’s field, Women of Distance Podcast rolls out quick-hit interviews with contenders. Part one covers returning veterans like Emkay Sullivan, Heather Jackson, and Tara Dower, while part two highlights first-timers including Mary Denholm, Abby Hall, and Jane Maus. Listen to part one here and part two here.
Singletrack Podcast brings in-depth analysis across both fields, with Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling breaking down race dynamics, course strategy, and Golden Ticket battles. Apple Podcasts | YouTube
For the most offbeat Black Canyon preview, and Derrick Lytle of The Jeffries trail running award show go full satire on the Free Outside Podcast. Expect hot takes, race predictions, and absurd discussions, including why Hayden Hawks could still win from New Zealand. Apple Podcasts | YouTube
How To Watch Black Canyon
I’m glad you asked. Sure, the Super Bowl is happening this weekend with an estimated 117 million viewers, but let’s be honest, the real sporting event of the weekend is Mountain Outpost’s livestream of Black Canyon. Here’s the schedule (all times in Mountain Time):
Today
1:00 PM – The Shakeout Show with Freetrail
3:00 PM – Men’s Elite Panel
3:30 PM – Women’s Elite Panel
Saturday
Sunday
6:30 AM - Black Canyon 50k
Chipotle Challenge Drama Hits Toronto
Last week, we covered the Chipotle Challenge madness unfolding in Tempe, AZ, but it seems the Toronto segment had quite a dramatic last-minute twist. Canadian Running reports that Jérôme Sakoun surged to victory in the final hour of the month-long Strava competition, despite previously announcing he was injured and out of the race. His secret? A delayed upload of 230 laps (about 138 km) over the last 10 days, catching Canadian Running’s own Marley Dickinson—who believed he was leading by 150 laps—completely off guard.
The tactic was within the challenge’s rules, but was it sportsmanlike? While some runners questioned the strategy, Chipotle apparently upheld Sakoun’s win, stating “Toronto was not the only city where runners used unique tactics to throw off their competitors.” If this challenge returns next year, expect competitors to never trust the local legend leaderboard again.
More from the Chipotle Challenge
While we’re on the topic, a lot has happened since we wrote about the Chipotle Challenge on its final day last week. For starters, Jamil won, in a sort of shock reveal at midnight. Turns out in those few hours when Kevin took a nap, Jamil ran like crazy.
Matter of Brand’s
breaks down how Jamil Coury turned the Chipotle Challenge into a storytelling masterclass, drawing massive engagement across Instagram and YouTube. Read it here.- , writing for Run by Outside, delivers the definitive account of the Jamil Coury vs. Kevin Russ showdown, covering their 700-mile duel, surprise attacks, and final-mile drama. If you want the complete picture of this absurd and epic endurance battle, read this one.
Brett Hornig sat down with Jamil Coury on Conversational Pace to break down all the shoes he used during the challenge—but the real intrigue comes at the end, when they discuss a strange technicality. Because Jamil’s final Strava upload processed a minute after midnight, the contest didn’t officially count his last 130+ miles. Watch on YouTube.
The City of Tempe, in an Instagram post, shared that both Jamil Coury and Kevin Russ are co-winners of the Chipotle Challenge, with both awarded a year of free burritos. Whether this was due to the Strava upload glitch mentioned above or just goodwill is unclear, but Big Burrito has spoken.
Sponsorship News
Allison Baca, Katie Asmuth, Lotti Brinks, Jessica Brazeau, and Corrine Malcolm have joined Hoka, revealed in the most fun and creative sponsorship announcement I’ve seen, with the video starting as a playful iMessage chat before transitioning into a FaceTime call with the athletes celebrating together on the trails.
Brooks has expanded its trail team, with Freetrail highlighting the signings in an Instagram post celebrating Chris Myers' move to the brand. In addition to Chris, the U.S. signings include Kristina Randrup, Taylor Stack, Sydney Petersen, and Barrett Gray. Internationally, Brooks also added Remi Leroux (Canada), Ricardo Cherta (Spain), Guillaume Tiphène (France), Anthony Felber (France), and Laura Hampel (Germany).
Cody Lind has signed with Adidas Terrex after a decade with Scott Running. Lind, who finished 4th at Western States in 2021 and 7th at UTMB in 2024, has long been a presence in the sport as both an athlete and coach.
Jeanette Brass and Michelle Buncke have joined Speedland for the 2025 season. Buncke, in an Instagram post announcing the signing, also used the moment to advocate for greater representation of women in trail running and leadership, saying, “We need to see more women at the front of start lines, in leadership positions, behind the camera and in front of the lens. To all the other women out there juggling athletics, careers, family and a million other things, you’re not alone. We got this 💪”
Harry Šubertas has signed with Janji, joining their 2025 Field Team. A specialist in 200+ mile races, Šubertas had a dominant 2024, winning Cocodona 250 in course record time and following it up with a victory at Tahoe 200 just a month later. He was ranked 8th among men in UltraRunner of the Year voting by UltraRunning Magazine.
NNormal is teasing a major signing, posting a silhouetted photo with the caption, “Kenya is calling,” and announcing that the latest addition to the team will be revealed today. Stay tuned.
Other News & Links
Tantrums launched its website with the Rebuild Tee, a fundraiser to help restore trails lost in the recent Los Angeles-area wildfires. The Pasadena-based brand had planned a broader product release but pivoted to focus on supporting trail recovery, with 100% of profits going to LoweLifes and Eaton Canyon Nature Center. The design, cleverly inspired by California’s CAL FIRE logo, honors firefighters while funding efforts to rebuild Eaton Canyon and surrounding trails. Order here.
- reports that Wyoming state senators have filed a resolution demanding the federal government turn over 30 million acres of public land, including Grand Teton National Park and Devil’s Tower National Monument, while excluding Yellowstone. He writes that if transferred, Wyoming’s constitution would require the land to be sold rather than preserved. He also reports that seasonal hiring for the National Park Service is being canceled, with personnel files disappearing from government servers, leaving thousands of employees uncertain about their jobs. The cuts come as Elon Musk’s DOGE gains access to federal payroll systems, raising concerns that parks will be dangerously understaffed this summer.
SheRACES Trail Series has reversed its policy on transgender women following community backlash. Initially excluding trans women, the series faced criticism, including an open letter from
. Organizers acknowledged the need for inclusivity and will now follow their existing policy allowing transgender women to participate non-competitively.Billy Meredith has launched a self-supported attempt on the Te Araroa FKT, aiming to complete the 3,000 km (1,900 mi) route across New Zealand faster than the overall, supported record of 49 days. His attempt comes just a couple weeks after Karel Sabbe set off in pursuit of the same record with a full support crew. Meredith holds the FKT for the Calendar Year Triple Crown, covering 7,514 miles across the AT, PCT, and CDT in 234 days.
GU Energy Labs has selected Faith Akioyamen (@mileswithfaith) and Miki Sawada (@mikipony) as their sponsored runners for the 2025 Western States 100, continuing their initiative to increase access and inclusivity in trail running for a second year. Akioyamen, a nurse and single mom with roots in Nigeria, sees running as her anchor and a way to challenge expectations. Sawada, a classical pianist from Japan, travels the country with her Gather Hear Tour. Both will receive free entry to Western States, coaching, GU products for training and the race, and a $5,000 travel stipend.
Tyler Green is racing Running Up For Air (RUFA) this Saturday, climbing Grandeur Peak for 12 hours to raise money for Utah Clean Energy. Now in its 14th year, RUFA has grown to six events across three states. Green is encouraging donations based on his laps, miles, or vertical gain (your choice!). Donate to his campaign here and learn more about RUFA here.
Aravaipa has announced a new addition to the Cocodona series: the Mingus Traverse 82, an 82-mile point-to-point race that highlights some of the most iconic sections of the Cocodona 250. The route takes runners through Prescott, Mingus Mountain, Jerome, Clarkdale, and Sedona, with 8,930 feet of elevation gain. The inaugural race will take place May 6–8, 2025 and registration is now open. More details here.
Speaking of Cocodona, volunteer spots are now open for this year’s race. Volunteers support athletes as they tackle the 250-mile journey across Arizona while earning Aravaipa Running race credits for future races. Sign up here.
Women Can has released its second Design Odyssey collection piece, The Brea, following the launch of the series in December. The limited-edition design is available on tees and canvas totes sustainably produced in Asheville, NC. Shop here.
The Pro Trail Runners Association (PTRA) has announced the third event in its PTRA TALKS series, this time featuring Kilian Jornet and Francesco Puppi discussing the physiological and psychological demands of training for elite trail runners. The talk takes place February 10 at 7 PM CET (1PM EST) and is open to all. It’s free for PTRA members, while non-members can attend with a €10 donation to support the organization. A Q&A session will follow the discussion. More info here and sign up here.
Read of the Week
- asks the uncomfortable question: Is ultrarunning on the same path as cycling’s doping era? In his latest piece, he draws parallels between pro cycling’s descent into rampant PED use and ultrarunning’s current lack of oversight, arguing that without random out-of-competition testing and a real governing body, it’s only a matter of time before clean athletes are forced to choose between doping or getting left behind. Read it here.
And that’s it for this week! Whew, this one was a sprint (it’s 3:30 AM my time, and my sons wake up early), but I wanted to get it out before Black Canyon comes and goes. I had a lot of fun putting together the Hans story, but that format is certainly rather time-intensive so I’m not sure how often I’ll do it.
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend, and I’ll see y’all right here next week! If you enjoyed this issue, consider forwarding it to a friend who might enjoy it too, and encourage them to subscribe here. ✌🏼
Ken
I vote for more of the profiles!
Fantastic read, Ken. Thank you.