The Trailhead Best of 2025: On Insanity, Effort, and Choosing Your Obsessions Wisely
4 snips
Dec 23, 2025 
Steve Magness, a performance scientist, discusses the power of running as a healthy 'cult' that fosters community and emotional connection. He explains how shared challenges can strengthen relationships. Dan Lieberman, an evolutionary biologist, calls ultra running 'totally bizarre,' offering insights into our evolutionary mismatches with long-distance running. Their engaging conversation dives into the effort paradox, exploring why we value hard-earned achievements, and highlights how running can serve as a laboratory for personal growth and virtue.
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Hitchhiking To A Grueling Race Start
- Zoë Rom hitchhiked to the start of a 78-mile race in Italy and arrived 90 seconds before the gun.
- She stood between Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmsley and endured 15 hours of nonstop rain and mud.
The Slow Slog To A Round Number Goal
- Brendan Leonard chased a round-number vert goal via a self-run "100 grand" club and pushed to 300,000 feet.
- He slogged through late-year runs and counted non-running activities to hit the target.
Marriage, Mountains, And Snowfield Crossings
- Zoë Rom married her former running partner and honeymooned in the Italian Alps.
- Early-season snow forced harrowing snowfield crossings that bonded them and made for memorable runs.
