✳️Trail Running Media Gift Guide!

Even the creators of gift guides need their own guide…

Hey pals,

Christmas time is an important time for me. From spending time with friends and family, reflecting on the past year and dreaming up plans for the next. It’s a month bookmarked by traditions that build up year after year.

Over the last couple of years I’ve published A Trail Running Media Gift Guide, a selection of ways you can gift the trail runner in your life a present that mutually shows your support for the media outlets and creators that give life to this community, whilst also helping you with last minute gifts.

This year I’ve updated the list with a few finds across the year.

Whether by subscribing to a publication directly, donating to their Patreon, purchasing their merch, or buying something using a discount code, we can all support the media outlets and creators in our industry this year by investing in them.

This list is by no means comprehensive, so please support your favourite trail running media publication/podcast/creator in any way you can :)

I hope you have a restful Christmas and a raucous New Year.

Matt

For the Reflective Runner

Like The Wind is for those that believe that running is more than a sport, but a way of being. Reading Simon and Julie Freeman’s Like The Wind magazine is truly an engrossing experience. Going from page to page you begin to realise how universal an experience running is and how through this lens we are able to empathise with whole other cultures, nations and societies.

Subscribe to Like the Wind here or browse their store for similar gifts.

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For the Runner who wants Depth, not Volume

You could listen to more running podcasts. You’ve chosen not to. Freetrail is for runners who value signal over noise and would rather spend an hour with one good idea than skim ten forgettable ones. A subscription buys you access to media that respects your time, your intelligence, and the fact that trail running is more interesting than most coverage lets on.

Subscribe to Freetrail Pro here.

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For the Runner who Loves their Training Advice with a Side of Joy

David and Megan Roche’s SWAP Podcast is probably the only podcast I listen to that sparkles with effervescent joy. You leave filled with practical training recommendations and a smile. For those that want more, their Patreon just keeps on giving. Subscribe here.

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For the Ultrarunner in Need of some Downtime

If you just want your ultrarunner friend or partner to just sit down and stop running for just a hot minute, maybe get them subscribed to Ultrarunning magazine. It satisfies their need to become a better runner, whilst letting them put their feet up.

Subscribe here (US)

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For the Runner who has a terrible time during milers and wants to keep doing more, but doesn’t know why

There are few people better at describing the experience and exploring the masochistic drive to run epic distances than Doug Mayer. Doug’s new graphic novel is an extraordinary creative exploration of what the mind and body goes through when running such long distances, written from the perspective of a fictional man called Sam Hill who runs the Tor De Geants (Doug has finished Tor three times, so he’s well qualified for these mental excavations).

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For the Ultramarathoner in need of some 2026 inspiration

Immerse them in a world of breathtaking landscapes, thrilling race reports, and captivating stories from fellow ultrarunners in Ultra magazine (UK). Ultra not only delivers stunning photography that captures the essence of our sport but also provides valuable insights into upcoming races and events around the world, perfect for planning that 2026 race calendar…

Subscribe here

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For the Runner in Search of an Alpine Adventure

This guidebook has become my go-to for planning my annual trip to Chamonix. If like me you want to cram in as much vert as you can when in the valley, Run the Alp’s guidebook is all you need. Buy the book direct here.

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For the Literary Runner

Yes, you can gift newsletter subscriptions and there’s a newsletter for every type of Runner:

• For the thoughtful ponderer: Sarah Lavender Smith

• For the person that works in the ‘the industry’: Matt Trappe

• For the runner who enjoys more than just miles: Raziq Rauf

• For the runner that likes their training advice intermingled with philosophy: Mario Fraioli

• For the generous soul: Trailmix (well, someone’s got to advocate for me)