Trusted by Pioneers Who’ve Run Across Continents
Join
Home
/
From Epic Runs to Grants, Gear & Guts in 2025— This is Your Starting Line for 2026

From Epic Runs to Grants, Gear & Guts
2025 Recap & Your 2026 Starting Line
2025 gave us the kind of trail stories you don’t forget — brutal climbs, breakthrough moments, and gear that actually held up when it mattered.

If your year was filled with strong miles, I hope you’re proud. If it wasn’t, no shame — 2026 is wide open.

Here’s your spark: epic trails, runs that hurt (in the best way), clubs and causes that actually connect, grants that help bold ideas take off, and stories that prove you don’t need a race bib to run something worth remembering.

Real resources, raw inspiration, and ideas to help you plan, fund, and run your next adventure — whatever freedom, impact, or challenge looks like for you.

Best Trails


Image by Hiking Trails


Most inspiring runners of 2025


Most Inspiring Running Expeditions of 2025
Explorers Web included Mountain and Arctic expeditions on foot in their Expedition Top 10:


Top Running Adventures for 2026


Running Adventure Essentials


Global Running related Charities
Examples of how to use running to drive social impact, focusing on areas like:


Running Clubs and Communities

  • Parkrun: Offers free, inclusive weekly running events worldwide for community health.
  • GoodGym: combines running, walking and cycling with helping local areas and communities.


Adventure Grants & Funding

  • Explorers Club: dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration and resource conservation.
  • Adventure Queens: a not-for-profit women's adventure community, run almost entirely by volunteers.
  • Alpkit Foundation: small, direct grants (£50–£500) for "Go Nice Places Do Good" projects, including grassroots trail adventures.


Inspiring examples of homemade running adventure projects:

  1. One of the first self initiated running projects that has been documented is Running the Sahara in 2006:
    “When I decided to run across the Sahara Desert with Ray Zahab and Kevin Lin, I knew it would be a life changing expedition. But I could never have known that, in many ways, my life would be defined by this run and the film about the journey,” says expedition leader Charlie Engle.

    While running more than 4,500 miles across Africa, the three men learned about the people and culture of the Sahara, and raised more than 6 million dollars for clean water projects in the region.
    "This is the true legacy of our historic expedition,” Charlie says.

    Find out more about the adventure, the runners, the trail route, and their stories    .

  2. Running for Water
    Australian Mina Guli was not sporty. But when she became aware of the problem of invisible water, through her job as a lawyer, she decided to make it her life ambition to solve the water crisis.

    A stunt would be needed to capture the world’s media attention. That's how she started running for water awareness. The campaign of #Run4Water and her foundation Thirst have reached and activated thousands of people since 2012.

    In November 2018 Mina started her journey of running 100 marathons in 100 days. When she broke her leg after 62 days, the global community of water-conscious people all over the world took over by running or walking Mina’s miles to help her complete the 100-day challenge!

    Every year she initiates a new challenge on World Water Day.
    Check out all her incredible initiatives.

  3. Make the Most of It
    After his terminal Prostate cancer diagnosis, Kevin Webber was looking for a way to prove, to himself and others, that he could still do things.
    Ten years later, he has run over 16,000 miles in places like the Sahara, the Arctic, Cambodia, Jordan, Iceland etc etc, always fundraising and inspiring.

    “Every day I now see as a gift and if you have a gift it would be rude to not use it,
to leave it unwrapped, in a dark corner of a cupboard.”


    Kevin is continuously raising funds to battle the biggest cancer affecting men – prostate cancer.
    Never stop trying! Find out more about Kevin and his book.


What to Expect from Trail Runners Connection in 2026
We’re just getting started. In 2026, TRC will roll out a living global adventure calendar, launch the first Trails of Impact Awards, and open up Deep Quests — interactive campaigns you can join, build or back, including map, milestones, and momentum to make 2026 count — on your terms. 

Expect real stories, raw miles, and tools that actually move your mission forward. The structure, and trusted connections to help you shape your next challenge — solo or with a cause, crew, or community.

From grants to gear to global shout-outs — it’s all coming.
Watch this space. Better yet, claim your place.

TRC isn’t about running faster — it’s about running deeper. With purpose. With people. With stories that stick. 
The spark to make it accessible, achievable, and exciting.
Where plans turn into action. Let’s run it.

Wish you a Wonderful Running Year!

Mel
Founder Trail Runners Connection

User email *
Password *
Please select form to show
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Last Page

Get listed and make a chance to win the Global Running Adventures Award

Are you an adventure seeking runner who has completed a self made project or is eager to start one?

Submit this 3-minute application to qualify for a FREE profile page, including your bio, achievements, past/upcoming adventure, story and cause.

Wanna give people an opportunity to participate in your exciting running project or expedition-like adventure?
Here's your chance to share it with the world for free!

You qualify for the FREE Profile Page if you meet the following criteria:

  • you have a self supported running project completed, in the making or are planning to start one
  • your project will support a good cause that relates to you personally
  • you need media, sponsors and a network to get all the possible support to succeed
  • you're enthusiastic and motivated to realize your goals! 

Just a few questions to get a better picture;-)
I'll read and respond to each and every application, and I'll get back to you within a few days.

Who do you apply for? *
First name of the person you nominate *
please fill in their first name
Last name of the person you nominate *
please fill in their last name
What is the email of the person you nominate? *
please fill in their email
Fill required fields
Your first name *
Your last name *
Your email *
Fill required fields
Stage running journey *
if you nominate someone else fill in for him/her
Fill required fields
Adventure start date
you can change it later if you're not sure yet
Adventure end date
you can change it later if you're not sure yet
Fill required fields
Name of adventure *
you can change it later if you're not sure yet
Adventure description *
give a short description of your adventure (idea)
Where did/will the adventure take place *
you can change it later if you're not sure yet
Fill required fields
Link to adventure resources
you can fill in your website or any other resource
Why (did) you want to do this? *
give a short description of the reason for your adventure
Link to cause
you can fill in a website of a charity or any other resource
Fill required fields
Are you interested in any of these forms of partnership? *
Get full exposure to your niche for 365+ days, resulting in real long lasting relations and leads.
Do you know anyone who might be interested in partnering?
Please fill in their name and email.
When someone applies you both get a free Award event ticket:-)
Anything else you like to share?
here you can share/ask additional info about the application
Check the box to agree. You can unsubscribe anytime.