This edition is all about building – teams, movements, legacies, and spaces that make room for everyone on the trail. It’s a celebration of purpose over pace and of stories that stretch far beyond the finish line.
We start at the source: how a handpicked crew of 14 passionate runners became the beating heart of the new SingleTrack ambassador team. With insight from course director Joe Dorph and ambassadors Maddi O’Donnell and Andy Zhang, we explore what it means to represent more than a brand – to represent belonging.
From California comes a story that stops you in your tracks. Matt Meo shares the heartbreak and healing behind his symbolic DNF at Folsom Lake 140, honouring his son Landon’s battle with cancer – a race without a true end. It’s grief, love, and the raw truth of what it means to run with something bigger than yourself.
We also turn the lens on Paul Gardiner, whose rebrand of Natural Born Runners into The EcoVenturist signals a shift in how we document trail life. Through film, conservation, and quiet courage, Paul is using his camera, and his footsteps, to advocate for biodiversity, rewilding, and a wilder way to move through the world.
Cathy Duffy examines why the start line isn’t always equal. From safety and representation to the quiet barriers too often overlooked, this feature asks: how do we build a trail culture where every woman not only shows up – but feels seen, safe, and strong?
As always, TRM56 is loaded with epic visuals, smart gear takes, and the kind of stories that linger longer than lactic.
So dig in, run far, and remember: it’s never just about the trail. It’s about who we become along the way.
Available now in newsagents across Australia and New Zealand, or grab your copy and subscribe at subscribe.trailrunmag.com.

