The Trail Runner Trophy Series, presented by Altra Running, is a points-based race series, with 186 events of all distances, all around the country. The series begins in March and culminates in September. Grand prizes are awarded to the runner who logs the most miles, and the runner who runs the most races. The “Mile Mogul” wins a Run the Alps trail-running tour through the French and Swiss alps, while the “Trail Fiend” wins a coveted spot on the cover of Trail Runner magazine.

The Trophy Series is well under way for the season. Here are some updates and stories from the last few weeks. Dale Reicheneder, the 2016 Trophy Series “Trail Fiend” Champion, is currently in first place for winning the cover shot, while Bert Blackbird is the lead for the trail-running tour in the Alps.

Sierra Crest Ultra Run: August 5, Truckee, California.

The typical hot and dry weather of the Sierra held out for the point-to-point Sierra Crest Ultra Run, which passes over the crest of the Sierra Nevada and through the beautiful Euer Valley. In a pleasant chanage of weather, there was even some rain on course.

In women’s 30K event, three Truckee women broke the previous women’s course record. Competitive college runner, Leigh Moffet, 21, placed first followed by Lenka Sterling, 33, who a week prior won the Squaw Mountain Run. In third was Christie Jackson, 32, who won the Squaw Half Marathon back in June.

On the men’s side Tom Sullivan, 23, of Reno, had a strong race finishing

in 2:21, about four minutes shy of the course record. Chris Cloyd, 31 and Adam Broderick, 32, both of Truckee, finished second and third respectively.

Last years 50K winners, Nick Sterling and Kati Clark, both of Truckee, California, returned to defend their titles. Clark broke the women’s course record by about eight minutes in 5:02. Only a minute behind her was Alina Edwards of Grass Valley and finishing third was Rebecca Anderson, also of Truckee.

Second and third in the men’s  50K was Mason Osgood, of Reno and irunfar’s Bryan Powell.

After strong finishes the racers enjoyed beer from local Brewing Lair brewery and a delicious catered meal, including massive bowls of blueberries, turkey slider wraps, quinoa salad, beet salad and kale salad.

Tahqua Trail Run: August 5, Paradise, Michigan

Nearly 200 runners from 11 states, Canada and Germany took to the startline of the Tahqua Trail Run for a muddy adventure.

Despite the wettest course conditions in the 12-year history of the event, racers of all ages took to the trails — from nine-year-old Megan Peters, who finished coated in mud and beaming from ear to ear, to 73-year-old Tommy Engelbrecht, reliving the childhood joy of stomping around in muck.

“Abundant pools of water and mud interspersed the flowing single track between the Tahquamenon’s Lower and Upper Falls,” says race director Jeffrey Crumbaug. “The mist of the raging Lower Falls bathed the runners between mile one and two. From there it was an eclectic mix of smooth running, root-rock hopscotch, water pool splashing, mud sliding and stair climbing.”

The tricky conditions meant that only three runners finished the 10K in less than an hour: Kevan O’Brien, Tony Trzaskos and Sean Hayden. O’Brien, 16, a competitive high school runner took first in 54:41. Trzaskos 38, of New Hudson, Michigan finished shortly after in 55:32, and taking third was Sean Hayden, 47, of Hinsdale, Illinois in 57:14.6.

On the women’s side Natasha Campbell, 28, of Lewiston, Michigan blew through the finish into the arms of her two young children in 1:02:29. Jennifer Corbiere, 31, of Brimley, Michigan, finished a mere 17 seconds behind, taking second place. Tying for third was the mother-daughter duo, Kim Block 47 and Morgan Block, 18, of Petoskey, Michigan in 1:06:54.

Finishing first in the men’s 25K, with an impressive seven-minute lead, was Daniel Scarpino, 23, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. First place was settled but the battle was on for second. Joseph Meyer, 41, of Comstock Park, Michigan, beat Adam Flatt, 32, of Aspen, Colorado, by a mere second.

First place on the women’s side, also with an impressive lead–15 minutes ahead of second place–was Cecile Dautriat, 32, of Plymouth, Michigan in 2:19:04. Marlo Tadashore, 39, of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, finished second in 2:33:56 and Heather Shoecraft, 31, of Ypsilanti, Michigan third in 2:49:30.

For races who did not eat too many blueberries from the abundant bushes on course, the finish line offered homemade blueberry bread, iced coffee and Michigan cherry juice.

Trophy Series Standings

Run most races

First Dale Reicheneder, Malibu CA, 305.4 miles, 28 races
Second Samantha Weaver, Jersey Shore PA, 326.9 miles, 27 races
Third Gerald Bailey, Glencoe KY, 373.3 miles, 18 races

Run most miles

First Bert Blackbird, Brandon MB, 400 actual miles, 3 races
Second Gerald Bailey, Glencoe KY, 373.3 miles, 18 races
Third Samantha Weaver, Jersey Shore PA, 326.9 miles, 27 races

Ultra Standings

Male
First James Barnard, Clinton TN, 1056 points, 1 race
Second Georg Kunzfeld, Frankfurt Germany, 800 points, 1 race
Third Jeremy Reed, Pikeville TN, 630 points, 1 race

Female
First Donna Loparo, Winter Springs FL, 1080 points, 2 races
Second Debbie Bulten, Cambridge ON, 800 points, 1 race
Third Greta Reed, Pikeville TN, 576 points, 1 race

Non-Ultra Standings

Male
10-19 RJ Bascom, Front Royal VA, 316.4 points, 6 races
20-29 Matt Lipsey, Kersey PA, 222.8 points, 4 races
30-39 Robert Spies, San Francisco CA, 157.2 points, 3 races
40-49 Steve Templin, Muncy PA, 194.9 points, 5 races
50-59 Dale Reicheneder, Malibu CA, 1013.1 points, 28 races
60+ Gerald Bailey, Glencoe KY, 420.4 points, 18 races
Female
10-19 Mallory Lovell, Georgetown KY, 293.0 points, 6 races
20-29 Johanna Ohm, State College PA, 245.8 points, 5 races
30-39 Brianna Bair, State College PA, 276.1 points, 5 races
40-49 Samantha Weaver, Jersey Shore PA, 500.9 points, 27 races
50-59 Carole Dudukovich, Port Matilda PA, 514.8 points, 11 races
60+ Jane Kone, Howard PA, 306.5 points, 7 races