Kotcha

Fall race season looks far away until it suddenly doesn’t. If you’re racing in October or November, August is where the build gets real: easy volume, long runs, strength, recovery, and enough discipline not to chase peak fitness too early.

The runners who race well in fall usually don’t “find fitness” in September. They build it now.

What fall race are you training for? Drop the city + distance 👇

San Francisco Marathon is almost here.

You’re ready, you put in the summer miles. Now it’s about showing up healthy, trusting your training, and running your own race.

The hills will test you. The crowds will carry you to the finish line.

Running SF this Sunday?

Drop a 🔥 below.

Let’s send each other off right 👇

Trail runners don’t need gym strength that only looks good in the mirror. They need strength that survives 1, 2, 5, 20 or 40 hours out there.

Quads for the descents. Calves and feet for technical terrain. Hips that stay stable when fatigue hits. Core that keeps everything together when the trail stops being smooth.

Strength training isn’t extra. It’s what helps you keep running when everything else starts to fail.

Swipe for the breakdown.

Trail runners: do you have a strength running routine? 👇

One of our greatest playgrounds just burned. So we’re not staying on the sidelines.

We’re launching a donation campaign to help rebuild the forest of Fontainebleau, France. Every donation goes straight to the ONF, France’s national forestry office. Kotcha made the first one.

🔗 Link in bio to donate. Even a like, a comment or a share helps a lot.

On July 12, a wildfire broke out just south of Paris. In three days, nearly 2,000 hectares were gone, including parts of the « 25 Bosses », the legendary trail so many of us call home.

A forest takes decades to grow back. It shouldn’t do it alone.

Most race plans die in the first third.

The first kilometers feel too easy. The watch says you’re flying. Your legs send the invoice later.

Negative splits sound beautiful, but for most runners, the smartest move is boring: settle in, fuel early, stay controlled, and keep decision-making simple.

Even splits are not sexy. They just work.

What’s your usual race strategy: even splits, negative split, or “go out too hard and negotiate with God”? 👇

If you come from a road running background, weekly mileage is one of the meaningful ways to think about your training load.

On the trails, mileage can quickly become meaningless as the same distance can tell a completely different stories, whether it’s up a steep mountain or on a rolling forest path.

Build that load gradually, the same way you’d build mileage.

How much vertical gain do you usually gain in a week? 🏔️👇

🥵 Heatwave over Europe got us wondering: what’s the best heat acclimation strategy?

Build it gradually over 1–2 weeks. Start with moderate runs in the heat, then increase duration and intensity slowly. Hydrate well, add electrolytes if needed, adjust your clothing and timing, and respect recovery.

Swipe for the breakdown.

How well do you handle hot runs? 🌡️👇

Western States earned its legend not only through its history, but also through the course itself.

The climb out of Olympic Valley, the remote high country, the heat of the canyons, the river crossing, and the final miles into Auburn all demand something different.

This weekend, the trail world turns to Western States.

Swipe for the course breakdown.

What section would scare you most? 👇

This weekend, the trail world turns to Western States.

If you’re new to it: Western States 100 is one of the most iconic ultramarathons in the world, a 100-mile race from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California.

The wild part? It started with horses.

Before runners took it on, the route was proven by horsemen. Then Gordy Ainsleigh ran it on foot in 1974. By 1977, Western States became an official running race.

Today, it remains one of trail running’s ultimate tests, and Kotcha athlete founder Kilian Jornet will be on the start line.

Swipe for the origin story.

Will you be following Western States this weekend?👇

Road fitness gives you the aerobic engine, but it doesn’t make you trail ready.

Trails change the rules: pace matters less, effort matters more, uphills expose your aerobic base, downhills punish your quads, and “same distance” can mean a completely different race.

That’s why Kotcha now has trail running plans, built with the experience of Kilian Jornet.

Train for the terrain, not just the distance.

What’s your next trail running goal? 👇