A year in maps: six routes I’ll never forget

The best routes stay with you long after the run is over. At Footpath, we love seeing how athletes use the map to discover new places, prepare for big efforts, and turn a squiggly line into memories with friends and teammates. This year, professional trail runner Mercedes Siegle-Gaither traveled the world chasing climbs, ridgelines, and the kind of trails you dream about. Footpath helped her plan, preview, and save the routes that defined those experiences.

How to be an elite pacer using Footpath

Pacing an ultrarunner isn’t just about running beside them. Honestly, you’re rarely beside them. You’re usually a few steps ahead, a few steps behind, or setting a two-minute timer while they take a dirt nap in a pile of leaves. It’s about being their calm, confident navigator when the miles blur together, aid stations feel endless, and trail markers seem to disappear. Whether you’re guiding a friend through the night or helping an elite athlete chase a podium, your job as a pacer is to anticipate needs, stay on course, and keep spirits high.