About Trail.NL - Your support crew, 365 days a year

I started selling a pair of INOV8 X-Talons to more fanatical obstacle runners in 2013. This hobby has since grown out of control and into a full-fledged trail running store in Amsterdam.

ExperienceI've done a lot of running in recent years. Both short and long distances, on both paved and unpaved surfaces. On paved roads, the highlights were definitely the two runs in South Africa: Two Oceans and Comrades. My favorite trail was a 150-kilometer ultratrail in the Spanish mountains. I've also endured a lot in the mud, for example, during the Ultra Viking and the Mud Masters 24 Hours.

Favorite product: You can always wake me up in the middle of the night for a new pair of trail shoes.

In training for: Good question. I'm still looking for a fun multi-stage trail. Tips are welcome. dirk@trail.nl.

In 2020, I moved to live a kilometer from the entrance to Kennemerduinen National Park. My old street shoes screamed a little louder every day: "Come on, Nom! Let's go for a walk!"

That's how I quickly managed to get back into 5k running, and I more or less met my boyfriend while running. He dragged me along to my first trail events and obstacle runs, and now our holidays are almost always dedicated to an event. My first was Trail D'Orval in Florenville, Belgium; a beautiful 11km trail, where my love for downhill runs began.Soon more trips to the Ardennes, Alps and Lofoten followed, usually between 25 and 30 km.

Since 2024 I can also call myself an 'Iron Viking' and hope to complete the Ultra Viking Hofstade and Spartan Ultra in Morzine this year.

Favorite products : Ciele caps, injinji socks, Näak Ultra Energy Drink Watermelon, Clif bloks (all flavors)

This year I'm looking forward to: the smaller local trail runs that we spontaneously participate in, but also Everberg Trail in Belgium. My friend is from there, and lots of friends always join, so the atmosphere afterward is always very pleasant.

In training for: Iron Viking Wijchen, Ultra Viking Hofstade BE, Spartan Ultra in Morzine FR, Predator Race Neukirchen AT

In 2021, I went on exchange to Chile for my studies. For the first time, I was getting credit for sports, so what's better than getting credit for running in the mountains? I was already in love with hiking, so I signed up for the Cross-Country Men's Selection Team, and since then, I've seen myself flying on the road and the trail. But the trail has always been close to my heart. Every time I go backpacking, I bring my skateboard to explore the streets and trail shoes to explore the natural areas. Without those two, can you really have seen a place?

Since 2021, I've been passionately reading about ultras in the mountains, and I'm in love. The personal experiences during the ride, the different training methods, the diverse adventure and landscapes that each race offers—it's all so rewarding. So tell me about your own experience next time you visit us!

Experience: After three years of daydreaming, I decided in 2024 to make it a reality: becoming a trail runner. Since then, I've completed the UTMB Saint-Jacques, UTDS, and GTLC, which range from 44 to 54 km. I've done enough road races now, but I'm still in the early stages of getting lost in the woods, mud, mountains, and more.

In training for: Snowdonia (50k) 2025, Monte Rosa (90k) 2025

Arvo is a Canadian artist and filmmaker who has been living in Amsterdam for six years. He works at the TRAIL store and teaches Fine Arts at ArtEZ University of the Arts in Arnhem. He also works on his own art projects and films.

Arvo enjoys running, trail running and long-distance hiking (thru-hikes).

In 2023 he ran a yo-yo of the GR-20 on the island of Corsica (8 days north, 6 days south).

In 2024 he did the same on the GR-221 in Mallorca (6 days east, 6 days west) and recently he crossed the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean via the HRP (Haute Route Pyrénées), in October, through rain, mud, wind and snow — completing the journey in 30 days.

Since moving to the Netherlands, Arvo has completed a one-year artist residency at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam and a two-year residency at the Rijksakademie.He has had exhibitions in Hoorn, Arnhem, Middelburg, Rotterdam and Den Bosch, among others, and has shown his work at the Berlinale Film Festival and in museums in Munich, Venice, Geneva, Brussels, Gothenburg and Paris.

Arvo is also a member of the Dutch Orchid Society, enjoys creating gardens with native plants and photographing plants in their natural habitat.

Check out his Lighterpack here.

I grew up with a passionate trail runner/ultrarunner as a father, but whenever I was asked if running wasn't for me, I'd shake my head laughingly. That changed midway through the coronavirus pandemic, when many sports facilities were closed and I had to spend a lot of time at home. My first runs were five-kilometer laps in a pair of old sneakers, but I quickly developed a love for running and bought my first pair of running shoes. Now, a lot of my weekends and almost all my holidays revolve around running.

When I can, I love running in nature. I truly appreciate the beautiful views, the tranquility, and the variety of trails and surfaces. Even abroad, trail running is the ideal way to explore large parts of a nature reserve or a city in a short time.

Last December, I ran my first official ultra, the Bello Gallico 50 miles, in Belgium. Despite hours of slogging through the mud at night and the brutal suffering of the last 10 kilometers, I immediately wanted more.

Favorite Products: Injinji socks, Topo Athletic Pursuit 2 trail shoes, Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles

In training for: The Great Escape (100km), Lofoten ultra-trail (88km)

I was born with asthma, which can really take the joy out of running or exercising if you feel like you're about to faint. Nevertheless, I started running more seriously at fourteen, with my father and later mainly on my own. I've continued running ever since. Initially, mainly on the road, until I ran my first marathon two years ago. Then I switched to trail running to try something different, and I've done a few races with friends and family.

Last summer, I wanted to do something that would allow me to experience the mountains all season long. So I worked in a mountain hut in the Swiss Alps. It turned out to be the perfect opportunity: I trained daily, met wonderful people from all over the world, and was inspired by their stories.

That experience has motivated me to pursue new goals and adventures, not just in trail running but in the outdoor world in general. I also enjoy hiking, climbing, and mountaineering.

I'm currently preparing for my first long-distance race, the GTLC (66 km) in November. This summer, I've planned to run the GR54 in three days.

My favorite gear: ALTRA Lone Peak and LEKI UltraTrail FX.One.