New Partnership Brings Together Ultra Running Legends Tropical John Medinger, Jamil Coury, and Mount to Coast Founder Yeti Zhang to Elevate a Historic Northern California Race Weekend
HEALDSBURG, Calif. — The Sonoma Fall Classic Trail Festival, Aravaipa Running’s newest California event, is set to debut this fall with a mission to elevate the athlete experience while preserving the legacy and old-school culture of the iconic Lake Sonoma 50 Mile race.
To help achieve that vision, Mount to Coast has joined the Sonoma Fall Classic as Premier Partner, collaborating closely with Aravaipa Running and host retailer Healdsburg Running Company to create one of the most exciting trail running festivals in the United States.
The festival builds upon the rich history of the original Lake Sonoma 50 Miler, one of American’s most respected trail races, now entering its third decade. Alongside the historic 50-mile event, organizers have introduced two new races: the Lake Sonoma 100 Miler “Sufferfest,” and a Trail Marathon.
The weekend will also feature 50-mile and 100-mile relay competitions, bringing together top trail running clubs, specialty retailers, and athletes from across the country.
“Fifty-mile races and trail marathons are uniquely American traditions that helped shape the sport of ultrarunning,” said Tropical John Medinger, founder of the Lake Sonoma 50 and one of the sport’s most influential pioneers. “These distances have long served as the foundation for legendary events such as Western States, and we’re excited to continue that legacy while creating new opportunities for runners.”
Mount to Coast, one of the fastest-growing brands in ultrarunning footwear for every kind of surface, was drawn to the event’s combination of history, community, and world- class terrain. The technical footwear company has rapidly established itself as a major force in the sport, supporting numerous standout athletes throughout the 2026 season. At the Cocodona 250, seven of the top ten finishers competed in Mount to Coast footwear. Specialty retailers across the country have reported tremendous demand for Mount to Coast’s full line, with runners seeking the brand’s shoes for their comfort, durability, and style.
“The Sonoma Fall Classic combines everything we value in our race partners — a strong community of runners, history, and an unforgettable race experience,” said Yeti
Zheng, co-Founder and Head of Product at Mount to Coast. “We’re excited to support the runners taking on this iconic, challenging event in one of America’s most beautiful settings.”
The partnership brings together three influential leaders whose impact spans decades of ultrarunning:
• Tropical John Medinger, former publisher of UltraRunning Magazine, founder of the Lake Sonoma 50, and past president of the Western States Endurance Run Board.
• Jamil Coury, founder of Aravaipa Running and creator of industry-defining events such as the Black Canyon Ultras and Cocodona 250.
• Yeti Zhang, footwear innovator and Co-Founder of Mount to Coast, whose product expertise has helped shape performance footwear at several leading running brands.
Together, they aim to blend ultrarunning’s deep traditions with modern event innovation, ensuring the Lake Sonoma legacy continues to thrive for future generations.
As Premier Partner, Mount to Coast will support athlete awards across all five race divisions, participate in race- weekend livestream coverage through Mountain Outpost, and create engaging on-site experiences for runners, crews, spectators, and volunteers. The company will also support the event’s charitable initiatives benefiting local vineyard worker communities and Sonoma County organizations.
For Jamil Coury, the Sonoma Fall Classic represents another opportunity to preserve and strengthen the culture of American trail running.
“Tropical John built one of the sport’s great races,” said Coury. “Our goal is to honor everything that made Lake Sonoma special while creating an experience that welcomes the next generation of trail runners. This weekend is about celebrating community, history, and the future of the sport.”
The festival atmosphere will be a key component of the event. Drawing from Aravaipa’s successful race experiences across North America, the Sonoma Fall Classic will feature free camping, family-friendly activities, local food and wine, live entertainment, and a welcoming start-finish venue designed to encourage spectators, crews, and runners to spend the entire weekend together.
“Healdsburg Running Company is thrilled to welcome trail runners, clubs, and specialty retailers from across the country to our community,” said race organizers. “Whether participants are taking on the original Lake Sonoma 50, the inaugural Sufferfest 100 Miler, the Trail Marathon, or one of the relay events, they’ll experience the best of Northern California trail running and hospitality.”
With a shared commitment to authenticity, innovation, and community, Aravaipa Running, Healdsburg Running Company, and Mount to Coast are poised to make the Sonoma Fall Classic one of the premier trail running destinations in North America.
About Aravaipa Running
Founded by Jamil Coury, Aravaipa Running is one of the leading trail and ultrarunning event organizations in the United States. Known for events such as the Javelina Jundred and Cocodona250, Aravaipa has become recognized for innovative race experiences, storytelling, livestream production, and a commitment to preserving the culture of trail running.
About Tropical John Medinger
“Tropical” John Medinger is an ultrarunning pioneer, race director, writer, and former publisher of UltraRunning Magazine. Founder of the Lake Sonoma 50 and Quad Dipsea, Medinger has been one of the sport’s most influential voices for more than four decades and continues to support the development of trail races throughout North America.
About Yeti Zhang
Yeti Zhang is Co-Founder and Head of Product at Mount to Coast. A footwear industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in performance footwear innovation and materials engineering, Zhang previously held leadership roles with Brooks Running and Nike before helping launch Mount to Coast’s line of ultra-running footwear.
About Mount to Coast
Mount to Coast is a performance footwear company dedicated to creating innovative shoes for trail and ultrarunning athletes. Built around the concept of helping runners transcend distance, the brand combines advanced engineering, athlete-driven design, and a passion for endurance sports to support runners at every level.
