Hut Run Hut - Runner's Weekend Vail, Colorado Mountain Running

Salomon invited me to join some professional trail runners and other trail running media to see what the latest Salmon trail shoes are really all about. So it’s time to hop on a plane and head west. This is a runner’s weekend in Vail, Colorado.
0:00 intro
0:46 Walking in Vail
2:11 Team intros
3:54 Day 1 Rickey’s Revenge
9:44 Day 2 altitude PR
16:32 Day 3 longest day
23:40 Day 4 downhill
disclosures: Salomon paid for this trip, provided the shoes, and provided some of the apparel for this trip. No one is paying me to make this video or to use any of these products. No one will get a chance to preview any of this footage before it goes up on KZbin.
Thanks for watching! Leave a comment to let me know you stopped by!
Catch the livestream / kofuzirunclub
Running footage shot on:
insta360 one X (paid link)
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DJI Osmo Action 3 (paid link)
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Music sourced via Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
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I may earn commissions if you purchase items from Insta360 via my affiliate links.
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Also, you do not need to use these links. You can also search for these same items in amazon or on any search engine/shopping site of your choice and buy/research them that way.
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twitter: / wordofko
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subscriber count at time of upload: 151,931
end card music:
Jim Yosef - Checkered
/ jim-yosef-checkered

[@jayson660]

You live such a wholesome life man these runners weekends just keep getting better and better!

[@kofuzi]

Thank you 🙏

[@leonaleewong]

I was so happy when I saw this was 26 minutes long! Perfect for time on the elliptical. What an amazing adventure you had - you did great!! Thanks for taking us along!!

[@kofuzi]

Thanks Leona!

[@johnb7337]

I spent years living in the Vail Valley; it's great seeing that setting again. That altitude affects everyone differently, and just being really fit doesn't fully protect you from having significant problems. Later it's just normal, and hiking up a 14er you kind of feel it but it's fine. I lived in Honolulu after that; these videos will follow my migration path if Thailand is next.

[@kofuzi]

Thailand sounds lovely

[@johnb7337]

@@kofuzi so hot and humid though; it's 83 F just now at 6 AM, with 77% humidity. it's possible to acclimate, to condition for the heat, but it's limiting. beyond that Thailand is amazing, the feel of it.

[@nicksantema8914]

These are my favorite videos on youtube. Keep doing what you’re doing!

[@kofuzi]

Thank you 🙏

[@keithc1264]

100% agree. Ko’s Runner’s weekend are must watch.

[@sethepley]

It was awesome to meet and join you on this epic adventure. This video was FIRE!🔥

[@kofuzi]

Can’t wait for our next adventure

[@UltraTrailSteven]

Haha I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit at the altitude. It takes a while to adapt for sure! Looks like an awesome time though! So glad you got to experience some awesome mountain running.

[@kofuzi]

Everything was exhausting and beer was uncomfortable to drink

[@UltraTrailSteven]

@@kofuzi yeah alcohol definitely affects you more. I stay away from it mostly when at altitude

[@tonybowen455]

I live in Denver and the running at altitude is still brutal.

[@kenseed2810]

These Runner’s Weekends are awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for watching!

[@louklein7143]

Fantastic video. I love these Runners Weekend vids. You really capture the vibe in this one. Being road tough is one thing, being trail and mountain tough is a completely different animal I find. I loved the accordion ! Wow wow !

[@kofuzi]

It’s a very different sport

[@ZeRo-22-]

Come for the running, stay for the excellent camera work/views. Simply the best.

[@kofuzi]

Thank you 🙏

[@jollyroger1009]

The cattle road crossing was gold. Good that none of the cattle decided to break off and run a mile or two down the road in the wrong direction!! Good effort finishing that weekend though: what a gutbuster.

[@CatherineSui-Miller]

What a wonderful and completely different experience. The views are spectacular.

[@kofuzi]

Views were unbelievable

[@DorHBoomer]

Awesome that you did the Hut Run Hut! As a long time CO resident, I appreciated finally seeing this adventure on video. I live at 6200 ft. so even I can feel altitude once I get past 10K feet. HRH has been on my bucket list for years; I'm older now and it's probably not in the cards for me but maybe a Hut Hike Hut perhaps haha. Great job filming; way to power thru the altitude struggles! Thank you :)

[@kofuzi]

Go for it

[@StefanSager]

Life is like a Runner's weekend!

[@kennethpfaff8261]

A lot of very awesome cinematography on this one. Great job!!!

[@kofuzi]

Thank you!

[@jozefberes250]

What a video Mike💪 I saw your short from hut and I couldn't wait it's almost midnight here in Europe but I had to watch it 😂 they know why they invited you on this trip👌

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for staying up late!

[@mmcd_]

The mountains hit different

[@kofuzi]

They really do

[@ksteege]

Man I am sooooo jealous of you on this one. This is one of my bucket list items and has been since I heard of it really want to try to get to do Hut Run Hut one of these days.

[@kofuzi]

Apparently, there is a Bus Run Bus and a Japan Hut Run too

[@ALRUMIE]

Amazing Experience, Journey, People & Of Course the Video as usual Mike 👍👍👍👍👍

[@kofuzi]

Thanks Al!

[@macau.friend]

Another awesome episode of Runner’s Weekend. You should seriously consider doing UTMB some day. They need a Kofuzi treatment.

[@kofuzi]

After this trip, I am fully convinced that I do not want to try running utmb

[@brianadair5848]

Mike, what a fantastic video!! Production quality top notch as usual. Thank you for helping keep us all motivated and inspired to run🏃

[@kofuzi]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pbnotj1]

Love the running vacation videos more than shoe reviews!

[@tnan123]

Nice surviving the altitude. Great views and the solitude of nature definitely make up for the struggles of trail/mountain running.

[@manueltan8962]

Love the Video !!!!

[@Arif_Run4Life]

Amazing scenic views...definitely the adventure of a lifetime. Thanks for sharing!

[@kofuzi]

thank you for watching!

[@Run2chill]

Great video Ko! Love seeing you on the trails.

[@kofuzi]

It’s fun out there

[@j.w.matney8390]

Wow ! One of your best videos ! You really told a story that was interesting and inspiring. Well done.

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertburpee9473]

This format is just incredible I felt like I was right with you at your shoulder, Thank You so much for taking the time to putting this together. By the By, it also puts into glaring perspective what Seth James DeMoor can do in the high mountains, I think he holds 3 or 4 FKT's in the Fourteener's around Denver. Again Thanks So Much

[@kofuzi]

I’m useless above 9,000’

[@geoffb2900]

Awesome video! 👏

[@aliza6491]

I love this so much. Grit for powering through the altitude and not giving up and for being upbeat about it as well.

[@kofuzi]

I got my butt kicked, but it was fun

[@NebraskaUltrarunner]

Really fun watch! I have run all that trail you were on and have stayed at many of the huts in the system. Some of the greatest trail running moments of my life. Thanks for sharing!

[@kofuzi]

It’s a unique experience that I could never have had without Rickey

[@katiuskasotomayor1285]

Loved it!

[@kofuzi]

Thank you!

[@ScottTuscher]

Amazing footage! Wonderful soundtrack to the mind blowing scenery, and like you said sir, an adventure of a lifetime!! I’m jelly and love to see it!

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for watching!

[@Lila-sh6cw]

The Runners weekend videos are the best! It looks hard but you did it!! Amazing.

[@kofuzi]

Thanks so much!

[@bobcorbin490]

Out there seeking beauty and working hard I just love this❤❤❤

[@kofuzi]

Thank you 🙏

[@susanwiggins6309]

Well done on hanging in there! A tough adventure and a great accomplishment to be proud of.

[@kofuzi]

I didn’t die

[@Supafloppy]

Awesome. Absolutely awesome vlog but what an experince. Love it Kofuzi. 😎

[@kofuzi]

Thanks so much!

[@mikestatelman2818]

I actually feel sore from watching this 😂. Excellent job hanging tough out there. The views and food looked well worth the journey.

[@kofuzi]

The food was fantastic. We were well taken care of

[@lindacutler1324]

Beautifully done!

[@kofuzi]

thank you

[@michaelsesler1158]

another fine addition to runner's weekend

[@kofuzi]

Thank you 🙏

[@Deadbuck73]

What a fantastic way to spend some time! Huts looked great and the trails and views were beautiful! Thank you for taking us along!

[@kofuzi]

I was so thankful for the huts. I wouldn’t have made it if I had to sleep outside each night

[@Deadbuck73]

@@kofuzi getting a good nights rest is essential after all the work you were doing. I’ve done many nights on the ground in tents. That would be a rough go for sure!

[@massi888]

fantastic content, thank you for sharing. i loved the video

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for watching!

[@highfiveaccessmedia]

Corinne is a friend of ours, so that's how we wound up here. I would be exactly like you on this trip, and I live up here! I'd honestly probably even be holding you up 😂

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for the support!

[@faiznassur4652]

Kudos on pushing through! Wonderful job on the video and footage as well!

[@kofuzi]

Thanks!

[@ItsTryHard]

Insane to think you sounded more out of breath during that walk than you do when you're blasting a 3 hour marathon! Can't believe the altitude makes that much of a difference, absolutely wild! Also well done dude, such a great video!

[@kofuzi]

Altitude plus a bit of an incline just instantly puts me at redline, it seems

[@ItsTryHard]

@@kofuzi Yeah dude not surprising, looks super hard! I'm sure it's one of those things where if you don't do it all of the time it's going to be twice as hard :(

[@aididchannel7044]

amazing journey 👍💯💯💯

[@thekwameasante]

Sounds like a whole revenge mission. Well done for sticking it out

[@kofuzi]

Lunchtime was tough because it was always an opportunity to join Ryan in the truck and get driven to the hut instead of doing the afternoon portion. Part of me was always tempted

[@tonymacias3263]

Another great vid!! Nice work out there Ko!

[@kofuzi]

Thanks Tony!

[@yakiweiss546]

Wow so beautiful footage 👍

[@kofuzi]

Thank you!

[@jameswong2280]

Wow! That was rough and beautiful. Must be painful, but you made it look easy👍 The lasting memories and experiences. Hope was all worth it. Cheers🍻

[@kofuzi]

A great experience

[@mailorlee2]

That cattle crossing got me 🤣! Makes me miss my running group and the crazy stuff we used to do while running as a group. 😢

[@kofuzi]

It was a good group

[@paultimothyL]

Such a great adventure!! Even though you were a fish out of water you did extremely well in such high altitude!! Now you can understand what Seth gets to run in when he runs the mountains of Colorado!! Awesome video with the Solomon crew!! That would be a dream adventure for me! 👏👏😁😁

[@kofuzi]

It was a lot of fun. Everyone was very patient

[@WTFisLacy]

This looks dope! I would probably get destroyed by this, but I would still sign up to go for it. Thanks for the POV.

[@kofuzi]

I was wrecked by the last day. Couldn’t even run downhill right

[@OmaRuns67]

Absolutely incredible! I hope to do a mountain run one day.

[@kofuzi]

Highly recommend

[@MatterofBased]

This one was awesome Ko!!! Loving the runners weekends vlog. I would’ve died on that trip lol

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for watching!

[@dward16770]

What an incredible place to run, wish I was with you. Super challenge. 😊

[@kofuzi]

It was as rewarding as it was challenging

[@tritondriver1]

AWESOME

[@SeeChadRun]

Amazing time! My kind of type 2 fun! Love all the trail views. I hope to do something like this/be invited to do this one day. So fun!

[@kofuzi]

Rickey also does a Bus Run and a Japan Hut Run

[@Lalo_Runs]

Kofuzi Video 🥳🥳🥳

[@yohankusuma5510]

The scenery, music, ambiance combined it's insaanely good! 11:20 it reminds me of Aragorn chasing merry and pippin towards Isengard in the Lord of the Rings

[@gfrm456]

Need to come explore nz 😊

[@thesleevedsinger]

What a trooper you are! I was out of breath with ya just watching it. If it challenged YOU then I knoowww it was tough! It's nice to be challenged like that isnt it...of course once it's over, right ?😂 awesome video as usual! See ya next week!

[@kofuzi]

My legs are still tired

[@xTruuth]

Love Ricky Gates! Looks like a blast

[@kofuzi]

Good guy

[@Thepianoman77]

We got to see my favorite part of Kofuzi videos... the dry heaves 😌😌

[@kofuzi]

It is my love language

[@Thepianoman77]

@@kofuzi I appreciate your love. It makes me feel better that one of my favorite runners on KZbin experiences the same things I do on hard efforts. Helps me believe I too can run a marathon under 3 hours 😁

[@akapantsusenpai181]

What awesome views! I'd love to run up there.

[@kofuzi]

breathtaking

[@tsubakichan]

What a challenging - yet incredible running adventure you had! I didn't understand what altitude running was like until I spent 5 days last month at 6000 ft. I struggled to breathe mightily even at "easy" effort, so I can't even imagine what it was like for you at 9000 or 12,000+! Even so - looked like such an amazing experience through and through. Stoked for my trail run tomorrow!

[@kofuzi]

Altitude is harder than it sounds

[@derringera]

We moved to CO 2 years ago. About 5700ft at my front door. Such a breeze retuning to Oregon and running with family and friends at 250ft 😅.

[@ChaseTheSummit]

This was a lot of fun. Beautiful country out there! Despite your self proclaimed "Flatlander" title you looked like a natural out there!

[@kofuzi]

Salomon provided me with a very convincing trail runner costume for the week

[@LARKRunningUK]

I can only imagine the benefits both mentally and physically from the weekend…..👌🏼

[@kofuzi]

it has opened my eyes

[@RunThePlanet]

Cracking video Mike, must have taken sometime putting together, thanks 😊

[@kofuzi]

A labor of love

[@sjoerdth]

I was jealous at every torturous second of this video.

[@arceus54321]

trail running looks super cool. i'd also never want to do it lol

[@kofuzi]

Trail running can mean a wide range of things, I’ve learned

[@arceus54321]

@@kofuzi mountain running in this case lol

[@avilesjose5001]

Superrr

[@Mattlock52]

Going to be there in 2 weeks.

[@kofuzi]

Have the best time!

[@SlimCede]

Awesome video!! Such a great trip, glad we got to meet you, you crushed that elevation! ⛰️

[@kofuzi]

Great to run with you!

[@aravaluska954]

The struggle is real. Good job though👏👏

[@kofuzi]

This was so hard

[@aravaluska954]

As hard as this was I bet you’ll do it again. Although not anytime soon🤣

[@xSillymonkey]

Great work as always Kofuzi! Inspiration for me!

[@kofuzi]

Thanks so much!

[@thewildonions]

😍 Colorado

[@kofuzi]

It’s beautiful out here

[@lilyhorta]

Insane! congrats on the effort and completing the whole thing, the video is great too. I do think it was a bit irresponsible to invite a road runner to such a big effort in the mountains but hey you made it!

[@kofuzi]

That’s on me. I could have said no

[@lilyhorta]

@@kofuzi No blaming! a few would’ve passed on an opportunity like that, and you sure deserve the recognition of your work through brand activations like this one.

[@jimduyck]

It was pretty weird to see you on Strava running just up Tennessee Pass from where we were staying last week!

[@kofuzi]

It was weird for me too

[@wk633]

Man this makes me want to move to Colorado. And I live 30 min from Auburn CA.

[@kofuzi]

That seems to be how a lot of people find their way to Colorado. They just get smitten

[@levandmarthapolyakin-aaron2183]

Auburn! My coach manages the WSER finish line and I’ve had a standing invitation to volunteer with the team. I really want to do it one of these days.

[@Drew.Whitcomb]

"Flatlander" 😂

Great running work and video as well! Salomon has the best gear for this kinda stuff. Btw have you encountered any wildlife and/or animals? I mean… other than the cattle bunch crossing the road

[@kofuzi]

Pika and grey jays, mostly. Nothing scary, thank goodness.

[@levandmarthapolyakin-aaron2183]

Beautiful! Did you feel like Superman for your first week or so back at sea level? Now you know my secret sauce😂 But you also know why I keep saying heat and humidity isn’t an equal substitute for high elevation. I’m impressed you were able to do this at all and glad you didn’t get altitude sickness, which is very capricious and can suddenly strike people who’ve never had a problem previous times at high elevation.

[@kofuzi]

The first week back, I still felt pretty terrible because I was so tired out. I needed a week to recover

[@nancysmith3548]

Trail running is much more difficult than road.....also so much more beautiful❤.. Don't you agree???

[@kofuzi]

It’s a different sport

[@chrisdick726]

Now I’ve got evening viewing plans! Love these!

[@kofuzi]

Hope you enjoy!

[@tgarcia615]

It's beautiful Bravo Idol 👏 Done Watching , Check time 11:07 pm Philippines time, I'm waiting for the next 1.

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for watching! I’m on vacation with family for the rest of the week, but the next video should be up next week!

[@tgarcia615]

Alright idol take care and enjoy your time to your family and pls say Hi to everyone.. 😊

[@prod1gy305]

Hey Ko, sorry for the late reply but I simply have to know what song was playing at 13:40? Was such a relaxing and aspiring sound

[@AaronHuber]

Wow the Vail area is so beautiful. Do you have to treat the stream water before drinking or is it naturally clean?

[@kofuzi]

We had Salomon bottles with filters so we could drink from the streams

[@LuisBecerra79]

Yooooo, what’s going on!!!

[@kofuzi]

Yo Luis!

[@Feanaro5503]

What was harder to run in - Colorado's thin air/hills or the oppressive east coast humidity?

[@kofuzi]

Thin air

[@daleshahan2899]

More videos of you suffering on trails!

[@kofuzi]

I can’t do this often though. It hurts too much

[@Rpcustodio7]

Feeling kinda guilty, I was so amused at how “out of your league” you were 😅

[@kofuzi]

People love it when I suffer

[@ElsonLim78]

Makes me wanna go trail running, what vest are you wearing?

[@kofuzi]

Salomon Adv Skin 12

[@ElsonLim78]

@@kofuzi nice! Ill get that same color ala Kofuzi

[@matthewlim2008]

hey Kofuzi, can you come to Singapore to run the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore end of the year?

[@kofuzi]

Unfortunately, I do not have plans to run that race for this year

[@faridsabir3523]

Maybe next you can make video about healthy food you eat 😂😅

[@kofuzi]

The food provided by Rickey and Hut Run Hut was quite nutritious and delicious. I just didn’t have an appetite for it at altitude

[@drone9082]

Have you ever used a 360 degree camera

[@kofuzi]

Is this an insult?

[@cyvoc2316]

0:08 Are these Salomon shoes?

[@kofuzi]

Yes

[@sunnlands]

A bit painful to watch, but a great and inspiring vlog.

[@kofuzi]

Thanks for watching!

[@RunningOtaku]

Wow, what an adventure. Going from sea level straight to 4 days of high altitude mountain running is no joke. Kudos! How were the shoes? 😃

[@kofuzi]

Some shoes were better than others, but I understand better why Salomon shoes are the way they are

[@levandmarthapolyakin-aaron2183]

PS Getting enough sleep is a real issue at high elevation, by the way. It forces a lot of people to move down in elevation sooner or later.

[@kofuzi]

I had a low grade headache the entire trip

[@i.Trudge]

Stop whining and just run…😅