I Tried Trail Running for the First Time


Josh Rosenthal

August 12, 2026

Jameel Gaskins started trail running recently, so Josh took him on his first mountain trail run in the foothills behind the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

In many ways, Jameel represents the heart of trail running: people spinning too many plates, living full lives, who still hear the call of the trails and have to go.

This Trail Runner City Dweller film by Borderlands follows Jameel into the mountains for the first time.


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Written by

Josh Rosenthal is the founder of Borderlands, an editorial media company built around trail running, ultrarunning, and the culture surrounding the sport. Through essays, films, interviews, and the Borderlands Trail + Ultra Running Podcast, he is building Borderlands into a media institution for deeper stories, sharper counterpoints, and a fuller celebration of trail running. His work brings taste, curiosity, and cultural analysis to a sport often covered through race results, gear, and athlete-led narratives.