What a year for Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau!
Just months after undergoing double knee surgery, the 26-year-old professional mountain runner has been on an incredible winning streak. His latest achievement? Setting a new world record at the 2026 ElliptiGO World Championships, powering up California’s Palomar Mountain in 1:09:30 and breaking a record that had stood for 12 years.
On October 18, 2026, Meika joined riders from across the country for the 17th Annual ElliptiGO Rally Weekend and World Championships in Southern California. Competing in his first ElliptiGO World Championships, he tackled the grueling 11.69-mile Palomar Mountain course, climbing 4,209 feet at an average grade of nearly 7%.
His finishing time beat the previous men’s elliptical division record of 1:09:55, set by elite master’s runner Rusty Snow in 2014, by 25 seconds.
A Comeback Fueled by ElliptiGO
A former Stanford University standout and one of North America’s top trail and mountain runners, Meika faced a major setback when knee injuries led to double knee surgery. But stepping away from running didn’t mean stepping away from training.
Meika turned to his ElliptiGO to maintain his fitness and rebuild his strength, first logging miles indoors on the Fluid 365 Stationary Trainer before transitioning to outdoor rides as his recovery progressed.
Today, he continues to complete approximately 70% of his total training volume on his ElliptiGO, using low-impact cross-training to complement his running and even warming up on the bike before races. And the results have been nothing short of remarkable.
One Incredible Year. Seven Major Victories.
Meika’s 2026 racing season has been packed with podium finishes, course records and impressive climbs. Here’s a look at the milestones leading up to his historic Palomar performance:
- June – Mount Washington Road Race: Claimed the win in 59:51, becoming the first athlete since 2017 to break the one-hour mark on the legendary mountain course.
- July – Loon Mountain Trail Race: Took the top spot at one of the country’s most challenging uphill trail races.
- August – Pikes Peak: Set a new ElliptiGO record with a time of 1:36:06 in his first-ever bike race.
- August – Race to the Top of Vermont: Claimed another victory and course record.
- September – Mammoth Trailfest: Won the Dragon’s Back Ascent, climbing 2,400 feet over three miles in 36:01.
- October 10 – WMRA World Cup Final: Won the men’s uphill race in Quebec, Canada, finishing in 28:55 against an elite international field.
- October 18 – ElliptiGO World Championships: Set a new world record on Palomar Mountain, completing the climb in 1:09:30.
From the trails of New England to the mountains of California, Meika has spent the year proving that low-impact cross-training and elite-level performance can go hand in hand.
A Record-Breaking Finish to an Unforgettable Season
For Meika, the World Championships weren’t just another race. They were an opportunity to celebrate how far he’s come and the community that helped make the weekend special.
“Winning the ElliptiGO World Championships and setting a new record on Palomar was so exciting! The community that showed up to race and partake in the weekend festivities also made it particularly special. The ElliptiGO has been a driving force in my comeback from knee surgery, so it was a fitting full circle moment to end my 2026 racing season here,” shared Meika.
ElliptiGO CEO Bryce Whiting echoed that excitement:
“Meika’s record-breaking ride up Palomar was beyond impressive, and a perfect way to cap off an incredible year. He came back from knee surgery, made ElliptiGO a core part of his training, and the results speak for themselves. That’s exactly what we hope to see from low-impact training, and we couldn’t be more proud of him.”
The record-breaking climb was part of ElliptiGO’s 17th Annual Rally Weekend and World Championships, held October 16–18 in Solana Beach, California. Riders traveled from across the country and beyond for three days of riding, racing and celebrating the ElliptiGO community. The weekend also marked the 10th anniversary of the Global ElliptiGO Riders Club.
Training Smarter. Coming Back Stronger.
From recovering after surgery to winning international races and setting mountain records, Meika’s journey is a powerful example of what’s possible when athletes find new ways to train.
By making ElliptiGO a central part of his training, he’s been able to build fitness, return to competition and achieve some of the biggest milestones of his career.
Congratulations, Meika, on an unforgettable year and a new world record!
