Two winning margins under 90 seconds, a called shot, and an all-masters women’s podium. Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling join me to recap the 2026 Javelina Jundred.
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Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
Jameson Collins, Headquarters Manager for Destination Trail, joins me to walk through what happened at this year’s Moab 240, from the decision to start to the mid-race cancellation.
We cover how the team read the forecast, why flash flooding didn’t actually end the race, the night at Bridger Jack, and the search and rescue effort that got everyone out the next morning.
We also get into the qualifier debate, the no-drop pacer policy, the Arizona Monster bucket controversy, and what a $2,000 entry should buy you at a 200-mile aid station, before closing with Jameson’s lessons from 15 years in risk management and what every race organization should take from Moab.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes
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In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, Brett Hornig and I wrap up the Backyard World Team Championships at Big’s. That includes the Belgian pair’s decision to stop together at a new world record, and whether backyard specialist Mark Dowdle belongs in the UROY conversation. We also get into Ryan Montgomery calling his shot at 200 miles in 24 hours at Desert Solstice, the Golden Trail World Series final in South Korea, and a new segment we’re testing called Keep, Cut, Fix. We close with Camille Herron’s return to Javelina, Sage Canaday’s jump into backyard ultras, and Cameron Balzer’s Breaking 42 transcon record attempt.
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Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madePrecision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at this year’s Javelina Jundred.
Partners:
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In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, Brett Hornig and I discuss Jim Walmsley and Courtney Dauwalter heading to China for Tsaigu Trail and what that says about where the sport’s investment is going. We also get into the latest from the Backyard World Team Championships, results from Diagonale des Fous and Templiers, and the addition of Innsbruck Alpine Trail Run to the World Trail Majors circuit, then close with Engo’s heads-up display sunglasses and RaceGoat, Aravaipa’s new in-house registration platform.
Partners:
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In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, we discuss the mid-race cancellation of the Moab 240, Ben Dhiman’s public search for a coach, Jim Walmsley’s tease of an October start line, and a preview of the Big’s Backyard World Team Championship.
We also cover results from Défi des Couleurs and Kodiak, then New England FKT news from David Sinclair on the Pemi Loop and Will Peterson on the Hundred Mile Wilderness. Alyssa sets the table for Diagonale des Fous, and we dig into the Ultra Monuments site.
We close with Alexi Pappas’ new sweatproof glitter brand, Glop, and the Sandbar Stream smart ring.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeKodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
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In this week's edition of Singletrack News, I'm once agan joined by Alyssa Clark, calling in from Paris on her way to Diagonale des Fous.
We discuss Courtney Dauwalter's open call for 2027 racing and project ideas, the Hardrock lottery, highlights from The Mammoth, the triple crown record watch at the Moab 240, a few other key races on the schedule including Kodiak and Défi des Couleurs, and we close with Vinny Mauri's remarkable treadmill marathon training, Dakota Jones' upcoming run around the Great Salt Lake, and trail brands at Paris Fashion Week.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeKodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes
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Joe McConaughy returns to Singletrack, fresh off his fastest known time on the John Muir Trail, one of the world's premier FKT routes.
The JMT runs 221 miles through California's Sierra Nevada from Happy, with more than 46,000 feet of climbing and nearly all of it above 8,000 feet. It's often called America's most famous trail and is named for the influential environmentalist John Muir.
The conversation covers Joe's full experience on the route, where he stands among the sport's multi-day legends, and what he's learned and experienced across three attempts in six years, including his encounter with the third man factor during his 2024 run (fascinating).
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This week I'm joined by Alyssa Clark, just back from Mammoth Trailfest.
We talk about what Tim Tollefson has built there, the 13-year-old who podiumed the Ascent, and where Mammoth fits in the fall 2027 competitive picture. I share my weekend crewing and pacing at the Bear 100, where Kristin Johnson ran 18:50:37 to break the women's course record by over an hour and a half.
It was a big FKT week too: Joe McConaughy's new supported John Muir Trail record, Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz on the GR20, new unsupported marks on the White Mountains 100, and Lindsay Webster on the Presidential Traverse, several tied to Andrew Drummond's $10K bounty purse.
On the business side, we try to make sense of UTMB's 2027 changes to direct qualification and a Trail Waves piece applying game theory to the Run Rabbit Run purse. We close with results from around the world and a 2009 Brett Maune passage on throwing away the other person's timesheet.
Partners:
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As the voice behind Talk Ultra and one of trail running's most prolific photographers, Ian Corless has been monitoring and contributing to the development of our sport since the early 2010s.
In this three-and-a-half-hour conversation, we cover the new Run Rabbit Run's $100K prize award, the impact of Ben Dhiman's 18:16 UTMB win, which pros are most at risk in the current era, the post-COVID podcast glut, the skyrunning golden age and other key historical markers that have influenced the current era.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeKodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
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Singletrack News is back from its summer break, and I'm joined by Alyssa Clark, fresh off a podium finish at TDS.
We discuss Katharina Hartmuth's Tor des Géants course record victory, Meg Eckert's 636-mile six-day world record, course records at Run Rabbit Run, the IAU 100K World Championships, and the Barkley Fall Classic.
On the business side, we break down Salomon's title partnership with the Ironman World Championship and what it could mean for trail, plus the status of the Western States course change coming in 2027.
We close with a preview of the Mammoth 200 with picks, share the best things we found on the internet, and a remembrance of two athletes our community tragically lost this month - Kalie McCrystal and Ida Emilie Robsham.
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Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeSupport the show
Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt join the show for another packed edition of the Long Run Archives. We discuss the news that Run Rabbit Run will pay $100,000 to each winner in 2027 and 2028, whether Mike McKnight should have raced Tor, Dakota Jones' latest article, "The Stone Age", and whether Ben Dhiman's UTMB recap needed more relatability, the CCC golden ticket class headed to Western States, and close with content finds: Shelby Houlihan's Skechers deal, On's move into soccer, Nick Fowler's self-supported PCT record, and the most unglamorous victory in endurance sports history.
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Will Peterson joins the show to provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition in this year’s elite fields at this year's Tor des Géants.
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Ben Dhiman returns to the show a week removed from his landmark victory at the 2026 Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB).
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Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
Caleb Olson joins us in the studio fresh off his 3rd place finish at the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). We reflect on his race execution, what this means for his career, and his next steps.
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Rachel Entrekin joins us in the studio fresh off her 2nd place finish at the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). We reflect on her race execution, what this means for her career, and her next steps.
Partners:
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Our coverage of the 2026 UTMB World Series concludes with a recap of Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc. Brett Hornig joins me in studio to reflect on dominant victories by Ben Dhiman and Blandine L'Hirondel, thrilling races in both fields to round out the podiums, and final takeaways from the biggest week in trail running.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Another thrilling race at the UTMB World Series Finals here in Chamonix. Brett Hornig and Finn Melanson hop back on the microphones to recap the highlights from CCC.
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Lauren Gregory joins us in studio to recap her victory at OCC.
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Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
What did we just witness? Brett Hornig and Finn Melanson break down one of the most exciting races in recent memory..maybe of all time? That was wild.
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Anton Krupicka returns to the podcast. We riff on his recently resurfaced 2010 Western States goal sheet, killing or reviving the running avatar, time spent with Colin Haley in Patagonia, advice to the current generation of professional ultrarunners, and inspiration versus obligation on start lines.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Michael Versteeg returns to the podcast. This time we get into leaving Satisfy, Trofeo Kima, races as "cruise ships for outdoor athletes," adventure in a fully explored world, health and food as revolutionary acts, and why it shouldn't take trauma to appreciate life.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
A legend of the sport, Joe Grant joins us in our Chamonix studio. We discuss the early days of UTMB and Tor des Géants, his relationship with Roch Horton and stories from the Kroger’s Canteen aid station at Hardrock, the influence of Matt Carpenter on his approach to ultrarunning, and why he thinks running media too often puts the act of running ahead of the landscapes it moves through.
Partners:
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In what (hopefully) has become an annual UTMB week tradition, Max Jolliffe joins us in our Chamonix studio for another long-form conversation.
We discuss insights from his course-record win at Badwater, why he might skip Cocodona next year for a backyard ultra, his continued fascination with the Barkley Marathons, and closes with some reflections on religion and spirituality.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Leah Yingling returns to UTMB three years after an impressive 8th place debut finish back in 2023.
In this conversation we discuss her history of racing in Chamonix, adapting to a rapidly professionalizing sport, why success here equates to rejecting complacency, hiring Jack Kuenzle, balancing peak training with parenthood, and some of her predictions for the deepest women’s field ever.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Brett Hornig joins me in our Chamonix studio to preview the men's and women's fields at the 2026 OCC, part of the UTMB World Series Finals.
In both fields, we cover top storylines and what to watch for, we answer some listener mail about the race, provide analysis of top contenders, categorize who we see as candidates for the win, for the podium, and the top 10, and we make bold predictions across a number of other fun categories.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains
Support the show
Brett Hornig joins me in our Chamonix studio to preview the men's and women's fields at the 2026 CCC, part of the UTMB World Series Finals.
In both fields, we cover top storylines and what to watch for, we answer some listener mail about the race, provide analysis of top contenders, categorize who we see as candidates for the win, for the podium, and the top 10, and we make bold predictions across a number of other fun categories.
At the end of the preview, we transition to a pre-race interview with Toni McCann - a past CCC and OCC champion - who is lining up again at CCC. We get insights into her state of mind heading into her third straight appearance at this World Series final.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Note: Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmsley are, unfortunately, out of UTMB this year. This information became public shortly after the recording of this podcast.
Brett Hornig joins me in our Chamonix studio to preview the men's and women's fields at the 2026 Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB).
In both fields, we cover top storylines and what to watch for, we answer some listener mail about the race, provide analysis of top contenders, categorize who we see as candidates for the win, for the podium, and the top 10, and we make bold predictions across a number of other fun categories.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Caleb Olson joins us in our Chamonix studio a little over a week out from his debut at UTMB.
Partners:
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Lauren Gregory joins us in our Chamonix studio a week ahead of her debut at OCC.
Partners:
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Rachel Entrekin joins us in our Chamonix studio a little over a week away from her first start at Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc.
Partners:
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Hans joins us in our Chamonix studio a little over a week out from the start of CCC.
Partners:
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Jack Kuenzle returns to the show, this time wearing the coaching hat. Among other topics, we cover the opportunities and limitations of using large language models in training, self-coaching vs. hiring a coach for elite athletes, the pacing plan behind Max Jolliffe's Badwater course record, Western States vs. UTMB build differences, and the case for training levers beyond running.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeKodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
Disclaimer: We recorded this episode a few days before the news broke that Courtney Dauwalter is racing UTMB.
Brett Hornig joins the show for a preview-before-the-preview of UTMB 2026. We each bring our top 5 storylines heading into the biggest week in trail running, put out our current power rankings for the men's and women's fields, and play a round of Buy or Sell on the boldest claims for each of the championship races (UTMB, CCC, OCC).
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
David Ayala is a Professor of Mathematics at Montana State University and an amateur ultrarunner who most recently finished 3rd at the 2026 Hardrock 100.
Until recently he'd never owned a watch. He has no social media. What he does have is a faculty webpage full of trip reports, written in LaTeX, for unsupported FKTs on the Wind River High Route, Sierra High Route, and Teton Center Punch, documented with a remarkable level of transparency.
In this Sunday Conversation, we talk about training for flow state, why he calls competition "oblique collaboration," the huckleberry analogy, and whether he'll ever race again.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
Sophie Woods just ran the length of the Alps faster than anyone in recorded history. Starting in Trieste, Italy on July 4 and finishing in Monaco on August 1, she covered the Via Alpina, 2,018 kilometers and 117,614 meters of climbing across eight countries, in 28 days, 17 hours, and 59 minutes, beating the previous overall record by more than seven days.
In this conversation, Sophie takes us inside the effort: the highs and lows, what she ate, how she paced certain sections, her sleep strategy, and how she handled setbacks like wildfires, bugs, and course reroutes.
We also discuss her background as a London-based hairdresser, seven years living in a camper van, her IVF journey, three finishes at Tor des Géants, and a podium debut at the Winter Spine Race that she credits with giving her a whole new level to dig from. Plus what she learned from other multi-week specialists and whether she's really lining up for PTL just weeks after this FKT.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeKodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes
Additional Links:
Follow Sophie Woods on InstagramCenturion CoachingSupport the show
Three weeks after Jennifer Lichter set a new course record at Western States, her coach John Fitzgerald joins the Singletrack Podcast to break down how it happened. Fitzgerald coaches an elite squad out of Missoula for Carmichael Training Systems, and this year he guided Jen to the win along with Jeff Mogavero and Adam Peterman into the men's top ten.
We get into the philosophy underneath the results: why consistency is a trainable skill, why willpower is a resource you can spend too early, and what he means when he says success is rented. Fitzgerald explains the mental shift that took Jen from a mountain 50K specialist to a 100-mile course record holder, the on-course training camps that prepared his athletes for every crux of the Western States course, race-day fueling improvisations, downhill running as a skill, and his case for simplicity in a sport chasing every new gadget and lab test.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeKodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes
Additional Links:
Coaching ProfileInstagram: @ackfitzSupport the show
Wright Thompson is a senior writer for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine who has profiled some of the greatest athletes and coaches of all time, including Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Steve Kerr, Pat Riley, Caitlin Clark, and Dan Gable. He's also the author of 3 books: "The Cost of These Dreams", "The Barn", and "Pappyland".
In this conversation, we discuss optimization versus beauty in sports, sports as vehicles for self-understanding, why fame freezes people at the emotional age they got it, and where the tortured artist myth comes from before ending on mortality and legacy.
Note - in case you're not interested, we spend the first 20 ish minutes of the conversation talking about our shared appreciation for music and certain artists and bands before getting into the aforementioned part of the conversation.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
Brett Hornig co-hosts for another classic edition of the Long Run Archives. We share our biggest takeaways from this year's Hardrock, reflect on the biggest moments from the first half of 2026, and feature the latest ultra-focused products that have caught our attention. Finally, we close with a brief interview of Ryder Jay, who won the U-18 NTN Eagle race at Broken Arrow last month.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
Tom Evans is back on the show! We last chatted after UTMB last year, so there was a lot of ground to cover: recapping the first half of 2026, his most recent treadmill workout, which garnered a lot of commentary on Instagram, the "why now" for Hardrock, his analysis of the competitive field here, and his reflections on how he's prepared for the opportunity. Thanks as always for tuning in.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderJanji - running apparel that goes the distanceRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
Two course records, a rookie champion, and a men's podium almost nobody predicted. Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling join me in Auburn to recap the 2026 Western States 100: Vincent Bouillard clawing back from ten minutes down at Forest Hill, Jennifer Lichter winning in her first 100-miler, the deepest women's top 10 in race history, plus buy-or-sell and our biggest questions for next year.
Partners:
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Jennifer Lichter joins us in our Auburn, CA studio shortly after her course record victory at the 2026 Western State 100.
Partners:
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David Roche returns to the show a few days ahead of the 2026 Western States 100.
Across 2024 and 2025, he put on one of the most memorable shows in our sport's history. He took us behind the scenes of his buildup to Javelina, Leadville, and Western States, fighting for wins and course records while running training experiments on himself.
This year he's back at Western States, on the ground as a coach for athletes like Hans Troyer, Ellaney Matarese, and Justin Grunewald.
We were lucky to get him in the studio for a long-form conversation, where we peppered him with questions on training, fueling, heat mitigation, and race strategy for the Western States 100.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, Jeff Colt, and Rod Farvard provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition in this year’s men's field at the Western States 100.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Zach Miller is one of the greatest, most entertaining, and most thoughtful runners of his generation. It's a treat to have him in the studio ahead of Western States, a race he has patiently waited to run for over a decade.
Miller is coming off a memorable 2nd place golden ticket performance at the Canyons 100K, a race where he reunited with Hayden Hawks for yet another classic duel in their storied rivalry, which dates back to the 2016 TNF 50 in San Francisco.
We also catch up with Zach on other topics, including his regular IRunFar column, his trusty North Face hat, and his reflections on this stage of his career as a professional ultra-trail runner.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
One of the most exciting and versatile athletes in our sport, Tara Dower joins us in the studio to reflect on this year’s mission to race the vaunted Western States-Hardrock double.
There’s a bit of a “revenge” narrative at play here as illness forced her to DNF at last year’s Western States and she was the very first person on the wait list at last year’s Hardrock, even suiting up for the start line the morning of the race in hopes that magic would happen. Ultimately, the stars didn’t align. But now it’s here.
We talk a lot about her process approaching the double, but also ask her about other interests in the sport, life in Durango, performance mantras, and her ability to dig remarkably deep in so many of these races.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Jennifer Lichter is the newest star in ultra-trail running. She's been winning important races since her breakout at The Rut 50K in 2021, but it was only about 18 months ago that the wider world caught on and she became a household name.
Since the start of 2025 she's beaten top fields to win the Transgrancanaria Marathon, Broken Arrow 46K, Speedgoat 50K, Black Canyon 100K, and Gorge Waterfalls 50K. Western States is her first time toeing the line for 100 miles, yet many already make her a favorite to win. Can she pull it off?
In this conversation we trace her path here, dig into what the buildup actually looked like, and talk through her strategy for handling the spotlight at the North American Super Bowl of ultrarunning. Hope you enjoy.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition in this year’s women's field at the Western States 100.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Kilian Jornet is the greatest trail and mountain runner of all time. He joins the show coming off a 3rd place finish at last year’s event, certainly questing for a victory in this year’s edition. He is the 2011 champion of Western States and debuted here in 2010 - the famous “Unbreakable” edition where he dueled with Geoff Roes and Anton Krupicka all day before landing on the podium in 3rd. Suffice it to say, Kilian has a storied history at this race. It’s not that often we get the privilege to speak with Kilian, so we also used this opportunity to have a broader conversation getting his insights on various state of sport topics. Hope you enjoy.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
Scott Jurek is one of the greatest ultramarathoners of all time. His career ushered in an era of professionalism that enabled many that came after him to pursue this sport as a full-fledged career.
Since 2024, we have had Scott in the studio for long-form conversations during Western States week. At this point, it’s become one of our favorite traditions. Sometimes we talk about the state of the sport, sometimes we reflect on key moments in his racing career, and other times we just shoot the breeze.
In this one, we talk about Scott’s experience at Cocodona this year, his relationship with Dean Potter, pacing Brian Morrison in 2006, and whether ultrarunning is in a “golden age” right now.
Partners:
Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Support the show
