Singletrack

Singletrack

Singletrack is a podcast covering the professional trail and ultrarunning scene.

Episodes

December 30, 2025 94 mins

In this episode of the Singletrack Podcast, I chat with sport scientist and physiologist Geoff Burns to unpack one of the biggest open questions in trail running right now: why shoe technology hasn’t produced a single, decisive “Vaporfly moment” on the trails - and whether it ever will.

Geoff explains why trail running is fundamentally different from road running when it comes to performance gains. While road shoes can be ...

Mark as Played

What actually changed with David Roche’s YouTube content and why did it work when so many running vlogs and films don’t?

In this episode of the Singletrack Podcast, I’m joined by running filmmaker and YouTube creator Jeff Pelletier for a deep, behind-the-scenes conversation about how trail running content is evolving and what Roche’s Western States series revealed about the platform.

We break down why YouTube rewa...

Mark as Played

Our annual Ultrarunning Year in Review is here! I'm joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to break down everything that defined the sport this year: the performances that reshaped the hierarchy, the storylines that sparked debate, and the trends that may permanently change how ultrarunning operates heading into 2026.

Topics include:

  • The biggest ultrarunning storylines of 2025
  • Breakout performances and unsung heroes
  • The most...
Mark as Played

Big news from Singletrack and Massif Running — we are the new owners and race directors of the Antelope Island Buffalo Run. Sign up here.

One of Utah’s most iconic trail races, the Buffalo Run has been a cornerstone of the Wasatch trail running community for nearly 20 years. Founded by longtime race director Jim Skaggs, the event has always been about more than racing — it’s been a spring running party, a reunion, and a ra...

Mark as Played

Scott Frey of Cerebral Performance joins the show for a deep dive into the next frontier of athletic performance. Scott believes the biggest breakthroughs of the coming decade won’t come from physiology alone, but from the brain and psychological sciences - and that belief anchors this conversation.


Partners:

  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
  • Prec...
Mark as Played

Nick Thompson joins the show to talk about use cases for AI in ultra-trail running, the concept of technology doping, urban design for run commuting, his new book The Running Ground, and some of his fairly low-key favorite races in the sport -including the Escarpment, the Twisted Branch 100K, and more.


Chapters:

  • 02:00 The Intersection of AI and Ultra Running
  • 05:10 Exploring the Role of Technology in Traini...
Mark as Played

Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt return to the show to discuss the advent of the "Vertical" Backyard Ultra and recap the results at Ultra Trail Cape Town and the JFK 50, which took place this past weekend.


Partners:

Mark as Played

First up, Tim Tollefson returns to the show. In some ways, trail running is still having its “What Are We Even Doing?” moment. Through that lens, we take a look at the UTMB era, the rise of pro circuits, what the pros care about, and what happens when a grassroots sport takes bigger steps towards big-time structure. After that, I'm joined by Alyssa Clark for a roundup of trail running business news and ideation. Enjoy!


Par...

Mark as Played

Jim Walmsley returns to the Singletrack Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation. We walk down memory lane, reflect on the World Championships, dig into his insights from Western States and UTMB, riff on his idea for a “Black Shorts Series,” and explore his training theories for success in the constantly evolving world of ultra-trail running.


Partners:

  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing...
Mark as Played

Will Murray joins the Singletrack Podcast fresh off his dominant, course-record victory at the 2025 Javelina Jundred.


Partners:

  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
  • Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order (https://livemomentous.com/
  • deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website to get 20% off your n...
Mark as Played

David Roche returns to the Singletrack Podcast fresh off his 12:18, second-place performance at the Javelina Jundred.

In addition to the race report, David dives into how high-carb fueling, recovery science, and fearless pacing are rewriting what’s possible in trail and ultrarunning, why overtraining and under-fueling are essentially the same thing, how athletes like Will Murray, Canyon Woodward, and Tara Dower are redefin...

Mark as Played

After setting a course record at 2025 Javelina Jundred, Tara Dower joins the Singletrack Podcast to talk about the strategy behind perhaps her biggest win yet — and how she’s using it to fuel a Western States comeback in 2026.


Partners:

  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
  • Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website (bit.ly/3JVN...
Mark as Played

Finn Melanson and Brett Hornig share their observations from all the racing action at yesterday’s Javelina Jundred. They discuss Tara Dower’s massive course-record performance, how all three men’s podium finishers — Will Murray, David Roche, and Canyon Woodward — shattered the previous marks, and what it all means for the Western States 100 Golden Ticket Series. They also analyze this year’s livestream numbers, highlight their favo...

Mark as Played

Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at this year’s Javelina Jundred.


Partners:

  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
  • Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website (bit.ly/3JVNIbL) to get 30% off your purchase.
  • Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at check...
Mark as Played

Trail running is growing fast — but is the money for athlete deals keeping up? In this episode, athlete agent Kelly Newlon returns to the show to unpack the latest economics behind athlete-brand partnerships in 2025. From $10K rookie contracts to six-figure base deals, Kelly breaks down who’s getting paid, why it’s finally improving for pros, and which brands and races hold the most weight in negotiations.

We cover:

  • How athlete c...
Mark as Played

Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt return to the show, sharing insights from the World Trail Championships in Canfranc, highlights from the inaugural year at The Mammoth, and their favorite internet finds of the week.


Partners:

  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
  • Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website (bit.ly/3JVNIbL) to get 30% o...
Mark as Played

Earlier this month, Jeff Garmire set a new self-supported fastest known time (FKT) on the Appalachian Trail: 45 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes. He shaved more than three hours off Joe McConaughy’s 2017 mark—long regarded as one of the most impressive endurance feats in ultrarunning.

With that context, I was excited to have Jeff on the podcast to unpack the experience. We cover the essentials—gear, logistics, nutrition, training...

Mark as Played

In this edition of the Long Run Archives, we talk about the rise of agents in ultra-trail running, our takeaways from UTMB week, the increasing allure of the fastest known time scene, our dream co-hosts on this show, and some cool tech that has arrived at Singletrack HQ (spoiler alert: Tymewear).


Chapters

  • 00:00 The Role of Agents in Athletics
  • 20:40 The Mahoosuc Traverse, personal projects vs racing
  • 38:38 UTMB Highlig...
Mark as Played
September 5, 2025 65 mins

Tom Evans joins the show fresh off his victory at the 2025 UTMB.


Partners:

  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
  • Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website to get 30% off your purchase.
  • Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
  • Raide - Making equipment for effi...
Mark as Played

Ruth Croft joins the show fresh off her victory at the 2025 UTMB. With this win, she completed the trifecta of finals victories (adding to her titles at CCC and OCC). In this conversation, we briefly reflect on the race but also take some time to explore her background and the transformative decisions she’s made to reach this moment.

Partners:

  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever ma...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Burden

    The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.

    SmartLess

    "SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.