Singletrack

Solo episode! I cover Transvulcania, Aravaipa's acquisition of a few key trail events around the Grand Circle, a new book about the history of trail running, the latest results on the Skyrunning circuit, a lottery system for the Cocodona 250, and much more. Got a tip for next week's news? Shoot us a DM on Instagram.

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• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orde...

Brett Hornig returns to the show for another edition of the Long Run Archives. This time, we break down the stunning news of the week: Jim Walmsley is back on the Western States start list via a Hoka sponsor entry. After that, we share our 2026 power rankings for both the men's and women's races, which we will revisit during race week in Olympic Valley.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK ...

Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at this year’s Cocodona 250.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 
• Jan...

Brett Hornig returns to the Singletrack Podcast to recap race results from Canyons, Mt Fuji, Madeira Island Ultra Trail, among other trail-related news.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 
• J...

We discuss Sean Haworth's critique of ACG's Gorge Waterfalls activation, the four athlete development programs shaping the next generation of pro trail running, Scott Fauble's issue with supershoes in the marathon, and Climatic Health's new lung health product being marketed to endurance athletes.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - ...

Max Jolliffe joins the podcast for his third appearance, two weeks out from his return to Cocodona 250. After dropping at mile 238 in 2025 with cellulitis, Max is back for redemption, and this time he's doing it as a full-time professional athlete after leaving Hurley in November following nearly 15 years at the company.

We get into his training block, gear and nutrition strategies, and an upcoming week of course recon out of M...

Alyssa Clark joins Finn to roll through a packed news week in ultra-trail. Headlines include Ashley Paulson's 12:47:10 treadmill world record set in front of a packed Boston Marathon Expo (a 90-minute improvement on the previous mark), Mathieu Blanchard leaving Salomon to sign with Kiprun as the French brand pushes into the North American market, and a stacked Madeira Ultra Trail start list featuring Jasmine Lowther, Helen Min...

Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at the 2026 Canyons 100K.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 
• Janji - pre...

Courtney Dauwalter returns to the Singletrack Podcast ahead of her second attempt at Cocodona 250, the race she started last year and didn't finish, to talk through everything that has happened in between.

We open with the Tenerife cancellation and the scramble to pivot to Chianti, including the late surge that won the race and why she credits road marathon training for giving her a new gear she didn't know she h...

We're coming off one of the most action-packed single weekends of the trail running year. We recap Lake Sonoma, Gorge Waterfalls, Desert Rats by UTMB, Calamorro Skyrace, Marathon des Sables, and the BPN Backyard Ultra all in one episode with co-host Alyssa Clark.

Lotti Brinks ran fifth overall at Gorge Waterfalls 100K and shattered the women's course record. Dylan Bowman suggested it might be the trail performanc...

Christian Meier returns to the Singletrack Podcast to discuss one of the most ambitious talent development initiatives the sport has ever seen: Salomon's Next Gen program, which he leads as Head of Performance Programs.

The first section covers how this role came about, what it looks like day to day, and why trail running's elite development infrastructure has lagged so far behind other endurance sports for so long. Christ...

Marathon des Sables is underway in the Moroccan Sahara, and this year's field is one of the most talked-about in recent memory. Ryan Sandes, Magda Boulet, Maryline Nakache, Ludo Pommeret, Des Linden, and yes, Harry Styles are all on course across six stages and 155 miles of largely unsupported desert racing.

Salomon made waves this week with the launch of their "Next Gen" program, a structured athlete develo...

This week on Singletrack News, Finn Melanson and Alyssa Clark cover one of the wildest race cancellations in recent memory, a brewing sponsorship controversy, a landmark change at one of ultra running's most iconic events, and a full roundup of results from Crown King, Buffalo Stampede, and the Arizona Monster 300.

Timestamps:

• 02:54 Antelope Island Buffalo Run Cancellation
• 05:51 Trailhouse Announces New Head Co...

In this episode, Rachel Entrekin returns to the show immediately following her 3rd place finish at Chianti by UTMB and gives a firsthand account of one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.

We start with the moment everyone’s talking about: Courtney Dauwalter’s decisive late-race surge. Rachel walks us through how the race unfolded from the front, what it felt like to be running all day shoulder-to-shoulder, and wha...

In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, we break down a massive weekend of racing across Chianti by UTMB, Chuckanut 50K, and Big Alta, highlighted by Golden Tickets awarded at Chianti and a highly anticipated showdown between Courtney Dauwalter and Rachel Entrekin. We discuss the winners, key performances, roll-down implications, and what it all means for the rapidly taking shape Western States field, along with early-season si...

In this episode, Centurion Running founder James Elson joins the show to unpack one of the most complex moments in trail running right now.

We examine the collapse of high-profile events like Dragon’s Back and what it reveals about the economics of modern race organization - including rising operational costs, participant trends, and why certain race formats may no longer be sustainable. James also shares a behind-the-scenes look at...

In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, we break down a major development in the UK trail running scene after Ourea Events - the organizers behind races like Dragon’s Back, Cape Wrath Ultra, and the Northern Traverse - announced they are ceasing trading, putting several iconic races in jeopardy and leaving athletes uncertain about the future of some of the sport’s most ambitious point-to-point events.

We also discuss confusion s...

In this edition of Long Run Archives, Finn Melanson is joined by Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt for a wide-ranging conversation about some of the biggest debates circulating in trail and ultrarunning right now.

We begin with a viral moment from the sport: Charlie Lawrence being called out to run a backyard ultra. Could a 100K record holder actually threaten the backyard ultra world record, or is the discipline too specialized ...

This is a crossover episode from Conversational Pace. Brett Hornig interviews me about my LA Marathon experience + we speculate a bit in the second half about the future of CP. 

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in ...