Singletrack

Latest Episodes:

Max Jolliffe Interview (2025 UTMB Week) Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

Max Jolliffe is in Chamonix—and that was all the excuse we needed to sit down for a chat at our Chamonix studio. In this conversation, we reflect on our shared experiences at the Cocodona 250, look ahead to our reunion at The Mammoth next month, talk about playing the content game, and discuss the outlook for a professional career in ultrarunning.

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 efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Max on Instagram, Youtube, and Strava
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show

Katie Schide Interview (2025 UTMB Week) Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

For the first time since 2017, Katie Schide will not be racing of the UTMB World Series final events. Instead, she's set to represent Team USA at the Long Trail World Championships in Canfranc, Spain next month. It felt like the perfect moment to catch up. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about her recent results at Hardrock and Sierre-Zinal, her history with stage racing, the prospect of elite-only race fields, her career progression, and the unique allure of Vermont's Long Trail.

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 efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Katie on Instagram and Strava
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show

Ben Dhiman Interview (2025 UTMB Week) Aug 23, 2025

Show notes

Ben Dhiman returns to the show ahead of ultra-trail running's de facto 100 mile championship, Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Fresh off a course record at Lavredo and an impressive multi-year stretch in the sport, he arrives in Chamonix as one of the most intriguing contenders in the field. In this conversation, we dive into his nomadic background, training philosophy, and whether his third attempt at UTMB will finally be the breakthrough on the sport's biggest stage.

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 efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Ben on Instagram, Substack, and Strava
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show

Tom Evans Interview (2025 UTMB Week) Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Tom Evans returns to the show for a wide-ranging conversation on his return to Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB), the joys of fatherhood, his favorite events on the UK trail running circuit, and the long-term development of ultrarunning as a professional sport.

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 efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Tom on Instagram, Strava
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show

Dani Moreno Interview (2025 UTMB Week) Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Dani Moreno returns to the show ahead of the 2025 CCC, taking place next Friday in Chamonix, France. We discuss her philosophy of boldness, the landmark performances that could push the sport forward, and the mentality required to line up at high-caliber races in the UTMB World Series.

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 efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Dani on Instagram, Strava, SubHub
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show

Wild Race Experiments + Players' Tribune for Pro Ultrarunning? Aug 03, 2025

Show notes

In this clip from the latest edition of the Long Run Archives on the Singletrack Podcast, Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Jeff Colt discuss new angles on races like Western States and Hardrock, "course record pace", and a new media opportunity in the works for pro ultrarunners.

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 efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Jeff on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show

Drafting The Ultrarunning Dream Team Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

In this clip from the latest edition of the Long Run Archives on the Singletrack Podcast, Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Jeff Colt discuss a fascinating hypothetical scenario: If you were starting a brand-new ultrarunning company (whether shoes, gear, nutrition, or anything else), and every athlete in the market was a free agent, which four would you prioritize adding to your team, and why?
The trio explores the spectrum from pure performance athletes to influential figures—and the hybrids who bridge both worlds—as they build their dream rosters featuring familiar names such as Courtney Dauwalter, Katie Schide, Lucy Bartholomew, Jamil Coury, and Billy Yang.

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 efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Jeff on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show

Andrew Drummond on the White Mountains Direttissima FKT (Sunday Conversation) Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

Andrew Drummond returns to the Singletrack Podcast, this time to recount his latest adventure: setting a Fastest Known Time on the White Mountains Direttissima, one of New England's iconic multi-day routes.

We explore the aesthetics of the route, what inspired him to return after his previous attempts in 2016 and 2024, his strategies around gear, nutrition, rest, and the execution that led to his new record.

Additionally, we discuss the New England trail running scene, John Kelly's recent Appalachian Trail activity, the stylistic differences between supported and unsupported FKTs, and the segment challenges sponsored by Run The Whites.

It's always great catching up with Andrew—hope you enjoy the conversation!

Timestamps:

00:00 Reconnecting After Three Years
09:06 White Mountains Direttissima
20:48 Gear Evolution and Preparation for the Route
45:30 Mental and Physical Challenges of Multi-Day Hiking
52:29 Personality Types in Multi-Day Adventures
01:01:40 Training for Multi-Day Efforts
01:14:46 Kilian Jornet's Potential Impact on the Northeast
01:17:29 Shifts in FKT Strategies on the Appalachian Trail
01:41:21 Underappreciated Routes in the White Mountains

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 (https://www.gorewear.com/) 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 efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Andrew on Instagram, YouTube, White Mountain Ski Co
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Western States in Transition? What’s Next for the Iconic 100-Miler (Topher Gaylord Interview) Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Topher Gaylord is the newly appointed President of the Western States Endurance Run—arguably the most iconic ultramarathon in the world. A seven-time WSER finisher, Topher brings decades of experience in global outdoor industry leadership and a deep well of insight from more than 75 ultramarathons run across the globe.
In this conversation, we discuss:

– The direction he wants to steer Western States in
– His views on the Golden Ticket Series and how it’s evolving
– How he processed recent controversies with UTMB
– The tension between commercialization and community in trail running
– What excites him most about the future of the sport
We also talk about his upcoming keynote at TrailCon and how he plans to honor the rich legacy of WSER while preparing it for what’s next.

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 SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Leah on Instagram, Strava, Twitter
Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Scott Jurek on Racing, Retirement, and What Comes Next (Sunday Conversation) Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

In this live pre-race episode of the Singletrack Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Scott Jurek back to the show—recorded in-person from our studio in Olympic Valley, CA, just days before the 2025 Western States 100.
For many, Scott needs no introduction. A seven-time winner of Western States, bestselling author, and true icon of the sport, his impact on trail and ultrarunning is undeniable. But this conversation goes far beyond race results and podiums.
We explore the evolution of the Western States 100, how the atmosphere, competition, and culture of the race have changed since his last win here in 2005, and what he notices most when returning to the event now as a mentor, supporter, and observer.
Scott also opens up about his day-to-day life in the sport today—how he stays involved, what his professional pursuits look like post-competition, and what’s still fueling his fire. Plus, we revisit some of the emotional terrain we covered in our 2024 conversation: athletic identity, the process of letting go, and how to maintain joy and purpose in the sport long after your competitive peak.

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 SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)

Additional Links:

Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected