Endurance Unlimited Molly Seidel and Cliff Pittman on the Shift from Running Marathons to Ultras Season 8 Ep. 2 to Trails
Feb 4, 2026
Molly Seidel, 2020 Olympic marathon bronze medalist shifting from elite road marathons to trails and ultras. Cliff Pittman, coach focused on durability and ultra-specific periodization. They discuss Molly’s move to trails, rebuilding durability after injuries, translating road fitness to ultra demands, race fueling and gut training, technical downhill practice, and long-term prep for Western States.
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Purpose Behind The Shift
- Molly Seidel shifted from elite road marathoning to trail ultras to preserve long-term health and find greater enjoyment.
- Cliff Pittman reframes existing aerobic capacity toward durability and specificity for ultras.
Surprising Olympic Breakthrough
- Molly qualified for the Olympic marathon in only her third marathon and then won bronze in Tokyo after an extra year.
- She credits the delayed Olympics for turning a presence into a genuine medal opportunity.
When Success Masks Unsustainable Habits
- Chronic under-fueling and high-intensity road work caused a slow breakdown culminating in a broken kneecap and hormonal issues.
- Molly realized marathon-style training was unsustainable for her long-term career.
