Singletrack 2025 Ultrarunning Year In Review | Awards, Highlights, Storylines, Predictions
Dec 19, 2025
Leah Yingling, an esteemed ultrarunning commentator, joins the discussion to reflect on the transformative year of 2025 in ultrarunning. They analyze the biggest storylines, from the rise of elite athlete agents to media trends like Substack. The group celebrates breakthrough performances from newcomers and highlights dramatic race moments that left fans buzzing. Leah also delves into evolving training trends and the impact of technology in the sport, all while pondering what these changes mean for the future of ultrarunning.
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Top Of The Sport Got Deeper
- 2025 expanded the top of ultrarunning: more athletes are now able to compete with established champions.
- This will force established elites to keep improving or risk being passed.
Pregnancy Deferrals Changed Western States
- Brett called 2025 "the year of the pregnancy deferral" after several elite deferments reshaped Western States entries.
- That deferral chain opened the slot Abbey Hall used to win Western States.
Pacer Rules Spark Sportwide Debate
- Pacers became a hot debate across marquee races in 2025, from Black Canyon to UTMB.
- Race directors are reconsidering pacer policies but no consensus has formed yet.