Singletrack

Jeff Colt and Mike McMonagle, professional trail and ultrarunners, dive into the thrilling shake-up of the Western States 100 race due to high-profile withdrawals. They highlight emerging talents and evolving strategies, particularly with David Roche's influence. The conversation stretches into elite rivalries, the importance of pacing in women’s racing, and Des Linden’s exciting transition to trail running. They also tackle the challenges of documenting ultra running amidst the dynamic community and the nuances of the Wilderness Act and its implications for future events.

Joey Berriatua, a former pro runner with Tinman Elite, now delves into the world of trail running and self-expression through his substack, 357. He shares candid reflections on the emotional challenges and dynamics behind the team's breakup. Berriatua discusses financial struggles in professional running, contrasting collegiate support with the harsh reality for pros. He emphasizes the importance of community and genuine storytelling, while exploring the balance between authenticity and sponsorship in the running world, all while contemplating his future in trail running.

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Brett Hornig and Mike McMonagle join Finn Melanson on the Singletrack Podcast for another edition of the Long Run Archives. In this episode, the trio reflects on a retroactive controversy surrounding a runner's time penalty (instead of DQ) at this year's Black Canyon 100K, the majesty of UTMB Snowdonia, the sustainability of pro ultrarunning, and whether there will be a "next venue" for the Mike-Finn-Brett ultra rivalry.Timestamps:01:14 Black Canyon 100K Controversy44:16 Is UTMB Snowdonia cool?01:11:54 Burnout in Professional Running02:01:44 Rivalries and Future Challenges in Ultra RunningPartners: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 Mike on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and CoachingFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and PatreonSupport the show

Jeff Colt, an ultrarunner and outdoor enthusiast, shares his rich insights on the transformative Cocodona 250 race. The discussion highlights how this event reshapes ultrarunning dynamics, particularly through media influence and evolving athlete experiences. They explore the emerging concept of brand-funded teams and speculate on future race formats. Colt also recounts personal challenges faced during ultrarunning, emphasizing the mental resilience required. In a lighthearted twist, they dive into naming trends in the growing ultrarunning culture.

Tom Hooper, Owner of 603 Endurance and key player in USATF's team selection, dives into the intricacies of Team USA's long trail strategy for the 2025 World Trail Championships. He addresses controversial race selection processes and the exciting dynamics of selecting a diverse women's team, especially amidst the notable absence of a star athlete. Hooper also reflects on the revitalization of Team USA’s spirit, the competitive challenges athletes face, and the pressing need for greater support in trail running.

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at this year’s Cocodona 250.Timestamps:(0:00) - Cocodona 250 hype, general conversation(27:58) - Course analysis(45:41) - Women's field preview(72:56) - Men's field previewPartners: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 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, TwitterFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!This is a crossover podcast from the Conversational Pace YouTube channel (hosted by my good friend, Brett Hornig) in which we talk about my gear, nutrition, and overall strategy for the 2025 Cocodona 250.Timestamps:0:00 Intro2:21 Gear from 2024 you won’t be using in 20256:58 Starting pack of choice13:04 Starting shoe of choice18:09 Gaiters or no gaiters?19:34 Need to be fit enough to play the game22:00 What makes the first day interesting24:13 Day two25:36 Lighting choices27:33 Day two shoes33:24 Poles35:08 Significant mid-race gear pivots from last year40:28 Final miles of the course47:52 The 2025 Cocodona crewPartners: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, YoutubeFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling return to the Singletrack Podcast to preview the final golden ticket chase for the 2025 Western States 100 at this weekend’s Canyons 100K in Auburn, CA.Six golden tickets are up for grabs, with standout athletes like Marianne Hogan, Anthony Costales, Hannes Namberger, Katie Asmuth, and Erin Clark adding serious depth to the competition.They discuss recent administrative updates surrounding the event—including its new status as a "super" golden ticket race, the lack of a live stream, and its recently revoked designation as the Americas Major in the UTMB World Series. They also break down how the course and weather could impact the outcome before diving into the women’s and men’s fields and sharing their podium picks and golden ticket predictions.*Note - we recorded this episode 9 days before the race, so we apologize in advance for not being able to factor last-minute entrants between then and now into our analysis and predictions.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, TwitterFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt return to the Singletrack Podcast for another edition of the Long Run Archives.Timestamps:00:00 Gorge Waterfalls Race Recap25:11 Katie Schide and Germain Grangier Move To On39:20 Dez Linden's Transition to Ultra Running46:11 LeBron James and the Five-Minute Mile Debate54:50 Unbreakable 2: The Anticipation of a Sequel01:12:20 The Evolution of Ultra Running and Regional Competitions01:27:28 The Rise of 200-Mile Races and Their CompetitivenessPartners: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 Jeff on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and CoachingFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and PatreonSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Drew Darby and Rob Fisher join the show to unpack the making of The Finisher, our new documentary chronicling Jasmin Paris’ historic completion of the 2024 Barkley Marathons. We reflect on the creative process, the unique storytelling challenges of the Barkley, and what we learned along the way.Timestamps:(0:00) – Background, intros(2:53) – Why Barkley is a media nightmare (and dream)(7:03) – Do we have a film? Short form vs long form(16:29) – Timelines, pressure, and hindsight(30:27) – Barkley surprises from behind the camera(36:26) – Crafting the behind-the-scenes narrative(42:02) – Untold themes we could’ve explored(47:05) – Indie filmmaking: the pros and cons(61:36) – Reflections on key characters(71:46) – Final takeaways + what’s nextPartners: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 Drew on Instagram, LinkedIn, WebsiteFollow Rob on LinkedIn, WebsiteFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and PatreonSupport the show