Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running

Borderlands Pod Network
  • 4.5 (87)
  • RUNNING
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running is a storytelling podcast for ultra runners who love this sport deeply, the iconic races, the legendary athletes, the gear, and the culture that makes all of it worth caring about. Hosted by Josh Rosenthal, founder of Borderlands Trail Running, this show exists to collect the ultra running stories that define the sport, from spending a day at Laz Lake's home to deep conversations with Scott Jurek, Dean Karnazes, Camille Herron, and the everyday runners doing extraordinary things out on the trails. This podcast covers the full world of ultra and trail running: race coverage and analysis of marquee events including Western States Endurance Run and UTMB, honest trail running shoes reviews and ultra running gear breakdowns from someone who has tested 44 pairs over 6,000 miles, and big conversations about where the sport is headed, including what dirtbag runners bring to a sport that's growing fast. This show gives ultra runners the stories, perspectives, and gear knowledge to go deeper into a sport they already love while celebrating what makes trail and ultra running unlike anything else. We'll answer questions like: - Who is Laz Lake, and why does everyone in ultra running revere him? - What makes the Barkley Marathons the hardest race in the world? - How does Western States Endurance Run work, and why is it so hard to get in? - What are the best trail running shoes and ultra running gear right now? - Who are the greatest ultra runners of all time? - What does dirtbag running culture actually mean? - How is ultra running changing, and is that a good thing? - What does it take to run a 100 mile ultra marathon? - What should ultra runners eat during training and on race day? If you want the stories, the gear, and the culture that make ultra and trail running the most addictive sport on earth, you're in the right place.

  1. Is Ultrarunning Losing Its Charm?

    1D AGO

    Is Ultrarunning Losing Its Charm?

    Ultrarunning is evolving and growing fast and with that growth, ultra running feels different. Josh digs into how the sport is changing as it becomes more competitive, more visible, and more professional than ever before and asks whether something essential is being lost along the way. From duct-taped water bottles and campfire start lines to global races with thousands of runners and highly engineered gear, this episode explores what that shift really means. From the rise of new brands and technologies to the increasing professionalization of the sport, the conversation looks at what we’ve gained—and what we might be leaving behind. Not as something to judge, but as an evolution that is reshaping how ultrarunning feels, who it’s for, and where it’s going next. For runners thinking about how ultrarunning is changing and what that means for the future of trail running and ultrarunning. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps00:00 The Evolution of Ultra Running02:23 Defining the Charm of Ultra Running07:15 Ultrarunning is Really Two Sports in One11:54 Professionalization vs. Community17:00 The Standardization and Predictability of Ultra Races23:43 The Trade-Offs of Growth - we're losing something Resources / LinksLa Barba CoffeeACGGorge WaterfallsMountain OutpostWestern StatesLeadvilleWasatch 100Barkley MarathonsEcoTrail Paris Related EpisodesDirtbag Culture vs. Luxury Running BrandsHow Ciele Athletics Built a Running Movement Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

    25 min
  2. Is Ultrarunning Changing? Dirtbag Culture vs Luxury Running Brands

    MAR 13

    Is Ultrarunning Changing? Dirtbag Culture vs Luxury Running Brands

    If you've ever wondered why luxury running brands suddenly started appearing in ultrarunning—a sport built on dirtbag ethos, thrift-store gear, and anti-status culture—this episode explores the tension behind it. Josh unpacks where the idea of luxury collides with traditional ultrarunning culture, what actually defines a luxury running brand, and why some runners see it as evolution while others see it as a threat to the identity of the sport. At the center is a deeper question: is ultrarunning defined by what you wear, or simply by the act of running ultras? For trail and ultrarunners curious about how culture, identity, and authenticity are evolving in the sport. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Time Stamps01:14 Why does Luxury Feel Strange in Ultrarunning? 03:45 What is Traditional Ultrarunning Culture? 10:48 5 Markers of Traditional Ultrarunning Culture 15:44 What even is luxury? 20:40 What is a "luxury running brand"? 24:25 Why do luxury running brands bother people? 27:43 A Weird Moment in Luxury Ultrarunning 31:45 The Old Guard of Ultrarunning Resources / Links[article] Why “Luxury Running Brands” Feels Strange In UltrarunningSatisfyCurrentlyRunning Sucks Related EpisodesSatisfy Cofounder, Brice PartoucheThe ROCKER Shoe is Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas ---- Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

    34 min
  3. 44 Running Shoes Tested Over 6,000 Miles | Honest Verdicts

    MAR 9

    44 Running Shoes Tested Over 6,000 Miles | Honest Verdicts

    If you've ever spent too much money on trail running shoes and wondered whether any of them are actually worth it, this episode is for you. I sit down with Inky Steve, a guy who has tracked 44 pairs of running shoes across 6,000 miles on Strava, to get his most honest verdicts on the shoes he'd recommend to his best friend, the ones he regrets, and the models brands should have never stopped making. For ultra runners and trail runners who take their gear seriously and want real talk and not sponsored opinions. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Links & ResourcesNike Next % from 2020Hoka Mafate Xgb ultrasSpeedland Presented by Kiprun. Chapters02:06 Inky Steve's Top Five Running Shoes06:09 The Importance of Shoe Longevity and Functionality08:56 Brand Preferences and Shoe Mileage14:06 Lifestyle Shoes vs. Performance Shoes20:00 Honest Shoe Reviews24:15 Number One Trail Shoe Recommendation28:09 Hoka Mafate X Shoe for 50 Milers30:50 The Importance of Running Shoe Drainage34:09 The Ultra Running Experience38:50 The Impact of Shoe Design on Performance44:20 Shoe Iterations: What to Keep and What to Scrap ---- Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

    47 min
  4. 10 Things I Love About Trail Running Right Now (Spring 2026)

    MAR 2

    10 Things I Love About Trail Running Right Now (Spring 2026)

    Trail running doesn’t have journlists and no one’s holding the sport accountable. I think memes might be the closest thing we’ve got and that’s just one of the 10 things on my mind this week.. This week I pulled up a chair with a pile of gear and just talked: race season fandom, scrappy brands worth knowing, the shoes I'm fired up about right now, and the two-hour long run philosophy I'm using in training for Paris Eco Trail. For ultra runners and trail runners who are in it for the culture, the gear, and everything that makes this sport unlike anything else. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. 01:23 ACTUAL trail running10:48 Ultratrail Race Season13:39 Running to "Overcome"16:23 Ciele Athletics18:39 Trail Shoe Design24:05 Scrappy Trail Running Brands30:37 Meme Culture35:08 Tommie Runz36:21 Taylor Bodin (dirt division) + Josh Bouton (meta endurance)38:27 Inky Steve, Stan Van Kemmel, Bryce Carlson, Sam Lohse Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

    44 min
  5. How Ciele Athletics Built a Running Movement

    FEB 24

    How Ciele Athletics Built a Running Movement

    If you've ever wondered how running brands like Ciele Athletics reshaped the culture of modern running, this episode explores the moment performance gear started becoming identity. Jeremy Bresnen, cofounder of Ciele Athletics, walks through the brand’s origin story—from a hats-only startup in Montreal to one of the most recognizable names worn by runners across road, trail, and ultra distances. Along the way, he reflects on the shift that happened in the 2010s when people weren’t just running anymore—they were runners. For trail, road, and ultra runners curious about how modern running brands changed the culture of the sport. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

    1h 9m
  6. What It Takes to Break Records in Ultrarunning

    FEB 19

    What It Takes to Break Records in Ultrarunning

    If you've ever wondered what it takes, mentally, physically, and emotionally, to push the human body further than most people can imagine, this one's for you. I sit down with Camille Herron, one of the most decorated ultra runners alive, to talk about what keeps her going when everything falls apart, the two-hour long run training philosophy that changed how she prepares for 100-mile races and beyond, and what it really felt like to set the 24-hour world record in Albi, France. For ultra runners who want to understand the mental game at the highest level and take something real back to their own training. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

    1h 6m
  7. Ultra Running Nutrition: An Elite Coach Reframes Fueling

    FEB 16

    Ultra Running Nutrition: An Elite Coach Reframes Fueling

    If you've ever wondered how ultra running nutrition changes when races stretch beyond a single day, this episode reframes race day nutrition to better address multi-day endurance races. Jesse Rich, nutritionist to elite ultrarunners, explains why traditional fueling advice breaks down during multi-day endurance efforts. As sleep deprivation, calorie deficits, and digestive fatigue accumulate, runners must think beyond electrolytes and gels and begin considering deeper nourishment ideas like how the body burns calories during mult-day events, how long it takes to absorb them again, and how sleep, recovery, and caffeine timing all affect performance. For ultrarunners preparing for multi-day races like The Speed Project or anyone curious about how the body fuels extreme endurance. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

    42 min
  8. Balancing Training, Work, and Ultrarunning at the Elite Level

    FEB 12

    Balancing Training, Work, and Ultrarunning at the Elite Level

    If you've been following the recent surge in ultra running records, Anne Flower’s name has suddenly been everywhere from the Leadville 100 course record to a 50-mile world record and a dominant win at Javelina Jundred. But her rise isn’t sudden. Anne has been grinding for years while building a demanding career as a physician in Colorado Springs. She reflects on her training philosophy, how she approaches ultrarunning through the lens of medicine, and what she’s thinking heading into Black Canyon 100K against one of the fastest fields in the sport. For trail and ultrarunners interested in elite training, racing strategy, and the mindset behind record-level performances. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

    45 min
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About

Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running is a storytelling podcast for ultra runners who love this sport deeply, the iconic races, the legendary athletes, the gear, and the culture that makes all of it worth caring about. Hosted by Josh Rosenthal, founder of Borderlands Trail Running, this show exists to collect the ultra running stories that define the sport, from spending a day at Laz Lake's home to deep conversations with Scott Jurek, Dean Karnazes, Camille Herron, and the everyday runners doing extraordinary things out on the trails. This podcast covers the full world of ultra and trail running: race coverage and analysis of marquee events including Western States Endurance Run and UTMB, honest trail running shoes reviews and ultra running gear breakdowns from someone who has tested 44 pairs over 6,000 miles, and big conversations about where the sport is headed, including what dirtbag runners bring to a sport that's growing fast. This show gives ultra runners the stories, perspectives, and gear knowledge to go deeper into a sport they already love while celebrating what makes trail and ultra running unlike anything else. We'll answer questions like: - Who is Laz Lake, and why does everyone in ultra running revere him? - What makes the Barkley Marathons the hardest race in the world? - How does Western States Endurance Run work, and why is it so hard to get in? - What are the best trail running shoes and ultra running gear right now? - Who are the greatest ultra runners of all time? - What does dirtbag running culture actually mean? - How is ultra running changing, and is that a good thing? - What does it take to run a 100 mile ultra marathon? - What should ultra runners eat during training and on race day? If you want the stories, the gear, and the culture that make ultra and trail running the most addictive sport on earth, you're in the right place.

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