Singletrack

Finn Melanson
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Singletrack is a podcast covering the professional trail and ultrarunning scene.

  1. 7 HR AGO

    Gorge, Sonoma, Desert Rats + Mike Egan's 110 Mile Wheelchair Run at BPN Backyard (Singletrack News)

    We're coming off one of the most action-packed single weekends of the trail running year. We recap Lake Sonoma, Gorge Waterfalls, Desert Rats by UTMB, Calamorro Skyrace, Marathon des Sables, and the BPN Backyard Ultra all in one episode with co-host Alyssa Clark. Lotti Brinks ran fifth overall at Gorge Waterfalls 100K and shattered the women's course record. Dylan Bowman suggested it might be the trail performance of the year, and we ask whether she's now a legitimate podium threat at Western States. Jennifer Lichter won the 50K against Yao Miao, the back-to-back OCC champion, by nearly four minutes, coming off a 100K course record at Black Canyon this past February. She is the truth right now. At the BPN Backyard Ultra, veteran Mike Egan used a wheelchair to complete 110 miles. When the mud got too thick to push through, he got out and dragged it. It might be the photo of the year in trail running, and we're only in April. The event pulled 19.6 million TikTok searches in its first edition, and we ask: who's building the Trail Team equivalent for backyard ultra? At Marathon des Sables, Des Linden made the podium in her desert ultra debut. We call it her arrival in the trail scene. Heather Jackson won Desert Rats 100K three weeks out from Cocodona 250. She has a vlog series called "The Season That Might Break Me" and we break down what her win means for her race at the Cocodona 250 next month. In a field she wasn't even seeded in, Jane Maus went to Spain and took second at the Calamorro Skyrace in her first official sky race ever. We also cover: Ryan Sullivan going wire-to-wire dominant at Lake Sonoma 100K (a Norda athlete from Grand Junction worth watching)Spencer Shellberg, another Grand Junction name, winning Desert Rats 100K by 40+ minutesGerda Steyn seventh win at Two Oceans, one of the most dominant ultra runners of this generationNicholas Thompson (editor-in-chief of The Atlantic) setting the 50+ American record at USATF 100K ChampsRendezvu, Faves and the case for athlete-led affiliate commerce in trail runningLucy Bartholomew running a 2:41 marathon in Paris to close out a 23-hour training weekGiven to Fly, the new Brian Morrison book on his 2006 Western States near-winPartners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Janji - premium trail running apparelSupport the show

    37 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Christian Meier on Salomon's Next Gen Program: Building the Pipeline That Could Change Elite Trail Running (Sunday Conversation)

    Christian Meier returns to the Singletrack Podcast to discuss one of the most ambitious talent development initiatives the sport has ever seen: Salomon's Next Gen program, which he leads as Head of Performance Programs. The first section covers how this role came about, what it looks like day to day, and why trail running's elite development infrastructure has lagged so far behind other endurance sports for so long. Christian takes us inside the Annecy selection camp, the evaluation process that combined lab testing, field assessments, and individual interviews, and the hard decisions involved in selecting nine athletes from seventeen candidates. The conversation then moves into the architecture of the program itself. What full-season integration with Salomon's performance structure means for a 20-year-old athlete on a Tuesday in March, what the financial picture looks like for the athletes, and how much autonomy they have over their own competitive calendars. We also compare Next Gen to Andy Wacker's Trail Team and what the spectrum of approaches to elite development tells us about what these athletes need. From there, Christian draws on his cycling background to examine what the marginal gains framework imports into trail running and where it breaks down. We discuss injury philosophy, the risk of burnout in high-performance development environments, what mental progress looks like and how you measure it, and how Christian thinks about building identity resilience into athletes who are still figuring out who they are. The final section pulls back to the questions that matter beyond this program. Whether deeper talent pipelines produce competitive parity at the top or just raise the floor, whether trail running ever develops the kind of specialized team roles that define professional cycling, and whether Christian is trying to build something Salomon owns or something the whole sport adopts. Partners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Janji - premium trail running apparelMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show

    1hr 52min

  3. 6 DAYS AGO

    340 Mile Speed Project Record, Salomon Next Gen, + Pro Trail Runner Salary Data (Singletrack News)

    Marathon des Sables is underway in the Moroccan Sahara, and this year's field is one of the most talked-about in recent memory. Ryan Sandes, Magda Boulet, Maryline Nakache, Ludo Pommeret, Des Linden, and yes, Harry Styles are all on course across six stages and 155 miles of largely unsupported desert racing. Salomon made waves this week with the launch of their "Next Gen" program, a structured athlete development pathway for trail runners aged 18 to 25. Nine athletes were selected from 17 invitees through a rigorous process including lab testing, performance trials, and interviews. They get the full pro treatment: coaching, camps, nutrition, mental performance support, and international race entries. Christian Meier will lead the program. With Trail Team and Trail House already in the conversation stateside, we ask whether anything in the US compares. Will Peterson also announced an AT FKT attempt this spring, going northbound and self-supported, targeting 50 to 55 miles per day. Given his resume on the Long Trail and White Mountains, this is the most credible attempt of 2026 so far. We also cover: Biel Barros breaking the Speed Project Solo record (340 miles in 67:15)A full preview of Gorge Waterfalls, Lake Sonoma, Calamorro Skyrace, and the UTMB weekend racesInjury updates on Katie Schide, Caleb Olson, and Francesco Puppi (who ran a 38-minute VK in a cast)Canada moving locations for it's national trail championships through 2028What French elite trail runners actually earn, per a new survey of 74 athletes Partners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Janji - premium trail running apparelSupport the show

    36 min

  4. 30 MAR

    Bugs Cancel a Race, Cocodona 250 Lottery System + Emma Bates Dropped While Pregnant? (Singletrack News)

    This week on Singletrack News, Finn Melanson and Alyssa Clark cover one of the wildest race cancellations in recent memory, a brewing sponsorship controversy, a landmark change at one of ultra running's most iconic events, and a full roundup of results from Crown King, Buffalo Stampede, and the Arizona Monster 300. Timestamps: 02:54 Antelope Island Buffalo Run Cancellation05:51 Trailhouse Announces New Head Coach08:59 Emma Bates Controversy11:40 Cocodona 250 Lottery System14:46 Trail Super Shoe Power Rankings17:43 Crown King, Buffalo Stampede Race Results20:42 London Marathon Two-Day Format23:40 UTMB Parenthood Policy26:21 Content Finds of the Week Partners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Janji - premium trail running apparelSupport the show

    36 min

  5. 23 MAR

    Courtney Dauwalter’s Next-Level Final Kick: Rachel Entrekin Breaks Down Chianti 120K

    In this episode, Rachel Entrekin returns to the show immediately following her 3rd place finish at Chianti by UTMB and gives a firsthand account of one of the most dramatic finishes of the season. We start with the moment everyone’s talking about: Courtney Dauwalter’s decisive late-race surge. Rachel walks us through how the race unfolded from the front, what it felt like to be running all day shoulder-to-shoulder, and what made Courtney’s final move so shocking even to the athletes in the race. From there, we zoom out to what this performance means for Rachel’s trajectory. We discuss the narrative around her being a “200-mile specialist,” the pressure she felt coming into the race, and why this result felt like a long-overdue validation of her ability across distances. We also break down the competitive dynamics at the front of the field, including what makes both Courtney Dauwalter and Ingvild Kaspersen uniquely difficult to race against, and why Chianti stands out as the most competitive - and most enjoyable - race of Rachel’s career so far. In the second half, we get into the performance details: fueling breakthroughs (including a surprising shift toward gels), gear choices, and how improved nutrition may be unlocking a new level of speed and durability. We close with a look ahead to Cocodona and what this race might signal about Rachel’s ceiling in 2026. Partners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Janji - premium trail running apparelSupport the show

    29 min

  6. 23 MAR

    Chianti Recap, Trail House Project + Golden Ticket Shakeups (Singletrack News)

    In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, we break down a massive weekend of racing across Chianti by UTMB, Chuckanut 50K, and Big Alta, highlighted by Golden Tickets awarded at Chianti and a highly anticipated showdown between Courtney Dauwalter and Rachel Entrekin. We discuss the winners, key performances, roll-down implications, and what it all means for the rapidly taking shape Western States field, along with early-season signals from some of the sport’s top contenders. Elsewhere, we dig into one of the most interesting new concepts in the sport: the “Trail House”, a Boulder-based initiative aiming to create a pipeline for post-collegiate runners into professional trail running, with built-in support, structure, and storytelling. We also cover:  Lotti Brinks accepting a Western States Golden Ticket via roll-down from CCC  François D’Haene’s 2026 schedule and his decision to center the season around an FKT attempt on the GR20 The “Hardcore Harry’s” challenge, a last-person-standing-style event that has athletes running 80+ km on consecutive days  A grassroots “Community Traverse” stepping in to support runners after the Northern Traverse disruption  A wild FKT story out of North Carolina involving a broken wrist and a finish anyway  Previewing the Arizona Monster 300 and what to expect from one of the most extreme races on the calendar And our content picks of the week, including a new long-distance route in the UK and a broader conversation around “right to roam” and trail access. Partners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Janji - premium trail running apparelSupport the show

    33 min

  7. 22 MAR

    Is UTMB Still a Net Positive for Trail Running? James Elson Weighs In (Sunday Conversation)

    In this episode, Centurion Running founder James Elson joins the show to unpack one of the most complex moments in trail running right now. We examine the collapse of high-profile events like Dragon’s Back and what it reveals about the economics of modern race organization - including rising operational costs, participant trends, and why certain race formats may no longer be sustainable. James also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how race directors actually think about pricing, no-show rates, and business viability.  In the second half of the conversation, we turn to UTMB and its growing influence on the sport. We discuss the tradeoffs between scale and safety, the risks of removing qualification standards, and whether the current growth model is aligned with the long-term health of trail running. We also explore who is ultimately responsible for runner preparedness, the role of media and culture in shaping expectations, and whether UTMB is, for now, still a net positive for the sport. Partners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Janji - premium trail running apparelMomentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show

    1hr 39min

  8. 16 MAR

    UK Trail Running Shock: Ourea Events Collapse + UTMB Broadcast Confusion (Singletrack News)

    In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, we break down a major development in the UK trail running scene after Ourea Events - the organizers behind races like Dragon’s Back, Cape Wrath Ultra, and the Northern Traverse - announced they are ceasing trading, putting several iconic races in jeopardy and leaving athletes uncertain about the future of some of the sport’s most ambitious point-to-point events. We also discuss confusion surrounding UTMB’s new broadcast partnership with FloSports. After speculation online that UTMB races could move behind a paywall, organizers clarified that the UTMB livestream will remain free, with FloSports serving as a simulcast partner in the United States. Elsewhere, we dig into UTMB’s 2026 live broadcast schedule, which includes 10 races across the World Series - but notably excludes Golden Ticket events like Chianti and Canyons. We also cover: UTMB CEO Fabrice Perrin raising concerns about “ambush marketing” in trail runningThe debut of the Big Alta 100K in Marin HeadlandsPreviewing the Chianti by UTMB Golden Ticket battleCourtney Dauwalter lining up at Tenerife Blue Trail as an early season testNike recruiting ultrarunners for a 15-week research residency at the Nike Sports Research LabAnd our content picks of the week, including a conversation between Harry Styles and Haruki Murakami on how running fuels creativity Partners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next orderNorda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever madeRaide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Janji - premium trail running apparelKodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show

    37 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

Singletrack is a podcast covering the professional trail and ultrarunning scene.

Information

  • Creator
    Finn Melanson
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    456
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Singletrack
  • Show Website
    Singletrack

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