Singletrack

Lucy Bartholomew has been a model of consistency at UTMB in recent years, steadily raising her game as women’s ultrarunning enters a new era of performance. In this conversation, we cover a wide range of topics—from one of the most exciting 100-milers in her backyard (the GPT100), to her experience crewing Ryan Sandes at the Cocodona 250, to Salomon’s High Performance System, and her own process for chasing the next level in Chamonix.

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 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 Lucy on Instagram, Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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Max Jolliffe is in Chamonix—and that was all the excuse we needed to sit down for a chat at our Chamonix studio. In this conversation, we reflect on our shared experiences at the Cocodona 250, look ahead to our reunion at The Mammoth next month, talk about playing the content game, and discuss the outlook for a professional career in ultrarunning.

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 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 Max on Instagram, Youtube, and Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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For the first time since 2017, Katie Schide will not be racing of the UTMB World Series final events. Instead, she's set to represent Team USA at the Long Trail World Championships in Canfranc, Spain next month. It felt like the perfect moment to catch up. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about her recent results at Hardrock and Sierre-Zinal, her history with stage racing, the prospect of elite-only race fields, her career progression, and the unique allure of Vermont's Long Trail. 

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 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 Katie on Instagram and Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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Ben Dhiman returns to the show ahead of ultra-trail running's de facto 100 mile championship, Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Fresh off a course record at Lavredo and an impressive multi-year stretch in the sport, he arrives in Chamonix as one of the most intriguing contenders in the field. In this conversation, we dive into his nomadic background, training philosophy, and whether his third attempt at UTMB will finally be the breakthrough on the sport's biggest stage.

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 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 Ben on Instagram, Substack, and Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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Tom Evans returns to the show for a wide-ranging conversation on his return to Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB), the joys of fatherhood, his favorite events on the UK trail running circuit, and the long-term development of ultrarunning as a professional sport. 

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 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 Tom on Instagram, Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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Dani Moreno returns to the show ahead of the 2025 CCC, taking place next Friday in Chamonix, France. We discuss her philosophy of boldness, the landmark performances that could push the sport forward, and the mentality required to line up at high-caliber races in the UTMB World Series.

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 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 Dani on Instagram, Strava, SubHub
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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In this clip from the latest edition of the Long Run Archives on the Singletrack Podcast, Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Jeff Colt discuss new angles on races like Western States and Hardrock, "course record pace", and a new media opportunity in the works for pro ultrarunners.

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 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 Jeff on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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In this clip from the latest edition of the Long Run Archives on the Singletrack Podcast, Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Jeff Colt discuss a fascinating hypothetical scenario: If you were starting a brand-new ultrarunning company (whether shoes, gear, nutrition, or anything else), and every athlete in the market was a free agent, which four would you prioritize adding to your team, and why? 

The trio explores the spectrum from pure performance athletes to influential figures—and the hybrids who bridge both worlds—as they build their dream rosters featuring familiar names such as Courtney Dauwalter, Katie Schide, Lucy Bartholomew, Jamil Coury, and Billy Yang. 

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 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 Jeff on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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Andrew Drummond returns to the Singletrack Podcast, this time to recount his latest adventure: setting a Fastest Known Time on the White Mountains Direttissima, one of New England's iconic multi-day routes. 

We explore the aesthetics of the route, what inspired him to return after his previous attempts in 2016 and 2024, his strategies around gear, nutrition, rest, and the execution that led to his new record. 

Additionally, we discuss the New England trail running scene, John Kelly's recent Appalachian Trail activity, the stylistic differences between supported and unsupported FKTs, and the segment challenges sponsored by Run The Whites. 

It's always great catching up with Andrew—hope you enjoy the conversation!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Reconnecting After Three Years
• 09:06 White Mountains Direttissima
• 20:48 Gear Evolution and Preparation for the Route
• 45:30 Mental and Physical Challenges of Multi-Day Hiking
• 52:29 Personality Types in Multi-Day Adventures
• 01:01:40 Training for Multi-Day Efforts
• 01:14:46 Kilian Jornet's Potential Impact on the Northeast
• 01:17:29 Shifts in FKT Strategies on the Appalachian Trail
• 01:41:21 Underappreciated Routes in the White Mountains

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 (https://www.gorewear.com/) 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 Andrew on Instagram, YouTube, White Mountain Ski Co
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

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Topher Gaylord is the newly appointed President of the Western States Endurance Run—arguably the most iconic ultramarathon in the world. A seven-time WSER finisher, Topher brings decades of experience in global outdoor industry leadership and a deep well of insight from more than 75 ultramarathons run across the globe.

In this conversation, we discuss:

– The direction he wants to steer Western States in
– His views on the Golden Ticket Series and how it’s evolving
– How he processed recent controversies with UTMB
– The tension between commercialization and community in trail running
– What excites him most about the future of the sport

We also talk about his upcoming keynote at TrailCon and how he plans to honor the rich legacy of WSER while preparing it for what’s next.

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, Twitter
• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show