Singletrack

One of the most exciting and versatile athletes in our sport, Tara Dower joins us in the studio to reflect on this year’s mission to race the vaunted Western States-Hardrock double. 

There’s a bit of a “revenge” narrative at play here as illness forced her to DNF at last year’s Western States and she was the very first person on the wait list at last year’s Hardrock, even suiting up for the start line the morning of the race in hopes that magic would happen. Ultimately, the stars didn’t align. But now it’s here. 

We talk a lot about her process approaching the double, but also ask her about other interests in the sport, life in Durango, performance mantras, and her ability to dig remarkably deep in so many of these races.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 

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Jennifer Lichter is the newest star in ultra-trail running. She's been winning important races since her breakout at The Rut 50K in 2021, but it was only about 18 months ago that the wider world caught on and she became a household name. 

Since the start of 2025 she's beaten top fields to win the Transgrancanaria Marathon, Broken Arrow 46K, Speedgoat 50K, Black Canyon 100K, and Gorge Waterfalls 50K. Western States is her first time toeing the line for 100 miles, yet many already make her a favorite to win. Can she pull it off? 

In this conversation we trace her path here, dig into what the buildup actually looked like, and talk through her strategy for handling the spotlight at the North American Super Bowl of ultrarunning. Hope you enjoy.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 

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Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition in this year’s women's field at the Western States 100. 

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 

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Kilian Jornet is the greatest trail and mountain runner of all time. He joins the show coming off a 3rd place finish at last year’s event, certainly questing for a victory in this year’s edition. He is the 2011 champion of Western States and debuted here in 2010 - the famous “Unbreakable” edition where he dueled with Geoff Roes and Anton Krupicka all day before landing on the podium in 3rd. Suffice it to say, Kilian has a storied history at this race. It’s not that often we get the privilege to speak with Kilian, so we also used this opportunity to have a broader conversation getting his insights on various state of sport topics. Hope you enjoy. 

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 

Support the show

Scott Jurek is one of the greatest ultramarathoners of all time. His career ushered in an era of professionalism that enabled many that came after him to pursue this sport as a full-fledged career. 

Since 2024, we have had Scott in the studio for long-form conversations during Western States week. At this point, it’s become one of our favorite traditions. Sometimes we talk about the state of the sport, sometimes we reflect on key moments in his racing career, and other times we just shoot the breeze. 

In this one, we talk about Scott’s experience at Cocodona this year, his relationship with Dean Potter, pacing Brian Morrison in 2006, and whether ultrarunning is in a “golden age” right now.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 

Support the show

In this episode we share our final "power rankings" for both the men's and women's races. Stay tuned for additional, in-depth previews of both elite fields later this week.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 

Support the show

Simply put, Lotti Brinks is one of the best ultrarunners in the sport right now.

Over the last 2 years, she’s secured multiple top 10s at CCC, wins at Way Too Cool and Desert Rats, and a course record at the Gorge Waterfalls 100K this past spring that heralded her arrival into the upper echelon of the sport.

This is her second time at Western States. She was here in 2024, placing 14th in 18:53. But many expect her to be a podium contender in 2026.

Since this is our first ever interview with Lotti on Singletrack, we use the opportunity to learn more about her: her background, what motivates her pursuit of excellence in the ultra world, being coached by the great Tyler Green, and her race-day goals.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 

Support the show

These are the times! Hans Troyer joins us in the studio for his first-ever (longer form) appearance on the Singletrack Podcast. 

Hans has had an exciting recent build to Western States, including a win at the Twisted Fork 30K and a training camp in Flagstaff with the Hoka team. Beyond that, on the biggest stages of the sport, he is on a roll demonstrating his greatness with a course record victory at the Black Canyon 100K back in February and an impressive win at JFK late last year. 

Hans took 8th place at his debut here last June, but expectations are higher for his return. Many consider him one of the favorites for the win here and part of the cohort of superstars that could break the fabled 14-hour barrier on the course. 

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 

Support the show

Francesco Puppi is a professional trail runner for Hoka based outside of Lake Como, Italy. For many fans of the sport, his debut at the 100-mile distance and Western States has been long-anticipated. It's finally here and we cover the usual topics around preparation, mentality, and racing strategy for the current moment, but I also take the opportunity to ask him about current anti-doping efforts in the sport, European vs American trail media, and lessons learned from other superstars in our sport. 

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 
• Janji - running gear that goes the distance
• Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes 

Support the show

Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt join the show to unpack Tom Evans' wild treadmill workout, our Western States sleeper picks, the ski brands entering the trail market, Broken Arrow hype, and whether the athlete-media landscape is changing.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 
• Janji - running gear that goes the distance
• Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes 

Support the show