Singletrack

Finn Melanson

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

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493 episodes
Updated July 21

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Episodes493

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June 8 · 1 hr 4 min
Killian's Injury Experiment, Cocodona Lottery Analysis + Versteeg Leaving Satisfy? (Singletrack News)
We discuss athletes on the move (including, possibly, Michael Versteeg?!), Kilian Jornet's injury status, the Cocodona 250 lottery results, Tyler Andrews' Everest record, results from the Sunapee Scramble, Scout Mountain 100, and Twisted Fork Trail Festival, UTMB's latest event announcement in Vietnam, and our favorite content of the 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 Janji - premium trail running apparel Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
May 25 · 42 min
Kilian Korth Injury Update, Rachel Entrekin's New Deal, Sage vs Cam Goes to USADA (Singletrack News)
It was a heavy week in trail running, to say the least. Katie Schide officially withdraws from Hardrock as her foot injury rehab continues, and Kilian Korth faces season-ending surgery on a peroneus longus tendon tear that took place during this year's Cocodona 250. Then the Cam Hanes situation. After Hanes admitted to using banned peptide BPC 157 in an Instagram thread following his 2:39 Eugene Marathon, Sage Canaday filed a USADA tip. We break down the ethics of doping enforcement below the pro tier and what Cam's outsized influence on the sport means for any resolution. Plus: Rachel Entrekin's new multi-year Norda deal through 2029, Rachel Drake's record-shattering FKT on the West Grandeur Ascent, Will Peterson ending his Appalachian Trail FKT attempt at the Mason-Dixon line, ASICS opening a year-round UTMB training base in Les Houches, results from Leavenworth Trailfest and the Golden Trail World Series, plus a Twisted Fork Trail Festival preview. 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 - premium trail running apparel Support the show
May 24 · 1 hr 32 min
Dirtbag Dreams: A History of Mountain, Ultra and Trail Running with Carl Morris (Sunday Conversation)
Carl Morris, author of "Dirtbag Dreams: A History of Mountain, Ultra and Trail Running," joins the show to discuss the past, present, and future of our community. 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 - premium trail running apparel Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
May 18 · 46 min
Tove's Zegama Statement, Snowdonia and Rothrock Results, + Tahoe 200's Big Return (Singletrack News)
The trail running world never sleeps! We cover race results from Zegama, Snowdonia, Ultra-Trail Australia, and Rothrock, the return of the original, single-loop course for the Tahoe 200, Caleb Olson's foray into full-time ultrarunning, and the latest from Satisfy's marketing playbook. 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 Support the show
May 11 · 1 hr
Rachel Entrekin | 2026 Cocodona 250 Post-Race Interview
Rachel Entrekin returns to the show to recap her overall course record victory at the 2026 Cocodona 250. 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 - premium trail running apparel Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
May 11 · 1 hr 24 min
Kilian Korth | 2026 Cocodona 250 Post-Race Interview
Kilian Korth returns to the show to recap his men's race course record victory at the 2026 Cocodona 250. 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 - premium trail running apparel Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
May 11 · 53 min
Final Cocodona Thoughts, Transvulcania Recap, Western States Updates (Singletrack News)
Alyssa Clark is back in the co-host seat for this week's edition of Singletrack News. It's a bit of a non-traditional episode as we go longer and spend the first half trading thoughts on this year's Cocodona 250. After that, we go through a brief recap of Transvulcania, a preview of Zegama and other local and international races this coming weekend + our content and gear picks of the 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 Janji - premium trail running apparel Support the show
May 7 · 1 hr 14 min
2026 Cocodona 250 Recap | Race Analysis, Takeaways, Top Performances
Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling recap the 2026 Cocodona 250 - the live coverage, major takeaways, top athlete performances, the possible futures of the event, and listener takes. 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 - premium trail running apparel Support the show
May 4 · 29 min
Aravaipa Buys Ultra Adventures, 2027 Golden Ticket Schedule, Dirtbag Dreams, John Cappis Tribute (Singletrack News)
Solo episode! I cover Transvulcania, Aravaipa's acquisition of a few key trail events around the Grand Circle, a new book about the history of trail running, the latest results on the Skyrunning circuit, a lottery system for the Cocodona 250, and much more. Got a tip for next week's news? Shoot us a DM on Instagram. 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 - premium trail running apparel Support the show
May 2 · 1 hr 28 min
Jim Walmsley's Back. Is He The Favorite? Our 2026 Western States Power Rankings (Long Run Archives #39)
Brett Hornig returns to the show for another edition of the Long Run Archives. This time, we break down the stunning news of the week: Jim Walmsley is back on the Western States start list via a Hoka sponsor entry. After that, we share our 2026 power rankings for both the men's and women's races, which we will revisit during race week in Olympic Valley. 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 - premium trail running apparel Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
April 28 · 1 hr 46 min
2026 Cocodona 250 Preview | Analysis, Storylines, Predictions
Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at this year’s Cocodona 250. 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 - premium trail running apparel Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
April 27 · 49 min
Canyons 100K Recap + Western States Implications (Singletrack News)
Brett Hornig returns to the Singletrack Podcast to recap race results from Canyons, Mt Fuji, Madeira Island Ultra Trail, among other trail-related news. 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 - premium trail running apparel Support the show
April 24 · 1 hr 26 min
Supershoe Debates, Athlete Pipeline Wars, and ACG’s Trail Reception (Long Run Archives #38)
We discuss Sean Haworth's critique of ACG's Gorge Waterfalls activation, the four athlete development programs shaping the next generation of pro trail running, Scott Fauble's issue with supershoes in the marathon, and Climatic Health's new lung health product being marketed to endurance athletes. 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 - premium trail running apparel Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
April 21 · 1 hr 19 min
Max Jolliffe: Cocodona 250 Game Plan, Full-Time Pro Life, and a New Travel Show
Max Jolliffe joins the podcast for his third appearance, two weeks out from his return to Cocodona 250. After dropping at mile 238 in 2025 with cellulitis, Max is back for redemption, and this time he's doing it as a full-time professional athlete after leaving Hurley in November following nearly 15 years at the company. We get into his training block, gear and nutrition strategies, and an upcoming week of course recon out of Mike Versteeg's place in Prescott. Max also walks through his experience at the BPN Backyard Ultra in the Texas hill country and makes the case for why the backyard format deserves more attention from the sport's top names. Other topics: How 15 years in graphic design and apparel at Hurley shapes the value he brings to brand partners beyond race results Why race merch across the sport is a missed opportunity and what needs to change His new travel show concept, Weekend Training Camp, and the Salt Lake City pilot he's editing now When he stopped idolizing effortless talent and started respecting visible work, and how that shift rewired what he looks for in athletes Why he doesn't actually love racing and what draws him to multi-day events and backyard ultras instead Time goal for Cocodona, day-one pacing philosophy, and why he's staying off the front early Prize money at 200s and why the math might need to change 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 - premium trail running apparel Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
April 20 · 55 min
Blanchard Leaves Salomon, Madeira Preview + Molly Seidel Satisfy Announcement (Singletrack News)
Alyssa Clark joins Finn to roll through a packed news week in ultra-trail. Headlines include Ashley Paulson's 12:47:10 treadmill world record set in front of a packed Boston Marathon Expo (a 90-minute improvement on the previous mark), Mathieu Blanchard leaving Salomon to sign with Kiprun as the French brand pushes into the North American market, and a stacked Madeira Ultra Trail start list featuring Jasmine Lowther, Helen Mino Faukner, Katharina Hartmuth, Ethan Peters, and a deep American contingent. Also on tap: weekend results from Penyagolosa, Puerto Vallarta, and Whiskey Basin, Mount Fuji hype, Ryan Becker's move to Kailas, Mammoth Trail Fest's new $6,000 para athlete prize purse, Sarah Hall's trail running plans, the death of UK runner David Parrish on the Cape Wrath Trail and the mountain competency conversation it sparks, plus Salomon's bet on gravel racing. 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 - premium trail running apparel Support the show
April 17 · 1 hr 24 min
2026 Canyons 100K Preview | Analysis, Storylines, Predictions
Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at the 2026 Canyons 100K. 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 - premium trail running apparel Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
April 16 · 48 min
Courtney Dauwalter: Chianti Pivot, Marathon Lessons + Cocodona Redemption
Courtney Dauwalter returns to the Singletrack Podcast ahead of her second attempt at Cocodona 250, the race she started last year and didn't finish, to talk through everything that has happened in between. We open with the Tenerife cancellation and the scramble to pivot to Chianti, including the late surge that won the race and why she credits road marathon training for giving her a new gear she didn't know she had. From there we get into her first real reset in her ultra career, what went wrong at mile 108 at last year's Cocodona, and the one problem she's most excited to solve across day two, night two, and day three of this year's race. We close on her five year Salomon contract extension, what a post-racing chapter actually looks like to her, and what's on the bucket list beyond the three classics (Western States, Hardrock, and UTMB) she's built her career around. 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 - premium trail running apparel Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
April 13 · 36 min
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+ minutes Gerda Steyn seventh win at Two Oceans, one of the most dominant ultra runners of this generation Nicholas Thompson (editor-in-chief of The Atlantic) setting the 50+ American record at the Mad City 50K. Rendezvu, Faves and the case for athlete-led affiliate commerce in trail running Lucy Bartholomew running a 2:41 marathon in Paris to close out a 23-hour training week Given to Fly, the new Brian Morrison book on his 2006 Western States near-win 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 - premium trail running apparel Support the show
April 11 · 1 hr 51 min
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 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 - premium trail running apparel Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show
April 6 · 35 min
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 races Injury 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 2028 What 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 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 - premium trail running apparel Support the show