In this episode, Olympic medalist Molly Seidel reflects on the aftermath of success at the highest level of the sport. She discusses the pressures of elite marathoning, why that model became unsustainable, and the personal decisions that led her away from the roads. The conversation touches on injury, identity, sponsorship, social media, and the early stages of her transition into trail running.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 The Influence of Business School on Personal Growth
• 03:02 Redefining Success in Running
• 05:52 The Unsustainable Nature of Elite Sports
• 09:01 Navigating Pressure and Performance
• 12:01 The Challenge of Public Perception
• 14:54 Building a Life Beyond Running
• 17:56 The Artistic Side of Sport
• 20:40 Transitioning to Trail Running
• 23:54 The Business of Being a Professional Runner
• 26:41 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes
• 29:49 Comparing Media Coverage in Running
• 35:46 Training Philosophy and Mental Game
• 38:54 Nutrition and Gear for Trail Racing
• 41:45 Looking Ahead to Future Races
  
  

Partners:

• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/singletrack)
• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
• Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)

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In the first-ever edition of Singletrack News, Finn Melanson and co-host Alyssa Clark break down the biggest stories in trail running from the past week.

We start with Sabrina Stanley’s return to racing after a year away from the sport, react to Molly Seidel’s decisive leap into trail running, and discuss what it means to see Courtney Dauwalter carrying the Olympic torch as trail running’s profile continues to rise.

Plus: major race results from around the world, notable performances, sponsorship news, and a look at where the sport is heading as competition and professionalization continue to accelerate.

Singletrack News is our weekly news and conversation show covering the stories, debates, and moments shaping trail and ultrarunning right now.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction to Singletrack News
• 01:07 Sabrina Stanley's Comeback
• 02:31 Courtney Dewaulter Carries Olympic Torch
• 03:43 Gambling Scandal in Track and Field
• 06:05 Podcast Highlights: Coleman Cragan and Ben Dieman
• 09:41 Ann Flower Signs with Hoka, Grayson Murphy Leaves Saucony
• 14:48 UTMB's Future
• 18:45 Results Rundown: Hurt 100 and Winter Spine, Hong Kong 100K
• 28:00 Notable Performances: Molly Seidel, Rachel Entrekin, Erin Ton
• 31:18 Final Thoughts
  
  

Partners:

• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)
• Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)

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In this episode of the Singletrack Podcast, I sit down with Andy Blow, CEO and founder of Precision Fuel & Hydration, for a wide-ranging conversation about what athletes at all levels still get wrong about fueling and hydration in ultrarunning.

A note up front: Precision Fuel & Hydration is a major partner of the Singletrack Podcast — a partnership we’re proud of and want to fully disclose. That said, this conversation isn’t contractually obligated. It’s the exact discussion I would want to have with Andy regardless, driven by a growing curiosity around nutrition, technology, and performance in endurance sports.

Andy brings a deep and unique background to the conversation, with a degree in Sports & Exercise Science from the University of Bath, experience working as a sports scientist with Formula 1 teams, and a role helping establish the Porsche Human Performance Centre before founding Precision Fuel & Hydration.

We explore both fundamentals and frontiers, including:

• Why many ultrarunners — including elite athletes — succeed despite gaps in nutrition knowledge
• Core hydration concepts like sweat rate, sweat sodium concentration, and blood volume contraction
• The danger of chasing marginal gains before mastering the basics
• Why real-time sweat tech still isn’t quite ready for prime time
• “Ballpark accuracy” vs perfect precision in fueling and hydration
• Aid-station decision-making, guardrails, and crew strategy in ultra races
• The emerging challenges of fueling and hydrating for multi-day events

I learned a lot in this one, and hope you do too.

Partners:

• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)
• Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)

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In this edition of Long Run Archives, we talk about: Arlen Glick’s departure from Craft Sportswear, whether mental toughness is often overstated, and that physical fitness is what truly wins races, the idea of "super-domestiques" in ultra, Ben Dhiman vs the Boulder Boys, and media narratives around 200-mile "specialists".

Chapters:

• 00:00 — Arlen Glick’s Departure from Craft
• 06:57 — Could Ultrarunning Ever Have a Smut TV Series?
• 23:03 — Is Mental Toughness Overrated in Ultrarunning?
• 29:56 — Mental Warfare and Training Philosophy
• 32:45 — Community Support as a Competitive Advantage
• 35:39 — Training Partners: Breakthrough or Burnout?
• 39:20 — Pacing Ethics and Team Tactics in Ultrarunning
• 53:39 — Ben Dhiman vs. the Boulder Boys
• 1:03:30 — What Makes a 200-Mile Specialist?
• 1:13:30 — Media Narratives, Visibility, and Performance Metrics

Partners:

• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)
• Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)
• Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order (https://livemomentous.com/)

Additional Links:

• Arlen Glick Strava Post
• 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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Brett Hornig and Mike McMonagle join the show to reflect on the 2025 Ultrarunner of the Year and Trail Runner of the Year rankings, plus some way-too-early hype for our showdown at this year's Bear 100.

Partners:

• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)
• Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)
• Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order (https://livemomentous.com/)

Additional Links:

• Follow Mike 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 annual State of Singletrack episode, Finn Melanson sits down with longtime collaborator Scott Hickenlooper to reflect on where Singletrack has been, what defined 2025 from multiple angles, and how the business, media projects, and personal priorities are evolving heading into 2026.

The conversation covers why the State of Singletrack format exists, how Finn thinks about transparency and building in public, and what listening habits and creative influences shaped the show over the past year. Finn looks back on the biggest accomplishments of 2025, including the release of Singletrack’s first feature-length film The Finisher and the launch of Twisted Fork Trail Festival, while also addressing where things fell short, from missed product ideas to community initiatives that never fully materialized.

The episode examines the realities of building a trail running media company, including the fragility of sponsorship-driven business models, how partnerships are structured, and why diversification through events and race coverage has become essential. Finn and Scott also discuss the growth of Singletrack’s YouTube channel, the challenges of sustaining that momentum, and open questions around future video projects and personal storytelling.

Looking ahead, Finn shares what excites him most about 2026, including Jules Campanelli joining Singletrack full-time, upcoming race directing responsibilities, coverage plans for major events, and his own racing focus on Scout Mountain 100 and the Bear 100.

The episode closes with audience questions, reflections on how Finn’s perspective on the sport has changed, advice for aspiring creators and athletes, and a look at dream interviews that remain at the top of the wish list.

Partners:

• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)
• Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)

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Rachel Entrekin joins the show to discuss how 200 mile racing strategy has changed, what it now takes to compete at the front of the sport, and her transition to being a full time professional in the sport.

Timestamps:

• 01:15 Burrito League, community running, and doing silly things for fun
• 06:30 Transitioning to life as a full-time professional runner
• 12:00 Recovery, sleep, and why high mileage feels different now
• 15:30 Training and connecting with other 200-mile athletes
• 19:30 Confidence, humility, and learning to own performance
• 23:00 Trash talk, entertainment, and race build-up narratives
• 27:00 Cocodona 250 dynamics and racing alone at the front
• 32:00 Gender categories and competitiveness in 200-mile racing
• 36:00 Why conservative racing no longer works
• 41:00 Tactical lessons learned from Mammoth 200
• 45:00 What it will take to win future 200-mile races
• 49:00 Advice for athletes debuting at the 200-mile distance
• 56:00 Studying live streams and learning from the sport
• 1:01:00 Vibe-based racing versus optimization
• 1:06:30 Longevity, visibility, and a late-career breakthrough
• 1:10:00 Old-school racing culture and the Plain 100

Partners:

• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)
• Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)
• Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order (https://livemomentous.com/)

Additional Links:

• Follow Rachel on Instagram, Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Alyssa Clark comment on some of the most pressing issues in trail running today - including whether Hardrock is “cooked,” the debate around separate starts at races like UTMB, and what the future holds for the World Trail Majors.

Partners:

• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)
• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)
• Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)
• Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order (https://livemomentous.com/)

Additional Links:

• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
• Follow Alyssa on Instagram, Strava, Website
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show