Singletrack
Finn Melanson
Singletrack is a podcast covering the professional trail and ultrarunning scene.
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Top 10 Singletrack Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Singletrack episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Singletrack for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Singletrack episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
12/10/24 • 60 min
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Chris Chavez returns to the Singletrack Podcast to discuss the latest developments at Citius Mag, the influence of Netflix's Sprint series on Track and Field, shifts in the sports media landscape, his key content and event strategies for 2025, and his perspective on Michael Johnson's "Grand Slam Track" league.
Timestamps:
- 2:00 The Evolution of Citius Mag and Track and Field Media
- 9:49 Retaining Talent in a Competitive Media Environment
- 20:50 The Impact of Media on Track and Field
- 26:59 The Future of Track and Field Media
- 32:19 "Sprint" And The Evolution of Sports Documentaries
- 39:51 Challenges in Media Access In Track and Field
- 45:04 Grand Slam Track
- 50:04 The Role of Influential Figures (Michael Johnson) in Sports
- 55:27 Business Strategies for Sports Media Success
Partners:
- Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
- Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
- Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
- deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLET...) to get 20% off your next order.
Additional Links:
09/14/23 • 79 min
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Jim Walmsley joins the podcast to talk about the major takeaways from his UTMB win, the impacts of moving to France last year, how he's managed his career to date and his path to going full-time pro, as well as his thoughts on whether the UTMB system works for elite athletes in our sport.
Timestamps:
- (1:01) - preparing for a golden ticket chase at Nice Côte d'Azur
- (2:59) - reflecting on career longevity, how he's stayed elite for so long
- (9:09) - curiosity, continuing education in ultra-trail running
- (16:00) - biggest areas of improvement for Jim and for other elites at UTMB
- (25:16) - contextualizing this win, benefits of moving to France for preparation
- (34:17) - key parts of the blueprint for UTMB success
- (49:02) - the other American men have the best chance to win UTMB in the next few years, what's next for Jim
- (59:15) - how Jim creates meaning around his career, how he feels about the overall UTMB system
- (65:26) - miscellaneous questions
Sponsors:
- Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
- Feetures - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://feetures.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
- Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.
- Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
- Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website for 15% off your next order. American listeners - use this link. International listeners - use this link.
- Maurten - head over to their website (https://www.maurten.com/) and shop for gels, bars, and drink mixes.
- Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack)
Links:
08/16/23 • 91 min
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On August 4th, 2023 I set an unsupported fastest known time on the 100 mile wilderness section of Maine's Appalachian Trail.
In an effort to pay it forward to anyone interested in testing their limits on this route in the future, I recorded this trip report with Xander Keiter, who is a fellow HMW enthusiast and owner of the fastest known supported and overall time on the route.
Xander and I discuss the history of the route, what makes it special and intriguing, where it fits in the broader context of the New England trail running scene, how I prepared for the run, what went well, what went poorly, and what might be next.
Sponsors:
- Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
- Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.
- HVMN - use this link (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 30% off your first subscription to their Ketone IQ product.
- Feetures - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://feetures.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
Timestamps:
- (3:29) - what makes the 100 Mile Wilderness so intriguing, what draws trail runners to the route
- (22:52) - how I prepared for the 100 Mile Wilderness
- (30:17) - how I fared on each section, what execution looked like
- (67:58) - post-run reflections, contextualizing the 100 Mile Wilderness, future plans
Sample Gear Used:
- Speedland GS:Tam
- Kogalla RA Adventure Light
- Maurten Gel 100
- Salomon Adv Skin 12L Pack
- Leki Ultra Trail FX One Poles
Links:
- Xander Keiter on From The Backcountry Podcast
- 100 Mile Wilderness Fastest Known Time Page
- Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon
03/31/23 • 112 min
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Brian Metzler is an award-winning sports journalist, writer, and photographer from Boulder, Colorado, who has produced storytelling content for publications like Outside, Trail Runner, Runner’s World, Competitor, and Sports Illustrated, as well as several books, including “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” and “Trail Running Illustrated”.
We discuss the value of endurance sports journalism, how sports marketing is changing, creating trail running fans, and the evolution of UTMB.
Timestamps:
- (1:06) - the content preferences of trail running fans
- (12:39) - marketing trail running to a broader audience
- (29:19) - “trail running is the future” for some shoe companies
- (37:11) - concerns about the growth of the sport
- (44:32) - shakeups in the trail running event landscape
- (56:00) - it is better for a few athletes to dominate or have more mystery in the results
- (62:16) - doping in trail and ultra running
- (82:08) - if and when we’ll see a media outlet dedicated to pro trail running
- (88:54) - the value of trail running journalism
Discounts:
- Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
- HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
- Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)
Links:
Brett Hornig | 2022 Javelina Jundred Recap
Singletrack
11/07/22 • 71 min
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Frequent co-host Brett Hornig joins the podcast to talk about his 4th place finish at the 2022 Javelina Jundred.
Brett talks about being a student of the sport, the conversations he had in the leadup with experienced professionals, how his philosophy around 100 mile training has evolved, how he oriented his lifestyle for this training block, the "why" behind the nutrition, supplements, and gear he used on race day, the race recap, and final thoughts on how this result affects his mindset moving forward.
Sponsors:
- InsideTracker - go to (https://info.insidetracker.com/single...) to get 20% off your next order.
- Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/) to get 15% off your next order
- Gnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next order
Links:
Timestamps:
- (2:20) - whether he was surprised by a top finish at the Javelina Jundred
- (5:32)- being a student of ultrarunning, conversations with the pros about Javelina
- (8:18) - 100 mile training philosophies
- (21:53) - orienting life around preparation for Javelina, additional training block insights
- (27:58) - nutrition, supplements, gear for Javelina
- (41:19) - Javelina race recap, lap by lap
- (55:49) - whether this race result increases confidence, belonging among elites
- (64:27)- final thoughts
Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:
- #140 - Long Run Archives #7 | Olympic Ultra Running, UTMB World Series, Race Coverage Ideas, Agents
- #104 - Long Run Archives #6 | Future of Trail Running Content, USATF Debates, Unusual Athlete Sponsorships, Joe Gray Versus Kilian Jornet
- #94 - Long Run Archives #5 | Western States Reactions, Zach Miller Return, Arizona Trail Duel
- #72 - Long Run Archives #4 | Cocodona 250, Mammoth Trail Fest, Super Shoe Influences, Strava Finds
- #62 - Long Run Archives #3 | Betting In Ultrarunning, Next Great Trail Running Towns, Golden Ticket Series Ideas
- #53 - Long Run Archives #2 | Ultrarunning Analytics, Elite DNF Debate, 3:47 Downhill Mile, Magda What If
- #43 - Long Run Archives #1 | Jim Walmsley What Ifs, Black Canyon 100K Preview, Full-Time
10/21/22 • 12 min
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Matt Daniels is a professional trail runner for Nike based in Boulder, CO lining up for the 2022 Javelina Jundred.
Sponsors:
- InsideTracker - go to (https://info.insidetracker.com/singletrack) to get 20% off your next order.
- Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/) to get 15% off your next order
- Gnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next order
Timestamps:
- (1:03) - Boulder trail running group/team
- (3:56) - catching up on UTMB-CCC experience
- (6:22) - fitness, confidence heading into Javelina
- (8:26) - estimating what it will take to podium this year
- (9:58) - Western States, golden ticket interests
- (11:12) - shoe choice for Javelina
Links:
Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:
- #143 - Annie Hughes | 2022 Javelina Jundred Pre-Race Interview
- #142 - Stefanie Flippin | 2022 Javelina Jundred Pre-Race Interview
- #141 - Nick Coury | 2022 Javelina Jundred Pre-Race Interview
10/21/22 • 11 min
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Annie Hughes is a professional trail runner for Hoka based in Leadville, CO lining up for the 2022 Javelina Jundred.
Sponsors:
- InsideTracker - go to (https://info.insidetracker.com/singletrack) to get 20% off your next order.
- Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/) to get 15% off your next order
- Gnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next order
Timestamps:
- (1:09) - living and training in Leadville, CO
- (3:46) - insights, takeaways from an impressive season of racing to date
- (5:58) - energy, confidence, fitness heading into Javelina
- (7:52) - adapting to the demands of Javalina
- (9:30) - interests in golden ticket, Western States
- (10:38) - shoe choice for Javelina
Links:
Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:
- #142 - Stefanie Flippin | 2022 Javelina Jundred Pre-Race Interview
- #141 - Nick Coury | 2022 Javelina Jundred Pre-Race Interview
10/10/22 • 96 min
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Tyler Clements is the Founder of Surveyor Sports Management where he serves as an Agent/Athlete Manager for some of the most notable trail and ultra runners in our sport.
Similar to our recent talk with Kelly Newlon, I was really excited to have this conversation with Tyler because it was an opportunity to shed light on another point of view in the athlete-sponsor landscape.
We talk about:
- his background as an Athlete Manager
- what it looks like on a day to day basis to represent and work with professional trail runners
- whether it makes financial and career sense to work with an Athlete Manager or Agent
- insights into the recruitment and negotiation process
- whether athlete contract sizes are growing right now
- how much of a factor age and injury play in the re-negotiation process
- whether it makes more sense to stick with one brand or to move around in your career
Tyler struck me as someone who cares deeply about his craft and the role he plays helping athletes navigate their professional careers.
Sponsors:
- Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
- HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
Timestamps:
- (2:22) - background as an agent, interests in trail and ultra running
- (5:45) - defining athlete management, what it goes into being an agent for athletes
- (17:23) - responding to the concern that trail and ultra athletes can’t afford agents
- (22:12) - helping athletes strategize and plan for their entire careers, future selves
- (27:03) - the questions athletes typically aren’t asking in the negotiation process
- (37:03) - whether athletes benefit more from sticking with one brand for their careers or moving around
- (44:23) - how athletes can determine what they’re worth pre-negotiation, what to ask for upfront
- (56:22) - whether there’s a significant gap between what brands want and what athletes want from a partnership
- (60:24) - whether athlete contract sizes are growing across the board, or for only the top athletes
- (65:14) - whether there are elements of contracts in other sports like gravel biking that make sense for trail running
- (71:21) - how much of a factor age and injury play in the contract re-negotiation process
- (78:26) - opportunities for athletes to engage and partner with non-endemic brands
- (93:03) - final thoughts on the athlete-sponsor landscape
Links:
09/23/22 • 187 min
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In this episode I’m talking with Scott Kummer who, among a few other roles in the ultrarunning community, is the host of the popular Ten Junk Miles Podcast.
If you’re a longtime listener, you know this show is capable of going on streaks. Sometimes it focuses on the pro athletes, then it'll focus on the business side of the sport, and so on. Right now, I’m really into these conversations with fellow podcasters in the space. So if you enjoyed the episodes with Dylan Bowman, Corrine Malcolm, Jon Levitt, and Matt Chittim, I think you’ll really enjoy this one too.
Scotty and I get right into a few of the hot-button issues including the pros and cons of engaging with Running Twitter, handling praise and criticism as a public figure in the sport, issues with past and current running content, race coverage preferences, athlete sponsorship issues, UTMB, race directing preferences, and way more.
Don't be intimidated by the 3+ hour length of this episode. No time is wasted - Scott is a great conversationalist.
Sponsors:
- Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
- HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
Timestamps:
- (0:55) - the pros and cons of Running Twitter
- (5:07) - handling praise and criticism as a public figure in ultrarunning
- (12:05) - Scotty’s background in the sport
- (16:44) - issues with past, present running content
- (23:10) - why we started our podcasts, why people start running podcasts
- (30:22) - running podcast style, preferences
- (47:21) - podcasting as a profession, making money through the medium
- (62:47) - the bigger “why’s” for doing podcasts
- (70:49) - UTMB debates, low-key events
- (77:08) - getting into race directing
- (99:28) - race coverage debates
- (117:20) - athlete-sponsor relationship debates
- (129:06) - guests we want to have on our shows
- (139:25) - more debate about types of stories to cover
- (144:07) - corruption, paying for guests and appearances
- (149:40) - the why for doing this, having an impact, dealing with criticism
- (155:00) - the podcast preparation, publishing process
- (168:15) - debates about coaching in our sport
Links:
12/11/24 • 64 min
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In this episode, we’re joined by returning guests Abby Levene of Outside Magazine and Kelly Newlon of RAD Boulder. Together, we dive into the big news of Tara Dower’s groundbreaking sponsorship deal with Altra, which positions her as one of the higher-paid athletes in the ultra-trail running world.
Timestamps:
- 00:30 Introduction to Tara Dower's Contract with Altra
- 06:22 Gender Pay Inequality in Sports
- 09:26 The Role of Non-Disclosure Agreements in Athlete Contracts
- 13:42 Market Dynamics and Athlete Compensation
- 16:37 The Impact of Tara's Contract on the Trail Running Community
- 19:28 The Future of Sponsorships in Trail Running
- 22:21 Tara Dower's Unique Position in the Sport
- 25:36 Measuring Success for Brands and Athletes
- 28:30 The Evolution of Altra's Brand Strategy
- 35:28 The Evolution of Athlete Representation
- 39:01 The Role of Agents in Ultra Trail Running
- 50:48 The Future of Sports Reporting
- 54:39 The Concept of a Signing Day in Trail Running
- 56:48 Safeguarding Athlete Obligations
- 01:01:55 Final Thoughts on Tara's Impact
Partners:
- Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
- Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
- Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
- deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLET...) to get 20% off your next order.
Additional Links:
- Abby Levene - Outside Mag Article
- Kelly Newlon - RadBoulder
- Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter,
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FAQ
How many episodes does Singletrack have?
Singletrack currently has 359 episodes available.
What topics does Singletrack cover?
The podcast is about News, Ultra Running, Running, Podcasts, Sports and Sports News.
What is the most popular episode on Singletrack?
The episode title '2023 Javelina Jundred Pre-Race Interviews | Preston Cates, Tara Dower, Riley Brady' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Singletrack?
The average episode length on Singletrack is 59 minutes.
How often are episodes of Singletrack released?
Episodes of Singletrack are typically released every 2 days, 2 hours.
When was the first episode of Singletrack?
The first episode of Singletrack was released on Jun 15, 2021.
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