Singletrack

In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, we break down a massive weekend of racing across Chianti by UTMB, Chuckanut 50K, and Big Alta, highlighted by Golden Tickets awarded at Chianti and a highly anticipated showdown between Courtney Dauwalter and Rachel Entrekin. We discuss the winners, key performances, roll-down implications, and what it all means for the rapidly taking shape Western States field, along with early-season signals from some of the sport’s top contenders.
Elsewhere, we dig into one of the most interesting new concepts in the sport: the “Trail House”, a Boulder-based initiative aiming to create a pipeline for post-collegiate runners into professional trail running, with built-in support, structure, and storytelling.
We also cover:
 Lotti Brinks accepting a Western States Golden Ticket via roll-down from CCC 
 François D’Haene’s 2026 schedule and his decision to center the season around an FKT attempt on the GR20
 The “Hardcore Harry’s” challenge, a last-person-standing-style event that has athletes running 80+ km on consecutive days 
 A grassroots “Community Traverse” stepping in to support runners after the Northern Traverse disruption 
 A wild FKT story out of North Carolina involving a broken wrist and a finish anyway 
 Previewing the Arizona Monster 300 and what to expect from one of the most extreme races on the calendar 
And our content picks of the week, including a new long-distance route in the UK and a broader conversation around “right to roam” and trail access.

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
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In this episode, Centurion Running founder James Elson joins the show to unpack one of the most complex moments in trail running right now.
We examine the collapse of high-profile events like Dragon’s Back and what it reveals about the economics of modern race organization - including rising operational costs, participant trends, and why certain race formats may no longer be sustainable. James also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how race directors actually think about pricing, no-show rates, and business viability. 
In the second half of the conversation, we turn to UTMB and its growing influence on the sport. We discuss the tradeoffs between scale and safety, the risks of removing qualification standards, and whether the current growth model is aligned with the long-term health of trail running. We also explore who is ultimately responsible for runner preparedness, the role of media and culture in shaping expectations, and whether UTMB is, for now, still a net positive for the 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 - 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

In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, we break down a major development in the UK trail running scene after Ourea Events - the organizers behind races like Dragon’s Back, Cape Wrath Ultra, and the Northern Traverse - announced they are ceasing trading, putting several iconic races in jeopardy and leaving athletes uncertain about the future of some of the sport’s most ambitious point-to-point events.
We also discuss confusion surrounding UTMB’s new broadcast partnership with FloSports. After speculation online that UTMB races could move behind a paywall, organizers clarified that the UTMB livestream will remain free, with FloSports serving as a simulcast partner in the United States.
Elsewhere, we dig into UTMB’s 2026 live broadcast schedule, which includes 10 races across the World Series - but notably excludes Golden Ticket events like Chianti and Canyons.
We also cover:
UTMB CEO Fabrice Perrin raising concerns about “ambush marketing” in trail running
The debut of the Big Alta 100K in Marin Headlands
Previewing the Chianti by UTMB Golden Ticket battle
Courtney Dauwalter lining up at Tenerife Blue Trail as an early season test
Nike recruiting ultrarunners for a 15-week research residency at the Nike Sports Research Lab
And our content picks of the week, including a conversation between Harry Styles and Haruki Murakami on how running fuels creativity

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

In this edition of Long Run Archives, Finn Melanson is joined by Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt for a wide-ranging conversation about some of the biggest debates circulating in trail and ultrarunning right now.

We begin with a viral moment from the sport: Charlie Lawrence being called out to run a backyard ultra. Could a 100K record holder actually threaten the backyard ultra world record, or is the discipline too specialized for that kind of crossover? The group discusses what determines success in the backyard format and why the event continues to fascinate runners across disciplines.

Next, we explore a provocative question making the rounds online: are elite trail runners boring? Are influencers better storytellers than professional athletes, or is that narrative missing the point? Along the way we discuss historical tensions between performance and storytelling in the sport and what audiences actually respond to.

In the second half of the episode, we unpack two recent race controversies:

• Ultra Trail Snowdonia’s major course change after registration opened
• The possibility that the historic JFK 50 Mile could move from its traditional course due to funding disputes

What responsibility do race organizers have when circumstances force major changes after runners have already committed?

Finally, we play a round of Overreaction / Underreaction, reacting to statements like:

• Molly Seidel is already a Western States podium contender
• Jen Lichter could enter the top echelon of the sport with a Western States win
• Crowdfunded prize purses may surpass traditional race payouts
• Kilian Jornet could still win both Western States and UTMB in the same season

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 
Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order 
Support the show

This is a crossover episode from Conversational Pace. Brett Hornig interviews me about my LA Marathon experience + we speculate a bit in the second half about the future of CP. 
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