Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running

Dylan Bowman has spent much of his life in trail running, first as a professional athlete and now as the founder of Freetrail, one of the sport's most influential media platforms. But what happens when the thing you love becomes the thing you're responsible for building? And how do you know whether the sacrifices have been worth it? [Long Live the Local Ultra | Nov 1 | Salt Lake City] Presented by Kiprun. Josh sits down with Dylan at San Francisco Running Company for a conversation about ambition, identity, and the complicated relationship between running and the business of running. They get into the personal and financial cost of building Freetrail, the pressure of becoming a prominent voice in the sport, the strange world of trail running memes, and where professional trail running might be headed. Somewhere in all of it is a guy who's accomplished a lot and is still figuring out what success looks like. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Thumbnail photo: Ryan Thrower If you’re…

Ultrarunning gives ordinary people a rare place to feel strong, capable and tested. You don’t have to be elite, or even particularly good at it, to experience that. I know because I’ve DNF’d plenty of 100 milers, and when I finally finished Zion 100, I was the last guy across the line. Watching The Rookie with my son made me realize why that feeling matters so much. As adults, most of us lose the arenas where we get to find out what we’re made of. Maybe ultrarunning is one of the last ones we have left. Presented by Kiprun. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 You Don’t Have to Be Good at Ultrarunning 01:03 What The Rookie Made Me Realize 03:46 Adults Lose the Arena 06:16 Stepping Back Into the Arena 12:26 Finishing the Zion 100 16:31 The Dignity of Ultrarunning 20:17 Long Live the Local Ultra Resources / Links Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Borderlands.cc Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running ----…

Anton Krupicka has spent two decades becoming something harder to define than a trail runner. This conversation is about how that happened, why he stopped caring about fitting the sport’s mold, and what it looks like to keep evolving without chasing relevance. We talk about the injury that changed his relationship with running, the move toward scrambling and climbing, his influence on trail culture, the Leadville comeback, and why La Sportiva still makes sense for the athlete he is now. More than anything, it’s Anton on identity, aging, design, and trying to stay the peak version of yourself without pretending you’re still who you were ten years ago. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Anton Krupicka on why trends don't matter 01:30 From trail runner to mountain man 03:52 When the whole landscape opened up 08:24 Identity, trends, and trail running culture 16:45 The Leadville 100 comeback 21:12 The peak version of…

Trail running is growing fast, but what happens to the races that don’t scale cleanly? After spending one night volunteering at the Wasatch 100 and the next day at a brand-new UTMB race, I came away wondering whether the messy, human parts of ultra running are exactly the parts we can’t afford to lose. Pacers, old-timers, exhausted volunteers, DNFs, polished finish lines, UTMB, and the strange ways a race becomes more than a race. This isn’t an argument for grassroots over corporate. It’s about why trail running needs both, what each is uniquely good at, and what disappears when every race starts looking the same. Presented by Kiprun. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 2:22 Races like Wasatch fill the human spirit. 6:09 I love ultrarunning pacer culture. 10:29 Someone else’s problem becomes mine. 14:55 The back of the pack is where I come alive. 16:52 Wasatch rewards staying. 22:04 You can’t manufacture heritage. 26:21…

Ultrarunning rewards people who can keep going. Biel makes you wonder what happens when stopping no longer feels like an option, and where ambition ends and compulsion begins. Biel is a Brazilian ultrarunner, Speed Project athlete, tattoo artist and printmaker living in Berlin. He has represented Brazil at the 24-Hour World Championships and set records from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and Chamonix to Marseille. But the more interesting story is the force connecting his face tattoos, his art and the extreme experiences he says he needs to stay alive. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:27 Face Tattoos, Identity + Freedom 05:17 Why Ultrarunning Keeps Biel Alive 07:19 TSP | Chamonix-to-Marseille Record 10:59 24-Hour Racing x The Speed Project 13:07 A Perfect Fit for Biel 18:40 From Nightclub Cleaner to Pro Runner 22:48 Art + Life Beyond Running 27:39 Beyond Records + Limits Resources / Links Salt Lake…

UTMB is the center of trail running for one week every year, and somehow the people most frustrated by it keep showing up. After a week in Chamonix, I came home thinking the problem with hating UTMB is that the race keeps complicating the argument against it. The fan experience is better than the criticism suggests, TDS might be the hardest race of the week, the women are racing with ego, and some of the most interesting parts of UTMB have almost nothing to do with racing. Ten observations from inside the chaos, including what brands keep getting wrong, what Chamonix reveals about status in trail running, and why everyone should be reading Raz Rauf. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:36 The Critics Are at UTMB 08:12 UTMB Doesn’t Have a Fan Problem 12:24 TDS Might Be the Hardest Race at UTMB 16:26 The DNSs Aren’t About Professionalization 20:38 The Women Are Racing With Ego 24:57…

UTMB is the biggest trail race in the world, but why did it happen in France? The easy answer is Mont Blanc. The better answer has more to do with culture, timing, and the kind of endurance tradition that was already there long before UTMB existed. Josh talks with Doug Mayer, founder of Run the Alps and author of The Race That Changed Running, about the deeper conditions that made UTMB possible, from old mountain races and ski mountaineering to the Pellettis’ execution and the way places like Vallorcine turned the race into something people gather around, not just run. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links Run the Alps Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IG Borderlands.cc Subwhatever Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it. Watch on YouTube Read on Substack

Ultra running rewards obsession, but Tara Dower seems wired for something beyond results. She wants to solve hard problems, chase the best competition, run faster, and keep finding out what she’s capable of. Tara joins me to talk Western States, her planned Pacific Coast Trail attempt, why she hasn’t raced UTMB, learning from Karl Meltzer, and her evolution with Altra from the Lone Peak to the new Vanish Carbon 3. Underneath it all is a bigger question: as Tara becomes one of the defining athletes of modern ultra running, what parts of herself does she want to keep? For ultra runners interested in the people shaping where the sport goes next. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. This episode is in partnership with Altra for the release of its new super road shoe the Vanish Carbon 3 - a light, responsive, and efficient race day shoe made for PRs. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:54 Tara Dower Has Always Been Stubborn 07:07 The Problem…

Trail running has exploded into a global business, and Karl Meltzer somehow ended up at the center of it. HOKA turned his Speedgoat nickname into one of trail running’s defining shoes, Red Bull paid him to chase the Appalachian Trail record, and UTMB eventually bought the race he created. Karl came up when ultrarunning was tiny and has watched the money, brands, athletes, and races transform around him. Josh and Karl talk about the strange experience of becoming valuable to an industry that barely existed when he started, selling Speedgoat to UTMB, his relationship with HOKA, and what someone who has lived through the entire boom thinks about where trail running goes from here. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Borderlands.cc La French Trail Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces…

Ultrarunning eventually becomes a mental problem. The body hurts, the race stops going to plan, and the question becomes what the best ultrarunners understand about continuing when quitting makes sense. Harvey Lewis has spent 30 years figuring that out. In part two of our conversation in Ohio, we get into the mental strategies behind Backyard Ultra, why different races require different mindsets, the failures that changed how Harvey competes, and what decades of Badwater, journey runs, and 200-milers have taught him about going farther than he thought possible. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Thumbnail photo by Romain Mayambi Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Harvey Lewis Intro 01:15 The Mental Game of Ultrarunning 10:47 Learning How Not to Quit 14:06 Different Mindsets for Different Races 16:55 Pilgrimages and Journey Runs 23:31 What Failure Taught Harvey Lewis 30:33 What the Best Ultrarunners Understand Resources / Links Salt Lake Foothills…

Harvey Lewis is one of ultrarunning’s most accomplished endurance athletes, but the more interesting question might be how a high school civics teacher from Ohio became capable of doing any of this. Badwater, Backyard Ultras, Barkley, 250-mile runs. Harvey has built an extraordinary career without making running his entire life. I spent a morning with Harvey at his home in Ohio, days before his 16th consecutive Badwater, trying to understand what makes Harvey Harvey. We talk about the dreamer and engineer he inherited from his parents, the teachers who changed his life, how running and teaching grew together, and why the hardest races have become something closer to pilgrimages. The conversation ends somewhere more personal, with Harvey remembering the person he still imagines waiting for him when things get hard. Thumbnail photo by Romain Mayambi Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 2:17 Harvey Lewis' Origins 6:33 Harvey…

Ciele helped change what running looked like, but the more interesting story is what sat underneath the aesthetic. This episode is for runners curious about how a hat brand became part of running culture without losing the product discipline that made it credible in the first place. What began as a film about Ciele turned into a deeper look at the rise of running as lifestyle, the influence of skate and snow culture, and the unreleased Miles hat that existed before Ciele had its name. Along the way, a portrait emerges of a brand whose visual identity was copied everywhere, while the craft, function, and ethos behind it were much harder to replicate. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links Watch the Ciele doc on YouTube Josh Rosenthal on IG Borderlands.cc La French Trail Subwhatever Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the…

The Satisfy x Adidas collaboration became one of the loudest moments in running, but almost none of the conversation was about the shoe. It became a fight over price, fashion, authenticity, and what running culture is supposed to protect. Josh and Inky Steve look at what the collaboration actually did, why Adidas seemed to gain all the upside while Satisfy absorbed the backlash, and what the circle pit revealed about how tribal running has become. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links Borderlands.cc La French Trail Subwhatever Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it. Watch on YouTube Read on Substack

Trail running in the Midwest looks different. No mountain towns. No towering peaks. Just a different kind of commitment. On the drive to Harvey Lewis's house, Josh and Sam Hartman explore what it means to build a trail running culture in flat country, and why some of the sport's deepest communities exist far from the places most runners imagine. Sam Hartman, founder of TINAR Races in Columbus, Ohio, argues that community matters more than scenery, why Midwest trail runners develop a different relationship with the sport, and how trail running becomes part of your identity when getting to the trails takes intention. It's a conversation about place, belonging, and a side of trail running that deserves far more attention. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links TINAR - Alley Trail Classic Borderlands.cc Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture,…

Hardrock 100 gave aging trail runners something many of us didn't realize we needed: hope. Ludovic Pommeret broke the course record at 50. Courtney Dauwalter won again and still walked away chasing something more. If you've ever wondered whether your best running is behind you, this conversation is for that part of you. Josh reads Bryce Carlson's essay Hardrock 100 in real time, stopping throughout to explore why Hardrock rewards wisdom as much as fitness, why experience compounds in endurance sports, and why the stories we tell ourselves about getting older might be our biggest limitation. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 The Unexpected Gifts of Hard Rock 02:29 The Significance of Ludovic Pommeret's Wisdom as Performance 06:21 Stripping Away Excuses and Embracing Aging in Running 08:20 Ludovic Pomerret’s Record at 50 09:39 Courtney Dauwalter’s Continued Excellence 15:00 The Field Size and Competition Dynamics…

HOKA has become one of the few running brands to cross into culture without losing credibility with runners. If you're building a brand, launching new products, or wondering how companies grow without abandoning what made them special, this conversation is for you. Thomas Cykana and Travis Wiseman pull back the curtain on HOKA's collaboration strategy, why they refuse to make "toy shoes," and how fashion found HOKA before HOKA ever chased fashion. It's a conversation about culture, product, trust, and the surprisingly human decisions behind one of running's fastest-growing brands. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Resources / Links Borderlands.cc La French Trail Subwhatever Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running John Ruben, founder of Unna Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it. Watch on YouTube Read on Substack

For the first time in months, I'm stepping away from interviews and monologues for a Borderlands Trail Running founder update. By the time this episode goes live, my family and I will be somewhere over the Atlantic, leaving Paris after two years and moving back to Salt Lake City. I came to France thinking I was building one thing and left building another. I'm leaving with a much bigger vision for what Borderlands can become. In this monologue, I share what changed during our time in Paris, the mission that continues to guide Borderlands, where I want the company to be over the next month, year, and decade, and how everything we're building fits together. In this episode Why Paris changed the way I think about media, culture, and Borderlands The mission behind Borderlands: The Heart of Trail Running One-month, one-year, and ten-year visions for the company Why Borderlands is expanding beyond podcasts The role of the website, newsletter, documentaries, YouTube, live events, Arcade, and Live on Course The…

Western States 2026 is over. The course records have been set, the winners crowned, and the internet has already moved on. This isn't another race recap. It's a cultural breakdown of what Western States revealed about trail running, its media, and where the sport is headed next. From Dylan Bowman becoming the voice of trail running, to Hans Troyer's fearless pacing, to why Thomas Cardin exposed a storytelling gap, Josh shares the ten ideas he couldn't stop thinking about after the biggest weekend in trail running. Along the way, he asks whether Western States has outgrown its broadcast and why the next frontier isn't better cameras, but better context. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 01:05 Dylan Bowman is the Voice of Trail Running/Racing 04:10 The Broadcast Knows Where Everyone Is 09:05 We Don't Care About Places, We Care About Stories 11:38 We Interviewed the Wrong People 16:14 Whose Job is it to Find Tomorrow's…

Western States and UTMB are often framed as opposite visions for the future of trail running. One protects through limits. The other protects through growth. But after publishing an episode on that tension, I received an unexpected response from Bob Crowley, former President of the International Trail Running Association (ITRA). Bob argues that both sides may be focused on the wrong thing. What follows is a conversation about culture, stewardship, local races, and whether the values that built trail running can survive success. Somewhere along the way, the debate stops being about Western States and UTMB and becomes something much bigger. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links Western States Wants to Protect, UTMB Wants to Grow Bob's Full Op-ed Borderlands.cc La French Trail Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces…

Western States and UTMB have become the two most influential institutions in trail running, but beneath the debate over lotteries, race series, and growth is a deeper question: when something becomes successful, how do you protect it? Josh explores why UTMB believes trail running is important enough to scale globally while Western States believes it's important enough not to. Along the way, he examines scarcity, culture, the hidden cost of success, and whether the thing worth protecting was ever the race itself. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 01:33 Two Philosophies of Trail Running 03:19 Is Growth in Trail Running Corruption? 06:13 The Scale Problem in Trail Running 11:06 What Cultre are We Protecting in Trail Running? 15:50 The Supply Chain of Trail Running Culture Resources / Links 8 Bit Trail Running Josh Rosenthal on IG Borderlands.cc La French Trail Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by…

Wasatch 100 and Bear 100 are two of the hardest races in ultra running. Michael Whiteside ran both just three weeks apart, and what stayed with me from this conversation wasn't the accomplishment. It was the way he talked about suffering, expectations, and the moment he realized he wasn't going to feel better. What follows is less a race report and more a conversation about endurance. Crew guilt, self-doubt, late-race bargaining, and the strange acceptance that sometimes arrives when the problem in front of you can no longer be solved. Somewhere in the middle, Michael offers one of the best descriptions of ultra running I've heard: it wasn't hard, it just hurt. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links Borderlands.cc La French Trail Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it. Watch on YouTube Read on Substack

Modern trail running shoes are better than they've ever been. So why do so many runners still find themselves drawn to older designs like the Nike ACG LDV? Josh and Inky use one nostalgic shoe to explore a bigger question: what happens when an industry spends years optimizing toward the same answer? Somewhere between old Nike catalogs, modern trail shoes, and a sea of increasingly similar products, they uncover why certain designs still stop us in our tracks. Shout out to Marty from Global Sales Guys who talks about the Sea of Sameness in outdoor retail. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links The Mountain That Made ACG Inky's Article about theROCKER Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running I Was Wrong About Kiprun Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it. Watch on YouTube Read on Substack

Western States 100 occupies a different place in trail running than almost any other race. Months before the starting gun, runners and fans are already studying the field, imagining the canyons, debating contenders, and wondering what story will emerge from Auburn. This episode explores why Western States feels bigger than a race. From Jim Walmsley and Kilian Jornet to Wendell Robie, Rucky Chucky, and the old buckle holders still working aid stations, Josh makes the case that Western States belongs in the same conversation as The Masters and the Kentucky Derby. Not because of the sport, but because of what happens when greatness, history, place, and uncertainty all meet in the same event. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 01:54 Elite Runners vs 'Participation Runners' 08:05 The Course as Character 11:14 The Importance of The Course 13:54 The Importance of Rucky Chucky 16:12 The Dual Nature of the Race 19:58 The Spirit…

Trail running culture loves winners. That's obvious. The sport builds documentaries about them, fills Instagram feeds with them, and spends months debating who will win Western States. But the more Josh thinks about it, the more he wonders whether trail running is actually comfortable with the competitive mindset that creates those winners in the first place. As Western States season begins, this conversation explores the difference between the participation version of trail running and the elite version, why those two worlds often get conflated, and what we miss when we use the values of one to understand the athletes competing in the other. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Two Sports Sharing One Start Line 02:51 The Values That Make Champions 05:49 Elite, Professional, and Why It Matters 08:38 What Trail Running Rewards 11:26 Telling an Inward Story About an Outward Competition 14:22 Do We Actually Want…

Professional running can quietly turn into pressure, performance, sponsorship obligations, and constant visibility. This episode with Jacob Puzey is for runners who have felt burnout creeping into the thing they once loved and want to rediscover simplicity, rhythm, and freedom in running again. After twenty years as a professional runner, coach, race director, and sponsored athlete, Jacob reflects on what happened when the pressure finally disappeared. What starts as a conversation about road running slowly becomes something much deeper about identity, aging, social media, routine, and why signing up for hard things still matters even after competition stops mattering. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:43 Rediscovering the Joy of Running 07:41 The Journey Back to Running 11:39 The Transition from Competition to Personal Growth 14:50 The Journey to Scholarship and Running 19:20 The Importance of Commitment in Running…

Trail running usually becomes real for people at a local ultra, not while watching UTMB or Western States online. The parking lot at 5am with 53 runners, one exhausted race director, and volunteers giving up their Saturday to help strangers keep moving is still the clearest entry point into the sport. This episode is for the runners who believe the soul of trail running still lives there. Josh explores why the local 50K may be the most important layer in trail running, how participation precedes fandom in ultra culture, why authenticity in trail running still feels earned instead of performed, and why the small grassroots races that built the sport are becoming increasingly fragile in the modern era of spectacle, prestige, and professionalization. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 02:52 The Turning Point of the Race 03:57 The Ecosystem of Trail Running 07:45 The Local Ultra: An Introduction to Trail Running Culture…

Trail running culture melted down this weekend after a Satisfy x Adidas event triggered accusations of cringe, elitism, rich-kid cosplay, and the death of authenticity. But the backlash revealed something much deeper about where trail running is headed and why so many runners reacted emotionally to it. In this episode, Josh explores why the footage felt so disconnected online, why Satisfy exposes contradictions already present inside trail running, and how the sport may already be transforming into something larger than athletics alone. From Cocodona and expensive race culture to meme accounts, identity signaling, and the rise of trail running media, this conversation is about the growing tension between authenticity, aesthetics, status, and culture inside modern trail running. This one’s for the trail runners trying to understand what the sport is becoming and why that question suddenly feels so uncomfortable. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start…

Trail running is getting bigger fast. Bigger races, bigger brands, bigger media, and more money entering the sport every year. What happens to trail running culture as all of that growth accelerates? And will the human side of trail running we all love survive? Recorded in Stockholm at Klättermusen headquarters, Josh sits down with Gonz Ferrero, CEO of Klättermusen, and Billy White, founder of Sörmlands 100, to talk about UTMB, independent trail races, elite sport versus dirtbag culture, why trail running still feels different from road running, and who actually gets to shape what the sport becomes from here. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:05 The Growth of Trail Running 00:24 The Evolution of Trail Running 13:19 The Personal Connection to Trail Running 33:33 The Diverging Paths of Trail Running 37:38 The Future of Trail Running: Balancing Elite and Everyday Experiences Resources / Links Klattermusen Sormlands…

Cocodona 250 exposed something trail running still doesn’t totally want to admit: the audience is already here, but the fan experience still hasn’t caught up. After spending more than 13 hours inside the livestream tracking viewer behavior in real time, Josh breaks down why thousands of people kept tuning in while constantly disconnecting from the coverage itself. This conversation goes deep on audience churn, race orientation, commentary drift, storytelling, and why trail running media still relies too heavily on goodwill from diehard fans. Not from the outside looking in, but from someone who desperately wants this sport to become easier to share with the people around him. This one’s for trail runners, ultra fans, and anyone who wants the viewing experience to evolve alongside the sport itself. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IG Borderlands.cc La French Trail High…

Ultra running nutrition is getting more extreme. More carbs, more precision, more pressure to “get it right.” But if you’ve ever had your stomach shut down mid-race, you know something isn’t adding up. This episode is for runners trying to fuel better without breaking their body in the process. I sit down with Chris Bellamy, engineer, ultra runner, and founder of Yanaa, to explore the hidden cost of the high-carb movement, what it’s doing to gut health, and why real food might be the missing piece. We get into the tension between performance and health, and what elite athletes are actually doing when it matters. This is for ultra runners who want to perform without sabotaging their system. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Resources / Links White Paper - From Health to Performance Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IG Borderlands.cc La French Trail High Tones Subwhatever Related Episodes An Elite Coach Reframes Fueling for…

Ultra running promises performance, progress, and control. But for a lot of people, it’s filling a gap that normal life doesn’t. This episode explores what ultra running actually gives people and why it becomes something they need, not just something they do. Joshua Landvatter and Kaden Coleman are attempting four 100-mile races in one summer. They both have real lives, real responsibilities, and no interest in chasing podiums. What comes out of this conversation is something deeper than training or racing, and it reframes what this sport really is. This one’s for runners who feel like comfort isn’t enough and are looking for something more. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Resources / Links Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IG Borderlands.cc La French Trail High Tones Subwhatever Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun. ---- Borderlands explores trail running through…

Why do some people keep going when everything says stop? If you’ve ever hit a breaking point in endurance sports and wondered what actually determines whether you quit or keep moving, this conversation is for you. This episode explores the real mechanics of the ultrarunning mindset, beyond training or toughness. Matt Johnson has spent a lot of time at that edge, where the body is failing and the decision gets simple but brutal. Instead of motivation, this conversation gets into what actually happens in that moment, the thoughts, patterns, and behaviors that allow someone to keep going when stopping feels inevitable. This one’s for runners and endurance athletes trying to understand what really happens at their limit. Follow the show for more conversations like this. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Resources / Links Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IG Borderlands.cc La French Trail High Tones Subwhatever Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented…

Nobody plans to become an ultra runner. There’s no clear path into the sport, no obvious starting point, and most people don’t grow up anywhere near it. So how do people actually find their way here? In this conversation, Josh sits down with Emory Atterberry, founder of Hyperlyte Liquid Performance, and rising ultrarunner Cade Michael to explore how three people from the same unlikely place all ended up in the sport. What emerges is a deeper look at rebellion, isolation, and why some people feel pulled toward something harder. This one’s for anyone trying to understand where ultrarunners really come from. Subscribe for more conversations that go deeper into the culture of the sport. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 The Journey to Becoming an Ultramarunner 01:34 The Journey to Ultrarunning 12:55 The Spirit of West Texas 15:58 Transitioning from Football to Ultra Running 25:16 The Mosaic of Inspiration in Running 33:12 The Journey to Ultrarunning: Growth…

Trail running is growing fast, but is it actually scaling? If you’ve ever felt like the sport looks bigger than it is, or struggled to follow it as a fan, this episode breaks down why. This is for runners and industry insiders trying to understand what’s really happening beneath the surface of trail running’s growth. Josh unpacks the difference between participation and fandom, why brand investment is propping up the pro layer, and what’s missing for the sport to become something people actually follow. Western States and UTMB become the proving ground for a bigger question that could define the future of trail running. This one’s for the runners who love the sport and want to understand where it’s actually headed. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps 00:11 - The Illusion of Growth in Trail Running 02:05 - Understanding the Growth of Trail Running 03:33 - The Emergence of Fandom in Sports 06:58 - The Disconnect Between Fans and Athletes 08:18 - The Evolution of…

Trail running and running culture go beyond training plans, races, and performance. Raziq Rauf explains why running isn’t just a sport, but a reflection of identity, place, community, and modern running culture. Raziq is the author of This Is Running and writes the newsletter Running Sucks. In this episode, we talk about running as culture, not just competition: place, community, creativity, solitude, fashion, consumerism, and why a run can change the person who started it. We also get into Haruki Murakami, narrative writing, run clubs, The Speed Project, and the strange modern shift from running as a sport to running as a lifestyle. This episode is for runners who care about the meaning of the sport, not just the metrics. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 - The Deeper Meaning of Running 01:12 - The Meaning of Running 15:19 - The Evolution of Running Culture 16:43 - Shifting Perspectives on Running Culture 25:02 - Running as a Radical Act 30:50 - The…

Kiprun used to feel like an entry-level running brand, not one serious runners would put in the same conversation as the best trail running shoes in the sport. If you’re curious how a brand changes that perception and what it looks like when a running company genuinely reinvents itself this episode is for you. Josh sits down with Inky Steve to break down the shift they’re seeing at Kiprun through the Kipsummit Max, Kipsummit Race, and the broader portfolio now taking shape under Decathlon. They get into stigma, design, price, performance, and why this feels less like a one-off good shoe and more like a brand returning with a completely different level of intent. This one’s for runners who care about shoes, design, and where the culture is moving. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 - The Rise of Kiprun 04:33 - The Transformation of Kiprun Shoes 09:37 - The Evolution of Trail Running Shoes 15:27 - Running Shoes and Innovations 18:58 - Kiprun's Kipsummit Race…

Ultra running reveals what happens when race plans fail, training falls apart, and things don’t go the way we want. Running helps strip away all the things we distract ourselves with and forces us to stand face to face with them. In this conversation with Mike Kratzer, a former DJ turned runner, we explore what happens when there’s nothing left to hide. From quitting drinking without rock bottom to rejecting the sameness of modern running culture, this is about what running reveals when you stop trying to be someone and just are. This one’s for runners who enjoy running culture and thinking about running on a deeper level beyond performance. Listen, and if this resonates, share it with someone who needs it. Presented by Kiprun. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps 00:15 - Exploring the Essence of Running 06:07 - The Transition from Music to Running 11:18 - The Decision to Quit Drinking 23:26 - Exploring Influencers and Individuality in Running 31:36 - The…

Why do people run 100 miles and keep coming back to ultra running even after it hurts, slows them down, and offers no obvious reward? If you’ve ever been curious about ultra running or felt the pull toward doing something hard without fully understanding why, this conversation is for you. In this episode, Billy Yang helps unpack what draws people into ultra running and what they’re actually searching for out there. It’s less about racing and more about identity, suffering, and the deeper reasons people choose to keep going. For runners and anyone trying to understand why we choose hard things. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Why Would ANYONE Run 100 Miles 05:55 The Journey of the Soul in Ultra Running 09:01 The Power of Storytelling in Sports 16:08 Exploring the Stories Behind the Sport 23:02 Why Do We Keep Going Back to the 100 Mile Starting Line 28:11 Reframing Your 'Why' 30:30 Ultra Running is the Great Equalizer Resources / Links The Why by Billy…

Trail running culture is starting to look a lot like skateboarding—crews, aesthetics, a more raw identity. But if you’ve ever wondered whether that comparison actually holds up, this episode breaks it down. There’s a reason the connection feels right—and a deeper reason it might not be. This isn’t about dismissing what’s happening in running, but trying to understand what it actually is. This episode is for runners who care about the culture of the sport, not just the miles. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. Topics / Timestamps 1:20 Culture and Identity in Trail Running 4:19 The Shift from Results to Experience 06:41 The Intersection of Trail Running and Authority 10:21 The Intersection of Skate Culture and Trail Running Resources / Links Tommie Runz | 5 Loops SLC PUNK Related Episodes Is Ultrarunning Losing Its Charm? Is Ultrarunning Changing? ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt…

Many runners come to ultrarunning through performance, but what happens when running comes after everything else falls apart? This episode explores how sobriety, loss, and identity shape the path into ultrarunning and what it actually looks like to rebuild a life from the ground up. Josh sits down with Tommie Runz to trace the arc from heavy drinking and personal collapse to running across the desert from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and eventually into ultrarunning. The conversation moves through early sobriety, community, and the tension between commitment and loss, including missing his best friend’s funeral during that run revealing how change actually happens over time. For runners interested in the deeper reasons people come to the sport. Follow the show for more conversations like this. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. Topics / Timestamps Chapters 00:00 The Impact of Personal Loss on Running 01:19 The Relationship Between Sobriety and Running 02:38…

Ultrarunning is evolving and growing fast and with that growth, ultra running feels different. Josh digs into how the sport is changing as it becomes more competitive, more visible, and more professional than ever before and asks whether something essential is being lost along the way. From duct-taped water bottles and campfire start lines to global races with thousands of runners and highly engineered gear, this episode explores what that shift really means. From the rise of new brands and technologies to the increasing professionalization of the sport, the conversation looks at what we’ve gained—and what we might be leaving behind. Not as something to judge, but as an evolution that is reshaping how ultrarunning feels, who it’s for, and where it’s going next. For runners thinking about how ultrarunning is changing and what that means for the future of trail running and ultrarunning. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 The Evolution of Ultra Running 02:23…

If you've ever wondered why luxury running brands suddenly started appearing in ultrarunning—a sport built on dirtbag ethos, thrift-store gear, and anti-status culture—this episode explores the tension behind it. Josh unpacks where the idea of luxury collides with traditional ultrarunning culture, what actually defines a luxury running brand, and why some runners see it as evolution while others see it as a threat to the identity of the sport. At the center is a deeper question: is ultrarunning defined by what you wear, or simply by the act of running ultras? For trail and ultrarunners curious about how culture, identity, and authenticity are evolving in the sport. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Time Stamps 01:14 Why does Luxury Feel Strange in Ultrarunning? 03:45 What is Traditional Ultrarunning Culture? 10:48 5 Markers of Traditional Ultrarunning Culture 15:44 What even is luxury? 20:40 What is a "luxury running brand"? 24:25 Why do luxury running brands bother people? 27:43…

If you've ever spent too much money on trail running shoes and wondered whether any of them are actually worth it, this episode is for you. I sit down with Inky Steve, a guy who has tracked 44 pairs of running shoes across 6,000 miles on Strava, to get his most honest verdicts on the shoes he'd recommend to his best friend, the ones he regrets, and the models brands should have never stopped making. For ultra runners and trail runners who take their gear seriously and want real talk and not sponsored opinions. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Links & Resources Nike Next % from 2020 Hoka Mafate X gb ultras Speedland Presented by Kiprun. Chapters 02:06 Inky Steve's Top Five Running Shoes 06:09 The Importance of Shoe Longevity and Functionality 08:56 Brand Preferences and Shoe Mileage 14:06 Lifestyle Shoes vs. Performance Shoes 20:00 Honest Shoe Reviews 24:15 Number One Trail Shoe Recommendation 28:09 Hoka Mafate X Shoe for 50 Milers 30:50 The Importance of Running Shoe Drainage…

Trail running doesn’t have journlists and no one’s holding the sport accountable. I think memes might be the closest thing we’ve got and that’s just one of the 10 things on my mind this week.. This week I pulled up a chair with a pile of gear and just talked: race season fandom, scrappy brands worth knowing, the shoes I'm fired up about right now, and the two-hour long run philosophy I'm using in training for Paris Eco Trail. For ultra runners and trail runners who are in it for the culture, the gear, and everything that makes this sport unlike anything else. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. 01:23 ACTUAL trail running 10:48 Ultratrail Race Season 13:39 Running to "Overcome" 16:23 Ciele Athletics 18:39 Trail Shoe Design 24:05 Scrappy Trail Running Brands 30:37 Meme Culture 35:08 Tommie Runz 36:21 Taylor Bodin (dirt division) + Josh Bouton (meta endurance) 38:27 Inky Steve, Stan Van Kemmel, Bryce Carlson, Sam Lohse Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for…

If you've ever wondered how running brands like Ciele Athletics reshaped the culture of modern running, this episode explores the moment performance gear started becoming identity. Jeremy Bresnen, cofounder of Ciele Athletics, walks through the brand’s origin story—from a hats-only startup in Montreal to one of the most recognizable names worn by runners across road, trail, and ultra distances. Along the way, he reflects on the shift that happened in the 2010s when people weren’t just running anymore—they were runners. For trail, road, and ultra runners curious about how modern running brands changed the culture of the sport. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

If you've ever wondered what it takes, mentally, physically, and emotionally, to push the human body further than most people can imagine, this one's for you. I sit down with Camille Herron, one of the most decorated ultra runners alive, to talk about what keeps her going when everything falls apart, the two-hour long run training philosophy that changed how she prepares for 100-mile races and beyond, and what it really felt like to set the 24-hour world record in Albi, France. For ultra runners who want to understand the mental game at the highest level and take something real back to their own training. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

If you've ever wondered how ultra running nutrition changes when races stretch beyond a single day, this episode reframes race day nutrition to better address multi-day endurance races. Jesse Rich, nutritionist to elite ultrarunners, explains why traditional fueling advice breaks down during multi-day endurance efforts. As sleep deprivation, calorie deficits, and digestive fatigue accumulate, runners must think beyond electrolytes and gels and begin considering deeper nourishment ideas like how the body burns calories during mult-day events, how long it takes to absorb them again, and how sleep, recovery, and caffeine timing all affect performance. For ultrarunners preparing for multi-day races like The Speed Project or anyone curious about how the body fuels extreme endurance. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races…

If you've been following the recent surge in ultra running records, Anne Flower’s name has suddenly been everywhere from the Leadville 100 course record to a 50-mile world record and a dominant win at Javelina Jundred. But her rise isn’t sudden. Anne has been grinding for years while building a demanding career as a physician in Colorado Springs. She reflects on her training philosophy, how she approaches ultrarunning through the lens of medicine, and what she’s thinking heading into Black Canyon 100K against one of the fastest fields in the sport. For trail and ultrarunners interested in elite training, racing strategy, and the mindset behind record-level performances. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

If you’ve been following ultra trail running, Francesco Puppi has long been a name serious fans recognize—but his 2025 wins at CCC, The Canyons 100K, and Chianti 47K put him squarely on the radar of the broader American audience. Puppi brings a rare mix of mountain strength and marathon speed, making him a contender whenever he toes the line. In this episode, we talk about his racing philosophy, why courses like Black Canyon suit his strengths despite their technical sections, and what it takes to consistently compete at the front of the sport’s biggest races. For trail and ultrarunning fans who want to understand how elite athletes approach racing at the highest level. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android

If you’ve noticed the rise of running apparel that reflects the culture and spirit of the sport—not just performance metrics—designer and runner Alex Zono is part of that shift. Recorded at Paris Fashion Week, Alex joins Josh Rosenthal and Sam Lohse to talk about designing gear for runners who love the sport from dirtbag trail adventures to racing at the front of events like Black Canyon 50K. He shares the mindset behind his “Running is My Best Friend” collection, how trail culture influences his design philosophy, and why he’s still planning to line up at Black Canyon with the intent to compete. For trail and ultrarunners interested in how running culture, design, and performance intersect. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Presented by Kiprun. ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter. Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or…