Running is one of the most popular and widespread activities in the country, yet coverage of the sport pales in comparison to team sports such as baseball and football. Media attention to trail and ultrarunning is even more limited, due to challenging accessibility and technology limitations.

My guest on the podcast came to running nearly a decade ago, and quickly fell in love with the mountains, trails, and the ultra world. Finn Melanson is the host of Singletrack, one of the most successful podcasts about the trail and ultra scene. His experience covering and participating in the sport have given him unique insight into its recent growth, and where it’s headed in the years to come.

While Finn and I start by discussing the phenomenal race by Courtney Dauwalter at Western States, we focus on the evolution of ultrarunning and how its coverage continues to improve. While ultrarunning is still a niche sport, it’s on a trajectory to become more widely watched in the near future.

Finn and I talk about why and how this is happening, including:

The importance of having the right people involved in the sport at the right time
Why storytelling plays such an important role in making ultras more widely accessible
Differences in livestream technology in Europe and the US
How UTMB is trying to become the “world Series” of ultrarunning
Trail running’s influence on podcast and media coverage
The evolution of trail and ultrarunning over the past 10 years
How running can develop into a geographically based team sport
Finding ways to attract people to the sport who will never run an ultra

If you love running and want to understand the possibilities for growth in our sport, this podcast is for you!

Links & Resources from the Show:

Follow Singletrack on Instagram and Twitter
Listen to the Singletrack podcast on Youtube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Read more about what professional trail and ultrarunners typically earn
Learn about novel ideas for ultrarunner sponsorship

Thank You Previnex!

We’re supported by our newest partner, Previnex. After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m less than a year from being a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

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Thank you to our Performance Training Journal!

We’re also brought to you by our very own Performance Training Journal, which is now available on Amazon. Since I started running in 1998, I’ve kept a hardcopy training journal. Holding a tangible log, writing in it daily, and reflecting on the ups and downs of running is a surefire way to improve.

This hardcopy training journal helps you focus on the training metrics that matter, prioritizes a long-term outlook so you don’t take any shortcuts, and maintains your motivation with strategic self-praise. With a no-frills, functional design, the Performance Training Journal includes coaching advice on racing, injury prevention, strength training, and more. It will guide you through race scheduling, how to plan your race morning, the best workouts for endurance runners, and encourage you to track your personal bests over time.

You have the space to make this journal your own whether you're a new runner or a professional, a trail or road runner, or a mid-distance specialist or ultra marathoner.⁣ So don't just track your running, learn from it with the Performance Training Journal! Check it out today on Amazon.

308. Singletrack’s Finn Melanson on the Growth of Trail Running, Media Changes, and the Future of the Sport

The Strength Running Podcast