Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running

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 / Timestamps00:11 - The Illusion of Growth in Trail Running02:05 - Understanding the Growth of Trail Running03:33 - The Emergence of Fandom in Sports06:58 - The Disconnect Between Fans and Athletes08:18 - The Evolution of Running Culture10:38 - The Importance of Fandom in SportsResources / LinksSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningWhy Trail Running Feels Like Skateboarding but Isn'tPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on SubstackListen on any podcast platformBelong one Wylder, our community layer - iOS or AndroidMore at borderlands.cc

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 / Timestamps00:00 - The Deeper Meaning of Running01:12 - The Meaning of Running15:19 - The Evolution of Running Culture16:43 - Shifting Perspectives on Running Culture25:02 - Running as a Radical Act30:50 - The Intersection of Running and Self-Improvement43:01 - Exploring Creativity in Running46:05 - The Solitude of Running and CreativityResources / LinksRaz Rauf on IGRunning SucksThis Is Running, Raz's new bookThumbnail photo by Carly PalmourJosh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningWhy Trail Running Isn't SkateboardingPresented 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

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 / Timestamps00:00 - The Rise of Kiprun04:33 - The Transformation of Kiprun Shoes09:37 - The Evolution of Trail Running Shoes15:27 - Running Shoes and Innovations18:58 - Kiprun's Kipsummit Race Shoe21:06 - The Evolution of Trail Running ShoesResources / LinksKiprun Kipsummit RaceKiprun Kipsummit MaxJosh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverPresented 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

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 / Timestamps00:15 - Exploring the Essence of Running06:07 - The Transition from Music to Running11:18 - The Decision to Quit Drinking23:26 - Exploring Influencers and Individuality in Running31:36 - The Evolution of Running and CreativityResources / LinksThe confusing case of Camille Herron’s alleged Wikipedia editsBorderlands.ccMike Kratzer on IGJosh Rosenthal on IGLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningMike Kratzer + Tom Reynolds at UTMB20 Minutes with Mike KratzerNils Arend, TSP Founder----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

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 / Timestamps00:00 Why Would ANYONE Run 100 Miles05:55 The Journey of the Soul in Ultra Running09:01 The Power of Storytelling in Sports16:08 Exploring the Stories Behind the Sport23:02 Why Do We Keep Going Back to the 100 Mile Starting Line28:11 Reframing Your 'Why'30:30 Ultra Running is the Great EqualizerResources / LinksThe Why by Billy Yang"Nike Boys" DocI Finally Conquered 100 MilesRelated EpisodesNils Arend, TSP FounderScott Jurek, Has Ultra Running Become too Polished?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

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 / Timestamps1:20 Culture and Identity in Trail Running4:19 The Shift from Results to Experience06:41 The Intersection of Trail Running and Authority10:21 The Intersection of Skate Culture and Trail RunningResources / LinksTommie Runz | 5 LoopsSLC PUNKRelated EpisodesIs 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 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

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 / TimestampsChapters00:00 The Impact of Personal Loss on Running01:19 The Relationship Between Sobriety and Running02:38 Community Support and Accountability05:43 Transitioning from Road to Trail Running06:54 The Experience of Running Javelina09:31 The Future of Tommy Runs16:25 The Journey to 100 Miles18:13 Cutting in Line: The Western States Experience18:15 Trail Running: A New Era of Competitors19:02 Training for the Mountains: Strategies and ChallengesResources / LinksTommie Runz on InstagramWestern States----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

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 / Timestamps00:00 The Evolution of Ultra Running02:23 Defining the Charm of Ultra Running07:15 Ultrarunning is Really Two Sports in One11:54 Professionalization vs. Community17:00 The Standardization and Predictability of Ultra Races23:43 The Trade-Offs of Growth - we're losing somethingResources / LinksLa Barba CoffeeACGGorge WaterfallsMountain OutpostWestern StatesLeadvilleWasatch 100Barkley MarathonsEcoTrail ParisRelated EpisodesDirtbag Culture vs. Luxury Running BrandsHow Ciele Athletics Built a Running MovementPresented 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 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 Stamps01:14 Why does Luxury Feel Strange in Ultrarunning?03:45 What is Traditional Ultrarunning Culture?10:48 5 Markers of Traditional Ultrarunning Culture15:44 What even is luxury?20:40 What is a "luxury running brand"?24:25 Why do luxury running brands bother people?27:43 A Weird Moment in Luxury Ultrarunning31:45 The Old Guard of UltrarunningResources / Links[article] Why “Luxury Running Brands” Feels Strange In UltrarunningSatisfyCurrentlyRunning SucksRelated EpisodesSatisfy Cofounder, Brice PartoucheThe ROCKER Shoe is Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas----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 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 & ResourcesNike Next % from 2020Hoka Mafate Xgb ultrasSpeedlandPresented by Kiprun.Chapters02:06 Inky Steve's Top Five Running Shoes06:09 The Importance of Shoe Longevity and Functionality08:56 Brand Preferences and Shoe Mileage14:06 Lifestyle Shoes vs. Performance Shoes20:00 Honest Shoe Reviews24:15 Number One Trail Shoe Recommendation28:09 Hoka Mafate X Shoe for 50 Milers30:50 The Importance of Running Shoe Drainage34:09 The Ultra Running Experience38:50 The Impact of Shoe Design on Performance44:20 Shoe Iterations: What to Keep and What to Scrap----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

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 running10:48 Ultratrail Race Season13:39 Running to "Overcome"16:23 Ciele Athletics18:39 Trail Shoe Design24:05 Scrappy Trail Running Brands30:37 Meme Culture35:08 Tommie Runz36:21 Taylor Bodin (dirt division) + Josh Bouton (meta endurance)38:27 Inky Steve, Stan Van Kemmel, Bryce Carlson, Sam LohsePresented 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 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 happening May 30, 2026.And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android