Podcast
Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running
Hosted by Josh Rosenthal | Ultra Runner · EN
Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running is a storytelling podcast for ultra runners who love this sport deeply, the iconic races, the legendary athletes, the gear, and the culture that makes all of it worth caring about.
Hosted by Josh Rosenthal, founder of Borderlands Trail Running, this show exists to collect the ultra running stories that define the sport, from spending a day at Laz Lake's home to deep conversations with Scott Jurek, Dean Karnazes, Camille Herron, and the everyday runners doing extraordinary things out on the trails.
This podcast covers the full world of ultra and trail running: race coverage and analysis of marquee events including Western States Endurance Run and UTMB, honest trail running shoes reviews and ultra running gear breakdowns from someone who has tested 44 pairs over 6,000 miles, and big conversations about where the sport is headed, including what dirtbag runners bring to a sport that's growing fast.
This show gives ultra runners the stories, perspectives, and gear knowledge to go deeper into a sport they already love while celebrating what makes trail and ultra running unlike anything else.
We'll answer questions like:
- Who is Laz Lake, and why does everyone in ultra running revere him?
- What makes the Barkley Marathons the hardest race in the world?
- How does Western States Endurance Run work, and why is it so hard to get in?
- What are the best trail running shoes and ultra running gear right now?
- Who are the greatest ultra runners of all time?
- What does dirtbag running culture actually mean?
- How is ultra running changing, and is that a good thing?
- What does it take to run a 100 mile ultra marathon?
- What should ultra runners eat during training and on race day?
If you want the stories, the gear, and the culture that make ultra and trail running the most addictive sport on earth, you're in the right place.
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Local Ultra Is Trail Running’s Foundation
4d ago00:18:42Tap to summarizeTrail 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 / Timestamps02:52 The Turning Point of the Race03:57 The Ecosystem of Trail Running07:45 The Local Ultra: An Introduction to Trail Running Culture11:22 The Challenges of Local Trail Races18:00 The Importance of Local Races in Trail RunningResources / LinksSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack
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What SATISFY Reveals About Trail Running
1w ago00:09:46Tap to summarizeTrail 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 here.Topics / Timestamps00:00Resources / LinksSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack
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Can Trail Running Stay Human?
2w ago00:45:06Tap to summarizeTrail 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 / Timestamps00:05 The Growth of Trail Running00:24 The Evolution of Trail Running13:19 The Personal Connection to Trail Running33:33 The Diverging Paths of Trail Running37:38 The Future of Trail Running: Balancing Elite and Everyday ExperiencesResources / LinksKlattermusen Sormlands Trail RaceSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningUltra Runners Need More Than Normal LifeWhy Running Changes You with Raz RaufPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack
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Can Trail Running Handle Growth?
3w ago00:20:57Tap to summarizeCocodona 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 / LinksSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack
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Why Fueling Stops Working During Ultras
3w ago00:44:54Tap to summarizeUltra 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 / LinksWhite Paper - From Health to PerformanceSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesAn Elite Coach Reframes Fueling for UltrarunnersPre-Race Nutrition for UltrarunnersNutrition Myths for UltrarunnersPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack
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Why Ultrarunning Feels Necessary
4w ago00:20:44Tap to summarizeUltra 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 / Timestamps00:00Resources / LinksSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack
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Why Ultrarunners Keep Going When Their Body Says Stop | Matt Johnson
Apr 2000:26:42Tap to summarizeWhy 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 / LinksSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningPresented 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
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How People Become Ultrarunners (No Clear Path)
Apr 1400:38:23Tap to summarizeNobody 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 / Timestamps00:00 The Journey to Becoming an Ultramarunner01:34 The Journey to Ultrarunning12:55 The Spirit of West Texas15:58 Transitioning from Football to Ultra Running25:16 The Mosaic of Inspiration in Running33:12 The Journey to Ultrarunning: Growth and TransformationResources / LinksHyperlyte Liquid PerformanceSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races - May 30Josh Rosenthal on IGBorderlands.ccLa French TrailHigh TonesSubwhateverRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningPresented 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
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The Problem With Professional Trail and Ultra Running
Apr 1000:11:38Tap to summarizeTrail 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
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Why Running Changes You (It’s Not Just Fitness) with Raz Rauf
Apr 800:49:50Tap to summarizeTrail 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
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