In this episode, Rachel Entrekin returns to the show immediately following her 3rd place finish at Chianti by UTMB and gives a firsthand account of one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.
We start with the moment everyone’s talking about: Courtney Dauwalter’s decisive late-race surge. Rachel walks us through how the race unfolded from the front, what it felt like to be running all day shoulder-to-shoulder, and what made Courtney’s final move so shocking even to the athletes in the race.
From there, we zoom out to what this performance means for Rachel’s trajectory. We discuss the narrative around her being a “200-mile specialist,” the pressure she felt coming into the race, and why this result felt like a long-overdue validation of her ability across distances.
We also break down the competitive dynamics at the front of the field, including what makes both Courtney Dauwalter and Ingvild Kaspersen uniquely difficult to race against, and why Chianti stands out as the most competitive - and most enjoyable - race of Rachel’s career so far.
In the second half, we get into the performance details: fueling breakthroughs (including a surprising shift toward gels), gear choices, and how improved nutrition may be unlocking a new level of speed and durability. We close with a look ahead to Cocodona and what this race might signal about Rachel’s ceiling in 2026.
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
Support the show
