Endurance Unlimited Molly Seidel and Cliff Pittman on the Shift from Running Marathons to Ultras Season 8 Ep. 2 to Trails
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Feb 4, 2026 Molly Seidel, 2020 Olympic marathon bronze medalist shifting from elite road marathons to trails and ultras. Cliff Pittman, coach focused on durability and ultra-specific periodization. They discuss Molly’s move to trails, rebuilding durability after injuries, translating road fitness to ultra demands, race fueling and gut training, technical downhill practice, and long-term prep for Western States.
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When Success Masks Unsustainable Habits
- Chronic under-fueling and high-intensity road work caused a slow breakdown culminating in a broken kneecap and hormonal issues.
- Molly realized marathon-style training was unsustainable for her long-term career.
Change Coaches When Your Path Changes
- If your goals change, have candid conversations with your coach and seek specialized expertise.
- Molly left a successful coach to find a trail-specific coach who fit her needs and values.
Transfer Physiology With Specificity
- World-class aerobic engine is transferable, but must be repurposed for different sport demands.
- Cliff focuses on utilization of Molly's physiology rather than rebuilding basic capacity.
