

Singletrack
Finn Melanson
Singletrack is a podcast covering the professional trail and ultrarunning scene.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 17, 2024 • 1h 42min
Long Run Archives #16 | Lululemon FURTHER Recap, Multi-Day Race Strategy, Ultrarunning Research
Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling join Singletrack to recap the Lululemon-backed FURTHER event which took place outside of Palm Springs, CA about a week ago. It was equal parts interesting from performance, research, technology, marketing, and lifestyle standpoints and we touch on a lot of that in this episode through the lens of Leah’s experience logging 400 miles over the 6-day event and Brett helping crew her during that time frame. Specifically, we recap her race experience, talk about the multi-day race strategies she picked up over the 6 days, and learn about some of the ultrarunning-related research that was conducted and when that will be available for public consumption.No doubt many of you were glued to the live tracker for all the athletes out there, Mike McMonagle’s photo journalism, and some of the reporting from Outside and IRunFar. Hopefully, this episode adds another interesting angle to one of the more unique events we’ve seen in the running sphere in at least a few years.Timestamps:01:00 Initial Thoughts and Event Background08:34 Cognitive Tests and Mental Performance10:29 Preconceptions vs. Reality of a Multi-Day Event23:02 Training Volume and Performance37:56 Sleep Strategies43:28 Medical Support, Managing Injuries49:10 Wearable Technology - Core Temp, Glucose, Etc01:09:47 Insights from Shoe and Apparel Tech, Biomechanics Feedback01:17:05 The Purpose and Impact of Further01:26:37 The Mental Game in Multi-Day Events01:32:39 Post-Event Recovery and Future Races, Final TakeawaysSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.Links:Follow Leah on Instagram, Strava, TwitterFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeFollow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Mar 15, 2024 • 1h 21min
Christian Meier | Pro Trail Running vs Pro Cycling, Norwegian Training Methods, Finding New Athletic Peaks
Christian Meier is a professional trail runner for Salomon and an entrepreneur based in Girona, Spain. In this discussion, Christian shares insights on the contrasting levels of professionalism in cycling and trail running. He delves into the integration of Norwegian training techniques into ultra-trail running, achieving excellence across diverse sports disciplines, and his diverse array of business endeavors beyond his athletic pursuits.Timestamps:01:30 Level of Preparation in Ultrarunning vs Cycling10:02 Tactics in Ultrarunning23:34 Increasing Level of Preparation in Ultrarunning27:01 Staying Power in Ultrarunning29:06 Norwegian Training Methods in Ultrarunning38:37 Commitment to High Performance, Athletic Peaks 56:25 Balancing Athletics and Business, Managing Business Ventures01:12:43 Efficiency and Time Management01:15:42 Upcoming Races and Final ThoughtsSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.Links:Follow Christian on Instagram, Strava, Chance, Overland, La FabricaFollow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Mar 7, 2024 • 46min
Automating Ultrarunning Hydration Strategy And Execution | Meridith Cass (Nix Biosensors)
Meridith Cass - the Founder-CEO of Nix BioSensors - joins the show to talk about the self-health movement, the latest technology behind hydration intelligence, and the prospect of completely automating your hydration strategy and execution at an ultra-trail race like the Western States 100. One thing to note before we get started - Singletrack has no financial partnership with Nix, but if you’re interested in trying out their products after listening to this episode feel free to use the code Singletrack15 for 15% off your order on their website.Timestamps:2:10 The Importance of Self-Health and Personalized Health Management5:15 Accuracy and Meaningful Metrics in Biosensing8:34 Personalized Feedback and Dynamic Recommendations10:05 The Limitations of Intuition in Hydration Management12:26 The Impact of Dehydration on Performance14:17 How the Nix Patch Works and Measures Sweat15:06 Refining Hydration Plans with Patch Data17:30 The Nix Index and Environmental Conditions21:05 The Value of Wearing the Patch Before and After Workouts23:42 Triangulating Data with Other Sensors25:04 Accuracy of Recommendations and Tolerable Error Rate27:24 The Role of the Patch in Changing Consumer Purchasing and Brand Marketing29:30 Granularity of Electrolyte Profile Data31:06 The Future of Hydration and the Role of the Nix Patch37:09 The Impact of Nix on Personalized Purchasing Decisions39:39 The Need for Lab-Based Sweat Tests and the Role of the Nix Patch41:00 Exciting Research in Sweat Science and Partnerships with Researchers42:27 Automating Hydration Strategies with the Nix PatchSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.Links:Connect with Meridith on LinkedIn, WebsiteFollow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Mar 1, 2024 • 1h 18min
Paul Huddle | UTMB Whistler, Ironman Group Influence, Future of Trail Running
Paul Huddle is the Senior Director of Global Trail Running Operations for the Ironman Group. Beyond that, Paul is a former elite triathlete, he got a silver buckle at the 1997 Western States 100, he’s been a race director, and he’s worked extensively in endurance sports media. In this conversation, we talk about the ongoing controversy surrounding one of the Ironman Group’s newest races (UTMB Whistler), the Ironman Group’s impression over the last 2 years on the North American trail running community, and the directions our sport might be headed in the years to come. Timestamps:(5:09) - UTMB Whistler(31:47) - Ironman Group influence on trail running(55:16) - miscellaneous questionsSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).Links:Connect with Paul on LinkedInFollow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Feb 20, 2024 • 57min
Eurotrack #4 | Transgrancanaria Preview
We are back with cohost Katie Schide for another edition of Eurotrack this time to provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at the 2024 Transgrancanaria 126K. Timestamps:(0:34) - general thoughts about Transgrancanaria(9:22) - course analysis for Transgrancanaria(26:54) - race stats from Aid Station Fireball(33:31) - women's field analysis, storylines, predictions(44:15) - men's field analysis, storylines, predictionsSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).Links:Transgrancanaria LivestreamFollow Aid Station Fireball on TwitterFollow Katie on Instagram, Strava, North FaceFollow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Feb 14, 2024 • 1h 39min
Long Run Archives #15 | Black Canyon 100K Recap, Golden Ticket Outlooks, Doping In Trail Running
Brett Hornig, Jeff Colt, and Corrine Malcolm join Singletrack to riff on the latest news in the ultra-trail running world. In this conversation, we share our takeaways from the 2024 Black Canyon 100K, talk about the entirety of the Western States 100 golden ticket series including some early takes on the Canyons 100K race later this spring, and spend the rest of the time talking about the implications of Stian Angermund’s positive doping test after last year’s UTMB-OCC race, which was revealed earlier this month.Timestamps:(0:42) - Black Canyon 100K Recap(35:58) - Wider Golden Ticket Series Discussion(48:42) - Stian Angermund / Positive Doping Test Discussion(87:24) - Miscellaneous Parting ThoughtsSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).Additional Links:Follow Corrine on Instagram, Strava, Trail Society, CoachingFollow Jeff on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and CoachingFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and PatreonSupport the show

Feb 7, 2024 • 1h 12min
Mary Kate Shea | Building World-Class Running Events, Pro Athlete Recruitment, Boston Marathon Insights
Mary Kate Shea, serving as the Senior Director of Pro Athletes for road race events at the Boston Athletic Association, holds a pivotal role in recruiting and facilitating the experience of hundreds of professional runners at marquee events like the Boston Marathon, BAA 10K, and BAA 5K annually. With her extensive expertise in pro athlete recruitment, event management, sponsorship, and sports marketing, I found it compelling to invite her to discuss the merits of her position and explore how the implementation of (more) dedicated, full-time roles like hers could benefit the world of mountain ultra trail running on a larger scale. Our conversation delves into the essential elements of building and maintaining world-class running events, highlighting the critical role she plays in the process. We also explore how pro athletes are researched, recruited, compensated, and supported at races such as the Boston Marathon, offering valuable insights and takeaways for athletes, event operators, and media personnel in the trail running community.Timestamps:(1:17) - ultrarunning origins, Ann Trason story(8:59) - building a world-class running event, the importance of elite athlete recruitment(21:12) - the traits of a good athlete recruiter and manager, ecosystem of athlete recruiters(40:19) - what the position looks like from a year-round standpoint, how athletes are supported Sponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).Links:Follow Mary Kate on LinkedInBoston Athletic Association WebsiteFollow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Feb 3, 2024 • 1h 47min
2024 Black Canyon 100K Preview | Analysis, Storylines, Predictions
Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Leah Yingling provide in-depth analysis, commentary, and predictions for the competition at the 2024 Black Canyon 100K. Timestamps:(1:09) - course strategy, weather conditions, historical performance data, competitive race context(34:01) - women's field preview, storylines, analysis, predictions(68:51) - men's field preview, storylines, analysis, predictionsSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).Links:Follow Aid Station Fireball on TwitterFollow Leah on Instagram, Strava, TwitterFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeFollow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Feb 2, 2024 • 22min
Adam Merry | 2024 Black Canyon 100K Pre-Race Interview
Adam Merry is a professional trail runner for Saucony based in Boulder, CO ahead of his race at the Black Canyon 100K on February 10th. In this conversation, we catch up on the second half of his 2023 season, all the details around his race prep, the state of the Boulder boys and the new podcast they have dropping today (linked here in the show notes).Timestamps:(1:53) - second half of 2023(9:55) - 2024 Black Canyon 100K(14:30) - Boulder BoysSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack). Links:Follow Adam on Instagram, Strava, Boulder Boys Podcast, Boulder Boys TrailFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show

Feb 2, 2024 • 27min
Emkay Sullivan | 2024 Black Canyon 100K Pre-Race Interview
Emkay Sullivan is a professional trail runner for Craft based in Reno NV ahead of her race at the Black Canyon 100K on February 10th. In this conversation we talk about going full-time on trail running, making the jump to the 100K distance, why 2024 represents the start of her versatility era, and some reflections on the Sub Hub Podcast and highlights from covering that part of the sport.Timestamps:(0:32) - full time pro trail running(2:03) - reflecting on 2023 season, moving up in distance, versatility era(14:14) - black canyon preparation, possible race outcomes, golden ticket considerations(19:35) - sub hub podcast, sub ultra scene highlightsSponsors:Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack). Links:Follow Emkay on Instagram, Strava, Subhub PodcastFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeSupport the show


