Borderlands Trail (+ Ultra) Running – Details, episodes & analysis

Happy UTMB week.

@wolffrunner joins me on Bad Runners take to talk UTMB.

Forget about the drama surrounding UTMB over the last year for a week (if not forever). If you don't like the juggernaut of UTMB, disregard them.

But don't disregard the 10,000 people running in the mountains around Mont Blanc. This week we celebrate the human spirit taking them from point A to point B, the French culture that surrounds it, and the Heart of Trail Running moving like an avalanche as the running world watches runners take care of business in French/Italian/Swiss Alps.

Brian and I go into topics and recall moments you won't hear anywhere else this year.

1. Favorite UTMB moments
2. Is trail running ready for super fandom?
3. UTMB doubled its prize money. Is that enough?
4. 2024 picks

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Brian's interview with Troy on Midpacker Pod.

Billy Yang's UTMB film of Zach Miller + David Laney

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Sponsors:

VKTRY Insoles - I wear these every run, 20% off.

PATH Projects - My favorite running shorts, Borderlands10 for 10% off.

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Borderlands

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We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

I asked the Borderlands audience who I should talk to about my fascination with running a road ultra. The number one suggestion was Jacob Puzey.

After this conversation I understand why.

He brings the perfect insight as a decorated road and trail runner, former coach and trail race director. There's a flow state in running not available to trail runners that comes with repetitive and predictable terrain.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Jacob Puzey

5 Peaks Trail Running

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Sponsors:

VKTRY Insoles - I wear these every run, 20% off.

PATH Projects - My favorite running shorts, Borderlands10 for 10% off.

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Borderlands

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We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

A wise trail runner has many counselors. There's no other way. The sport is challenging by design and this episode is my pursuit of wisdom from those who have gone before me/

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Sponsors:

VKTRY Insoles - I wear these every run

PATH Projects - My favorite running shorts

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Borderlands

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We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

This week on a bad runners take:

Big Trail Running • it’s a consolidation of attention around a few names and events but is trail running to new as a spectators sport to do it to this scale?

Volunteer Labor • there’s lots of money to be made in trail running events. Are RDs dependent on volunteer labor? It’s the industry standard but is it ok for a for profit entity to rely on volunteer labor?

Leadville • it exists in its own world and plays by its own rules. And I’m excited for it.

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Sponsors:

VKTRY Insoles - I wear these every run, 20% off.

PATH Projects - My favorite running shorts, Borderlands10 for 10% off.

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Borderlands

Instagram

YouTube

Threads

LinkedIn

We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

Despite all my 100 mile failures I'm going to try again. Before I do, I need to see how my fitness is coming along. In this episode I run the Dead Horse 50 miler by Mad Moose in Moab, Utah to see how my fitness is progressing.

VKTRY Insoles - I wear these on every run

PATH Projects - my favorite shorts to run in

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Borderlands

Instagram

YouTube

We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

Why do we keep going after the big goals that crush us? I'm obsessed with the 100 mile distance even though it continues to crush me.

I've DNFed 8 of 9 100 mile attempts. And I'm back for more.

VKTRY Insoles - I wear these on every run

PATH Projects - my favorite shorts to run in

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Borderlands

Instagram

YouTube

We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

PATH Projects started in 2017 to solve a problem: running shorts. They were mostly designed by shoe companies who are looking to increase average transaction sizes when runners are buying shoes.

In this episode we explore Scott Bailey and Brian Rather's history as founders of  @pathprojects . Scott start SPLIT, Kr3w, and Supra Footwear. Brian started a denim company acquired by Huckberry and went on to develop inhouse brands for Huckberry and others.

The amount of experience here is staggering and since their relaunch in 2023, they're making waves in trail running.

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Sponsors:

VKTRY Insoles - I wear these every run

PATH Projects - My favorite running shorts

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Borderlands

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We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

It's the second edition of Bad Runners Take. In this episode we review the UTMB + Gary Robbins debaucle and I offer my two cents on where its at and how it will resolve it self. Also I talk about Hardrock and the hope of an unexpected outcome.

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Sponsors:

VKTRY Insoles - I wear these every run

PATH Projects - My favorite running shorts

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Borderlands

Instagram

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We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

Tomokazu Ihara is a Japanese Ultratrail runner by way of Tokyo going for 100 100 mile finishes. He first came on my radar after interviewing the RDs of Devils Gulch in Washington. He ran it last year and was one of three finishers in what was a very hot year at DG.

Tomo offers his story and wisdom in this interview and I'm stoked for you to hear it.

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Sponsor: VKTRY Insoles - I run in these daily

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Borderlands

Instagram

YouTube

We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.

The first edition of A Bad Runner's Take on the news. It's all about Western States.

This is commentary not journalism. I'm not breaking the news. I'm not unbiased.

• I'm super impressed that Jim and Katie did the expeced.

• Landy got baptized in the American River.

• Not a fan of Golden Hour

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Sponsors

PATH Projects | I love the shorts + liners and all things WADI.

VKTRY Insoles | I wear the gold insoles and absolutely love them.

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Borderlands

Instagram

YouTube

We've got an app in beta called Wylder by Borderlands. Check it out on iOS or Android.