Singletrack With Mathias Eichler – Details, episodes & analysis

Almost exactly a year after Alex Rienzie first chatted with me on Singletrack he's back with an update on the legal case that kept the trail running community on perpetual whiplash for the entire year of 2025. Now with a full pardon in hand, Alex can share what really went down behind the scenes of Michelino Sunseri's FKT run on the Grand Teton. This is a story that takes us way beyond the mountains and the trails and into court rooms and board rooms and yes, all the way to the White House. What a bonkers story that makes one feel like up is down and down is up.

• Racing Grand Teton – the film
• Alex Rienzie on Instagram
• Alex Rienzie on Singletrack

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• Singletrack.fm
• Instagram

Brought to you by Electric Cable Car - your trail and mountain news!

Steve joins the show from Bavaria, Germany and we're taking about the sentiment and response in the German trail running community after the announcement from a couple of weeks ago that Zugspitz Ultra Trail would join the UTMB World Series. Steve shares his personal history with the event and his thoughts and concerns about the future of this beloved annual gathering in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We also chat about his race City & Trail in Alpenstadt on 16. May 2026. An event that previously was a stop of the German National Series of the Golden Trail Series. But even after losing that partnership the event is still growing, and is still attracting top runners from the region. And finally as it is timely we talk about Steve's long held dream to run Western States. With 128 tickets in the lottery, is it his turn this year?

• Steve's comments on Zugspitz on Youtube
• City und Trail 2026
• Steve on Singletrack

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• Singletrack.fm
• Instagram

Brought to you by Electric Cable Car - your trail and mountain news!

It's the first episode of 2025 and Francesco Puppi, who needs no introduction, joins me for a candid conversation about the state of the trail running media and it's influence on our sport. We also talk about the message behind Nike's ad for the Olympic Games and how a new generation of athletes are redefining what participating and winning in a sport really means. People like Francesco are why our sport is so incredible special. What a way to kick off the new year!

• Francesco Puppi on Instagram
• Francesco Puppi's website
• That Nike Ad 'Winning isn't for Everyone'

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• Singletrack.fm
• Instagram

Brought to you by Electric Cable Car - your trail and mountain news!

Gretchen Ta is back to talk injury recovery, race directing and giving back to the trail community. She shares the origin story of this fun and gnarly race outside Bremerton and what it takes to put on this community celebration at Green Mountain year after year.

• Dirty Turtle website
• Dirty Turtle on UltraSignUp
• Dirty Turtle on Facebook
• Fall Trail Work Parties with Evergreen Turtle Rockets

This week Brian Morrison from Seattle shares some insights into the challenges of running a brick and mortar running store and what it takes to turn the dream of a 100 Mile race in the Teanaway Country into reality. These first few years of this epic race were bumpy, but if you're looking for a truly tough race in a truly beautiful place you gotta check out the Teanaway Country 100.

• Fleet Feet Seattle
• Teanaway Country 100

Zion 100 double finisher Aum Gandhi joins Singletrack this week to share what it takes to actually finish this race, why he runs for a higher purpose and how you can support him in raising funds for a cause near and dear to his heart.

We also unveil the new Beast of Big Creek race for 2022. Come race Mt. Ellinor with me.

• Aum Gandhi on Instagram
• Zion 100
• On Singletrack: 70 is the new 100
• Richstone Family Center
• Richstone Fundraiser
• Cover photo by Brandon Stutzman
• Beast of Big Creek

This week I chat with running legend David Papineau from Vancouver, BC about mask collecting, running every single street, designing logos and running marathons. Oh, and David's Chuckanut 50 story is one for the history books. You're welcome.

• David Papineau on Instagram
• Vancouver's Broadway Run Club
• Schindell Gallery
• Coast Mountain Trail Running
• Squamish 50
• Perverted Ice Cream

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Michael Linscott joins Singletrack this week again to share his experience at this year's Badger Mountain Challenge. This time I get to be the sounding board and hear all about the challenges a 100 mile race can throw at your even if you're a seasoned and experienced ultra runner as Michael. But, not all is lost as new plans are already in the works with Lumberjack 100 looming large in the not so distance future.

• Jason Reathaford on Singletrack
• Keith Yates on Singletrack
• Gretchen Walla on Singletrack
• Michael Linscott on Singletrack
• Lumberjack 100 race report on Singletrack

Gear

• Singletrack Spring Shirt Drop: 'Servus'
• La Sportiva – Vento
• Nathan Sports – Quickstart 2.0
• Coros – Apex

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In this episode of Singletrack I meet up with German superstar ultra runner Hannes Namberger from Bavaria. We chat about the differences in support systems for professional athletes, races in Germany and his sponsor Dynafit. We also talk about his Watzmann FKT, his breakout performance at UTMB in 2021, and what's on the horizon for Hannes for this year and beyond. Danke Hannes für's Gespräch!

• Hannes Namberger on Strava
• Hannes Namberger on Instagram
• Hannes Namberger on Dynatfit

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This week we're traveling east to meet up with Virtual VERT finisher Lou D'Onofrio. Learn about deciduous forests, famously rocky trails and pretzel races. This episodes makes us long for a cross country train ride to the other coast.

• Lou D'Onofrio on Facebook
• C&O Canal 100
• Pretzel City Sports
• Hammer Nutrition
• Ultraspire

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