Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running

Anton Krupicka | Trail Running, Identity, and Ignoring Trends

September 22, 2026·24 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Anton Krupicka has spent two decades becoming something harder to define than a trail runner. This conversation is about how that happened, why he stopped caring about fitting the sport’s mold, and what it looks like to keep evolving without chasing relevance.We talk about the injury that changed his relationship with running, the move toward scrambling and climbing, his influence on trail culture, the Leadville comeback, and why La Sportiva still makes sense for the athlete he is now. More than anything, it’s Anton on identity, aging, design, and trying to stay the peak version of yourself without pretending you’re still who you were ten years ago.Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review.If you’re new to Borderlands, start here.Topics / Timestamps00:00 Anton Krupicka on why trends don't matter 01:30 From trail runner to mountain man 03:52 When the whole landscape opened up 08:24 Identity, trends, and trail running culture 16:45 The Leadville 100 comeback 21:12 The peak version of yourselfResources / LinksUnbreakable | Western States FilmAnton's 2021 Leadville RaceSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Borderlands.ccRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just RunningPresented by Kiprun.----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack

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