The Trail Races We Can’t Afford to Lose

Trail running is growing fast, but what happens to the races that don’t scale cleanly? After spending one night volunteering at the Wasatch 100 and the next day at a brand-new UTMB race, I came away wondering whether the messy, human parts of ultra running are exactly the parts we can’t afford to lose.Pacers, old-timers, exhausted volunteers, DNFs, polished finish lines, UTMB, and the strange ways a race becomes more than a race. This isn’t an argument for grassroots over corporate. It’s about why trail running needs both, what each is uniquely good at, and what disappears when every race starts looking the same.Presented by Kiprun.Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review.If you’re new to Borderlands, start here.Topics / Timestamps2:22 Races like Wasatch fill the human spirit.6:09 I love ultrarunning pacer culture.10:29 Someone else’s problem becomes mine.14:55 The back of the pack is where I come alive.16:52 Wasatch rewards staying.22:04 You can’t manufacture heritage.26:21 The fragile one is not the one I thought.Resources / LinksSalt Lake Foothills Trail Races Borderlands.ccRelated EpisodesUltra Running isn't Just Running----Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.Watch on YouTubeRead on Substack