Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Molly Seidel is an Olympic bronze medalist and one of the most prominent figures in American distance running. In this interview, she reflects on the aftermath of success at the highest level of the sport, the pressures of elite marathoning, why that model became unsustainable, and the personal decisions that led her away from the roads. The conversation touches on injury, identity, sponsorship, social media, and the early stages of her transition into trail running.
Chapters
00:00 The Influence of Business School on Personal Growth
03:02 Redefining Success in Running
05:52 The Unsustainable Nature of Elite Sports
09:01 Navigating Pressure and Performance
12:01 The Challenge of Public Perception
14:54 Building a Life Beyond Running
17:56 The Artistic Side of Sport
20:40 Transitioning to Trail Running
23:54 The Business of Being a Professional Runner
26:41 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes
29:49 Comparing Media Coverage in Running
32:45 The Future of Trail Running
35:46 Training Philosophy and Mental Game
38:54 Nutrition and Gear for Trail Racing
41:45 Looking Ahead to Future Races
Partners:
* Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (nordarun.com/)
* Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
* Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (raideresearch.com/singletrack)
* Janji - premium trail running apparel (janji.com/)
Follow Singletrack on Instagram:
instagram.com/runsingletrack
Subscribe to Singletrack on Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/singletrack/id1572382413
Subscribe to Singletrack on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/7jAsWCRNSCU8nh81vrAaC2?si=3ac02e4e32b946c4
Molly Seidel is an Olympic bronze medalist and one of the most prominent figures in American distance running. In this interview, she reflects on the aftermath of success at the highest level of the sport, the pressures of elite marathoning, why that model became unsustainable, and the personal decisions that led her away from the roads. The conversation touches on injury, identity, sponsorship, social media, and the early stages of her transition into trail running.
Chapters
00:00 The Influence of Business School on Personal Growth
03:02 Redefining Success in Running
05:52 The Unsustainable Nature of Elite Sports
09:01 Navigating Pressure and Performance
12:01 The Challenge of Public Perception
14:54 Building a Life Beyond Running
17:56 The Artistic Side of Sport
20:40 Transitioning to Trail Running
23:54 The Business of Being a Professional Runner
26:41 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes
29:49 Comparing Media Coverage in Running
32:45 The Future of Trail Running
35:46 Training Philosophy and Mental Game
38:54 Nutrition and Gear for Trail Racing
41:45 Looking Ahead to Future Races
Partners:
* Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (nordarun.com/)
* Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)
* Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (raideresearch.com/singletrack)
* Janji - premium trail running apparel (janji.com/)
Follow Singletrack on Instagram:
instagram.com/runsingletrack
Subscribe to Singletrack on Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/singletrack/id1572382413
Subscribe to Singletrack on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/7jAsWCRNSCU8nh81vrAaC2?si=3ac02e4e32b946c4
