Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Trail running is still having its “What Are We Even Doing?” moment, and Tim Tollefson is right in the middle of it. In this episode, we take an honest look at the UTMB era, the rise of pro circuits, and what actually happens when a grassroots sport starts flirting with big-time structure.
Chapters
02:06 Concerns About Professionalization in Trail Running
05:31 The Role of Elites in Trail Running Events, The Concept of Athlete Exclusivity in Events
18:30 The Future of Trail Running Leagues, UTMB's Impact on the Event Landscape
34:13 Critique of UTMB's Acquisitions and Community Impact
59:19 The Future of Race Events in North America
01:06:14 Skepticism Towards Organized Series
01:10:49 The Viability of the Golden Trail World Series
01:15:52 The Impact of Internationalization on Local Events
Partners:
* Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (nordarun.com/)
* deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website to get 20% off your next order (partners.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20)
* Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (raideresearch.com/)
* Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website (bit.ly/3JVNIbL) to get 30% off your purchase.
* Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
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
Trail running is still having its “What Are We Even Doing?” moment, and Tim Tollefson is right in the middle of it. In this episode, we take an honest look at the UTMB era, the rise of pro circuits, and what actually happens when a grassroots sport starts flirting with big-time structure.
Chapters
02:06 Concerns About Professionalization in Trail Running
05:31 The Role of Elites in Trail Running Events, The Concept of Athlete Exclusivity in Events
18:30 The Future of Trail Running Leagues, UTMB's Impact on the Event Landscape
34:13 Critique of UTMB's Acquisitions and Community Impact
59:19 The Future of Race Events in North America
01:06:14 Skepticism Towards Organized Series
01:10:49 The Viability of the Golden Trail World Series
01:15:52 The Impact of Internationalization on Local Events
Partners:
* Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (nordarun.com/)
* deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website to get 20% off your next order (partners.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20)
* Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (raideresearch.com/)
* Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website (bit.ly/3JVNIbL) to get 30% off your purchase.
* Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
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
