Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of the Singletrack Podcast, Finn Melanson sits down with professional ultrarunner Rachel Entrekin to discuss how 200 mile racing has changed and what it now takes to compete at the front of the sport.
Rachel explains why conservative racing no longer works at the highest level, how tactics and decision making matter more than ever, and why waiting for competitors to crack is no longer a viable strategy. She reflects on her transition to being a full time professional, how increased recovery and time availability have reshaped her training, and what she has learned from racing head to head with the best in the world.
The conversation also covers sleep strategy, nutrition, pack weight, and the growing professionalism of multi day racing. Rachel shares lessons from Cocodona, Mammoth, and other 200 mile events, along with her evolving approach to preparation and race execution.
Want an inside look at the modern 200 mile race environment and how elite athletes are adapting as the sport continues to progress? You’ll get it here.
Timestamps:
00:00 Burrito League, community running, and doing silly things for fun
06:30 Transitioning to life as a full-time professional runner
12:00 Recovery, sleep, and why high mileage feels different now
15:30 Training and connecting with other 200-mile athletes
19:30 Confidence, humility, and learning to own performance
23:00 Trash talk, entertainment, and race build-up narratives
27:00 Cocodona 250 dynamics and racing alone at the front
32:00 Gender categories and competitiveness in 200-mile racing
36:00 Why conservative racing no longer works
41:00 Tactical lessons learned from Mammoth 200
45:00 What it will take to win future 200-mile races
49:00 Advice for athletes debuting at the 200-mile distance
56:00 Studying live streams and learning from the sport
1:01:00 Vibe-based racing versus optimization
1:06:30 Longevity, visibility, and a late-career breakthrough
1:10:00 Old-school racing culture and the Plain 100
1:12:00 Reimagining the sport’s “Big Three” 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/)
* 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
In this episode of the Singletrack Podcast, Finn Melanson sits down with professional ultrarunner Rachel Entrekin to discuss how 200 mile racing has changed and what it now takes to compete at the front of the sport.
Rachel explains why conservative racing no longer works at the highest level, how tactics and decision making matter more than ever, and why waiting for competitors to crack is no longer a viable strategy. She reflects on her transition to being a full time professional, how increased recovery and time availability have reshaped her training, and what she has learned from racing head to head with the best in the world.
The conversation also covers sleep strategy, nutrition, pack weight, and the growing professionalism of multi day racing. Rachel shares lessons from Cocodona, Mammoth, and other 200 mile events, along with her evolving approach to preparation and race execution.
Want an inside look at the modern 200 mile race environment and how elite athletes are adapting as the sport continues to progress? You’ll get it here.
Timestamps:
00:00 Burrito League, community running, and doing silly things for fun
06:30 Transitioning to life as a full-time professional runner
12:00 Recovery, sleep, and why high mileage feels different now
15:30 Training and connecting with other 200-mile athletes
19:30 Confidence, humility, and learning to own performance
23:00 Trash talk, entertainment, and race build-up narratives
27:00 Cocodona 250 dynamics and racing alone at the front
32:00 Gender categories and competitiveness in 200-mile racing
36:00 Why conservative racing no longer works
41:00 Tactical lessons learned from Mammoth 200
45:00 What it will take to win future 200-mile races
49:00 Advice for athletes debuting at the 200-mile distance
56:00 Studying live streams and learning from the sport
1:01:00 Vibe-based racing versus optimization
1:06:30 Longevity, visibility, and a late-career breakthrough
1:10:00 Old-school racing culture and the Plain 100
1:12:00 Reimagining the sport’s “Big Three” 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/)
* 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
