{"podcast":{"title":"Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running","slug":"borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910","podcast_index_feed_id":6921910,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/borderlands/","website_url":"https://www.borderlands.cc","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/e17f1889-0716-4cd0-8b1f-5d7d3545d2d3/Podcast-Art-March-2025.jpg","author":"Josh Rosenthal | Ultra Runner","episode_count":305,"summary":"Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running is a storytelling podcast for ultra runners who love this sport deeply, the iconic races, the legendary athletes, the gear, and the culture that makes all of it worth caring about. Hosted by Josh Rosenthal, founder of Borderlands Trail Running, this show exists to collect the ultra running stories that define the sport, from spending a day at Laz Lake's home to deep conversations with Scott Jurek, Dean Karnazes, Camille Herron, and the everyday runners doing extraordinary things out on the trails. This podcast covers the full world of ultra and trail running: race coverage and analysis of marquee events including Western States Endurance Run and UTMB, honest trail running shoes reviews and ultra running gear breakdowns from someone who has tested 44 pairs over 6,000 miles, and big conversations about where the sport is headed, including what dirtbag runners bring to a sport that's growing fast. This show gives ultra runners the stories, perspectives, and gear knowledge to go deeper into a sport they already love while celebrating what makes trail and ultra running unlike anything else. We'll answer questions like: - Who is Laz Lake, and why does…","last_synced_at":"2026-06-09T18:18:03.198356+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910"},"episode":{"title":"Is Ultrarunning Losing Its Charm?","slug":"is-ultrarunning-losing-its-charm","published_at":"2026-03-19T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/is-ultrarunning-losing-its-charm","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910","url":"https://www.borderlands.cc/recent-podcast-episodes/is-ultrarunning-losing-its-charm","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/47186ee7-9dd3-4010-952d-9950ab1edbe4.mp3","summary":"Ultrarunning is evolving and growing fast and with that growth, ultra running feels different. Josh digs into how the sport is changing as it becomes more competitive, more visible, and more professional than ever before and asks whether something essential is being lost along the way. From duct-taped water bottles and campfire start lines to global races with thousands of runners and highly engineered gear, this episode explores what that shift really means. From the rise of new brands and technologies to the increasing professionalization of the sport, the conversation looks at what we’ve gained—and what we might be leaving behind. Not as something to judge, but as an evolution that is reshaping how ultrarunning feels, who it’s for, and where it’s going next. For runners thinking about how ultrarunning is changing and what that means for the future of trail running and ultrarunning. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. Topics / Timestamps 00:00 The Evolution of Ultra Running 02:23 Defining the Charm of Ultra Running 07:15 Ultrarunning is Really Two Sports in One 11:54 Professionalization vs. Community 17:00 The Standardization and Predictability of Ultra Races 23:43 The Trade-Offs of Growth - we're losing something Resources / Links La Barba Coffee ACG Gorge Waterfalls Mountain Outpost Western States Leadville Wasatch 100 Barkley Marathons EcoTrail Paris Related Episodes Dirtbag Culture vs. Luxury Running Brands How Ciele Athletics Built a Running Movement Presented by Kiprun . ---- Find us at Borderlands.cc and sign up for the newsletter . Want to run in the Salt Lake area? Check out the Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races happening May 30, 2026. And if you haven't checked out Wylder yet, it's worth a look. iOS or Android","meta_description":"Ultrarunning is evolving and growing fast and with that growth, ultra running feels different. Josh digs into how the sport is changing as it becomes more…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1524,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/episodes/is-ultrarunning-losing-its-charm/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/is-ultrarunning-losing-its-charm.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}