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Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running

Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running

By: Josh Rosenthal | Ultra Runner
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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 everyone in ultra running revere him? - What makes the Barkley Marathons the hardest race in the world? - How does Western States Endurance Run work, and why is it so hard to get in? - What are the best trail running shoes and ultra running gear right now? - Who are the greatest ultra runners of all time? - What does dirtbag running culture actually mean? - How is ultra running changing, and is that a good thing? - What does it take to run a 100 mile ultra marathon? - What should ultra runners eat during training and on race day? If you want the stories, the gear, and the culture that make ultra and trail running the most addictive sport on earth, you're in the right place.All Rights Reserved Borderlands Industries LLC Hygiene & Healthy Living Running & Jogging
Episodes
  • What SATISFY Reveals About Trail Running

    What SATISFY Reveals About Trail Running
    May 18 2026

    Trail running culture melted down this weekend after a Satisfy x Adidas event triggered accusations of cringe, elitism, rich-kid cosplay, and the death of authenticity. But the backlash revealed something much deeper about where trail running is headed and why so many runners reacted emotionally to it.

    In this episode, Josh explores why the footage felt so disconnected online, why Satisfy exposes contradictions already present inside trail running, and how the sport may already be transforming into something larger than athletics alone. From Cocodona and expensive race culture to meme accounts, identity signaling, and the rise of trail running media, this conversation is about the growing tension between authenticity, aesthetics, status, and culture inside modern trail running.

    This one’s for the trail runners trying to understand what the sport is becoming and why that question suddenly feels so uncomfortable.

    Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review.

    If you’re new to Borderlands, start here.

    Topics / Timestamps

    00:00

    Resources / Links
    2. Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races
    3. Josh Rosenthal on IG
    4. Borderlands.cc
    5. La French Trail
    6. High Tones
    7. Subwhatever

    Related Episodes
    1. Ultra Running isn't Just Running

    Presented by Kiprun.

    ----

    Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.

    Watch on YouTube

    Read on Substack
    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
  • Can Trail Running Stay Human?

    Can Trail Running Stay Human?
    May 12 2026

    Trail running is getting bigger fast. Bigger races, bigger brands, bigger media, and more money entering the sport every year. What happens to trail running culture as all of that growth accelerates? And will the human side of trail running we all love survive?

    Recorded in Stockholm at Klättermusen headquarters, Josh sits down with Gonz Ferrero, CEO of Klättermusen, and Billy White, founder of Sörmlands 100, to talk about UTMB, independent trail races, elite sport versus dirtbag culture, why trail running still feels different from road running, and who actually gets to shape what the sport becomes from here.

    Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review.

    If you’re new to Borderlands, start here.

    Topics / Timestamps
    • 00:05 The Growth of Trail Running
    • 00:24 The Evolution of Trail Running
    • 13:19 The Personal Connection to Trail Running
    • 33:33 The Diverging Paths of Trail Running
    • 37:38 The Future of Trail Running: Balancing Elite and Everyday Experiences

    Resources / Links
    1. Klattermusen
    2. Sormlands Trail Race
    3. Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races
    4. Josh Rosenthal on IG
    5. Borderlands.cc

    Related Episodes
    1. Ultra Running isn't Just Running
    2. Ultra Runners Need More Than Normal Life
    3. Why Running Changes You with Raz Rauf

    Presented by Kiprun.

    ----

    Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.

    Watch on YouTube

    Read on Substack
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Can Trail Running Handle Growth?

    Can Trail Running Handle Growth?
    May 7 2026

    Cocodona 250 exposed something trail running still doesn’t totally want to admit: the audience is already here, but the fan experience still hasn’t caught up. After spending more than 13 hours inside the livestream tracking viewer behavior in real time, Josh breaks down why thousands of people kept tuning in while constantly disconnecting from the coverage itself.

    This conversation goes deep on audience churn, race orientation, commentary drift, storytelling, and why trail running media still relies too heavily on goodwill from diehard fans. Not from the outside looking in, but from someone who desperately wants this sport to become easier to share with the people around him.

    This one’s for trail runners, ultra fans, and anyone who wants the viewing experience to evolve alongside the sport itself.

    Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review.

    If you’re new to Borderlands, start here.

    Resources / Links
    1. Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races
    2. Josh Rosenthal on IG
    3. Borderlands.cc
    4. La French Trail
    5. High Tones
    6. Subwhatever

    Related Episodes
    1. Ultra Running isn't Just Running

    Presented by Kiprun.

    ----

    Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it.

    Watch on YouTube

    Read on Substack
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
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