Podcast · Sport

Running long - A trail and ultra running talk

by Vert.run · English · Sport

Vert is the home for every trail & ultra runner. On this podcast we host conversations with key members of our Trail & Ultra running community from all over the world. From professional world class athletes to our Vert.run members and community. Narrating captivating stories and learning from and ab

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 1 hr 1 min
Latest: 2 Apr 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

2 Apr 2026 · 51 min

185. Abby Hall | From Training to Reality: What Trail Running Actually Feels Like

Francesco and Abby Hall are both injured days after Black Canyon 100k. One DNF, one top-five finish, two hard falls. A real conversation about processing setbacks, racing at the front of a historic women’s field, and what actually drives a big performance. Abby breaks down how her race unfolded, from a controlled start hitting goal splits, to the fall that cost her minutes mid-race, to a split-for-split battle with Molly Seidel all the way to the finish. The margins were that tight. And what that says about where the women’s field is right now is worth paying attention to. There’s also a…

Play episodeWhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

12 Feb 2026 · 59 min
184. Francesco Puppi, Moisés Jiménez & Max Keith | Francesco Puppi Black Canyon Preview
Days before lining up at Black Canyon 100K, Francesco Puppi sits down with Moisés Jiménez and Max Keith for a deep dive into training philosophy, double-threshold blocks, and what he learned from living and training alongside Jim Walmsley in Arizona. This conversation centers on performance — not hype. Francesco breaks down what he saw firsthand inside Jim’s preparation: Norwegian-style double threshold days, lactate testing between reps, treadmill precision at 7,000 feet, and the detailed charts mapping grade-adjusted pace to real-world effort. They unpack how controlled treadmill sessions…
9 Dec 2025 · 58 min
183. Max Keith | Pacers, Crews, World Champs & the Future of Trail Running: The 2025 Recap
Diving into the state of trail running in 2025, Francesco Puppi and Max Keith sit down for a wide-ranging, honest, and deeply insightful conversation about where the sport is headed — and what it feels like to live through this moment of rapid transformation. From debates around pacers and fair competition, to the explosion of content, technology, and brand involvement in trail running, they reflect on the challenges, the opportunities, and the responsibility that comes with a sport growing faster than ever. They also open up about the athletes who inspired them this year — from world-class…
18 Nov 2025 · 53 min
182. Dylan Walker | Into the Mountains, Beyond the Limits: A Runner’s Awakening
Dylan Walker joins host Francesco Puppi for an honest and inspiring conversation about what it really takes to transform your life through running — from starting at 240 lbs with no plan or fitness, to completing ultras, crossing the Alps in the Transalpine Run, and preparing for his first 100-mile race. They dive into the realities behind long-term progress: coping with pain when it shows up in every race, training for mountain events while living at sea level, and why community and support matter more than split times. Dylan also reflects on the deeper lessons the sport has taught him —…
4 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
181. Mario Fraioli | Go One Less: The Mindset That Actually Makes You Better
Mario Fraioli joins host Francesco Puppi for an honest and thought-provoking conversation about the modern state of running — from content overload and algorithm fatigue, to what it really means to “go one more.” They dive deep into the balance between performance and storytelling, the illusion of social media success, and why learning to go one less might be the most underrated skill in both training and life. Mario also shares lessons from over 20 years in the sport — as an athlete, coach, and writer — reflecting on how running culture has evolved, what’s changed for the better, and what…
28 Oct 2025 · 58 min
180. Max Keith & Moises Jimenez | Run Less, Live More: Finding Balance as an Athlete
Vert.run co-founders Moi Jiménez and Max Keith join host Francesco Puppi for a deep conversation on the evolving trail running scene in Latin America, the return of The North Face Endurance Challenge Chile , and the cultural roots that make South American trail running so unique. They dive into the growing presence of Latin American athletes on the world stage, the challenges of distance, visibility, and sponsorship, and what it takes to build a truly global and inclusive sport. Later, the trio breaks down the latest evolution inside the Vert.run app — the new Athlete Timeline and VIBE Score…
21 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
179. Toni McCann | Beyond the Podium: finding meaning in the process
South African trail running star Toni McCann joins host Francesco Puppi for an honest and vulnerable conversation about rediscovering her love for the sport, handling pressure after success, and what happens when winning doesn’t feel like winning. After dropping out of The Otter Trail with an ankle injury, Toni shares how that DNF unexpectedly reminded her why she runs—the community, the connection, and the simple joy of being on the trails. She opens up about post-race emptiness after her CCC victory, the guilt of burnout, and the lessons that came from slowing down. They also dive deep…
10 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
178. Francesco Puppi & Max Keith | CCC to Worlds: The Art of Recovery
Vert.run co-founder and coach Max Keith joins host Francesco Puppi for a wide-ranging conversation about the end of a long racing season—what recovery really means, how to avoid burnout, and why finishing strong sometimes means doing less. Fresh off his CCC win and top-10 finish at the World Championships, Francesco shares what it felt like to go from 49th to 9th after cramping from the first downhill, how he managed the CCC–Worlds double just one month apart, and what it taught him about patience, motivation, and balance. They also discuss how the sport is evolving—from the growing…
22 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
177. Eva-Maria Sperger on the Mental Side of Trail Racing
Psychologist and elite trail runner Eva-Maria Sperger joins host Francesco Puppi for a candid conversation about the mental side of performance—self-compassion, motivation, and racing with vulnerability—just ahead of the World Championships in Canfranc-Pirineos. Eva explains why naming emotions builds real toughness, how to balance “listen to your feelings” with “do the opposite,” and a simple model to unlock motivation: autonomy, confidence, and belonging. They also unpack the difference between working with a sport psychologist vs. a mental coach, why athletes over-do volume to calm…
9 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
176. CCC Win Breakdown: Strategy, Fueling & The New Smartest Coach for Trail Runner
We sit down with Francesco for a clear CCC recap : pacing the early climbs without forcing, the move after Champex-Lac, fast aid-station execution, and his fueling plan (~90–100 g carbs/h with a structured caffeine strategy). Then we look ahead to the World Championships and whether to accept a tempting Western States Golden Ticket. We also share what’s shipping inside the app: the new Coach Vert.run built from half a million real coach–athlete interactions. UTCT Giveaway Did you hear we’re doing a giveaway to race UTCT ? We’re sending one runner to Ultra-Trail Cape Town. Choose your…
26 Aug 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
175. Francesco Puppi & Max Keith | Road to UTMB: Inside the World of Trail Running
Francesco catches up with Max to debrief a packed couple of weeks: the HOKA training camp, a fast-and-furious Sierre-Zinal, and the final touches before Francesco’s CCC debut at UTMB. We get into all the nuances. We cover: Key takeaways from camp: how fun it is to meet teammates, train together, and connect with folks across the brand—plus a great chance to test products for the future. Sierre-Zinal recap: why this race is so special and insanely competitive every single year—plus crazy performances like Katie Schide’s in this year’s edition. Francesco even hints at a break after running it…
1 Aug 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
174. Rosemary Mitchell | A Story of Pain, Tradition, and Community in South Africa’s Most Iconic Ultramarathon
Rosemary Mitchell is a 62-year-old ultrarunner whose story with the Comrades Marathon is as powerful as the race itself. In this episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Rosemary for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation about endurance, tradition, and what it truly means to run with purpose. We explored her personal journey—how challenges and setbacks shaped her path—and what it took to conquer the emotional and physical demands of Comrades. Rosemary opened up about the meaning behind the Green Number, the incredible community that surrounds this race, and how running continues to…
18 Jul 2025 · 51 min
173. Max Keith | Beyond the Finish Line: Racing, Resilience, and the Evolving Spirit of Trail Running
Max Keith is a trail runner, coach, and cofounder of Vert.run—and someone who’s been shaping the sport from both the frontlines and behind the scenes. In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Max for a deep and honest conversation about racing, coaching, and the evolution of trail running today. We reflected on the emotional highs and lows of recent races, the path of athletes like Abby Hall, and the internal pressure that comes with performance. Max opened up about what competition really means, the importance of finding joy in racing, and how both winning and losing can shape an…
3 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
172. Ken Seals | Content, Community & Change: Navigating Trail Running Media with The Ultra Minute
Ken Seals is a trail runner, storyteller, and the creator of The Ultra Minute, a newsletter and media platform that covers the evolving world of trail and ultra running. I was a guest on Ken’s platform to dive deep into the state of running media today—and we had such a rich conversation that it felt like a necessary one to share. We talked about how Ken found his way into the sport, what it’s like to juggle family life and content creation, and the unique challenges of building independent media in such a tight-knit and passionate community. We also explored how trail running storytelling…
17 Jun 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
171. Katie Asmuth | Identity, Resilience & Racing: A Journey Through Western States and Beyond
In this episode, Katie Asmuth—elite ultrarunner and Western States finisher—joins Francesco to reflect on the emotional highs and lows of racing, recovery, and personal growth in the sport of trail running. They explore Katie’s connection to Western States, the identity challenges athletes face, and how she balances motherhood with high-level training. Katie shares lessons on resilience through injury, the joy of returning to the process, and the importance of community, age, and experience in long-distance running. This conversation is honest, powerful, and full of insight for any runner…
4 Jun 2025 · 54 min
170. Kameron Harder | Strength Training for Runners: Principles, Performance & Integration
In this episode, Kameron Harder—physical therapist and strength training expert—joins Francesco to dive into the world of strength training for runners. They explore why strength training is essential for trail and road runners, how to structure it efficiently, and common mistakes to avoid. Kameron also shares insights from his work in remote physical therapy, plus tips on durability, injury prevention, and building power without sacrificing your running performance. This conversation is packed with practical takeaways and coaching wisdom for runners of all levels. Want to train smarter and…
14 May 2025 · 58 min
169. Max & Moi | Vert.run Co-founders in the future of trail running coaching, AI coaching and the release of Vert Pro
🎙️ In this episode, Max & Moi sit down with Francesco to dive into the state of running and trail running coaching apps—and introduce Vert Pro , the first fully automated coach built specifically for trail runners of all levels. They break down how Vert Pro works, why it’s shaking up the coaching game, and how Vert.run is leading the way in innovation without sacrificing personalization or quality . 🔥 Try Vert Pro for just $9.90/month 📲 Download the Vert app on iOS or Android For those of you who want to give training with Vert.run a try, you can take 30% off your first month of training…
24 Apr 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
168. Rod Farvard | Every dog has its day. Reflections, hopes and expectations ahead of the 2025 Canyons 100k
I had the pleasure and privilege to share three weeks of altitude training in Mammoth Lakes with Rod , seeing his hard work, commitment and self believe, learning a lot from him. It’s been roughly a year since Rod Farvard's name really came into the spotlight. Rod definitely had a breakthrough season in 2024, with the win at Canyons and the second place at Western States coming in quick succession. As we both get ready to toe the line at the Canyons 100k this weekend, I hope you all enjoy this conversation! Guest: Rod Farvard For those of you who want to give training with Vert.run a try,…
9 Apr 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
167. The Biggest Races to Watch in 2025: What’s Coming in Trail Running
What’s Coming in Trail Running in 2025? Clearly, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for trail running. In this episode we examine the key races and their storylines, athletes to watch, new trends and predictions, strategies and advancements in performance. Guest: Max Keith For those of you who want to give training with Vert.run a try, you can take 30% off your first month of training with the code RUNNINGLONG30. PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT! _______________________ Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vert.run⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG…
26 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
166. Florian Reiter | Running is for everyone. Reasons why we run, vulnerability and comparison, growth and success
Florian Reiter is a runner, coach, podcaster and physiotherapist from Austria. I was a guest in Florian’s podcast Running Free and it was a great chance to touch on many relevant topics related to running, so we thought it would be fun to do a follow-up episode, and here we are. We talked about the reasons why we run, how these reasons change over time, obsession and balance, vulnerability and comparison, and how there’s a place for everyone in the sport of running. Discount code: 30% off your first month of training with Vert.run with RUNNINGLONG30. PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR…
12 Mar 2025 · 58 min
165. Josh Wade | Transgrancanaria Classic podium finish, strategy and preparation
Josh Wade is a professional trail runner for The North Face coming from England. Josh took third at the Transgrancanaria Classic this year, running an incredible race and surpassing all his expectations. In this episode we go into the details of Josh’s race, from how he managed his strategy to how he handled the preparation leading up to it. We also talk about balancing work versus training, how Josh got into running, about fell running and the lake district, and much more PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT! _______________________ Follow…
26 Feb 2025 · 57 min
164 | Personal updates, racing plans and what we're looking forward to ahead of the 2025 season - with Max Keith
Today I’m sitting down with Max Keith to share some reflections as we approach the core of the 2025 season, which kicked off in big fashion with races like Black Canyon, Tarawera and Transgrancanaria. Athletes are racing as fast as ever, races are getting more competitive, brands are investing more and more, participation in trail races is increasing across all continents and events, the science of training for performance is making progress and becoming widely available to all participants. It’s for sure an exciting time to be a trail runner. We reflect on some of the recent developments…
12 Feb 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
163. Dakota Jones | Running for climate action: Dakota's 100mile American record attempt raising money for Footprints Running
Dakota Jones is a professional trail runner for Nnormal living in Salt Lake City. Dakota is also the founder and executive director of Footprints Running , a non profit organization with the mission to support climate action at the community level by bringing people together around their shared interest in trail running. In two days, Dakota is attempting the American record for 100 miles at the Jackpot Ultras with the goal to raise money for Footprints and its 2025 camps. Support Footprints! Dates of fundraiser are Feb. 1 - 21, 2025 Goal: $30,000 for our 2025 camp DONATE 2022 camp video…
29 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
162. Allison Lynch | Running, performance, athletes and influencers: navigating brand marketing in an evolving landscape
Allison Lynch is a writer, artist, competitive runner and sports marketing professional. Allison has 12 years of experience in brand marketing and communications, specializing in sports technology, running, and fitness. She’s worked for companies like WHOOP and COROS. I was inspired to invite Allison on this podcast after discovering her work and talent for writing. She wrote a very interesting Substack post on Matt Trappe's newsletter “ A matter of brand ”, which I really suggest following and subscribing, that is called "Athletes vs influencers: the bubble has burst". I have been following…
15 Jan 2025 · 43 min
161. Voices from the Vert.run community: Adina Crawford | Trail running and diversity, changing the narrative and a memorable trip to the French Alps
Adina Crawford is a trail runner from the US and a Vert.run explore athlete. Adina is a passionate runner whose goal is, like many other athletes that we coach, to run longer, faster and stronger while having fun in the process. In this episode we talk about being a trail runner from an underrepresented community in our sport, a memorable trip to the french alps, her experience training with Vert, developing community, training, racing and much more. Follow Adina on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adinavcrawford/ PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU…
8 Jan 2025 · 58 min
160. Andy Wacker | How's The Trail Team doing?
Andy Wacker is a professional trail runner for Salomon living in Colorado. Two years ago Andy founded The Trail Team , a project with the mission to independently support and develop rising athletes into the best professional trail runners in the world through mentorship, skill development, and media exposure. We caught up with Andy to see how the project is going, how it has developed into something bigger, how it’s made an impact on the American and international trail running scene, and talk about some future perspectives. PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF…
18 Dec 2024 · 1 hr 26 min
159. Zach Miller | Ever forward: embracing the past and the future of trail running.
Zach Miller is a professional trail runner for The North Face living in the United States. We caught up on a number of things happening in our sport right now, some future evolutions, then his current training, future plans for 2025 and much more. Enjoy! PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT! _______________________ Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vert.run⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG Download our app and sign up to our training plans on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vert.run⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Francesco's links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |…
11 Dec 2024 · 1 hr 25 min
158. Tim Tollefson | We need to take care of our sport. Community, growth, professionalization, mentorship, physical and mental health
Tim Tollefson is a professional trail runner for Craft living in Mammoth Lakes, California, and the race director of the Mammoth Trail Fest . In this episode with Tim, we talk about community, antidoping efforts, sponsorships and opportunities to run professionally, growth of the sport, circuits and Mammoth Trail Fest affiliation with the Golden Trail World Series; we also talk about some personal stories, mental health, validation, acceptance and what success looks like for us. RESOURCES: Watch What goes unsaid on YouTube Read: Influencers vs Athletes: the bubble has burst on Substack…
4 Dec 2024 · 1 hr 8 min
157. Roberto Delorenzi | Skyrunner World Series Champion, consistency at the top level, highest race results to training ratio??
Roberto Delorenzi is a professional trail runner for Brooks coming from Switzerland. Roberto has had a stellar 2024 season, with 38 races and 17 wins including 4 Skyrunner World Series races plus the final and the overall ranking, one european mountain running championship, a third place at Marathon du Mont Blanc, a fifth place in 2:32 at Sierre Zinal, 3 sub 30’ in the 10k, a low 64’ half marathon and many, many other great results. We caught up with him during his off-season while he’s already keen on getting back to training, we dove deep into his 2024 as well as how he’s developed into…
27 Nov 2024 · 53 min
156. Lauren Gregory | Elevating the game in trail running
Lauren Gregory is a professional trail runner for Nike from Colorado, living on the East Coast and training with the Northswood Athletic team, under the guidance of coach Ben True - a true legend of distance running. Lauren is really, really fast, from the track to the trails: within one season, this year, she ran a 15:17 5000m on the track and she was able to take second at the golden trail world series final in Switzerland. In this episode, we talk about collegiate running, golden trail, track and trails and how one can help the other, elevating the game in our sport, health, and many…

About Running long - A trail and ultra running talk

Running long - A trail and ultra running talk is a English sport podcast from Vert.run. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Vert.run
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 1 hr 1 min
Latest episode: 2 Apr 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1592106589
Rights: Vert.run

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English sport

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.