The Problem With Professional Trail and Ultra Running
About this episode
This episode explores the complexities of trail running's growth and the disconnect between participation and fandom.
Trail running is growing fast, but is it actually scaling? If you’ve ever felt like the sport looks bigger than it is, or struggled to follow it as a fan, this episode breaks down why. This is for runners and industry insiders trying to understand what’s really happening beneath the surface of trail running’s growth. Josh unpacks the difference between participation and fandom, why brand investment is propping up the pro layer, and what’s missing for the sport to become something people actually follow. Western States and UTMB become the proving ground for a bigger question that could define the future of trail running…
More episodes of Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running
- Why Ultrarunning Feels Necessary
- Why Ultrarunners Keep Going When Their Body Says Stop | Matt Johnson
- How People Become Ultrarunners (No Clear Path)
- Why Running Changes You (It’s Not Just Fitness) with Raz Rauf
- A Risk Most Running Brands Wouldn’t Take
- Ultra Running Exposes Who You Really Are (wtih Mike Kratzer)
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