Let's Talk Trail Running

Author’s Note: Feel free to skip forward from 30:00 to about 32:30 into the podcast due to technical difficulties and apologies for some profanity. I thought the window that I was recording the podcast on had been closed but was mistaken. Once it was fixed I decided to keep rolling rather than restart 30 minutes in. My sincerest apologies!Links Discussed:Play Fantasy Freetrail here2025 IRunFar recap by Deki Fourcin:https://www.irunfar.com/2025-transvulcania-ultramarathon-results2026 IRunFar Preview by Justin Mock:https://www.irunfar.com/2026-transvulcania-ultramarathon-previewPeter Frano Strava File:https://www.strava.com/activities/14437004064/overview46 miles, 14,000 feet of vert on Spanish Canary island of La Palma off the northwest of Morocco.Course Records:Men’s: Luis Alberto Hernando 6:52:39 in 2015Women’s: Ruth Croft 8:02:49 in 2024 Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

The final golden tickets for entry into 2026 Western States Endurance Run are up for grabs this weekend. Who would be the most exciting racers to add to the field that aren’t in yet? On the men’s side you’ve got to imagine it would be great to have previous winner Adam Peterman back in along with either Hayden Hawks or Zach Miller while on the women’s side Riley Brady could really add more zest to what is already an extremely spicy field in the women’s race. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

A double whammy preview episode with two big sub-ultra races next weekend. One Skyrunning World Series race and one of Freetrail’s very own races with a nice prize purse thrown in. We’ve got Skyrunning World Series Champions and Golden Trail World Series Champions kicking off their season with their first races of the year at Calamorro Skyrace.Links Discussed in Podcast:Play Fantasy Freetrail Here.Luca Del Pero 2025 Calamorro Course Record RaceSara Alonso 2025 Calamorro Course Record Race Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

Join me as I preview the first European race of the 2026 Skyrunner World Series season, including 3 of the top 4 men’s short trail finishers from worlds last year. I also discuss the results of the 2026 Transgrancanaria classic which saw a sweep from the Albons and some notable drops on both the men’s and women’s fields.Articles Mentioned on Podcast: Skyrunner Website description and Skyrunner Substack Preview from last year’s race. Transgrancanaria Recap from IRunFar. Play Fantasy Freetrail here. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

A deep dive into the 2025 Freetrail Trail Runner of the Year (TROY) results. The goal of this podcast is to discuss the results of the 2025 TROY voting: what went right, what might have gone better, and how the results compared to previous years in the 4th year of TROY voting. In the podcast I reference podcasts from both Freetrail (Tim Tollefson and Dylan Bowman) and Singletrack (Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and Mike Mcmonagle) that broke down their thoughts on the 2025 Trail Runner of the Year voting and share some of my own commentary. Podcasts referenced in the show:SingletrackFreetrail Play Fantasy Freetrail here. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

Happy 1 year anniversary of Let’s Talk Trail Running! 1 year ago I recorded my first preview to a very small audience & here we are a year later back at it. Thanks to everyone who tuned into my previous episode discussing candidates for the 2025 Trail Runner of the Year (TROY) voting. It was my most listened to episode yet and I had a blast researching and discussing the seasons of all the amazing athletes included. I intend to do a recap on the TROY results and my thoughts on the rankings for both TROY and TPOY so keep an eye out for that here shortly. Happy 2026 trail season everybody.Links to IRunFar article discussed in the podcast. Play Fantasy Freetrail here. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

A deep field of American runners including Chris Myers, Jeff Mogavero, Adam Loomis, and Grant Barnette will be going to battle with two-time course winner Dmitry Mityaev and Slovakian stud Peter Frano on the men’s side. On the women’s side, last years second place finisher Antonina Iushina willbe looking to improve her finish one spot but will be up against the likes of Nepalese legend Sunmaya Budha and German athlete Rosanna Buchauer. Tune in to find out who I think has the edge and will come out on top in both fields. Let me know where you agree/disagree with my picks and who you’ve got picked for your top 5. Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

It’s sad to think the trail running season is largely over, but as we count down to the end of the year there are a few last exciting events on the horizon (Javelina, JFK, UTCT). This year’s Javelina will include 3 of the top 4 mens finishers from last year’s edition of the race and only 2 of the top 7 on the women’s side. The race is fast, flat, and the weather looks good. Let the Golden Ticket hunt begin for next year’s Western States! PS: This would’ve been out last night but my audio equipment wasn’t recording so I had to re-record tonight a second time, hopefully this one is twice as good! Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

Articles Mentioned in Podcast:IRunFar 2024 OCC recap https://www.irunfar.com/2024-occ-results-hemming-and-yao-win-utmb-50k-world-series-finalMile and Stone Newsletter Talking about French National Trail Team members:https://mailchi.mp/mileandstone/n53?e=99a87b331d Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

The 52nd edition of the Sierre Zinal trail race in Switzerland is set to take place this weekend. Prrevious race champions on both the men’s and women’s side will be showing up to throw down at what is OBJECTIVELY the most densely competitive trail race in the world. Sierre Zinal always draws a frothy mix of elite trail runners and blazing fasrt road running speedsters/track stars meeting to throw down on the 31km (19 miles) course with 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) of climbing thanks to its generous treatment of elites with both accomodation, travel, and prize purses based on historically fast times. No Kilian Jornet this year means the men’s side feels wide open (but is it actually?) and the women’s breakout star from last years race, Joyline Chepngeno, is looking to defend her title. Tune in for help making your Fantasy Freetrail picks, if you love trail running, or if you just want to hear my voice (not entirely sure about that last one). Articles mentioned in the podcast:Article about the origins of Sierre Zinal and its founder by (I believe) Run the Alps Founder Doug Mayerhttps://www.trailrunnermag.com/races/trail-race-news-races/le-coeur-avant-le-chrono-the-heart-before-the-watch/IRunFar Article with Sierre Zinal Statistics by Mallory Richardhttps://www.irunfar.com/sierre-zinal-a-data-driven-primer-on-the-iconic-mountain-race Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

A men’s race that feels wide open with only one top 10 runner returning from last year, whereas the women’s race has four of the top ten returning including last year’s winner and Course Record Holder, Judith Wyder. Go make your picks at Fantasy Freetrail Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe

Multiple GOATs in attendance (Kilian is in the house!!!!), two US selections races (vertical and short trail), and One Golden Trail World Series race. Wow, that was a mouthful and this race is sure to be a lot to handle as well. Come along for the ride and join me as I make previews and predictions for the top 5s for all three races.Author’s Note: Sorry it took so long to get this out but it has been a veryyyyy stressful week. Better late than never! Get full access to Robrunsround’s Substack at robpross123.substack.com/subscribe