The Travel Runner

Trail running is like a drug.

You find yourself looking up trail running Reddit forums while relaxing at night. You sneak glances at race schedules on “work breaks.” And now you’ve found yourself here, looking up a place where people talk about trail running.

But there’s no judgment here. I am just like you. And I’ve sorted through the podcasts to find the best that the digital trail running world offers.

So, here are some of the top podcasts about trail running to give you the fix you’re looking for.

Best trail running podcasts

1. Science of Ultra (SOUP)

Science of Ultra Podcast may sound like it’s only an ultrarunning podcast.

But, this podcast hands out info like freebies at a grocery store. And it can help all runners, not just ultra or trail runners.

Shawn Bearden, the show’s host, has stopped posting episodes for the podcast. But that doesn’t mean it’s any shorter on value. With 150 podcast episodes, Bearden covered running, striving for peak performance, healthy living, and fitness as deeply as possible.

You get a heavy dose of trail running in one spot, from interviews with doctors and experts to professional runners.

If there’s one podcast I could recommend over all others, it’s Episode 136: Mileage Matters Most.

If you want a podcast that dives into specifics, SOUP is for you.

👉 Want the best trail running blogs to follow?: 15 Best Trail Running Blogs to Follow for the Best Trail Advice!

2. Trail Runner Nation (TRN)

The Trail Runner Nation (which people mistakenly type “Trail Running Nation Podcast”) podcast is my favorite overall trail running podcast.

Don Freeman and Scott Warr keep things exciting and funny but don’t skimp on valuable information. They know how to ask the right questions, which results in experts sharing knowledge and advice with us average runners. And it’s lovely!

And, you get a visit from a legend. A professional headmaster and 2nd place finisher of the 2005 Western States 100, Andy Jones Wilkins joins the show to offer his expertise occasionally.

TRN is excellent for the entire running community, from beginners to experts.

3. Some Work All Play (SWAP)

David and Megan Roche (coaches, spouses, and incredible runners) are the hosts of SWAP.

And, I don’t know what’s faster: how fast they talk or how fast they run.

David and Megan do a fantastic job with SWAP. They push to make the show as informational as possible and have fun, making it never short on jokes. David and Megan know their stuff and love sharing it with listeners.

Since they have a more scientific background, the explanations can get a bit deep in the weeds. But the info is great for an ultra marathon or marathon training.

If you don’t mind a little science talk, this is a podcast you should add to your list.

👉 Want an alternative to using TrainingPeaks to track your workouts?: 5 Best TrainingPeaks Alternatives for Your Workouts

4. Ginger Runner Live (GRL)

I love Ginger Runner’s trail shoes and road running shoes videos.

That’s where I first discovered him, and his mix of humor, info, and personality hooked me.

And his podcast is no different.

Featuring a wide range of professional runners — from Scott Jurek to Zach Miller — Ginger Runner Live is one of the best podcasts for your next run. You’ll get insight into the training, life, and personalities of the people you see dominating the top trail races in the world.

GRL will entertain you while you hop over roots, duck under bushes, and generally try not to fall on your face.

5. Golden Trail World Series Podcast (GTWS)

Okay, this option is a bit more specific.

But, it’s no less engaging if you’re an avid trail runner. And, if you’re unfamiliar with the Golden Trail World Series, you should familiarize yourself quickly.

Featuring the top “short-medium” distance runners in the world, this series covers the six races and finals of the GTWS. And the GTWS podcast is here for all of it. Featuring an episode before the races and one after to analyze it, you can get your fix of elite trail racing.

An excellent podcast for keeping up with the sport of trail running.

6. Ultrarunning History

Fascinated by everything ultra and looking for another ultra runner podcast?

Then why not dive in headfirst and learn everything there is to know about ultras?

And Davy Crockett (not to be confused with the folk hero) is a fantastic host to lead you through that. Crockett covers ultras entirely. From the beginning with people walking long distances to it evolving into the sport it is today.

Hats off to Davy for this one. The research on this one shows how he’s devoted to sharing knowledge with all runners.

And we can repay him by listening!

7. Billy Yang Podcast (BYP)

If you’re a trail runner, you’ve undoubtedly stumbled across Billy’s YouTube videos.

Engaging, beautifully edited, and overall a fantastic product.

Well, his podcast is no different. Featuring top (and rising) trail runners, athletes, businesspeople, and more, BYP seeks to find what inspires people to strive for their goals. Not just limited to running, this podcast touches on all aspects of life.

You can never get enough of the Yang.

8. Trail Society

Trail Society is a relatively new podcast on the scene but doesn’t skimp on entertainment.

Hosted by Hillary Allen, Corrine Malcom, and Keely Henninger (all amazing runners and athletes), they mainly focus on challenging topics within the trail running community.

There’s training and racing talk, of course. But, beyond that, they aim to discuss issues such as inclusivity and equality within the trail running world. And in the process, you get to listen in on these excellent conversations.

Kudos to the hosts for having a different approach and tackling the problems in trail running.

9. KoopCast

If you don’t know who Jason Koop is, he can be summed up in two words: fantastic resource.

This isn’t to say he isn’t anything else. He’s a fantastic runner, coach, and human being, but his podcast takes information to another level.

Interviewing experts from every field that can pertain to running, from psychology to nutrition, to medicine, and, of course, training. Koop has a deep background in trail running and is one of the leaders in the community. 

So, there are definitely worse choices for who to get info from.

10. The Freetrail Podcast

Dylan Bowman, a professional trail runner and incredible human being, hosts the Freetrail podcast.

If you don’t know him, you may have heard him commentating on the most popular ultras in the world, from UTMB to the Western States.

And he brings that friendly personality to his podcast for excellent conversations. And those conversations are with some of the best in the world. Courtney Dauwalter, Sally McRae, Kilian Jornet, Pau Capell, Jim Walmsley, and so many more have been on his show to boost motivation.

If you want a peek into the lives of professional runners, this podcast is for you.

11. Running Long

Here’s another new kid on the block.

Running Long is a new podcast from the owners of Vert.Run, and it features Francesco Puppi as the host.

And he has some fantastic interviews on the podcast. With the likes of Petter Engdahl, Dakota Jones, Mimmi Kotka, and Sara Alonso joining him. Another excellent podcast if you want to know more about what it’s like to be a professional runner. 

A perfect companion for those easy long runs.

Wrapping up

There’s no shortage of trail running podcasts to choose from. 

And whether you want to dive deep into the science or just have a good laugh, there’s a podcast ready for you.

Hopefully, one of the above listed will join you for your next run.

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