Best Vert Run Podcasts (2025)

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178. Francesco Puppi & Max Keith | CCC to Worlds: The Art of Recovery 1:00:42

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10d ago1:00:42

1:00:42

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 f…

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The Road To Coast To Kosci 2025: Sophie Geraghty 1:50:46

17d ago1:50:46

1:50:46

Sophie Geraghty was this year unveiled as a 'Feel Good Ambassador' for the Surf Coast Century, and it's not hard to see why. But when you scratch under the surface of this bubbly, incredibly strong, self described mediocre ultra runner, you get a deeper story. As Sophie tells in her bio to Rapid Ascent: "𝐴𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑦 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠,…

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The Road To Coast To Kosci 2025: Liv Compton 57:58

23d ago57:58

57:58

Liv Compton is coming back for her third attempt at Coast to Kosci, with two really good finishes to her name already. The Norwegian Born Queenslander is no stranger to the warm weather and looked at home in last year's sweltering conditions. Her running career has seen her run in some of the country's most interesting Backyard Ultras, including Ph…

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177. Eva-Maria Sperger on the Mental Side of Trail Racing 1:02:31

28d ago1:02:31

1:02:31

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 …

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The Road To Coast To Kosci 2025: Matt Pilley 48:18

1M ago48:18

48:18

Matt Pilley is coming back to Coast to Kosci for the third year in a row, and he's already had incredible success in his two starts at the race being on the male podium in year one, and then finishing as the second male behind Benn Coubrough. Now, a father to Hugo, this year's lead up is a completely different ball game for Matt, who as you'll find…

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176. CCC Win Breakdown: Strategy, Fueling & The New Smartest Coach for Trail Runner 1:18:46

1M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

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 wh…

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Desert Dreaming: Lisa Richards’ Path to the Atacama Stage Race 1:28:23

1M ago1:28:23

1:28:23

Lisa Richards earlier this year completed a multi-year dream of running in the Atacama Stage Race. An incredible 250 kilometre journey that takes place in the Atacama Desert in Chile. But, not only did Lisa run in the stage race, she finished as the fifth female, completing an incredible transformation, from someone who grew up avoiding school athl…

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The Road To Coast To Kosci 2025: Ben Bailey 1:14:45

2M ago1:14:45

1:14:45

Ben Bailey is heading back to Coast to Kosci in the hopes of claiming his third pin on the Akubra from his fourth attempt. The last few years have seen Ben complete some mind bending races including the Unreasonable East 200 Miler, Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run, Tahoe 200 Mile Endurance Run and earlier this year the Arizona Monster 300. It's an incredi…

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175. Francesco Puppi & Max Keith | Road to UTMB: Inside the World of Trail Running 1:01:20

2M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

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 …

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Healing Through Endurance: In Conversation with Courtney Chapman 1:46:07

2M ago1:46:07

1:46:07

Seven years ago, I wrote about my friend Courtney Chapman as she prepared to take on one of the most grueling endurance challenges in riding: the Shahzada 400, held in St Albans in the Hawkesbury region. At the time, doctors had told Courtney she shouldn’t compete due to her autoimmune condition, Crohn’s disease. But she did it anyway. Now, seven y…

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The Dirt Vert Surfer: Jordan Nukunuku 1:21:54

2M ago1:21:54

1:21:54

Jordan Nukunuku suffered a heart break which kicked off his running journey, and it's been a journey of incredible ups and downs. The young Kiwi from Rotorua recently won The Guzzler Ultra, after the first placed finisher was handed a time penalty, but it's a win at Brisbane Trail Ultra 110 kilometre race in 2023, after suffering an ACL injury in t…

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174. Rosemary Mitchell | A Story of Pain, Tradition, and Community in South Africa’s Most Iconic Ultramarathon 1:03:23

3M ago1:03:23

1:03:23

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 an…

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‘Run All Day, Run All Night’, with Jan Vleck

3M ago

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When my friend and almost neighbor ran Western States this past month I knew I had bring the podcast back out of hibernation and have him on the show. Here’s my chat with Jan Vleck from Olympia Washington, one of the oldest runners to have ever finished Western States. This one’s special. Links Jan on Strava…

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332: ‘Run All Day, Run All Night’, with Jan Vleck 1:14:02

3M ago1:14:02

1:14:02

When my friend and almost neighbor ran Western States this past month I knew I had bring the podcast back out of hibernation and have him on the show. Here’s my chat with Jan Vleck from Olympia Washington, one of the oldest runners to have ever finished Western States. This one’s special. LINKS Jan on Strava Connect with Singletrack on: Singletrack…

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Why Every Street Matters: Peak2Soon R4R Podcast Takeover With Kim Elms 1:09:28

3M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

[This podcast was originally published on The R4R Podcast | Road To Zero, a big thank you to Lonsdale Street Studio for having us, as such the intro will be a little different to what you're used to.] Earlier this year Kim Elms and I connected again to talk about a solidarity run after a woman was assaulted on the trails at Tuggeranong Hill. It spa…

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173. Max Keith | Beyond the Finish Line: Racing, Resilience, and the Evolving Spirit of Trail Running 51:09

3M ago51:09

51:09

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 low…

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172. Ken Seals | Content, Community & Change: Navigating Trail Running Media with The Ultra Minute 1:05:39

4M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

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 h…

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171. Katie Asmuth | Identity, Resilience & Racing: A Journey Through Western States and Beyond 1:14:03

4M ago1:14:03

1:14:03

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 train…

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Katie Dall: Founder Of Club KT, Brisbane's Premier Run Club 1:19:31

4M ago1:19:31

1:19:31

Katie Dall is ultra endurance athlete, personal trainer, and founder of Club KT, Brisbane's biggest run community empowering runners of all levels. With an impressive racing resume that includes 100 kilometre and 160 kilometre trail finishes, backyard ultras, and podium spots across Australia, Katie opens up about how she got to where she is today.…

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170. Kameron Harder | Strength Training for Runners: Principles, Performance & Integration 53:44

5M ago53:44

53:44

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 physi…

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Downunder 135 Champion: Chris Wilder 1:07:36

5M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

Chris Wilder won what could be the last edition of Australia's toughest ultra, it was redemption after a DNF in the race back in 2022. It is the cream on what is already a pretty impressive resume which includes a win in the BRUTUS, GUMBY, and AIS 24-Hour Track Invitational. Throughout those victories has been a number of different adventures, incl…

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169. Max & Moi | Vert.run Co-founders in the future of trail running coaching, AI coaching and the release of Vert Pro 58:24

5M ago58:24

58:24

🎙️ 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 innovati…

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‘Big in Japan’, with Marcel Höche

6M ago

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Marcel Höche is back on the show and he’s calling in from Japan with an update on his never ending racing season. We talk what races he’s ran in between finishing is masters degree and he gives us an behind the scenes look at his exciting new business venture: Sunn Nutrition, a brand new high carb drink mix. Links Marcel on Singletrack Marcel Höche…

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331: 'Big in Japan', with Marcel Höche 1:19:03

6M ago1:19:03

1:19:03

Marcel Höche is back on the show and he’s calling in from Japan with an update on his never ending racing season. We talk what races he’s ran in between finishing is masters degree and he gives us an behind the scenes look at his exciting new business venture: Sunn Nutrition, a brand new high carb drink mix. LINKS Marcel on Singletrack Marcel Höche…

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‘Where Did (and Does) the Livestream Go?’, with Jeff Pelletier

6M ago

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This weekend is a massive weekend of trail racing with several high profile events all over the world. The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB is happening in Auburn, California, and unlike last year, there’s no livestream. I sit down with Jeff Pelletier, king of trail storytelling to discuss the history and the challenges for current version of livestr…

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330: ‘Where Did (and Does) the Livestream Go?’, with Jeff Pelletier 56:44

6M ago56:44

56:44

This weekend is a massive weekend of trail racing with several high profile events all over the world. The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB is happening in Auburn, California, and unlike last year, there’s no livestream. I sit down with Jeff Pelletier, king of trail storytelling to discuss the history and the challenges for current version of livestr…

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168. Rod Farvard | Every dog has its day. Reflections, hopes and expectations ahead of the 2025 Canyons 100k 1:07:12

6M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

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 p…

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The Long Run with Simon Dent, Todd Liubinkskas and Joe Ward 57:56

6M ago57:56

57:56

On the 19th of July 2025, Simon Dent and Todd Liubinskas will run from Brisbane to Sydney as part of the Lions’ Tour Down Under to raise money for Dallaglio RugbyWorks and The British & Irish Lions Trust. Joe Ward who previously held the fastest known time for the route is currently coaching the lads, and showing them what it takes to run one thous…

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167. The Biggest Races to Watch in 2025: What’s Coming in Trail Running 1:02:38

6M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

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 c…

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166. Florian Reiter | Running is for everyone. Reasons why we run, vulnerability and comparison, growth and success 1:16:17

7M ago1:16:17

1:16:17

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 …

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165. Josh Wade | Transgrancanaria Classic podium finish, strategy and preparation 57:42

7M ago57:42

57:42

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 als…

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‘Through the Lows to the Highs’, with Michael Eaton

8M ago

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Michael Eaton, Brooks Trailhead store manager and host of the Trail Running Film Festival in Seattle joins Singletrack to share his person running journey from running cross country in his youth back in Kentucky to this year’s training block for OCC in Chamonix. We chat about the challenges of life, the highs and lows that come with that, and the p…

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329: ‘Through the Lows to the Highs’, with Michael Eaton 56:20

8M ago56:20

56:20

Michael Eaton, Brooks Trailhead store manager and host of the Trail Running Film Festival in Seattle joins me to share his person running journey from cross country in his youth back in Kentucky to this year’s training block for OCC in Chamonix. We chat about the challenges of life, the highs and lows that come with that, and the peace that can be …

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164 | Personal updates, racing plans and what we're looking forward to ahead of the 2025 season - with Max Keith 56:41

8M ago56:41

56:41

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 increasi…

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‘Beast Joins the Vert Running Series’, with Scott Sowle

8M ago

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Exciting announcement incoming! Rock Candy Running’s Beast of Big Creek joins the Vert Running Series for the 2025 season. Scott Sowle is on the show to share the news and give us the details. Let the racing season in the PNW begin! Links Beast of Big Creek Vert Running Series Scott Sowle on Singletrack…

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328: ‘Beast Joins the Vert Running Series’, with Scott Sowle 46:39

8M ago46:39

46:39

Exciting announcement incoming! Rock Candy Running’s Beast of Big Creek joins the Vert Running Series for the 2025 season. Scott Sowle is on the show to share the news and give us the details. Let the racing season in the PNW kick off! LINKS Beast of Big Creek Vert Running Series Scott Sowle on Singletrack Connect with Singletrack on: Singletrack.f…

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A Gaby Villa Nutrition Masterclass 1:29:20

8M ago1:29:20

1:29:20

Gaby Villa is a sports nutritionist, dietitian and founder of IntensEATfit. She specialises in optimising performance for triathletes and ultra-runners by making food their best ally in sport and life. Over the past decade, Gaby has supported hundreds of athletes, including former backyard ultra world record holder Phil Gore, to overcome lack of en…

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‘We’re Just Outsiders’, with Alex Bond

8M ago

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Friend of the show Alex Bond is back and we’re chatting about the fate of Outside. The company formerly known as America’s best outdoor magazine and now just a shell of itself with lots and lots of tech under the hood. The news about the latest rounds of layoffs paired with the news they are buying another technology provider puzzles us and Alex an…

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327: 'We're Just Outsiders', with Alex Bond 1:01:59

8M ago1:01:59

1:01:59

Friend of the show Alex Bond is back and we’re chatting about the fate of Outside. The company formerly known as America’s best outdoor magazine and now just a shell of itself with lots and lots of tech under the hood. The news about the latest rounds of layoffs paired with the news they are buying another technology provider puzzles us and Alex an…