What are the top ultra and trail running podcasts to listen to out on the hills in 2019?

There are a range of podcasts that approach endurance sport differently, some from a race perspective, others from a historical one, while some explore the personalities

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Jim Walmsley sets the record at the Western States. He has featured on iRunFar, The Adventure Trail and Billy Yang’s podcast, and Ultrarunning History dedicates an episode to the race. Photo: Hoka One One

Published: 5:39pm, 28 Jun 2019Updated: 5:18pm, 3 Jul 2019

Podcasts are a great way to consume information these days, whether you want a laugh, an education or a piece of inspiration. Fortunately, trail and ultra running are no exception with a growing library of professionals and amateurs contributing to the mass of quality podcasts.

Here are the some of the best podcasts for any endurance fan.

iRunFar

The iRunFar team are ever present at all of the top races around the globe, offering live and insightful interviews via a range of platforms. Their podcast differs from most in that they are very short pre- or post-race interviews, typically around 10 minutes each. It is a great way to quickly catch up on how specific athletes are feeling about a particular performance or race to come. Most other podcasts are broader in scope, but this is perfect for race junkies who want to keep a finger on the pulse of the sport.

Ultrarunning History

The podcast is an excellent delve into the history of our sport. Davy Crockett hosts from his basement with quaint production values like canned laughter and sound effects that add to the unique feel. His in-depth research into a range of topics is delivered in a easily digestible, funny and informative manner. The podcast explores everything from individuals who shaped the sport, such as Spartathlon hero Yiannis Kouros, specific race history, like the legends and myths of the Western States and the real stories behind pub debates, like who would win in a long-distance race between a horse and a person. The perfect podcast for anyone wanting to get a better understanding of ultra running’s rich tapestry. You can find the podcast here or on iTunes and Android.

The Adventure Trail

Every second week, The Adventure Tail hosts a wide-ranging talk with an extreme sportsperson, such as Western States record holder Jim Walmsley or award winning author and mountaineer Simon McCartney. It rarely focuses on a single event or race, but explores what keeps the athletes motivated and who they are as person. Other times, it focuses on topics like gender equality in trail running.

This podcast is hosted by Mary Hui and I from theSouth China Morning Post. But where we differ from other podcasts is the two of us barely speak. While some podcast hosts are as keen to tell their story as much as their guest’s, we let the guest do the talking. It’s the perfect podcast for fans who want to get to know the person behind the athlete, whether it be an international superstar or local up-and-coming runner.

Rich Roll Podcast

The two best things about Rich Roll are the incredibly high-profile guests he gets on, and the fact that he can coax their story out of them with very few words. Roll has a great story himself, as he turned his life around from drugs and alcohol to endurance athlete, but he rarely mentions it. Instead, he prefers to hear the stories of the likes of Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc multiple winner and Everest speed record holder Kilian Jornet, to Free Solo climbing star Alex Honnold. The stars across the table sometimes talks for minutes on end, with no input from Roll, and yet the host miraculously keeps them on topic.