In this episode, Rachel Entrekin returns to the show immediately following her 3rd place finish at Chianti by UTMB and gives a firsthand account of one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.

We start with the moment everyone’s talking about: Courtney Dauwalter’s decisive late-race surge. Rachel walks us through how the race unfolded from the front, what it felt like to be running all day shoulder-to-shoulder, and what made Courtney’s final move so shocking even to the athletes in the race.

From there, we zoom out to what this performance means for Rachel’s trajectory. We discuss the narrative around her being a “200-mile specialist,” the pressure she felt coming into the race, and why this result felt like a long-overdue validation of her ability across distances.

We also break down the competitive dynamics at the front of the field, including what makes both Courtney Dauwalter and Ingvild Kaspersen uniquely difficult to race against, and why Chianti stands out as the most competitive - and most enjoyable - race of Rachel’s career so far.

In the second half, we get into the performance details: fueling breakthroughs (including a surprising shift toward gels), gear choices, and how improved nutrition may be unlocking a new level of speed and durability. We close with a look ahead to Cocodona and what this race might signal about Rachel’s ceiling in 2026.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains
• Janji - premium trail running apparel

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In this week’s edition of Singletrack News, we break down a massive weekend of racing across Chianti by UTMB, Chuckanut 50K, and Big Alta, highlighted by Golden Tickets awarded at Chianti and a highly anticipated showdown between Courtney Dauwalter and Rachel Entrekin. We discuss the winners, key performances, roll-down implications, and what it all means for the rapidly taking shape Western States field, along with early-season signals from some of the sport’s top contenders.

Elsewhere, we dig into one of the most interesting new concepts in the sport: the “Trail House”, a Boulder-based initiative aiming to create a pipeline for post-collegiate runners into professional trail running, with built-in support, structure, and storytelling.

We also cover:

• Lotti Brinks accepting a Western States Golden Ticket via roll-down from CCC
• François D’Haene’s 2026 schedule and his decision to center the season around an FKT attempt on the GR20
• The “Hardcore Harry’s” challenge, a last-person-standing-style event that has athletes running 80+ km on consecutive days
• A grassroots “Community Traverse” stepping in to support runners after the Northern Traverse disruption
• A wild FKT story out of North Carolina involving a broken wrist and a finish anyway
• Previewing the Arizona Monster 300 and what to expect from one of the most extreme races on the calendar

And our content picks of the week, including a new long-distance route in the UK and a broader conversation around “right to roam” and trail access.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains
• Janji - premium trail running apparel

Support the show

In this episode, Centurion Running founder James Elson joins the show to unpack one of the most complex moments in trail running right now.

We examine the collapse of high-profile events like Dragon’s Back and what it reveals about the economics of modern race organization - including rising operational costs, participant trends, and why certain race formats may no longer be sustainable. James also shares a behind-the-scenes look at how race directors actually think about pricing, no-show rates, and business viability.

In the second half of the conversation, we turn to UTMB and its growing influence on the sport. We discuss the tradeoffs between scale and safety, the risks of removing qualification standards, and whether the current growth model is aligned with the long-term health of trail running. We also explore who is ultimately responsible for runner preparedness, the role of media and culture in shaping expectations, and whether UTMB is, for now, still a net positive for the sport.

Partners:

• Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
• Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
• Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains
• Janji - premium trail running apparel
• Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order
• Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes

Support the show