Best Vert Run Podcasts (2025)

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Training Tuesday: It’s Time to Go Rip! 54:01

Play Pause

33m ago54:01

54:01

The weather is finally shifting away from the summer heat and it is time to go find out exactly what kind of fitness you’ve build this year!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 557: James Herrera 1:22:18

4d ago1:22:18

1:22:18

James brings a crazy resume to the podcast: USA Cycling BMX National Team Coach USA Cycling Coach of the Year Physical Health & Wellness Vice President for the Wounded Warrior project Exercise Physiologist Bike Racer & Trail RunnerBy Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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

5d 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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Training Tuesday: The Stages of Running Grief 56:45

7d ago56:45

56:45

How should you actually feel during each stage of training? From Off Season and Base all the way through Competition, here is how our energy levels, soreness, and motivation changes throughout the cycles.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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

12d 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

17d 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 …

101
Training Tuesday: Bridge Season 47:24

18d ago47:24

47:24

When life dictates that you need some time away from full bore training, but you don’t really want or need a real offseason, it’s time for a Bridge Season!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

101
Rylan Remembered 1:59:42

20d ago1:59:42

1:59:42

Today we’re re-airing our interview with Rylan Schadegg. Rylan passed away last week and this is the best way we know of keeping his voice alive.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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

21d 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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Episode 553: Which is Better? 1:01:26

26d ago1:01:26

1:01:26

High mileage with less ‘Quality” workouts or low mileage with more Quality? Singles or Doubles? Base Building before starting Speed Work or doing it concurrently? Long Runs or Medium Runs?By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Training Tuesday: Our Vertical Gain Recommendations 48:57

28d ago48:57

48:57

Last week we discussed why a formula CAN’T accurately tell you how much hill work you should be doing. This week we discuss exactly what you SHOULD be doing in training!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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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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Episode 551: How Much Vert Should You Be Doing? 57:03

1M ago57:03

57:03

A listener sent us a reel that gives a simple calculation for determining how much vertical gain every runner should be doing. Is it perfect? Just okay? Terrible?By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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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…

1
Training Tuesday: Q&A Episode 1:04:33

1M ago1:04:33

1:04:33

We cover 8 great listener questions, ranging from speed work to marathon training!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 549: Over or Under Rated? 1:04:40

1M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

Wrapping up our mini series, some aspects of running can be very overrated at times while being very underrated in certain circumstances.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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

1M 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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Training Tuesday: A Conversation About Drugs 1:01:17

1M ago1:01:17

1:01:17

With all the recent drug bans being laid down in the running world, it’s time we talk about what performance enhancing drug use looks like in our sport.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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

1M 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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Episode 547: Underrated! 1:04:48

2M ago1:04:48

1:04:48

You want to take your running seriously? These are the most underrated ways of improving!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Training Tuesday: Overrated! 50:26

2M ago50:26

50:26

We debate the most overrated tactics when it comes to getting faster!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 545: Q&A 1:15:14

2M ago1:15:14

1:15:14

Highlights include: Stride Rate vs Length Hyrox Shoes Tall Runners Treadmill vs Outdoor training Group Run Etiquette Race Pace PredictorsBy Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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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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Spartan Pro: A Eulogy 53:04

2M ago53:04

53:04

Spartan Racing, in the Pro Ranks, is dead and gone in North America. Athletes haven’t been paid in years, numbers have flatlined, and the opportunity to make a living as a Spartan Athlete is no longer a thing. So, today we remember peak Spartan Race. Not in sadness, but as a celebration of what once was!…

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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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Episode 544: Dr Patrick Bottenfield 1:07:18

2M ago1:07:18

1:07:18

Lead chiropractor and owner of Bottenfield Chiropractic Strength and Wellness, Dr Patrick has become Kirk’s go-to for injury rehab.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Training Tuesday: USA! USA! 56:14

2M ago56:14

56:14

US Track and Field Championships were this past weekend and oooooh baby were there some RACES!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 542: Kris Rugloski 1:29:07

2M ago1:29:07

1:29:07

Kris shows up to discuss racing, training, mindset and balance like only she can!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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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Training Tuesday: Heat Running Gets Better! 1:00:48

2M ago1:00:48

1:00:48

We know that you’re probably struggling to deal with the current heat wave, but we have good news: It gets better! Your body will adapt.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 542: Who is More Likely? 1:19:11

2M ago1:19:11

1:19:11

Jess moderates a non-serious debate between Kirk and BK regarding listener questions.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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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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Training Tuesday: Which Metrics Matter? 1:01:49

3M ago1:01:49

1:01:49

If you’re going to take running seriously, you’re going to be tracking some combination of pace, RPE, and heart rate (at the bare minimum). So, where should you start? What metric matters the most?By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 540: Ask Us Anything 1:15:54

3M ago1:15:54

1:15:54

The questions are nicely polarized: roughly 80% nonsense and 20% running related.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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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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Training Tuesday: How to Self Coach Effectively 1:10:59

3M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

We are generally our own worst enemy. Here’s how to avoid that trap while self coaching!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Training Tuesday: Cross Training vs “Real Training” 58:35

3M ago58:35

58:35

At what point does cross training stop being useful to your running?By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 537: Tyler Jermann Drops Knowledge! 1:27:26

3M ago1:27:26

1:27:26

Last week Tyler slid into Kirk’s DMs with some friendly training advice. This week we invited him on to chat it through on air. So sit back, grab your notebook & pen, and get ready for some great advice from a 3x Olympic Trials qualifier!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 536: 4th of July Q&A 1:03:06

3M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

Marathon Training Ultra “time on feet” indoor vs outdoor workouts strength training racing weightBy Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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

3M 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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Episode 535: Kyle Cokinos - The Longest Day of Golf 1:35:39

3M ago1:35:39

1:35:39

Kyle recently broke the World Record for most holes of golf played in 24 hours, covering over 90 miles en route!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Training Tuesday: Analyzing a DNF 1:08:05

3M ago1:08:05

1:08:05

Unfortunately, most of us will drop out of a race eventually. Here is how to review the race & the preceding training, draw accurate conclusions, and plan ahead to prevent it from happening again!By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Episode 533: Q&A 1:47:37

4M ago1:47:37

1:47:37

The audience came through with some excellent questions this month, including questions about Tapers, Lifting, Hyrox, OCR, Pacing, and Body Weight.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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Training Tuesday: Marathon Race Week 1:09:22

4M ago1:09:22

1:09:22

Kirk is making his marathon debut this weekend. We discuss the exact details of his taper, race week sleep and dietary plans, race morning routine and warm up, and his plan of attack for the race itself.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker

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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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Episode 531: Chris Johnson 1:29:47

4M ago1:29:47

1:29:47

Father, teacher, Ninja Warrior, and endurance athlete. Chris epitomizes the “non pro” athlete who is chasing performance with the same dedication and intensity as the pro athletes.By Kirk Dewindt & Brakken Kraker