Claim OwnershipRunning long - A trail and ultra running talk
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Vert is the home for every trail & ultra runner. On this podcast we host conversations with key members of our Trail & Ultra running community from all over the world. From professional world class athletes to our Vert.run members and community. Narrating captivating stories and learning from and about this amazing sport.
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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 feelings” with “do the opposite,” and a simple model to unlock motivation: autonomy, confidence, and belonging. They also unpack the difference between working with a sport psychologist vs. a mental coach, why athletes over-do volume to calm anxiety, and how to make better decisions when pain or fear show up.If you’ve ever wondered “Do I even belong here?” this one will feel like a deep breath and a plan.What you’ll learnHow self-compassion becomes a performance skill (not fluff)A practical way to handle negative thoughts without obeying themAutonomy–confidence–belonging: a simple framework to rekindle motivationWhen to choose a sport psychologist vs. a mental coach (and why)Process > outcome: redefining “success” before your next start line-----------Want to try VertPro?Use code RUNNINGLONG30 for 30% off your first month of Vert.run training.👉 Follow @vert.run👉 Download the app and sign up at vert.runFrancesco’s links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 what’s shipping inside the app: the new Coach Vert.run built from half a million real coach–athlete interactions.UTCT GiveawayDid you hear we’re doing a giveaway to race UTCT? We’re sending one runner to Ultra-Trail Cape Town. Choose your distance—we’ll cover race entry, flights, and a 3-night stay. To enter, start any Vert.run subscription. Full details here. Free trials don’t count toward eligibility. Winner announced at the end of September.Want to try VertPro?Use code RUNNINGLONG30 for 30% off your first month of Vert.run training.👉 Follow @vert.run👉 Download the app and sign up at vert.runFrancesco’s links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 chance to test products for the future.Sierre-Zinal recap: why this race is so special and insanely competitive every single year—plus crazy performances like Katie Schide’s in this year’s edition. Francesco even hints at a break after running it 9 times… but you know he’ll be back.All things CCC: the last big sessions and how training has evolved, knowing this will be Francesco’s longest race (in time) to date.Lastly, some mixed thoughts on aid stations, crewing, and just how wild UTMB week is nowadays.If you’re racing CCC/UTMB (or just love geeking out on mountain prep), this one’s for you. Did you hear we’re doing a giveaway to race UTCT? That’s right—we’re sending one listener to Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT)! Pick your distance—we’ll cover race entry, flights, and a 3-night stay. To enter, start any Vert.run subscription. You can find all the details here. Free trials don’t count toward eligibility; winner announced at the end of September. Use code RUNNINGLONG30 for 30% off your first month of Vert.run training.👉 Follow @vert.run👉 Download the app and sign up at vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 and setbacks shaped her path—and what it took to conquer the emotional and physical demands of Comrades. Rosemary opened up about the meaning behind the Green Number, the incredible community that surrounds this race, and how running continues to transform her life at every age.We also talked about the legacy of Comrades in South Africa, the camaraderie of ultra running, and how age can become a source of strength, not limitation. Her wisdom is a reminder that running is as much about heart as it is about speed.🎧 If you’ve ever dreamed of running Comrades—or just want to feel reconnected to why we run—this episode is for you.Use code RUNNINGLONG30 for 30% off your first month of Vert.run training.👉 Follow @vert.run👉 Download the app and sign up at vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 lows of recent races, the path of athletes like Abby Hall, and the internal pressure that comes with performance. Max opened up about what competition really means, the importance of finding joy in racing, and how both winning and losing can shape an athlete.We also touched on the technical challenges of the trail, how athletes adapt to different terrain, and why patience is the most underrated trait in training. Plus—some thoughts on the Tour de France and what it can teach us about endurance sports.🎧 If you care about the future of trail running, this is a conversation worth listening to.Use code RUNNINGLONG30 for 30% off your first month of Vert.run training.👉 Follow @vert.run👉 Download the app and sign up at vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 how Ken found his way into the sport, what it’s like to juggle family life and content creation, and the unique challenges of building independent media in such a tight-knit and passionate community. We also explored how trail running storytelling is changing, the move toward creator-led platforms, and what it means to preserve authenticity in a media landscape that’s constantly shifting.Discount code: 30% off your first month of training with Vert.run with RUNNINGLONG30.PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!Follow @vert.run on IGDownload our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.runFrancesco’s links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 training. Katie shares lessons on resilience through injury, the joy of returning to the process, and the importance of community, age, and experience in long-distance running.This conversation is honest, powerful, and full of insight for any runner navigating life, goals, and identity on the trails.Want to train smarter and stronger? : Try Vert Pro for just $9.90/monthDownload the Vert app on iOS or AndroidUse the code RUNNINGLONG30 to get 30% off your first month of training with Vert.run.PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!Follow @vert.run on IGDownload the app and explore plans at vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 physical therapy, plus tips on durability, injury prevention, and building power without sacrificing your running performance.This conversation is packed with practical takeaways and coaching wisdom for runners of all levels. Want to train smarter and stronger?🔥 Try Vert Pro for just $9.90/month📲 Download the Vert app on iOS or AndroidUse the code RUNNINGLONG30 to get 30% off your first month of training with Vert.run.PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!Follow @vert.run on IGDownload the app and explore plans at vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
🎙️ 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 innovation without sacrificing personalization or quality.🔥 Try Vert Pro for just $9.90/month📲 Download the Vert app on iOS or AndroidFor those of you who want to give training with Vert.run a try, you can take 30% off your first month of training with the code RUNNINGLONG30.PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!_______________________Follow @vert.run on IGDownload our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 place at Western States coming in quick succession. As we both get ready to toe the line at the Canyons 100k this weekend, I hope you all enjoy this conversation!Guest: Rod FarvardFor those of you who want to give training with Vert.run a try, you can take 30% off your first month of training with the code RUNNINGLONG30.PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!_______________________Follow @vert.run on IGDownload our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 KeithFor those of you who want to give training with Vert.run a try, you can take 30% off your first month of training with the code RUNNINGLONG30.PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!_______________________Follow @vert.run on IGDownload our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 time, obsession and balance, vulnerability and comparison, and how there’s a place for everyone in the sport of running. Discount code: 30% off your first month of training with Vert.run with RUNNINGLONG30.PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!_______________________Follow @vert.run on IGDownload our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 also talk about balancing work versus training, how Josh got into running, about fell running and the lake district, and much morePLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!_______________________Follow @vert.run on IGDownload our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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 increasing across all continents and events, the science of training for performance is making progress and becoming widely available to all participants. It’s for sure an exciting time to be a trail runner. We reflect on some of the recent developments we’ve seen, talk about some personal life updates, the present and future of Vert, and some racing plans for the year. For those of you who want to give training with Vert.run a try, you can take 30% off your first month of training with the code RUNNINGLONG30.PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!_______________________Follow @vert.run on IGDownload our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
Dakota Jones is a professional trail runner for Nnormal living in Salt Lake City. Dakota is also the founder and executive director ofFootprints Running, a non profit organization with the mission to support climate action at the community level by bringing people together around their shared interest in trail running. In two days, Dakota is attempting the American record for 100 miles at the Jackpot Ultras with the goal to raise money for Footprints and its 2025 camps.Support Footprints!Dates of fundraiser are Feb. 1 - 21, 2025Goal: $30,000 for our 2025 campDONATE2022 camp videoPLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!_______________________Follow @vert.run on IGDownload our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.runFrancesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
Allison Lynch is a writer, artist, competitive runner and sports marketing professional.
Allison has 12 years of experience in brand marketing and communications, specializing in sports technology, running, and fitness. She’s worked for companies like WHOOP and COROS.
I was inspired to invite Allison on this podcast after discovering her work and talent for writing. She wrote a very interesting Substack post on Matt Trappe's newsletter “A matter of brand”, which I really suggest following and subscribing, that is called "Athletes vs influencers: the bubble has burst". I have been following Allison since then and here we are now.
In today’s conversation we talk about the current state of the running universe, the evolution we’ve seen in the past 15 years, with running and outdoor brands progressively shifting away from performance to focus more on lifestyle and fashion, the athletes vs influencers dynamic, how can athletes provide value to themselves and to the brands they work for, how can companies help the athletes build their brand and audience on different platforms.
Follow Allison on Substack: https://notaconversationalpace.substack.com/
Allison personal website and portfolio: https://www.allisonmary.com/
PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!
_______________________
Follow @vert.run on IG
Download our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.run
Francesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
Adina Crawford is a trail runner from the US and a Vert.run explore athlete. Adina is a passionate runner whose goal is, like many other athletes that we coach, to run longer, faster and stronger while having fun in the process. In this episode we talk about being a trail runner from an underrepresented community in our sport, a memorable trip to the french alps, her experience training with Vert, developing community, training, racing and much more.
Follow Adina on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adinavcrawford/
PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!
_______________________
Follow @vert.run on IG
Download our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.run
Francesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
Andy Wacker is a professional trail runner for Salomon living in Colorado. Two years ago Andy founded The Trail Team, a project with the mission to independently support and develop rising athletes into the best professional trail runners in the world through mentorship, skill development, and media exposure.
We caught up with Andy to see how the project is going, how it has developed into something bigger, how it’s made an impact on the American and international trail running scene, and talk about some future perspectives.
PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!
_______________________
Follow @vert.run on IG
Download our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.run
Francesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
Zach Miller is a professional trail runner for The North Face living in the United States.
We caught up on a number of things happening in our sport right now, some future evolutions, then his current training, future plans for 2025 and much more. Enjoy!
PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!
_______________________
Follow @vert.run on IG
Download our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.run
Francesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
Tim Tollefson is a professional trail runner for Craft living in Mammoth Lakes, California, and the race director of the Mammoth Trail Fest.
In this episode with Tim, we talk about community, antidoping efforts, sponsorships and opportunities to run professionally, growth of the sport, circuits and Mammoth Trail Fest affiliation with the Golden Trail World Series; we also talk about some personal stories, mental health, validation, acceptance and what success looks like for us.
RESOURCES:
Watch What goes unsaid on YouTube
Read: Influencers vs Athletes: the bubble has burst on Substack
Follow Tim on Instagram
Follow Mammoth Trail Fest on Instagram
PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF YOU ENJOYED IT!
_______________________
Follow @vert.run on IG
Download our app and sign up to our training plans on vert.run
Francesco's links: Instagram | Twitter | Strava | Website
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