The Human Potential Running Series Podcast · John Lacroix

HPRS Podcast - Episode 68: Trail Running For Noobs

·1 hr 27 min·5 clips

There is no industry standard in trail and ultra marathon running, so every race can look completely different.

Episode 68 has the feeling of people settling back into the room together. John LaCroix opens with the live intro, and the group spends time on how that fresh, unscripted format shapes the podcast. The conversation then turns to race goals, with the hosts comparing the different ways runners think about A, B, and C targets. For one person, finishing comes first; for another, the order starts with the bigger dream and then drops down to more realistic expectations. That contrast becomes part of the point. Trail running leaves room for different mental models. The episode then shifts into practical advice for newcomers. The warning is simple: do not go into a race blind. There is no industry standard in trail and ultra marathon running, so every event can come with different rules and expectations. That means a runner should get to know the race and the organization before showing up. The group keeps that advice plain and direct. The discussion also brings in a small personal aside about getting punched in the nose, which fits the show’s blunt, conversational rhythm. Even when the thread wanders, it keeps circling back to safety, shared knowledge, and the responsibility runners have to each other. By the end, the episode lands on a straightforward trail-running ethic: keep everybody safe and healthy, make sure people have a good time, and share what you know instead of gatekeeping. The tone stays warm, direct, and a little rough around the edges. The hosts are not trying to package the sport into something slick. They are talking from inside it.

As heard by us

A loose, honest primer on goals, race planning, and trail-running culture.

Episode 68 stays grounded in a practical, no-frills talk about trail-running basics: setting goals, shaping finish and time targets, and learning the race or organization before arriving. Its appeal comes from that plainspoken approach.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want trail-running advice that stays conversational and honest.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Human Potential Running Series Podcast