Borderlands Trail Running

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Borderlands Trail Running Borderlands is a media platform exploring trail running beyond races and results. The heart of trail running. The overlap of community and running.

We tell stories about the people, mindset, and culture shaping the edges of the sport.

16/09/2026

Pacer culture is a beautiful picture of our humanity.

Episode 322
Link in bio

16/09/2026

Pacer culture as strength not weakness.

Borderlands 322
Link in bio

Borderlands Trail + Ultrarunning PodcastEpisode 322I spent the weekend at Wasatch 100 + snowbasinbyutmb. Two very diffe...
15/09/2026

Borderlands Trail + Ultrarunning Podcast
Episode 322

I spent the weekend at Wasatch 100 + snowbasinbyutmb. Two very different races and experiences and goals. One great sport.

08/09/2026


BORDERLANDS
Episode 321

footage courtesy of

Biel is mysterious but not veiled.One day he walked up to a mirror and tattooed a cat on his right cheek. Then, in his w...
08/09/2026

Biel is mysterious but not veiled.

One day he walked up to a mirror and tattooed a cat on his right cheek. Then, in his words, he “compulsively” kept going until his face was full.

He says it was a release. A way to stop caring what other people thought.
Once he found relief, he kept going back to it.

This is a metaphor for running.

“I need something like this to keep me alive.”

We all understand that metaphorically. With Biel, you wonder how literal it is.
He holds The Speed Project’s solo records from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and Chamonix to Marseille. Atacama is next.

Biel is a mismatch. You see him and expect one person. Then you talk to him and find someone completely different.
—
We caught up in the HOKA (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hokaofficial/) lounge at UTMB just meters away from the finish line of that day’s race [OCC] to chat not about why keeps going but why he can’t stop.

Biel | thespeedproject™️

Slide 5: image Tycjan | Sports Filmmaker & Photographer

Full conversation link in bio.

Craft feels new to Americans but they’ve been building in endurance and outdoor sports in Sweden since 1977. They feel f...
05/09/2026

Craft feels new to Americans but they’ve been building in endurance and outdoor sports in Sweden since 1977.

They feel fresh and new to Americans signing Tommy Rivs about 6 years ago, but to our Swedish friends Craft Sportswear feels more like Brooks did to Americans not so long ago.
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Almanac is Borderlands’ considered look at gear through a non-performance lens.

I understand the business case for dropping new version of shoe franchises every year. I also will give the benefit of ...
02/09/2026

I understand the business case for dropping new version of shoe franchises every year. I also will give the benefit of the doubt that they’re trying to improve it.

But when we do big efforts in a shoe, sometimes it would be nice to be able to buy that same one forever.

Merrell AP5

Auteur Sportif ruined my cynicism about UTMB and made me reconsider some things. Cc: Matt Trappe
01/09/2026

Auteur Sportif ruined my cynicism about UTMB and made me reconsider some things.

Cc: Matt Trappe

It says something that heritage outdoor brands are entering trail running. Teva’s Original Universal is still a crowd p...
01/09/2026

It says something that heritage outdoor brands are entering trail running. Teva’s Original Universal is still a crowd pleaser after 42 years.

They’re now spending that capital of goodwill of growing in a new space. They dropped one shoe at $160 - curious if it’s a test or if the line will simply be one franchise.

The 2026 UTMB reinforced some beliefs and opinions while changing others. >>>The fan experience in person and online is...
01/09/2026

The 2026 UTMB reinforced some beliefs and opinions while changing others. >>>

The fan experience in person and online is good and getting better still. The livestream and the finish line are solid competitive experiences.

UTMB is even winning over its former critics. One loud objectors are now attending and racing with much less noise. But is it because things changed or because they grew tired of making noise?

Both on paper and IRL - TDS is the bigger beast. Yes, PTL is the most absurd beast but TDS wins the distinction as PTL combines running with other wild mountain behaviors.

I didn’t like the DNSs. At the same, I get it. A lot variables converged for these athletes leading each to have their own reason.

Hear this as a compliment. The women’s race is compelling on the merits of competition.

I would like to watch 100% of the women’s race and 100% of the men’s race. Two separate races is a wild ask, but this is how we get uninterrupted greatness.

Noise isn’t bad. But when people talk about the noise, it’s usually brands activating. Yes, the fans are noise too but brands pull that disparate energy together and compound it.

Some of the most beautiful moments of UTMB were not the running. Auteur Sportif introduced us to the artist who makes the trophies and Paul Mellor brought Laz Lake to Chamonix to screen the new hit - Hillbilly Scientist.

We are at UTMB but we do not enjoy mixing with the commoners.

Brands, don’t try to pull us out of the chaos. We spent a lot of time and money to be IN the chaos. Trying to bring us peace by removing us from the chaos increases stress and chaos.

I spent hours with Raziq Rauf. My key take away - everyone should be reading Running Sucks. Not because you’ll agree with it but because perhaps you won’t.

He brings a clear unfiltered point of view that requires you to think. It’s not a passive read, it’s one that warrants an opinion, sometimes visceral.

The mayor of chamonix is unpopular for certain crowds, myself included. After experiences the changes, as a fan I’d like to say thank you. The changes were net positive for me personally.

Available anywhere fine podcasts are

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