183. Max Keith | Pacers, Crews, World Champs & the Future of Trail Running: The 2025 Recap

Diving into the state of trail running in 2025, Francesco Puppi and Max Keith sit down for a wide-ranging, honest, and deeply insightful conversation about where the sport is headed — and what it feels like to live through this moment of rapid transformation. From debates around pacers and fair competition, to the explosion of content, technology, and brand involvement in trail running, they reflect on the challenges, the opportunities, and the responsibility that comes with a sport growing faster than ever.They also open up about the athletes who inspired them this year — from world-class performances at UTMB and Worlds, to breakthrough storytellers on YouTube and Substack — and unpack what makes certain moments and people truly stand out.Francesco shares how his own training has evolved after Worlds, how he’s approaching winter with a fresh VO₂max block, and why Western States 2026 is quietly becoming his north star. Max, meanwhile, talks about crewing, pacing, fairness, and how the culture of the sport shapes the choices we make on race day.If you love trail running — not just the racing, but the community, the culture, and the conversations that shape it — this episode will feel like sitting around a table with two friends who live and breathe this world.What you’ll learn• Why the debate around pacers is more complex than it seems• How money, livestreaming, and brand involvement are reshaping the sport• The performances that defined 2024–2025 (and why they mattered)• Why content — from YouTube to Substack — is pushing trail running forward• Francesco’s return to structured training and his path toward Western States• The trends that will shape the next decade of trail running🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.🏃‍♂️ Want to train smarter, not harder?Use code RUNNINGLONG30 for 30% off your first month of Vert.run training.📲 Follow @vert.runDownload the app and start your personalized training at Vert.runFrancesco’s links:Instagram | X | Strava | Website