Is Mental Toughness Overrated? What Really Wins in Ultrarunning (Long Run Archives #36) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 23, 2026 · 1H 26M

Is Mental Toughness Overrated? What Really Wins in Ultrarunning (Long Run Archives #36)

from Singletrack · host Finn Melanson

In this edition of Long Run Archives, we talk about: Arlen Glick’s departure from Craft Sportswear, whether mental toughness is often overstated, and that physical fitness is what truly wins races, the idea of "super-domestiques" in ultra, Ben Dhiman vs the Boulder Boys, and media narratives around 200-mile "specialists".Chapters:00:00 — Arlen Glick’s Departure from Craft06:57 — Could Ultrarunning Ever Have a Smut TV Series?23:03 — Is Mental Toughness Overrated in Ultrarunning?29:56 — Mental Warfare and Training Philosophy32:45 — Community Support as a Competitive Advantage35:39 — Training Partners: Breakthrough or Burnout?39:20 — Pacing Ethics and Team Tactics in Ultrarunning53:39 — Ben Dhiman vs. the Boulder Boys1:03:30 — What Makes a 200-Mile Specialist?1:13:30 — Media Narratives, Visibility, and Performance MetricsPartners:Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/)Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order (https://livemomentous.com/) Additional Links:Arlen Glick Strava PostFollow Jeff on Instagram, Strava, YoutubeFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and CoachingFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and PatreonSupport the show

In this edition of Long Run Archives, we talk about: Arlen Glick’s departure from Craft Sportswear, whether mental toughness is often overstated, and that physical fitness is what truly wins races, the idea of "super-domestiques" in ultra, Ben Dhiman vs the Boulder Boys, and media narratives around 200-mile "specialists". Chapters: 00:00 — Arlen Glick’s Departure from Craft06:57 — Could Ultrarunning Ever Have a Smut TV Series?23:03 — Is Mental Toughness Overrated in Ultrarunning?29:56 — Ment...

NOW PLAYING

Is Mental Toughness Overrated? What Really Wins in Ultrarunning (Long Run Archives #36)

0:00 1:26:57

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Singletrack With Mathias Eichler Electric Cable Car / Mathias Eichler The companion podcast for Electric Cable Car. Conversations with the people who shape the world of trail, ultra, and mountain running. Inside Enduro Inside Enduro Rocking the Singletrack and Gnar of the Free World! Hard Enduro riders discuss life and the hard knocks that come with it. Singletrack Magazine MTB Podcast Singletrack Magazine Mountain biking news, reviews and opinion from the people who bring you Singletrack magazine and the massively popular mountain bike website singletrackworld.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. TWD Stroke Sean Covaleski  Your buddies one the job site are sick of hearing your daydreams of singletrack serenity and Motocross glory. We know from experience. So shoot to the nearest Radio Shack and grab yourself a pair of Skull Candy’s so that we can carry you through the work day. There’s a lot of great dirt bike oriented pods out there. They seem more interested in talking the technical side or big name interviews. Here at TWDStroke we focus on the entertainment factor and associate ourselves with all things Dirt Culture. That may be the ongoing social media war between Wheelie Boys and Trail Guys, hilarious stories about crashes and other less thank stellar riding situations, or speaking with callers about their newest bike or accomplishment on the trail.  TWD Stroke is the only LIVE Dirt Bike podcast that you can join in the convo. Reporting Live and Direct from www.YouTube.com/TWDStroke every Monday at 8:30pm EST

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Singletrack?

This episode is 1 hour and 26 minutes long.

When was this Singletrack episode published?

This episode was published on January 23, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In this edition of Long Run Archives, we talk about: Arlen Glick’s departure from Craft Sportswear, whether mental toughness is often overstated, and that physical fitness is what truly wins races, the idea of "super-domestiques" in ultra, Ben...

Can I download this Singletrack episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!