When you’re running for hours at a time, distractions can be a great way to keep your mind on the present. That’s where podcasts come in. They offer the perfect escape, pulling you into new worlds, sparking fresh ideas, and sharing captivating tales.
We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite podcasts to help you stay motivated on the trail. The podcasts we’ve selected include stories from entrepreneurs, endurance athletes, mountaineers, runners, hikers, bikers, climbers, adventurers, and comedians. They are each hand-selected by our team to keep you captivated, laughing, and inspired, whether you’re logging long-run miles, thru-hiking, or simply commuting home from work.
Remember, it’s important to use good trail-judgment when listening to headphones. Please remember to keep wildlife, weather conditions, and surroundings top-of-mind if you choose to do so.
#1 For Dawn Patrollers, Distance Runners, Backcountry Skiers, and Alpinists:
Anyone with an unhinged passion for vert will benefit from this inspiring and educational training podcast. This weekly podcast offers do-it-yourself training knowledge and coaching from mountain athletes, physiology experts, physical therapists, ultra running coaches, and more. Start with this episode about strength, and if you love the pod, check out the bestselling Training for the Uphill Athlete book.
#2 For Adventurers Bitten by the Travel Bug:
If you crave epic adventure tales, tune into Overheard at National Geographic. The perfect place to start is with an episode featuring Mark Synnott, a National Geographic explorer, writer, and adventurer who recreates the voyage of a doomed 19th century polar expedition through the Canadian Arctic. You’ll be on the edge of your seat for this endurance story!
#3 For Conversations Surrounding Women in Trail Running:
Tune in to Trail Society for game-changing conversations about racing, nutrition, ultra running, trail running, motherhood, and women in sport alongside professional trail runners Keely Henninger, Corrine Malcolm, and Hillary Allen. Start with this episode: This is Your Brain on Ultras.
#4 For Those Who Crave Spooky Stories:
Try National Parks After Dark. This pod explores unsolved mysteries, paranormal activity, strange occurrences, and thrilling tales from North America’s iconic National Parks. A word of caution: certain episodes contain disturbing stories and gory details, so be sure to choose your spice level. Start with this episode, an incredible survival story about a young boy who gets lost on a hike in Maine’s Katahdin Woods.
#5 For Deep Thinkers:
Try Radiolab. Radiolab relies on illuminating investigative journalism to uncover the answers to life’s mysteries. Begin your foray into this well-produced podcast with an episode that you’ll be talking about at dinner parties for weeks: Aphantasia. This fascinating feature explores how some people can see images in their minds, while others cannot.
#6 For the Endurance-Minded Adventurer:
Focusing on stories from the world of bike-packing and ultra cycling, Detours is an endurance-minded podcast that brings coaches, racers, and adventurers together to discuss epic journeys and competitions. Dive in with this episode featuring ultra-endurance cyclist and 2024 winner of the Tour Divide, Meaghan Hackinen, and catch up as she recounts her life-changing race and sufferfest on the road from Banff to New Mexico.
#7 For Road Runners & Sports Fans:
Olympic runners, Des Linden and Kara Goucher (friends and former competitors), join forces to provide heartwarming commentary, hot takes, and insight on the running community and other sporting events. Tune into this down-to-earth Introspection Episode of Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara for a conversation on hitting age milestones and running into your 30s, 40s, and 50s, and beyond.
#8 For Dirtbags, Risk-Takers, and Outdoor Industry Community Members:
Tap into Climbing Gold, Alex Honnold’s podcast. Honnold is world-famous for his ground-breaking free solo climb of El Cap in Yosemite. His podcast explores epic stories of climbers, new parents, and endurance athletes in the outdoor industry. Pop your headphones in for endurance athlete interviews, new dad discussions, and adventure inspiration. We recommend starting with this episode, which chronicles Honnold’s bike ride from Estes Park to Alaska and the Devil’s Club climb he completed alongside friend and climbing partner, Tommy Caldwell.
#9 For Ultra-Runners, Marathoners, and Fans of Team Injinji Athlete, Courtney Dauwalter:
Tap into the wisdom of Extramilest founder, Floris Gierman, as he interviews award-winning ultrarunners and answers questions such as “how to avoid the bonk between miles 18-22.” Begin with episode #88, a foray into the world and mind of Team Injinji Athlete and powerhouse, Courtney Dauwalter. After you listen, if you feel so inspired, head over and check out our bestselling, Courtney Crew toesock, designed to keep you blister-free for long-distance hauls. Or read about Team Injinji’s athlete-favorite socks here.
Best Podcasts to Listen to When Running Honorable Mentions:
Whether you are a runner, thru-hiker, biker, climber, van-lifer, or are just beginning to dabble in the outdoors, we have you covered with inspiration and game-changing gear. For nearly three decades we’ve designed the toesocks that runners and endurance athletes swear by to keep them dry and blister-free on long-distance hauls (from The Western States 100-mile Endurance Run to backyard pursuits).
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