Scott Jurek on Racing, Retirement, and What Comes Next

In this live pre-race episode of the Singletrack Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome Scott Jurek back to the show—recorded in-person from our studio in Olympic Valley, CA, just days before the 2025 Western States 100. For many, Scott needs no introduction. A seven-time winner of Western States, bestselling author, and true icon of the sport, his impact on trail and ultrarunning is undeniable. But this conversation goes far beyond race results and podiums. We explore the evolution of the Western States 100, how the atmosphere, competition, and culture of the race have changed since his last win here in 2005, and what he notices most when returning to the event now as a mentor, supporter, and observer. Scott also opens up about his day-to-day life in the sport today—how he stays involved, what his professional pursuits look like post-competition, and what’s still fueling his fire. We talk about TrailCon, where he’s participating in community discussions and workshops, and the athletes who inspire him in this current generation of ultrarunning talent. Plus, we revisit some of the emotional terrain we covered in our 2024 conversation: athletic identity, the process of letting go, and how to maintain joy and purpose in the sport long after your competitive peak. This is a must-listen for anyone who’s been shaped by Scott’s influence—or is simply curious about what legacy looks like in the fast-changing world of trail running. Partners: * ‪@nordarun‬check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/) * ‪@gorewear‬use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website to get 30% off your purchase. * ‪@naak‬use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase. Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/) Photo: ‪@sh1tinthewoods‬ Follow Singletrack on Instagram:   / runsingletrack   Subscribe to Singletrack on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Subscribe to Singletrack on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jAsWCR...