Freetrail
Professional ultrarunner Dylan Bowman interviews elite athletes and hosts expert panels on the culture, strategy, and news of trail running.
This is the flagship show for the Freetrail media network, serving as an audio hub for the hardcore trail running community. Episodes are a mix of in-depth, peer-to-peer interviews with elite runners and multi-guest panel shows that break down major races. During key events like the Western States 100, the podcast becomes a daily, on-site production, providing live analysis, predictions, and press conferences.
“The show's primary distinction is its host: a current, elite professional athlete interviewing his peers, which creates a uniquely informed and collegial dynamic. This is combined with live, "SportsCenter"-style panel shows from major race venues, giving it an authority and immediacy that few other niche sports podcasts can match.”
Who hosts this show
The Freetrail Podcast is hosted by Dylan Bowman, a professional trail runner and the co-founder and CEO of the Freetrail media and training company. After a decade-long career with podium finishes at iconic races like the Western States 100 and Ultra-Trail Mount Fuji, Bowman launched Freetrail to elevate the conversation around the sport. The company's mission is to spread "Trail Culture" through media, training, and events.
Credentials & credits
- Co-Founder & CEO of Freetrail
- Professional Ultra-Trail Runner
- Board Member, Western States 100
- Race Director, Gorge Waterfalls
- Podium finishes at Western States 100, Hardrock 100, and Ultra-Trail Mount Fuji
- Former Lacrosse Player
Other ventures
- Freetrail Pro (membership community)
- Freetrail Fantasy (fantasy sports platform)
- Gorge Waterfalls (trail race)
- Second Nature (podcast)
- San Quentin Prison's 1000 Mile Club (volunteer coach)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Vincent Bouillard wins the 2026 Western States 100 and breaks 14 hoursJun 28, 2026 · 39s
- 02Jenn Lichter wins the 2026 Western States 100 in Course RecordJun 28, 2026 · 45s
- 03Tommie Runz | Western States 100 Pre-Race InterviewJun 26, 2026 · 31 min
- 04Western States 100 Final Thoughts & Predictions ShowJun 26, 2026 · 1h 15m
- 05Jim Walmsley | Western States 100 Press ConferenceJun 25, 2026 · 30 min
- 06
- 07
- 08Zach Miller | Western States 100 Pre-Race Interview 2026Jun 24, 2026 · 44 min
Notable episodes
- 01Jim Walmsley | Western States 100 Press Conference
A unique format where the host, representing sponsor Hoka, facilitates a press conference with one of the sport's biggest stars.
- 02Western States 100 Final Thoughts & Predictions Show
Exemplifies the live, multi-guest panel format, complete with data graphics and an in-person audience, that defines their race-week coverage.
- 03Tommie Runz | Western States 100 Pre-Race Interview
A classic example of the show's supportive, in-depth interview style, focusing on an athlete's personal journey and community impact.
What you'll be asked on this show
Dylan Bowman's interviews feel like conversations between peers inside the sport. He typically opens with a simple, personal check-in like "How do you feel?" before moving into a guest's origin story or their history with a particular race. He leverages his own deep knowledge to ask highly specific questions about training methodologies, race strategy, and recent performances, often referencing a specific learning from a past event. Questions about community impact and personal initiatives are common, exploring the 'why' behind a guest's career. The tone is consistently supportive and collegial, aimed at building a narrative rather than creating conflict.
Host Dylan Bowman has a friendly, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable style, often greeting guests with a familiar "My guy!". One-on-one interviews are conversational and supportive, while panel shows are more energetic, with Bowman acting as an MC who uses data graphics to guide the discussion. Many episodes, particularly during major race weeks, are recorded in front of a live studio audience, an event they call "Trailgating".
Questions the host keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
mindset
1- Q.01
“How are you feeling right now?”
A common opening to check in on a guest's mindset, especially before a big race.
origin
1- Q.01
“Can you remind the audience of your journey to get here?”
Used early in the conversation to establish a guest's backstory and origin in the sport.
backstory
1- Q.01
“Reflecting on your history with this race, what are your thoughts?”
Asks veteran athletes to contextualize the upcoming race within their broader career.
process
3- Q.01
“What were the key learnings from your experience at [specific recent race]?”
Probes for specific takeaways from a recent performance to understand a runner's evolution.
- Q.02
“How does the weather forecast impact your process and race approach?”
Focuses on how external variables influence an elite athlete's strategy.
- Q.03
“How much have you started to think about race strategy at this point?”
A pre-race question to gauge how much of the plan is already locked in.
technique
1- Q.01
“What did you do in your training to specifically prepare for these conditions?”
Moves beyond general training talk to get at the specific methods used for a particular challenge.
personal
2- Q.01
“What's the status of your recent injury and how are you feeling?”
Directly addresses an athlete's physical condition when it's a known factor heading into a race.
- Q.02
“Tell me about your work in the community or a personal initiative you're passionate about.”
Explores a guest's impact and identity beyond their race results.
industry
2- Q.01
“How have you seen the sport of trail running evolve since you started?”
Posed to veteran athletes to get their perspective on the growth and changes in the industry.
- Q.02
“Which of your teammates or competitors should people keep an eye on?”
Used near the end of an interview to get the guest's expert opinion on the field.
advice
1- Q.01
“What advice would you give your younger self from ten years ago?”
Prompts reflection on personal growth and the lessons learned over a long career.
Signature segments
- · My guy!
- · Trailgating
- · Frankenstein's CR
- · The Pace Cars
- · Western States 100 Coverage
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are primarily elite and professional trail and ultrarunners, especially those competing in a major upcoming race. The show also features past champions, race directors, and other influential figures who shape the sport.
- Tommie Runzon Tommie Runz | Western States 100 Pre-Race Interview
- Jim Walmsleyon Jim Walmsley | Western States 100 Press Conference
- Katie Schideon Western States 100 Champions Show | Katie Schide, Caleb Olson, Nikki Kimball, & Clare Gallagher
- Zach Milleron Zach Miller | Western States 100 Pre-Race Interview 2026
- Sally McRaeon Western States 100 Final Thoughts & Predictions Show
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast has significant, integrated sponsorships from major running brands like HOKA. Sponsorship can include the host facilitating a pre-race press conference for a sponsored athlete. The broader Freetrail business model is diversified, relying on a paid "Freetrail Pro" membership community, merchandise, and events.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of the Freetrail podcast?
- The primary host is Dylan Bowman, a professional ultra-trail runner and the co-founder of Freetrail.
- What is the podcast's format?
- The format varies between one-on-one interviews with athletes and multi-guest panel discussions, often recorded live at major trail running events.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast publishes episodes frequently, often daily during major race weeks like the Western States 100.
- What is Freetrail?
- Freetrail is a media and training company focused on trail running, offering podcasts, a membership community (Freetrail Pro), training plans, and events.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube and major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts.
- How can I get involved with the Freetrail community?
- Freetrail offers a paid membership called Freetrail Pro, which includes access to a private community, training plans, and exclusive content.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About | Freetrailfreetrail.com
- [02]Dylan Bowman - Freetrailfreetrail.com
- [03]The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [04]BOA Athlete Dylan Bowman | Professional Ultra Trail Runnerboafit.com
- [05]The future of trail running: A conversation with Dylan Bowmanoriginoutside.com
- [06]How Freetrail carved out a media niche for one of the country's fastest-growing sportssimonowens.substack.com
- [07]Freetrail Pro Membershipfreetrail.com
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