Years In, Still All In

Jason Schlarb has been racing professionally for over 15 years. If American ultrarunning had an all-decade team for the 2010s, he’d be on it—no question. Wins at Hardrock, Run Rabbit Run, a fourth-place at UTMB, and a long list of performances that go deeper than a podium.

But what makes this conversation special isn’t the results. It’s the reflection.

In this long-form interview with Singletrack, Jason talks about what it means to stay in this sport—mentally, physically, spiritually—when most of your peers have moved on. He reflects on the early Hoka and Altra days, the athlete/brand relationship, and his current role with Norda—not just as a sponsored runner but as someone helping shape their athlete culture.

He opens up about the anxiety that training helps him manage. The obsessive drive that’s always been there. The way parenthood has shifted his values. And why, after all these years, he still believes he can podium at UTMB.

What stuck with me wasn’t just the performance side. It was the consistency. The sense that staying competitive isn’t just about talent—it’s about living with a kind of honest intensity that few people are willing to carry for this long.

This one is worth your full attention.