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05 Feb 2022
Sarah Cummings | Wasatch Trail Scene, Brooks Running, JFK 50, Lessons From Injury
Sarah Cummings is a Professional Trail Runner for Brooks based in Park City, Utah.
We talk about her introduction to the trail world after a significant collegiate and post collegiate career on the roads, her experience and lessons learned rehabbing from a traumatic hamstring injury that could have ended her running career altogether, how she landed in Park City, her thoughts on the Wasatch trail running scene, her 2022 racing plans and more.
As you all know, I think the Wasatch has the potential to be the next American cultural hub for trail running. In fact, one of my big predictions is that by 2023 this will be the place in the same way that Mill Valley carried the banner in the mid 2010s and how Flagstaff did the same in the late 2010s. I think there’s been a gap to fill for a few years, especially since the pandemic started. And I think its anyones for the taking, so why not Salt Lake? I mention that here because I think Sarah is becoming one of the great ambassadors for our region and her influence (along with others) will help make it happen fast.
Timestamps
(1:44) - running background
(6:02) - choosing Park City, UT to lifestyle and training
This episode is part of a brand new mini-series we are calling the "Long Run Archives" in which I am joined by Brett Hornig, a fellow ultra runner and coach at Trails and Tarmac to riff on some of Ultrarunning’s most intriguing news, ideas, and questions. You know those highly entertaining long run conversations you have with friends you wish you could have hit the record button on? These episodes will attempt to recreate those moments.
Timestamps
(4:13) - Is it a competitive advantage to be a full-time professional ultrarunner?
(17:31) - What if Jim Walmsley had never missed that mile 93 turn at the Western States 100?
The Golden Ticket Talks are back! In this episode, we talk with the 1st place male finisher at the 2022 Black Canyon 100K, Trueheart Brown.
Since Trueheart is likely a new name to most ultrarunning fans, we cover a lot of ground in this episode including his background in the sport, his home and training base in Flagstaff, AZ, how he prepared for Black Canyon, his expectations leading into the race, his execution on race day, his current thoughts on Western States and more.
Timestamps
(2:29) - endurance sports background
(6:32) - wildland firefighting
(8:43) - training in Flagstaff, AZ
(11:00) - training philosophy
(12:29) - Black Canyon preparation and execution
(28:34) - initial thoughts on Western States
(36:54) - connecting dots between cycling and running
In this episode, we talk with the 3rd place male finisher at the 2022 Black Canyon 100K, Jeff Colt.
Jeff is a Professional Trail Runner for On Running based in Carbondale CO. In addition to race analysis, we talk about his entry into the sport while working in the hut system of New Hampshire ’s White Mountains, his multi-year path to a golden ticket which included near misses at the 2018 and 2019 Bandera 100Ks, his unorthodox training philosophy, his thoughts on the East coast trail scene, and much more.
Timestamps
(3:55) - introduction to trail and ultra running
(6:01) - working in the White Mountains Hut System
(9:49) - White Mountains Hut Traverse FKT
(15:04) - describing New England trail running scene
(21:04) - training in Carbondale, CO
(26:48) - his unorthodox approach to training for ultras
(30:14) - missing golden tickets in 2018 and 2019
(37:36) - Black Canyon 100K race strategy and execution
(54:51) - ranting against coaching culture in ultra running
In this episode, we talk with the 4th place female finisher at the 2022 Black Canyon 100K, Taylor Nowlin.
Taylor is a Professional Trail Runner for Adidas Terrex based in Spokane, WA. In addition to race analysis, we talk about how she got into Mountain Ultra Trail Running, life in Spokane, WA, how she organizes training and races alongside her other career in nursing, advice she has for female athletes entering the sport, and way more.
Timestamps
(2:44) - introduction to trail running
(4:53) - multi-year golden ticket journey
(7:23) - Spokane, WA is a trail running city
(10:38) - balancing running and nursing careers
(14:16) - Black Canyon 100K recap
(25:35) - preparation for Western States
(29:50) - advice for up and coming female trail runners
(38:44) - you don't have to always run trail to be a trail runner
In this episode, we talk with the 3rd place female finisher at the 2022 Black Canyon 100K, Anne-Marie Madden.
Anne-Marie is a Salomon-sponsored trail runner based in Vancouver, BC. In addition to race analysis, we talk about how she got into Mountain Ultra Trail Running, life in Vancouver, opportunities to grow our sport through better urban planning, the influence of social media, and much more.
Timestamps
(1:53) - How Annie-Marie started trail running
(6:37) - Why Vancouver, BC is a great place to be a trail runner
(12:28) - Would Anne-Marie ever entertain being a full-time ultra runner?
(14:44) - Why Anne-Marie chose the Black Canyon 100K
(18:56) - Her strategy and execution to secure a golden ticket
(28:20) - Initial thoughts on training and expectations for Western States
(30:08) - The progress we've made increasing the number of female trail runners
(36:06) - The connections between urban planning and trail running
(38:47) - What she's changed her mind about with ultrarunning
(41:21) - How our sport will look different in 2030, social media issues
In this episode, we talk with the 2nd place male finisher at the 2022 Black Canyon 100K, Scott Traer.
Scott is based in the Phoenix, AZ area via Boston, MA and not only punched his ticket to Western States this coming June, but also ran the 4th fastest time in course history at the age of 40. In addition to race analysis, we also talk about the New England trail running scene, his recent media work with Aravaipa Running, his Run Fastah coaching business, and more.
Timestamps
(1:01) - Scott explains his unusual running apparel
(2:30) - Scott talks about the "Chasing Gold" interview series he hosted for Aravaipa Running
(5:09) - Scott's background in ultra running and his trail running beginnings in New England
(13:00) - Scott reflects on running the 4th fastest time ever on the Black Canyon 100K course and securing a golden ticket to the Western States 100
(26:52) - Scott's coaching philosophy and how he got into the profession
(30:04) - What's exciting Scott most about ultrarunning right now
In this episode, we meet with Reid Coolsaet, a Professional Trail Runner for Salomon based in Hamilton, Ontario.
Reid burst onto the mountain ultra trail running scene in 2021 with a win at the Quebec Mega Trail 110K, competed at the Black Canyon 100K earlier this month, and will be lining up for the Canyons 100K in April and the Western States 100 in June.
Prior to his venture onto the trails, Reid had an extremely successful career in road marathoning. He holds a 2:10:28 marathon PR and represented Canada in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.
It’s been talked about recently to no end, but indeed our sport is only getting more competitive and professionalized and Reid’s entrance is just the latest proof point.
One thing that struck me about Reid was his openness and willingness to talk about any issue in the sport whether it was related to compensation as a professional athlete, training methodology, drug testing, or anything else. It made for an interesting and engaging conversation and I hope that shines through here.
Timestamps
(2:58) - Reid's running background
(10:59) - The lifestyle of a full-time professional marathoner
(17:21) - How Reid became interested in mountain ultra trail running
(31:10) - The perceptions of trail and ultra running among runners in other disciplines
(36:54) - What it will take to recruit more elite road running athletes to our sport
(40:40) - Reid's experience in the mountain ultra trail running world so far
(54:09) - Drug testing conversation
(57:02) - How Reid will prepare for the Western States 100 in June
Tom Evans is a Professional Mountain Ultra Trail Runner for Adidas Terrex and Red Bull based in the Birmingham, UK area.
Over the last 3-4 years, Tom has become one of the best athletes in our sport with notable performances at some of the most important races including a win at the 2018 CCC and a sub-15 hour podium finish at the 2019 Western States 100.
What stands out to me, however, is his level of commitment to the sport and the depth to which he prepares for each event. I believe his all-in, full-time approach represents the cutting edge that will become the norm for professional athletes in our sport by the end of the decade.
Timestamps
(3:02) - knee injury and recovery process
(11:55) - how to approach the day to day of recovery
(14:35) - the role of sponsors in the recovery process
(24:21) - what professional ultra running looks like
(34:04) - the competitive advantage of training full-time
(41:14) - creating an environment to make success inevitable
(46:35) - benefits of training groups
(49:27) - thoughts on trail running teams
(53:27) - preparing for the 2022 UTMB
(61:46) - whether pro ultra runners will need to specialize in distances and terrain
Garrett Heath is a professional runner for Brooks.
Garrett has demonstrated impressive range over the last couple of decades and with world-class PRs in events from the 1500m to the 10k, he has been a threat every time he steps on a starting line. As a three-time champion of the famed Edinburgh XC race, his gutsy racing style has carried him to victory over some of the world’s most legendary runners including Mo Farah.
I reached out to Garrett a couple of weeks ago after seeing an announcement that he was making the switch to trail running. Maybe it’s up for debate, but in my mind he is the highest level track athlete to ever cross over. The dude is legit.
In this conversation, we cover all the basics - what motivated him to make the change, why now, whether he will be coached and who his training partners will be, and what his race schedule will look like in 2022.
Given his background with the famed Brooks Beasts training group in Seattle, we also have a long back and forth about what it would take to build similar type of team in the ultra world. We get his perspective on being a full-time runner, the pros and cons of the lifestyle, and whether he recommends it. And we talk about perceptions of the trail and ultra world outside our bubble and what it might take to recruit more professional athletes like Garrett into the sport.
Jasmin Paris is professional trail runner for Inov-8 based in the United Kingdom.
Her racing resume is significant with an overall win at the 2019 Spine race, a fastest known time on the Bob Graham Round, a top-10 finish at 2016 UTMB, and way more. Most recently, she completed 3 laps, also known as a “Fun Run”, at the vaunted Barkley Marathons in Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park.
Due to Jasmin’s media schedule, we only had 20 minutes to chat but we covered good ground including what inspired her to line up for Barkley, what her physical and mental preparation looked like, the keys to completing a fun run, whether she has plans to return next year or beyond, and what other events and routes in the United States interest her.
Timestamps:
(1:32) - will Jasmin return to Barkley soon?
(1:52) - what inspired her Barkley attempt
(4:12) - what her training looked like for Barkley
(6:47) - sleep deprivation training?
(8:32) - mentally preparing for Barkley
(10:46) - whether her mental toughness is innate or trained
(12:57) - balancing high-level ultra training and performance with work and parenting
(14:38) - the keys to completing 3 laps at Barkley
(17:11) - what she would do differently next time around
(18:44) - other United States races and routes that appeal to her
Sarah Keyes is an ultra runner, race director, and trail running community organizer (among many other roles) based in Saranac Lake, NY.
In this conversation, we talk about the trail running and overall mountain sports scene in the Adirondack Mountains, her role as race director of the Whiteface Mountain events, her role at ITRA, how to get more involved in our sport beyond training and racing, and much much more.
Timestamps:
(1:13) - trail running background
(4:58) - thoughts on training and racing out of her car
(9:57) - lifestyle in the Adirondack Mountains
(18:00) - the influence of Olympic cities and towns like Lake Placid, NY
(22:08) - race directing the Whiteface Mountain series
(28:48) - brainstorming other cool mountain races in the northeast
(34:11) - sorting out all the the championship events in trail running
(43:48) - understanding the role ITRA plays in our sport
(52:28) - what motivates Sarah to get involved in our sport at deeper levels
(54:13) - how to get more active in your own trail running community
In this episode we talk with Buzz Burrell, a co-founder of fastestknowntime.com, a tracking website that has been cataloging the modern FKT movement here in the United States and abroad, to my knowledge, for the better part of the last decade. While there is no governing body for FKT certification, fastestknowntime.com has acted as the informal arbiter of these records.
We spend the majority of the conversation getting into the details about the recent sale of fastestknowntime.com to Outside Magazine earlier this month.
But there’s a lot more to Buzz that’s interesting that we delve into at various points. For example, he’s been trail and ultra running since the late 1960s and has set a wide array of fastest times and first attempts at many classic routes here in the United States including the Colorado Trail and John Muir Trail. And in addition to his work on the FKT site, he has also been an athlete manager for La Sportiva and Brand Director for Ultimate Direction and will be joining Ultrarunning Magazine next month as a regular columnist.
Timestamps:
(1:50) - what it was like being in the trail and ultra scene before it was popular
(5:18) - slow growth on the professional side of trail and ultra running
(11:13) - whether the growth of the FKT community is good
(19:07) - description of fastesknowntime.com
(21:09) - the inspiration for building the website
(23:12) - whether there were always business aspirations for the website
(24:42) - the pros and cons of full-time versus part-time investment
(30:06) - why the website was sold in 2022
(34:39) - the assets that Outside Magazine was most interested in
(36:29) - audience numbers for the website
(37:40) - improvements coming to the website
(39:48) - whether the people working on the site should be community experts
(42:46) - objections to the sale to Outside Magazine
(45:36) - the realities of social media and content businesses in trail running
(50:42) - requests for startups in the trail and ultra running space
Last week I once again lit the beacons and let folks know I'd do another AMA if there were enough questions. In this second edition, I answer the following questions:
What does the East Coast need to do to progress trail running?
What is on your trail running media wishlist?
What can we do to make ultrarunning events more exciting to follow or watch?
What is something you would like to see changed in our sport?
What else is on your ultrarunning wishlist?
Timestamps:
(0:17) - the biggest issue for the east coast trail running scene
(1:56) - the competitive advantages of east coast trail running
(3:05) - rural locations over metro locations for training
(4:18) - combining reality tv format with underdog narrative for new ultrarunning content
(5:36) - someone influential needs to make more films of east coast races and FKTs
(8:03) - a new member of the media crew at ultra races
(9:17) - more data for race commentators and fans to use
(10:39) - stop putting the sport of ultrarunning down
(12:25) - burning man for ultrarunning
Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:
#19 - Ask Me Anything | Golden Ticket Series, Professional Trail Runners, Ultra Training
Chris Chavez is the founder of Citius Mag, a road running and track and field media company providing original running news, analysis, videos, newsletters, podcasts and humor to fans of the sport.
At the start of 2022, Chris made the decision to leave this long-time position as a writer at Sports Illustrated in order to go “all-in” on Citius Mag.
Chris and I talk about building a running media company, his mission for Citius Mag, and what the operation looks like.
Given his perspective on the sport, we also spend quite a bit of time talking about the entertainment value of running, whether it can go mainstream, what it will take to increase the number of fans, and more.
If you like the blending of running and business, running and media, or running and community - you will enjoy this episode. I hope to have Chris on the pod again soon because we only covered about half the topics I had on tap for us.
Timestamps:
(1:08) - overview of Citius Mag
(3:28) - the inspiration for Citius Mag
(8:44) - balancing Sports Illustrated and Citius Mag for years
(12:25) - skills that helped him go all-in on Citius Mag
(15:15) - what he's able to do with Citius Mag now that he's all-in
(21:04) - business models for Citius Mag
(26:07) - what the Citius Mag team looks like
(30:00) - the long-term vision for Citius Mag
(32:52) - whether running could get more mainstream fans
(41:02) - whether running leaders are in alignment about how to grow
(46:32) - what running will look like 10 years from now
(50:01) - advice for the trail and ultrarunning media
Tim Tollefson a professional runner for Hoka based in Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Tim probably needs no introduction, but of course he is one of the most decorated mountain ultra trail runners of all time, most notably with podium finishes at the 2015 CCC, 2016 UTMB and then again at the 2017 UTMB which most ultra historians would say was the most competitive 100 miler ever in our sports history.
In this conversation, we talk about his focus these days on the Western States 100, his new role in the sport as a Race Director for the Mammoth Trail Fest taking place this September, his thoughts on athlete-brand relationships, and the importance of training for mental aspects of the sport.
Timestamps:
(2:30) - introducing the Mammoth Trail Fest
(6:26) - festival type format for ultra racing
(7:46) - exciting features of the Mammoth Trail Fest
(9:46) - race permitting, economic benefits
(12:38) - affiliating with a larger race series
(15:16) - relationships with fellow race directors
(17:33) - inspiration for race directing
(19:07) - going full-time on race directing
(21:38) - whether work gets in the way of running
(24:30) - creating stability for professional runners
Addie Bracy is a running coach, mental performance consultant, and professional trail runner for Nike based in Denver, CO. Addie recently published a book titled “Mental Training for Ultrarunning” and that’s where we focus this conversation. We cover lots of topics from the book including the importance of finding your why, managing stress responses, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, the benefits of self talk and more.
Timestamps:
(1:02) - Addie's athletic and academic background
(4:24) - The growing recognition for mental training in sports
(5:48) - Is it possible to quantify the relationship between mental coach and athlete?
(7:43) - Do most athletes practice mental skills in the leadup to races?
(9:39) - Using mental skills to cover the gap between physical preparation and race day demands
(12:45) - Can mental skills be trained?
(16:41) - The importance of starting with why
(20:01) - Recognizing values before determining your why
(23:52) - Why negative behaviors need to be replaced and not just abandoned
(28:05) - Valuation of fatigue
(31:00) - Motivation is an action not a feeling
(34:30) - Deliberate practice for mental skills
(37:18) - The importance of vulnerability in mental training
(42:00) - Vulnerability in professional athletes
(44:11) - The performance benefits of positive self-talk
(46:50) - The benefits of creating a "heroic alter ego"
I am joined once again by frequent co-host Brett Hornig to preview the last race of the 2022 Golden Ticket Series - the Canyons 100K - taking place in Auburn, CA this coming weekend.
We cover what’s it going to take to be successful, the likely conditions on race day, analysis of the men's and women’s fields, and our golden ticket predictions. Let's go!
Timestamps:
(1:59) - Canyons 100K hype
(3:27) - An opportunity for the new generation of ultrarunners
(6:03) - Is this one of the deepest/most competitive American races ever?
(10:40) - How this race might unfold, what it will take to win or podium
(24:28) - Analyzing the training of top competitors
(28:42) - Projected course conditions
(34:31) - Men's field analysis and predictions
(54:03) - Women's field analysis and predictions
Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:
#62 - Long Run Archives #3 | Betting In Ultrarunning, Next Great Trail Running Towns, Golden Ticket Series Ideas
#53 -Long Run Archives #2 | Ultrarunning Analytics, Elite DNF Debate, 3:47 Downhill Mile, Magda What If
#43 - Long Run Archives #1 | Jim Walmsley What Ifs, Black Canyon 100K Preview, Full-Time Ultrarunning
It is Canyons 100K race week and this is the 4th installment in our "Coaching Call" mini series, which premiered in January. Over the last 4 months, Ryan Ghelfi (trailsandtarmac.com) and I have been publicly recording our monthly coaching calls so that you can follow the leadup to my race, get insight into a typical athlete-coach relationship in ultrarunning, and hopefully pick up some tips and tricks for your own training.
In this episode, we recap the last 6 weeks of training, discuss the final preparations during race week, strategy for the early and later stages of the race, some of the news aspects of the race this year including the relationship with UTMB, and we conclude with a little bit of speculation for the competitive side of the event.
Timestamps:
- (0:14) - Race week, Canyons 100K media hype - (1:51) - Starting the race too hard - (3:36) - Whether there is any logic to starting a race at an unsustainable pace - (5:56) - The benefits of executing training long runs at race-specific effort - (14:28) - Update on the last 6 weeks of training - (16:13) - Whether relatively limited vert this training block has been an issue - (22:40) - Best practices coaching athletes during a race week - (26:16) - Expected course conditions and whether adjustments will be made - (29:11) - First half race strategy - (39:09) - Second half race strategy - (42:14) - The benefits of running conservatively for the majority of the race - (46:12) - Canyons becoming a UTMB race - (49:07) - Canyons gear policy - (52:59) - Race speculation, predictions
In this episode we talk with Jenn Hughes (Managing Editor) and David Callahan (Managing Partner) at Ultrasingup.
Almost all of you know about ultra signup. You use the platform to sign up for races, to check entrants lists, and to scroll through past results. But you might not know that Ultrasignup is expanding in a lot of interesting ways.
We talk about their plans to transition from being a "passive" to more "active" member of the trail and ultra running communities. We learn more about the newly established content arm of the platform, how they are trying to integrate with technological advances outside of the running world including the whole web3 eco system, and much much more.
Timestamps:
(1:50) - Jenn's professional and endurance sports background
(6:45) - David's professional and endurance sports background
(10:06) - Comparing and contrasting the past, present, and future of Ultrasignup
(14:23) - Creating more opportunities for trail running creators
(16:18) - Improving the experience between race registration and race day
(19:01) - Where Ultrasignup fits in the trail running media landscape
(22:52) - Beta testing message boards at Ultrasignup
(27:01) - Content and media inspiration for Ultrasignup's new direction
(30:05) - How Ultrasignup is thinking about the opportunities in Web3
(34:33) - Race data, how Ultrasignup can help race directors
(40:00) - Ultrasignup content that is resonating with readers right now
(44:34) - Matchmaking runners and races
(47:46) - How Ultrasignup positions itself against other registration platforms
(50:52) - What's most exciting about Ultrasignup right now
(52:55) - Whether different scoring systems on Ultrasignup, ITRA, etc will be reconciled
In this episode, we talk with the 4th place male finisher at the 2022 Canyons 100K, Rod Farvard.
Rod is based in Mammoth Lakes, CA. In addition to race analysis and expectations for the Western States in June, we also talk about his background in ultrarunning, his former life on the competitive triathlon scene, how he thinks about training, and much more.
Timestamps:
(1:09) - Initial thoughts on the golden ticket experience
(3:52) - Getting into ultrarunning at age 19
(6:27) - Experience in the competitive triathlon world
(7:48) - Triathlon influences that carry over to ultrarunning
(10:59) - How ultrarunning is trending towards being more calculated
(14:54) - Thoughts on multi-sport training for ultras
(17:10) - Living and training in Santa Barbara and Mammoth Lakes
(22:43) - Rod's history of chasing golden tickets
(25:38) - Changes in race strategy over the years
(27:06) - Canyons 100K analysis
(38:41) - Preparing for the Western States-UTMB double
(40:35) - Biggest takeaways from the Canyons 100K
(41:48) - Lessons from DNFing Western States in 2021
(49:30) - Rod's why for ultrarunning
(51:52) - What else Rod has changed his mind about in ultrarunning over the years
Adam Peterman is a professional trail runner for Hoka based in Missoula, MT.
This past weekend, Adam set a new course record at the Canyons 100K in Auburn, CA. In addition to race analysis and reflection on the big decision he has to make this week either accepting entry to Western States or instead focusing on UTMB-CCC later this summer, we discuss many aspects of his background, overall running life, and rapid ascension in the sport of mountain ultra trail running.
Timestamps:
(2:41) - what it's like having a partner who is also an accomplished trail runner
(4:56) - working with and being mentored by Mike Foote over the years
(7:56) - whether he would ever consider full-time ultrarunning
(10:53) - motivations for getting into ultrarunning following career at UC Boulder
(13:14) - whether he is influencing friends in the road and track ranks to convert
(16:07) - why he went under the radar in 2019 and 2020 despite sub ultra trail running success
(19:06) - whether he intended to race Canyons from start to finish
(20:13) - whether he expected to share miles with fellow front runners
(23:46) - whether he practices mental skills in the leadup to races
(28:32) - biggest takeaways from Canyons 100K experience
(30:18) - how he think about moving up in race distance
(32:53) - whether he is leaning towards Western States or CCC right now
(34:57) - whether he will race in a similar style at these future events
(37:30) - which race (WSER or CCC) best suits his skillset
(41:52) - whether he anticipated all this success when he first entered the sport
(43:09) - whether he thinks a lot about being the best, being one of the best
(45:47) - envisioning a Strava segment world tour
(46:58) - what the next few years might look like for Adam
(49:13) - going for a road marathon PB at some point
Leah Yingling is a professional trail runner for Salomon based in Salt Lake City, UT.
In addition to preparation for the Canyons 100K, her race analysis, and expectations for Western States in June, we also talk about her multi-year odyssey for a golden ticket, how she is able to perform so consistently in such an unpredictable sport, what its like having a life partner that is just as passionate about ultrarunning, the benefits of training on the Wasatch Front, and more.
Timestamps:
(1:35) - the multi-year quest for the golden ticket
(2:44) - what it feels like to hit big ultrarunning milestones and to reset goals
(4:10) - introduction to ultrarunning
(6:47) - collegiate ultrarunning teams
(7:15) - why Leah moved to Salt Lake City
(8:57) - why Salt Lake is a great place to be a trail runner
(11:03) - the consistency of Leah’s ultrarunning results
(14:38) - the benefits of being dialed on the logistical side of the sport
(19:44) - lessons applied from the 2021 Canyons 100K
(22:40) - developing the confidence to race strategically
(25:29) - comparing the last 10 miles of her race at Bandera to her race at Canyons
(29:49) - takeaways from the 2022 Canyons 100K
(32:11) - expectations for Western States
(33:34) - how she will train for Western States in Salt Lake
(35:36) - early thoughts on the women’s field at Western States this year
(38:12) - ultrarunning career goals outside of Western States
(40:40) - the benefits of having a life partner that is equally stoked about ultrarunning
Jazmine Lowther is a mountain ultra trail runner based in Nelson, BC.
She recently set a course record at the 2022 Canyons 100K and punched her ticket to the Western States 100 this June.
In addition to race analysis and expectations for her summer slate of racing (which also includes UTMB-CCC), we get to know her background as a mountain sports athlete, what it's like to live and train in Nelson, what her long-term goals in ultrarunning are, how she thinks about racing, philosophical musings, climate change activism and much more.
Timestamps:
(1:24) - living and training in Nelson, BC
(2:49) - training partners in Nelson
(4:53) - where to ski, run, climb in Nelson
(8:26) - explaining the Valhalla Traverse
(10:02) - her background in mountain sports
(16:02) - mountain sports influences
(20:44) - going all in one one sport versus practicing multi-sport
(23:52) - the ultimate goals, the end game with ultrarunning
(25:00) - not feeling 100% heading into Canyons 100K
(28:15) - racing style at Canyons 100K
(30:43) - whether she is a leader or a follower
(33:48) - challenges of racing Western States and CCC this summer
(34:26) - initial thoughts on Western States
(36:01) - confidence in her abilities
(37:43) - whether he Canyons performance changes her goals
Jared Hazen is a professional mountain ultra trail runner for Salmon based in Flagstaff, AZ.
Jared joins the podcast to talk about his 3rd place finish at the 2022 Canyons 100K, his golden ticket to the Western States 100 this June, as well as much more. We also talk about his entry in the sport at a relatively young age, his sponsorship change earlier this year, what it’s like being a full-time ultra runner, what his long-term goals are in the sport, and what it’s been like being a part of the Coconino Cowboys.
Timestamps:
(0:38) - early thoughts on the 2022 Western States 100
(1:45) - ultimate goals at Western States
(3:30) - his mindset at 19 deciding to go all-in on ultrarunning
(5:47) - early influences in the sport
(7:35) - persistence making running the main thing
(9:30) - whether he still subscribes to his early running philosophies
(11:20) - whether he would ever consider doing a road marathon
(12:52) - the story behind how he met Jim Walmsley
(14:45) - Coconino Cowboys reflections
(18:39) - reflecting on a couple years of racing struggles
(24:38) - working with Jason Koop now
(27:57) - whether he enjoys being coached
(29:14) - what prompted the sponsors change from Hoka to Salomon
(33:32) - what it’s like ultrarunning full-time
(39:18) - how he chooses races, thoughts on specialization
(42:41) - confidence for the Canyons 100K
(44:49) - Canyons 100K analysis
(50:04) - reflecting on running 14:26 at the 2019 Western States 100
Barry Dana is an Ultra Runner and former Chief of the Penobscot Nation currently based in Solon, ME.
I was introduced to Barry after reading an article in Downeast Magazine detailing his numerous adventure runs through the 100 Mile Wilderness, which you might recognize as the last section of the Appalachian trail before the northern terminus at Mount Katahdin.
In this conversation, Barry and I talk about his upbringing on the Penobscot Reservation, how his nation's history influenced his entry into trail and ultra running, the Katahdin 100 event, his experiences in the 100 Mile Wilderness, his thoughts on the Appalachian Trail, environmentalism in the trail running community, politics, and more.
Timestamps:
(1:00) - background
(4:10) - Katahdin 100
(5:48) - pre-contact Penobscot world
(8:42) - the role of trail and ultra running in the culture
(10:50) - the significance of Andrew Sockalexis
(13:10) - role as Penobscot nation chief
(15:44) - pinpointing when and how he got into ultras
(19:26) - 100 Mile Wilderness
(25:43) - the meaning of the word "sagama"
(30:14) - making gear and food
(33:39) - Mount Katahdin, AT FKT controversies
(44:51) - other thoughts on the Appalachian Trail
(48:52) - land back initiatives
(53:42) - national parks discussion
(56:06) - the value of formal events versus personal vision quests
Andrew Drummond is a runner, skier, mountains sports retail store owner, and overall great ambassador for the White Mountains based in Jackson, NH.
We cover a lot of ground. We talk about his experience pacing Scott Jurek during the final stretch of his Appalachian Trail FKT in 2015, being a content creator in the sport, we have a wide ranging conversation about the northeast trail running culture, and we also dive deep into his experience running a ski and run speciality store.
Timestamps:
(2:10) - experience pacing Scott Jurek during 2015 Appalachian Trail FKT
(13:34) - White Mountains Direttissima
(18:52) - creating running content for social media, promoting the northeast scene
(26:22) - where elite ultrarunners are concentrated and why
(35:10) - why mountain sports brands don't highlight the northeast scene
(41:40) - northeast trail running events scene, building a UTMB-style event
(49:49) - pitching the northeast trail scene over the mountain west scene
(57:14) - coolest routes, FKTs, and races in the northeast
(66:42) - getting into retail with Ski The Whites
(69:05) - balancing athletic and business endeavors
(75:38) - proof of concept for mountain sports retail store
(78:28) - unintended business benefits of running and skiing content
(80:51) - whether a purely trail/ski/run speciality store is possible these days
(83:44) - advice and lessons from ski/run retail, UTMB media experiences
Adam Kimble is a professional trail runner for Hoka based in Tahoe City, CA returning to this year's Western States 100 looking to improve upon a 13th place performance at the 2018 event.
Timestamps:
(2:23) - experience in game shows, alternative ultra endurance events, etc (6:39) - making it work from a lifestyle standpoint as a professional ultrarunner (7:57) - lessons from a strong Western States finish in 2018 (10:34) - how the race will play out with fewer "time trialers", more "racers" competing (11:54) - how Adam is training and thinking about execution differently this time around (13:32) - training as a local in the Lake Tahoe area (16:33) - recovery from his Tahoe Rim Trail FKT (17:02) - gear he is using on race day
Brittany Peterson is a professional trail runner for Nike based in Pocatello, ID who returns to the Western States 100 this year after a 2nd place finish at the 2019 event and 4th place finish at the 2021 event.
Timestamps:
(1:51) - mindset heading into this year's Western States 100
(2:14) - what she's done differently in preparation this year
(3:03) - spending time training on the course
(4:59) - racing style
(6:05) - lessons from previous years racing at Western States
(7:05) - being coached by AJW this year
(8:14) - living and training in Pocatello, ID
(9:38) - having a partner who is also elite and racing Western States
Emily Hawgood is a professional trail runner for Adidas Terrex based in Idaho who is returning to the Western States 100 after a 7th place finish in 2021.
Timestamps:
(2:02) - her 2021 racing season which included 3 golden ticket races and top 10s at Western States and UTMB
(3:24) - energized after 2021 season
(4:08) - growing up in Zimbabwe
(5:23) - graduate school work in high altitude physiology and coaching
(7:46) - what she's done differently this year preparing for Western States
Tessa Chesser is a professional trail runner for Craft Sportswear based in Flagstaff, AZ who is preparing for the Western States 100 after securing a golden ticket at the 2021 Javalina Jundred.
Timestamps:
(1:42) - what attracted her to ultras, her why for being so invested at this point
(5:02) - how important Flagstaff is in her training equation
(7:15) - respecting the mind as much as the body in training
(9:34) - keeping the fire burning since Javalina last year
Lucy Bartholomew is a professional trail runner for Salomon based in Australia preparing for this year's Western States 100 after two notable finishes at the race in 2018 and 2019.
Timestamps:
(1:41) - what it's like being back in the United States
(3:46) - managing a large social media following as an elite athlete
(9:04) - running full-time for Salomon
(12:26) - reflecting on past Western States experiences and objectives for this year
Drew Holmen is a professional trail runner for Nike based in Boulder, CO returning to the Western States 100 after a breakthrough 3rd place performance at last year's event.
Timestamps:
(1:57) - ultimate frisbee background
(5:29) - influence of the SFRC running community
(8:52) - willingness and excitement to go the well again at Western States
Tyler Green is a professional trail runner for Nike based in Portland, OR returning to this year's Western States 100 following a 2nd place performance at last year's event.
Timestamps:
(1:52) - reflecting back on 2017 and 2018 golden ticket attempts for Western States
(3:25) - ultrarunning side hustle
(4:31) - benefits of having a partner who's also an elite athlete in the sport
(7:57) - making room for high-performance ultrarunning
(9:07) - comparing this year's training block to last year's training block for Western States
Keely Henninger is a professional trail runner for Altra based in Portland, OR returning to this year's Western States 100 after a 9th place finish at last year's event.
Timestamps:
(2:21) - applying emerging ultrarunning science to this training block
(5:46) - overtraining in ultrarunning discussion
(7:30) - situations where ultrarunning can be detrimental to mental health
(9:01) - Western States preparation
(13:34) - new sponsorship
(15:08) - advocating a new narrative for female athletes
Ruth Croft is a professional trail runner for Adidas Terrex based in New Zealand. She returns to the Western States 100 following a 2nd place finish at last year's event.
Timestamps:
(1:55) - training and racing and traveling during the pandemic
(3:37) - incorporating road training into the Western States block
(4:22) - training in Flagstaff, AZ
(5:49) - motivations for this year's Western States
Alex Nichols is a professional trail runner for Scott based in Colorado Springs, CO. Alex is lining up for the Western States 100 following a 10th place finish at last years event.
Timestamps:
(1:42) - lessons from prior Western States races
(2:54) - fitness now compared to previous two years racing the event
(4:19) - what he attributed long-term racing consistency in the sport to
(6:13) - race plan
(7:26) - background, work experience, collegiate years
Kyle Curtin is a professional trail runner for Altra based in Durango, CO. Kyle is lining up for the Western States 100 following a 9th place finish at last years event.
Timestamps:
(1:49) - Durango, CO trail running scene
(3:40) - intro to ultrarunning
(6:15) - leaving no training stone unturned
(9:10) - long trail stuff
(12:11) - reflecting on last year's Western States
Ailsa MacDonald is a professional trail runner for Saucony based in Alberta, CA. Ailsa is lining up for the Western States 100 this year after securing a golden ticket at Bandera 100K back in 2020.
Timestamps:
(1:40) - athletic and work background
(5:14) - intro to ultrarunning
(6:54) - part time living and training in Arizona
(9:10) - comparing/contrasting current and previous Western States training blocks
Jeff Colt is a professional runner for On based in Carbondale, CO. Jeff is lining up for this years Western States 100 after securing a golden ticket at the 2022 Black Canyon 100K.
Timestamps:
(2:30) - northeast trail running scene talk
(4:41) - rehashing thoughts on training strategy
(6:13) - training for Western States to date
(9:01) - whether Western States plays to his strength, expectations
Frequent co-host Brett Hornig returns to the podcast to go wicked in-depth into everything about this race. We analyze the course, talk about what it's going to take to be successful, note some of the interesting storylines around the event, and yes, make our predictions for the female and male top 10 finishers this year.
Timestamps:
(1:53) - catching up with Brett after his weekend at the Broken Arrow Skyrace series
(4:59) - whether Western States coverage is too saturated this year
(8:21) - setting up the content for the episode, apologies for content cut
(9:18) - hydration strategies at Western States
(12:29) - top storylines
(23:05) - women's field top 10 predictions
(41:54) - men's field top 10 predictions
(72:53) - influence of carbon-plated shoes in this race
Ryan Atkins is a multi-endurance sport world champion athlete based in Sutton, Quebec.
Perhaps best known for his success in obstacle course racing, Ryan has also demonstrated incredible range with success on mountain biking circuits and the FKT scene in ultra trail running just to name a few other disciplines as well.
Timestamps:
(2:53) - being a full-time athlete, pros/cons, etc
Frequent co-host Brett Hornig returns to talk about what happened at Western States this past weekend, Zach Miller's Andorra 100 win and plans to do UTMB this year, and the upcoming (unprecedented?) project Michael McKnight has on the Arizona Trail this fall.
Timestamps:
(2:44) - commenting on live coverage of Western States
(17:16) - interesting trends at this year's Western States
(33:32) - shoe brands represented in this year's top 10 at Western States
(48:19) - racing conservatively versus riskily
(59:21) - guessing who comes back from the top 10 next year, who tries to race back in
(69:31) - should runners that underperformed necessarily pivot to UTMB?
Eli Hemming is a currently unsponsored trail runner formerly based in Boulder, CO and now living the van life. We talk about his background as one of the best American triathletes in recent years, his transition to the trail world, having a partner who also competes at the top end of the sport, coaching, and his plans for the rest of the year.
Timestamps:
(1:06) - background in triathlon
(3:01) - olympic triathlon aspirations
(5:02) - professional triathlon lifestyle
(11:57) - decision to leave the triathlon world
(15:42) - initiation into trail running
(17:49) - immediate success in trail running
(19:47) - plans for the remainder of 2022
(20:55) - training and coaching philosophy
(27:59) - having a partner also competing at the top of the sport
Claire Gallagher is a professional trail runner for Patagonia. She joins the podcast to talk about her summer racing schedule, social media perspectives, environmental activism, the pro athlete lifestyle and her next career steps.
Deals:
For Kodiak Cakes, use code Singletrack15 at checkout to get 15% off your next order.
For Athletic Greens, go to athleticgreens.com/singletrack to get $20 off your monthly subscription + 5 free travel packs and Vitamin D for a year.
For Insidetracker, go to insidetracker.com/singletrack to get 31% off your next order before 7/17/22 or 20% off after that date.
Timestamps:
(5:18) - summer racing schedule
(10:10) - Leadville motivations
(15:45) - training philosophy, mental fitness
(21:11) - social media and sponsorship obligations
(22:34) - athletes taking political identities more seriously
(34:05) - advocacy recommendations
(36:39) - reflecting on professional running career
Sophia Laukli is an olympic-level nordic skier and Salomon-sponsored trail runner based in Salt Lake City, UT. She's made a big impact on the sub-ultra trail running scene so far this year with a win at the Broken Arrow 26K Skyrace and another podium at Whiteface.
In this conversation we talk about growing up in Maine, her rise in the sport of Nordic skiing, how she prepared for and competed in the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games, her entry into trail running, and how she plans to manage her interest in both sports over the next couple of years.
Deals:
For Kodiak Cakes, use code Singletrack15 at checkout to get 15% off your next order.
For Athletic Greens, go to athleticgreens.com/singletrack to get $20 off your monthly subscription + 5 free travel packs and Vitamin D for a year.
For Insidetracker, go to insidetracker.com/singletrack to get 31% off your next order before 7/17/22 or 20% off after that date.
Timestamps:
(4:45) - background in Maine, early athletic experiences and influences
(14:59) - competing in nordic skiing for the University of Utah and the US at the 2022 Beijing Olympic games
(27:40) - future plans in nordic skiing, takeaways from Tokyo, next Olympic games
(32:05) - introduction to trail and mountain running, influences, future plans
Steff Gardner serves as the Trail Marketing Manager for Salomon North America based in Ogden, UT. Part of her role involves working with Salomon’s North American athlete team and thats where we focus the majority of this conversation.
We talk about what’s involved in the day to day managing the team, how Salomon thinks about signing athletes and creating a virtual and in-person team environment, we talk generally about how the athlete sponsorship landscape has changed over the last decade, social media obligations, and Salomon’s short term and long term strategies in the trail running space among many more things.
Deals:
For Kodiak Cakes, use code Singletrack15 at checkout to get 15% off your next order.
For Athletic Greens, go to athleticgreens.com/singletrack to get $20 off your monthly subscription + 5 free travel packs and Vitamin D for a year.
For Insidetracker, go to insidetracker.com/singletrack to get 31% off your next order before 7/17/22 or 20% off after that date.
News From Salomon: The WMN Trail Half Marathon!
"We’re hosting our own Women’s only Half Marathon in the Marin Headlands right outside San Francisco on Sept. 24th and it’s going to be so sick! We’ll have a bunch of our athletes there, including Jessie Diggins from the Nordic Team and possibly Courtney Dauwalter. We’re partnering with San Francisco Running Company, Athletic Brewing and &Mother. &Mother will provide free childcare for any women running the race. We’re also making super cool SWAG, there’s a pretty sizeable prize purse, and a few premium/VIP parties. We’re really focused on removing the barriers to trail running and racing for women." - Steff Gardner
Timestamps:
(4:35) - recapping Mount Marathon experience, remainder of summer event schedule
(12:53) - Steff’s background, career at Salomon
(18:29) - what’s involved managing the Salomon trail running team
(19:57) - what Salomon does to create a team environment for it’s athletes
(22:52) - what Steff looks for in athletes when recruiting them to the Salomon team
(27:25) - moving away, to some extent, from athlete social media obligations
(35:45) - how Salomon thinks about athlete contracts
(45:44) - How Salomon pitches their trail running brand
(49:20) - talking about the Salomon “Inspiration Team”
(54:10) - differences in the athlete-sponsor relationship over the last decade
(59:50) - when the athlete-sponsor relationship changes in terms of payments
(64:10) - Salomon’s short and long-term strategy and investments in trail running in North America
Robert Muecke is the Global Sports Marketing Director for Adidas Terrex and, until recently, also served as the their Trail Running Team Manager.
In this conversation we talk about why Terrex decided to invest so substantially in the trail running space over the last 5-6 years, the trail running team model they are building, how they define value in the athlete-sponsor relationship, what it's like to be a Terrex athlete and more.
Deals:
For Kodiak Cakes, use code Singletrack15 at checkout to get 15% off your next order.
For Insidetracker, go to insidetracker.com/singletrack to get 31% off your next order before 7/17/22 or 20% off after that date.
For Athletic Greens, go to athleticgreens.com/singletrack for free Vitamin D for 1 year and 5 free travel packs with a subscription purchase.
Timestamps:
(4:00) - introductions (7:23) - background in trail running and at Adidas Terrex (9:40) - changes in the athlete sponsorship landscape over the last 5-6 years (13:47) - thoughts on team environment in trail running (16:33) - recruiting athletes to the Adidas Terrex trail running team (19:44) - emphasizing obligation to the athletes and long-term relationships (26:57) - expectations of Adidas Terrex athletes (31:01) - talking about increase in full-time trail runners (36:27) - whether most professional trail runners will be full-time by the end of the decade (41:39) - evolution, increasing sophistication of running teams in the last decade (44:29) - intentionally investing in the dispersed team model instead of the co-located model (50:35) - key objectives for when the team does hold training camps (57:27) - how to define value in the relationship between athlete and brand (63:02) - whether athletes shortchange themselves in the negotiation process (67:27) - closing the gender pay gap among sponsored trail runners (70:07) - why Adidas Terrex put such a strategic focus on trail running over the last few years (72:41) - whether the trend of brand take over of event series will lead to less inter-brand competition between athletes in the future (80:40) - whether there will be a world in the future where race winnings are substantial at a majority of the major trail running events (83:00) - helping athletes transition out of their athletic careers to other roles in the brand (87:04) - in-house, branded content for trail runners (90:21) - closing thoughts
This episode bundles all of the pre-race interviews we did for the men’s field at the 2022 Speedgoat 50k by UTMB taking place this coming Saturday, July 23rd at Snowbird Ski Resort outside of Salt Lake City, UT.
Thanks to our sponsor, Kodiak Cakes, for making it possible. Use code Singletrack15 at checkout to get 15% off your next order.
This episode bundles all of the pre-race interviews we did for the women’s field at the 2022 Speedgoat 50k by UTMB taking place this coming Saturday, July 23rd at Snowbird Ski Resort outside of Salt Lake City, UT.
Thanks to our sponsor, Kodiak Cakes, for making it possible. Use code Singletrack15 at checkout to get 15% off your next order.
I am joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling in this episode to preview the 2022 Speedgoat 50K. We analyze the course, talk about what it's going to take to be successful, note some of the interesting storylines around the event, and yes, make our predictions for the female and male podium finishers this year.
Thanks to our sponsor, Kodiak Cakes, for making it possible. Use code Singletrack15 at checkout to get 15% off your next order.
Timestamps:
(3:46) - commentary on race changes this year
(19:29) - analyzing course profile and performance demands
Lindsay Dakota is a Co-Founder of Naked Sports Innovations. You're probably familiar with their running bands, but maybe not as familiar with their running vests or their new trail racing shoe. Maybe you also also noticed athletes like Adam Peterman and Camille Herron crossing the finish line of this year's Western States 100 using their gear. Regardless, if you're a long-time listener of Singletrack, you know our first love on this show is chatting with the entrepreneurs building on top of and around the world of trail and ultra running and we return to those roots in this episode.
Lindsay and I talk about what it's like running a gear company in our sport, the opportunities he saw to innovate on existing trail running gear, the outside influences he brings to our world, general commentary on building and marketing a vision from 0 to 1, and all sorts of stuff around Naked's current and future lines of products. I hope you enjoy.
Sponsors:
Kodiak Cakes - use Singletrack15at checkout to get 15% off your next order.
InsideTracker - use this link to get 20% off your next order.
Timestamps:
(4:55) - inspiration to be an entrepreneur in the trail running world
(8:05) - the historical timeline and evolution of running bands and vests
(13:54) - building a new trail running gear company and carving out a niche against established, well-known brands
(15:33) - the biggest areas of opportunity for innovation in trail running gear
(19:34) - thoughts on competition and their innovations being absorbed by bigger brands
(24:30) - the zero to one process for getting a trail running gear brand off the ground
(26:25) - typical day for the Co-Founder
(28:33) - marketing the brands through athletes
(32:48) - changing demographics of the sponsorship landscape
(36:40) - Naked's current and future product line
(43:36) - innovation from new versus established running gear companies
In this episode of the Long Run Archives I am joined by co-host Brett Hornig and special guest Jeff Colt to discuss and debate a whole slew of trail and ultrarunning topics and current events.
Michael McKnight is a professional trail runner for Salomon based in Logan, UT.
You may recognize Michael as one of the top athletes on the 200 mile racing scene and we do talk a bit about that towards the end of the episode, but this conversation delves a fair bit into the philosophical as well as Michael reflects on being outspoken on social media on a whole array of issues, managing a coaching business through turbulent economic times, and the takeaways from working on the corporate side of the sport in many capacities.
We also talk about and build up some hype for Michael’s next project - and what I believe is one of the most unique events our sport has seen in a while - a head to head battle for the Arizona Trail FKT taking place in October.
David Kilgore serves as the Trail and Ultrarunning Athlete Manager for On Running. In this conversation we talk about how he got his role at the company, his advice for navigating the negotiation process as a potential sponsored athlete, whether athletes can focus on both performance and social media, and whether the time is ripe for the formation of brand-sponsored trail running teams.
Lindsay Webster is a professional endurance athlete based in Sutton, Quebec. Widely regarded as one of - if not the greatest - obstacle course racers of all-time, Lindsay made waves earlier this year following her decision to retire from the sport she has dominated for many years in order to focus on skyrunning.
In this conversation we talk about how her background contributed to her excellence in endurance sports, her decision to become a full-time professional athlete in her mid-20s, her reasons for leaving OCR and getting into skyrunning, what the future looks like for her in the trail and ultrarunning world, and more.
Jordan Hamm is a Sports Marketing Specialist and serves as the Trail Athlete Manager at Brooks Running based in Seattle, WA. This is another episode in our mini-series providing insights to the athlete-sponsor relationship in trail running.
Seth Swanson is a professional trail runner for the North Face based in Missoula, MT preparing for the 2022 UTMB.
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Gnarly Nutrition. Use code Singletrack20 at checkout to get 20% off your next order.
Timestamps:
(1:53) - reflecting back on his success doing the Western States-UTMB double in 2015 and what he did in training that spring and summer to make it happen
(5:52) - what makes Missoula, MT a great place to train for events like UTMB
(8:10) - where he's at with the sport right now from a competitive standpoint
(10:31) - training philosophy
(12:26) - motivation to return to the UTMB series
(16:02) - confidence and fitness heading into the race
Taylor Nowlin is a professional trail runner for Adidas Terrex based in Spokane, WA preparing for the 2022 UTMB-CCC.
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Gnarly Nutrition. Use code Singletrack20 at checkout to get 20% off your next order.
Timestamps:
- (1:42) - Western States 100 takeaways - (3:03) - training strategy for a quick turnaround to CCC - (4:38) - preparation in Spokane, WA - (6:02) - race day expectations - (7:10) - race day gear - (8:22) - experience last year at OCC
In this episode, I am joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to preview the 2022 UTMB.
We analyze the course, talk about what it's going to take to be successful, note some of the interesting storylines around the event, and yes, make our predictions for the female and male top-5 finishers this year.
Note - this episode focuses exclusively on the women's and men's UTMB fields. We do not discuss TDS, CCC, or OCC. Not for lack of interest, but simply for lack of time. We decided it would be best to go deep on one race instead of sparsely discuss all 4.
Thanks to our sponsor, Gnarly Nutrition, for making this episode possible. Use Singletrack20 at checkout on their website to get 20% off your next order.
Timestamps:
(3:31) - why UTMB is such an important event in our sport
(7:06) - what it takes to be successful at this race
(14:50) - weather for this year’s race
(23:48) - logistical hurdles at this year’s race
(28:07) - women’s field storylines, analysis, predictions
(48:07) - men’s field storylines, analysis, predictions
(64:42) - more talk about the American contingents
(73:01) - miscellaneous, parting thoughts about the race
I am joined by frequent co-hosts Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to recap the week that was in Chamonix, France for the UTMB series of events. We talk about some of our favorite performances and memorable moments, what the events will look like in years to come with all of the application changes, the impacts of these races on the overall 2022 mountain ultra trail running season, and much much more.
Sponsors:
This episode is brought to you by Gnarly Nutrition. Use code Singletrack20 at checkout to get 20% off your next order.
Timestamps:
(2:31) - reflecting on the Chamonix race week vibes
(4:14) - livestream experience
(8:00) - Des Linden in Chamonix
(11:51) - crewing at UTMB
(22:09) - standout performances at UTMB, CCC, OCC
(36:20) - interesting stats about the UTMB races
(46:31) - whether this was and will be for quite some time the most competitive UTMB
(50:25) - who will take the Western States golden tickets from UTMB
(55:11) - DNFs and next races
(62:15) - ATRA tweet about gender equality at UTMB events
Jack Kuenzle returns to the podcast to talk about his recent FKT on the Bob Graham Round, which lowered Kilian Jornet’s former record by about 30 minutes sending shockwaves not just through the FKT community, but really through the mountain running community as a whole.
Katie Schide is a professional trail runner for the North Face based in Isola, France. We talk with her following her win at the 2022 Ultra Trail Du Mount Blanc.
Des Linden is a professional runner for Brooks Running. She joins the Singletrack Podcast to talk about a range of topics including her interests in sports psychology, her nascent career as a commentator for NBC in their running broadcasts, and perhaps most notably to this audience - her intentions to transition more significantly from road marathons to trail and ultra running as early as next year.
Robin Thurston is the CEO of Outside, the largest media company in the outdoor industry by orders of magnitude. In this conversation, we discuss Robin's entrepreneurial background building MapMyRun into the largest running community in the world, the state of connected fitness, putting a price tag on running-related and other outdoor media, the "Outerverse", and how Robin thinks about preserving the authenticity of acquired brands like fastestknowntime.com.
(1:46) - connected fitness, MapMyRun origins, outdoor industry background (10:36) - the state of connected fitness/running, progress made in this space (15:24) - incorporating reward cycles into running/outdoor industry products (18:04) - micro-transactions in running products and services (20:39) - Outside shop (22:37) - putting a price tag on running content, building utility into consumption (28:04) - thoughts on if and when the majority of consumers will accept premium content models (30:39) - whether the recent layoffs at Outside are a strike against these optimistic business models (35:58) - whether and how to rally major industries players off the major tech media platforms (38:32) - Outerverse conversation, screen time, alternatives within Web3 (43:23) - practical examples of the Outerverse in action (47:23) - how to preserve the quality, authenticity, and trust of acquired brands like fastestknowntime.com (50:36) - recruiting running and other outdoor creators to the platform (52:35) - final calls to action
Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:
#58 - Buzz Burrell | Modern FKT Movement, FKT.com Sale To Outside Mag, Trail Running Business
#28 - Joe Vennare | Technology For Ultra Runners, Trail Running Media Companies, Business Advice
Jonathan Levitt is the Host of the "For The Long Run" Podcast, a show that explores the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated. In this conversation, we talk in-depth about the state of running podcasts, changes in the athlete-sponsor landscape, and how to build a career in the endurance world.
Matt Chittim is the Host of Rambling Runner, a podcast for dedicated amateur runners who are working hard to get better and achieving inspirational results while balancing running with the rest of their lives. He is also the Founder of Relay, a collection of some of the best content creators and athletes in running coming together to put out the most creative and collaborative running content on the internet.
In this conversation, we talk about this new venture in the running media space, the business of podcasting, and our interests and inspirations in other sports and realms of business.
In this episode I’m talking with Scott Kummer who, among a few other roles in the ultrarunning community, is the host of the popular Ten Junk Miles Podcast.
If you’re a longtime listener, you know this show is capable of going on streaks. Sometimes it focuses on the pro athletes, then it'll focus on the business side of the sport, and so on. Right now, I’m really into these conversations with fellow podcasters in the space. So if you enjoyed the episodes with Dylan Bowman, Corrine Malcolm, Jon Levitt, and Matt Chittim, I think you’ll really enjoy this one too.
Scotty and I get right into a few of the hot-button issues including the pros and cons of engaging with Running Twitter, handling praise and criticism as a public figure in the sport, issues with past and current running content, race coverage preferences, athlete sponsorship issues, UTMB, race directing preferences, and way more.
Don't be intimidated by the 3+ hour length of this episode. No time is wasted - Scott is a great conversationalist.
Josh Eberly is the Head Coach of the Western Colorado University trail running team. In this conversation we get into the details of how he's built the team, how it's currently structured, how the team trains, where they compete in the trail and ultra worlds, and what it's going to take to expand their model to other colleges and universities across the country.
Kelly Newlon is the Co-Owner of Real Athlete Diets, a catering company that focuses on feeding ultra endurance athletes. We talk about her experiences and insights supporting well-known runners in our sport on fastest known time projects, as well as her interests in and knowledge of the athlete-sponsorship landscape in trail and ultrarunning.
Scott Dunlap is the VP of Mobile at Adidas and the GM of Runtastic, a subsidiary of Adidas where he is creating the future of the quote un quote connected athlete.
In this conversation, we talk about:
being an early voice in the ultrarunning media contributing to the blogging wave of the late 2000s and early 2010s
a few of his popular articles including his idea for the Strava GOAT program and whether endurance sports are a luxury good
the role that technology companies play in promoting and facilitating more outdoor activity
the application of web 3 technologies to the trail and ultra world and how athletes and creators stand to benefit
Tyler Clements is the Founder of Surveyor Sports Management where he serves as an Agent/Athlete Manager for some of the most notable trail and ultra runners in our sport.
Similar to our recent talk with Kelly Newlon, I was really excited to have this conversation with Tyler because it was an opportunity to shed light on another point of view in the athlete-sponsor landscape.
We talk about:
his background as an Athlete Manager
what it looks like on a day to day basis to represent and work with professional trail runners
whether it makes financial and career sense to work with an Athlete Manager or Agent
insights into the recruitment and negotiation process
whether athlete contract sizes are growing right now
how much of a factor age and injury play in the re-negotiation process
whether it makes more sense to stick with one brand or to move around in your career
Tyler struck me as someone who cares deeply about his craft and the role he plays helping athletes navigate their professional careers.
CJ Albertson is a professional runner for Brooks based in Fresno, CA who just set a new 50K world record in 2:38:43.
In this conversation we talk about his motivations to break that record, whether he’s interested in moving up in distance on the ultra scene, and his general thoughts on competition, physical training, mental training and more.
Cat Bradley is a professional trail runner for Brooks based in Boulder, CO.
In this conversation, we reflect back on her experience winning the 2017 Western States 100, navigating the professional trail running world after that event, her thoughts on social media and decision to start a podcast, her decision to change sponsors last year, and the balance between passion and professionalism when setting goals in the sport.
The Long Run Archives are back! It's been too long. In this edition, Brett Hornig and I are joined by Luke Webster, photographer and overall awesome creator for some of the most prominent brands in our sport. We talk about getting mountain ultra trail running in the olympics, the confusion around the UTMB World Series, race coverage ideas, and whether pro trail runners should have agents.
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