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🗣️ “The more I’m exposed to better athletes and better people and their unique things, the more obsessed they are. The more it drives their day-to-day, it drives their minute-to-minute, and nothing else kinda matters.”

Widely recognized as one of America’s best middle-distance runners in the 2010s, Ben Blankenship joins the Singletrack Podcast to talk about his move into ultra-trail running, racing the Rabid Raccoon 100 miler in March, the nature of obsession and the willingness to push limits at the top of the sport, the allure of the dirtbag runner lifestyle, and his experience at the 2015 UTMB watching the likes of David Laney, Tim Tollefson and Zach Miller throw down.

Timestamps:

• (1:21)  - witnessing the 2015 UTMB with Nike Trail 
• (5:17) - running background, the opportunities he seized to build a career
• (9:46) - the psychological builds of elite runners, bougie versus dirtbag distinctions
• (17:02) - how to watch running 
• (21:10) - grappling with a running career at a crossroads
• (24:03) - being coached by Ryan Hall, trail running training 
• (30:04) - Rabid Raccoon 100, testing the ultra scene, Grayson Murphy's influence
• (36:47) - Endless Mileage Project

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).

 Links:

• Follow Ben on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Endless Mileage Project
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

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