Episode 60: Rachel and Leah Catch up on Life, Running, and How Time is Bumpin' Along for Both of Them

In this week’s episode of the Trail Network podcast, hosts Leah Yingling and Rachel Drake reconnect for a deep dive into recent adventures, personal milestones, and reflections on life, pregnancy, and trail running.

Leah kicks off the episode with a recap of her recent trip to Northern Wales, where she crewed for her husband, Mike, at Ultra Trail Snowdonia—a notoriously rugged and stunningly beautiful race often dubbed “Hardrock at sea level.” Leah shares her experience navigating the course logistics, supporting Mike through brutally technical terrain, and balancing the demands of international travel while six months pregnant. The pair also reflect on the underrepresentation of women in ultra-distance events like Snowdonia and the broader implications of participation barriers in these challenging races.

Rachel then recounts her rim-to-rim crossing of the Grand Canyon, completed just days prior to recording, as part of a supported project with Osprey and Precision Fuel & Hydration. She offers a raw and thoughtful look at preparing for a major effort while pregnant, including fueling changes, unexpected physical challenges, and the importance of adaptability and community support. The two also reflect on their evolving pregnancies, comparing their experiences, training adaptations, and what it means to find joy in movement during such a transformational time.

The episode wraps with a meaningful discussion around postpartum expectations, race deferral policies, and the nuanced realities of running through pregnancy and fertility journeys. They spotlight Stephanie Case’s inspiring victory at the 100K at Snowdonia—six months postpartum and breastfeeding mid-race—as well as broader issues around representation, sponsorship policies, and UTMB ranking implications for pregnant athletes.

With honesty, humor, and heart, Leah and Rachel celebrate the many ways women show up in the trail world—on the start line, crewing, parenting, recovering, and dreaming big.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠Janji with the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.