Episode 67: Rediscovering the Fire: Recovery, Racing, and the Joy of Doing Hard Things

In this episode of the Trail Network Podcast, Hilary Yang and Katie Asmuth reconnect for a conversation about what comes after the finish line—specifically Hilary’s recovery from the Hardrock 100 and Katie’s win at the Tahoe Trail 50K. Hilary shares the mental and physical roller coaster of post-race recovery, from breathing freely again to jogging in Canada with a renewed sense of freedom. She and Katie reflect on the importance of giving space for rest, honoring the magnitude of what the body has just accomplished, and resisting the urge to jump to the next goal too quickly.

Katie opens up about what it meant to feel her racing fire return at Tahoe after a long injury comeback. She describes the mental breakthrough of trusting her body again and feeling genuinely competitive, even after a frustrating mid-race navigation issue. With Leadville on the horizon, Katie dives into what excites her most: the opportunity to problem-solve at high altitude and test herself in a whole new way.

The conversation widens to the broader themes of identity, resilience, and how trail running becomes a mirror for who we are and how we grow. They explore how transformation can happen through hard things—whether that’s a hundred-mile race, an injury comeback, or simply getting out the door when life is pulling in a million directions. They honor the unique strength of trail running’s varied bodies and stories, and answer listener questions about body image, race gear, and how to find your first 100-miler.

This episode is both grounding and uplifting—reminding us that there’s power in the process, beauty in the imperfection, and growth in simply showing up.

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.