The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman Ben Gibbard | Western States, Touring, & the GS:TMT
Aug 11, 2025
Ben Gibbard, the frontman of Death Cab for Cutie and an avid trail runner, shares his journey balancing music and ultra-running. He discusses life on tour, the emotional connection to revisiting old songs, and the evolving music industry landscape. He reflects on his experience running the challenging Western States 100, highlighting his relationship with coach Gary Robbins. Ben also talks about his collaboration with Speedland on a new trail shoe and the trials he faced during the race, showcasing the community spirit of ultrarunning.
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First-Show Muscle Memory
- Muscle memory returns quickly after rehearsal, even on long breaks.
- Ben Gibbard lets songs flow subconsciously onstage.
Speed Tourism On Tour
- Running on tour becomes 'speed tourism' to explore cities quickly.
- Ben Gibbard uses runs to balance mental health and escape waiting on tour.
Hiring A Touring Trail Sherpa
- Ben Gibbard hired Nick Triolo via a literal 'job proposal' email to combine tour help and trail guiding.
- Nick split days between production tasks and planning runs and adventures.