Singletrack

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Catherine and Michel Poletti are the Co-Founders of the UTMB race series in Chamonix, France. They join the podcast to discuss their vision for trail running over the last two decades, their history with ITRA and the Ultra Trail World Tour, partnering with Ironman and building the UTMB World Series, and their opinions on where our sport is heading in the years and decades to come.Timestamps:0:55) - similarities and differences between American and European racing(4:43) - shaping American events in the image of UTMB versus maintaining their historical elements(8:57) - reflecting on how well the UTMB World Series experiment has worked so far(10:36) - how the vision for UTMB has changed or stayed the same over the last 20 years(13:26) - incentives for growing UTMB(19:21) - history with ITRA, Ultra Trail World Tour(23:46) - genesis of partnership with Ironman(31:44) - UTMB’s perspective on independent races(36:10) - perspective on equality and sustainability issues in trail running(45:54) - the independence of trail running(52:46) - future of ultra trail running(65:38) - final thoughtsDiscounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!In this episode, I am joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to preview the 2023 Canyons 100K. 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 make our predictions for the female and male top-3 finishers this year.Timestamps:(0:32) - excitement and context for this race(8:40) - course analysis (23:14) - women’s field preview, picks(43:50) - men’s field preview, picks(60:18) - 100 mile and 50K race discussions, final thoughts Discounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderLinks:Follow Brett on Instagram and StravaFollow Leah on Instagram and StravaFollow Finn on Instagram and StravaSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Welcome to "Point to Point", a recurring episode of Singletrack  recapping the news that came across my radar in the world of trail and ultra running in the last week.Timestamps:(0:30) - Golden Trail Series - Eurosport media deal(2:10) - Ethics of running contracts(4:10) - Canyons by UTMB, Sunapee Scramble(5:40) - UTMB pregnancy policy(6:40) - Personal updatesDiscounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderLinks:UTMB Pregnancy PolicyEthics Of Running ContractsThe Golden Trail World Series - Eurosport PartnershipFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and PatreonSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Eric LiPuma is a professional trail runner based outside of Burlington, VT preparing for the Canyons 100K later this month. In this conversation, we talk about the intersection of running and design, what "making it" looks like in our sport, the rising popularity of the trail running world championships, and receiving inspiration from other sports to make our community even greater.Discounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderTimestamps:(1:05) - thoughts and feelings running full-time right now(3:23) - intersection of running and design, making sport cooler(9:24) - east coast versus west coast trail scene, Boulder versus Burlington(25:02) - influence of world championships experience(30:03) - Western States versus Worlds versus UTMB(37:57) - Canyons 100K outlook(42:45) - outlook for "making it" in the sport(47:07) - inspiration from action sportsAdditional Links:Follow Eric on Instagram, Strava, Website, CoachingFollow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and PatreonEpicly Later'dAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#156 - USA Men's 80K Team | 2022 World Trail Running Championships Gold Medal RecapSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!I am joined by Brett Hornig to recap the Lake Sonoma 50, discuss the new UTMB-Outside live-streaming partnership, and debate the practicality of gambling, leagues, and agents in pro trail running. Discounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderTrails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)Timestamps:(0:29) - perfect trail running towns(6:43) - Lake Sonoma 50 recap(25:28) - Outside/UTMB livestream partnership(31:32) - is gambling coming to trail running?(43:45) - Marvin Bracy Citius Mag interview(65:18) - should pro trail runners have agents?(78:49) - Michael Johnson’s tweet on future of pro runningAdditional Links:Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and PatreonFollow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and The FeedAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:Long Run Archives #11 | Trail Running Scams, Breaking 14 Project, Hologram PacersSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!6 spots for the USA 80K Mountain & Trail Running Team are on the line in a certified barn burner of a race this coming Saturday at the Lake Sonoma 50 and I’m joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to break it all down. We analyze the course, talk about success factors, note the interesting storylines, and make predictions for the female and male top-3 finishers this year.Who’s making the USA 80K team and racing at Innsbruck, Austria in June?Discounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderTrails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)Timestamps:(2:44) - what makes Lake Sonoma interesting this year(15:17) - women's field analysis, predictions(37:32) - men's field analysis, predictions(63:01) - final thoughts Links:Follow Brett on Instagram and StravaFollow Leah on Instagram and StravaFollow Finn on Instagram and StravaSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Brian Metzler is an award-winning sports journalist, writer, and photographer from Boulder, Colorado, who has produced storytelling content for publications like Outside, Trail Runner, Runner’s World, Competitor, and Sports Illustrated, as well as several books, including “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes”  and “Trail Running Illustrated”. We discuss the value of endurance sports journalism, how sports marketing is changing, creating trail running fans, and the evolution of UTMB. Timestamps:(1:06) - the content preferences of trail running fans(12:39) - marketing trail running to a broader audience(29:19) - “trail running is the future” for some shoe companies(37:11) - concerns about the growth of the sport(44:32) - shakeups in the trail running event landscape(56:00) - it is better for a few athletes to dominate or have more mystery in the results(62:16) - doping in trail and ultra running(82:08) - if and when we’ll see a media outlet dedicated to pro trail running(88:54) - the value of trail running journalismDiscounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderTrails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)Links:Brian's website, Instagram, and StravaFollow Finn on Strava, Instagram, and TwitterSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!John Kelly is a professional endurance athlete and now 2-time finisher of the Barkley Marathons. In this conversation, we get his thoughts about the media attention and public perception surrounding Barkley, what draws the general public to our sport, his views on using intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation for high performance, creating the ideal Barkley athlete, and why he’s interested in going after the Appalachian Trail FKT in the future. Timestamps:(1:02) - why you have to be intrinsically motivated to finish Barkley(6:42) - what John wrote in his application essay for Barkley(9:23) - automated Twitter race narrations(12:06) - changing ideas about how to prepare for Barkley(19:26) - goldilocks zone of difficulty(24:36) - why he returns to Barkley(28:50) - mildly fulfilling successes versus stretch efforts(32:16) - ideal Barkley athlete(37:51) - why Barkley gets so much fanfare, why it appeals to the general public(49:10) - addressing Barkley criticisms(58:53) - Appalachian Trail FKT interestDiscounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderTrails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)Links:Follow John on Instagram, Twitter, and StravaSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!This is the first episode of a new series we are calling "Trail Tea". These episodes take the candor of group chats and pull them into the audio realm. In this edition, I am joined by Jack Kuenzle, Dan Curts, and Abby Levene. We discuss pro runner social media, boring trail running media, exclusive trail races, faith in the gear review industry, pro runners on Strava, and whether we should be elevating people who focus 100% of the sport. Buckle up because this is a fun episode. Discounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderTrails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)Timestamps:(2:11) - pro runner social media (25:40) - boring trail running media(48:00) - exclusive trail races(56:48) - gear review industry(67:25) - Strava discussion(79:31) - elevating "all-in" athletesLinks:Follow Jack on Strava and InstagramFollow Abby on Strava and InstagramFollow Dan on Strava and InstagramFollow Finn on Strava and InstagramSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Sabrina Little is a Philosophy Professor and Professional Ultrarunner based in Newport News, VA. Sabrina is also a regular columnist for IRunfar and we spend the majority of this conversation discussing a recent post she wrote about what it might look like to be a good fan, as well as a bad fan, of ultra running during this era of significant change in our sport.Discounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderHVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next orderTrails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)Timestamps:(1:32) - connecting running and philosophy(10:15) - whether academia or running has had a bigger influence on philosophy(14:18) - motivation to reflect on ultrarunning fans(25:34) - gossip, escapism, anonymity, rooting for vice(39:45) - whether negative in-sport characteristics translate to other areas of life(48:54) - how fan behavior impacts the future of ultrarunningLinks:The Vices Of FandomFollow Sabrina on InstagramFollow Sabrina on StravaSupport the show