Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Ragna Debats a professional trail and ultra runner for Merrell based in Spain preparing for her race at the Ultra Trail Cape Town 100 miler this weekend.Timestamps:(0:23) - entry into trail and ultrarunning(3:18) - competing at an elite level in mid-40s(4:44) - keys to success at races like TGC, Istria, and Nice Cote D'Azure this year(6:16) - motivation to race Cape Town this year(9:33) - expectations, goals for the race(10:24) - working with Merrell, barefoot runningLinks:Follow Ragna on InstagramAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#162 - Ragna Debats | 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town Pre-Race Interview#161 - Olivia Amber | 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town Pre-Race Interview#160 - Hillary Allen | 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town Pre-Race InterviewSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Robbie Simpson is a professional trail runner for Adidas Terrex based in Banchory, Scotland preparing for the 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town 55K.Timestamps:(0:41) - training opportunities in northeast Scotland(1:45) - thoughts on pro athlete lifestyle(2:27) - whether there's a training and racing formula for the Golden Trail Series(4:02) - toughest competitors he's ever faced(6:01) - whether you can race these distances purely off fitness or whether mental toughness is needed(7:24) - interests in Ultra Trail Cape Town(8:42) - thoughts on race series(9:39) - preparation for Cape Town(12:54) - if and when he'll move up in distance in the sportLinks:Follow Robbie on InstagramFollow Robbie on StravaAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#159 - Jared Hazen | 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town Pre-Race Interview#158 - Drew Holmen | 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town Pre-Race InterviewSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Olivia Amber is a professional trail runner for the North Face based in San Francisco, CA preparing for the Ultra Trail Cape Town 100K in a few days.Timestamps:(0:38) - making the switch from Nordic skiing to trail running (3:17) - how the San Francisco trail running community has influenced her growth in the sport(5:55) - on sabbatical, running full-time right now(7:54) - training for Cape Town(10:04) - motivations for racing Cape Town(11:35) - knowledge of the race, the course, etc(12:46) - expectations for the race(14:13) - race day gear Links:Follow Olivia on InstagramFollow Olivia on StravaAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#160 - Hillary Allen | 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town Pre-Race InterviewSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Hillary Allen is a professional trail and ultra runner for Brooks based in Boulder, Colorado preparing for the Ultra Trail Cape Town 100 Miler.Timestamps:(0:37) - thinking in terms of season-long goals(3:17) - investing more in the 100 mile distance(4:32) - inspiration to race Cape Town (7:07) - research, knowledge of the race(8:48) - training heading into the race(12:09) - goals, expectations for the race(15:01) - race day gearLinks:Follow Hillary on InstagramFollow Hillary on StravaAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#39 - Hillary Allen | Brooks Running, Out And Back, Recovery Process Mindset, 2022 UTMBSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Jared Hazen is a professional trail runner for Salomon based in Flagstaff, AZ preparing for the 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town event series in a few days.Timestamps:(0:46) - reflecting on performance at the 2022 Western States 100(3:41) - mindset, motivation post-Western States(5:36) - Why Cape Town(6:48) - talking about the race with past winners like Jim Walmsley and Cody Reed(8:06) - goals, expectations for the race(9:32) - race day gearLinks:Follow Jared on InstagramFollow Jared on StravaAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#71 - Jared Hazen | Canyons 100K Analysis, Western States Vision, Coaching and Sponsor ChangesSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Drew Holmen is a professional trail runner for Nike, based in Boulder, Colorado who is preparing for the Ultra Trail Cape Town event series in a few days.Timestamps:(0:56) - revisiting Drew's ability to consistently go to the well in his races(3:42) - reflecting on whether there's more to give and accomplish at Western States(6:12) - motivation, inspiration for choosing Cape Town as first international race(8:37) - training for Cape Town(9:53) - goals for the race(11:09) - race day gearLinks:Follow Drew on InstagramFollow Drew on StravaAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#83 - Drew Holmen | 2022 Western States 100 Pre-Race InterviewSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Anton Krupicka is a professional trail runner for La Sportiva based in Boulder, CO preparing for the Ultra Trail Cape Town 55K event.Timestamps:(0:49) - 2022 highlights(5:26) - international racing legacy(10:03) - whether he has same competitive mindset that he had 10 years ago(13:42) - whether personal growth would have happened without the injuries(15:48) - reflecting on the months he spent living and training in Ashland, OR(20:38) - how Cape Town got on his radar, what inspired him to enter(22:19) - racing the 55K instead of the 100K(24:42) - course knowledge, what's possible on race day(27:39) - website, blog status, podcast/book recommendations(37:22) - talking about the state of ultrarunningLinks:Follow Anton on InstagramFollow Anton on StravaAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#51 - Anton Krupicka | Trail Running Culture, Pro Athlete Lifestyle, Influence, Self-ReflectionSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Adam Peterman, Adam Merry, Jeff Colt, and Eric LiPuma represented the United States men’s team and won the gold medal in the 80K event at the World Trail Running Championships in Chang Mai, Thailand earlier this month. In this conversation, we cover a lot of ground including why they chose to race this event over other opportunities in our sport, what training and the rest of the lead-up to the event was like, what the ambiance was like in Chang Mai, how the race unfolded for each of them, post-racing feelings, whether they’d do it again, and what 2023 looks like for all of them. Sponsors: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:(2:09) - selection process and they "why" for racing the World Trail Running Championships over other major events in the sport(11:20) - training, rest of the leadup, pre-race scene in Chang Mai(21:29) - understanding the course, challenges for race day(26:41) - race recaps from all four runners(44:01) - post-race thoughts and feelings(51:16) - thoughts on returning to this type of event, 2023 plans for all four runnersLinks:Follow Adam Peterman on InstagramFollow Adam Merry on InstagramFollow Jeff Colt on InstagramFollow Eric LiPuma on InstagramSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Adrian Macdonald is a professional trail and ultra runner for On Running based in Fort Collins, CO.  Adrians joins the podcast to talk about his history with Leadville, his influences in the sport, training in Fort Collins, becoming a pro runner, the benefits of working with an agent, and what’s on his mind for next year. Note this conversation was recorded back in early September 2022 but is being released this week to coincide with the launch of Adrian's film "Out and Back", which details his win at the 2022 Leadville 100.Sponsors: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:(1:27) - background in ultrarunning (2:56) - training philosophy(4:44) - motivations for focusing on Leadville(6:42) - reasons to return to Leadville after 2021 win(10:19) - whether the course record is possible for him(11:59) - spending more time training on the Leadville course(13:13) - preparation for this year's race(16:02) - influences in the sport, Nick Clark(18:58) - training in Fort Collins(24:26) - signing a pro contract with On Running(27:48) - benefits of working with an agent(33:02) - recommendations to other athletes navigating the sponsorship process(35:55) - team environment(38:54) - deciding between UTMB and Western States next year(44:07) - miscellaneous questionsLinks:Adrian's WebsiteFollow Adrian on InstagramFollow Adrian on StravaSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Riley Brady is a trail and ultra runner based outside of Philadelphia, PA who punched their ticket to Western States late last month at the Javelina Jundred. In addition to memorable moments during training and the race itself, we spend a fair bit of time in the second half of the conversation discussing their experience being a non-binary athlete in our sport. Sponsors:InsideTracker - go to (https://info.insidetracker.com/single...) to get 20% off your next order.Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/)  to get 15% off your next orderGnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next orderTimestamps:(1:48) - east coast background, pending move to Boulder (5:03) - focus mindset for ultrarunning (7:04) - golden ticket aspirations in recent years(13:09) - Javelina race report(18:01) - initial thoughts on securing a golden ticket(21:17) - non-binary discussion(33:23) - racing and training plans for the next few monthsLinks:Follow Riley on InstagramAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#151 - Devon Yanko | Golden Ticket Talk - 2022 Javelina Jundred#150 - Golden Ticket Talks | Jonathan Rea, Bandera 100K 1st Place MaleSupport the show