Singletrack

Peter Abraham is a content marketing expert who has worked with brands like Nike, ESPN, Red Bull, Lululemon, Hoka NAZ Elite, and the LA Marathon. He joins the Singletrack Podcast to talk about athlete sponsorship, trail running teams, fan creation, live coverage, and event management in the trail running scene.Timestamps:(1:54)  - biggest pain points in the athlete-sponsorship landscape(7:48) - examples of athletes that have embraced having a point of view(10:27) - importance of asking brands why they're sponsoring athletes(19:58) - why endurance sports teams have a hard time creating fans (28:06) - how endurance sports should think about live coverage(36:09) - importance of building a season-long narrative in pro endurance sports(41:06) - hyper professionalization of endurance sports event management(47:15) - how endurance sports media should adjust to changing consumption habits, values(53:41) - making the American trail running meccaDiscounts:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next orderGnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) 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 Peter on InstagramSubscribe to Peter's blogPeter's websitePeter's appearance on the Freetrail PodcastAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#137 - Tyler Clements | Should Professional Trail Runners Have Agents?#136 - Scott Dunlap | Adidas Runtastic, Strava “GOAT” Program, Future of Connected Athletes#60 - Chris Chavez | Citius Mag, Building A Running Media Company, Creating Running FansSupport the show

In this episode, I am joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to preview the 2023 Bandera 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.Sponsors:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next orderGnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next orderKodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/)  to get 15% off your next orderTimestamps:(1:29) - course, conditions, race history, success factors(20:36) - women's field analysis(39:28) - men's field analysisLinks:Follow Brett Hornig on InstagramFollow Leah Yingling on InstagramFollow Finn Melanson on InstagramSupport the show

Amanda Basham is a professional trail runner for Altra based in Boulder, CO lining up for the 2023 Bandera 100K later this week.Sponsors:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next orderGnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next orderKodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/)  to get 15% off your next orderTimestamps:(0:41) - outlook on professional trail running right now(8:34) - Bandera discussionGuest Links:Follow Amanda on InstagramFollow Amanda on StravaRelentless Support the show

Joe McConaughy is a professional trail runner for Brooks based in Seattle, WA lining up for the 2023 Bandera 100K later this week.Sponsors:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next orderGnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next orderKodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/)  to get 15% off your next orderTimestamps:(1:10) - athlete sponsorship discussion(11:40) - FKT world discussion(17:46) - Bandera discussionGuest Links:Follow Joe on InstagramFollow Joe on StravaJoe's WebsiteSupport the show

Ryan Montgomery is a professional trail runner for Altra based in Wanship, UT lining up for the 2023 Bandera 100K later this week.Sponsors:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next orderGnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next orderKodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/)  to get 15% off your next orderTimestamps:(0:41) - multi-year golden ticket, Western States odyssey(3:54) - non-binary policies at golden ticket races(12:27) - Bandera discussionGuest Links:Follow Ryan on InstagramFollow Ryan on StravaOut TrailsSupport the show

Courtney Dauwalter is a professional trail runner for Salomon based in Leadville, CO lining up for the 2023 Bandera 100K later this week.Sponsors:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next orderGnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next orderKodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/)  to get 15% off your next orderTimestamps:(0:39) - career to date, training and racing mentality, current outlook on the sport(9:44) - thoughts on being a public figure, career investments, legacy(16:17) - Bandera, Western States, HardrockGuest Links:Follow Courtney on InstagramSupport the show

Andy Wacker is a professional trail runner for Salomon based in Boulder, CO. The focus of our conversation is on Andy’s new organization called the “Trail Team”, which is launching in 2023 to support and develop rising American athletes into the best professional trail runners in the world.Sponsors:Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next orderGnarly Nutrition - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://gognarly.com/) to get 20% off your next orderKodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/)  to get 15% off your next orderTimestamps:(1:04) - Andy's background in trail running, what it was like trying to make it as a pro in the sport in the late 2000s and early 2010s(7:21) - reflecting on the drop-off in talent pipeline for post-collegiate athletes in the trail scene(11:21) - where our sport is at now for emerging/aspiring professional athletes(15:31) - assessing the talent gap or opportunity gap for American athletes compared to European and other international trail runners(17:49) - explaining the concept of Andy's "Trail Team" and the services offered (mentorship, skill development, media exposure)(27:30) - business model for the team, interest from potential partners(32:14) - where brands and existing institutions fall short and why Trail Team is well-positioned to solve these problems(36:19) - athlete recruitment to the Trail Team, what they're looking for, goals for 2023(42:55) - whether it's easier to make it professionally as an ultra or sub-ultra trail runner in 2023Guest Links:Follow Andy on InstagramFollow Trail Team on InstagramTrail Team WebsiteSupport the show

In our last episode of 2022 we are talking with Dan Curts, a professional trail runner based in Norwich, VT. This is a wide-ranging conversation in which we talk about the disillusionment that can come about in the collegiate and post-collegiate track and road running worlds, how Dan ultimately landed in the sub-ultra trail racing scene, building a running team in the Northeast and the pros and cons of being an aspiring pro trail runner in this part of the country, and the highs and lows of the  past year trying to make it in the sport.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:(1:55) introduction to the trail running scene, specialities, career highlights to date (4:55) running as a vehicle for educational and career opportunities (9:26) pros and cons of collegiate running (13:22) motivations to continue pursuing competitive running post-collegiately (20:57) trail running inspirations(23:04) Northwoods Athletics running team(29:26) the pressure for aspiring east coast trail runners to head west to make it professionally(41:43) lessons of building a running team, reflecting more on the northeast trail scene(52:46) the highs and lows of the last year trying to make it as a pro trail runner(61:21) whether brands are more interested in ultra or sub ultra trail athletes right now(65:23) interesting relationships, conversations with contemporaries in the sport(70:01) racing culture differences across running disciplines(75:41) 2023 racing plansGuest Links:Follow Dan on StravaFollow Dan on InstagramNorthwoods Athletics Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:#54 - Garrett Heath | Switch To Trail Running, Pro Lifestyle, Running Teams, Brooks Beasts#26 - Sam Parsons | How To Build A Trail Running Team#12 - Jack Kuenzle | FKT Scene, Sponsored Trail Runners, Brand RelationshipsSupport the show

Rod Farvard is a professional trail runner based in Mammoth Lakes, CA. He returns to the podcast to reflect on his racing, training, and life events in the second half of 2022. 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:(0:53) - reflections on UTMB performance(5:25) -  perspective change on ultrarunning(12:36) - traumatic events leading into Doi Inthanon(27:53) - what Rod is hungry for in 2023Links:Follow Rod on InstagramFollow Rod on StravaAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#123 - Rod Farvard | 2022 UTMB Pre-Race Interview#167 - Golden Ticket Talks | Rod Farvard, Canyons 100K 4th Place MaleSupport the show

I am joined by co-hosts Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to recap the year in mountain ultra trail running. We cover our personal highlights, favorite storylines, biggest changes in the sport, the rookie athletes that burst onto the scene, runners that had "comeback" type seasons, our thoughts on all the voting systems out there for ultra runners and trail runners, how we made our own decisions when it came to ranking top athletes, our men's and women's top-10 picks for UROY, and predictions for 2023.  Timestamps:(1:29) - personal highlights from 2022(4:53) - favorite storylines of 2022(12:23) - big changes in the sport this year(19:22) - newcomer/rookie athletes that stood out this year(25:07) - comeback runners of the year(27:17) - thoughts on the Ultrarunner of the Year (UROY) system and the new "Trail Runner of the Year" (TROY) award(42:03) - what factors influenced our rankings for UROY(57:03) - picks for 2022 top-10 women's UROY(74:54) - picks for 2022 top-10 men's UROY(89:26) - predictions for 2023Sponsors: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 Leah Yingling on Instagram and Strava Follow Brett Hornig on Instagram and StravaFollow Finn Melanson on Instagram and StravaSupport the show