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Leah Yingling is a professional trail runner for Salomon based in Salt Lake City, UT.In addition to preparation for the Canyons 100K, her race analysis, and expectations for Western States in June, we also talk about her multi-year odyssey for a golden ticket, how she is able to perform so consistently in such an unpredictable sport, what its like having a life partner that is just as passionate about ultrarunning, the benefits of training on the Wasatch Front, and more.Timestamps:(1:35) - the multi-year quest for the golden ticket(2:44) - what it feels like to hit big ultrarunning milestones and to reset goals(4:10) - introduction to ultrarunning(6:47) - collegiate ultrarunning teams (7:15) - why Leah moved to Salt Lake City(8:57) - why Salt Lake is a great place to be a trail runner(11:03) - the consistency of Leah’s ultrarunning results(14:38) - the benefits of being dialed on the logistical side of the sport(19:44) - lessons applied from the 2021 Canyons 100K(22:40) - developing the confidence to race strategically(25:29) - comparing the last 10 miles of her race at Bandera to her race at Canyons(29:49) - takeaways from the 2022 Canyons 100K(32:11) - expectations for Western States(33:34) - how she will train for Western States in Salt Lake(35:36) - early thoughts on the women’s field at Western States this year(38:12) - ultrarunning career goals outside of Western States(40:40) - the benefits of having a life partner that is equally stoked about ultrarunning(45:31) - her “why” for ultrarunning(48:30) - miscellaneous questionsLinks:Follow Leah on InstagramFollow Leah on StravaLeah's interview on IRunFarLeah's interview on Ultrarunner PodcastAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#63 - Addie Bracy | Mental Training For Ultrarunning#42 - Sarah Cummings | Wasatch Trail Scene, Brooks Running, JFK 50, Lessons From Injury#37 - Corrine Malcolm | State Of The Sport, Ultra Running CommentarySupport the show

Adam Peterman is a professional trail runner for Hoka based in Missoula, MT.This past weekend, Adam set a new course record at the Canyons 100K in Auburn, CA. In addition to race analysis and reflection on the big decision he has to make this week either accepting entry to Western States or instead focusing on UTMB-CCC later this summer, we discuss many aspects of his background, overall running life, and rapid ascension in the sport of mountain ultra trail running.Timestamps:(2:41) - what it's like having a partner who is also an accomplished trail runner(4:56) - working with and being mentored by Mike Foote over the years(7:56) - whether he would ever consider full-time ultrarunning(10:53) - motivations for getting into ultrarunning following career at UC Boulder(13:14) - whether he is influencing friends in the road and track ranks to convert(16:07) - why he went under the radar in 2019 and 2020 despite sub ultra trail running success(19:06) - whether he intended to race Canyons from start to finish(20:13) - whether he expected to share miles with fellow front runners(23:46) - whether he practices mental skills in the leadup to races(28:32) - biggest takeaways from Canyons 100K experience(30:18) - how he think about moving up in race distance(32:53) - whether he is leaning towards Western States or CCC right now(34:57) - whether he will race in a similar style at these future events(37:30) - which race (WSER or CCC) best suits his skillset(41:52) - whether he anticipated all this success when he first entered the sport(43:09) - whether he thinks a lot about being the best, being one of the best(45:47) - envisioning a Strava segment world tour(46:58) - what the next few years might look like for Adam(49:13) - going for a road marathon PB at some point(51:11) - his "why" for ultrarunningLinks:Follow Adam on InstagramFollow Adam on Strava"Let Your Mind Run" by Deena KastorAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy: #54 - Garrett Heath | Switch To Trail Running, Pro Lifestyle, Running Teams, Brooks BeastsSupport the show

In this episode, we talk with the 4th place male finisher at the 2022 Canyons 100K, Rod Farvard.Rod is based in Mammoth Lakes, CA. In addition to race analysis and expectations for the Western States in June, we also talk about his background in ultrarunning, his former life on the competitive triathlon scene, how he thinks about training, and much more. Timestamps:(1:09) - Initial thoughts on the golden ticket experience(3:52) - Getting into ultrarunning at age 19(6:27) - Experience in the competitive triathlon world(7:48) - Triathlon influences that carry over to ultrarunning(10:59) - How ultrarunning is trending towards being more calculated(14:54) - Thoughts on multi-sport training for ultras(17:10) - Living and training in Santa Barbara and Mammoth Lakes(22:43) - Rod's history of chasing golden tickets(25:38) - Changes in race strategy over the years(27:06) - Canyons 100K analysis(38:41) - Preparing for the Western States-UTMB double(40:35) - Biggest takeaways from the Canyons 100K(41:48) - Lessons from DNFing Western States in 2021(49:30) - Rod's why for ultrarunning(51:52) - What else Rod has changed his mind about in ultrarunning over the yearsLinks:Follow Rod on InstagramFollow Rod on StravaAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#31 - Dani Moreno | Sub Ultra Trail Racing, Golden Trail Series, Overcoming Burnout, Female ParticipationSupport the show

In this episode we talk with Jenn Hughes (Managing Editor) and David Callahan (Managing Partner) at Ultrasingup. Almost all of you know about ultra signup. You use the platform to sign up for races, to check entrants lists, and to scroll through past results. But you might not know that Ultrasignup is expanding in a lot of interesting ways. We talk about their plans to transition from being a "passive" to more "active" member of the trail and ultra running communities. We learn more about the newly established content arm of the platform, how they are trying to integrate with technological advances outside of the running world including the whole web3 eco system, and much much more.Timestamps:(1:50) - Jenn's professional and endurance sports background(6:45) - David's professional and endurance sports background(10:06) - Comparing and contrasting the past, present, and future of Ultrasignup(14:23) - Creating more opportunities for trail running creators(16:18) - Improving the experience between race registration and race day(19:01) - Where Ultrasignup fits in the trail running media landscape(22:52) - Beta testing message boards at Ultrasignup(27:01) - Content and media inspiration for Ultrasignup's new direction(30:05) - How Ultrasignup is thinking about the opportunities in Web3(34:33) - Race data, how Ultrasignup can help race directors(40:00) - Ultrasignup content that is resonating with readers right now(44:34) - Matchmaking runners and races(47:46) - How Ultrasignup positions itself against other registration platforms(50:52) - What's most exciting about Ultrasignup right now(52:55) - Whether different scoring systems on Ultrasignup, ITRA, etc will be reconciled(57:09) - What Ultrasignup will look like in 2030Links:Ultrasignup NewsletterUltrasignup ForumAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#7 - Mark Gainey | Co-Founder of Strava, Trail Running, Athlete Creators#3 - Jimmy Daly | Social Media, Content Creation, Branding For Trail RunnersSupport the show

It is Canyons 100K race week and this is the 4th installment in our "Coaching Call" mini series, which premiered in January. Over the last 4 months, Ryan Ghelfi (trailsandtarmac.com) and I have been publicly recording our monthly coaching calls so that you can follow the leadup to my race, get insight into a typical athlete-coach relationship in ultrarunning, and hopefully pick up some tips and tricks for your own training.  In this episode, we recap the last 6 weeks of training, discuss the final preparations during race week,  strategy for the early and later stages of the race, some of the news aspects of the race this year including the relationship with UTMB, and we conclude with a little bit of speculation for the competitive side of the event.  Timestamps: - (0:14) - Race week, Canyons 100K media hype - (1:51) - Starting the race too hard - (3:36) - Whether there is any logic to starting a race at an unsustainable pace - (5:56) - The benefits of executing training long runs at race-specific effort - (14:28) - Update on the last 6 weeks of training - (16:13) - Whether relatively limited vert this training block has been an issue - (22:40) - Best practices coaching athletes during a race week - (26:16) - Expected course conditions and whether adjustments will be made - (29:11) - First half race strategy - (39:09) - Second half race strategy - (42:14) - The benefits of running conservatively for the majority of the race - (46:12) - Canyons becoming a UTMB race - (49:07) - Canyons gear policy - (52:59) - Race speculation, predictions Links:Trails and TarmacFollow Ryan on Instagram Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:#55 - Coaching Call #3 | Injury, Recovery Process, SkiMo Cross Training#41 - Coaching Call #2 | Canyons 100K Progress, Training Partners, Coaching A Trail Team#30 - Coaching Call #1 | Setting The Table For The Canyons 100KSupport the show

I am joined once again by frequent co-host Brett Hornig to preview the last race of the 2022 Golden Ticket Series - the Canyons 100K - taking place in Auburn, CA this coming weekend. We cover what’s it going to take to be successful, the likely conditions on race day, analysis of the men's and women’s fields, and our golden ticket predictions. Let's go! Timestamps:(1:59) - Canyons 100K hype(3:27) - An opportunity for the new generation of ultrarunners(6:03) - Is this one of the deepest/most competitive American races ever?(10:40) - How this race might unfold, what it will take to win or podium(24:28) - Analyzing the training of top competitors(28:42) - Projected course conditions(34:31) - Men's field analysis and predictions(54:03) - Women's field analysis and predictionsAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#62 - Long Run Archives #3 | Betting In Ultrarunning, Next Great Trail Running Towns, Golden Ticket Series Ideas#53 - Long Run Archives #2 | Ultrarunning Analytics, Elite DNF Debate, 3:47 Downhill Mile, Magda What If#43  - Long Run Archives #1 | Jim Walmsley What Ifs, Black Canyon 100K Preview, Full-Time UltrarunningSupport the show

Addie Bracy is a running coach, mental performance consultant, and professional trail runner for Nike based in Denver, CO. Addie recently published a book titled “Mental Training for Ultrarunning” and that’s where we focus this conversation. We cover lots of topics from the book including the importance of finding your why, managing stress responses, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, the benefits of self talk and more. Timestamps:(1:02) - Addie's athletic and academic background(4:24) - The growing recognition for mental training in sports(5:48) - Is it possible to quantify the relationship between mental coach and athlete?(7:43) - Do most athletes practice mental skills in the leadup to races?(9:39) - Using mental skills to cover the gap between physical preparation and race day demands(12:45) - Can mental skills be trained?(16:41) - The importance of starting with why(20:01) - Recognizing values before determining your why(23:52) - Why negative behaviors need to be replaced and not just abandoned(28:05) - Valuation of fatigue(31:00) - Motivation is an action not a feeling(34:30) - Deliberate practice for mental skills (37:18) - The importance of vulnerability in mental training (42:00) - Vulnerability in professional athletes(44:11) - The performance benefits of positive self-talk(46:50) - The benefits of creating a "heroic alter ego"Links:Follow Addie on InstagramGet coached by AddieStrive Mental PerformanceAddie's book "Mental Training For Ultrarunning"Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:#37 - Corrine Malcolm | State Of The Sport, Ultra Running Commentary#61 - Tim Tollefson | Mammoth Trail Fest, 2022 Western States 100, Running Sponsorships, Running PsychologySupport the show

Timestamps:(1:45) - greatest seasons ever in ultrarunning (Ann Trason, 1998)(5:13) - grand slam, what used to be competitively important in ultrarunning(9:19) - states with the least and most golden ticket winners(15:48) - easier to make money in ultrarunning during the Montrail Cup years?(24:35) - how and where the golden ticket series should be expanded(28:36) - improvements in ultrarunning media coverage(38:55) - hot take removing sponsor spots for more golden ticket spots(41:53) - a separate elite field race for Western States?(44:19) - are Missoula, MT and Salt Lake City, UT the next great trail towns?(48:05) - if a brand paid for it, where would you live year round for training?(50:59) - do altitude tents work?(54:46) - you need a recruitment strategy to build a trail town(56:40) - indicators for/how pro contracts should be awarded in ultrarunning(61:32) - whether to actively recruit from the college ranks for pro ultrarunning(65:55) - betting in ultrarunning(69:40) - kierin racing in Japan(76:22) - does betting increase the number of fans of ultrarunning?(78:14) - strava find of the week(83:56) - whether pro athletes have competitive advantage using shoe prototypes Links:How Utah Became A Fertile Ground For Pro RunnersCycling’s Billion Dollar Races - The Fascinating World Of Japanese KeirinMichael Owen's Twitter Thread On Pro UltrarunningTrails and TarmacAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:Long Run Archives #1 | Jim Walmsley What Ifs, Black Canyon 100K Preview, Full-Time UltrarunningLong Run Archives #2 | Ultrarunning Analytics, Elite DNF Debate, 3:47 Downhill Mile, Magda What IfSupport the show

Tim Tollefson a professional runner for Hoka based in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Tim probably needs no introduction, but of course he is one of the most decorated mountain ultra trail runners of all time, most notably with podium finishes at the 2015 CCC, 2016 UTMB and then again at the 2017 UTMB which most ultra historians would say was the most competitive 100 miler ever in our sports history.  In this conversation, we talk about his focus these days on the Western States 100, his new role in the sport as a Race Director for the Mammoth Trail Fest taking place this September, his thoughts on athlete-brand relationships, and the importance of training for mental aspects of the sport.Timestamps:(2:30) - introducing the Mammoth Trail Fest(6:26) - festival type format for ultra racing(7:46) - exciting features of the Mammoth Trail Fest(9:46) - race permitting, economic benefits(12:38) - affiliating with a larger race series(15:16) - relationships with fellow race directors(17:33) - inspiration for race directing(19:07) - going full-time on race directing(21:38) - whether work gets in the way of running(24:30) - creating stability for professional runners (27:16) - whether performances improve going full-time(30:34) - brainstorming the training day to day of a full-time runner(33:34) - improvements to the athlete-brand relationship(39:02) - the black box of athlete contracts(41:47) - curiosity for UTMB(46:44) - whether the Western States - UTMB double is possible(51:50) - how training will look different for the 2022 Western States 100(56:40) - whether false humility is an issue in our sport(60:48) - identifying and acting on mental burnout(64:26) - whether the psychological works quiets the mind(67:59) - mental approach continuedLinks:Mammoth Trail FestFollow Tim on InstagramAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#52 - Mike Foote | Race Directing, Skyrunning Speculation, Future Of Ultrarunning Events, UTMB Influences#51 - Anton Krupicka | Trail Running Culture, Pro Athlete Lifestyle, Influence, Self-Reflection#50 - Tom Evans | Pro Ultrarunning Playbook, UTMB 2022, Trail Running TeamsSupport the show

Chris Chavez is the founder of Citius Mag, a road running and track and field media company providing original running news, analysis, videos, newsletters, podcasts and humor to fans of the sport. At the start of 2022, Chris made the decision to leave this long-time position as a writer at Sports Illustrated in order to go “all-in” on Citius Mag. Chris and I talk about building a running media company, his mission for Citius Mag, and what the operation looks like. Given his perspective on the sport, we also spend quite a bit of time talking about the entertainment value of running, whether it can go mainstream, what it will take to increase the number of fans, and more. If you like the blending of running and business, running and media, or running and community - you will enjoy this episode. I hope to have Chris on the pod again soon because we only covered about half the topics I had on tap for us. Timestamps:(1:08) - overview of Citius Mag(3:28) - the inspiration for Citius Mag(8:44) - balancing Sports Illustrated and Citius Mag for years(12:25) - skills that helped him go all-in on Citius Mag(15:15) - what he's able to do with Citius Mag now that he's all-in(21:04) - business models for Citius Mag(26:07) - what the Citius Mag team looks like(30:00) - the long-term vision for Citius Mag(32:52) - whether running could get more mainstream fans(41:02) - whether running leaders are in alignment about how to grow(46:32) - what running will look like 10 years from now(50:01) - advice for the trail and ultrarunning media Links:Follow Citius Mag on InstagramFollow Citius Mag on YoutubeFollow Citius Mag on TwitterMagic BoostAdditional Episodes You May Enjoy:#1 -  Dylan Bowman | Future Of Trail Running, Pro Athlete Opportunities, Freetrail#3 - Jimmy Daly | Social Media, Content Creation, Branding For Trail Runners#20 - Zoe Rom | Trail Runner Magazine, Running Journalism, Diversity Talks#26 - Sam Parsons | How To Build A Trail Running TeamSupport the show