Singletrack

Trail Runner Magazine's Editor in Chief, Zoe Rom, discusses journalism, diversity in trail running, and good writing. They explore challenges in diversity, the impact of social media on journalism, and the need for inclusivity in the trail running community. The conversation touches on environmental journalism and the importance of authentic storytelling in a social media-driven world.

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!In this episode we talk with Moe Lauchert. Moe is a photographer and videographer based here in Salt Lake City. He’s worked for trail running brands like Patagonia and Satisfy and something tells me I am catching him at the very early stages of a notable career. We talk about:Athlete sponsorshipIncreasing representation in trail runningHow to grow the sport of trail runningHow to be an entrepreneur in the outdoor industryThis one was recorded in studio, we go long - about 2 hours, have a bit to drink, and only talk peripherally about running at times. But it was an authentic conversation, there’s a lot of life talk in there, and almost all of it is applicable to our sport if you think about it. Moe just might become a regular on the show. ---------Additional episodes you might enjoy:#40 - Lee Sackett#25 - Kyle Richardson#16 - Logan WilliamsSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Last week I lit the beacons and let folks know I'd be willing to be an AMA if there were enough questions. To my surprise, a fair amount came through. Nice! So, I hit the record button a couple of days ago and answered some of them. In this first edition, I cover:How I ended in up Salt Lake CityWhat I think the next big thing in ultra running will beWhat I want to see added to the trail running community here in Salt LakeHow to link up with other runners and join groupsMy vision for the next few years of SingletrackAnd way more. Let me know what you think. I will do more of them if there is more demand. And if there's a lot of demand, I might even start a second episode each week that follows the talk show/call-in format that's popular in other sports like baseball and football. Let me know!Support the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Ryan Ghelfi is the Founder of Trails and Tarmac, one of the more prominent coaching businesses in our sport. He has also run professionally for Nike and Hoka One One. And he’s a great thinker in our sport, which is the primary reason why I wanted to have him on the podcast.In this episode, we talk about:What the transition looks like after sponsored athlete life endsHis thoughts on team-based ultra runningThe benefits of bringing runners together to do workoutsHis thoughts on UTMB and the boomerang effect it had making him want to embed more in the American West. FKT cultureThe Ashland, Oregon running sceneEnjoy!Support the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Logan Williams is a professional runner for Salomon and Satisfy Running based in the Lake Tahoe area. We met on the Salt Lake City trail scene a couple of years back and have been good friends ever since. I've always enjoyed his takes on our sport, so when I started this pod I was determined to get one of our conversations on the record. We finally did it. At its core, this is an episode about the importance of discovering and going all in on your identity from a trail runners point of view. Whether this episode finds you lounging, mid-long run, in commute, or on a long road trip - I hope you can relax and enjoy the message. ---------Additional episodes you might enjoy:#40 - Lee Sackett#25 - Kyle Richardson#18 - Moe LauchertSupport the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!In this episode, we catch up with pro runner, business owner, environmental advocate, and Salt Lake City local - Grayson Murphy. We cover:Her experience at the 2021 olympic trials in the steeplechase eventHer unique ability to transition between and excel on the track, road, and trails Handling life as a public figure in the running communityHow she plans her racing schedule and thinks about her career in the long term Her entrepreneurial experienceWhat’s interesting her in the ultra world Thanks to Grayson for coming on the pod. I have avidly followed her career over the past 2-3 years. She’s obviously tearing it up in every realm of running. I selfishly want to see her on the ultra scene as soon as possible. That said, I think we can expect to see her do many more special things on the road, track, and at the sub ultra distance on trails until then.Support the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Maybe you’ve been thinking about being a creator and/or building a business of some sort in the running world. If that’s the case, this video is the first in a series of "behind the scenes" looks at how the Singletrack Podcast is built. You will get a totally transparent view into what we are working on, where are succeeding, where we are failing, what we are planning, and more. By listening in on these conversations, we hope to give you ideas on how to start and succeed with your own venture. In this first episode of what we are calling "State of The Singletrack", Finn Melanson and Mike Tamayo talk about their new partnership. Mike is the Founder-CEO of Tamayo Creative and will be coming on board as Creative Director in charge of all social media, design, and overall branding for the Singletrack operation. In this first episode, they also cover:- How Mike and Finn first met- The influence of the Salt Lake City running community - Mike's running background- How Singletrack got started- What the future looks like for Singletrack In future episodes, you can expect us to get more tactical and strategic about exactly what's going on behind the scenes - like insights into how we are building podcasts, recruiting guests, preparing for interviews, designing content, trying to make money, and more. Support the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!This episode focuses on how to build a running-related internet business. If that’s your jam right now, this is a fantastic episode. To show the audience how it’s done, we have Jason Fitzgerald on the pod. Jason is the founder of strengthrunning.com, which has been around for over 12 years. The site hosts a great blog and podcast, and in general it’s a great resource for runners aiming to get stronger, stay healthy, and race faster.  For those just getting started on their business journey, we cover how to create awareness, identify your target customers, think about content creation, and determine the best marketing channels to invest in for scalability - all in the context of our running world. Jason is a great speaker and drops a ton of knowledge bombs. Again, If you’ve ever wanted to be some sort of entrepreneur in our sport, and leverage the power of the internet to do it, give this one a listen.Support the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!Jack Kuenzle is a New England-based Mountain Runner. He came on my radar after setting the FKT on the Hut Traverse in the White Mountains of New Hampshire - one of the most prestigious FKTs in the US - and for some of the social media he puts out there around the sport - his commentary demonstrates original thinking on a lot of issues and that’s why I wanted to have him on the pod.In this conversation we talk about how technology has given us the ability to race when we are ready and in a disaggregated fashion, criticisms of the athlete sponsorship landscape and the status quo for repping products on social media, the northern New England mountain running scene, why athletes will need to specialize as the sport gets more mature and competitive, and why Americans should start to embrace FKT culture even more. Support the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!In this episode, we talk with Matt Taylor, the Founder of Tracksmith. For those not familiar, Tracksmith is a running brand based out of Boston, MA that serves the "dedicated amateur runner", a phrase that caught my attention and a persona that we talk a lot about in this episode. We go deep on that subject. We also talk about differentiation, community building, athlete sponsorship models, lessons of entrepreneurship, and running trends he’s noticing.Matt is a great entrepreneur, a great brand marketer, and as I learn in this conversation - a great commentator on our sport as well. I think you will really enjoy this one. Support the show