Stian Angermund, a two-time World Champion trail runner from Norway, opens up about his shocking doping allegations. He candidly discusses the emotional and financial struggles faced after his positive test for a banned diuretic. Stian navigates through the complexities of A and B sample testing while maintaining his innocence. He stresses the need for integrity in sports and the crucial support from the trail running community during this tumultuous time. As he prepares for a comeback, he reflects on valuable lessons and the importance of honest advocacy.

Michelino Sunseri, a professional runner from Driggs, ID, made headlines by breaking the Grand Teton FKT in 2024, using a controversial route. He delves into the complexities of FKT ethics, sharing the challenges he faced after his record was rejected due to a legal dispute with the National Park Service. Michelino reflects on his emotional journey, the history of FKTs, and the supportive running community amid scrutiny. The conversation reveals the thin line between triumph and controversy in the world of competitive trail running.

Corrine Malcolm, a trail running expert and analyst, joins to dissect the latest in trail running accolades and athlete movements. They analyze the Trail Runner of the Year results, highlighting representation and potential biases. Discussions include Courtney Dauwalter's contract extension, major athletes switching teams, and the dynamics of athlete independence. The challenges of athlete rankings and sponsorship tensions in the wake of doping allegations are also explored, offering a thrilling glimpse into the evolving world of trail running.

Gina Lucrezi, founder of Trail Sisters and newly elected Chaffee County Commissioner, shares her inspiring journey from trail running to local politics. She discusses the community-building success of Trail Sisters, which champions inclusivity for female runners. Gina explores the challenges of running a political campaign, emphasizing the importance of local engagement and sustainable land use. As she prepares for her term, listeners gain insight into her goals for Chaffee County and the impact of her work on outdoor communities.

Karel Sabbe is a trail runner for On from Belgium, specializing in long trail FKTs. Most notably Karel set the PCT FKT in 2016, the AT FKT in 2021, the Via Alpina FKT in 2021, and the PCT FKT again in 2023. He is also a Barkley Marathons finisher and Bigs Backyard Ultra World Champion. The longer and harder the adventures, the more he excels. This is his first appearance on the podcast.     Topics discussed:   Karel's early exposure to long trail hiking The original inspiration to pursue FKTs The psychological and spiritual space Karel discovers in long efforts Karel's two completions on the PCT Comparing and contrasting the AT and the PCT Tara Dower's new AT FKT and their different approaches Karel's brother-in-law and crew chief Lessons from his 2023 Barkley finish  Announcing his next big project beginning early next year A lot more!   FOLLOW KAREL ON IG     FOLLOW KAREL ON STRAVA     KAREL'S PROFILE ON FKT     Sponsors: Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear Grab a trail running pack from Osprey Use code FT15 for 15% off Gnarly Nutrition Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ   Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts     Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Corrine Malcolm is a pro trail runner, media personality, and co-host of the Trail Society Podcast. She is our most frequent recurring guest and also Freetrail's Editor-in-Chief. As is our tradition, Corrine is back for our End of Year Podcast where we celebrate the 2024 trail running season. These are the categories that we review:   Trail Runner Of The Year: Top-5 M/W Performance Of The Year: Top-3 M/F FKTs Of The Year Rookies Of The Year Overall Story of 2024 Bill Dooper Spirit  Award - Someone who made an impact outside of being a good athlete Predictions for 2025 Personal highlights from 2024 and what we're excited about for 2025   Sponsors: Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear Grab a trail running pack from Osprey Use code FT15 for 15% off Gnarly Nutrition Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ   Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts     Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and a 50k age-group record holder, shares his journey from marathon racing to ultra-running. He discusses the interplay between media and running, reflecting on leadership challenges at The Atlantic. Nick reveals the personal growth he's experienced through long-distance running, emphasizing balance in a hectic life. The conversation touches on a mysterious hiker story, personal running aspirations, and the transformative power of embracing change. His insights blend humor with deep reflections on resilience and fulfillment.

Lauren Gregory is a pro athlete for Nike Trail living in New England. This season, Lauren had a big breakthrough in her professional career, notching three top-10 performances in Golden Trail World Series races, including an amazing 2nd place finish at the World Final in October. She has a huge career ahead of her and we're excited to host her on the podcast.   Topics discussed: Lauren's background and history with sport Her bronze medal from the 2017 Junior Mountain Running World Championship Winning an NCAA Cross Country National Championship Signing with Nike and the realities of going pro The Trail Team and how it's onboarded new athletes to trail running The advantages and disadvantages of living on the East Coast Her coach Ben True, and he's influenced her training Her 2024 season and reasons for the success Goals for the future A lot more! VOTE FOR TROY   VOTE FOR TPOY   FOLLOW LAUREN ON IG   FOLLOW LAUREN ON STRAVA   Sponsors: Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear Grab a trail running pack from Osprey Use code FT15 for 15% off Gnarly Nutrition Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts   Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Aaron Lutze is a creator and sports marketing savant. He's also a dear friend and mentor who has had an enormous impact on my career as an athlete and content creator. Aaron recruited me to Red Bull and acted as my manager for many years. He's recognized as one of the best sports marketers in the industry. Now, Aaron and I co-host another podcast called Second Nature where we talk about the Outdoor Industry, endeavoring to help people build brands, businesses, and careers in the space.    In this conversation, we talk about the past and present of athlete partnerships, the reasons brands sponsor athletes, the value of creating longform content, audience vs. community, the future of athlete partnerships, and a lot more!   LISTEN TO SECOND NATURE   SIGNUP FOR SECOND NATURE NEWSLETTER   FOLLOW SECOND NATURE ON LINKEDIN   SIGNUP FOR THE FREETRAIL NEWSLETTER   Sponsors: Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear Use code freetrail15 for 15% off Gnarly Nutrition Use code BFCM24 for 20% off a one time purchase or 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ at Ketone.com Get your next favorite pack at Osprey.com or at your favorite local retailer. Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts   Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Courtney Olsen is a pro runner for HOKA living in Bellingham, WA. She is also the brand new World Record holder for the 50-mile distance, something she was able to achieve last weekend at Tunnel Hill in Southern Illinois. Finishing in a time of 5:31:56, Courtney managed to lower the existing record held by Ann Trason for 33 years by nine minutes. This is her first appearance on the podcast.   Topics we discuss:   Courtney’s background and history with sport Her struggles with depression and finding purpose in her 20s The Bellingham Distance Project, a training group she helped to found 10 years ago Her passion for art and writing Her experience at lululemon’s FURTHER event where she was there supporting Devon Yanko Her huge podium performance at Comrades A deep unpacking of her WR at tunnel hill Look ahead to the 100k World Championship next month And a lot more! Follow Courtney on Strava   Follow Courtney on Instagram   If you enjoy listening to the Freetrail Podcast, please consider leaving us a review to help other like-minded listeners find our show.   Sponsors: Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear Grab a trail running pack from Osprey Use code FT15 for 15% off Gnarly Nutrition Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts   Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava