The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman

Get ready for the electrifying build-up to the 2025 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc! The hosts share vibrant stories of race week excitement and athlete energy in Chamonix. Expect thrilling insights on the dynamics of the UTMB landscape, including top contenders and recent athlete withdrawals. They dive into innovative pacing strategies and mental resilience, plus predictions on how weather could impact performances. The community spirit shines through as they discuss fantasy challenges and live coverage plans to keep everyone engaged!

Francesco Puppi, a professional trail runner from Italy and a rising star in the HOKA team, shares insights on his exciting transition to longer distances. He discusses his mindset shift as he prepares for the CCC, focusing on personal growth and key strategies to maintain performance under pressure. The conversation also touches on balancing speed and endurance in training, the camaraderie developed at HOKA Team Camp, and setting personal goals ahead of the race, showcasing the blend of ambition and humility that defines his approach.

In this conversation, Jeff Mogavero, a versatile athlete who recently wowed everyone with a 4th place at the Western States, shares his unique journey through trail running, skiing, river surfing, and hunting. He discusses his preparations for the upcoming UTMB, reflecting on key lessons from his prior races, including hydration strategies and the importance of mental resilience. Jeff's excitement and insight into balancing various athletic passions make this an engaging listen for trail running enthusiasts!

Sally McRae, a five-time UTMB runner, shares her insights from racing around Mont Blanc. She delves into the unique challenges of the impending UTMB, discussing the critical role of local knowledge and weather adaptability. Sally also reflects on the evolution of the race atmosphere and the increasing representation of female athletes in ultra-running. The conversation highlights the importance of mental resilience and training strategies tailored for the diverse terrain, making it essential listening for all trail running enthusiasts.

Ludovic Pommeret, a French trail running legend and HOKA athlete, shares his journey as a two-time Hardrock champion and former UTMB winner. He reflects on his training strategies and the challenges of racing after significant milestones like his recent 50th birthday. Ludo discusses the evolving nature of UTMB, including the increase in women's participation and unique race dynamics. He also emphasizes the importance of recovery and preparation, offering insights into the psychological nuances of racing against top contenders.

Heather Jackson, an elite trail runner and gravel cyclist who placed 5th at CCC in 2024, discusses her journey toward the challenging UTMB race. She shares insights on the emotional rollercoaster of preparing for such a prestigious event, detailing the importance of resilience after her DNF at Western States. Heather also reflects on her growth in managing technical descents and adapting to the unique demands of nighttime racing, all while eagerly anticipating the thrill of the UTMB loop around Mont Blanc.

Hayden Hawks, a two-time CCC Champion and professional ultrarunner, dives into the anticipation surrounding the 2025 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. He reminisces about his cherished memories in Chamonix and discusses the importance of celebrating past victories as motivation for future races. Hawks shares insights on race strategies, especially during the challenging climbs, and the impact of weather and competition on performance. The conversation also highlights the growth of trail running, recognizing both American and international talent, especially within the women's field.

In this engaging conversation, Tom Evans, a professional runner for Asics and Red Bull, shares his journey as a new father and how it has rekindled his joy for racing. He discusses his shift to focused training methods, cleverly dubbed 'dad intervals.' Tom emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in endurance training, categorizing workouts into 'gold', 'silver', and 'bronze' to enhance efficiency. With insights on personal growth and the support of loved ones, this dialogue highlights the emotional dynamics driving athletes toward the UTMB.

Toni McCann, a South African trail runner and 2024 CCC winner, shares her insights ahead of the 2025 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. Living in Annecy, she brings local knowledge to the race, highlighting its competitive nature. Toni discusses the pressure of being a favorite, her strategies for tackling tough course sections, and the mental resilience needed for success. She also reflects on her journey, including her previous strong finishes at OCC, showcasing her calm confidence as she prepares for this challenging event.

This is our CCC pre-race interview with Chris Myers. This interview is part of Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Our shows and athlete interviews are hosted by Dylan Bowman who sits down to talk with some of the favorites who are racing this year. In this interview, Dylan talks to Chris Myers (Brooks). Chris has had the year of his career, with a win at Chuckanut and a 2nd place and blazing fast time at the Western States 100 in June. He's now the third fastest man in Western States race history and this will be his first time racing at UTMB. Chris will be racing the CCC 100k and we can't wait to watch how he does. As Dylan says in the interview, this is one of the best (and funniest) pre-race chats ever. We hope you enjoy! Make sure to tune into all of Freetrail's coverage leading into the 2025 UTMB. All shows hosted by Dylan Bowman, with special guests listed below: Friday August 22nd: Top 10 Storylines of the 2025 UTMB with Tim Tollefson Saturday August 23rd: OCC Preview Show with Dani Moreno Sunday August 24th: CCC Preview Show with Hayden Hawks Monday August 25th: UTMB Preview Show with Sally McRae Tuesday August 26th: Final Predictions Show with Corrine Malcolm & Keith Byrne Wednesday August 27th: TDS Recap Show with Ryan Sandes & Martina Valmassoi Thursday August 28th: OCC Recap Show with Corrine Malcolm and Ryan Montgomery Friday August 29th: We'll provide photo and video coverage of the race for the Freetrail social channels. Make sure to follow along here and @runfreetrail on Instagram. Saturday August 30th: UTMB Instant Reactions + CCC Results Show with Jim Walmsley & Sally McRae Sunday August 31st: UTMB Week recap with Corrine Malcolm Make sure to play Freetrail's own fantasy trail running at https://fantasy.freetrail.com/events and pick 10-deep for OCC, CCC & UTMB for a chance to win sweet prizes including Freetrail swag and special items from our partners HOKA, SunGod and more! Our 2025 UTMB coverage is brought to you by HOKA, the best people and products in the trail running business. The show is also made possible with support from Red Bull & SunGod. We're grateful for their support! HOKA Make sure to check out the HOKA Mafate 5, the shoe Hayden was wearing during his interview and the CCC Preview show recordings today! The Mafate 5 is a shoe with plush cushioning for tough terrain. A pinnacle product for technical trail, the Mafate 5 goes the extra mile with more cushioning and protection than ever before. Built tough for mileage chasers, this tenacious trail runner helps maintain control during long haul efforts with our Rocker Integrity Technology™ and protects from trail debris with an optional ankle gaiter. Finished with a soft, springy foam just underfoot and impact-absorbing foam near the sole, the Mafate 5 is grounded in aggressive Vibram® Megagrip traction lugs. No doubt, this is the shoe our team will be wearing on the trails all week in Chamonix! SunGod A longtime friend of Freetrail, we're grateful for SunGod's support of Freetrail's UTMB coverage this year! SunGod makes performance eyewear worn by the world's top trail running athletes. Use code FREETRAIL10 off SunGod products at https://sungod.avln.me/c/xfOAIzPFAeSd Freetrail Pro members receive a deeper discount on SunGod, available after you sign up at https://freetrail.com/pro Red Bull Thanks to one of Dylan's longest sponsors for supporting our coverage of UTMB. To get your daily dose of epic adventure content, follow @redbulladventure. Make sure to also check out the latest season of Red Bull's How to Be Superhuman podcast for immersive stories of incredible achievements in trail running and beyond. Freetrail Links: Website | https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro | https://freetrail.com/pro/ Patreon | / dylanbowman Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrai... YouTube | / @freetrail Freetrail Experts | https://freetrail.com/experts/ Dylan Links: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/?hl=en Twitter | https://twitter.com/dylanbo?lang=en LinkedIn | / dylan-bowman-06174380