The Trail Network Podcast

Sarah Attar is a gifted photographer, a two-time Olympian, and a trailblazer in every sense of the word. In this episode of The Trail Network podcast, she joins host Hilary Yang for a conversation about the unexpected paths life has taken her on and the lessons she has gathered along the way. Sarah made history as one of the first female athletes to represent Saudi Arabia in the Olympics, competing in track and field in 2012 and 2016. Now based in the Eastern Sierra, she channels her creativity into photography, capturing the essence of place, movement, and connection. Throughout their discussion, Sarah and Hilary explore the intersections of sport, art, and personal growth, reflecting on how intention shapes experiences and how embracing the unknown can lead to the most meaningful adventures.This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠Janji with the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

Ohh Baby! Leah and Mike have some big news to share—Leah is pregnant! In this episode, they reflect on how this life-changing moment is shaping their plans, both on and off the trails. They take a look back at the past few years of training, racing, and tackling adventures like RUFA, and talk about what it means to be an athlete while preparing for parenthood. Leah shares her experience running while pregnant, how it’s shifting her approach to training, and what she hopes to see change for female athletes navigating pregnancy in the sport. Plus, they discuss what they’re most excited for in this next chapter and the lessons they hope to carry forward. Tune in for an honest, heartfelt conversation about balancing competitive goals with the realities of growing a family!This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠Janji with the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

Today, host Katie Asmuth sits down with the legendary Ida Nilsson, a true veteran of the sport. With a career spanning decades, Ida has done it all—from track and cross country to road and trail running, and now even ski mountaineering. In this episode, she reflects on her incredible journey, starting with her athletic upbringing alongside her equally talented siblings, to her time competing at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and her approach to longevity in the sport.A decorated athlete, Ida has claimed 10 Swedish national titles in track and cross country, two NCAA championships in the steeplechase and 5,000 meters, and a Swedish championship in ski mountaineering. She has spent over a decade competing at the highest level in ultrarunning, securing multiple top-10 finishes at Western States, including an impressive 50-minute improvement in her time last year. Most recently, she took the win at the Transgrancanaria 82K.Ida opens up about injuries, her relationship with food, and the lessons she’s learned throughout her career. It’s an insightful and inspiring conversation—enjoy the episode!This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠Janji with the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

On today’s episode of The Trail Network Podcast, we have Hilary Yang, Leah Yingling, and Katie Asmuth for a catch up episode!We've gotten some great feedback from our listeners just saying that some of their favorite episodes are the ones where we just catch up. So this episode is really just a chance for Leah, Katie and Hilary to connect and see what's been going on in each other's lives. We talk about traning and life updates, gear that we’re loving, finding motivation, and more! Enjoy!This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠Janji with the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

Today, Leah Yingling is joined by Alexis Crellin 🙌. Alexis is a climber, mountain enthusiast, and ultra runner based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has two top 20s at UTMB, top finishes at Speedgoat 50k and The Rut 50k and has been crushing it on the mountain scene in Utah and beyond for years. She’s also a prior FKT holder on the Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup (WURL), a rugged 32+ mile high mountain route in the Wasatch. She’s a mom of three adorable kiddos and has been building their resilience in the mountains while also balancing her own athletic endeavors. Alexis shares so many great insights with us, and we’re so excited for you to get to know her throughout this conversation!This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠Janji with the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

Today, Hilary Yang sits down with Katie Asmuth to talk about all things Black Canyon race weekend. Katie ran the 100K, and while she was going for a golden ticket and trying to shoot her shot, the day did not go according to plan. However, they were able to dissect the race and understand where it went wrong and pull out a lot of things that hopefully you all will find applicable to your own races! They got into the weeds with talking about nutrition strategy, gear, fueling, and all of the things that can go wrong and how we can reframe our race days when they don't go according to plan. Katie also talks about staying curious during your race to troubleshoot when things to go to plan.This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

⁠Take on Barilla’s Protein Pasta Winter Energy Challenge on the Strava Fitness App⁠Complete 10 days of movement for your Barilla Pasta reward! Go to ⁠https://strava.app.link/barilla⁠And a big thanks to our newest sponsor,⁠⁠⁠Janji⁠⁠⁠, use the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

In honor of the Black Canyon 100K race weekend, the Trail Network podcast hosts revisits a heartfelt conversation with Trueheart Brown, the 2022 race champion. Trueheart’s victory at Black Canyon was a breakout performance, winning as an underdog at the age of 41 and fully embracing the spirit of the sport. In this conversation, Trueheart shares insights into his journey as a trail runner, the lessons he’s learned through competition, and how he balances training with life’s many demands. His reflections go beyond racing, offering wisdom about resilience, passion, and staying present in the sport. Whether you're gearing up for a race or simply love the community and adventure of trail running, this episode is full of inspiration. This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network. Take on Barilla’s Protein Pasta Winter Energy Challenge on the Strava Fitness App Complete 10 days of movement for your Barilla Pasta reward! Go to https://strava.app.link/barilla And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠⁠Janji⁠⁠, use the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

We're so happy you're here with us this week. On this week's episode, we dive into some listener questions and chat about the season ahead. We talk about how we balance being competitive in the sport while holding space for planning for families and motherhood. Another topic is balancing and sharing the sport with a partner. We also cover some world championship qualifiers like Gorge Waterfalls and Broken Arrow. And we dive into our favorite winter running hacks. We hope you enjoy this episode! This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network. A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

 Take on Barilla’s Protein Pasta Winter Energy Challenge on the Strava Fitness App Complete 10 days of movement for your Barilla Pasta reward! Go to https://strava.app.link/barilla And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠⁠Janji⁠⁠, use the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

In this episode, Rachel, Leah, Hilary, and Katie reconnect to chat about what’s been happening so far in 2025, sharing hot takes and fun stories about life, training, and adventures. The conversation covers Katie’s upcoming race at the Black Canyon 100k, the inspiring work of The Futurist Project, and a spotlight on incredible female athletes and creatives. They also dive into their favorite gear, the value of storytelling in sports and life, and the little things that are keeping them motivated this year. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or just a good laugh, this episode has something for everyone!!This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.Take on Barilla’s Protein Pasta Winter Energy Challenge on the Strava Fitness AppComplete 10 days of movement for your Barilla Pasta reward! Go to https://strava.app.link/barillaAnd a big thanks to our newest sponsor, ⁠Janji⁠, use the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.

In this episode of the Trail Network podcast, hosts Leah Yingling and Rachel Drake are joined by the incredible Courtney Olsen who had an unforgettable 2024 racing season. Courtney placed third at Comrades, set a world record at the Tunnel Hill 50-Miler, secured a top-10 finish at the World’s 100K Race, and was recently voted number six in the Ultra Runner of the Year rankings. In this conversation, they dive into Courtney’s standout performances on the global stage, where she has represented Team USA in the 50K and 100K World Championships four times, leading many of those teams to podium finishes. Courtney also discusses the importance of strong sponsorships, what it means to build meaningful brand partnerships, and the mindset it takes to achieve success in ultrarunning. Courtney’s authenticity and insights make this episode a must-listen for anyone passionate about running and the ultra community. Talking Points: Highlights of Courtney’s incredible 2024 racing season Placing third at Comrades Marathon Setting a world record at the Tunnel Hill 50-Miler Top-10 finish at the World’s 100K Race Representing Team USA in the 50K and 100K World Championships Leading USA teams to podium finishes Insights on meaningful sponsorships and brand partnerships Reflections on her journey in ultrarunning This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network. A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products! And a big thanks to our newest sponsor, Janji, use the code TRAILNETWORK for a 10% discount on your Janji order.