
The Trail Network Podcast
The Trail Network Podcast brings the untold stories of magical moments amongst trail runners to life. These stories of runners on and off the trail capture the spirit of trailrunning and the power of friendship and connection.
Latest episodes

Nov 28, 2024 • 46min
Episode 35: Rachel Drake Talks About Her Incredible WIN and New Course Record at the Historic JFK 50 Mile
In this episode, Rachel Drake and Leah Yingling dive deep into Rachel’s phenomenal performance at the historic JFK 50 Mile, where she not only took the win but shattered the course record. Leah and Rachel talk about the race and the training leading into it. You won’t want to miss it!
This podcast is supported by Osprey. Head over to Osprey.com to find the perfect pack for you!

Nov 21, 2024 • 43min
Episode 34: The Whole Gang Catches Up - Rachel's Upcoming JFK 50 Mile Race, Training Through Fatigue, and How to Fit it All In
In this episode, Rachel, Leah, Hilary, and Katie catch up a on all things running and life.
Topics we discuss:
Strategies for running in the winter
Rachel’s training as she prepares for the JFK 50 Mile
How to put your ego aside in training
Tips for balancing work and training
Rachel’s goals and mindset heading into the JFK race

Nov 14, 2024 • 1h 23min
Episode 33: Hellah Sidibe & Scott Jurek - Adventures at JJ100 & Their Relationships With Running
Today on the podcast, Hilary Yang is joined by Hellah Sidibe and Scott Jurek to recap Hellah’s race with Scott pacing at this year’s Javelina Jundred.
Hellah Sidibe is a former professional soccer player who found running during a low point in his life, and he’s been running ever since. He’s had a run streak since May 2017 which he documents through his Youtube channel where he has almost 300k subscribers, and one of his most notable achievements was running across America in 2021, raising money for charity. He’s also known for being vegan, he’s a Hoka ambassador and one of the most relentlessly positive people you’ll ever meet.
Scott Jurek is one of the most recognizable names in the sport of trail running, and he’s been running ultras for the last three decades. He has claimed victories in nearly all of ultrarunning’s elite trail and road events including Hardrock 100, Badwater 135-Mile Ultramarathon, and the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, which he won a record seven straight times. Scott has also taken the running world by storm with his 2015 Appalachian Trail speed record.
Off the trail, Scott is a New York Times-bestselling author for his memoir, Eat & Run, has been prominently featured in countless publications, and is a star of the international bestseller, Born To Run. More than just a champion, Scott is a true student and ambassador of the sport, known to stay at finish lines cheering until the last runner crosses. When not racing, he donates his time to many non profit organizations and is an avid volunteer in the areas of environmental conservation, fitness and health.
Topics we cover:
Each of their trail running journeys
How the sport has changed
Various types of training and stress that lead to great performances in the sport
Including your children on your adventures
Hellah’s decision to run Javelina Jundred
Scott’s pacing strategy
Fueling strategies
This podcast is supported by Osprey. Head over to Osprey.com to find the perfect pack for you!

Nov 7, 2024 • 53min
Episode 32: Lauren Puretz - 3rd Place at Javelina Jundred on Juggling the Demands of Being a Physician, Mom, and Competitive Runner
Today, Hilary Yang and Leah Yingling sit down and chat with Lauren Peretz. Lauren just finished third place at this past Javelina 100 miler in a blazing fast time of 15 hours and 50 seconds. Lauren's also a physician and a mother as well as being a super fast runner and she's found an impressive life balance as she pursues being as fast as she possibly can in a sport that just keeps getting faster.
We are so excited to sit down and chat with Lauren today. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Episode rundown:
Balance of career, motherhood, and running
Her running community
Her relationship with her coach, Dr. Megan Roche
Getting into the sport and finding a love and talent for trail running
Her race at Javelina 100 this past weekend
Cooling strategies during the race
Reflecting on her race at Western States
Where she sees her career going
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Go to Osprey.com to check out their products!
This podcast is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

Oct 31, 2024 • 50min
Episode 31: Riley Brady After Their Commanding Win at the Javelina Jundred Mile
Today on the show, we welcome Riley Brady, a coach, bike mechanic, and ultra runner living in Boulder, Colorado. They just won the Javelina Jundred miler in a blistering time of 14 hours and 19 minutes, coming in seventh overall. We talked about lessons learned from their previous two Javelina performances, nutrition changes, heat strategies, and so much more. Enjoy this episode with Riley, it's a fun one!
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Go to Osprey.com to check out their products!
This podcast is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

Oct 17, 2024 • 49min
Episode 30: Lorna Mann - Ultrarunning's Biggest Fan on Chasing Cutoffs, Unapologetically Supporting Others, and Dreaming of OCC
In this episode of the Trail Network podcast, host Leah Yingling welcomes her good friend Lorna Mann, joining from London. Lorna is a passionate trail runner and mountain lover, known for her enthusiasm for park runs, cutoff chasing, and dreaming of the OCC. Together, they discuss Lorna's journey into trail running, exploring the challenges and triumphs of pursuing a five-year goal. This conversation highlights the importance of supporting others in the running community, as Lorna shares her personal successes and failures along the way. This heartfelt discussion celebrates the spirit of community and perseverance in the sport! We hope that you enjoy!
What we talked about:
2:10- Introduction to Lorna
3:45- Finding trail running
8:10- Navigating goal setting
31:55- Her recent 50k
40:30- Adventures while on her sabbatical
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Go to Osprey.com to check out their products!
This podcast is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

Oct 10, 2024 • 1h 1min
Episode 29: Listener Q&A With Hilary, Leah, and Katie
In this fun episode, we dive into your burning questions and share our insights on a variety of topics! Some topics include:
Katie’s return to running
Training professionally and balancing a full time career
navigating safety while trail running
Menstrual cycles
Pregnancy and training/racing
Efficiency at aid stations
Most memorable races
Summit snacks
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Go to Osprey.com to check out their products!
This podcast is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

Oct 3, 2024 • 41min
Episode 28: The Whole Gang Catches Up After a Busy Summer
In this special episode of the Trail Network Pod, all four co-hosts—Hilary Yang, Rachel Drake, Leah Yingling, and Katie Asmuth—come together for a rare and exciting conversation. We start off by catching up on our summers, sharing stories that highlight the adventures, misadventures, and the ups and downs we've experienced over the past few months. As we reflect on our individual journeys, we discuss the valuable takeaways we've gleaned along the way and how we plan to apply those insights moving forward. This episode serves as a collective reflection on our current paths, and we hope that you, our listeners, find inspiration and connection in our shared experiences. Join us for an engaging and heartfelt discussion—we're thrilled to share it with you!
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Go to Osprey.com to check out their products!
This podcast is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

Sep 26, 2024 • 54min
Episode 27: Anna Gibson and Rachel Drake - Head to Head at the Recent GTWS Mammoth Trail Fest 26k
Today's host, Katie Asmuth, chats with Rachel Drake and Anna Gibson, who recently had an epic collaboration at the Mammoth Trail Fest. Both raced for a podium spot, and in this episode, they share their thoughts and experiences during the event. Listeners will get a step-by-step account of what unfolded, along with insights into their backgrounds. Enjoy!
Key topics:
Goals and expectations going into Mammoth Trail Festival
Training for a lot of vert
The differences in their training leading into the race
Mentality while racing
The American women coming out strong at the Mammoth Trail Festival
What’s next for both of them
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Go to Osprey.com to check out their products!
This podcast is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

Sep 19, 2024 • 49min
Episode 26: Leah Yingling and Tyler Green Discuss Their Races at Run Rabbit Run 100
In this episode of the Trail Network Podcast, Rachel Drake welcomes her husband, Tyler Green, and close friend, Leah Yingling. Tyler and Leah reflect on their experience at the Run Rabbit Run Hundred Miler, where Leah secured an impressive second place finish, and Tyler followed closely in fourth. Together, they also achieved a commendable second place in the team category as "Team Greenling".
Despite feeling a bit disappointed with their individual results, Rachel leads a deep and insightful conversation about the ups and downs of their race day. The discussion delves into the valuable lessons they learned throughout the event and how they navigated the challenges they faced.
Key Topics:
Recap of the Run Rabbit Run Hundred Miler
Individual experiences and team dynamics
Reflections on race day performance
Lessons learned from both successes and setbacks
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Go to Osprey.com to check out their products!
This podcast is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
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