
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

Apr 11, 2024 • 34min
Episode 5: Maddie Giegold
Today, Katie Asmuth is joined by Maddie Giegold. Maddie is a chief emergency medicine resident at UCSF and also a trail runner. She is passionate about wilderness medicine and event medicine. She loves trail running, gravel cycling, jumping into cold bodies of water, sleeping outdoors, flowers, and double-fisting ice cream. She is also a junior ranger at 19 national parks and wilderness areas.
In this episode, we talk about experiences with medical direction in races such as The Mammoth Trail Fest and the Lululemon FURTHER event. She'll also be at Western States and Broken Arrow this year. We talk about the challenges of medical response in remote areas where resources are limited. We also talk about her passion for merging her life as a trail runner with emergency medicine.
What we talked about:
2:20- Where school and life have taken her
3:40- Finding the love for trail running and goals looking ahead at her trail running career
8:00- Combining her love for racing and medicine
15:35- Limitations to medical practice during ultra races
21:25- Her role at FURTHER
26:50- Making the decision to allow a runner to keep going versus pulling them from the race
31:20- How FURTHER could change the landscape of medical directing during ultra races
Show notes:
Follow The Trail Network on Instagram
Subscribe to The Trail Network on YouTube
Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at Osprey.com
The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network

Apr 3, 2024 • 33min
Episode 4: Adam Peterman and Erin Clark
Welcome back to the Trail Network! Today, Leah sits down in person with professional runners and partners Adam Peterman and Erin Clark from Montana. Erin is a Nike sponsored athlete and one of the hardest racers that we know. She most recently had a win at the 2023 Lake Sonoma 50 miler and a 7th place finish at the 2022 CCC. Adam is a Hoka sponsored athlete with an undefeated track record in ultramarathons including wins at Western States and the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
On this episode, we dive into the past year of their mutual ups and downs, their relationship as two professional athletes, and what has been giving them confidence these days. We also talk about Adam’s return to racing, most recently his battle with Devin Pancake at the Buffalo Run 50k this past weekend in Salt Lake City.
We hope that you enjoy this conversation!
What we talked about
3:10- Adam’s comeback to racing
7:25- Erin’s past year of training and injuries
10:35- Where Erin finds confidence amidst injury
13:00- Handling the highs and lows in running and their relationship
17:10- How they influence each other’s training
20:40- Finding confidence from their training
24:15- Comparing yourself to your previous self when returning from injury
27:00- Proudest moments while supporting each other
Show notes:
Follow The Trail Network on Instagram
Subscribe to The Trail Network on YouTube
Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at Osprey.comThe Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network

Mar 28, 2024 • 31min
Episode 3: Head to Head with Francesco Puppi and Matt Daniels - First and Second at the Chuckanut 50k
In this episode, Rachel is joined by Francesco Puppi and Matt Daniels. These two just finished first and second at the Chuckanut 50k, both breaking the previous course record set by Max King. In this episode, they talk about their head to head battle at the Chuckanut 50k and what transpired over the race. They talk about what it was like to be so close to a competitor for such a long time and the special connection that they developed by racing one another.
What we talked about:
1:25- Catching up with Matt and Francesco and how they are feeling coming off of the race
3:40- What’s next for Matt, racing at the Gorge Waterfalls 100k
4:50- What’s next for Francesco, racing Lake Sonoma
6:20- Their rivalry origin story
9:15: Francesco’s race plan for Chuckanut 50k
11:45- Matt’s race plan for Chukanut 50k
14:20- The breakdown of their head to head
21:50- The value of having each other to compete against
24:00- The connection in trail running
28:20- Their reflections on their experience going head to head
Show notes:
Follow The Trail Network on Instagram
Subscribe to The Trail Network on YouTube
Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at Osprey.comThe Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network
Photo Credit: Somer Kreisman

Mar 28, 2024 • 56min
Episode 2: FURTHER with Leah Yingling and Mike McMonagle
In this episode, Hilary is joined by Leah Yingling and her husband and partner in crime Mike McMonagle as they dive into her recent experience racing at Further, Lulelemon’s ultra running event. They take a closer look at what goes into both running and crewing a six day race, dissect a few mid-race breakdowns, and both Mike and Leah share with us some top tips that they’ve learned from this crazy experience that we can all apply to our own races!
What we talked about:
1:25- Leah running FURTHER
8:55- Mike’s role in FURTHER
12:25- Leah’s race strategy
2:20- Mike’s experience being on Leah’s crew
28:55- Lowest moments throughout the race
34:55- Leah’s mentality during the race
43:45- Lessons learned from the FURTHER event
Show notes:
Learn more about the FURTHER event here
Follow The Trail Network on Instagram
Subscribe to The Trail Network on YouTube
Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at Osprey.com
The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network

Mar 28, 2024 • 35min
Episode 1: Introduction to The Trail Network Podcast
The Trail Network is hosted by ultra runners Leah Yingling, Rachel Drake, Katie Asmuth, and Hilary Yang. Together, they bring the untold stories of magical moments amongst trail runners to life. These stories of runners on and off the trail capture the essence and heart of trail running, and the power of friendship and connection. You’ll find inspiration, community, and a reminder of why we run.
In this episode, you’ll hear the why behind the Trail Network Podcast and a backstory of all of the hosts running journeys!
What we talked about:
1:15- The why behind The Trail Network Podcast
5:20- Katie’s story with trail running
7:25- Hilary’s story with trail running
10:00- Rachel’s story with trail running
12:40- Leah’s story with trail running
19:15- Rachel’s recent success at Black Canyon and balancing training with her life
23:10- Katie’s injury battles
29:40- Leah’s race at Lululemon’s FURTHER
Show notes:
Follow The Trail Network on Instagram
Subscribe to The Trail Network on YouTube
Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at Osprey.comThe Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network
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