The Drop

Merry GRIT-MAS to all who celebrate, it's been good to get some miles with all of you this week. And what a week it was, as Thomas and Taylor and the Dirt Division headed to Western States, while Meg said oui to Paris for the Nike Breaking4 Project. History was made and we were honored to witness it. Watch the Breaking4 recap on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/bivyb7HoeRwSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSLMNTYou already know that LMNT has been getting us through Summer GRIT thanks to its blend of electrolytes and 1000 mg of sodium. It's a summer running necessity, and since you're a listener of The Drop, you get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropINDEX0:00 - Summer GRIT / Pre-recap nonsense18:36 - Nike Breaking4 Recap50:44 - Western States Recap

Thomas chats with Adam Gamble, founder of Nowhere Somewhere, a start-up run apparel brand featuring a range of t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and other apparel. Check out Nowhere Somewhere: https://www.nowheresomewhere.run/

We recorded this on Monday, but right now Meg is in Paris reliving the excitement of seeing Nike's Breaking4 project with Faith Kipyegon. Thomas and Karl are at Western States, while Robbe is home with George, making margaritas with LMNT mango chili rims. We also recap our fun weekend with Mount to Coast and then talk about Meg's experience in the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5.Check out all our Western States events: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLPvXYpslu0Here's the study on hair and wind drag: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/study-shows-hairstyle-and-clothing-could-cost-athletes-medals/SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSSWIFTWICKThe best running socks in the game, Swiftwick is made right here in the USA, which means no price increases on account of tariffs. We're always running in their socks and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believeLMNTNEW FLAVOR ALERT! Squeeze the most out of summer with LMNT’s new limited-time Lemonade Salt — salty, tart, and refreshing, it brings you the best of summer wherever you are. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropLAGOON PILLOWSWe use Lagoon to get our best sleep (like we will at the Western States Sleep Station sponsored by Lagoon) and you should too. Featuring super soft covers, Certi-Pur foam and customizable features, they'll help you find the best pillow for your sleeping style. Visit them and use the discount code BELIEVE for 15% off your first order: http://lagoonsleep.com/believeINDEX00:00 Intro01:00 Sorry forgot to index this week52:30 Brooks Hyperion Elite 5

Thomas sits down with Andrew Dutton, better known online as @ad___sneaks. Dutton is a middle-school teacher in Lehi, Utah, who has earned a devoted following on Instagram through his passion for sneaker photography. Dutton began snapping sneakers during the pandemic and has since evolved into a recognized visual storyteller.

All Thomas wants is a techno song with Gregorian chants, but instead we get Sabrina Carpenter. All Robbe wants is an ultramarathon with tranquilizer darts and Mario Kart red shells, but instead we have the Western States 100. All Meg wants is for all of this nonsense to end. Anyway, we talk about all of that, as well as an in-podcast Between 2 Shoes where we compare the Brooks Hyperion Max 3 and Mizuno Neo Vista 2. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSLMNTNEW FLAVOR ALERT! Squeeze the most out of summer with LMNT’s new limited-time Lemonade Salt — salty, tart, and refreshing, it brings you the best of summer wherever you are. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropLAGOON PILLOWSWe use Lagoon to get our best sleep (like we will at the Western States Sleep Station sponsored by Lagoon) and you should too. Featuring super soft covers, Certi-Pur foam and customizable features, they'll help you find the best pillow for your sleeping style. Visit them and use the discount code BELIEVE for 15% off your first order: http://lagoonsleep.com/believePILLAREnsuring NN Running athletes continue to take podiums and claim records, PILLAR Performance gets them to start lines in the best condition possible. Recovery is crucial to managing training loads, and adequately preparing for race day. This is why PILLAR's Triple Magnesium provides a high dosage of Magnesium Bisglycinate to boost the recovery score on your wearable. Enter code BITR on The Feed to receive 15% off your first order, and track the difference yourself: https://thefeed.com/products/pillar-performanceINDEX0:00 - Intro13:14 - Fathers' Day Running18:24 - Local Baltimore Discussions33:13 - Move Her Mind Event Series / Nike Breaking 438:38 - The Return of the Hot Tub Boiz / Gondola Culture51:26 - Music Talk54:01 - Back to Western States56:33 - Best Shoes to Escape Human Hunters1:02:19 - Altra's New Campaign1:10:34 - Running Shoe Lingo1:12:50 - Between 2 Shoes: Brooks Hyperion Max 3 vs. Mizuno Neo Vista 2

Dirt Division leader Taylor, and longtime BITR contributor, Alex, sit down with Adidas Terrex athlete, Dani Moreno. Dani comes by way of Mammoth Lakes, California but grew up in LA where life was much different. They talk about Dani's history with sport, her adventurous hiatus from running, and her aspirations as she comes back from injury which includes trail racing at the highest level of our sport and that hard fought OTQ.Follow Dani on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_yell_a/

Let us all hold hands and gather in a circle as offer up a sacrifice to AI – but before we do, please turn your attention to The Drop, where everything is real and nothing is plagiarized, as evidenced by our conversations on shoes bought on the dark web, trying to figure out Mastercard naming strategies, and the real life questions that come with acquiring a pet dog. Plus, you'll get some authentic shoe talk when we dive into the one-two punch of the Asics Metaspeed Sky and Edge Tokyo. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! SWIFTWICKThe best running socks in the game, Swiftwick is made right here in the USA, which means no price increases on account of tariffs. We're always running in their socks and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believeLMNTNEW FLAVOR ALERT! Squeeze the most out of summer with LMNT’s new limited-time Lemonade Salt — salty, tart, and refreshing, it brings you the best of summer wherever you are. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropINDEX0:00 - Intro1:37 - Global Running Day6:20 - Mount To Coast x Oberhills10:39 - The Dark Web15:44 - Move Her Mind Event Series NYC / Mastercard Mini 10K31:18 - Futuristic Hotels33:27 - The Church of AI42:00 - Running talk52:50 - George the Dog1:00:26 - Saying Goodbye to Atreyu Running1:16:40 - Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo

Thomas traveled up the Spotify Studio in NYC where he sat down with Brendan Dunne from Complex. They chat about running culture, the crossover between performance and lifestyle shoes and dive into Brendan’s personal running. Follow Brendan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendandunne/?hl=enRead his stories on Complex: https://www.complex.com/author/brendan-dunne

We've returned from our separate corners of the country and assemble to recap our individual weeks, including time spent in Colorado, Thomas's journey to the Spotify studios in NYC, and Meg's Minnesota sojourn. Plus, we talk about the Mount to Coast T1 and the very good update in the Mizuno Neo Vista 2. Shop The Meg High Pony Hat ➡ https://shop.believeintherun.com/products/the-meg-fractel-x-believe-editionShop the Robbe Raccoon Legionnaire ➡ https://shop.believeintherun.com/products/fractel-x-believe-robbe-raccoon-signature-legionnaireJOIN US ON THE RUN!Saturday, June 21 @ 8:00 a.m.Mount to Coast X BITR Trail Run - June 21, 8amLocation: Patapsco State Park, Soapstone Trail Head (park at Southwest Park and Ride, 1171 S. Rolling Road, Catonsville, MD)Join us and Mount to Coast for the release of the all-new T1 trail shoe. We'll have 3 and 6.66 mile options followed by burgers from Kooper's food truck and apres run beverages. We'll also have multiple giveaways of Mount to Coast trail shoes!Cost: FREERSVP here: https://mailchi.mp/believeintherun/mounttocoastSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! SWIFTWICKThe best running socks in the game, Swiftwick is made right here in the USA, which means no price increases on account of tariffs. We're always running in their socks and you should be too. The Drop listeners can get 15% off their first purchase with code BELIEVE15. Shop here: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believePILLAREnsuring NN Running athletes continue to take podiums and claim records, PILLAR Performance gets them to start lines in the best condition possible. Recovery is crucial to managing training loads, and adequately preparing for race day. This is why PILLAR's Triple Magnesium provides a high dosage of Magnesium Bisglycinate to boost the recovery score on your wearable. Enter code BITR on The Feed to receive 15% off your first order, and track the difference yourself: https://thefeed.com/products/pillar-performanceLMNTNEW FLAVOR ALERT! Squeeze the most out of summer with LMNT’s new limited-time Lemonade Salt — salty, tart, and refreshing, it brings you the best of summer wherever you are. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: http://drinklmnt.com/thedropINDEX0:00 - Intro2:02 - Robbe in Colorado / The REI Situation17:09 - Celebrity Talk 24:34 - France Banning Outdoor Smoking27:12 - Move Her Mind Event Series Minneapolis34:04 - Fractal Collab Hat 37:33 - Thomas's NYC Trip58:01 - Shoe/apparel talk1:06:16 - Scott Jurek and David Blaine In The Same Room1:13:31 - Mizuno Neo Vista 21:19:50 - Believe Run Club Presents: Slow Roast Sunday1:21:07 - Grand Slam Track Philadelphia / Enhanced Games

If you're listening to this episode, you know that running changes lives. If it's changed anyone's life, it's certainly done so for Terence Gerchberg, who used running to help dig him out of a deep pit of gambling addiction. Eventually, it brought him to where he is today as CEO of Back On My Feet, an organization that works with people experiencing homelessness or addiction, empowering them to achieve economic independence through running and community. We talk about his life from past until present (including his experience on the Amazing Race), how running has transformed his life, and how he's using it to change others.Learn more about Back On My Feet: https://backonmyfeet.org/