In this episode of The Trail Network, Leah Yingling, Katie Asmuth, and Rachel Drake tackle listener-submitted questions — from the most essential pieces of gear to the do’s and don’ts of early trail running. They reflect on their own first races, share stories from their original local trail crews, and discuss the learning curve that shaped their ultra journeys.

The trio dives into topics like:

• The gear they wish they had when they started (spoiler: good socks and GPX watches go a long way)

• Why finding your local trail community might be the best investment of all

• Navigating the overwhelming flood of information in today's media-heavy running scene

• Training structure for long ultras — whether double runs or extended sessions work best

• The beauty of learning through mistakes (hello, 5-hour “easy” runs with one snack)

Plus, they explore the value of coaching, celebrate female-led races pushing for parity in the sport, and close with a few words of wisdom for anyone just starting out.

A perfect listen for new runners, seasoned trail vets, and anyone chasing joy out on the dirt.

Teaser for next time: How would the crew race Western States if they were toeing the line this year? Tune in next week for that deep dive.

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.