Starting and building a race isn’t easy, but Stu McConnachie’s passion and community-focused business strategy have led UTCT to what it is today.

Stuart McConnachie is a prominent figure in South Africa's trail running community, best known as the Race Director of the RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT), one of Africa’s most prestigious trail running events. Since its inception in 2014, McConnachie has played a pivotal role in developing UTCT into a globally recognized race that attracts elite runners from over 50 countries. Founder of the most prominent trail community in Cape Town, Tuesday Trails, Stuart is a runner and passionate advocate for the community and the trail environment of Cape Town and surrounds. 

Jon chats with Stu about:

• How Stu Discovered that Race Directing is his Calling

• Developing UTCT & Building a Strong Community
• Finding Sponsorships & Implementing an Effective Business Model
• The Philosophy & Values that Anchor UTCT

• How UTCT Compares to Other International Races

Stay connected:

Follow Stu:

https://www.instagram.com/stuaay/

This episode is supported by:

Superfiliate:

This episode is brought to you by Superfiliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com. Mention that Long Run Labs sent you and get your first month free!

Eternal:

Check out eternal.co and use code “LRL” for 10% off your Performance or Foundations plan.

Sydney Tremaine turned her love of exploration into a career building relationships with trail running legends - but it all started with one family vacation run she'll never forget.

A love for being outside and exploring have always been present in Sydney’s life. Sydney grew up camping and when it came time to sign up for sports, she chose cross country and has not regretted the decision. Running has led her to some incredible places including her job at GARMIN. Outside of the sport you can find her still camping, hanging with friends and her dog, or listening to loud music.

Jon chats with Sydney about:

• Sydney’s Career at Garmin

• The Athlete Sponsorship Program Evolution
• Brand Marketing Strategy Inspiration
• How to Manage Partnerships
• Staying Updated with Industry Trends

Stay connected:

Follow Sydney:

@syd_tremaine

This episode is supported by:

Superfiliate:

This episode is brought to you by Superfiliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com. Mention that Long Run Labs sent you and get your first month free!

Eternal:

Check out eternal.co and use code “LRL” for 10% off your Performance or Foundations plan.

Think about it… we know more about our fantasy football leagues and cars than our own health. Something needs to be done about that.

Alex is the Founder and CEO of Eternal. Before founding Eternal, Alex was the founder and CEO of The Athletic, a subscription sports media company founded in 2016. The Athletic reached 1M paid subscribers faster than any publishing company in history and sold to The New York Times in 2022 for $550M. Prior to The Athletic, Alex ran Product & Design for Strava, helping the platform go from 800 users to 10s of millions. Originally from Philadelphia, Alex lives in Presidio Heights with his wife, two kids, and golden retriever. 

Jon chats with Alex about:

• Alex's Journey as a Runner and Endurance Athlete

• Building Strava's Growth and Community

• The Athletic's Creation and Success Story

• Founding Eternal and Its Mission

• Leadership Philosophy and Team Building

Stay connected:

Follow Alex:

https://x.com/amather

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexemather/

This episode is supported by:

Superfiliate:

This episode is brought to you by Superfiliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com.

Eternal:

Check out eternal.co and use code “LRL” for 10% off your Performance or Foundations plan.

Do you think “company culture” is irrelevant? It’s actually essential.

Troy Meadows is a Culture Creator with a running problem. He helps founders, and athletes articulate their "WHY" in order to find clarity in how they build their businesses and personal brands. 

Jon chats with Troy about:

• Asheville's Outdoor Scene & Hurricane Recovery

• From 50Ks to 100 Milers

• Business and Endurance Parallels

• The Importance of 'Why' in Business and Relationships

• The Midpacker Podcast & Finding Your Niche

• Strategies for Securing Sponsorships

Stay connected:

Follow Troy on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/troyontherun/

Troy on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-meadows/

Listen to the Midpacker Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3nXliB7k1ojebkYTu8zZrL?si=deadac1a25514b75

This episode is supported by:

Superfiliate:

This episode is brought to you by Superfiliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com.

Eternal:

Check out eternal.co and use code “LRL” for 10% off your Performance or Foundations plan.

Climate change can be scary and confusing, so what actions can we take that actually make a difference?

Erin Sprague is the CEO of Protect our Winters (POW), where she helps outdoor enthusiasts protect the places and experiences they love from climate change. Previously, Erin built world-class brands in the outdoor industry as the Chief Brand Officer at Aspen Skiing Company; VP of Marketing at Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Sport; and Global Head of Women’s Brand and Product at Specialized Bicycles. Most recently, Erin has worked with leaders from Google and Nest to help build climate tech start-ups tackling food waste and heat pump adoption. Erin started her career in finance and public affairs at The Blackstone Group, and graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard College.

Erin grew up in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York where she raced Nordic skiing, cross-country running, and hiked with her family most weekends. She previously Chaired the Board of Protect our Winters and started a non-profit called In the Running to support youth fitness initiatives while setting a World Record as the Youngest Woman to Run a Marathon on all Seven Continents. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two daughters, who are already beating her up and down most mountains.

Jon chats with Erin about:

• Climate Advocacy and POW’s Mission

• Bipartisan Climate Efforts

• How to Get Involved in Climate Advocacy

• Public Lands and Legislation

• Marketing Solar and EVs

Stay connected:

Follow Erin on Instagram:

@erin_sprague

Erin on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinsprague/

POW’s Website:

www.protectourwinters.org

POW on Instagram:

@protectourwinters

This episode is supported by:

Superfiliate:

This episode is brought to you by Superfiliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com.

Eternal:

Check out eternal.co and use code “LRL” for 10% off your Performance or Foundations plan.

Want to close more deals? Don’t pitch your idea in the first conversation.

Aaron Lutze is the co-host of Second Nature, a podcast about the business of the outdoor industry. He is also the founder and presenter on Super Rider, a YouTube channel that helps mountain bikers build control and confidence on two wheels.

Jon chats with Aaron about:

• Aaron's Journey into Mountain Biking

• Navigating Brand Partnerships

• The Origin of Second Nature

• Outdoor Brand Camp and Educational Courses

• The Importance of Genuine Partnerships

Stay connected:

Follow Aaron:

https://www.instagram.com/aaronlutze/

Second Nature Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/08ILHaCFj9SabAvWe2ORD4?si=ef71f6d9287441f4

https://www.instagram.com/secondnature.media/

Outdoor Brand Camp:

https://outdoorbrandcamp.com/

SuperRiderTV on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/superridertv/

SuperRiderTV on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@SuperRiderTV

This episode is supported by:

Eternal:

Eternal offers high performance healthcare for athletes and treats you like your active life depends on it. So, if you’re building something ambitious, don’t leave your own health as the bottleneck. Check out ⁠eternal.co⁠ and use code “LRL” for 10% off.

Superfiliate:

This episode is brought to you by Superfiliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com.

Are you passionate about your work or just going through the motions?

Sports have always been a throughline for Drew Hartman, and running graduated from "the way to stay in shape for soccer" to a primary athletic focus, social community driver, and creative outlet. Drew made the leap of combining that passion and profession when he started as an early employee Tracksmith where he refined his perceptions around brand, content, community, events, and experience. In May of 2024, he transitioned to his current role to support Salomon's Sports and Community Marketing in North America.

Jon chats with Drew about:

• Going From Studying Law to the Outdoor Industry

• Experience Working at Tracksmith

• Seeking Creative Fulfillment

• Navigating Career Goals and Mentorship

• The Evolution of Influencer Marketing

Stay connected:

Follow Drew on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/hartman.io/

Drew on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewthomashartman/

Article referenced:

https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/running-influencers-are-promoting-advil-but-at-what-cost/

Check out Small Brand Mentality:

https://smallbrandmentality.substack.com/?utm_source=homepage_recommendations&utm_campaign=2947615

This episode is supported by:

Beehiiv:

This episode is supported by Beehiiv: Get a free 30 day trial and 20% off your first 3 months using this link: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=Jon-Levitt 

Superfiliate:
This episode is brought to you by Superfiliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com.

Want to support a brand? Then request that your local retailer carry their product!

As athletes and adventurers, Adam Saks and Ben Parens know the importance of simplicity and high performance in their daily routines. After countless miles and too many products that fell short, they grew frustrated with the lack of effective, clean solutions for chafing. They believe self-care should empower, not compromise. That’s why Live Cushy™ was created: a brand focused on elevating the athlete’s experience with all-natural, non-toxic ingredients that actually work.

Jon chats with Adam and Ben about:

• Journey from College Athletes to Runners, to Entrepreneurs 

• The Inspiration and Backstory of Live Cushy™

• Brand Marketing and Community Engagement

• Manufacturing, Organic Ingredients, and Quality Control

• Customer Feedback and Adaptation

• Balancing Growth and Sustainability

  
  

Stay connected:

Follow Adam:

https://www.instagram.com/adam_saks/

Follow Ben:

https://www.instagram.com/benparens/

Check out Live Cushy™:

https://livecushy.co/

This episode is supported by:

Beehiiv:

This episode is supported by Beehiiv: Get a free 30 day trial and 20% off your first 3 months using this link: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=Jon-Levitt 

Superfilliate:

This episode is brought to you by Superfilliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com.

We're talking growth of trail running with the Polettis, the founders of UTMB!

Jon sits down with Michel and Catherine Poletti, the founders of the UTMB race series. They share their journey of starting and growing UTMB, along with essential business insights for organizing races. You won’t want to miss the philosophy that has been the foundation of their success.

Jon chats with Michel and Catherine about:

• Early Challenges and Growth of UTMB

• Expansion and Sustainability

• The Global Trail Running Boom

• Partnership with Ironman

• Maintaining Control and Expanding Globally

• Balancing Business and Community Values

Stay Connected:

Follow UTMB on Instagram:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/utmbworldseries/?hl=en⁠⁠

UTMB’S Website:

⁠⁠https://utmb.world/⁠⁠

This episode is supported by:

Beehiiv:

This episode is supported by Beehiiv: Get a free 30 day trial and 20% off your first 3 months using this link: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=Jon-Levitt

Superfiliate:

This episode is brought to you by Superfiliate. If you're tired of overcomplicated and unnecessarily expensive platforms for affiliate marketing, do yourself a favor and check out Superfiliate.com. I've used just about every option out there and this one is my favorite. If you're looking to scale creator partnerships, this is the tool for you!

Does reaching a broader audience help or hurt your business?

In 2013 Yuri discovered Unbound Gravel (formerly DK 200), arguably the most difficult gravel grinder in the country, and was bitten by the gravel bug. He won the 2015 edition, the hardest one in the event’s 10 year history, in an epic two up sprint. He was inducted into the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame in 2023 and continues to travel the world seeking the path less traveled. When he’s not racing for Giant Bicycles or working his day job as Elite Athlete Manager for GU Energy Labs, Yuri spends as much time seeking the path less traveled with his wife, Vanessa, and their dog Angus. 

Jon chats with Yuri about:

• Yuri's journey with GU and the evolution of gravel riding

• inclusivity and purpose-driven work in sports

• GU’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity

• empowering athletes through authentic relationships

• the value of long-term partnerships

• effective pitching and collaboration with brands

  
  

Stay Connected:

Follow Yuri on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yhauswald/

Follow Yuri on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuri-hauswald-b52046a/

Check out GU Energy Labs:

https://guenergy.com/

This episode is supported by beehiiv:

Get a free 30 day trial and 20% off your first 3 months using this link: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=Jon-Levitt