We’re back with a special episode highlighting Trail 101, a free community event happening Sunday, February 22nd at 9:00 AM at Sports Basement Presidio, created by Matt Forsman of Sasquatch Racing and Run Club SF. Trail 101 is designed for trail-curious runners—especially those coming from the roads—to demystify trail running and show that trails aren’t just for ultras.

🌉Matt shares the inspiration behind the event, what attendees can expect (shoe demos from different brands, a DJ, raffle prizes, and a curated trail run with ~3-mile and ~6-mile options), and why connecting with local race organizers is a key part of the trail community. He also talks about how the current running boom has impacted run clubs and races, and how trail running can support both mental health and road performance.

🎽We hear from Victor Ballesteros of Victory Sportsdesign and race director of the Tamalpa Headlands 50K, who shares his personal story—stepping back from running, finding support through community and volunteering—and how his Western States experience led to designing durable, modular drop bags and other gear.

🦮 Next we meet Jennifer Tobits, a board member of The Animal Run, recaps running the Monterey 50-miler put on by Inside Trail with her dog Gertie. She also shares her training approach and goals to attempt Orcas Island 100 in 2027—potentially the first official 100-mile finish with a dog. She talks about  how she found running later in life, built a Bay Area community through Run Club SF and Canicross, and why the Bay’s trail access makes it such a special place to explore.

⛰️ Finally, Craig Schmidt of Inside Trail Racing talks about his path from road and collegiate running to trail racing, and his pivot from corporate health and wellness into race directing in 2022. He shares how Inside Trail supports the local community through volunteers, trail stewardship efforts, and approachable event experiences, along with practical advice on trail etiquette and how trails and road training can complement each other.

Trail 101 - Explore the dirt(ier) side of running

Sunday, February 22, 2026

9am - 12pm 

Sports Basement Presidio

610 Old Old Mason Street

San Francisco, CA 94129

You can find us on Instagram @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

This week, we’re sharing our conversation with Claire Green, a member of the Peninsula Distance Club, Tracksmith Amateur Support Program athlete, and substitute math teacher. Claire had a breakout 10,000 race at the Sound Running meet back in March – her first crack at that distance. We talk about balancing training with a full-time job. From winters on the treadmill in Milwaukee to racing sub-32 in her first-ever 10,000m, she’s redefining what it means to pursue personal excellence with joy, self-awareness, and community support. Claire will be competing in the 10,000 meters at the USATF National Outdoor Championships on Thursday, July 31st. 

Some highlights from our conversation:

❄️ Treadmill miles and mental training—what winter in Milwaukee taught her about focus and flexibility

⏱️ Swore she’d never run a 10K… until she ran a sub-32 in her first-ever attempt on the track

🧠 How she trained her brain as much as her body to handle the longer distance

😌 Comparing the 5K to the 10K—why the former is all pain and the latter is all flow

🎓 How her NCAA experience centered joy and intrinsic motivation rather than pressure and performance

🏃‍♀️ Building her relationship with running through family, coaches, and donuts at Nike Cross Champs

💬 “There was not a second of the race where I doubted what I was doing in that moment.”

👕 The power of a Tracksmith Amateur jersey—feeling part of a team without having a sponsor 

📞 How a cold call to coach Dena Evans led to joining Peninsula Distance Club, a team of “the kindest, hardest-working people” she’s ever known

Follow Claire on Instagram and Strava.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.

This week, we’re sharing our conversation with Chris Schierholtz, the creator of Rally Wednesday—a movement that’s part run club, part social experiment, and all about building community through shared experience. From helping launch Airbnb Experiences to reimagining hump day as the most fun day of the week, Chris brings his love of the outdoors, his background in brand-building, and his belief in the power of play to everything he does.

Some highlights from our conversation:

🧭 How growing up in a van life-before-van-life family instilled a deep love of adventure and connection

🏃‍♂️ The inspiration behind Rally Wednesday—reclaiming the week and creating a reason to move, connect, and explore

💬 What Airbnb and Lululemon taught him about building experiences that deliver on their promise

🌁 Why he picked Wednesdays—and why every day should be a little more fun

👨‍👩‍👧 How he and his partner juggle careers, athletic goals, and raising a daughter with grace (and a little chaos)

🧘 The importance of authenticity, “California radness,” and using tech to get people offline

🔁 How failure and collaboration helped him evolve his ideas and build something that lasts

🛠️ Applying lessons from counterculture sports and startup life to rethink how we gather

🤝 Why doing something active with others leads to deeper conversations and stronger bonds

📣 "Take the emergency brake off"—his advice for anyone thinking about joining the next Rally Wednesday

A conversation about movement, meaning, and building community on your own terms.

Join us on June 18... This one is gonna be good! A 12 mile MTB ride, a  5 trail run, or a 2 mile hike! Pick your Jam! After the run and ride, we’ll gather on the beautiful Filoli grounds for their Summer Nights series: food trucks, live music, art exhibits, and plenty of space to picnic and hang.Whether you’re new to Rally or a regular, this is the perfect night to run or ride, chat, and meet more of the community.⁠ Join to get the weekly Rally Wednesday text with all the details  - www.rallywednesday.com

Check out Chris on ⁠Instagram⁠ and⁠ Strava⁠, and follow Rally Wednesday on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠sign up to join⁠!

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.

In this episode, Mimi and Stephen from Skechers team up at the Bay to Breakers expo to talk all things Bay Area running, the joyful chaos of Bay to Breakers, and what makes the new Skechers AERO Series so exciting for runners chasing speed and fun. Highlights include:

🦍 Pontificating how fast you can actually run in a gorilla suit

🎭 Why Bay to Breakers is the most uniquely human race in the world

🌁 What makes the Bay Area running community so welcoming and wonderful

💡 The fascinating, wildly talented people you meet while running in the Bay Area

👟 The science behind the Skechers AERO Series — next-gen shoe tech making fast feel fun again

❤️ How running is evolving — and why community will always be at the heart of it

Learn more about the Skechers AERO series.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

This week, we’re talking to Sylvie Abel, a superstar trail runner and incredible human who found her sense of belonging on the trails of a new country. Sylvie’s journey wasn’t just about discovering running—it was about navigating a new country while finding her strength, her people, and ultimately, herself. Sylvie is an open book and shares what resilience and bravery looks like in the face of uncertainty and struggle.

Some highlights from our conversation:
🌍 How moving to a new country challenged Sylvie to navigate new social norms
💭 The feeling of being lost and how a race gave her the sense of home she was searching for
🏞️ Running as a way to break through tough times, and finding freedom and self-expression on the trails
🏁 The journey to Quicksilver, navigating motherhood and racing
💡 How motherhood reshaped Sylvie’s perspective on both life and running
🏅Finding redemption at Quad Dipsea and being as close to satisfied as she’s ever been in a race
📅 Her goal to revisit every race she’s DNF'd—showing her child the value of resilience and perseverance

Follow Sylvie on Instagram

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.

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#runningpodcasts #runnersofthebay #bayarearunning #sfrunning #sanfranciscorunning #trailrunning #ultrarunning 

Some reflections on the past 5 years and an exciting announcement.

We’re teaming up with @skechers to bring the hype for this year’s Bay to Breakers! Come hang with us for a LIVE podcast on Saturday 5/17 at 2:30pm at Sports Basement Stonestown (📍🎙️).

🏁 HAYES HILL CHALLENGE IS ON! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

This is your chance to crush the most iconic climb at Bay to Breakers and score some serious gear.

We’re talking a “race within the race”—powered by @skechersperformance 🔥

📍 Laguna St ➡️ Pierce St
📈 Strava segment is LIVE
📊 We’re keeping a real-time leaderboard
🎁 9 FREE pairs of Skechers AERO Series up for grabs for the winners!

🏆 Top 3 fastest up and down Hayes Hill
💥 Categories: Male, Female, Non-Binary

Oh—and we’ve got something for YOU! (👟🎉)

GIVEAWAY TIME!
Win a FREE pair of the new Skechers AERO Series shoes 👟 and a race entry to Bay to Breakers 🏁!

How to enter:

On Instagram,

1. Follow @runnersofthebay
2. Follow @skechersperformance
3. Comment below with the answer to this question:
   Who is the only athlete to win a major marathon wearing Skechers—and which marathon did they win?

(Hint: It’s legendary.) 🏆

Winner will be chosen at random from correct answers.
Giveaway ends Tuesday at 5pm PT! ⏰

Let’s goooo! 🏃‍♀️🔥 See you Saturday!

This week, we’re sharing our conversation with Katie Douglas, founder of Running Wylder, designer, and lifelong athlete who found her way to running through a love of movement and community. From growing up in a family of runners to working at Lululemon, she’s always followed her instincts—even when that meant taking a leap into something new. In this episode, we dive into her journey from fashion to founder, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and how Running Wylder is so much more than just a run store. 

Some highlights from our conversation:

🏀 How basketball drills made her fall in love with running

🤝 Why high school cross-country felt different than other sports

🏃‍♀️ How running a marathon for college PE changed her perspective on the sport

🌎 How living in Vancouver and working at Lululemon made running a bigger part of her life

💡 How Lululemon showed her the power of aligning personal values with a company’s mission

🛍️ From considering her own brand to starting a running store, and the moment she knew it was time

🌟 Sourcing unique brands and why fashion matters in sports

🏡 How she manifested Running Wylder–even down to the exact location! 

🎨 How her lifelong love of fashion, magazines, and creativity still influences her today

❤️‍🔥 What it means to build a space that prioritizes women and is inviting to all 

Check out Running Wylder and join one of their community runs. Follow Running Wylder on Instagram 

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.

Runner and Photographer Steven Anderson joins Mimi to talk about his experience as a credentialed photographer at the New York City Marathon and his own journey as a runner.

Some highlights from this episode:

- Steven seeing his work in a Topo Athletics ad at a NYC Subway Station

- His plan to capture all the best shots on race day

- How his photography reflects his environment and subjects

- His path to the marathon and being the literal poster boy for the LA Marathon (for better or worse)

- Running with Marina Run Club and what the Bay Area running community means to him

- Setting big goals and working backwards to achieve them

You can follow Steven on Instagram @sjandersonla and on Strava.

You can find us on Instagram and X @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.

On today’s episode we chat with Arman Soleimani and Patrick Hynes of the Golden State Racing Collective. This was a great conversation exploring the why behind GSRC and talking about the gaps they hope to fill in both racing and running culture. We learn more about Arman and Patrick’s journey as athletes and as runners and talk about how running is way more than just an activity. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements about upcoming races!

Some highlights include:

📘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

👟Accessibility in racing and the running community

🎽The evolution of running culture

🔁Coming to running at different times in life 

🌠The importance of focusing on more than just time and distance

🎨Running events as a complete experience

🍕Team Pizza 4-ever

You can find the Golden State Racing Collective on Instagram and on Strava at goldenstateracingcollective.

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.

This week we are sharing our conversation with Cindy Smith, runner, mother, and founder of Pen and Paces. Cindy started running to manage burnout while working in tech and the challenge and process immediately resonated with her. In this episode we talk about how her love of running has guided her, developing her artistic talent, founding Pen and Paces, becoming a mother, and how running is one thing AI can’t replace! 

Some highlights from our conversation:

❤️‍🔥 How professional burnout inspired her to go on her first run

🎽 Discovering her creativity in her 30s 

🤸 Founding Pen and Paces in 2020 and how it’s grown

⚙️The story behind what inspired her to develop a customizable race bib 

🪩 Her new and ambitious mission for her company!

🤝‍Falling in love with the puzzle of racing 

💡Why AI can’t replicate the magic of running

You can find Pen and Paces on Instagram @penandpaces and visit her store https://penandpaces.com/

You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @runnersofthebay

Check out our website www.runnersofthebay.com and send us an e-mail at [email protected].

Music is California by The Spectacular Fantastic.

Mixing and editing by Brian Walters at Singletrack Sound.