Sassquad Trail Runners

In this episode of our series, Tales from the Wild Goose, we hear from Carson Hopwood, a nonbinary athlete from Charlottesville, Virginia, who participated in the 36-hour event at the 2024 Wild Goose Trail Festival. Carson achieved an incredible milestone, covering 85 miles—their first time going beyond 50 miles and their first event running through the night.

✨ Tune in to hear:

Carson’s story is one of resilience, courage, and learning to embrace both triumphs and challenges. Their experience inspires us to keep pushing our limits and savor every step of the journey.

💬 Have your own “Tales from the Wild Goose” to share? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear your story!

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sassquad Trail Running Podcast and leave us a review if you enjoyed Carson's incredible tale.

🌐 Learn more about Sassquad by ⁠visiting our website⁠ and following us on ⁠Facebook ⁠and ⁠Instagram⁠.

In this inspiring episode of our series, Tales from the Wild Goose, we feature Gerry Powers from Park Ridge, NJ. At the 2024 Wild Goose Trail Festival, Gerry took on not only his first-ever ultramarathon but also his first-ever trail race: the 50-miler. Crossing the finish line in just over 13 hours, Gerry's story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of community.

✨ Tune in to hear:

Gerry’s story is a heartfelt reminder of why we run trails: for the camaraderie, the challenges, and those life-changing moments we’ll never forget.

💬 Have your own “Tales from the Wild Goose” to share? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear your story!

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sassquad Trail Running Podcast and leave us a review if you enjoyed Gerry's incredible tale.

🌐 Learn more about Sassquad by ⁠visiting our website⁠ and following us on ⁠Facebook ⁠and ⁠Instagram⁠.

In this special episode of our series, Tales from the Wild Goose, we spotlight Julia Barbour from Audubon, NJ. Julia joined us at the 2024 Wild Goose Trail Festival and accomplished an extraordinary milestone: completing her first 100-mile race!

Julia shares her emotional journey to the finish line, where she discovered the magic of inner strength, belonging, and acceptance. Her story is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of trail running and the community that supports it.

✨ Tune in to hear:

📢 Want to be part of this amazing festival? Learn all about the 2025 Wild Goose Trail Festival HERE!

💬 Have your own “Tales from the Wild Goose” to share? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear your story!

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sassquad Trail Running Podcast and leave us a review if you enjoyed Julia’s incredible tale.

🌐 Learn more about Sassquad by visiting our website and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

In this episode, we sit down with Libby Jones, trail race director and owner of The Active Joe, a trail running company based in Texas. Libby is known for her inclusive approach to race directing, creating a welcoming environment for runners of all paces, backgrounds, and identities. From organizing iconic events like the Dinosaur Valley 100 to championing accessibility in trail running, Libby shares her insights on what it takes to build a community that values every participant. Tune in to learn about her journey, her mission to break down barriers in the sport, and her vision for a more inclusive future in trail running.

Should you be in the gym lifting weights? Can strength training help you enjoy the trails more? YES AND YES!

Michael Feldman just completed 200 miles last weekend at the 2024 Wild Goose! When his Oregon 200 event was canceled in August, Michael decided that he still wanted to complete the distance and continue fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association. With the help and support of his friends and family, Michael did just that! Listen in to hear all about his squatchtastic adventure of completing "A Race to Not Forget"!

This is the recording of our Wild Goose Trail Festival Pre-Race Q&A on Monday September 16, 2024! The panel included Trail Party Directors Kim Levinsky and Joe Brandine plus a few folks who were at the 2023 Wild Goose: Kathy Carroll, Michael Feldman and Sarah Zieden-Weber.

www.sassquadtrailrunning.com/wildgoose

Is running therapy? What should you do when you feel burned out? How do you calm those pre-race jitters? Join us for this Q&A with therapist Sarah Strong to find out! Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, UESCA certified ultrarunning coach and mom based in the Colorado Front Range.

https://www.thetrailtherapist.com/

https://www.instagram.com/the_trail_therapist/