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Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling join the show to reflect on an exciting year in ultrarunning. We dive into standout storylines, major sports shifts, and rookie athletes' breakout performances. We highlight runners who staged remarkable comebacks, discuss key candidates in TROY and UROY voting, and highlight unsung performances and athletes of the year. Additionally, we share personal highlights and make bold predictions for 2025 and beyond.

Timestamps:

• (0:00) - Introductions
• (4:19) - Unsung or Darkhorse Performance of the Year
• (14:32) - Comeback Runner of the Year
• (30:08) - Rookie of the Year
• (37:02) - Best Team Performance
• (44:52) - Best Free Agent Signing
• (47:54) - Top Storylines of 2024
• (59:57) - Favorite Moments of 2024
• (67:39) - Biggest Themes / Best New Developments of 2024
• (73:16) - Most Thrilling Race / Race Moment of 2024
• (77:25) - Favorite Content of 2024
• (83:24) - 2024 Predictions
• (92:05) - UROY Considerations
• (94:54) - Personal Wins / 2025 Goals

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLET...) to get 20% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Leah on Instagram,  Strava, Twitter
• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Finn on Instagram,

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This is a two-part episode from conversations recorded at the Running Event in Austin, TX this past November. First, I'm joined by Tim Tollefson who provides a race-directing behind-the-scenes look at the Mammoth Trail Fest. Then I'm joined by Lauren Osbourne who shares lessons learned from building a modern speciality running retail store - Exchange Running Collective - in Nashville, TN.

Timestamps:

• (1:48) - whether trail running events should have points of view
• (4:51) - the role of brand partners at trail running events
• (5:56) - race director off-season activities, business challenges
• (13:49) - event permitting for trail races
• (20:49) - inspirations for Mammoth Trail Fest
• (27:58) - more brand partnerships discussion
• (36:13) - golden trail series relationship
• (41:04) - Tim Tollefson parting thoughts
• (43:26) - how to enter the running retail space
• (45:47) - lessons learned working for Nike
• (52:15) - intentionally creating in-store community environment
• (57:00) - Nashville running scene
• (61:05) - running memberships, unique inventory
• (64:20) - advice for starting a running store, the zero to one

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLET...) to get 20% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Mammoth Trail Fest
• Exchange Running Collective 
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter,

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In this episode, we’re joined by returning guests Abby Levene of Outside Magazine and Kelly Newlon of RAD Boulder. Together, we dive into the big news of Tara Dower’s groundbreaking sponsorship deal with Altra, which positions her as one of the higher-paid athletes in the ultra-trail running world.

Timestamps:

• 00:30 Introduction to Tara Dower's Contract with Altra
• 06:22 Gender Pay Inequality in Sports
• 09:26 The Role of Non-Disclosure Agreements in Athlete Contracts
• 13:42 Market Dynamics and Athlete Compensation
• 16:37 The Impact of Tara's Contract on the Trail Running Community
• 19:28 The Future of Sponsorships in Trail Running
• 22:21 Tara Dower's Unique Position in the Sport
• 25:36 Measuring Success for Brands and Athletes
• 28:30 The Evolution of Altra's Brand Strategy
• 35:28 The Evolution of Athlete Representation
• 39:01 The Role of Agents in Ultra Trail Running
• 50:48 The Future of Sports Reporting
• 54:39 The Concept of a Signing Day in Trail Running
• 56:48 Safeguarding Athlete Obligations
• 01:01:55 Final Thoughts on Tara's Impact
  
  

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLET...) to get 20% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Abby Levene - Outside Mag Article
• Kelly Newlon - RadBoulder
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter,

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Chris Chavez returns to the Singletrack Podcast to discuss the latest developments at Citius Mag, the influence of Netflix's Sprint series on Track and Field, shifts in the sports media landscape, his key content and event strategies for 2025, and his perspective on Michael Johnson's "Grand Slam Track" league.

Timestamps:

• 2:00 The Evolution of Citius Mag and Track and Field Media
• 9:49 Retaining Talent in a Competitive Media Environment
• 20:50 The Impact of Media on Track and Field
• 26:59 The Future of Track and Field Media
• 32:19 "Sprint" And The Evolution of Sports Documentaries
• 39:51 Challenges in Media Access In Track and Field
• 45:04 Grand Slam Track
• 50:04 The Role of Influential Figures (Michael Johnson) in Sports
• 55:27 Business Strategies for Sports Media Success
  
  

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLET...) to get 20% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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Finn Melanson and Brett Hornig share their initial reactions to the Hardrock 100 and Western States 100 lotteries, discussing their impact on the competitive fields in both races.

Didn't get into the Western States 100 or Hardrock 100? Come race Twisted Fork on June 14th, 2025 in Park City, UT.  Check it out here.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Instant Reactions to the Race Lotteries
• 03:03 Exploring Content Opportunities in Trail Running
• 06:03 Statistics and Insights from the Lotteries
• 09:03 Katie Schide racing Hardrock next year
• 20:56 Zach Miller racing Hardrock next year
• 24:48 The Competitive Landscape of the Hardrock 100
• 28:49 Western States 100 Lottery Overview
• 32:57 Conversational Pace Corner - Shoe Predictions
• 34:05 Final Thoughts and Future Events (Twisted Fork)
  
  

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLET...) to get 20% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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We’ve officially stepped into the role of Race Directors! In this episode of the Singletrack Podcast, I sit down with my wife and business partner, Jules Campanelli, to share an inside look at our trail running festival, Twisted Fork.

Join us in Park City, UT, on June 14, 2025, for an unforgettable day with the Singletrack trail running community. Ready to be part of the excitement? Visit massifrunning.com to secure your spot in the 68K, 30K, or 15K—we can’t wait to see you on the trails!

Timestamps:

• (0:38) - introductions, announcement, excitement for race festival
• (6:18) - history of Twisted Fork
• (10:21) - overviews of 68K, 30K, and 15K courses
• (13:07) - trail festival differentiators
• (23:49) - competitive status of the 68K, 30K, 15K fields
• (26:33) - race festival partners
• (32:35) - how to register, how to get involved, final thoughts

Race Partners:

• Gorewear - use code TwistedFork30 at checkout on their website (https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/) for 30% off your next order.
• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Keen - unapologetically comfortable and consciously created to protect our planet (https://keenfootwear.com)
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://www.kodiakcakes.com/) to get 15% off your next order.
• Trails and Tarmac - get $50/mo off coaching if you sign up before March 15th (https://trailsandtarmac.com/coaching)

Additional Links:

• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, Patreon, Races

Support the show

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Brett Hornig returns to the Singletrack Podcast for a crossover episode from his YouTube show (Conversational Pace) recapping our takeaways from the 2024 Running Event in Austin, TX earlier this week.
 
 Categories Covered:

• Standout brand (overall)
• Standout shoe 
• Standout tech 
• Standout conversation 
• Standout newcomer brand 
• Biggest brand surprise 
• Biggest brand turnaround 
• Bet on this (brand, trend, etc) 

  Sponsors:

• Keen - unapologetically comfortable and consciously created to protect our planet (https://keenfootwear.com)
• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.

  Additional Links:

• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show

Text us your thoughts about this episode or ideas for future episodes!

Brett Hornig returns to the Singletrack Podcast for another edition of the Long Run Archives. In this episode, we discuss the upcoming Running Event in Austin, Courtney Dauwalter’s entry into the 2025 Cocodona 250, Gorge Waterfalls 100K being selected as the US Long Trail World’s team qualifier, and insights into the trail running contract season, among other topics.

 Timestamps:

• (5:50) - Gorge Waterfalls 100K hosting worlds qualifier
• (30:35) - Courtney Dauwalter registering for the Cocodona 250
• (44:20) - UROY and Western States 100 Discussion
• (66:31) - Contract season insights and speculations
• (84:24) - Long trail fastest known times 
• (90:20) - Underrated races on the American scene
• (97:48) - Best stuff we found on the internet this week

 Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.

 Additional Links:

• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon
• Escarpment Trail Run, Three Mile Island Docuseries

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Welcome to part 2 of our two-part conversation! If you haven’t listened to the first half yet, be sure to check it out—it aired last week and features nutrition coach Vic Johnson, known as the "Mountain Sports Dietician" on social media.

You might recognize Vic’s name; he has collaborated with several prominent athletes in our sport, including Rod Farvard, to address the critical fueling strategies for ultrarunning.

In part 1, Vic offered valuable insights into the evolving role of nutrition in endurance sports, discussing the importance of high-carb fueling, gut training, and common nutritional challenges faced by endurance athletes.

In this follow-up conversation, we delve into post-run recovery, the benefits of antioxidants, and the strategic use of caffeine and bicarbonate during races. We’ll also explore how to interpret results from sweat composition and sweat rate tests, among other topics.

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.

 Additional Links:

• Follow Vic on Instagram, Website
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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Welcome to part 1 of our two-part conversation featuring nutrition coach Vic Johnson, known as the "Mountain Sports Dietician" on social media. You might recognize Vic’s name; he has collaborated with several prominent athletes in our sport, including Rod Farvard, to address the critical fueling strategies for ultrarunning.

In part 1, Vic offers valuable insights into the evolving role of nutrition in endurance sports, discussing the importance of high-carb fueling, gut training, and common nutritional challenges faced by endurance athletes.

In our follow-up conversation, which will air next week, we delve into post-run recovery, the benefits of antioxidants, and the strategic use of caffeine and bicarbonate during races. We’ll also explore how to interpret results from sweat composition and sweat rate tests, among other topics.

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.

 Additional Links:

• Follow Vic on Instagram, Website
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

Support the show