These conversations were livestreamed on the Singletrack YouTube a few days before the 2024 Western States 100. Enjoy Leah, Hayden, and Ryan's final thoughts before race day! Special thanks to Brooks, the presenting sponsor of this week's race coverage.

Sponsors:

• Brooks - check out their new Cascadia 18 shoe and High Point apparel collection (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack)
• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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 Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

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Brett Hornig and Corrine Malcolm join the show to preview the women’s field at the 2024 Western States 100. We cover top storylines and what to watch for, we answer some listener mail about the race, we analyze the field and categorize who we see as contenders for the win, for the podium, and the top 10, and we close with some of Corrine’s bold predictions for Saturday. Buckle up, because it’s another entertaining one. Special thanks to Brooks, the presenting sponsor of this week's race coverage.
 
  Sponsors:

• Brooks - check out their new Cascadia 18 shoe and High Point apparel collection (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack)
• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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 Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube 
• Follow Corrine on Instagram, Freetrail

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Brett Hornig and Mike McMonagle join the show to help preview the men’s field at the 2024 Western States 100. We cover top storylines and what to watch for, we answer some listener mail about the race, we analyze the field and categorize who we see as contenders for the win, for the podium, and the top 10, and we close with some of Mike’s bold predictions for Saturday. Buckle up, because it’s an entertaining one. Special thanks to Brooks, the presenting sponsor of this week's race coverage.
 
 Sponsors:

• Brooks - check out their new Cascadia 18 shoe and High Point apparel collection (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack)
• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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 Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube 
• Follow Mike on Instagram, Website

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Dylan Bowman and Jim Walmsley stop by the Singletrack studio in Olympic Valley, CA ahead of the 2024 Western States 100 to chat it up about the race, the sport at large, and life in general. Thanks to both of these guys! Special thanks to Brooks, the presenting sponsor of this week's race coverage.

Sponsors:

• Brooks - check out their new Cascadia 18 shoe and High Point apparel collection (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack)
• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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 Dylan on Instagram, Freetrail, TrailCon
• Follow Jim on Instagram
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube 

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I am joined by co-host Brett Hornig to present our coverage plan for the 2024 Western States 100. From Monday, June 24th through Friday, June 28th we're livestreaming 10 athlete interviews, 5 influencer/operator conversations, and 5 pre-race daily shows from our studio in Olympic Valley. Stay tuned for more information, especially details about daily content schedules, listener and viewer giveaways, and Wednesday group run,  posted on the Singletrack YouTube and Instagram channels as we get closer to race week. Special thanks to Brooks, the presenting sponsor of our content.

Sponsors:

• Brooks - check out their new Cascadia 18 shoe and High Point apparel collection (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack)
• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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 Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube 

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Kilian Jornet joins the Singletrack Podcast to talk about how mountain sports have evolved - with motivations shifting from scientific exploration to nationalism to self-centeredness in modern times, how the concept of the impossible is debated in mountaineering and trail running - with some questioning the impact of technological advancements, the idea of reducing consumption and rethinking business models to help minimize the outdoor industry’s footprint, and his involvement working to secure a better relationship between pro athletes and race organizations like UTMB.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 The Evolution of Motivations in Mountain Sports
• 04:08 The Influence of Society and Culture on Athletes
• 07:02 The Debate on the Concept of the Impossible
• 13:56 Contrasting Philosophical Aspects of Mountaineering and Trail Running
• 50:13 The Positive Role of Competition
• 56:22 The Importance of the Pro Trail Runners Association, UTMB Observations

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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.

Links:

• Follow Kiilian on Instagram, Strava, Website, Nnormal
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

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Candice Burt is the Founder of Destination Trail, a trail running events company that puts on popular races like the Moab 240, Tahoe 200, and Bigfoot 200.

Timestamps:

• 1:37 - Arizona Trail, interest in long trail FKT scene, remarking on Heather Anderson’s recent unsupported FKT
• 23:15 - athlete sponsorship discussion, working with brands, content angles on the social platforms, spring energy comments
• 45:30 - being a female business owner in the ultra community, evolution of the 200 mile scene, recruiting influencers to events

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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.

Links:

• Follow Candice on Instagram, Destination Trail 
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• "The Last American Man" by Elizabeth Gilbert

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Michael Versteeg joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about ultrarunning.

 Timestamps:

• (0:52) - the story behind 2021 Cocodona 250 race report, Arizona trail running ambassadorship, countercultural tendencies
• (15:11) - more Cocodona 250 discussion - the direction the race is headed in, popularity, what makes it special, 2024 experience racing the likes of Harry, Jeff Browning, Arlen, Joe McConaughy, etc
• (34:26) - discussion about the sustainability of a competitive mindset and whether it interferes with mental health
• (59:57) - Saddles 100, philosophy about ultrarunning events, sponsorship, etc
• (94:26) - overall philosophy of living and building
• (141:20) - experience at the 2015 Ultramarathon Caballo Blanco 
• (152:18) - experience at the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic
• (170:44) - inspiration from John Wesley Powell
• (180:09) - takeaways from the conversation, race directing ideas
• (200:01) - influence of parenthood

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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.

Links:

• Follow Michael on Instagram, Saddles 100, Blog, Run Steep Get High
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Ketone Study

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Caley Fretz is the Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Escape Collective, a member-funded independent cycling media company.  As Caley says in his LinkedIn bio, he's “used everything learned over a decade in journalism to build a more sustainable media company”. And that’s what we discuss in this episode - whether his experiences in the cycling space translate over to what current operations and the future of media look like in the trail running world.

If you’re interested in the business of sports and have enjoyed our conversations on these topics in the past, you’ll enjoy this one too.

Timestamps:

• (0:58) - Escape Collective backstory, Caley's sports journalism background
• (10:05) - explaining how we got to the current state of endurance sports media
• (23:38) - pros and cons of owned versus rented media channels
• (33:03) - pros and cons of alignment with fans versus versus partners, advertisers
• (39:11) - what happens next for the middle of the media market
• (43:03) - replicating parts of the Athletic business model
• (53:38) - future of endurance sports media, possible business models

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% 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.

 Links:

• Follow Caley on LinkedIn
• Email Caley ([email protected])
• Escape Collective
• Escape Collective Transparency Report
• Ketone Study
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

This episode is dedicated to my crew: Julia Campanelli, Sherman, Ned Melanson, Jeremiah Mullane, Joey Campanelli, Caleb Olson, Morgan Olson, and Scott Hickenlooper. Without you all, this wouldn't have been possible. I'm forever grateful. - Finn

 

Timestamps: 

• 02:02 - The Physical and Mental Challenges of a 200-Mile Race
• 09:06 - The Importance of Crew Support and Nutrition
• 23:29 - Overcoming Isolation and Low Moments in the Race
• 33:42 - Strategic Use of Live Tracker and Pacers
• 41:31 - Celebrating Checkpoints Instead of Fixating on the Finish Line
• 52:31 - The Evolving Competitiveness of 200-Mile Races
• 57:00 - Streamlined and Minimalist Gear Choices in the Future
• 01:26:35 - The Promising Future of The Cocodona 250

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Gorewear - use code Singletrack30 at checkout on their website (https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/home) to get 30% off your next order.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.

 Links:

• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show