Singletrack

Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling return to the Singletrack Podcast to help preview the women's and men's fields at the 2024 Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB).

In both fields, we cover top storylines and what to watch for, we answer some listener mail about the race, provide analysis of top contenders, categorize who we see as candidates for the win, for the podium, and the top 10, and we make bold predictions across a number of other fun categories.

Timestamps:

• (0:43) - Course Strategy
• (18:57) - Women's Field Preview
• (73:12) - Men's Field Preview 

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.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

Additional Links:

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

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Abby Hall’s journey to the 2024 UTMB start line is, in my opinion, one of the most compelling storylines of this year’s race. 

It’s been a while since she was last on the podcast—roughly about two years ago, around this same time, before the same race. This hiatus was not due to a lack of interest on my part. I closely follow her career across various social media platforms; she’s an exceptional writer and excels at documenting the life of a professional trail runner.

In our conversation, we cover everything that has happened in the past 15 months and what it took for her to return to the sport’s biggest stage. I believe you’ll find the discussion highly valuable. Abby is a generous conversationalist who skillfully connects her experiences to the interests of the audience.

Timestamps:

• 01:30 Introduction and Recapping 2022/2023 timeline
• 04:53 The Challenges of Recovering from a Major Injury
• 08:23 Rehabilitation and the Full-Time Job of Recovery
• 16:14 The Emotional Impact of Injury and the Role of a Sports Psychologist
• 23:08 The Complexities of Self-Responsibility in the Recovery Process
• 26:21 The Importance of Building Relationships with Supportive Team Members
• 30:12 Personal Rituals and Ceremonies in the Recovery Journey
• 33:28 Inspiring Others Through Social Media
• 42:50 Finding Joy in the Process of Training and Racing
• 55:47 Setting Goals and Staying Focused on Your Passion

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.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

 Additional Links:

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

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Tom Evans returns to the Singletrack Podcast to talk about the influence of work and travel in Kenya on his ultrarunning career, how he plans to bounce back from last year's UTMB, his new approach to social media and in-person engagements before race day, and some of the latest training and racing science he's incorporating into his 2024 schedule.

Timestamps:

• (1:35) - influence of the military and Iten, Kenya on his ultrarunning career
• (11:50) - greediness, selectivity, being realistic about racing performance prospects
• (30:42) - perils of media engagements, social media, distractions and their impact on race day performance
• (48:43) - training questions around specificity, double-labeled water test, exogenous ketones, traveling with a rice cooker

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.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

 Additional Links:

• Follow Tom on Instagram, YouTube, Strava
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

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Jim Walmsley returns to the Singletrack Podcast to talk about his upcoming title defense at Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB), final takeaways from his win at the Western States 100 in June, observations from spectating this year's Hardrock 100, whether he would ever do a full season on the Golden Trail series circuit, and how his career in ultrarunning has progressed to date both from training and race standpoints.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 The Increasing Competitiveness of Western States
• 09:02 The Importance of Mental Strength in Racing
• 15:19 Considering the Golden Trail Series
• 18:22 Adjusting Strategies for Future Races
• 22:50 The Challenges of the UTMB Course
• 27:56 Keeping Training Private for Focus
• 33:25 Approaching UTMB with Caution 
• 35:30 Considering the World Trail Championships
• 39:31 The Longevity of a Successful Career
• 49:29 Finding Inspiration in Other Sports
  
  

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.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

 Additional Links:

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

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This conversation with Warren Doyle might need a bit of context if you’re not well-versed in the long-distance thru-hiking scene in North America. Warren is a prominent figure in the Appalachian Trail community. While there's some debate about the exact beginning of the modern fastest known time (FKT) scene on the AT, Warren's impressive 1973 record of 66 days and change is widely considered a significant milestone.

Warren’s contributions to the trail are extensive. Over a 45-year period, he led eight large-group “circle” expeditions with near 100% completion rates. He founded the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association and established the Appalachian Trail Institute, which has helped thousands of hikers achieve their thru-hiking goals. He has also played a key role in preparing notable figures like Jenn Pharr Davis and Liz Derstine for record-setting endurance attempts, and has advised many other prominent endurance athletes, including Karel Sabbe.

I’m excited to have Warren on the show for several reasons. First and foremost, my deep love for the AT and my ongoing quest to understand its history. Warren has been a central figure in shaping the trail’s scene over the past 40 to 50 years. In our conversation, we’ll explore topics like the nature of endurance records on long trails, the purpose of the AT, social change, the impact of the outdoor industry on thru-hiking culture, the relationship between government and nature, and much more.

Regardless of your familiarity with the scene, I think you’ll find this episode engaging. Warren is a vibrant and generous conversationalist, and I’m sure you’ll gain a lot from our discussion.

Timestamps:

• 02:00 Introduction and Backlash on the AT
• 10:34 The Commercialization of the Outdoor Industry
• 17:48 The Relationship Between the Trail and the Government
• 25:22 The Importance of Substantive Conversations on the Trail
• 40:10 Regulations and Policing of Mount Katahdin
• 44:39 The Amateur Aspect of Endurance Hiking
• 47:26 The Role of Support Crews in Endurance Record Attempts
• 01:03:36 Challenges of Reintegrating into Society after the AT
• 01:11:54 Embracing a Wilderness State of Mind
• 01:17:04 Supporting Dreams and Moving Forward
• 01:24:05 The Role of a Social Change Educator
• 01:31:55 Concerns about the Future of the Appalachian Trail 

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.shop/) 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:

• Warren's Website, Outside Feature

Support the show

Brett Hornig and Jeff Colt join the Singletrack Podcast for another edition of the Long Run Archives. We talk about the prospect of the backyard ultra format being added to the Olympic games, insights for trail runners from the Tour de France, a Western States 100 with no automatic returning top-10 runners, the value of increasing popularity in fastest known time attempts, and speculate where top runners like Zach Miller and Courtney Dauwalter might race next.
 
 
 Timestamps:

• 00:00 Imagining the Backyard Ultra Format in the Paris Olympics
• 08:28 Tour de France Nutrition Strategies for Trail Running
• 27:29 Training Partners vs. Crew Service
• 39:40 Changing the Invitation System for Western States
• 44:40 The Impact on Race Dynamics and Strategies
• 48:04 The Role of Team Support and Camaraderie
• 53:51 Improving the World Trail Majors' Team Format
• 1:15:09 Harnessing the Power of Self-Talk in Sports Performance
• 1:31:50 The Strava Pro Badge Purge
• 1:35:34 The Worth of Increasing the Popularity of the FKT Scene

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

Support the show

This episode was recorded live at Singletrack’s Olympic Valley studios ahead of the 2024 Western States 100.

We were joined by Nick Bare and even though this was technically a pre-race interview, so much of what we talked about was only peripherally related to the event, so similar to the Scott Jurek and Sally McRae conversations from that week I wanted to save it for a stand-alone podcast a few weeks on.

Specifically, we talk about creating portals online for people to find the sport of trail running, what it means to be a hybrid athlete, some of his favorite books about mental and physical strength, how to make our sport cooler or more memorable, his advice for athletes and creators from a content marketing standpoint, and what’s exciting him about a race like Western States.

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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This episode was recorded live at Singletrack’s Olympic Valley studios ahead of the 2024 Western States 100.

We were joined by Sally McRae who probably needs no introduction. Sally is another person I've wanted to talk with since the inception of this podcast and even though this was technically a pre-race interview, so much of what we talked about was only peripherally related to the event, so similar to the Scott Jurek conversation I wanted to save it for a stand-alone podcast a few weeks on.

Specifically, we talk about the trajectory of her career starting with her Nike trail contract signing in the mid-2010s, how to think about the business side of trail running as a creator or athlete, and some of her favorite Western States 100 stories dating back to some of those great Billy Yang films a few years ago.

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 Leah Yingling join Singletrack to recap the 2024 Hardrock 100. We talk about the amazing performances from athletes like Courtney Dauwalter and Ludovic Pommeret, Leah's experience working on the livestream, Brett’s fan experience, Finn’s time creating content around the lead runners, the history and culture of this race, top storylines and insights from the weekend, and what the future of this race might look like after such another historic year of individual and cumulative performances.

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.

    Additional Links:

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

Support the show

This episode was recorded live at Singletrack’s Olympic Valley studios ahead of the 2024 Western States 100.

We were joined by Scott Jurek who probably needs no introduction. Scott is someone I've wanted to talk with since the inception of this podcast and even though this was technically a pre-race interview, so much of what we talked about was only peripherally related to the event, so I wanted to save it for a stand-alone podcast a few weeks on.

Specifically, we talk about his history in the sport, some of the mental and emotional aspects of being an elite athlete, how someone of his stature in the sport grapples with athletic mortality, and some of his favorite stories with fellow competitors over the years.

*Note the audio jumps a bit at a few points in the conversation. I think this was due to the poor internet connection at our studio during the livestream. - Finn


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

Support the show