6 spots for the USA 80K Mountain & Trail Running Team are on the line in a certified barn burner of a race this coming Saturday at the Lake Sonoma 50 and I’m joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to break it all down. 

We analyze the course, talk about success factors, note the interesting storylines, and make predictions for the female and male top-3 finishers this year.

Who’s making the USA 80K team and racing at Innsbruck, Austria in June?

Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Timestamps:

• (2:44) - what makes Lake Sonoma interesting this year
• (15:17) - women's field analysis, predictions
• (37:32) - men's field analysis, predictions
• (63:01) - final thoughts 

Links:

• Follow Brett on Instagram and Strava
• Follow Leah on Instagram and Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram and Strava

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Brian Metzler is an award-winning sports journalist, writer, and photographer from Boulder, Colorado, who has produced storytelling content for publications like Outside, Trail Runner, Runner’s World, Competitor, and Sports Illustrated, as well as several books, including “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes”  and “Trail Running Illustrated”.

We discuss the value of endurance sports journalism, how sports marketing is changing, creating trail running fans, and the evolution of UTMB.

Timestamps:

• (1:06) - the content preferences of trail running fans
• (12:39) - marketing trail running to a broader audience
• (29:19) - “trail running is the future” for some shoe companies
• (37:11) - concerns about the growth of the sport
• (44:32) - shakeups in the trail running event landscape
• (56:00) - it is better for a few athletes to dominate or have more mystery in the results
• (62:16) - doping in trail and ultra running
• (82:08) - if and when we’ll see a media outlet dedicated to pro trail running
• (88:54) - the value of trail running journalism

Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Links:

• Brian's website, Instagram, and Strava
• Follow Finn on Strava, Instagram, and Twitter

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John Kelly is a professional endurance athlete and now 2-time finisher of the Barkley Marathons.

In this conversation, we get his thoughts about the media attention and public perception surrounding Barkley, what draws the general public to our sport, his views on using intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation for high performance, creating the ideal Barkley athlete, and why he’s interested in going after the Appalachian Trail FKT in the future.

Timestamps:

• (1:02) - why you have to be intrinsically motivated to finish Barkley
• (6:42) - what John wrote in his application essay for Barkley
• (9:23) - automated Twitter race narrations
• (12:06) - changing ideas about how to prepare for Barkley
• (19:26) - goldilocks zone of difficulty
• (24:36) - why he returns to Barkley
• (28:50) - mildly fulfilling successes versus stretch efforts
• (32:16) - ideal Barkley athlete
• (37:51) - why Barkley gets so much fanfare, why it appeals to the general public
• (49:10) - addressing Barkley criticisms
• (58:53) - Appalachian Trail FKT interest

Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Links:

• Follow John on Instagram, Twitter, and Strava

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This is the first episode of a new series we are calling "Trail Tea". These episodes take the candor of group chats and pull them into the audio realm.

In this edition, I am joined by Jack Kuenzle, Dan Curts, and Abby Levene. We discuss pro runner social media, boring trail running media, exclusive trail races, faith in the gear review industry, pro runners on Strava, and whether we should be elevating people who focus 100% of the sport.

Buckle up because this is a fun episode.

Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Timestamps:

• (2:11) - pro runner social media 
• (25:40) - boring trail running media
• (48:00) - exclusive trail races
• (56:48) - gear review industry
• (67:25) - Strava discussion
• (79:31) - elevating "all-in" athletes

Links:

• Follow Jack on Strava and Instagram
• Follow Abby on Strava and Instagram
• Follow Dan on Strava and Instagram
• Follow Finn on Strava and Instagram

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Sabrina Little is a Philosophy Professor and Professional Ultrarunner based in Newport News, VA. Sabrina is also a regular columnist for IRunfar and we spend the majority of this conversation discussing a recent post she wrote about what it might look like to be a good fan, as well as a bad fan, of ultra running during this era of significant change in our sport.

Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Timestamps:

• (1:32) - connecting running and philosophy
• (10:15) - whether academia or running has had a bigger influence on philosophy
• (14:18) - motivation to reflect on ultrarunning fans
• (25:34) - gossip, escapism, anonymity, rooting for vice
• (39:45) - whether negative in-sport characteristics translate to other areas of life
• (48:54) - how fan behavior impacts the future of ultrarunning

Links:

• The Vices Of Fandom
• Follow Sabrina on Instagram
• Follow Sabrina on Strava

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I am joined by Brett Hornig to debate whether the culture has groomed elites to be passive about their career prospects, the biggest scams in our sport, whether it's harder to get to the top or stay at the top as a pro athlete, and why fans fixate on fast times instead of good competition.

Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Timestamps:

• (2:31) - content creation goals for 2023
• (8:28) - whether trail running culture has conditioned aspiring pro athletes to be passive about their career prospects
• (21:37) - the biggest scams in trail running
• (29:57) - hypothetical race where the 5 winners get guaranteed six-figure contracts 
• (35:20) - running technology everyone will be using 5 years from now
• (47:20) - fixation on fast times over good competition
• (64:03) - is it harder to get to the top or stay at the top as a pro runner
• (80:22) - ultrarunning television ideas
• (88:45) - pro athlete salary report 

Additional Links:

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

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #195 - Long Run Archives #10 | Black Canyon Reflections, Western States Storylines, Prize Money, Future Of Crewing
• #182 - Long Run Archives #9 | True Fans Of Trail Running, 100 Mile Hot Takes, UTMB World Series

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Dani Moreno is a professional trail runner for Adidas Terrex based in Mammoth Lakes, CA. She returns to the Singletrack Podcast to discuss sponsorship changes, her history and insights from navigating the athlete brand relationship over the course of her career, and her racing schedule for 2023.

Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Timestamps:

• (1:11) - sponsor change announcement, reflections on change
• (9:09) - what went into the decision to switch sponsors
• (17:01) - holistic athlete-brand relationships, working with an agent
• (24:47) - 2023 racing schedule, Boston Marathon, return to OCC

Links:

• Follow Dani on Instagram, Strava, and her personal website
• Follow the Subhub Podcast 

Additional Links:

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

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Allie Ostrander is a professional runner for Nnormal based in Seattle, WA.

Allie has notched many accomplishments on the track winning 3 national collegiate titles in the steeplechase, running professionally for the Brooks Beasts, and winning the 3K event at the 2020 Millrose Games among accolades while also demonstrating impressive versatility winning the famous Mount Marathon race in 2017.

Allie recently announced her signing with the trail running brand NNormal and her focus on trail running for 2023. We have a wide-ranging conversation about her background, being a public figure and professional athlete while being transparent around her struggles with injuries and eating disorder, as well as outlook on her investment in trail running.
 
Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Timestamps:

• (1:47) - how growing up in Alaska influenced running identity
• (4:18) - collegiate and professional running resume
• (6:31) - being certain about pro athlete path
• (12:14) - unsustainable paths to pro running
• (20:14) - broader sport discussion around eating disorders
• (27:40) - the value of being transparent about struggles
• (31:51) - how brands have responded
• (36:45) - how the media influences athletes
• (41:00) - influence of Emelie Forsberg and Kilian Jornet, signing with NNormal
• (48:57) - trail running interests, training, race schedule 
• (58:01) - final thoughts 

Links:

• Follow Allie on Instagram, Youtube, and Strava

Additional Links:

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

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Jason Koop is the Head Coach of Carmichael Training Systems Ultrarunning.

In this conversation, we talk about whether and how the increasing professionalization of ultrarunning is changing the ways athletes train and race and generally commit their livelihood to the craft, the potential for professional co-located trail running teams, doping and the policies that should be put into place as soon as possible among many more topics.

Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Timestamps:

• (1:36) - insights from traveling to races with athletes
• (9:53) - what's changed the most in the way elite athletes races ultras
• (15:35) - why it's insufficient for elite athletes to marginally improve year over year
• (30:19) - when ultrarunners reach their performance peaks
• (40:45) - creating the ideal mountain ultra trail runner
• (47:04) - biggest advances in the athlete-coach relationship
• (55:36) - feasibility of trail running teams
• (64:41) - media coverage of ultrarunning
• (69:41) - doping in ultrarunning
• (96:20) - training theories for 200 mile races, long trail FKTs
• (105:04) - how coaching for ultras looks different in 2030
• (110:00) - final thoughts

Links:

• Follow Jason on Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and Strava
• Listen to the Koop Cast
• Training Essentials For Ultrarunning
• Anti Doping 101

Additional Links:

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

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Michael Brandt is the CEO and Co-Founder of HVMN, a nutrition company that makes exogenous ketone products for endurance athletes. We talk about what exogenous ketones are, how they benefit endurance athletes, how they can be incorporated into daily nutrition schedules, and what the future looks like for their usage in the trail and ultrarunning scene.

Timestamps:

• (2:13) - Running a 50K at Burning Man
• (7:53) - Starting a business in the performance nutrition space
• (10:45) - Department of Defense research on exogenous ketones
• (16:04) - explaining exogenous ketones
• (18:53) - differences between endogenous and exogenous ketones
• (24:47) - stacking exogenous ketones with carbs, proteins, etc
• (27:50) - supplementing with exogenous ketones on a long run
• (32:38) - benefits of exogenous ketones
• (48:00) - timing intake of exogenous ketones
• (49:16) - how long exogenous ketones work for
• (51:48) - safety issues with exogenous ketones
• (54:19) - what critics say about exogenous ketones
• (59:09) - scientific literature on exogenous ketones
• (71:31) - loading phase for exogenous ketones
• (72:41) - tolerance or dependence on exogenous ketones
• (73:37) - measuring ketone levels
• (77:29) - HVMN products

Discounts:

• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Links:

• Follow Michael on Instagram, Twitter, Strava and his Personal Website
• Burning Man Ultramarathon

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