Singletrack

Finn Melanson, Brett Hornig, and special guest Jeff Colt talk about UTMB parting ways with Corrine Malcolm, the latest, Hardrock 100 and Black Canyon 100K start lists, reactions to the new Strava messaging feature, race performances that defined the 2010s, and lower-key races that we want to see gain popularity.


Timestamps:

• 02:00 - Introduction and UTMB Parting Ways with Corrine Malcolm
• 06:47 - Speculating UTMB's Future in North America
• 27:43 - Discussion on Hardrock 100 and Black Canyon
• 45:26 - Discussion on Shoe Innovation and Replication
• 52:35 - Introduction of Strava Messaging Feature
• 59:41 - Memorable Race Performances from the 2010s
• 01:05:02 - Impact of Media on Trail Running
• 01:19:18 - The Role of Storytellers in the 2020s
• 01:21:19 - Up and Coming Races in the Next 3-5 Years
• 01:28:52 - Race Ideas: Starting Point and Distance Challenge

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Additional Links:

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

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Spike Eskin is the VP of programming for WFAN and CBS Sports Radio and the host of a popular basketball podcast called “The Rights to Ricky Sanchez”. 

Given the proliferation of ultra-trail running media coverage in recent years, I figured this would be a good time to talk with an expert in sports programming and commentary from the major sports world that we can take lessons and insights from to bring back to our growing world. 

Whether you’re an athlete, a fan, a race director, a brand manager, or a media operator yourself, I think you’ll have many takeaways from this one. 

And as always, I’d love to continue the conversation and hear those thoughts. Shoot me a message @runsingletrack on Instagram. 

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Spike on Twitter and LinkedIn
• Listen to Spike on Stratechery and Making Media 
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

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Christina Henderson serves as the Executive Director for the Running Event, the premier trade show for the running industry which takes place annually at the end of November in Austin, TX.

At the time of this recording, we were just a few weeks away from the 2023 edition, so I figured this would be a good time to chat with Christina and get a better understanding of how the event serves our community, what's new for this year, and the implications of the social and commercial trends she's noticing.

Timestamps:

• (2:44) - Running Event backstory
• (12:58) - Running Event business model
• (28:04) - running industry trends
• (51:04) - Running Event expansions

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Register for the Running Event
• Follow Christina on LinkedIn
• Email Christina ([email protected])
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Sam Renouf is the Founder and CEO of the Professional Triathletes Organization. In this conversation, we talk about the challenges of professionalizing and mainstreaming endurance sports, pro athlete welfare, generating more casual fans for sports like trail running, and we get into some of the details of the PTO’s relationship with Ironman.  

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Sam on LinkedIn
• Listen to Sam on the Triathlon Hour
• Sam's interview on SlowTwitch
• PTO Website
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Seth Ruhling is a professional trail runner for The North Face based in Boulder, CO.

Seth joins the podcast fresh off his 2nd win at the JFK 50 this past Saturday and we spend a fair bit of time breaking down the performance, but we also get into some good discussion around his overall racing style, his career progression towards the upper echelon of ultra-trail, the highs and lows of his 2023 season which include rebounding from a heart condition to take 6th at CCC this past August and much more.

Timestamps:

• (1:47) - JFK 50 Analysis
• (30:49) - Career Progression and 2023 Year In Review
• (53:40) - Future Plans 

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Seth on Instagram, Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Marianne Hogan is a pro trail runner for Salomon based in Montreal, Quebec preparing for the 2023 Ultra Trail Cape Town 100K.

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Marianne on Instagram, Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Lindsey McDonald is a trail runner for the Aravaipa Racing Team based in Flagstaff, AZ preparing for the 2023 Ultra Trail Cape Town 100K.

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Lindsey on Instagram, Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

Eurotrack is back! Katie recaps her Grand Raid win and her decision to return to the Western States 100 next year, and then we do a retrospective on the 2023 European ultra trail scene offering our opinions on top performances, favorite moments, rookies of the year, emerging trends and from all of that, some of our predictions for 2024.

Timestamps:

• (1:50) - Grand Raid Recap
• (31:40) - Western States 100 return
• (42:20) - European Ultra Trail Scene Year In Review

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Katie on Instagram, Strava, North Face
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #238 - Eurotrack #2 - Katie Schide | Western States 100, Lavaredo 120K, Hardrock10
• #212 - Eurotrack #1 - Katie Schide | Eurotrack Introduction, Transvulcania Preview

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Steve Brammar is the Co-Race Director for the Hong 100K and one of the key architects of the World Trail Majors, which launches today.

Listen to our conversation to get all the details about what it is, how it works, and what it means for the trail running community.

Timestamps:

• (1:51) World Trail Majors announcement, race schedule
• (8:04) World Trail Majors purpose
• (25:17) consolidated versus fragmented ultra-trail landscape 
• (32:24) passion versus business
• (37:22) Hong Kong 100K 

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow World Trail Majors, Hong Kong 100K, Ellie Greenwood 
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show

In this episode, Kristian Morgan goes into detail about what it takes to pursue and set the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail. If you're interested in this scene either as a fan of long trail attempts or as an athlete curious about making a similar attempt one day, you won't want to miss this conversation. Kristian is equal parts informative, passionate, and entertaining about this project.

Timestamps:

•  (4:45) - influence of living and training in Ethiopia and Thailand 
• (15:12) - Karl Meltzer, Warren Doyle, Jenn Pharr Davis, Heather Anderson Appalachian Trail influence
• (41:13) - mental training component for Appalachian Trail 
• (58:53) - physical training component for Appalachian Trail 
• (77:23) - logistical and financial preparation for Appalachian Trail 
• (107:21) - future of Appalachian Trail FKT

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 15% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Oladance - use code ST at this link (https://oladance.com/ST) to get $30 off the Oladance OWS2 headphones.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• Kodiak Cakes - use code Singletrack15 at checkout on their website (https://kodiakcakes.com/singletrackpodcast) to get 15% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Kristian on Instagram, Website, GoFundMe, Strava
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

Support the show