Singletrack

Matt Feldhake is the Marketing Director for Aravaipa Running. Matt joins the podcast to discuss visions for Cocodona 250, the progress made around live-streaming events in our sport, and pitching trail running to different audiences.

Discounts:

• Aravaipa Running - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on Ultrasignup for 10% off registration to one of their Flagstaff Sky Peaks races on 10/7.
• 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:

• (1:37) - vision for the Cocodona 250
• (7:44) - fan interest in 200+ mile race
• (15:44) - early lessons from the Cocodona 250 livestream
• (21:32) - Flagstaff livestreaming scene
• (30:31) - the rewards, complexity of Cocodona 250 livestream
• (34:28) - why Aravaipa is excied about and invested in livestreaming events
• (44:29) - guessing at the future of trail running livestreams
• (48:53) - trail running media inspiration
• (53:01) - UTMB discussion, trail running events landscape
• (60:50) - marketing the sport of trail running

Links:

• Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
• The Long Way Home ft Eric Senseman
• Flagstaff Sky Peaks race series

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #184 - Fred Abramowitz - Run Rabbit Run | Casual Ultrarunning Fans, Prize Money, Sponsorship Blueprint
• #60 - Chris Chavez | Citius Mag, Building A Running Media Company, Creating Running Fans
• #26 - Sam Parsons | How To Build A Trail Running Team

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This is the first episode in a series called Eurotrack where I’m joined by Katie Schide and Brett Hornig to analyze key races on the European ultra-trail running circuit.

In this inaugural episode, we talk about the athletes that American fans might overlook, the key training hubs in the region, the races that matter most on the continent, and differences in training, racing, and sports media over there before previewing Transvulcania at the end of the conversation.

Timestamps:

• (2:29) - European trail running training hubs
• (11:30) - European trail athletes that fly under the radar
• (37:08) - Key races on the European ultra trail running circuit
• (51:03) - Transvulcania preview

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

Additional Links:

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

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #128 - Katie Schide | 2022 UTMB Champion

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Cole Watson and Brett Hornig join the podcast to recap Cole's win at the Canyons 100K this past weekend.

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/)

Additional Links:

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

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #192 - Cole Watson | 2023 Black Canyon 100K Pre-Race Interview
• #77 - Cole Watson | 2022 Western States Pre-Race Interview

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Catherine and Michel Poletti are the Co-Founders of the UTMB race series in Chamonix, France. They join the podcast to discuss their vision for trail running over the last two decades, their history with ITRA and the Ultra Trail World Tour, partnering with Ironman and building the UTMB World Series, and their opinions on where our sport is heading in the years and decades to come.

Timestamps:

• 0:55) - similarities and differences between American and European racing
• (4:43) - shaping American events in the image of UTMB versus maintaining their historical elements
• (8:57) - reflecting on how well the UTMB World Series experiment has worked so far
• (10:36) - how the vision for UTMB has changed or stayed the same over the last 20 years
• (13:26) - incentives for growing UTMB
• (19:21) - history with ITRA, Ultra Trail World Tour
• (23:46) - genesis of partnership with Ironman
• (31:44) - UTMB’s perspective on independent races
• (36:10) - perspective on equality and sustainability issues in trail running
• (45:54) - the independence of trail running
• (52:46) - future of ultra trail running
• (65:38) - final thoughts

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

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In this episode, I am joined by Brett Hornig and Leah Yingling to preview the 2023 Canyons 100K. We analyze the course, talk about what it's going to take to be successful, note some of the interesting storylines around the event, and make our predictions for the female and male top-3 finishers this year.

Timestamps:

• (0:32) - excitement and context for this race
• (8:40) - course analysis 
• (23:14) - women’s field preview, picks
• (43:50) - men’s field preview, picks
• (60:18) - 100 mile and 50K race discussions, final thoughts 

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

Links:

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

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Welcome to "Point to Point", a recurring episode of Singletrack  recapping the news that came across my radar in the world of trail and ultra running in the last week.

Timestamps:

• (0:30) - Golden Trail Series - Eurosport media deal
• (2:10) - Ethics of running contracts
• (4:10) - Canyons by UTMB, Sunapee Scramble
• (5:40) - UTMB pregnancy policy
• (6:40) - Personal updates

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

Links:

• UTMB Pregnancy Policy
• Ethics Of Running Contracts
• The Golden Trail World Series - Eurosport Partnership
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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Eric LiPuma is a professional trail runner based outside of Burlington, VT preparing for the Canyons 100K later this month. In this conversation, we talk about the intersection of running and design, what "making it" looks like in our sport, the rising popularity of the trail running world championships, and receiving inspiration from other sports to make our community even greater.

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:

• (1:05) - thoughts and feelings running full-time right now
• (3:23) - intersection of running and design, making sport cooler
• (9:24) - east coast versus west coast trail scene, Boulder versus Burlington
• (25:02) - influence of world championships experience
• (30:03) - Western States versus Worlds versus UTMB
• (37:57) - Canyons 100K outlook
• (42:45) - outlook for "making it" in the sport
• (47:07) - inspiration from action sports

Additional Links:

• Follow Eric on Instagram, Strava, Website, Coaching
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon
• Epicly Later'd

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #156 - USA Men's 80K Team | 2022 World Trail Running Championships Gold Medal Recap

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I am joined by Brett Hornig to recap the Lake Sonoma 50, discuss the new UTMB-Outside live-streaming partnership, and debate the practicality of gambling, leagues, and agents in pro 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
• Trails and Tarmac - get $120 off your first 3 months of coaching (https://trailsandtarmac.com/get-in-touch/)

Timestamps:

• (0:29) - perfect trail running towns
• (6:43) - Lake Sonoma 50 recap
• (25:28) - Outside/UTMB livestream partnership
• (31:32) - is gambling coming to trail running?
• (43:45) - Marvin Bracy Citius Mag interview
• (65:18) - should pro trail runners have agents?
• (78:49) - Michael Johnson’s tweet on future of pro running

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:

• Long Run Archives #11 | Trail Running Scams, Breaking 14 Project, Hologram Pacers

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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

Support the show

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

Support the show