The Directors

By Trials of Miles Racing LLC

Conversations with innovative race directors from the Trials of Miles team.

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How many episodes does The Directors have?

The podcast currently has 55 episodes available.

The Directors episodes:

August 22, 2025 Brooks Bash: The Earthy 5000
On this episode, Cooper sits down with Brooks Bash, founder of Earthy, who’s in the middle of one of the wildest challenges you can imagine: the Earthy 5000. Brooks talks about what the first seven days have looked like, why he decided to take this on, where it’s headed, and the hurdles of trying to sell 5,000 bags of his product. It’s a quick conversation, but a wild ride—give it a listen.
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19min
August 14, 2025 Chris Tolley: The Driveway Series
In this episode, Cooper Knowlton interviews Chris Tolley, the man behind the Driveway Series in Austin, Texas. They discuss the unique aspects of the Driveway Series, including its location, race formats, and community engagement. Chris shares insights into the challenges of promoting cycling events, the barriers to entry for new participants, and the importance of sponsorship and community support. They also explore the potential for integrating running events into the Driveway Series and the inspiration Chris draws from other event series around the world.
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1h 1min
August 01, 2025 Trials of Miles: 2025 Midyear Performance Review
On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down for a midyear review of the Trials of Miles business. From the best moments to the biggest flops, they reflect on what worked, what didn't and everything in-between. The conversation is candid, wide-ranging, and filled with behind-the-scenes insights into what it’s really like running an event company in the endurance space. They also look ahead at what’s coming up for the second half of the year and beyond. Give it a listen and let us know what you think!
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39min
July 02, 2025 Alison Wade: Fast Women
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Alison Wade, the voice behind Fast Women, the go-to newsletter and media platform covering women's distance running. They dive into how Fast Women got started, what it takes to build a business around a niche sport, and the realities of running an independent media company in today’s brand-driven landscape. The conversation also touches on the Nike Breaking2 Project, Athlos, and the broader state of the sport today. It’s a wide-ranging, thoughtful conversation and we hope you give it a listen.
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46min
June 25, 2025 Aron D'Souza: The Enhanced Games
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Aron D’Souza, President of The Enhanced Games. They dive into what the first edition of the Enhanced Games will look like when it debuts in Las Vegas in 2026, explore the event’s unique business model, and discuss how the track and field competition will be structured. The conversation also covers how the Enhanced Games recruits athletes, its overarching mission, and the issues it aims to address within the Olympic system. It’s a fascinating and thought-provoking episode and we hope you give it a listen.
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25min
June 19, 2025 Ben Rosario: The Marathon Project
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Ben Rosario, the former head coach of NAZ Elite and the current director of the Marathon Project, returning this December in Arizona. Ben takes us through the origins of the Marathon Project during the pandemic, why and how version two is taking shape, and how it fits into the bigger picture of pro running leading into the 2028 Olympic Trials. Ben and Cooper also chat about how the stress of coaching compares to the stress of race directing, Ben’s evolving role in the world of pro running, and what’s next in his career. It's a great conversation and we hope you give it a listen.
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54min
June 11, 2025 Abram Dickerson: Aspire Adventure Running
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Abram Dickerson, founder and director of Aspire Adventure Running. During the conversation they dive into Abraham's journey building Aspire and exploring how the company blends trail running with immersive backcountry experiences. The conversation also covers the unique challenges of leading multi-day running trips versus traditional races, the business model behind adventure travel, and what it takes to market and sell outdoor experiences. Abe also shares insights into the broader guiding industry and where he sees this niche heading in the years ahead.

You can learn more about Aspire Adventure Running here.
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47min
June 04, 2025 Peter Abraham: Abraham Content Marketing Studio
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Peter Abraham — former CMO of the LA Marathon and founder of Abraham Content Marketing Studio. They talk about the All-American Rejects tour, what running can learn from the world of cycling, the future of livestreaming, the power of storytelling, and how events can better connect with their communities. It’s a wide-ranging conversation full of insight for anyone working in or around the endurance space.
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46min
May 28, 2025 John Lacroix: The Human Potential Running Series
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with John LaCroix, the founder and director of the Human Potential Race Series. John shares the origin story behind the series and his path into race directing, offering a unique perspective shaped by two decades in trail and ultrarunning. The conversation covers how the sport of ultrarunning has evolved—from a grassroots community to one increasingly influenced by brands and big business. John doesn’t shy away from addressing some of the sport’s growing pains, including the risks posed by inexperienced race organizers. He also talks about how he maintains optimism in the face of these challenges and what the future holds for both himself and the broader trail community.
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1h 4min
May 21, 2025 David Grass: Faces of Fitness Chicago
In this episode, Cooper chats with David Grass, founder of Faces of Fitness Chicago, a two-day, festival-style event that brings together top studio classes, celebrity instructors, and an immersive wellness experience in the heart of Chicago. David shares the origin story of the festival — where the idea came from, what inspired it, and how it took shape. He also reflects on how the event has evolved over time, including the thinking behind creative decisions like bringing in a major celebrity DJ to headline this year’s lineup. The conversation dives into the business of event production: partnering with brands, navigating sponsorships, envisioning the future of fitness festivals, and managing the unpredictable realities of live events. It’s a great conversation, and we hope you give it a listen.

You can learn more about Faces of Fitness Chicago here.
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44min

FAQs about The Directors:

How many episodes does The Directors have?

The podcast currently has 55 episodes available.