The Trail Network Podcast

Fresh off her win at the Kodiak 100K, HOKA athlete Lotti Brinks joins Katie Asmuth to reflect on a season that looked nothing like she originally planned but turned into one of her most successful yet.

From finishing fifth at Western States to stacking wins throughout the year, Lotti shares how she's learned to embrace flexibility, trust her training, and stay competitive across different distances and terrain. She takes us behind the scenes of her Kodiak victory, where unexpected knee pain leading into the race and debilitating leg cramps for more than 40 miles made simply reaching the finish line a mental battle.

Katie and Lotti also dive into her love of mountain biking, the lessons she's carried from big jumps to ultra racing, and how she balances competing at the highest level with leading marketing at a tech startup. They discuss her close relationship with fellow elite runner and sister-in-law Careth Arnold, the meaningful story behind her fern tattoo, and how working with Precision Fuel & Hydration has transformed her approach to race nutrition.

With no set race calendar beyond Western States in 2027, Lotti shares why her biggest goal isn't tied to a particular finish line, but to continuing to grow as an athlete while protecting the joy that brought her to trail running in the first place.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Katie and Leah catch up after a big few weeks in trail running, from Mammoth Trailfest and the Bear 100 to what’s next in their own racing seasons.

They talk about the performances and people that stood out, the energy of being part of the trail community, and the different paths athletes take through the sport. They also get into longevity, mindset, balancing running with the rest of life, and knowing when to push versus when to listen to what your body is telling you.

Plus, Leah shares some big Hardrock news, and Katie talks about why another 100-miler might be calling her name sooner than expected.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

This week, Katie, Leah, and Rachel talk motherhood in sport, post-UTMB recovery, and their renewed motivation to get serious about strength training.

Katie also sits down with Jes Parker, founder of Take 2 Trail, a secondhand trail running gear business making it easier for runners to buy and sell used gear. Jes shares how a pile of unwanted headlamps sparked the idea, how Take 2 Trail works, and why giving gear a second life can make trail running more affordable and less wasteful.

Plus, the crew catches up on what’s next after UTMB, from mountain biking and CCC goals to getting “shredded in the backyard.”

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

The whole crew is back for a UTMB debrief! Hilary sits down with Rachel Drake, Leah Yingling, and Katie Asmuth to unpack their journeys around Mont Blanc, from the very different paths that got each of them to the start line to everything that unfolded over 100+ miles in the Alps.Rachel shares the emotional roller coaster that had her considering dropping at Courmayeur before turning her race around and ultimately finishing 25th. Leah talks about chasing big goals in an increasingly deep women's field, a nutrition mistake that changed the trajectory of her day, and finding an unexpected teammate in Amanda Basham for the final hours. And Katie reflects on arriving at UTMB with a completely different set of expectations, racing without the pressure to perform, and coming away with a renewed excitement for the sport.They get into the magic of the UTMB start, GI problems, motherhood and racing, learning to problem-solve when things go wrong, the complicated feeling of being both proud and disappointed with a result, and why all three walked away already thinking about what might come next.This is the full Trail Network UTMB recap: the good, the hard, the messy, and everything they learned along the way.This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Katie sits down with fellow HOKA athlete Emily Schmitz for a casual conversation from France as UTMB gets closer. Emily shares the path that brought her to trail running and eventually to living and training in France, plus a behind-the-scenes look at HOKA’s UTMB camp and what it’s really like preparing for one of the biggest weeks in the sport.

With both Katie and Emily gearing up to race UTMB, they dig into the realities of training and racing in the Alps, what they’ve learned from experience on the course, and how they’re approaching race day this year.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Leah Yingling and Hilary Yang catch up after a busy few weeks as UTMB training reaches its final stretch. Leah recaps her podium finish at Speedgoat 50K, what clicked mentally on race day, and the nutrition, gear, and pacing lessons she's taking into UTMB. Hilary shares updates as she enters the final weeks of pregnancy, reflects on balancing life beyond running, and the two discuss the importance of stepping away from the sport when it's what you need most.

They also chat about the incredible performances at Badwater, the growing depth of women's ultrarunning, the Start Line Project at Speedgoat, and why trail running is at its best when more people have access to the start line.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Fresh off setting a new course record at High Lonesome 100, Becca Bramley joins Katie to share the story behind one of the biggest performances of the summer. They talk about Becca's unconventional path through trail running, balancing racing with a career as a social worker, recovering from a broken arm just months before the race, and why staying patient has been the key to her steady rise in the sport. It's a conversation about resilience, joy, and trusting the process as Becca continues to establish herself among the top women in ultrarunning. 

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Careth Arnold's Hardrock 100 debut was anything but ordinary. After finishing second in one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world, Careth joins Katie to share what really happened during her 30-hour journey through the San Juan Mountains. From months spent acclimating in Silverton to battling pulmonary edema, wildfire smoke, and the mental challenge of racing when everything starts to unravel, this is an honest conversation about resilience, perspective, and learning from one of the biggest tests of her career. Careth also reflects on balancing elite racing with motherhood, self-coaching, and why she's already looking ahead to UTMB. 

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Tommie Runz joins Hilary Yang just days after finishing his first Western States Endurance Run to reflect on one of the biggest experiences of his running career. They talk about the path that brought him from road marathons to trail ultras, how his journey through sobriety continues to shape the way he approaches racing, and what it was like to adapt when race day didn't go according to plan.

Beyond the race itself, Tommie shares why representation matters in trail running, the responsibility he feels as a storyteller in the sport, and how staying present has become the foundation for both his running and his life.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

Goodr makes fun, affordable sunglasses designed for movement. Their lightweight, grip-coated frames won't slip or bounce, making them a favorite for running, hiking, travel, and everyday wear. Use the link goodr.com/trailnetwork to get $10 off your first order.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Western States delivered one of the most memorable weekends in the race's history, and Katie Asmuth and Leah Yingling are still processing everything they witnessed.

From Jenn Lichter's remarkable course record in her 100-mile debut to the incredible depth of both the women's and men's fields, they reflect on the performances that stood out, the lessons learned from pacing and crewing, and why this year's race may have changed how they think about racing 100 milers. They also share behind-the-scenes stories from the course, discuss what surprised them most, and look ahead to the rest of the mountain racing season.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

Goodr makes fun, affordable sunglasses designed for movement. Their lightweight, grip-coated frames won't slip or bounce, making them a favorite for running, hiking, travel, and everyday wear. Use the link goodr.com/trailnetwork to get $10 off your first order.