Ellaney Matarese thought she was taking a gap year before medical school. Instead, she found herself falling in love with trail running and earning a Golden Ticket to the 2026 Western States 100 less than a year after running her first ultra.

In this conversation, Ellaney shares her journey from Harvard track athlete and neuroscience graduate to one of the sport's most intriguing new talents. She reflects on embracing uncertainty, chasing new challenges, and why staying open to unexpected opportunities has shaped both her running and her life. We also talk about Black Canyon, Canyons, preparing for her first 100-miler, and the mindset that has helped her navigate a whirlwind first year in the sport. 

Topics Discussed

• Earning a Golden Ticket to the Western States 100
• Transitioning from collegiate track to trail ultras
• Racing Black Canyon and Canyons 100K
• Training with David Roche
• Medical school, neuroscience, and life beyond running
• Learning through first-time experiences
• Preparing for a Western States debut
• Girls on the Run and her marathon fundraiser
• Finding confidence through curiosity and adventure

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!

Precision Fuel & Hydration sports scientist Emily Arrell joins Rachel Drake for a deep dive into the world of endurance fueling. Emily shares what it was like to crew Rachel Entwistle during her record-breaking run at Cocodona 250, the nutrition strategies that helped make it possible, and why preparation starts long before race day.

They also unpack Rachel’s recent race at Madeira, discuss sweat testing, sodium intake, carb loading, gut training, and common mistakes athletes make when preparing for long races. Whether you're training for your first ultra or dreaming about a 100-miler, this conversation offers practical insights into how fueling can help you perform at your best. 

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

A big shout out to our new 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.

Episode 108 brings all four hosts back together for a rare catch-up episode, and the conversation covers everything from ambitious running goals to the realities of trying to fit training into already full lives. Hilary shares the experience of premiering Raise the Bar, her feature-length film celebrating the women of Western States and the athletes who continue to push the sport forward. Rachel reflects on her standout FKT effort on West Grandeur and the challenge of balancing big athletic goals with motherhood, medical training, and everyday life. Leah talks about building toward UTMB, finding motivation in a busy season of life, and the growing sense of community she’s found in Salt Lake City. Katie opens up about navigating family health challenges, illness, interrupted training, and the mental battle of holding onto goals when life keeps throwing curveballs.

It’s a conversation about ambition, friendship, perspective, and why showing up imperfectly is often the most important part of the process. Whether you're training for your biggest race of the year or simply trying to squeeze a run into a busy week, this episode is a reminder that progress rarely looks perfect, and that’s okay. 

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

A big shout out to our new 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!

After a few chaotic weeks away from the mic, Katie is back and catching up with Leah on everything that’s unfolded lately, from her son's type 1 diabetes diagnosis to the emotional whiplash of balancing family crisis with training, racing, and everyday life. It’s an honest conversation about what happens when running suddenly takes a backseat, and how both of them are navigating UTMB build-up while life keeps throwing curveballs.

They also get into local race wins, steep Salt Lake climbs, late-night mountain runs, Western States pacing plans, Broken Arrow prep, and the momentum women’s trail running is carrying right now after huge performances from Rachel Entrekin, Tove Alexandersson, and more. Through all of it, this episode comes back to the same idea: running can be part of your life without being your entire identity.

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

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

After a couple missed recording attempts and a very full few weeks, Leah and Hilary finally sit down to catch up. Hilary shares her pregnancy news and what the last few months have looked like balancing training, work, commentary, and just trying to survive the first trimester. The conversation also dives into Cocodona, Rachel Entrekin’s massive performance, the growing momentum behind women’s ultrarunning, and the different ways athletes navigate motherhood, racing, and identity within the sport.

They also touch on Western States training camp season, postpartum running, Hilary’s upcoming film premiere, and why this era of trail running feels especially exciting right now.

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

A big shout out to our new 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!

After a chaotic lead-up that included travel stress, illness, childcare logistics, and a race that almost didn’t happen, Rachel and Tyler Green made it to Madeira… and ended up delivering two standout performances on one of the most technical courses in the sport.

In this episode, Hilary sits down with both Rachel and Tyler to unpack what it actually looked like behind the scenes. This isn’t just a race recap. It’s a conversation about showing up when nothing feels perfect, trusting your process when confidence is low, and navigating high-level racing while balancing careers, parenting, and real life.

Tyler shares what it meant to finally feel like himself again at the front of an international field, and how he managed the inevitable highs and lows of a long race day. Rachel opens up about racing postpartum, letting go of expectations, and finding joy and perspective in a season that looks very different than before.

There’s also a deeper look at partnership, support systems, and what it really takes to make racing at this level possible. From family logistics to mid-race problem solving, this episode pulls back the curtain on what goes into these performances beyond the results.

It’s a reminder that very few races start from a place of perfect preparation, and that sometimes the most meaningful outcomes come from the messiest lead-ups.

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

A big shout out to our new 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’s catch-up episode leans into where the sport is right now and how quickly everything seems to be evolving.

With Rachel off racing in Madeira, Katie, Leah, and Hilary sit down to unpack a stretch of racing that felt bigger than usual. From the ACG takeover at Gorge to the growing presence of brands, media, and storytelling in trail, there’s a clear shift happening in how races are experienced, marketed, and consumed. It’s not just about who wins anymore. It’s about how the sport shows up.

The conversation naturally moves into what that means for athletes. The pressure that comes with bigger platforms, the reality of bad race days, and the challenge of staying grounded when expectations keep rising. There’s an honest look at how pros navigate performance swings, sponsorship dynamics, and the mental side of showing up again after things don’t go to plan.

They also touch on the increasing overlap between road and trail, with more athletes moving between disciplines and finding breakthroughs by doing things differently. It’s less about choosing one lane and more about building a broader version of what it means to be an endurance athlete.

As always, it circles back to real life. Training interruptions, family logistics, travel fatigue, and finding small ways to keep showing up anyway. It’s a reminder that even at the highest level, there’s no perfect formula. Just people figuring it out as they go.

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

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

Robyn Lesh is one of the most interesting athletes in trail running right now because of how quickly she’s figuring things out and the results that are coming with it.

A former competitive sailor and MIT-trained engineer, Robyn came into trail running without a traditional background in the sport. In just a few years, she’s gone from learning how to pace her first ultras to racing at the front of some of the most competitive fields in the world.

This conversation digs into that progression. What it actually feels like to step up in distance. How you learn to push deeper when you don’t know where the limit is. And what happens when you stop racing cautiously and start racing to compete.

There’s also a lot here beyond results. Robyn shares how her background in sailing shaped her mindset, why she initially stepped away from being an athlete, and what brought her back. The conversation touches on sponsorship, learning in real time, and the moments in races where things start to go sideways — and you have to decide whether to back off or keep going.

It’s an honest look at what it means to still be learning while showing up at a high level, and why that might actually be the advantage.

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

A big shout out to our new 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!

There isn’t one way into trail running, and Shea Aquilano is a perfect example of that. In this episode, Hilary sits down with Shea to talk through her path from Midwest soccer player to professional trail runner based in Boulder. Without the traditional track or cross country background, she built her way into the sport through curiosity, patience, and a willingness to figure things out in real time.

A lot of the conversation centers around Black Canyon, a race she’s returned to year after year. Her progression on that course reflects what it actually looks like to improve in trail running. Learning how to manage effort, adjust when things go sideways, and keep showing up even when the outcome is uncertain.

They also get into the mental side of the sport. What it means to sit with discomfort, how to respond when a race doesn’t go to plan, and why failure is part of the process rather than something to avoid.

It’s a conversation about patience, perspective, and building something over time rather than chasing quick results.

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.

Plans shift quickly this time of year, and this episode reflects that in real time.


Katie and Leah catch up on how their race schedules have evolved over the past few weeks, including a pivot away from Madeira and a move toward more local racing. What started as a clear plan has turned into something more flexible, shaped by travel, timing, and everything else happening alongside training.


With that, UTMB preparation is starting to feel more real. The conversation touches on what that shift looks like, both physically and mentally, as training becomes more intentional and the season begins to take shape.


They also get into the realities outside of training. Leah shares what it means to support her husband’s growing photography career and how that has influenced recent decisions. The conversation highlights how much of the sport exists beyond race day, especially when careers, relationships, and travel all intersect.


The episode closes with a broader discussion around sponsorships and the structure of professional running. Using the lens of pregnancy and athlete contracts, they talk through the complexity of being an independent contractor in a sport where expectations often don’t fully align with protections.


It’s a look at where things stand right now. Not perfectly planned, but moving forward.

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

A big shout out to our new 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!