In this episode of Ultra Uncovered, Corinne Shalvoy and Russell Ditsworth sit down with Zach Hauer, co-founder of Open Fuel North America, to uncover the origin story, philosophy, and future of one of trail running’s most intriguing emerging nutrition brands.

Zach shares how a chance discovery at a bakery in Cape Town during a trip for Ultra Trail Cape Town sparked his connection to Open Fuel. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a partnership with founder Andrew, leading Zach to leave his day job and fully commit to building the brand alongside his own pursuits as a competitive ultrarunner.

The conversation dives into what sets Open Fuel apart in a crowded sports nutrition market, including a focus on sustainability, reduced waste, and thoughtful formulation. From their innovative funnel scoop to their DIY gel mix, the brand is challenging conventional norms around fueling while prioritizing both performance and environmental impact.

Zach also breaks down the science and intention behind their products, including carb-to-sodium ratios, ingredient sourcing, and gut-friendly formulation, while highlighting the importance of balancing performance needs with responsible business practices.

Beyond the product, the episode explores broader themes in trail running, including the rise of professionalism in the sport, the tension between growth and consumerism, and the power of community-driven brands. Zach shares his perspective as both an athlete and founder, including his recent success at Big Alta 100K and upcoming goals at Cocodona 250.

The episode wraps with insights into Open Fuel’s future, including expansion into retail, new product development, athlete team growth, and a long-term vision of eliminating plastic packaging entirely.

A thoughtful, candid conversation about building a brand with purpose in a rapidly evolving sport.

Check out Open Fuel & let them know you heard about it here!

In this Fire Road episode of Ultra Uncovered, Corinne Shalvoy breaks down her gritty third place finish at the Desert Rats 100K.

Coming off a DNF at Black Canyon and battling illness race week, she lined up in Fruita with one goal: secure a top three finish and a UTMB Finals qualification opportunity.

The day delivered everything. A chaotic, technical start in the dark, mid race storms with hail and wind, hamstring issues, nutrition pivots, and late race physical lows. It was a full test of resilience.

The race shifted at mile 50 and from there, it became about staying steady, managing effort, and holding position through the final miles. How did it turn out in the end? Listen in to find out.

This episode dives into the complexity of UTMB qualification, racing through uncertainty, and why steady execution often matters more than big moves. It is a raw look at persistence and staying in it when things get hard.

Thanks for listening! Give us a follow on IG and share the pod with a friend.

In this episode of Ultra Uncovered, Corinne and Russell sit down with two of the founders of Death March Running Company, Taylor Horowitz and Kody Riley, to unpack the story behind one of trail running’s most creative and fast-rising brands.

Born out of shared suffering deep into ultra races, Death March started as a long-running idea between friends and came to life mid-race at High Lonesome. What began as a passion project focused on irreverent, relatable graphics has quickly grown into a recognizable brand rooted in authenticity, humor, and the realities of ultra running.

Taylor and Kody share how their complementary strengths, creative chaos balanced with thoughtful execution, have shaped the brand’s rapid growth, all while juggling full-time jobs and late-night order fulfillment. They dive into how most of their ideas come straight from the trail, capturing the universal experiences of runners, from “blister sisters” to porta-potty emergencies.

The conversation explores:

• How Death March built momentum organically through authenticity and community
• The role of storytelling, humor, and shared experience in their designs
• Their approach to athlete teams, emphasizing community builders over performance stats
• Partnerships with races like High Lonesome and unique activations like the Western States beer mile
• The balance between keeping things fun versus scaling into something bigger.

They also reflect on the evolving landscape of trail running, their desire to preserve the sport’s “dirtbag ethos,” and the importance of inclusivity, highlighted by their majority-female athlete team and intentional community focus.

At its core, Death March Running Company is less about apparel and more about celebrating the weird, gritty, and deeply human side of ultra running, by people who are living it themselves.

Shop DMRC

See Corinne's Carnage Trail Kids Trading Card

If you're enjoying the show, leave us a review and tell a friend!

In this episode of Ultra Uncovered, hosts Corinne Shalvoy and Russell Ditsworth talk with Ashley Mateo, Editor-in-Chief of Runher Magazine, to explore the origin, mission, and impact of one of the newest and most compelling voices in running media.

Ashley shares her unconventional journey into the sport, from a lifelong gymnast to a dedicated marathoner, and how her career in traditional media ultimately led her to identify a major gap. There was a lack of meaningful, in-depth storytelling centered on women in running.

What began as frustration with SEO-driven content and limited editorial space for nuanced stories evolved into a bold idea. Create a print magazine dedicated to women’s running.

Through a successful Kickstarter campaign that quickly exceeded expectations, Runher Magazine proved there was a strong appetite for long-form, thoughtful, and inclusive storytelling in the sport.

We discuss:

• Why print still matters in a digital-first world and how slowing down enhances the reader experience
• The importance of diverse voices and contributors, from journalists to subject-matter experts outside traditional running media
• A reimagined approach to advertising as storytelling, highlighting the real work brands are doing to support women athletes
• The editorial commitment to inclusive representation, including trans and non-binary runners, and why those stories matter now more than ever
• The behind-the-scenes realities of building a magazine, from pitching and timelines to sourcing photography and managing freelancers

Ashley also reflects on broader trends shaping the sport, including the surge in women’s participation, the growing visibility of elite female athletes, and the evolving conversation around race formats, accessibility, and climate challenges in marathoning.

At its core, Runher Magazine is more than a publication. It is a platform built on the belief that women’s stories in running deserve depth, permanence, and visibility beyond fleeting headlines. And you know we love celebrating women here on Ultra Uncovered.

Subscribe to Runher Magazine or consider gifting it to a friend!

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Our mini series on trailblazing brands continues.

In this insightful interview, Alex King, founder of Terignota, shares his journey of creating accessible, high-performance trail running apparel, his views on the sport's commercialization, and his philosophy of adding value to the community. Discover his sourcing strategies, product design insights, and vision for the future of trail running gear.

Check out Terignota

If you are enjoying out content, please consider leaving us a rating and review! Thanks, Corinne & Russell

Continuing our mini series on some of the coolest up and coming brands in the sport of running, Corinne talks with Kate Arsenault, founder of RNNR. Kate shares her entrepreneurial journey, the brand's focus on fun and community in running, and insights into product development, marketing, and the evolving trail and road running scenes. We touch on the following and much more!

• Brand ethos and focus on fun and community
• Product development and design process
• Marketing strategies and community engagement
• Trail vs road running dynamics and trends

Check out RNNR

Kate's favorite hat

Follow RNNR on Instagram

Discover the inspiring story behind Hyperlyte Liquid Performance, a brand revolutionizing trail and ultra running in the performance nutrition space.

From innovative product formulations to community-driven marketing, learn how entrepreneurs Emory Atterberry and Jeremy Bohnett  are shaping the future of the sport.

Main Topics:

• The evolution and current state of trail and ultra running
• The unique formulation and brand philosophy at Hyperlyte
• Building an authentic brand rooted in community and storytelling
• The importance of supporting emerging and 'underdog' athletes
• Balancing business growth with sustainability and ethos in sport
• Servicing the elite ultra runner, the back of the pack and everything in between

Visit Hyperlyte

A great addition to our recent longform pod with Ryan Sullivan (who holds the 3rd fastest time run in the men's division at SJS 50), Dakota Jones joined the pod for the 2nd time to relive his 2013 SJS50 Course Record run.

Thanks for coming on Dakota! Such a fun conversation

If you appreciate the show, we'd be super appreciative if you'd share it with a friend and leave us a rating and review so we can continue to grow.

Dakota's writup in I Run Far about his 2013 race

Matt Carpenter's write up about his 2004 San Juan Solstice

The SJS 50 is a Colorado San Juan Classic. Once called the Lake City 50, This majestic, high alpine loop and the list of who's who of the sport who have run it are both equally impressive.

Whether you're considering running it yourself or just want to visit this remote nook of Southwest Colorado, this one's for you!

Ryan Sullivan is the self proclaimed #1 SJS 50 fan and is also extremely fast, having run the race 4x and winning twice with a course PR of 8hrs 12min. Hear first hand what it takes to traverse 12k ft and spend hours about 12,500ft elevation to win this CO mid summer staple.

Need to load up on some carbs ahead of the racing season, check out Fuel Goods and use CS20 for 20 percent off!

In this episode of Ultra Uncovered, Corinne and Russell welcome Physical Therapist to the Stars (of the Castle Rock Run Club) onto the podcast Scott Barlow, PT, MSPT.

Scott has over two decades of extensive experience treating endurance athletes and ultra runners and helping them get physcially ready to reach their goals.

This Episode covers many topics including:

• The Patient/Care Paradigm and why Scott started his own practice
• Importance of listening to your patients
• Overarching Physical Therapy philosophies
• Changes in PT over the last decade and how they affect current care
• Why PT's are obsessed with Glutes
• How to Find a qualified PT for yourself
• Common overuse injuries amongst runners
• The #1 thing competitive runners should do to improve

Thanks Scott for being on the pod!Check out Scott's practice Try Fuel Goods for your sports nutrition needs and support a Woman Owned company and use code CS20 for 20% off your purchase