I was on the ground at Javelina while Allison rode shotgun in the live chat, and—wow—what a day. Will Murray put on the most nondescript masterclass you’ll ever see: smooth, steady, course record, golden ticket. David Roche held on for second, then surprised everyone by declining his ticket, which handed Canyon Woodward his shot after a blazing late charge. On the women’s side, my AT-record pal Tara Dower absolutely torched the course record by over 30 minutes, while eligibility rules behind her shaped a wild golden-ticket battle. We break down why times were so fast (cooler temps, NASCAR-level aid stations, dialed cooling, and, yes, the shoe game) and the new reality of wall-to-wall coverage—mountain bikes, lights and all. Plus: Molly Seidel aiming for a Black Canyon ticket, the latest doping headlines and what they mean for our sport, and a quick look ahead to Tunnel Hill, JFK, and silly-season sponsorships. East vs. West banter included—and, yes, I recorded this on my birthday.

Chapters

00:00 Recap of Javelina Jundrid Highlights

02:50 Course Records and Performance Analysis

05:59 The Rise of Will Murray

08:52 Canyon's Impressive Finish and Team Dynamics

11:56 The Impact of Weather and Race Strategy

15:04 Tara's Record-Breaking Performance

17:54 Doping Controversies in Running

20:53 Molly Seidel's Transition to Trail Running

23:55 Looking Ahead: Future Races and Trends

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