Full Transcript for Gerda Steyn's "Comfortable" Comrades Win, New Tahoe 200 Course Record + Tudor's Luxury Trail Play (Singletrack News)

And yeah, it's it's a core race. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:05.280 Like if you look at the the record books, it's like Bethany Lewis and Carl Meltzer. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:07.120 I think Jared Campbell's done it a bunch. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:08.400 So it's classic. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:12.319 And reporting back, this was my first time ever captaining an aid station. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:13.759 It is so much fun. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:15.919 Like I totally caught the bug. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:22.719 And to anyone else that's just wondered about, you know, doing this type of volunteering, owning an aid station, it is fantastic. 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:30.000 I can totally see why at Western States uh people like take the Robinson Flat Aid station and then do it for 30 years. 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:31.039 It's just so much fun. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:34.000 Like we were all talking after the fact that we're gonna run this back next year. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:42.400 It was like Leah Yingling, myself, Mike McMonagall, Anthony Costales, Katie Blue, like our Caleb Olson, our local Salt Lake crew. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:47.759 And like we brought out the sponges and the ice buckets, and it was just it was just great. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:48.960 Like we had a whole thing. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:55.520 And I was kind of taking a weird pride in like no one D nothing at our raid station, like just giving them like the pump-up speech or whatever they needed to move on. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:57.280 So yeah, it was a lot of fun. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:02:58.960 Do it again next year. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:02:59.919 I love it. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:03.439 Also, 50 miles is just perfect. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:05.120 It's a great distance. 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:07.360 We set up at 7:30 a.m. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:10.719 and we were out by 2.30 p.m., which I think is just like the perfect volunteer shift. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:13.520 Like we didn't have to go crazy into the night or anything like that. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:13.759 Yeah. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:14.879 And that would be fun too. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.759 But um, this was a nice, like just Saturday morning into afternoon thing. 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:20.400 Yeah. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:21.599 I love it. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:23.439 Well, let's dive into the news here. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:32.479 First up, the Conrads Marathon, an 86 kilometer, 53 mile point-to-point course running between Durban and Peter Meritzburg down in South Africa. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:36.159 The race alternates directions each year, either traveling down or up. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:43.759 This was an up-year up-run course starts at sea level, climbs of just under 6,000 feet, and features five major climbs. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:50.560 George Cushy and Gerta Stein, both of South Africa, set two new course records in the up direction. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:55.599 George won in 515-56, Gerda in 544-53. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:03.280 Uh, in terms of American representation, Charlie Lawrence took sixth in the men's race, Courtney Olsen took seventh in the women's race. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:05.599 Your thoughts on Comrades this year? 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:13.280 I mean, Gerta Stein, man, just the absolute dominance there is so incredible. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:28.240 I will say that Comrades is one that often flies under my radar, I think a little bit, just because uh I'm more in the trail side than the roadside, but every time I see this, it's just so inspiring and it is just a massive race. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:32.480 And now having been to South Africa, just the love of the culture of running. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:34.800 So very cool to see. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:36.000 Incredible. 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:38.399 These times are just getting so fast. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:40.639 So hats off to Gerda, though. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:43.519 What an incredible run she's had. 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:53.680 I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that she is probably the most underappreciated ultra marathon runner of either gender, of any gender in the world. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:54.480 Agreed. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:05:00.480 Um, this performance was only, I ran the numbers, only 9.1% slower than George's time. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:04.079 Usual difference is like in the 10 to 12% window. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:06.160 So this one was pretty special. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:11.120 Um, and then I don't know if you saw the live stream, but watching her cross the finish line, it was just so nonchalant. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:13.680 She called the performance quote unquote comfortable. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:20.480 Um by contrast, um, and this is a little bit graphic, but George collapses immediately post race. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:21.759 He pooped himself. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:25.600 Like they literally had to like water him down at the finish and cover him in a towel. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:31.519 Like, just totally, I mean, like erupted, you know, um, totally spent at the finish. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:36.399 So yeah, she breaks the woman's record and jogs around like she just finished a 5k. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:38.480 It was it was amazing. 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:43.360 Um a couple notes on George. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:46.399 I mean, this guy has to have some of the best range in the sport. 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:49.920 I pulled up some of his high school and collegiate statistics. 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:59.680 In high school, he ran 147 in the 800, 357 mile, 1328 5k, 213 marathon. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:04.399 Now he's won this 53 mile race, one of the biggest in the world. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:10.399 And he the payday for both Gerda and him is$142,000, translated to USD. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:12.399 So that's a pretty big payday for both of them. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:18.000 I mean, that's road marathon territory. 00:06:18.160 -->

00:06:20.959 I mean, we have nothing like that in trail running. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:21.600 Yeah. 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:22.879 Oh, one last thing. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:25.040 An 84-year-old finished the race this year. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.680 Well under the cutoff, 11 hours and 12 minutes. 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:33.279 Um, Johannes Mosela, 84 years old. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:34.079 Incredible. 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:35.839 So that's awesome. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:36.959 Love it. 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:40.800 Raid is the official equipment partner of the single track podcast. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:47.120 And if you haven't had a chance to test out their new vest, the LF5L, what are you waiting for? 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:49.040 I have had mine for a few weeks now. 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:54.399 I've gotten to take it out on a multi-hour outing just last week to test some of the features. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:59.839 One of the takeaways for me is the generous and creative carrying capacity on this piece of equipment. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:12.800 I was able to fit two 600 milliliter flasks up front, two more 500 milliliter flasks in the rear hydration carry slots, and then another 500 milliliter flask in the rear pass-through pocket. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:18.720 You couple this with the security of the pack and raid's signature lack bounce. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:22.480 It makes carrying that much hydration relatively effortless. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.040 Go check it all out, raidresearch.com. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:28.240 That's r-a-i-d-e research.com. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:31.839 Also, thanks to Norda, makers of my favorite trail running shoes. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:36.879 I have been putting testing mileage on their latest model, the 055, over the past month. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:39.759 This is a fantastic mountain ultra racing shoe. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:43.680 It's already been proven out by athletes like Rachel Entrickin and Jimmy Elam. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:47.680 I think when it drops later this summer, you will see it on a lot of start lines. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.600 Don't miss the updates for when it launches. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:55.120 Head over to NordaRun.com now to subscribe to their mailing list for updates. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:02.319 Next up, we've got the Tahoe 200 course return to the uh classic single giant loop around Lake Tahoe this year. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:05.920 Aaron Kubala wins in a new course record of 48-0930. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:12.160 Mika Fuse wins on the women's side and finishes second overall in 5110-26. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:13.839 What do you think? 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:15.680 I mean, so impressive. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:20.079 We have Brody Chisholm came in third overall, second male. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:23.839 It looks like I've just pulled up the trackers to see what was happening. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:25.920 It's fun to be commenting on a race. 00:08:26.000

--> 00:08:30.480 So going on, Ashley Paulson looks like she's just about to finish. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:40.320 Do you know, Finn, what the difference was between the course they've been using previously and the kind of OG course they're on? 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:42.240 Do you know much of the differences? 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:42.799 I'm trying to. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:58.639 So I, from what I recall, and again, I'll need to be fact-checked here by our 200-mile enthusiast crowd, but in the most recent years, when the course was fire impacted and being restored, etc., it was those out and backs, I think on the east side of the lake. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.200 Yes, it was. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:10.240 So I want to say so it's 2.4 miles, 32,000 feet of gain and loss. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:16.720 I'm just wondering what it was in previous years when the single loop was intact. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:21.519 Maybe was it two up to 208? 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:25.279 That's what I thought. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:35.759 Sorry, I'm just yeah, I would I would love to go back and look at like Kyle Kurt, like because I'm comparing this to Kyle Curtin and Courtney DeWalter's times from 2018. 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:48.320 Because they're sort of that I know that the race destination trail, they they are considering this a new course record to that single loop course, but I'm gonna see if I can go back and find Kyle's stuff here. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:52.320 Yeah, that's just what I'm looking at as well. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:57.919 Anyway, um, I'm just curious about the difference because it seemed like blistering times this year. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:13.360 Uh, I just I had not really heard previously about um Aaron and smashed it and doing the triple crown. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:18.879 So very excited to follow along with uh his journey this year. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:24.159 Also, Ashley Paulson will be taking on the triple crown. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:26.639 Yeah, I feel like there's some good competition there. 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:29.519 Loved seeing Mika back at it. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:41.039 I mean, just she's I feel like had a lot of hard, challenging pieces in her racing. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:47.759 And I am such a fan of her, so I was really excited to see her string this one together and just absolutely knock it out of the park. 00:10:47.919 --> 00:10:49.440 So hats off to her. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:50.879 She's been dominant here. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:54.159 Uh third win here, also one in 22 and 24. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:11:04.399 This, I believe, again, we have to go and fact check just to see how much the course has changed across the single loop variations, but uh second fastest time here ever. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:05.519 Really impressive. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.360 And then Aaron, yeah, I mean, a really interesting ultra signup page. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:10.480 This was not his first 200. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:13.600 He had a podium at Moab, I think, a year or two ago. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:17.679 What's interesting for him is he is uh he's going for the triple crown this year. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.320 So he's got Bigfoot in Moab later this year. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:29.919 Obviously, this course record here at Tahoe puts him very much in the running to challenge Mike McKnight and Killian Court's times uh from previous years. 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:45.519 And yeah, I mean, again, if if this is uh comparable to those pre-COVID single loop courses, he took uh almost 80 minutes off of Kyle Curtin's time, which was amazing. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:12:03.200 And again, this was the year that if you go back and watch Courtney DeWalter's film The Source, which features her Tahoe Tuna there, her and Kyle had this like legendary battle in that race where I think Kyle didn't overtake her until the final 50 miles, and they were separated in the end by it was like half an hour. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:06.080 It was for a 200-mile race, incredibly close. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:08.960 So this is a great performance. 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.720 Fantastic performance, Aaron. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.200 Really strong, yeah. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:15.360 For both of them. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.600 I'll ask this and then we can move on. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:31.440 But how do you feel it is comparing the triple crown when there's been pretty drastic changes to the courses over the years? 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:43.360 I feel like it takes away nothing from those performances each year, but I feel like it is challenging a little bit to compare when there are these significant changes. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:47.279 I mean, Moab alone, huge change. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.720 I think it's a great question. 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:52.080 It's something that I've talked with Killian Korth about actually in previous interviews. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:57.840 And I think my point to him was like, I almost think you just have to focus on individual races. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:04.320 And I like I just in in a calendar year, just appreciating what it takes to win three of these in a row. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:13.120 Um but yeah, I think it would it would even be difficult to compare McKnight's triple crown to Killian's because of, again, like you said, how much changed at Moab, other variations. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:19.120 I mean, even this year at Tahoe, I think one of the storylines was how many blowdowns there were on course. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:21.440 And in fact, Michael McKnight was in this race. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:26.960 He had to DNF because I I believe he tripped on a blowdown. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:34.320 And he has Instagram stories, again, they're pretty gruesome, but of him cutting open his head, he had to get a bunch of staples. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:37.360 So yeah, there's just so much variation year over year. 00:13:37.440 -->

00:13:39.120 Even at Cocodona, things change so much. 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:42.799 This this course this year was so much different than the previous year. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:48.080 Can we oh my gosh, there's been so many head injuries this year. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:48.879 I know. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.960 Turns out this is a contact sport too. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.960 Apparently, this is a contact sport. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.960 Everyone, please be careful out there. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:58.879 I do not love the head injuries. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.159 Let's not keep doing that. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.679 It's not a trend I like. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:09.679 Next up here, UTMB by Andor, Rod Farvart, and Martina Velmasoy absolutely dominate on the men's and women's sides. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:11.360 Rod won by nearly 35 minutes. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:14.799 Martina was sixth overall and won by nearly 70 minutes. 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:21.120 I've got some thoughts here specifically on on Rod's performance, but uh curious to get your thoughts here. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:22.639 Beautiful race looks like. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:24.399 It does, it's always been on my list. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:44.399 Well, I have some uh kind of comments on Martina's race, is that she is was coming off quite a big injury, so wasn't able to run for quite a while, goes and does um Zagama, races it, and then bikes. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:53.519 She biked to Zagama and I believe back to get her fitness up because she was like, Well, I'm just gonna try anything. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:57.120 And this was her ticket into UTMB this year. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:06.000 So this was kind of her one shot because you can get a spot if you're coming off of an injury uh for this year's race, knocks it out of the park. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:10.080 And one of the comments I saw that she posted, also, I love her. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:13.440 Like, we're friends, I think she's hilarious. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.799 I think we have similar senses of humor of making fun of ourselves. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:22.159 But she was like, My friends believed in me more than I believed in myself. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:37.440 And I think that that's just sometimes a really beautiful sentiment where when we doubt ourselves, sometimes we just have to look at look at ourselves the way others do and be like, well, if they believe in me that much, maybe I can too. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:41.679 And I'm just so excited to see her take this spot. 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:45.759 She is just, I think, a light in the sport. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:47.200 I think she's so fun. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:50.480 I love the energy, and she's so strong. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.960 So I'm really glad she got the spot. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:58.240 I'm so excited to see what she does at UTMB and just really happy for her. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.720 I'll say a bit here about

Rod too. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:14.559 So uh in his post-Madeira blog post, he talks about how he ran into significant issues at that race with nutrition, and basically the revolution that worked for him in 24 at Canyons in Western States seemed to be faltering. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:21.600 Specifically, he questioned whether there are differences in strategy for these more mountain races. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:37.279 And he was having a lot of success with his previous strategy in more of these like rolling terrain style races, where basically you can fuel at a pretty consistent race the whole uh rate the whole race because you can expect to be burning a pretty consistent amount of energy the whole time. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:46.000 But in these mountain races, as you know, Alyssa, longer climbs, longer descents, technical terrain, different temperatures, humidities at different altitudes. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:50.559 And I'm really curious to get Rod's post-race analysis here. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:55.600 I know he's going to be in sham a lot of the summer project in the UTMB course, too, so we'll see. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:00.080 But I want to know like, did he figure out those things between Madeira and Andor here? 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:03.679 Because this looked like a pretty perfectly executed effort. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:06.079 Um he dominated start to finish it. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:10.960 It kind of looked, it kind of looked like the result that we thought he could get at Madeira earlier this year. 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:13.119 So great to see him back on the horse. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.559 Love it. 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:20.480 Also, shout out to Stephanie Case, who looks like blew up her ankle. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:27.279 I mean, I think absolutely destroyed it and came in sixth, female still, which that's a lot of guts. 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.599 I mean, she's posting pictures. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:35.440 I was like, oh my gosh, that is black and blue and purple and all the colors. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.400 Oof. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:41.039 Before we get to some Western State stuff, I'll quickly just mention South Downs Way. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:49.920 The World Trail Majors came to South Downs Way this past weekend, a classic event put on by the team at Centurion running in the 100-mile race, which is sort of their marquee event here. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:53.519 Point-to-point course between Winchester and Eastbourne in the south of England. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:18:00.480 We've got David Green winning the men's race in 13-27, Sarah Webster in 14-27 on the women's side. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:04.000 Sarah was hyped a bit in the previews, and she won the 50K race here last year. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:06.240 I think David was a bit more of a surprise. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:09.920 From what I could tell, Hugh Tibbs was sort of the favorite coming in. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.640 He had taken second here

in 24 and 25. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:19.039 So maybe a bit of a dark course victor here, but uh this is a staple event on the UK scene. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:25.920 I think, especially in the last two decades, as Ultra Trail Running has taken off more so there, especially the 100-mile distance. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.680 This has become one of the centerpiece races. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:30.079 And uh course records are strong. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:33.200 The team of Centurion is uh is professional. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:36.880 So by all accounts, it seemed like it was a great, great experience out there. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:51.359 Yes, I also want to flag, I saw this that Sarah set the fastest time for a British female athlete in the hundred-mile distance on trail. 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:54.480 This effort, the 1427. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.200 Yeah. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:19:02.319 This is the fastest a female athlete from Britain has ever run a trail hundred miler, which is so cool. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.440 Wow. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.160 Okay. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:11.359 Yeah, and broke the previous course record that was set last year by two hours this year. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.799 Amazing. 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.000 Yeah. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:16.880 Okay. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.559 Western States news. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.920 I'll roll for these two. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:22.160 Uh Keely Henninger is out. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:36.799 Keely has decided to remove herself from this year's Western States start list, citing competing priority specifically, med school research, family planning, and sort of her heart is more in those uh aspects of life than Western states right now. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.720 So she's taken herself out preemptively. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:42.240 She's one of the most accomplished runners of our generation, especially in golden ticket races. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:45.359 I think she's won like three or four over a seven to eight year stretch. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:48.480 So there's that to consider when she decides to return. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.400 And then Seth Ruling also out. 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:53.279 He's out due to a torn laborman in his hip. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:55.200 He would have been a force this year, too. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:20:00.240 Uh strong race, hundred-mile debut here last year, taking sixth and 1459. 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:05.599 Earlier this year, he won the Black Candy with 50k in 316 in the stacked field. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:13.440 I thought that he was just gonna, you know, take the momentum from these past two performances and um be in contention for the win here. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:15.119 So bummer to see him out. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:18.000 But um, yeah, your thoughts on Keeley or Seth here? 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:20.960 Yeah, was super sad to see Seth out. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:27.039 I mean, that's never the reason why

anyone wants to take a step back, but hopefully he recovers quickly. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:38.960 And I just appreciate how much Western States means to Keeley that she knows what it takes and what it means to stand on that start line. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:42.000 And she wants someone else who is a hundred percent in. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.920 And also, I just applaud. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:55.759 I think it's very easy to get into this mindset that the trail world is the only thing that matters, and she has so many wonderful things going on in her life. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:13.359 I mean, contributing uh as a becoming a doctor, having a family, and how it's okay to have different priorities, and that is beautiful, and so I just I really appreciated her sharing that story. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.319 Yeah. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:19.119 There is so much that we could say about Broken Era this weekend. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:31.680 We could even get into your uh your races there this weekend, but um if we boiled it down to each of our like top storylines or athletes to follow, what are your top two to three? 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:34.960 I would say we were talking about this before. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:42.640 I was so excited to see Jesse Diggins on all three, we're sharing all three start lines. 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:46.720 So she is also doing the broken arrow triple crown. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:54.160 Huge Jesse Diggins fan, the way she carries herself, her vulnerability, just her spirit, her love. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:59.759 And I can't wait to get to race against her and also was styked to see that. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.119 Leah will be on the start line for all three as well. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:08.000 So you had said, Oh, I really hope people get more and more excited about the triple crown. 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:10.319 Finn, I think the world heard you. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:17.920 So personally, I'm very excited to get to race just some people I really look up to. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:20.079 So I'm stoked on that. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:22.240 It will do you think Jesse will be competitive? 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:26.960 I'm so curious to see her uh just investing more in the scene. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:27.920 This is great. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.119 Yeah. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.480 I it's it's really hard to bet against her. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:36.000 I'll say that, but I also hope that she just has fun. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:36.720 Yeah. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.039 Okay. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.119 I've got a couple here. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:42.799 Uh the first one, I just have a question written down. 00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:44.400 How good is McKenna Morley? 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:50.640 So in our end-of-year recapture last year with Brett and Leah, we all made our quote unquote bold predictions. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.640 This one didn't feel bold to me, but I did. 00:22:52.799 -->

00:22:59.839 Mine was that she was going to be by this year's end widely considered our sports breakout star. 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:01.839 Do you know who her coach is? 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.200 Fitz. 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.079 Yep. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:06.880 John Fitzgerald coming in strong again. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.200 Yeah. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:14.480 Yeah, and she trains with that Missoula crew, Jen Lichter, Maya Rail, Jeff, Adam, Aaron. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:14.799 Yeah. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:17.039 Amazing culture that she's in. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:24.160 But yeah, you know, beat Lauren at the Canyons 50K by over four minutes back in April. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:26.400 Amazing performance there. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:31.119 Uh locally just won the Don't Fence Me in 25K, I think. 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:40.640 This women's 23k race, Anna Gibson, Elisa Morin, Lauren Gregory again, McKenna, like those four in particular. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:46.000 This is the race that I'm the most looking forward to watching all weekend individually. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.920 Jade Beltsberg and Jade Beltsberg. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:58.400 My only concern is Anna is also racing the ascent, and so is Jade, I think. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:03.440 So I wish they were, I wish they were all fresh on this start line. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:10.079 But at least we'll get a fresh McKenna, relatively fresh Elisa coming off Sunnepe and Lauren. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.839 I mean, it's gonna be amazing. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:15.119 Other thing I've written down here, Rory Linkletter racing the ascent. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:19.279 Uh amazing, amazing just running talent. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:22.079 This isn't his first trail race, but it's his first big one. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:27.039 How does he fare against Patrick and Philemon and Cam Smith and Christian Allen? 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.839 Uh okay, last one I have here actually. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:33.599 David Sinclair is using the Ascent as his final workout for States. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:36.880 Jim Walmsley did this in 24 and it worked great for him. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:42.319 So we'll see if the uh the transitive property works here for David. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:48.160 You know, I was just thinking about him uh because he's joined Hyperlate. 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:54.400 Uh, so he's he's my teammate now, but I was thinking about how he's been so dominant in the 46k. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:58.160 I was like, oh man, it's gonna be a bummer not having David on the start line at Broken Arrow. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:01.119 So I'm excited to hear he will be on a start line. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:06.400 Precision fuel and hydration, as you well know by now, they are the official nutrition partner of the show. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:10.240 They'll also be a key partner on our Western States coverage later this month. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:15.359 And in case you weren't aware, they have a pretty stacked athlete lineup on that start line. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:22.960 Uh, let's see, on the women's side, you've got Martina Milnarchik, Lottie Brinks, Lauren Piritz, Sarah Humboldt, Engild Kasperson, who's a new signing. 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:30.720 On the men's side, you've got Dan Jones, Hayden Hawks, Jeff McGavarrow, Jeshren Small, Anthony Costales, and Jordan Bramblett. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:39.759 Chances are high that we'll see at least a few athletes on the podiums, maybe even uh one or two winning the thing. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.799 Certainly worked for Caleb Olson at this race last year. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:50.640 Go check out their stuff, precisionhydration.com, and feel free to use code single track at checkout for 15% off your next order. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:55.759 This episode is also brought to you by John G and their new Ultra Hauler Supertote. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.480 What a name. 00:25:56.640 --> 00:26:06.799 If you crew, travel to races, or you sometimes live out of a gear bag like I do, uh like I did, I should say, when I traveled to Missoula, Montana earlier this month on a work trip. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.920 You know the problem. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:10.559 You're going for a run, maybe it's raining outside. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:14.319 Post-run, the muddy shoes end up next to clean kit. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:18.960 You find yourself changing in a parking lot doing the one-foot balancing act thing. 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:22.480 And uh maybe you can never find anything that you need in the bottom of the bag. 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.200 Well, guess what? 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:25.920 The ultra hauler fixes a lot of that stuff. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:36.079 40 liters that expands, a high contrast lining so that you can actually see what you need, a mesh outer pocket to keep the wet and dirty stuff separate. 00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:36.960 That's awesome. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:42.799 I think this is the coolest part: a built-in change map that you can take out of the bag and it's got a waterproof base. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:50.480 Um, yeah, three carry options as well, a sleeve that slides right over your roller for uh airport travel. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.440 Check it all out. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.799 John G.com. 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:54.480 That's J-A-N-J-I. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:59.599 Next up here, version two of RacePurse is live. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:04.079 The first version, if you remember, was a crowd-funded prize purse system for Aero Viper races. 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:08.559 You'll recall that it debuted at Black Canyon earlier this year with fanfare, some success. 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:14.559 The payouts were pretty solid, nearly$17,000 in the$100K,$7,000 in the$50K. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:22.319 I believe they might have run into some processing issues with Stripe on the back end of the system, which caused them to go into hiatus.

00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:26.400 But the website is back with a similar but also different focus. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:30.799 It's being billed now as the prize money database for trail and all shrinkalys. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.079 Have you checked this out? 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:33.680 You know, I hadn't. 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:40.240 I honestly, yeah, I haven't really gotten into that side of things. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:47.119 So I was looking at it and truly I think it's pretty interesting. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:49.519 Yeah, I didn't quite understand the comrades. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:57.759 Is it giving so it's giving the total purse of what the race itself is giving out as well? 00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:05.279 It's basically a clearinghouse for all races in our sport with prize money. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.480 And it's a work in progress. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:10.640 So, like, for example, I looked at the list that they had so far. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:15.039 I noticed a couple races absent that offer prize money. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:22.160 For example, the URA 150-mile races, and they actually encourage people as they're building this out to submit inquiries. 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:26.400 So, like, I think I submitted it earlier today, and it was already up on the site, which is awesome. 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:29.920 Uh yeah, you can browse past and upcoming races with prize money. 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:42.000 They have a really cool stats section where you can see like top regions of the country that have certain races that have like it's just a cool way to identify what's on the horizon where you can race for money. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:55.920 Um there's just cool like analytics around all of this, like you know, which trail runners have accumulated, you know, the most cumulative prize money at races across the US world, et cetera. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:29:04.720 So um, yeah, for anyone that's just interested in monitoring that side of progress in our sport, I think it's pretty cool. 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:19.200 Um, and yeah, like I said earlier, for anyone that goes and checks this site out and you notice something missing, um they encourage you to reach out to and they're pretty responsive to adding it in, uh, which is cool. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.039 Yeah, this is incredible. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:30.160 I mean, this says that in 2026 so far,$768,000 has been awarded. 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:34.720 So we're I'm sure we'll get over a million by the end of the year. 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:39.359 Yeah, and like a lot of it is can be chalked up to comrades. 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.240 Yeah, yeah. 00:29:40.640 --> 00:30:08.880 Well, comrades is such a big prize purse, and then obviously uh nationally here, Broken Arrow is such a massive prize purse, but it like you can look into these races that you know are still significant but have smaller purses like um like Cirque Series Killington, uh Quebec Mega Trail, uh U Ray, like I mentioned, the Ragged 75 in Danbury, New Hampshire, Solomon Pitts Alpine Glacier Trail. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:12.720 Uh this okay, there's a last okay, this is cool. 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:17.599 There's a last man standing race up in Clancy, Montana on August 1st. 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:21.440 It's called the ROO Last Man Standing,$10,000 for the win. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:26.400 Like this, like again, this is just an amazing edge. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:30.880 The Rutt VK has a$3,500 prize purse. 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.319 Super cool. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.039 You know? 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.480 This is awesome. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.200 Yeah. 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:48.960 So I've learned a ton and yeah, I I do believe they are relying significantly on the general public to you know, crowdsource this and build out the data around it. 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:51.680 And uh it's it's pretty cool. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:31:04.079 So you can also see like there's a if you go to the stats page, they have this section for top sponsors, and you can see a list of the brands backing the most prize money across races. 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:09.680 The classics here, Hoka Solomon, ACG, etc. 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:15.359 So there's just a lot to dive into here, and I'm sure on a follow-up episode we can check in to see what's been built out. 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:18.960 But yeah, I don't know exactly when the pivot happened here. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:20.880 I think it was pretty recently. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.319 Yeah, interesting. 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.599 Oh, this is amazing. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:26.640 Yeah, I'm I'm definitely gonna nerd out on this. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:38.559 Next up here, Terragnota releases latest financials, Terragnota, the Leavenworth, Washington-based apparel brand, started, I think, in late 24 by Alex King, has published their 18-month financial report on their Instagram page. 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:40.480 Alyssa, have you have you seen this? 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:44.160 You know, I knew that they were very transparent. 00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:51.920 I listened to the second nature episode about Terry Gnota, which was amazing. 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:56.000 Um, and I just, yeah, I really appreciate. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:32:06.720 I was talking to another small business owner, and they were like, man, I don't know exactly like how they do this, or you know, their transparency is just incredible. 00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:09.359 So I love this strategy. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:19.440 I made a couple notes here, and I have a like prior to getting into single track, I did a little bit of work in the D2C space. 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:21.599 So it was really cool to see some of these numbers. 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:38.079 They have generated, and this is more for the audience, they've generated$917,000 in lifetime revenue on$4,489 in total marketing spend, zero doll on paid ads in the last 12 months.

00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:42.160 That's less than a half of percent of revenue going to marketing. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.680 That is amazing. 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:54.240 Like to people that don't know, this is like a typical D2C apparel brand will spend, like if they're spending 15% on marketing, that's a huge win. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:58.000 It's typically in that like 15 to 30% range on customer acquisition. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:10.720 So basically, this shows that terignota's growth is essentially all organic, all word of mouth, um, which I think is like one of the hardest things to create in this space. 00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:15.039 And it's pretty, I I think it's pretty durable once you have it. 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:26.240 So I mean, I will say that Rachel Endrikken wearing terragnota shorts for Coca-Dota was that was a big win for sure. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:30.400 I saw so many comments across the internet being like, what shorts were those? 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:32.160 Can someone link them? 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:34.640 I I am guessing that helped. 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:37.440 Um, what else did I write down here? 00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:41.440 Yeah, so they they also passed, okay, this is kind of cool, 10,000 orders. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:50.160 And I think that puts their average order value around 90 bucks, which I think is a pretty strong AOV when you're at their price point. 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:54.640 They probably have a bunch of items in their carts when they when people are purchasing. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:58.240 My open question for Alex is what's your repeat rate? 00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:03.599 Like, do you have evidence of you of these you know buying cohorts coming back for repeat purchase? 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:05.920 I'd be so curious to get those numbers in the next report. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:12.639 But I love what Alex is doing uh purely on just like the open sourcing all of this information. 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:14.639 Like he's building his business in real time. 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:20.000 I think, especially as you get more successful, it's probably harder to work with the garage door open, so to speak. 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:26.960 So I'm not saying he won't, but I'm really curious to know for how long, especially as this brand continues to grow, the numbers all look really good. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:29.119 The unit economics look super strong. 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:36.159 Like the debt side of this thing, like he's retired all of the expensive money first, like the Shopify loan, the credit cards. 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:38.559 I think he's got like a 4% family loan left. 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:40.239 That's all he has, which is amazing. 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:41.920 I I could geek out on this all day, by the way. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.440 I love I love D2C. 00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:50.320 So I love also that a very used, very cute electric forklift was bought. 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.840 That might be my favorite slide. 00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:53.039 Exactly. 00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.840 Yes. 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:56.880 Um okay, next up here. 00:34:57.039 --> 00:35:01.360 Oh, actually, um we have news on Rendezvous. 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.199 Yes. 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:21.760 So Rendezvous has an advisory board, and very exciting that we were told this is we're the first to to talk about this, that Kelly Newland has joined the advisory board for Rendezvous. 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:31.920 And she joins Joe Flannery, who is the former CMO of the North Face, and Katie Burznat Bernassick. 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:32.480 Okay. 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:41.440 Sorry, Katie Bernassek, who has built uh brand strategy at Airbnb, Google, and Apple. 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:47.119 So she's joining some very strong advisory board members. 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:59.039 And I think just a signal that Rendezvous is looking towards the future, looking to grow and bringing on people who really understand the business uh to help them do so. 00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:06.159 So exciting to have them bring on such an expert as Kelly. 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:14.719 Yeah, and for folks that haven't been following our program the past few months, uh rendezvous along with I think the other competing platform is Faves. 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:21.280 They have been at the front of this sort of like athlete commerce platform play uh that has really taken off. 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:25.039 And we're kind of seeing athletes left and right signing with these platforms. 00:36:25.280 --> 00:36:41.599 And it it seems like a sensible way for influencers, pro athletes, et cetera, to uh track attribution and maybe get more credit for the influence that they have on product sales, et cetera. 00:36:41.760 --> 00:37:03.039 Um, one of my open questions, because I know nothing about this advisory board space, when you form these committees, especially at a stage as relatively early as rendezvous is in, I am really curious to know like what those conversations look like, what the input is, um, how closely any individual member, like for example, Flannery from the North Face, is working with Hunter. 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:05.760 Um, what advice they're giving, stuff like that. 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:08.880 I'll be perfectly honest. 00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:17.280 I knew the term advisory board, and the other day I just I was like, I actually have no idea what that entails or means. 00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:20.880 And so I Googled it and had to do a little bit more research. 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:23.199 I was like, what does why? 00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:24.400 What does it happen? 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:33.920 So I am excited just being close with Kelly and working with her to learn more about advisory boards. 00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:38.719 So that's definitely something I uh I don't know a ton about. 00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:42.159 I don't know, Finn, if you do, but

nothing. 00:37:42.239 --> 00:37:44.960 I uh yeah, nothing, nothing. 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.639 But it sounds cool. 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.360 I'm excited for them. 00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:48.559 It sounds cool. 00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:50.639 Uh I mean, obviously it sounds like that. 00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:53.920 The people that you listed off obviously are deeply embedded in the sport. 00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:56.960 They know a lot, tons of connections. 00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.159 I wonder if that's another thing. 00:37:58.239 --> 00:38:02.880 Is it just when you have those people on your team, is it that much easier to recruit? 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:13.280 Which I think at this stage, like the arms race that I imagine is happening between faves and and rendezvous, like those connections I think are probably critical for luring athletes in certain directions. 00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:15.119 So that's just me guessing. 00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:17.840 Yeah, I think there's also Popfly, too. 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:25.599 I think I have to say I knew of uh like to know LTK. 00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:33.360 I know that was a really famous one with influencers on Instagram of linking things, and that's the only platform I knew about. 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:39.360 And then I feel like this year, all of a sudden there's and I'm not saying this happened all of a sudden, it was just my awareness. 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:43.039 I was like, oh, holy cow, this is what we're doing now. 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:49.599 Okay, and there's multiple companies that are uh existing, and I think it's great. 00:38:49.760 --> 00:39:05.280 I think it's a really interesting way for not only athletes to track uh affiliation and and brands, but also companies can run influencer athlete campaigns off of the platform as well. 00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:07.519 Like that's some of the infrastructure. 00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:12.159 But it it I felt like it went from zero to a bunch. 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:18.960 So I'm curious how each company is going to differentiate themselves. 00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:25.039 Next up here, Canyon Woodward signs with Patagonia, one of the up-and-comers in our sport right now. 00:39:25.199 --> 00:39:27.440 I believe he's also being coached in the CTS system. 00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:29.840 So a bunch of changes in his athletic life. 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:36.000 In addition to the Patagonia sponsorship, I think he also signed with Mount to Coast and is still running with the Green Racing Project. 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:44.719 One of those partnerships that looks like a perfect fit for how Canyon approaches life, both on the trail and off of it, in his other professional capacities. 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:51.440 An equally big story, Alyssa, to me, it seems like Patagonia is making a renewed push in the trail. 00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:55.599 Like they've been there for multiple decades now. 00:39:56.000 --> 00:40:02.480 But um you take this, there's the free trail partnership, which is huge. 00:40:02.800 --> 00:40:04.480 Perhaps there's more on the horizon. 00:40:04.719 --> 00:40:07.679 For me, definitely something to monitor on the business side is really cool. 00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:16.320 Yeah, I I know that Canyon has had a long-standing relationship with Patagonia through the Green Racing Project. 00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:18.159 I believe they're linked. 00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:23.519 And I know that Patagonia is very it just is a very good alignment. 00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:37.519 So yeah, I would be curious to see if this is signaling to step more into trail after I feel like they pulled back a little bit after that kind of you know, first team of Jeff Browning and Chrissy Mould. 00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:39.760 Like what a cool team that was. 00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:41.280 They made a shoe too. 00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:45.280 And I think Jeff and maybe maybe Chrissy were instrumental in some of the shoes. 00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:46.719 And now they're at Keen together. 00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:48.000 And now they're at Keen together. 00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:48.320 I know. 00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:48.719 Yeah. 00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:50.079 Um how fun. 00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:51.440 So yeah. 00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:54.800 Uh for me it's like a watch this space type thing. 00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:59.119 And I don't know if Patagonia's gonna stay apparel if they have footwear plans too. 00:40:59.280 --> 00:41:02.159 I don't know anything, but um, pretty cool. 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:03.119 Yeah. 00:41:03.840 --> 00:41:07.519 Next up here, Aurelian Sanchez starts PCT FKT attempt. 00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:08.880 This is in your backyard, Alyssa. 00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:13.199 Aurelian is famous in part for his finish at the Barkley Marathons a few years back. 00:41:13.280 --> 00:41:15.920 He's one week into a supported FKT attempt. 00:41:16.079 --> 00:41:19.840 You can dot watch him on his website at aurillion sanchez.com. 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:21.039 The tracker's pretty cool. 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:25.199 It shows his dot versus the record, and he's currently up on it. 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:28.079 Um so that is really all I have to report. 00:41:28.320 --> 00:41:31.840 Looks like he's just outside of you know LA, that section right now. 00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:39.599 But um yeah, he's he's someone who I think uh really takes all the principles of projecting something to heart. 00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:43.599 Uh he was famously really dialed for Barkley. 00:41:44.239 --> 00:41:48.159 And um this is uh this is gonna be an interesting one. 00:41:48.320 --> 00:41:50.719 Certainly a legit attempt, a credible attempt, I would say. 00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:53.760 Oh, for sure, but the poor dude. 00:41:54.159 --> 00:41:55.599 It has been hot here. 00:41:55.760 --> 00:42:12.880 I mean, we got hit by we kind of have it was it gets it can get really hot in like February, March, and then it cools off April, May is super gray and like

60 degrees, and this week it was like summer is back. 00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:20.480 So I am sure I mean I we're getting 8590 plus, so I bet in the desert it was frickin' hot. 00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:30.719 I hope that he was either running at night or um yeah, was just able to move through that because man, we just got hit by summer this week. 00:42:31.119 --> 00:42:35.920 Maybe his saving grace, and again, I know nothing, but maybe he has the radical airflow. 00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:37.519 Maybe he does. 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:40.320 So there's that. 00:42:41.440 --> 00:42:43.519 Uh a few more things before we close up. 00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:57.199 Trailhouse announces first teammate, and it is Dylan Flewelling, a main native, really solid runners, just took third at the Chuckinut 50K back in March, and then ninth last weekend at a stacked Sun MP scramble. 00:42:57.920 --> 00:42:58.480 Yeah. 00:42:58.639 --> 00:43:01.760 Um, I don't exactly know how things are dripped. 00:43:01.840 --> 00:43:12.079 I had no idea that they were even gonna drip Dylan's name, but then I looked at the calendar, and I believe this whole thing starts on July 1st, and it's June 14th. 00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:14.480 So yeah, we're getting that two-week advance. 00:43:14.559 --> 00:43:19.679 And I don't know if you have more data or info on when the rest of the team goes out, but this is pretty this is a good one. 00:43:19.760 --> 00:43:21.360 It it's for me, it signals seriousness. 00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:23.440 He's a he's a legit runner. 00:43:23.679 --> 00:43:24.880 This is great. 00:43:25.199 --> 00:43:25.840 It is. 00:43:26.239 --> 00:43:28.320 I was also surprised. 00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:30.000 I was like, oh, we're announcing. 00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:30.880 Okay, cool. 00:43:31.039 --> 00:43:36.239 So yeah, I'm I'm in the same boat, uh, but super exciting to see a name announced. 00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:38.159 I'm sure they'll keep rolling out. 00:43:38.480 --> 00:43:43.519 And um, yeah, I'm just I'm so pumped about this experiment. 00:43:43.679 --> 00:43:44.880 I think it's a great idea. 00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:47.119 This episode is brought to you by Kodiak. 00:43:47.199 --> 00:43:52.480 One of the things I hear all the time from runners who are struggling with their training is that they're underfueling. 00:43:52.559 --> 00:43:58.079 And honestly, a big part of fixing that is just having food that actually keeps you going between meals and efforts. 00:43:58.159 --> 00:44:01.519 Kodiak is built around whole grains, which means minimal processing. 00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:03.599 So you're getting the full grain, brand included. 00:44:03.679 --> 00:44:05.360 And that is where the fiber comes from. 00:44:05.519 --> 00:44:09.360 Pair that with real protein and you've got something that keeps you fuller longer. 00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:15.440 I use it before long efforts, but honestly it works just as well for recovery after a big week and the variety is there. 00:44:15.599 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of the artificial flavoring that most fiber products lean on, I mix it in water first thing in the morning. 00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:04.480 Easy. 00:45:04.639 --> 00:45:10.159 Up to 35% off your first order at liveMomentous.com and use promo code single track. 00:45:10.320 --> 00:45:21.039 Livemomentous.com promo code singletrack last thing here this is a brand that I don't know a ton about, but apparently they are luxury. 00:45:21.199 --> 00:45:24.880 Again, I don't really have much of a fashion sense either so I I shouldn't know. 00:45:25.119 --> 00:45:43.840 But this watch company called Tudor they are investing significantly now in the trail running space and they have signed athletes like Courtney DeWalter, Miao Yao, Remy Bonet, Baptisteang. 00:45:44.320 --> 00:45:51.440 And I'm looking at some of these watches like this Ranger watch$3600 USD. 00:45:52.639 --> 00:46:05.360 So again all I know is that is it's an expensive watch brand that they're signing some of the marquee most visible athletes in our sport and yeah what do you think? 00:46:06.239 --> 00:46:35.519 So this is I have to David Callahan put out who's the CEO of Ultra Sign Up put out a great commentary on this which I really appreciated is Tutor Watch is shares the same parent company as Rolex and Rolex, you know, we see Wimbledon etc and so very interesting to see that Tutor has entered this space. 00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:50.880 And I really liked that uh David made this point where he says the point is identity the watch is for after for the finish line because Courtney is sponsored by Sinto as well. 00:46:51.199 --> 00:47:13.519 So I am very curious about how those two intermingle but it seems like hey this is almost kind of a completely different space for uh this watch and maybe Courtney is no longer with Cinto I don't think so but they're saying like it's not about a GPX or GPS watch. 00:47:13.599 --> 00:47:18.559 It's not about you know the performance piece this is more of like the lifestyle

piece. 00:47:19.039 --> 00:47:32.159 And also it's seeming that Tudor you know is taking a bigger step into um the trail running world by signing four athletes I'm sure that was not just like hey here's a watch and that's it. 00:47:32.320 --> 00:47:43.039 I think I mean the rollout video was really beautiful all of the film etc so A I think the athlete choices were really interesting. 00:47:43.280 --> 00:47:51.119 I I loved that they were like oh yeah huge names but not the ones you necessarily expected right off the bat. 00:47:51.280 --> 00:48:01.199 Also a really good range of athletes like you have Baptiste and Courtney on the hundred miles side you have Miao and Remy on the shorter side. 00:48:01.360 --> 00:48:03.360 So I just I kind of loved it. 00:48:03.440 --> 00:48:09.440 I was really I'm I'm very curious to see where they take it great great perspective there. 00:48:09.760 --> 00:48:12.159 I have a couple points but also maybe even some questions for you. 00:48:12.320 --> 00:48:23.840 I mean the first thing I'll say is when I after hearing you talk and then just thinking about sort of connecting the dots the demographics of trail running are incredible for luxury brands. 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:29.519 Like the fact of the matter is it's it's an upper class, upper middle class sport. 00:48:29.840 --> 00:48:41.840 There's a lot of purchasing power in this community and so I think it makes total it's a no-brainer for these luxury brands to start marketing more heavily more personally in this oh go ahead. 00:48:42.159 --> 00:48:55.599 Well have did you see the BBC article that came out just about a week ago or so saying why are so many people taking kind of luxury trips that are sweat equity essentially yeah it makes so much sense. 00:48:55.760 --> 00:48:56.000 Yep. 00:48:56.159 --> 00:49:08.400 Yeah so there's that and then you mentioned well yeah like Courtney has Sunto and Tudor and we can we can now see how it would work fine it would make sense for them to work in tandem. 00:49:08.480 --> 00:49:28.800 She also has tailwind and knack on the nutrition side I know we're seeing a lot of like quote unquote bundling happening where the shoe brands are just starting to progressively own the athlete head to toe but um here are a couple cool examples where like the athletes are balancing like same category partners seems like it works. 00:49:29.599 --> 00:49:40.639 And at the very least if you are totally locked down head to toe on athletic gear, it's interesting that maybe this luxury space is going to become even more built out. 00:49:40.800 --> 00:49:43.039 I I can't imagine that it's going to end with tutor. 00:49:43.199 --> 00:50:03.599 So for any athletes out there one of my like if I was a professional athlete and I see this news about tutor, I would start doing some research around just like the more broad luxury brand space and see like can I be a first mover into some other brands in like I don't know furniture or mattresses or whatever. 00:50:03.760 --> 00:50:07.599 I mean the sky's the limit right like what is the what else is in the luxury brand space? 00:50:07.920 --> 00:50:45.360 I mean this is quite this was a far-fetched dream I once pitched once pitched to Tiffany uh the jewelry brand because I wear I am that person I wear a Tiffany necklace my husband gave me and a bracelet for every race and I was like this travels with me it's been it's seen blood sweat tears all of it and so they uh because I used to live in in the Carmel like Monterey area after the big Sir Marathon you could go into Tiffany and get your medal engraved they would do engravings like they were involved in the big Sir Marathon scene. 00:50:45.599 --> 00:51:06.639 And so I was like hey take it one step further you know jewelry that is that brings you know your heart it it's like durable enough you know it goes with you it sees all of that adventure and so yeah that so Tiffany if you want to sponsor an athlete like I'm waiting I I pitched you once I'll do it again. 00:51:06.880 --> 00:51:07.840 That's amazing. 00:51:08.000 --> 00:52:03.679 That's in I mean that's and that's such a personal like it just makes sense right like what a that's an amazing story to communicate to the brand and I mean just looking at the prices on these tutor watches$3600 for one I bet Courtney DeWalter easily sells conservatively let's say 200 conservatively conservatively and so like these like seemingly throwaway ancillary outside the sport non-endemic partnership deals I bet could end up being some of athletes' biggest deals because like the again going back to average order value customer acquisition these like it's so high that like signing for a hundred grand would be like no big deal to these brands that's the other thing is that when you have non-endemic the numbers are just so much they're so insignificant to a brand like that yeah it just it doesn't it's not even a blip on their radar. 00:52:03.760 --> 00:52:15.679 And whereas we're like oh my gosh fighting for you know a thousand dollars here and there and they're like oh yeah well our marketing budget is millions of dollars so a$5000 budget is dropping the hat. 00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:17.519 So yeah it's interesting. 00:52:17.840 --> 00:53:47.360 Yeah for for uh for all the athletes out there that are working tirelessly to to sell a$4 gel to their audience let me present to you this$3600 watch don't apply a two out of 10 effort sorry don't apply a 10 out of 10 effort to a two out of 10 opportunity I just want your boy Scott Jurik really they should have sponsored your boy Scott Jurik to say that all of the mid-pack 50kers if you buy a tutor watch you too can move up to front of the mid-pack selling it for everyone should we uh should we close here with content of the week yeah I I mean I feel like the I I really appreciated David's perspective on LinkedIn about the Tutor watches um honestly I mean I've said this before but I've really been enjoying uh Steve

Magnus he's been putting out commentary on the um the win by the Knicks and just kind of breaking down like the coach had been fired four times he had kind of been like you know maybe I'll just go travel and take some time off and also how they built the players had played at Villanova together that were then a part of um the winning team and they that kind of meticulously brought them together. 00:53:47.519 --> 00:53:51.360 And so I just have loved the way that he breaks things down. 00:53:51.920 --> 00:54:06.400 So if you want some kind of inspiring commentating on I think just sports that are happening Steve Magnus is a great follow Steve is ubiquitous. 00:54:06.559 --> 00:54:18.800 It's amazing how many projects he's working in there's like four different podcasts I listen to where he's like the co-host and it's just it's amazing how productive he is and uh gets all this writing done all these like he's a he's amazing. 00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:21.920 Yeah so cool. 00:54:22.239 --> 00:54:41.039 Um great great rec uh mine requires a little bit of context so four years ago I met my brother in law and one of the cool things that he does is he has an ongoing project to read at least one biography of each of the presidents of the United States. 00:54:41.199 --> 00:55:07.280 And there's actually a website out there and it's called BestPresidentialbios dot com and you can go to like Thomas Jefferson Martin Van Buren Millard Fillmore and like there will be a list of all of the documented biographies on each of the presidents and the guy who owns this site or the person that owns this site has reviewed a lot of them and he gives them you know on a scale of you know one to five stars. 00:55:07.440 --> 00:55:30.239 And I have gone through and basically ordered like a bunch of the four and five star ones for each of the the presidents and I think I'm like I've got like nine done and it's been a really fun pro it has taken me like four years but I've got nine done and the one that I'm currently reading is American Lion and it is a biography of Andrew Jackson who was the seventh U.S. 00:55:30.320 --> 00:55:43.519 president he served from 1829 to 1837 pretty controversial president in a lot of ways um very controversial and uh yeah it's by John Meachum and I also read another one that John Meachum did for George H.W. 00:55:43.679 --> 00:55:59.360 Bush yeah I like his writing so it's been a really fun project and I've learned I love history and I like political history so um yeah outside it's been my escape from if I really need just like an escape from the running world I go to this world and it's been fun. 00:56:00.239 --> 00:56:10.559 I love that I'm also always impressed by just the the depth and the the heft of books about presidents. 00:56:10.719 --> 00:56:43.920 They're always just like a volume yeah um and a lot of them have similar traits it's cool to see like where they're all similar like you like it's almost like you there's like certain traits that are uh absolutely required to be president but then there's just like also just subtleties and differences across all of them and to everyone always has something and they're also always missing something critical and it's really cool to see how they leverage what they're natural for and then how they compensate for what they critically lack for the office. 00:56:44.239 --> 00:56:52.079 Um that's why you need a team because you have to identify people that fulfill your weaknesses. 00:56:52.400 --> 00:56:56.639 Totally yeah so there we go somehow we talked politics at the end. 00:56:56.800 --> 00:57:08.320 Uh this has been the Single Track News Alyssa great to have you here wishing you the most fun best of luck etc for Broken Arrow this coming weekend and we will see you all next Sunday next Monday. 00:57:08.559 --> 00:57:09.199 Sounds great. 00:57:09.280 --> 00:57:09.840 Thanks Ben