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Last month, Tara Dower achieved a monumental fastest-known time on the Appalachian Trail. In a follow-up interview, she emphasized the importance of teamwork in this accomplishment. To delve deeper into that aspect, we spoke with her Crew Chief, Rascal.

In our conversation, we explore the learning curve of supporting multi-week efforts, the physical and emotional challenges involved, and what a typical crew stop and pacing section entailed. We also discuss various logistical considerations and Rascal's advice for future crew teams taking on this ambitious project, along with other insightful topics!

Timestamps:

• (1:47) - Rascal's thru-hiking and crewing background
• (6:16) - the learning curve to crewing this FKT attempt
• (13:27) - mental aspects of crewing
• (19:57) - criticism of the style
• (23:37) - what crew stop execution looked like
• (31:42) - how taxing this was on the crew
• (41:45) - miscellaneous logistical considerations
• (50:14) - future storytelling about this achievement
• (53:43) - advice to future crew teams, next steps for Rascal

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

Related Episodes:

• #339 - How Tara Dower Shattered The Appalachian Trail Record
• #335 - Will Peterson | Inside The Fastest Known Time On Vermont’s Long Trail
• #329 - Exploring Appalachian Trail History and Endurance Records with Warren Doyle
• #284 - Jennifer Pharr Davis | Appalachian Trail Reflections, State of FKTs, Pursuits of Endurance

Additional Links:

• Follow Rascal on Instagram
• Follow Tara on Instagram, YouTube, Website, Girls On The Run
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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Brett Hornig joins the Singletrack Podcast for another edition of the Long Run Archives. We talk about some personal life updates before offering up our takes on Tara Dower's FKT on the Appalachian Trail, the Camille Herron Wikipedia Controversy, Mammoth Trail Fest, and "Way-Too-Early" Western States 100 Picks.


Timestamps:

• (8:55) - Tara Dower Appalachian Trail Record
• (50:25) - Camille Herron Wikipedia Controversy
• (82:19) - Mammoth Trail Fest
• (95:40) - Way Too Early Western States 100 Picks
• (100:26) - Coolest Stuff We Found On The Internet This Week

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.us/) to get 15% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Follow Brett on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Coaching
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Twitter, Youtube, and Patreon

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Anton Krupicka is back on the podcast! Few athletes in ultrarunning generate as much excitement as Anton, and he’s returned with a bang—recently setting a fastest known time on the iconic LA Freeway route and securing second place finish at the Grindstone 100 this past weekend.

Beyond his impressive athletic achievements, which notably helped shape the ultrarunning culture in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Anton is a thoughtful and generous conversationalist. He shares plenty of insights in this episode.

While the FKT and race results provide a backdrop, we also dive deeper into nostalgic ultrarunning memories (his friendships with Scott Jurek, Geoff Roes, and Kyle Skaggs), engaging discussions on philosophy (athlete personalities and bike culture), current events (Leadville 100), and his aspirations (UTMB and Hardrock goals).

Timestamps:

• (1:30) - LA Freeway
• (19:04) - Grindstone Performance, UTMB + Hardrock Goals
• (39:00) - Leadville 100, Matt Carpenter
• (57:36) - The Kids Are Alright
• (67:58) - New Balance, La Sportiva Stories
• (76:14) - Scott Jurek Stories
• (80:37) - Bike Culture
• (91:58) - Kyle Skaggs Stories

Related Episodes:

• #157 - Anton Krupicka | 2022 Ultra Trail Cape Town Pre-Race Interview
• #51 - Anton Krupicka | Trail Running Culture, Pro Athlete Lifestyle, Influence, Self-Reflection

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon
• Follow Anton on Instagram, Strava, Substack

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This past Saturday night at 11:53 PM, Tara Dower set the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail in 40 days 18 hours 5 minutes, besting Karel Sabbe's 2018 mark by 13 hours and 32 minutes.

Starting August 12th at 5:47 AM, Dower averaged 54+ miles per day over 2,197.4 miles of rugged and relentless terrain from Maine to Georgia to set the mark.

In masterfully riding a fine line of passion, grit, faith, and resourcefulness, Tara and her crew have set a new standard on this trail.

I said this on an Instagram post shortly after the news broke, but I’ll say it here as well - it’s easy to get caught up in the moment, especially in a year that has seen the likes of the first female Barkley finisher, a UTMB course record, and a Hardrock course record - but is this the female performance of the year? Or better yet, is this the overall performance of the year regardless of gender? This is an amazing time to be in the sport.

With all that said, we were fortunate to have Tara on the podcast shortly after her feat. In this conversation, we cover topics all about the Appalachian Trail record around her background, preparation, strategy, execution, mindset, and processing of this monumental achievement.

If you want more long-distance hiking trail or Appalachian Trail trail-specific content, be sure to check out our interviews with Will Peterson, Warren Doyle, and Jennifer Pharr Davis from the past year. Hope you enjoy this one!

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - How Tara Is Feeling Post-Appalachian Trail FKT, Expressions of Gratitude
• 05:06 - Worry About Falling Too Far Behind Karel Sabbe's Mark Early On
• 14:00 - Tara's Thru-Hiking And Ultrarunning Background
• 21:21 - Preparation For The Appalachian Trail Record
• 33:00 - Appalachian Trail FKT Strategy
• 45:23 - Daily Schedule
• 57:59 - Highlights From Various Sections Of The Appalachian Trail
• 68:15 - Making A Statement For Female Athletes, Mindset, Launching Points
  
  Partners:
• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

Related Episodes:

• #335 - Will Peterson | Inside The Fastest Known Time On Vermont’s Long Trail
• #329 - Exploring Appalachian Trail History and Endurance Records with Warren Doyle
• #284 - Jennifer Pharr Davis | Appalachian Trail Reflections, State of FKTs, Pursuits of Endurance

Additional Links:

• Follow Tara on Instagram, YouTube, Website, Girls On The Run
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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After reading her book, "The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike's Elite Running Team", I was eager to connect with Kara Goucher for an in-depth conversation.

For those less familiar with the road running scene, Kara was one of the top American distance runners of the 2000s and 2010s, achieving podium finishes at prestigious events like the Boston and New York City Marathons, as well as the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials. She also claimed victory at the US Half Marathon Championships the same year, among numerous other accolades. In 2004, she joined the Nike Oregon Project, led by distance running legend Alberto Salazar. Behind the scenes, however, Salazar was pushing the boundaries of anti-doping regulations while fostering a toxic culture of misogyny and athlete abuse. Despite the risk of losing everything and facing immense pressure, Kara found the courage to speak out and successfully advocate for meaningful change.

In our discussion, we explore various themes from The Longest Race, and we also discuss current events, including her podcast with Des Linden - "Nobody Asked Us", and the challenges with today’s anti-doping investigative models.

Before we dive in, please note that this episode is a crossover from my guest-hosting stint on the Run To The Top podcast earlier this spring. Be sure to check out Run To The Top for their excellent coaching resources and content here: https://runnersconnect.net/running-podcast/

Timestamps:

02:00 Introduction and Podcasting, Creative Freedom and Speaking Freely
10:05 Lack of Change at Nike, Perception of Nike and Possibility for Change
13:39 Support for Athletes and Career Transitions, Effects of Pregnancy Clause
19:36 Impact on Career and Olympic Trials, Taking Responsibility and Speaking Up
23:32 The Appeal of the Oregon Project, The Motivational Climate of the Group
25:31 Staying Silent in an Abusive System, The Charisma of Alberto Salazar
34:38 Healing and Reconciliation, Moving On and Confronting the Past, Trusting in the Sport
38:40 The Challenge of Catching Dopers, Need for an Investigative Model, Future of Anti-Doping

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Follow Kara on Instagram, Podcast, Book
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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In this episode, I'm excited to welcome Matt Trappe to the show. If you’ve been following ultrarunning media over the past decade, Matt’s name might ring a bell. He’s been behind some fantastic content over the last decade, including Jim Walmsley’s "Lighting The Fire" series, "Droddy," and "Leadman: The Dave Mackey Story," among other influential projects.

Matt has recently launched a new brand called Auteur Sportif, which we’ll link to in the show notes below. He’s also an insightful follow on LinkedIn, where he shares valuable commentary on the latest news inside the creative and business realms of endurance sports.

In our conversation, we dive into a range of topics, such as the role of storytelling in brand marketing, the significance of context and human connection in athlete narratives, and how the digital age is reshaping marketing in the trail running space. We also discuss the fragmentation of cultural conversations and the need for brands to engage with their audiences in new ways. Additionally, we explore the potential split between professional and participant markets in ultrarunning, and have some fun exploring open job roles in the sport, like the PR position at UTMB and the Global Creative Director role at Salomon.

Timestamps:

• 02:24 The Power of Filmmaking in Athlete Narratives
• 07:45 Balancing Brand Marketing and Performance Marketing
• 15:01 The Rise of Niche Brands in the Digital Age
• 19:08 Navigating the Fragmented Cultural Conversation
• 21:12 The Value of Long-Term Brand Marketing
• 27:38 The PR Opportunity of a Lifetime at UTMB
• 37:19 The Power of Storytelling
• 44:52 The Evolution of Races
• 54:14 Marketing Activations and Moments
• 58:08 Decoupling Athletes from Races

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Follow Matt on LinkedIn, Personal Website, Auteur Sportif
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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Katie Schide returns to the show a week removed from her historic, record-setting win at the 2024 UTMB.

Given that Katie will be on the media circuit fielding many interviews over the next few days and weeks, we focused on some unique angles in this conversation - getting the inside scoop on what the immediate aftermath looks like for pro runners finishing at the front of this race, the psychology of handling near constant media attention from start to finish on this course, whether it makes sense to separate start times for the men’s and women’s races at UTMB, what to do once you’ve succeeded at the pinnacle of the sport, and more.

It’s always great to have Katie on the show and stay tuned because our "Eurotrack" series will be returning in early October when we get together to preview the high-profile races at Les Templiers and Grand Raid.

Timestamps:

• 02:00 The Challenges of the UTMB Finish Line
• 06:49 Navigating the Livestream Spotlight and Performative Expectations
• 12:24 The Increasing Competitiveness of the Women's Field
• 18:59 Constantly Striving for Improvement
• 30:44 Contemplating Hardrock, Trail World Championships
  
  

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Follow Katie on Instagram, Strava, North Face
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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Will Peterson joins the show to talk about the fastest known time he set this past weekend on Vermont’s Long Trail, the oldest continuous footpath in the United States and the setting for many notable performances over the years from top athletes in the ultrarunning scene like Nikki Kimball, Joe McConaughy, Jennifer Pharr Davis, and John Kelly.

We talk about all aspects of Will’s effort including mental and physical preparation, multi-day strategy, highlights from his race report, the skillset to accomplish something of this stature, whether he plans to stay in this type of arena in the future, and some fun topics generated by listeners and viewers (like whether he’d do the full Appalachian Trail).


Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction and Initial Feelings
• 06:40 The Long Trail and Other Routes
• 10:38 Background and Skillset
• 15:17 Motivation and Competition
• 19:14 The Evolving FKT Scene
• 24:17 Creating a Competitive Narrative and Mental Strategies
• 27:04 Training and Preparation
• 36:22 Planning and Adaptability in FKT Attempts
• 55:46 The Future of FKTs: Amateurs and Professionals
• 01:01:41 Data-Driven Goals for Optimal Performance
• 01:09:18 Instigating Participation in the Multi-Day Scene
• 01:11:06 Future in Multi-Day FKTs
• 01:17:21 The Debate on Expanded FKT Leaderboards
• 01:19:32 The Appalachian Trail and Future Challenges
• 01:23:38 Reflections on FKT of the Year Snub
• 01:26:06 The Unique Challenges of the 100 Mile Wilderness
• 01:31:24 Regulating External Communication on Unsupported Efforts
• 01:41:11 Gratitude for the Crew

Partners:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack10 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 10% off your next order.
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.
• Pillar Performance - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout on their website (https://pillarperformance.shop/) to get 15% off your next order.

Additional Links:

• Follow Will on Instagram, Strava, From The Backcountry Podcast
• Follow Finn on Instagram, Strava, Youtube, and Patreon

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