Episode 29: Insights into the Growth and Future of Ultrarunning with Guest David Callahan, CEO of Ultrasignup
04/12/25 • 53 min
In this episode of the ‘All Things Endurance’ Podcast, host Rick Prince chats with David Callahan, Co-CEO of Ultrasignup. As the leading event registration platform for ultrarunning events, David has a unique perspective on the state and growth of ultrarunning. Some of the topics that Rick and David discuss are:
1. Could you tell our listeners a little more about your background, both professionally and athletically?
2. The popularity of ultrarunning is through the roof, what are some of the key factors that you believe are driving this popularity?
3. Within the sport of ultrarunning and based on Ultrasignup’s data, are there specific distances that are seeing above average growth?
4. Where do you see the sport of ultrarunning over the next 5-10 years?
5. Athletes within sports like gravel racing and climbing often resent the result of their sports becoming more popular and mainstream – do you think this is, or will be the case with ultrarunning?
6. In the same vein as the prior question, popularity often comes with large organizations looking to purchase events. Is there a concern amongst the ultra community that the acquired events will lose their identity?
7. For someone that is looking to get into ultrarunning, do you have any advice in regard to what type of ultra to choose as their first ultra event?
8. We often hear from our ultra coaches that running ultra’s are addictive. While it’s also true of road running, it seems to be more the case with ultra’s – why do you think this is?
Where do you see ultrasignup in the coming years?
In this episode of the ‘All Things Endurance’ Podcast, host Rick Prince chats with David Callahan, Co-CEO of Ultrasignup. As the leading event registration platform for ultrarunning events, David has a unique perspective on the state and growth of ultrarunning. Some of the topics that Rick and David discuss are:
1. Could you tell our listeners a little more about your background, both professionally and athletically?
2. The popularity of ultrarunning is through the roof, what are some of the key factors that you believe are driving this popularity?
3. Within the sport of ultrarunning and based on Ultrasignup’s data, are there specific distances that are seeing above average growth?
4. Where do you see the sport of ultrarunning over the next 5-10 years?
5. Athletes within sports like gravel racing and climbing often resent the result of their sports becoming more popular and mainstream – do you think this is, or will be the case with ultrarunning?
6. In the same vein as the prior question, popularity often comes with large organizations looking to purchase events. Is there a concern amongst the ultra community that the acquired events will lose their identity?
7. For someone that is looking to get into ultrarunning, do you have any advice in regard to what type of ultra to choose as their first ultra event?
8. We often hear from our ultra coaches that running ultra’s are addictive. While it’s also true of road running, it seems to be more the case with ultra’s – why do you think this is?
Where do you see ultrasignup in the coming years?
Previous Episode
Episode 28: The Landscape of Endurance Sports Training with Guest Jeff Pierce, CEO of CTS
Jeff Pierce is a former professional cyclist and the current CEO of Carmichael Training Systems (CTS). In Jeff’s distinguished cycling career, he rode for team 7-11, the first American to ride the Tour De France and in 1987, Jeff became just the third American to win a stage of the Tour De France on the final stage on the Champs-Elysees.
In his current role as CEO of CTS, Jeff is responsible for the overall operations and direction of CTS. In this episode, host Rick Prince chats with Jeff about the coaching landscape and how it has evolved over the years – as well as where it is heading.
Questions covered in this episode include:
1. Please tell our listeners about your sport background as well as your career post being a pro cyclist
2. What was the coaching landscape like while you were racing professionally?
3. How has training technology changed the coaching profession over the years?
4. What are some of the main reasons that athletes hire coaches at CTS?
5. What do you think the increase in demand of qualified coaches is due to?
6. Are there any significant trends that you see in the coaching landscape at CTS?
7. To be a successful coach, what are some of key qualities that athletes are looking for, as well as you as the head of CTS?
8. What are some current challenges that the coaching profession faces?
9. Where to you see the coaching profession in 5-10 years with respect to its evolution?
Lastly, as CTS is largely one of the first to legitimize the profession of endurance sports coaching, what do you attribute its longevity to?
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