Singletrack

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Des Linden is a professional runner for Brooks Running. She joins the Singletrack Podcast to talk about a range of topics including her interests in sports psychology, her nascent career as a commentator for NBC in their running broadcasts, and perhaps most notably to this audience - her intentions to transition more significantly from road marathons to trail and ultra running as early as next year.
Discounts:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Timestamps:

• (0:37) - running background, accolades
• (2:01) - interests in sports psychology
• (5:00) - how she thinks about and handles pressure
• (7:31) - broadcasting, running commentary career
• (17:38) - reflections on the current stage of her marathoning career
• (19:28) - 50K world record, interests in ultras after that experience
• (22:14) - how she thinks about career transitions
• (24:39) - talks with sponsors about switching to/trying trails and ultras
• (25:39) - memorable moments visiting Chamonix this year, spectating UTMB
• (28:57) - strengths and weaknesses on trails
• (30:49) - other trails and ultra races she's interested in
• (31:50) - inspirations in our sport
• (32:43) - whether she will go "all-in" on trail and ultra running
• (34:08) - how her training and lifestyle would change switching to ultras
• (35:21) - miscellaneous questions

Links:

• Follow Des Linden on Instagram
• Linden X Two
• Choosing To Run

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Christian Meier is a professional trail runner for Salomon and an entrepreneur based in Girona, Spain. In this discussion, Christian shares insights on the contrasting levels of professionalism in cycling and trail running. He delves into the integration of Norwegian training techniques into ultra-trail running, achieving excellence across diverse sports disciplines, and his diverse array of business endeavors beyond his athletic pursuits.
Timestamps:

• 01:30 Level of Preparation in Ultrarunning vs Cycling
• 10:02 Tactics in Ultrarunning
• 23:34 Increasing Level of Preparation in Ultrarunning
• 27:01 Staying Power in Ultrarunning
• 29:06 Norwegian Training Methods in Ultrarunning
• 38:37 Commitment to High Performance, Athletic Peaks
• 56:25 Balancing Athletics and Business, Managing Business Ventures
• 01:12:43 Efficiency and Time Management
• 01:15:42 Upcoming Races and Final Thoughts

Sponsors:

• Naak - use code SINGLETRACK20 at checkout on their website (https://www.naak.com/) to get 20% off your purchase.
• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/) to get 20% off your next order.
• Brooks Running - check out their High Point clothing collection and new and improved Cascadia 17 shoe at this link (https://www.brooksrunning.com/singletrack).
• deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order.

Links:

• Follow Christian on Instagram, Strava, Chance, Overland, La Fabrica
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram, Strava, Youtube

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In this episode we talk with Adam Merry. Adam is a professional Trail Runner for Saucony based in Golden, CO.

We reflect on his performance at the recent Bandera 100K, increasing representation in our sport, all the usual questions I have about the state of our sport because Adam is so tuned in, and more.
Adam is a great dude and one of the most mission-oriented people in our sport I have come across. I think it will shine through in this episode.
Timestamps

• (1:44) - running background
• (3:26) - Bandera 100K preparation, race execution
• (13:08) - whether Western States is still the goal, what's next
• (17:43) - ultrarunning media talk, brand investments
• (21:26) - social issues in trail running
• (27:28) - the training switch away from more is better
• (29:43) - continuing education as a coach
• (33:39) - organizing life to prioritize ultrarunning
• (38:36) - being a fan of ultrarunning
• (42:04) - outside influences on ultrarunning
• (46:57) - partnership with Saucony
• (54:25) - long-term thinking, self-belief

Links

• Follow Adam on Instagram
• Follow Adam on Strava
• Get coached by Adam
• Watch the episode on Youtube
• Follow Singletrack on Instagram

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #25 - Kyle Richardson | FKT Scene, Intersection Of Music And Movement, Trail Running Culture
• #18 - Moe Lauchert | Outdoor Entrepreneurship, Representation In Trail Running, Growing The Sport
• #16 - Logan Williams | Trail Running Philosophy, Athlete Sponsorships, Why We Run

Support Singletrack:

• Patreon

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In our last episode of 2022 we are talking with Dan Curts, a professional trail runner based in Norwich, VT.
This is a wide-ranging conversation in which we talk about the disillusionment that can come about in the collegiate and post-collegiate track and road running worlds, how Dan ultimately landed in the sub-ultra trail racing scene, building a running team in the Northeast and the pros and cons of being an aspiring pro trail runner in this part of the country, and the highs and lows of the past year trying to make it in the sport.

Sponsors:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Timestamps:

• (1:55) introduction to the trail running scene, specialities, career highlights to date
• (4:55) running as a vehicle for educational and career opportunities
• (9:26) pros and cons of collegiate running
• (13:22) motivations to continue pursuing competitive running post-collegiately
• (20:57) trail running inspirations
• (23:04) Northwoods Athletics running team
• (29:26) the pressure for aspiring east coast trail runners to head west to make it professionally
• (41:43) lessons of building a running team, reflecting more on the northeast trail scene
• (52:46) the highs and lows of the last year trying to make it as a pro trail runner
• (61:21) whether brands are more interested in ultra or sub ultra trail athletes right now
• (65:23) interesting relationships, conversations with contemporaries in the sport
• (70:01) racing culture differences across running disciplines
• (75:41) 2023 racing plans

Guest Links:

• Follow Dan on Strava
• Follow Dan on Instagram
• Northwoods Athletics

Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #54 - Garrett Heath | Switch To Trail Running, Pro Lifestyle, Running Teams, Brooks Beasts
• #26 - Sam Parsons | How To Build A Trail Running Team
• #12 - Jack Kuenzle | FKT Scene, Sponsored Trail Runners, Brand Relationships

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Robin Thurston is the CEO of Outside, the largest media company in the outdoor industry by orders of magnitude. In this conversation, we discuss Robin's entrepreneurial background building MapMyRun into the largest running community in the world, the state of connected fitness, putting a price tag on running-related and other outdoor media, the "Outerverse", and how Robin thinks about preserving the authenticity of acquired brands like fastestknowntime.com.
Sponsors:

• Rabbit - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://www.runinrabbit.com/discount/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order
• HVMN - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website (https://hvmn.com/SINGLETRACK20) to get 20% off your next order

Links:

• Outside Plus
• Connect with Robin on LinkedIn

Timestamps:

(1:46) - connected fitness, MapMyRun origins, outdoor industry background
(10:36) - the state of connected fitness/running, progress made in this space
(15:24) - incorporating reward cycles into running/outdoor industry products
(18:04) - micro-transactions in running products and services
(20:39) - Outside shop
(22:37) - putting a price tag on running content, building utility into consumption
(28:04) - thoughts on if and when the majority of consumers will accept premium content models
(30:39) - whether the recent layoffs at Outside are a strike against these optimistic business models
(35:58) - whether and how to rally major industries players off the major tech media platforms
(38:32) - Outerverse conversation, screen time, alternatives within Web3
(43:23) - practical examples of the Outerverse in action
(47:23) - how to preserve the quality, authenticity, and trust of acquired brands like fastestknowntime.com
(50:36) - recruiting running and other outdoor creators to the platform
(52:35) - final calls to action
Additional Episodes You May Enjoy:

• #58 - Buzz Burrell | Modern FKT Movement, FKT.com Sale To Outside Mag, Trail Running Business
• #28 - Joe Vennare | Technology For Ultra Runners, Trail Running Media Companies, Business Advice
• #20 - Zoe Rom | Trail Runner Magazine, Running Journalism, Diversity Talks
• #7 - Mark Gainey | Co-Founder of Strava, Trail Running, Athlete Creators
• #3 - Jimmy Daly | Social Media, Content Creation, Branding For Trail Runners

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