The Trail Network Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

After a few chaotic weeks away from the mic, Katie is back and catching up with Leah on everything that’s unfolded lately, from her son's type 1 diabetes diagnosis to the emotional whiplash of balancing family crisis with training, racing, and everyday life. It’s an honest conversation about what happens when running suddenly takes a backseat, and how both of them are navigating UTMB build-up while life keeps throwing curveballs.

They also get into local race wins, steep Salt Lake climbs, late-night mountain runs, Western States pacing plans, Broken Arrow prep, and the momentum women’s trail running is carrying right now after huge performances from Rachel Entrekin, Tove Alexandersson, and more. Through all of it, this episode comes back to the same idea: running can be part of your life without being your entire identity.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

After a couple missed recording attempts and a very full few weeks, Leah and Hilary finally sit down to catch up. Hilary shares her pregnancy news and what the last few months have looked like balancing training, work, commentary, and just trying to survive the first trimester. The conversation also dives into Cocodona, Rachel Entrekin’s massive performance, the growing momentum behind women’s ultrarunning, and the different ways athletes navigate motherhood, racing, and identity within the sport.

They also touch on Western States training camp season, postpartum running, Hilary’s upcoming film premiere, and why this era of trail running feels especially exciting right now.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Katie Asmuth hosts a head to head Black Canyon 100K recap with Jenn Lichter and Anne Flower. Jenn is a Missoula, Montana-based trail runner stepping into her 100K debut after establishing herself as a fearless, high-intensity racer at shorter distances, now racing with Nike ACG. Anne is a Colorado Springs-based ultrarunner known for her strength and composure in longer events, newly racing with HOKA.

Together, they break down how the front pack formed, when the race shifted from controlled pacing to all-out competition, and what it took to keep pressing through the final miles with less than a minute separating first and second. They also share the real details behind fueling, hydration, and decision-making under pressure, then look ahead to Western States prep and how each of them plans to train, preview the course, and carry momentum into the next start line.

This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.

A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

In this episode, we have a nice heart-to-heart about all of the happenings in our lives. Katie talks about her new gravel biking career and her difficult decision to withdraw from Western States 100 miler this year. Leah shares about how she listens to her body as she is recovering from FURTHER and honoring the time that it takes from such a monumental effort. Hilary talks about her 200 mile race later this summer and how she is balancing training with all of her creative work. Rachel shares about the season that she is in with parenting, an upcoming move to Salt Lake City, and training for Western States.

What we talked about:

1:55- Katie’s decision to not race at Western States

9:15- Katie’s biking adventures

14:55- How Leah is feeling coming off of FURTHER

22:15- Hilary’s upcoming 200 mile race

30:35- Some hallucinations on the trails

32:10- Caffeine in trail races

35:00- Training and racing the same event as your partner

37:35- Rachel’s upcoming move and Western States

Show notes:

Follow The Trail Network on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to The Trail Network on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Osprey.com⁠⁠⁠

The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network⁠⁠

On this episode, we dive into Rachel's win at the Gorge 30k last weekend. We talk about how she fueled her day and some of the ways that we adapt our nutrition needs depending on the race length and conditions. We also talked about some of our go-to pre-race meals. We shared some of our thoughts on paying attention to your body and your perceived effort while training and the importance of running your own race no matter what.

We hope that you'll take away some useful tips for your own races!

What we talked about:

2:30- Rachel’s big weekend

8:30- How media has changed in the sport

11:25- Fueling strategies

30:50- Rachel’s takeaways from the Gorge Waterfalls 30k

33:15- Overdoing it in races

35:15- Pre-race meals

38:40- Caffeine before races

42:55- Things we’re loving

Show notes:

Follow The Trail Network on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to The Trail Network on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠

Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Osprey.com⁠⁠⁠

The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network⁠⁠

Today, Katie Asmuth is joined by Maddie Giegold. Maddie is a chief emergency medicine resident at UCSF and also a trail runner. She is passionate about wilderness medicine and event medicine. She loves trail running, gravel cycling, jumping into cold bodies of water, sleeping outdoors, flowers, and double-fisting ice cream. She is also a junior ranger at 19 national parks and wilderness areas.

In this episode, we talk about experiences with medical direction in races such as The Mammoth Trail Fest and the Lululemon FURTHER event. She'll also be at Western States and Broken Arrow this year. We talk about the challenges of medical response in remote areas where resources are limited. We also talk about her passion for merging her life as a trail runner with emergency medicine.

What we talked about:

2:20- Where school and life have taken her

3:40- Finding the love for trail running and goals looking ahead at her trail running career

8:00- Combining her love for racing and medicine

15:35- Limitations to medical practice during ultra races

21:25- Her role at FURTHER

26:50- Making the decision to allow a runner to keep going versus pulling them from the race

31:20- How FURTHER could change the landscape of medical directing during ultra races

Show notes:

Follow The Trail Network on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Subscribe to The Trail Network on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at ⁠⁠⁠Osprey.com⁠⁠

The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by ⁠⁠⁠Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network⁠⁠

Welcome back to the Trail Network! Today, Leah sits down in person with professional runners and partners Adam Peterman and Erin Clark from Montana. Erin is a Nike sponsored athlete and one of the hardest racers that we know. She most recently had a win at the 2023 Lake Sonoma 50 miler and a 7th place finish at the 2022 CCC. Adam is a Hoka sponsored athlete with an undefeated track record in ultramarathons including wins at Western States and the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. 

On this episode, we dive into the past year of their mutual ups and downs, their relationship as two professional athletes, and what has been giving them confidence these days. We also talk about Adam’s return to racing, most recently his battle with Devin Pancake at the Buffalo Run 50k this past weekend in Salt Lake City.

We hope that you enjoy this conversation!

What we talked about

3:10- Adam’s comeback to racing

7:25- Erin’s past year of training and injuries

10:35- Where Erin finds confidence amidst injury

13:00- Handling the highs and lows in running and their relationship

17:10- How they influence each other’s training

20:40- Finding confidence from their training

24:15- Comparing yourself to your previous self when returning from injury

27:00- Proudest moments while supporting each other

Show notes:

Follow The Trail Network on ⁠Instagram⁠

Subscribe to The Trail Network on ⁠YouTube⁠

Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at ⁠⁠Osprey.com⁠The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by ⁠⁠Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network⁠⁠

In this episode, Rachel is joined by Francesco Puppi and Matt Daniels. These two just finished first and second at the Chuckanut 50k, both breaking the previous course record set by Max King. In this episode, they talk about their head to head battle at the Chuckanut 50k and what transpired over the race. They talk about what it was like to be so close to a competitor for such a long time and the special connection that they developed by racing one another.

What we talked about:

1:25- Catching up with Matt and Francesco and how they are feeling coming off of the race

3:40- What’s next for Matt, racing at the Gorge Waterfalls 100k

4:50- What’s next for Francesco, racing Lake Sonoma

6:20- Their rivalry origin story

9:15: Francesco’s race plan for Chuckanut 50k

11:45- Matt’s race plan for Chukanut 50k

14:20- The breakdown of their head to head

21:50- The value of having each other to compete against

24:00- The connection in trail running

28:20- Their reflections on their experience going head to head

Show notes:

Follow The Trail Network on Instagram

Subscribe to The Trail Network on YouTube

Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at ⁠Osprey.com
The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by ⁠Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network⁠

Photo Credit: Somer Kreisman

In this episode, Hilary is joined by Leah Yingling and her husband and partner in crime Mike McMonagle as they dive into her recent experience racing at Further, Lulelemon’s ultra running event. They take a closer look at what goes into both running and crewing a six day race, dissect a few mid-race breakdowns, and both Mike and Leah share with us some top tips that they’ve learned from this crazy experience that we can all apply to our own races!

What we talked about:

1:25- Leah running FURTHER

8:55- Mike’s role in FURTHER

12:25- Leah’s race strategy

2:20- Mike’s experience being on Leah’s crew

28:55- Lowest moments throughout the race

34:55- Leah’s mentality during the race

43:45- Lessons learned from the FURTHER event

Show notes:

Learn more about the FURTHER event here

Follow The Trail Network on Instagram

Subscribe to The Trail Network on YouTube

Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at ⁠Osprey.com⁠

The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by ⁠Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network⁠

The Trail Network is hosted by ultra runners Leah Yingling, Rachel Drake, Katie Asmuth, and Hilary Yang. Together, they bring the untold stories of magical moments amongst trail runners to life. These stories of runners on and off the trail capture the essence and heart of trail running, and the power of friendship and connection. You’ll find inspiration, community, and a reminder of why we run.

In this episode, you’ll hear the why behind the Trail Network Podcast and a backstory of all of the hosts running journeys!

What we talked about:

1:15- The why behind The Trail Network Podcast

5:20- Katie’s story with trail running

7:25- Hilary’s story with trail running

10:00- Rachel’s story with trail running

12:40- Leah’s story with trail running

19:15- Rachel’s recent success at Black Canyon and balancing training with her life

23:10- Katie’s injury battles

29:40- Leah’s race at Lululemon’s FURTHER

Show notes:

Follow The Trail Network on Instagram

Subscribe to The Trail Network on YouTube

Thank you to Osprey for supporting The Trail Network Podcast. Check them out at ⁠Osprey.com⁠
The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by ⁠Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network⁠