In this special in-person episode recorded live from Olympic Valley, co-hosts Katie Asmuth , Leah Yingling , and Hilary Yang dive deep into the 2025 Western States 100 women’s field. With race day tomorrow, the trio goes full trail nerd mode on everything from top contenders and international shake-ups to training blocks, Strava sleuthing, and personal insights. They break down race favorites, explore exciting dark horses, and spotlight powerful storylines. They also talk age group potential, de...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 7 min
In this episode of The Trail Network , Leah Yingling, Katie Asmuth, and Rachel Drake tackle listener-submitted questions — from the most essential pieces of gear to the do’s and don’ts of early trail running. They reflect on their own first races, share stories from their original local trail crews, and discuss the learning curve that shaped their ultra journeys. The trio dives into topics like: The gear they wish they had when they started (spoiler: good socks and GPX watches go a long way) Why...
Jun 19, 2025•35 min
In this episode of The Trail Network Podcast , hosts Leah, Hilary, and Katie reconnect for a heartfelt roundtable about where running fits in different seasons of life—physically, emotionally, and logistically. Hilary kicks things off with a recap of her recent Malibu Canyon 50 miler, which she ran just days after a root canal. She shares what it was like to race while experimenting with new nutrition strategies from her work with Meredith Terranova, and how dialing in her fueling gave her the c...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 9 min
In this week’s episode of the Trail Network podcast, hosts Leah Yingling and Rachel Drake reconnect for a deep dive into recent adventures, personal milestones, and reflections on life, pregnancy, and trail running. Leah kicks off the episode with a recap of her recent trip to Northern Wales, where she crewed for her husband, Mike, at Ultra Trail Snowdonia—a notoriously rugged and stunningly beautiful race often dubbed “Hardrock at sea level.” Leah shares her experience navigating the course log...
Jun 05, 2025•58 min
In this episode of the Trail Network Podcast , host Rachel Drake sits down with professional trail runner, ICU nurse, and new mom of twins, Taylor Nowlin . Known for her top-10 finishes at Western States, CCC, and OCC, Taylor opens up about the highs and lows of pregnancy, motherhood, and her remarkable return to racing just eight months postpartum. Taylor shares the surprise of learning she was having twins while her husband was off-grid on a climbing trip, the complications that led to a high-...
May 22, 2025•37 min
On this week’s episode of the Trail Network Podcast, Katie sits down with fellow co-host Hilary Yang for a much-needed catch-up. Hilary may have been MIA from the mic, but she’s been everywhere else —juggling training for the Hardrock 100, directing the new Mammoth 200-miler, producing storytelling projects, and traveling the globe. They talk about: Behind the scenes of Hilary’s media role at Cocodona 250 (yes, including ramen brands and eucalyptus towels) The wild Korean hill repeats and air bl...
May 16, 2025•53 min
In this heartwarming episode of the Trail Network podcast, host Katie Asmuth sits down with two incredible athletes and friends, EmKay Sullivan and Abby Hall, for what just might be the feel-good story of 2025. The trio dives into big life updates—most notably, EmKay’s exciting pregnancy—and the ripple effect it had on her racing season. When EmKay earns a coveted golden ticket to Western States but is unable to use it, she has the opportunity to pass it on to Abby. Together, they reflect on wha...
May 09, 2025•47 min
Leah, Katie, and Rachel catch up to talk all things Canyons 100K, Mt. Fuji, and what’s next. Katie shares an honest look at her experience at Canyons—how the race didn’t unfold as she’d hoped, what she learned through the struggle, and why she’s still proud of what her body accomplished. She also gives a peek into what’s coming up in her training. Rachel reflects on a big life update—her pregnancy announcement—and how crewing for Tyler at Mt. Fuji didn’t quite go as planned. She opens up about t...
May 02, 2025•54 min
Leah Yingling and Mike McMonagle (@shitinthewoods) return to the podcast to recap the Gorge Waterfalls race weekend and what it was like running the 50k together. They cover the record-shattering performances at the 100k and debrief the ups and downs of running a 50k with your partner while 5 months pregnant. The good, the bad, and the ugly. We hope you enjoy! This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network. A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episod...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 7 min
In this week’s episode, Katie and Rachel take the mic to talk about what’s new in their lives and the trail world. Rachel shares what’s ahead for both her and Tyler as they gear up for their trip to Japan and the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji—where she’ll be racing the 40k. They dive into how having a big adventure on the calendar can shift your mindset, and how race day conditions play a big role in conversations around course records. Katie gives a training update and reflects on the confidence and joy...
Apr 17, 2025•43 min
In this episode, we catch up after Katie’s huge accomplishment on the Joshua Tree Traverse, where she set a new self supported FKT! She shares the details of her fueling strategy, how the effort went down, and what she’s thinking as she gears up for the next steps in training ahead of her Golden Ticket chase. We also dive into what makes a good race, from course design to community support, and hear from Hilary about her planning process for The Mammoth 200. She talks about how she’s building a ...
Apr 10, 2025•56 min
It’s been a minute! In this episode, all four of us are finally back together to catch up on life, training, and everything in between. Katie shares details about her upcoming FKT project, and we dive into a conversation about FKTs in general—what they mean, how they’re evolving, and why they’re so compelling. We each give updates on how our training is going, what’s been shifting in our routines, and how we’re embracing change in racing and life. Plus, we talk about the current wave of energy a...
Apr 03, 2025•55 min
Disability rights advocate, cancer survivor, and social impact leader Nicole Ver Kuilen joins host Katie Asmuth for a powerful conversation about turning personal adversity into purposeful action. Nicole is the campaign lead for So Everybody Can Move and the founder of Forrest Stumps , a nonprofit driving policy change and awareness for equitable access to prosthetic technology. In this episode, Nicole shares her journey as an adaptive athlete, from founding Forrest Stumps to winning the Paralym...
Mar 27, 2025•58 min
Sarah Attar is a gifted photographer, a two-time Olympian, and a trailblazer in every sense of the word. In this episode of The Trail Network podcast, she joins host Hilary Yang for a conversation about the unexpected paths life has taken her on and the lessons she has gathered along the way. Sarah made history as one of the first female athletes to represent Saudi Arabia in the Olympics, competing in track and field in 2012 and 2016. Now based in the Eastern Sierra, she channels her creativity ...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 20 min
Ohh Baby! Leah and Mike have some big news to share—Leah is pregnant! In this episode, they reflect on how this life-changing moment is shaping their plans, both on and off the trails. They take a look back at the past few years of training, racing, and tackling adventures like RUFA, and talk about what it means to be an athlete while preparing for parenthood. Leah shares her experience running while pregnant, how it’s shifting her approach to training, and what she hopes to see change for femal...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Today, host Katie Asmuth sits down with the legendary Ida Nilsson, a true veteran of the sport. With a career spanning decades, Ida has done it all—from track and cross country to road and trail running, and now even ski mountaineering. In this episode, she reflects on her incredible journey, starting with her athletic upbringing alongside her equally talented siblings, to her time competing at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and her approach to longevity in the sport. A decorated athl...
Mar 08, 2025•58 min
On today’s episode of The Trail Network Podcast, we have Hilary Yang, Leah Yingling, and Katie Asmuth for a catch up episode!We've gotten some great feedback from our listeners just saying that some of their favorite episodes are the ones where we just catch up. So this episode is really just a chance for Leah, Katie and Hilary to connect and see what's been going on in each other's lives. We talk about traning and life updates, gear that we’re loving, finding motivation, and more! Enjoy! This e...
Feb 27, 2025•58 min
Today, Leah Yingling is joined by Alexis Crellin 🙌. Alexis is a climber, mountain enthusiast, and ultra runner based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has two top 20s at UTMB, top finishes at Speedgoat 50k and The Rut 50k and has been crushing it on the mountain scene in Utah and beyond for years. She’s also a prior FKT holder on the Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup (WURL), a rugged 32+ mile high mountain route in the Wasatch. She’s a mom of three adorable kiddos and has been building their resilie...
Feb 20, 2025•48 min
Today, Hilary Yang sits down with Katie Asmuth to talk about all things Black Canyon race weekend. Katie ran the 100K, and while she was going for a golden ticket and trying to shoot her shot, the day did not go according to plan. However, they were able to dissect the race and understand where it went wrong and pull out a lot of things that hopefully you all will find applicable to your own races! They got into the weeds with talking about nutrition strategy, gear, fueling, and all of the thing...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 13 min
In honor of the Black Canyon 100K race weekend, the Trail Network podcast hosts revisits a heartfelt conversation with Trueheart Brown, the 2022 race champion. Trueheart’s victory at Black Canyon was a breakout performance, winning as an underdog at the age of 41 and fully embracing the spirit of the sport. In this conversation, Trueheart shares insights into his journey as a trail runner, the lessons he’s learned through competition, and how he balances training with life’s many demands. His re...
Feb 20, 2025•30 min
We're so happy you're here with us this week. On this week's episode, we dive into some listener questions and chat about the season ahead. We talk about how we balance being competitive in the sport while holding space for planning for families and motherhood. Another topic is balancing and sharing the sport with a partner. We also cover some world championship qualifiers like Gorge Waterfalls and Broken Arrow. And we dive into our favorite winter running hacks. We hope you enjoy this episode! ...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 3 min
In this episode, Rachel, Leah, Hilary, and Katie reconnect to chat about what’s been happening so far in 2025, sharing hot takes and fun stories about life, training, and adventures. The conversation covers Katie’s upcoming race at the Black Canyon 100k, the inspiring work of The Futurist Project, and a spotlight on incredible female athletes and creatives. They also dive into their favorite gear, the value of storytelling in sports and life, and the little things that are keeping them motivated...
Feb 20, 2025•52 min
In this episode of the Trail Network podcast, hosts Leah Yingling and Rachel Drake are joined by the incredible Courtney Olsen who had an unforgettable 2024 racing season. Courtney placed third at Comrades, set a world record at the Tunnel Hill 50-Miler, secured a top-10 finish at the World’s 100K Race, and was recently voted number six in the Ultra Runner of the Year rankings. In this conversation, they dive into Courtney’s standout performances on the global stage, where she has represented Te...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 8 min
In this episode of the Trail Network podcast, hosts Hilary Yang and Katie Asmuth are joined by elite runner and content creator Allie Ostrander. Allie shares insights into her new sponsorship with Oiselle, her experiences balancing a professional running career with content creation, and how she navigates both trail and track worlds. The conversation delves into the lessons she’s learned on the trails, her passion for mental health advocacy, and the hobbies that help her find balance outside of ...
Jan 11, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In this special New Year’s episode, hosts Hilary Yang, Leah Yingling, Rachel Drake, and Katie Asmuth come together on New Year’s Eve to reflect on the highs, lows, and lessons of the past year. From creative endeavors and unexpected turns to balancing race calendars with life outside the sport, the hosts share personal insights and what they’re carrying forward into 2025. It’s a heartfelt, honest conversation about growth, adaptability, and big plans on the horizon. Talking Points: A pulse check...
Jan 02, 2025•56 min
In this episode, hosts Hilary Yang and Katie Asmuth sit down with Tim Tollefson, elite trail runner, race director, and advocate for public lands. Tim shares insights into his life as an athlete, entrepreneur, and partner, while reflecting on the impact of Mammoth Trailfest and the broader trail running community. Plus, Hilary and Tim drop a big announcement toward the end of the podcast that you won’t want to miss! Talking Points: What’s coming up for Tim in 2025 Changes Tim will be making in h...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 2 min
In today’s episode, Leah Yingling and Hilary Yang share their reactions to being selected for the 2025 Hardrock 100, reflecting on the years of effort it took to secure their spots in the iconic race. They discuss what the event means to them, their thoughts on the course and culture, and how ultrarunning continues to evolve. A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Go to Osprey.com to check out their products! This podcast is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Pod...
Dec 12, 2024•58 min
Welcome back to the Trail Network Podcast ! Host Katie Asmuth kicks off this special episode alongside her guest and co-host for the day, Dani Moreno. As neighbors and friends in Mammoth Lakes, Katie and Dani bring a unique perspective to this reflective conversation about 2024. Together, they take a month-by-month journey through the year, sharing their favorite races, memorable highlights, and personal anecdotes. Tune in for a great and fun-filled recap that will leave you inspired to reflect ...
Dec 05, 2024•58 min
In this episode, Rachel Drake and Leah Yingling dive deep into Rachel’s phenomenal performance at the historic JFK 50 Mile, where she not only took the win but shattered the course record. Leah and Rachel talk about the race and the training leading into it. You won’t want to miss it! This podcast is supported by Osprey. Head over to Osprey.com to find the perfect pack for you!
Nov 28, 2024•46 min
In this episode, Rachel, Leah, Hilary, and Katie catch up a on all things running and life. Topics we discuss: Strategies for running in the winter Rachel’s training as she prepares for the JFK 50 Mile How to put your ego aside in training Tips for balancing work and training Rachel’s goals and mindset heading into the JFK race
Nov 21, 2024•43 min
