The Directors

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down and chat about the upcoming Trials of Miles virtual racing tournament Beat the Heat. During the episode they chat about the format of the competition, how the rules differ from Chase the Throne, and some of the basic guidelines around courses for all four rounds. They also share some thoughts about why this format is so much fun and the wei...

On this episode of  The Directors , Dave and Cooper dig into the Super Bowl of distance running—the NYC Marathon. They discuss the controversial disqualification of Matt Choi, chat about the list of the most "tracked" athletes during the race, and explore the explosion of brand activations that happen around the race. They also dive into the economics behind organizing a world major marathon...

On this episode of The Directors , Dave and Cooper sit down with Mandy Mullen, the director of the Run Windsor race series in Windsor, Colorado, and the Colorado Relays. On the episode Mandy shares her journey into race directing, the growth and expansion of her business, and the challenges that come with managing races. She also discusses her motivation for taking over the Colorado Relays and her...

In this one-on-one episode, Dave and Cooper start things off with a recap the Mt. Baldy 5000. They then discuss several upcoming Trials of Miles events, including the Golden Gate Relay, the Beantown Winter Classic, and the Montclair Doughnut Run, providing insights into what participants can expect. Toward the end of the episode, the conversation shifts to the newly released 2025 Diamond League sc...

On this episode of The Directors , Dave and Cooper sit down just days after the Athlos NYC meet to share their first impressions of this new contender in the track and field world. They break down the event’s presentation, the impressive production quality, and discuss the excitement surrounding the races and storylines. The conversation also touches on the integration of betting with DraftKings a...

On this episode of The Directors , Dave and Cooper sit down for a one-on-one chat to dive into the latest happenings in the world of events. They break down the thrilling 1v1 race between Mondo and Warholm, discuss the recent UFC event held at the Sphere, and chat about the announcement of increased prize money at the Diamond League meets. The duo also previews the much-anticipated Athlos Meet in...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper catchup with Brian Mister shortly after he wrapped up his 6th year directing the Around the Crown 10k in Charlotte, NC. During the conversation Brian shares some of the strategies he’s used to get 25% year over year growth, the creative thinking he’s used to bring on brand partners, and how he’s turned this race into a 365-day evergreen event. Brian...

This week on the podcast, Cooper sits down with Sarah Stutman from Life Time to discuss the Sea Otter Classic. Held every April in Monterey, CA, this event is more than just a race—it's a multi-day festival and expo that has become one of the largest gatherings in the cycling world. Tune in to hear the story of how it all began, its growth over the years, and what makes it such a unique and celebr...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down for a one-on-one episode where they chat about how to make cross country more popular, the death of an athlete at the CrossFit games, the Marathon for the People at the Paris Olympics, the Fanatics Fest NYC and more. Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Dipen Shah the mastermind behind Karmarush, one of the leading provider of results and broadcast technologies in the world of track and field. During the conversation they dive into the experience of watching the 2024 Olympics, with a special focus on the coverage of Olympic track and field events. They also get into where track and field...

On this episode of the Directors Cooper sits down for a one-on-one with Adrian Bozman, CrossFit's Competition Director. During the conversation they discuss the history of the CrossFit Games, the structure of the CrossFit Games season, and the unique format of the individual competitions. They also chat about the role of the Competition Director, how Boz thinks about picking events for the games,...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down and recap one of the craziest stretches in the history of Trials of Miles. This includes a conversation about the Twilight 5000 series, the first year of the D.C. Crit, and the iconic 5k on the Beach. They also chat a little bit about the upcoming Montclair Mile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Nils Arend the founder of the Speed Project, the epic LA to LV unsanctioned relay race. During the conversation Nils shares the Speed Project's origin story, talks about how the event has evolved and grown, and talks about the biggest challenges associated with putting on an event of this size. Nils also talks a little about the future of...

On this weeks episode of the podcast Dave and Cooper chat about watching the Olympic Trials and share their immediate impressions about the Grand Slam Track league. The conversation on Grand Slam Track touches on the three day event format, how the league fits into the current pro track landscape, and how they can make the business model work. Give the conversation a listen and let us know what yo...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about their experience directing the 2024 installment of the New Balance National Outdoor meet. During the conversation they discuss how they applied learnings from year one to improve this year's event, the challenges associated with Franklin Field, and what goes into scheduling a 6,000 person event. They also share some of their favorite mome...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about the experience of directing NYC Trail Fest, a day that brought more than its fair share of challenges. During the conversation they touch upon shuttle buses not showing up, last minute changes to the course, problems with the course markings and more. Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Felicia Hubber the director of the iconic Hood to Coast Relay. During the conversation they unpack the history of the race and the unique challenges associated with managing an event that spans over 200 miles. They also discuss Hood to Coast's expansion overseas, the demand for multi-day relay races, and the future of this style of event....

On this one-on-one episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about Track Night NYC, the future of pro running, the "most popular running event in the word" and more. Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Tyler Swartz, the founder of Endorphins, one of the largest and fastest growing run clubs in the country. During the conversation Tyler shares the Endorphins origin story, the fundamental values that have led to the club's growth, and Tyler's unique and evolving role as community leader. Tyler also chats about the business of run clubs, ho...

On this special edition of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about Friday night's event at Icahn Stadium in NYC. They unpack some of the top athletes to watch in the high school and elite races, and also share some of the storylines to watch for in the open races. You can watch all the action on RunnerSpace or can come to the stadium to watch all the action live. See you under the lights! Hosted...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Jon Hughes the director of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Orlando. During the conversation Jon explains why this race presents so many incredibly unique challenges, the Olympic Trials Marathon business model, and the bidding process required to get the trials to your city. Jon also chats about what the future of the Trials looks...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down with Aimee Kohler the director of A Running Kind, a PA based events company that hosts carbon neutral events. During the conversation they discuss the challenges associated with putting on carbon neutral events, the biggest contributors to the carbon footprint of races, and the economics of carbon offsets. Aimee also shares some practical a...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Kristy Maki the Director of the Berkie (or the American Birkebeiner) the biggest cross country ski race in America. During the conversation they chat about the history of the event and how Kristy and her team managed to pull off the event this year despite the fact that Wisconsin got almost no snow. Give the episode a listen and hear how t...

Another mailbag episode where Cooper and Dave chat through some topics from the world of racing and events. This week's episode includes talk about the Speed Project, World Cross Country, declining triathlon participation numbers, and talk of a new pro track series in the works. Give the conversation a listen and let us know what you think. If you have any suggestions for future mailbag episodes l...

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down with David Trimble, the man behind some of NYC's most iconic races including the Red Hook Crit and the Midnight Half. During the conversation David shares the story of how the Red Hook Crit got started and explains why it no longer exists today. David also unpacks the differences between putting on running and cycling events and shares some...