Bear Right! Trail Pod

Just some catching up on local running!

Friend of Bear Right! and Massanutten Alum, Simon Arendt joins the podcast for a discussion of the upcoming Massanutten Mountain 100. We open with a recap of Sam's race at Breakneck Point then gush about the epic event that is Cocodona! We finish with a preview of Massanutten and what makes this race and this field compelling for East Coasters!

It's Hyner Week! Who better to celebrate that with than 2 time champion Ben Robinson! We don't just talk Hyner though and in this "get to know you" episode, we learn about Ben's business endeavors, successes and failures. He shares about his journey into the sport during it's rise and how his openness to take risks has opened doors and built lasting relationships It was i...

Another HAT50K in the books and they've done it again! The team that brings us HAT came through big with an incredible race this year! Great Competition, Great SWAG, Incredible Support and just a perfect day on the trails. Pat and I give some well earned and necessary kudos and apologies. We also talk about growing competitive racing on the east coast and what steps are being tried. We discuss...

Pat "Prolific Racer" Blair joins the pod to discuss the upcoming HAT 50K. This is one of our favorite races. Great People, Great Course, Great Competition and it's even better this year! This edition of the race brings team competition to the forefront with multiple divisions both competitive and creative. JUST LIKE TRAIL RUNNING SHOULD BE!!! In this rambling conversation you'll...

Two of Rocksylvania's heavy hitters join the Bear Right! Podcast off their trips out to Black Canyon 100k! East Coast Winter Training Strategies Chris and Andrew share unabashed and unwavering love for Hoka Challengers. What's keeping us from the smaller brands? and we talk our favorite local trails!

Ferdinand and Will pay a visit to the Beast Coast fresh off the Black Canyon 100k where the fireworks were bursting late in the race. We get an inside look at crewing, pacing and racing at the elite level and learn what they feel is most valuable out on the trail during this open debate on what roles crews and pacers play in our sport. We also talk friendship within competition and careers as well...

This one gets a little spicy folks! We dive into the UROY debate with a few takes on who was in and who was left out of this year's North American list. Are trail world records even a quantifiable thing? We also get into why Advertising can be a little problematic when the lines between expert and influencer get foggy. We finish up with some black canyon banter! Hope you enjoy and good luck to...

Sorry We've been gone so long! Chris and Sam catch up and talk a little winter training. We talk about some of the topics in Trail News and consider the upcoming season. What races to run in different scenarios and seeking different experiences. Most importantly we consider options for getting those travel heavy or impossible experiences like big Aravaipa events, Western States or UTMB right i...

Maryland trail running badass and friend Simon joins the podcast to share in the stoke surrounding the legendary Hellgate 100k. This race starts in the middle of the woods in the dead of night and creates incredible bonds between the people who choose to throw themselves into this amazing adventure. A race that draws the heartiest of souls and a who's who of east coast trail running. We talk a...

In Episode 31 we are joined by Andrew Hutchinson fresh off his first ultra and podium finish at the JFK 50 miler! We chat about our race experiences, snow days, Andrew's season and future in ultra-running! A really fun time was had by all and we hope you enjoy! If you're enjoying the podcast, please give a review, share it with a friend and engage with us! Help us make it better!

Trail and Ultra-Runner Jared Burdick joins the podcast to discuss his racing strategy and this year's competitive fields.

Welcome to episode 29! We are now in the thick of JFK week and scheming, predicting, hoping and overthinking our way to race day! This session is a listen in our thoughts on our own prospects and the dynamic of the team competition. Just part of the fun.

That's right folks! It's JFK week, which marks 1 year of the Bear Right! Trail Podcast and we are coming in hot for our anniversary. In this episode we are joined by 2 greats of the sport! David Sinclair is undeniably one of the top trail runners in the sport, regardless of terrain or distance. He is a professional trail runner with Craft Sportswear who lives and trains in Vermont. He is the defen...

This one is pretty straight forward folks! Chris and Sam riff on the race in AZ and we talk about folks headed there from the East Coast. We then get into some spicier thoughts on the Golden Ticket Races in general and eventually Chris's car gets towed...

Hey Everyone, we are back with a catch-up episode after Sam's implosion at Grindstone. What happened there? Well folks, maybe having a strong "Why" isn't just influencer BS afterall... Then we get into a lightning fast 2025 Blues Cruise 50K where Chris mixed up with some tested veterans and speedy newcomers on a pretty epic day with lead changes and aggressive strategies. Chris i...

Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall for someone's race planning? Well here is your chance and it's just as riveting as you might expect a couple of ultra-runners talking about aid station self-care and headlamp requirements to be. Anyway, we got together and hit record and we are time stamping this for the post race recap and how far off the mark we were... And Matt is keeping receipts!

In this unedited edition of the Bear Right! Trail Podcast Andrew Simpson joins Sam for a sit down and catch-up on what has been an incredible racing season so far. Off a blistering Twisted Branch 100k win over a close friend and respected rival, Andrew goes through the season that brought him here as well as some great play by play! We talk parenting in sport, east coast summers and simple fueling...

We start off with a recap of Josh's top 10 run at the Vermont 100 after early onset nausea. Then we get a little sideways talking about Sam's preparation for Grindstone 100 and triage foot and shoe issues. Finally we get to it! The Eastern States 100 2024 Edition and celebrating some of the top contenders competing for an axe this year!

Derek Schultz joins the Bear Right! Trail Pod for a jaunt down memory lane! Derek drank the coolaid early and has been the trail pusher for many an east coast, wet behind the ears kid with dreams of crushing some singletrack. He shares stories of getting into trail running, taking it way too far and the evolution of his own running outlook. We talk about east coast trail running culture, favorite...

It's what everyone has been waiting for! The East Coast perspective on Western States! But first! The burliest 50ish mile race in the country just happened in the Catskills. Manitou's Revenge! We talk a little about this race, that we hope to give you more of later. Congrats to everyone who attempted the race this year! Then we dive into Western! We talk about many of the people with East...

What was originally planned as a Western States Pre-Race Interview became more of an exploration into other things. Will talks with us about how he has grown as an athlete after his impressive Black Canyon performance and about the events that led to his withdrawal from this year's race. We talk about the fears in this sport and Will's use of self-talk as a mental strategy and how this has...

I mean really! It's just in one state! Well, we don't get into that but we do get into the news and story lines evolving out of the lead up to American trail running's biggest day of the year! This takes center stage in today's episode. Afterward we talk about big races that happened across the east coast over the past several weeks and finish up with a super fun "Would you ra...

Ferdinand and Sam catch up after Ferdinand's incredible win at the Canyons 100 miler in a record performance. We learn what a day is like in the life of a runner treating it as their profession. Then we get a deep dive into the race that was Canyons. Ferdinand talks about not feeling like it was going to be his day early but remaining patient, dressing for the day and how he is the one person...

Sorry about the gap between the intro music and our podcast start... Use those few seconds to stretch! In episode 17 Chris and Sam bring some current topics to the table including a recent prompt from another trail running podcast! We discuss why more attention should be given to east coast trail running, what race Sam should do next, doing what we want vs what we know will help and delve into the...