About this episode
Trail running is growing fast — but is the money for athlete deals keeping up? In this episode, athlete agent Kelly Newlon returns to the show to unpack the latest economics behind athlete-brand partnerships in 2025. From $10K rookie contracts to six-figure base deals, Kelly breaks down who’s getting paid, why it’s finally improving for pros, and which brands and races hold the most weight in negotiations. We cover: How athlete compensation has shifted in the last two years What brands actually value — and why some athletes still get left out The rise of non-endemic deals (cars, banks, healthcare) If you’ve always been curious about what “contract season” really looks like in trail running, this is a great look inside. Additional Episodes: #355 - Tara Dower Signs Ground-Breaking Deal with Altra (Our Analysis) #135 - Kelly Newlon | Real Athlete Diets, Crewing FKT Projects, Athlete Sponsorship Thoughts Partners: Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made ( https://nordarun.com/ ) Gorewear - use code SINGLETRACKPOD30 at checkout on their website ( bit.ly/3JVNIbL ) to get 30% off your purchase. Naak - use code SINGLETRACK15 at checkout on their website ( https://www.naak.com/ ) to get 15% off your purchase. Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains ( https://raideresearch.com/ ) deltaG Ketones - use code Singletrack20 at checkout on their website to get 20% off your next order (https://partners.deltagketones.com/SINGLETRACK20) Events: Register for the 2026 Buffalo Run Register for 2026 Twisted Fork Trail Festival Additional Links: Follow Finn on Instagram , Strava , Youtube , and Patreon Follow Kelly on Instagram , Website , LinkedIn Support the show