About this episode
In this episode, we dive into Christian Allen’s viral Nike photoshoot and ACG trail sponsorship, his training blocks in Chamonix that included over 100 miles and 23,000 feet of vert, and a breakdown of Cam Hanes’ Broken film and the Cocadona 250. We recap the action from UTMB and OCC, including Jim Walmsley’s frustrations with aid stations, Adam Peterman’s inspiring comeback, and Courtney Dauwalter’s struggles, before shifting to the global stage with the rise of Kenyan and Chinese ultrarunners and what it means for the future of the sport. We also look ahead with a Western States 2025 preview featuring Francesco Puppi, Hayden Hawks, Caleb, and Jim, plus a Wasatch 100 preview and the drama around Zach Garner’s volunteer hours controversy. The episode closes on a lighter note with the funniest listener shoutouts, stories of ping pong battles with Chinese executives, and even a wild Lamborghini dinner invite. Timestamps:00:00 – Cold open: mullets, wigs & Christian’s legendary hair00:24 – Welcome back + intros with Christian Allen02:00 – Nike sponsorship story & viral photoshoot 📸05:30 – Nike Trail merges with ACG: what it means for athletes06:45 – Training in Chamonix: 100 miles, 23,000 ft vert 🏔️08:15 – Wasatch 100 course signs & trail marking chaos12:00 – Cam Hanes’ Broken film & Coca-Dona 250 talk 🎥13:35 – Three-day fasting + hallucinations while racing?!14:30 – Christian’s USA gear giveaway + visor comeback 🧢16:20 – Social media & sponsorship pressures for runners18:00 – Nike’s ACG strategy explained: future of trail gear22:00 – Gear talk: radical airflow shirt & prototypes 👕25:00 – Sydney Marathon recap & Kipchoge running 2:08 at age 4028:00 – Christian’s marathon goals: CIM, Boston & chasing 2:0729:35 – Connor Mance’s American record & shoe tech debates34:00 – BYU, Weber State & coaching legends 🏃♂️43:10 – UTMB/CCC review: Christian’s racing + nausea struggles46:00 – Fueling failures, nausea & the Zofran experiment47:55 – Jim Walmsley’s critical UTMB interview 🎤50:00 – Aid station chaos at OCC & live race drama53:15 – Adam Peterman’s comeback + rising stars54:30 – Canadian Sam Hendry’s breakout performance 🇨🇦56:00 – Christian’s plans for sub-4 50K & Golden Trail Finals57:15 – UTMB lottery, stones system & booking the chalet 🏔️01:00:00 – UTMB dream crew planning (and French language struggles)01:01:30 – Western States preview: Francesco Puppi, Hayden Hawks & Drew Holmen01:05:00 – Caleb, Jim & Americans lining up for Western 202501:07:15 – Women’s UTMB: epic finish + tactical battles01:09:00 – Kenyan & Chinese runners storming the scene 🌍01:15:00 – French miss the podium + global shift in ultrarunning01:16:00 – Courtney Dauwalter’s struggles: injury or weather?01:20:00 – Debate: Triple Crown vs winning UTMB multiple times01:25:00 – VK races, Mount Marathon & hardest 5K in the world01:28:00 – Top storylines from UTMB week (panel’s podium picks)01:33:00 – Nike vs Nation: sponsorship vs country pride 🇺🇸👟01:46:00 – Doping, money & the future of the sport 💰01:47:00 – Wasatch 100 preview + Zach Garner volunteer hours drama01:52:00 – Top men’s & women’s contenders for Wasatch02:04:00 – Listener shoutouts & Strava comments ❤️02:08:00 – Chinese business meeting → ping pong & Lamborghini invite 🏓🚗02:09:50 – Wrap-up & thanks to Christian Allen This episode mixes trail running analysis, athlete insights, and pure podcast chaos.👉 Don’t miss weekly episodes — hit SUBSCRIBE on YouTube🎧 Listen on Spotify 👥 Share this with your trail crew!