The Trail Network Podcast

Episode 108 brings all four hosts back together for a rare catch-up episode, and the conversation covers everything from ambitious running goals to the realities of trying to fit training into already full lives. Hilary shares the experience of premiering Raise the Bar, her feature-length film celebrating the women of Western States and the athletes who continue to push the sport forward. Rachel reflects on her standout FKT effort on West Grandeur and the challenge of balancing big athletic goals with motherhood, medical training, and everyday life. Leah talks about building toward UTMB, finding motivation in a busy season of life, and the growing sense of community she’s found in Salt Lake City. Katie opens up about navigating family health challenges, illness, interrupted training, and the mental battle of holding onto goals when life keeps throwing curveballs.
It’s a conversation about ambition, friendship, perspective, and why showing up imperfectly is often the most important part of the process. Whether you're training for your biggest race of the year or simply trying to squeeze a run into a busy week, this episode is a reminder that progress rarely looks perfect, and that’s okay. 
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

After a few chaotic weeks away from the mic, Katie is back and catching up with Leah on everything that’s unfolded lately, from her son's type 1 diabetes diagnosis to the emotional whiplash of balancing family crisis with training, racing, and everyday life. It’s an honest conversation about what happens when running suddenly takes a backseat, and how both of them are navigating UTMB build-up while life keeps throwing curveballs.
They also get into local race wins, steep Salt Lake climbs, late-night mountain runs, Western States pacing plans, Broken Arrow prep, and the momentum women’s trail running is carrying right now after huge performances from Rachel Entrekin, Tove Alexandersson, and more. Through all of it, this episode comes back to the same idea: running can be part of your life without being your entire identity.
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

After a couple missed recording attempts and a very full few weeks, Leah and Hilary finally sit down to catch up. Hilary shares her pregnancy news and what the last few months have looked like balancing training, work, commentary, and just trying to survive the first trimester. The conversation also dives into Cocodona, Rachel Entrekin’s massive performance, the growing momentum behind women’s ultrarunning, and the different ways athletes navigate motherhood, racing, and identity within the sport.
They also touch on Western States training camp season, postpartum running, Hilary’s upcoming film premiere, and why this era of trail running feels especially exciting right now.
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

After a chaotic lead-up that included travel stress, illness, childcare logistics, and a race that almost didn’t happen, Rachel and Tyler Green made it to Madeira… and ended up delivering two standout performances on one of the most technical courses in the sport.
In this episode, Hilary sits down with both Rachel and Tyler to unpack what it actually looked like behind the scenes. This isn’t just a race recap. It’s a conversation about showing up when nothing feels perfect, trusting your process when confidence is low, and navigating high-level racing while balancing careers, parenting, and real life.
Tyler shares what it meant to finally feel like himself again at the front of an international field, and how he managed the inevitable highs and lows of a long race day. Rachel opens up about racing postpartum, letting go of expectations, and finding joy and perspective in a season that looks very different than before.
There’s also a deeper look at partnership, support systems, and what it really takes to make racing at this level possible. From family logistics to mid-race problem solving, this episode pulls back the curtain on what goes into these performances beyond the results.
It’s a reminder that very few races start from a place of perfect preparation, and that sometimes the most meaningful outcomes come from the messiest lead-ups.
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

This week’s catch-up episode leans into where the sport is right now and how quickly everything seems to be evolving.
With Rachel off racing in Madeira, Katie, Leah, and Hilary sit down to unpack a stretch of racing that felt bigger than usual. From the ACG takeover at Gorge to the growing presence of brands, media, and storytelling in trail, there’s a clear shift happening in how races are experienced, marketed, and consumed. It’s not just about who wins anymore. It’s about how the sport shows up.
The conversation naturally moves into what that means for athletes. The pressure that comes with bigger platforms, the reality of bad race days, and the challenge of staying grounded when expectations keep rising. There’s an honest look at how pros navigate performance swings, sponsorship dynamics, and the mental side of showing up again after things don’t go to plan.
They also touch on the increasing overlap between road and trail, with more athletes moving between disciplines and finding breakthroughs by doing things differently. It’s less about choosing one lane and more about building a broader version of what it means to be an endurance athlete.
As always, it circles back to real life. Training interruptions, family logistics, travel fatigue, and finding small ways to keep showing up anyway. It’s a reminder that even at the highest level, there’s no perfect formula. Just people figuring it out as they go.
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.