Trail TMZ is back.

Host and award-winning correspondent Allison Mercer dive into one of the strangest weeks of trail running that we have seen in a while. From the Satisfy and Adidas backlash and influencer culture debates, to doping discussions around Cam Hanes, Sage Canaday and clean sport, plus the growing role of social media in shaping running culture.

We also talk FKTs, Will Peterson's Appalachian Trail attempt, upcoming Pacific Crest Trail action, why controversy dominates attention online, and whether running is losing the things that made it special in the first place.

Topics:

• Satisfy backlash and brand culture

• Influencer running and authenticity

• Cam Hanes, Sage Canaday, and doping conversations

• Why negativity dominates social media

• FKT updates and upcoming attempts

• Will Peterson's Appalachian Trail

• The future of trail running culture

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Patrick “Bubba The Midwest McGrady" Kavanagh joins the Free Outside Podcast after surviving Cocodona 250 with less than two hours of sleep, a lot of hallucinations, and peak Midwest politeness.

We talk about passive aid station etiquette, the infamous Cocodona “fight,” hallucinating sepia-toned family photo albums in Sedona, the MBA basketball challenge at Mingus Mountain, why ultrarunning and pickup basketball are culturally identical, and whether Cocodona needs more wildlife, rivalries, and SlamBall.

We also get into:

Why Midwesterners make great ultrarunners

How Cocodona completely changes your understanding of distance

Racing horses in Arizona

Why adult life desperately needs competition

Why every ultrarunner eventually gives up athleticism for exercise

AND

A billion-dollar business idea involving upside down pizza

One of the funniest episodes we’ve recorded.

Support our Sponsors:

Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/

Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726

CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee

Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

Instagram: thefreeoutside

facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Yassine Diboun comes on to talk about imposter syndrome, ultra running, positivity, sobriety, community, and why none of us actually feel as confident as we pretend to.

Yassine has been in the ultra running world for nearly 20 years, from the old-school blog era and handwritten race applications to modern 200 milers and social media comparison culture. We talk about how the sport has changed, why we still get nervous at races, and how you can be incredibly accomplished at one thing while still feeling like a beginner at another.

We also dive into Yassine’s “good wolf vs bad wolf” mindset, how he practices positivity without pretending life is perfect, and why community might actually be the most important part of trail running.

Along the way we cover:

The early days of ultra running

Cocodona 250 and Mammoth 200

Heat training and race anxiety

Hallucinations and sleep deprivation

Why comparison steals joy

Sobriety and endurance sports

Kids, trail running, and staying playful

Why hard things should still be fun

The mental side of ultra running

Support our Sponsors:

Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/

Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726

CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee

Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

Instagram: thefreeoutside

facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure