The Dirt Division E050 | Developing Running Shoes, Misadventures, Nnormal Kjerag 2.0

The Dirt Division highlights a handful of trends in trail running footwear this year and gives their opinions on whether they love it or could do without it. Along the way, they do a little bit of forecasting, talk about a wide range of options, and end with a little bit of nonsense.... naturally.GUEST: Seth LaReau is the writer behind the Trail Waves Substack. He approaches the trail space with a unique analytical mind, creativity, and passion. Taylor and Seth discuss his motivation for this output and higlight some of his current/past work.

We sat down with Timm Chiusano at the New Balance Run House to talk about his new book, How to Get Addicted to Appreciation. Timm spent 25 years in corporate America, then found an audience making "growing up less scary" on TikTok, and his wife tricked him into his first marathon. We cover burnout, Rolling Stone, the run that taught him "this is just a phase," and his plan to hand out 26.2 copies of the book during the NYC Marathon.Chapters0:00 Intro0:46 Why preorders matter for authors3:22 Who is Timm? From corporate to TikTok13:16 His wife tricks him into his first marathon16:06 Rolling Stone and the White House17:40 How running changed his perspective24:52 What readers will get from the book28:04 Handing out 26.2 books during the NYC Marathon

We're back from NYC Marathon weekend, and it might've been our best one yet. Thomas and Aubrey ran it just for fun and got hyped up along the way by an NYPD officer and N.O.R.E. himself, while the Megs ran the course backwards and watched Jess McClain sprint into second. We also recap the New Balance Run House and our shakeout run (and the line around the block), and settle which New York song is the most overplayed on your reels.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!SAYSKYOur newest sponsor, Saysky, has been making technical running gear out of Copenhagen since 2013. Clean cuts, simple designs, sizing that's on point, and just about everything you need as a runner. Robbe is already living in the new fall kit. Get 15% off with code DROP15: https://saysky.comPILLAR PERFORMANCERunning day after day takes a toll on your tendons, ligaments and connective tissue. Pillar's Collagen Repair is designed to support all of it, and it's flavorless, so a scoop disappears into your morning coffee. We use it daily. Get 15% off your first purchase with code BITR: https://pillarperformance.shop or https://thefeed.com/pillarLMNTWe leaned on LMNT all weekend in New York, from loading up the night before to topping off the salt on a warm race day. All LMNT flavors deliver 1000 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium, and 60 mg magnesium, and the sachets are easy to carry when a friend needs a boost. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: https://drinklmnt.com/thedropSWIFTWICKWe wore Swiftwick all weekend long, from the shakeout to walking the city. They're our favorite socks for running and for everything else, and they make a great holiday gift (just ask Robbe's kids). Save 15% off your first order with code BELIEVE15: https://swiftwick.com/collections/believe

The Dirt Division wasn't done sharing some of their favorite items and ideas in the trail running space last week which includes books, gear, skincare, and footwear. They all share more while finding time to comment on each other's feet, habits, and relational quirks.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Lagoon: Sleep is one of the most underrated training components. We've been fans of Lagoon for years and use their custom pillows nightly to support a great night of sleep and, of course, our running. Go to http://lagoonsleep.com/believe to take a quick quiz to find the best pillow for you. Get 15% off your purchase by using code BELIEVE

Nike adopted the dark, but Meg was born in it, molded by it. She gives her report from the Los Angeles edition of the women-centric event. Elsewhere in the country, Thomas sustains an injury in South Carolina while Robbe's son beats him badly in a 5K back in Maryland. Trick or treat, indeed.Join us at our New Balance x BITR shakeout run before the New York City Marathon!📅 WHEN: Saturday, October 31 at 8AM📍 WHERE: Washington Square Park Arch🏃 WHAT: 3 mile shakeout run + light bites + giveawaysSave 15% on BITR gear through 11/2: https://shop.believeintherun.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LAGOON PILLOWSSleep is training. Lagoon Pillow is built around your sleep position and preferences — so you wake up recovered and ready to run. We use them every night and you should too. Find your perfect pillow at lagoonsleep.com/believePILLARRecently, we’ve been taking PILLAR Triple Magnesium, and honestly, it’s been a game-changer for our sleep and recovery. What really sets PILLAR apart from other micronutrition we’ve tried is that the results feel tangible and measurable. For runners who care about the data but also just want to feel better day to day, PILLAR Triple Magnesium has become a really easy win in our routine. If you want to try PILLAR, you can head to pillarperformance.shop or TheFeed.com/pillar and enter code BITR for 15% off first-time purchases

Ghosts and germs and goods, oh my! This episode takes a spooky turn really quick. Alex started by asking a few questions about hygiene which was, apparently, a metaphysical vortex that led the Dirt Division to a deep discussion on hauntings, residual energy, and symbolic animals. They eventually end with what running related ideas or items they are obsessed with.

In this episode, Meg and Thomas sit down with Tracksmith CEO Jared Carver and Chief Product & Merchandising Officer Jon Tappan to discuss the brand's future. The group explores Jon and Jared's transition from Converse to a performance running brand and how Tracksmith plans to balance its classic New England heritage with modern sportswear trends. They also discuss future retail expansion, navigating the current "super shoe" tech wars, and Tracksmith's community events and pop-up shop for the upcoming New York City Marathon.

The gang recaps a chaotic but beautiful fall weekend at the Baltimore Running Festival, diving into odd race logistics and the unofficial (but definitely official) controversy over Under Armour's past involvement in the race. They also take a look at the surprisingly lucrative market of selling Boston Marathon medals on eBay, preview the Nike After Dark Half Marathon, and wrap up with conversations about AI, 80s nostalgia, and Halloween candy.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!PILLAR PERFORMANCEWe've been taking Pillar Performance Collagen Repair almost every morning in our coffee to support the tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue that take a beating when you're running day after day. It's not a quick fix, but a way to support your body long-term so you can keep training and racing without battling little aches and pains. Enter code BITR for 50% off your first-time purchase at pillarperformance.shop.SWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day and just hanging out. Whether you prefer the ankle socks or the mid-calf, there are plenty of options to keep your feet happy. Get yourself ready for your next run and save 15% off your first purchase with code BELIEVE15: https://swiftwick.com/collections/bel...LMNTIt's cooling off, but you're still working out and sweating, which means you still need electrolytes in the winter. We are currently loving the sparkling slim cans, which deliver half of what's in a standard packet: 500 mg sodium, 100 mg potassium, and 30 mg magnesium. Get your free 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase: https://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

Alex returned from a week-long trek with Nnormal. She recaps the Where the Water Was project with both the challenges and triumphs. Then, the conversation takes a turn as the crew talks about bathtroom etiquite (both indoor and outdoors. The crew then finishes with their thoughts on the Altra Olypmus 275 HIlo and Olympus 7.Guest: Rob Gasbarro is a partner/co-owner of Outdoor 76, a shop in Franklin, North Carolina. He has a wealth of experience when it comes to footwear, and he has recently been sharing his knowledge on social media. Taylor and Rob talk about outdoor footwear history and how the boom of trail running has impacted the trajectory of outrdoor footwear for better and worse.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Lagoon: Sleep is one of the most underrated training components. We've been fans of Lagoon for years and use their custom pillows nightly to support a great night of sleep and, of course, our running. Go to http://lagoonsleep.com/believe to take a quick quiz to find the best pillow for you. Get 15% off your purchase by using code BELIEVE

The gang gets back from Chicago, where we had a ton of fun with On at our Navy Pier shakeout run before spectating the race on Sunday morning. We had some incredible performances from Clayton Young and Vinny Mauri and so many more. Plus, we get some insider info on the whole ultrarunner to OF pipeline. Enjoy!SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LAGOON PILLOWSSleep is training. Lagoon Pillow is built around your sleep position and preferences — so you wake up recovered and ready to run. We use them every night and you should too. Find your perfect pillow at lagoonsleep.com/believePILLARRecently, we’ve been taking PILLAR Triple Magnesium, and honestly, it’s been a game-changer for our sleep and recovery. What really sets PILLAR apart from other micronutrition we’ve tried is that the results feel tangible and measurable. For runners who care about the data but also just want to feel better day to day, PILLAR Triple Magnesium has become a really easy win in our routine. If you want to try PILLAR, you can head to pillarperformance.shop or TheFeed.com/pillar and enter code BITR for 15% off first-time purchases