Episode 39: Hyner Week with Ben Robinson

Hey Folks!It's been a minute but Bear Right! is back with a little catch-up, knock the rust off, shake out sort of episode to get the juices flowing before Chris and Sam head to Blue Marsh for the Blues Cruise 50K. Hope to get this thing back on the rails, well sort of anyway!

Just some catching up on local running!

Friend of Bear Right! and Massanutten Alum, Simon Arendt joins the podcast for a discussion of the upcoming Massanutten Mountain 100. We open with a recap of Sam's race at Breakneck Point then gush about the epic event that is Cocodona! We finish with a preview of Massanutten and what makes this race and this field compelling for East Coasters!

It's Hyner Week!Who better to celebrate that with than 2 time champion Ben Robinson! We don't just talk Hyner though and in this "get to know you" episode, we learn about Ben's business endeavors, successes and failures. He shares about his journey into the sport during it's rise and how his openness to take risks has opened doors and built lasting relationshipsIt was inspiring for me. I hope it will be for all of you!Make sure to follow Ben's journey Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/2673753Instagram: @ben_robinson88www.robinsonrunningclub.comA few connection snafus late in the recording so sorry about that.

Another HAT50K in the books and they've done it again! The team that brings us HAT came through big with an incredible race this year! Great Competition, Great SWAG, Incredible Support and just a perfect day on the trails.Pat and I give some well earned and necessary kudos and apologies.We also talk about growing competitive racing on the east coast and what steps are being tried. We discuss the big weekend in racing and how the 50K distance in particular seems to be having so time in the sun.

Pat "Prolific Racer" Blair joins the pod to discuss the upcoming HAT 50K. This is one of our favorite races. Great People, Great Course, Great Competition and it's even better this year! This edition of the race brings team competition to the forefront with multiple divisions both competitive and creative. JUST LIKE TRAIL RUNNING SHOULD BE!!!In this rambling conversation you'll see inside our differing approaches to running-racing-training and how we want to go out when it's time...

Two of Rocksylvania's heavy hitters join the Bear Right! Podcast off their trips out to Black Canyon 100k!East Coast Winter Training StrategiesChris and Andrew share unabashed and unwavering love for Hoka Challengers.What's keeping us from the smaller brands?and we talk our favorite local trails!

Ferdinand and Will pay a visit to the Beast Coast fresh off the Black Canyon 100k where the fireworks were bursting late in the race. We get an inside look at crewing, pacing and racing at the elite level and learn what they feel is most valuable out on the trail during this open debate on what roles crews and pacers play in our sport. We also talk friendship within competition and careers as well as goals for the future. Hope you enjoy!

This one gets a little spicy folks! We dive into the UROY debate with a few takes on who was in and who was left out of this year's North American list. Are trail world records even a quantifiable thing?We also get into why Advertising can be a little problematic when the lines between expert and influencer get foggy.We finish up with some black canyon banter!Hope you enjoy and good luck to all the east coasters racing out west this weekend!!!

Sorry We've been gone so long!Chris and Sam catch up and talk a little winter training. We talk about some of the topics in Trail News and consider the upcoming season. What races to run in different scenarios and seeking different experiences.Most importantly we consider options for getting those travel heavy or impossible experiences like big Aravaipa events, Western States or UTMB right in our own back yard...