The Drop

The first rule about The Drop is that you don't talk about The Drop. Mostly because your friends will think less of you. On this episode, we give a hagiography of Brad Pitt, Robbe tries to trap a mouse, and we cover all the exciting stuff that happened at the Houston Marathon last weekend. We almost lost one of our listeners, but luckily a doctor was on hand to bring him back to us. Thankful for that and for you if you're still reading this. Eventually we get around to the Mizuno Neo Zen 2, a fine update to an already great shoe. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!PILLARIf you’re training hard, traveling to races, or just stacking miles week after week, you know how easy it is for your immune system to take a hit. That’s why we’ve been reaching for PILLAR Ultra Immune C. It contains a high dosage of Vitamin C (about 16-17 oranges worth in one scoop), which helps fight off illness and protects your body from the stress of intense training. Head to pillarperformance.shop or TheFeed.com/pillar and enter code BITR for 15% off first-time purchases.LMNTIt's winter, but we're still training and sweating. Which means we still need our LMNT, with 1,000 mg of sodium and key electrolytes. If you haven't had their hot flavors yet, you need to get in on it, because they make the perfect winter treat. Order today and get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

Alex returns this month with a genuine question about selecting your crew for ultras. The trio also chat about the hot topic of January, The Burrito League, and the newest comission in the Speedland lineup, the GS:BLK.Guest: Chris Myers is a Brooks and Runderwear athlete who has mixed up with the best of the best on the trails. He and Taylor talk a little bit about but even more on other topics like his underwear preferences, the Brooks Cascadia Elite, and his views on personal growth in the sport. Chris also gives some top-notch crewing tips and discloses his focuses for 2026.

Yowana Wamala is the founder and CEO of Supwell.Find him on Youtube here: https://youtube.com/@supwell?si=SHRm0oeTUDQxVw7z

It's been a few weeks since we've been in studio, so there's been plenty of stuff brewing that we needed to get out. We focus on the trivial, from the lack of cigs in Stranger Things to Maduro's Nike fit to Sage Canaday's beef with unnamed hybrid athlete Truett Hanes. Also, we talk about the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 4, which has taken a big leap forward from the previous version. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!PILLARIf you’re training hard, traveling to races, or just stacking miles week after week, you know how easy it is for your immune system to take a hit. That’s why we’ve been reaching for PILLAR Ultra Immune C. It contains a high dosage of Vitamin C (about 16-17 oranges worth in one scoop), which helps fight off illness and protects your body from the stress of intense training. Head to pillarperformance.shop or TheFeed.com/pillar and enter code BITR for 15% off first-time purchases.SWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day. We wear them pretty much every day, whether it's the Flite XT crew or the low cut no-show. Get yourself ready for the new year and save 15% off your first purchase with code BELIEVE15: https://swiftwick.com

The duet is back together after an extended year end vacation. They chat about a range of topics from their holiday’s, gas stations, to their post-mortal preferences. Of course, they talk about trail running a with the upcoming Scott Kinabalu Trail and what they look forward to in 2026.Guest: 7Mesh is a high-performance clothing brand that started the way many high-quality brands begin. TJ and Ian, cofounders of 7Mesh, saw a hole in the market for performance tuned all-conditions cycling gear. Their experience and expertise (former Arc’teryx CEO and designer) in the industry helped them create some of the most thoughtful gear that extends to all outdoor endeavors. Listen to how they started 7Mesh, science/thoughts behind their gear, and what’s to come in future seasons.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LMNTThe Lemonade Salt has returned for good, so make sure you grab the greatest flavor on the planet for all your trail running needs. You'll be getting 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes that will restore balance to your life after any hard effort. You'll also get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: DrinkLMNT.com/dirtdivision

In Part 2 of our Holiday Series, we’re recapping the year that was. We kick things off in Miami with HOKA, then roll through an action-packed spring—Kenya, Boston, London, the Move Her Mind Event Series, Western States, #Breaking4 in Paris, welcoming Taylor Boding officially to the team, Worlds in Tokyo, Thomas’ trip to China, Chicago, NYC, and so much more.Thank you all for supporting us every step of the way this year. We’re excited for what’s ahead in 2026.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!SWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day. We wear them pretty much every day, whether it's the Flite XT crew or the low cut no-show. They also make for great presents, so treat yourself or someone else today: https://swiftwick.comLMNTIt's winter, but we're still training and sweating. Which means we still need our LMNT, with 1,000 mg of sodium and key electrolytes. If you haven't had their hot flavors yet, you need to get in on it, because they make the perfect winter treat. Order today and get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

I mean, it's Molly freakin' Seidel, Olympic bronze medalist and all-around great person who is now a certified trail runner with a whole slate of off-road adventures lined up in 2026. We talk about that, but we also dive into mysterious vortexes, magic minerals, and her favorite shoes right now.Follow Molly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bygolly.molly/

We’ve got a lot to unpack as we close out 2025, starting with a deep dive into Meg’s experience at The Marathon Project—from travel chaos to racing in the Nike Proto. We also break down our favorite shoes, gear, and brands of the year, plus share some listener and viewer stats to round things out.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!MAURTENMeg's raced The Marathon Project last week and you know she relied on Maurten for race day. Stock up your own stocking and save 15% off your order by using this link and code Believe15: https://bit.ly/BITR-MAURTENSWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day. We wear them pretty much every day, whether it's the Flite XT crew or the low cut no-show. They also make for great Christmas presents, so treat yourself or someone else today: https://swiftwick.comLMNTIt's winter, but we're still training and sweating. Which means we still need our LMNT, with 1,000 mg of sodium and key electrolytes. If you haven't had their hot flavors yet, you need to get in on it, because they make the perfect winter treat. Order today and get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

Reese and Taylor take the time to reflect on a big 2025. First they chat about the new Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra 2 and then dive into the deep end of 2025 where they talk about everything from the idea of time itself to skin care routines.

As CEO of The Atlantic, father of three boys, and age group record holder for the 50K, Nick Thompson has a lot on his plate. That includes writing a new book, The Running Ground, one of our most favorite running books in recent memory. Part memoir and part love letter to the sport, it explores the ups and downs of life and the thread of running through it all. Robbe talks to him about all of that and more in this episode of The Drop.Pick up The Running Ground: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/678434/the-running-ground-by-nicholas-thompson/

Happy E420 from the team! While we didn't ingest anyting to celebrate, we did go stream of consciousness on this episode. From Jimmy Eat World to the Army/Navy game to Meg's pre-race sickness, Baltimore had a lot going on this weekend. Speaking of races, Meg is headed out to Arizona to run the Marathon Project in a very special prototype. We also talk about The Running Ground, overzealous soccer parents, Taylor Swift's generosity, and Kim Conley's incredible comeback at the 2012 Olympic Trials. Finally, we end up covering the Puma Magmax Nitro 2, a great max cushion trainer that can kind of do anything.Pick up The Running Ground by Nicholas Thompson: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/678434/the-running-ground-by-nicholas-thompson/Watch Kim Conley's comeback at the 2012 Olympic Trials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqdxuWmdsYISUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!MAURTENMeg's heading off to The Marathon Project in a week and you know she'll be stocking up on Maurten for race day. Stock up your own stocking and save 15% off your order by using this link and code Believe15: https://bit.ly/BITR-MAURTENSWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day. We wear them pretty much every day, whether it's the Flite XT crew or the low cut no-show. They also make for great Christmas presents, so treat yourself or someone else today: https://swiftwick.comLMNTIt's winter, but we're still training and sweating. Which means we still need our LMNT, with 1,000 mg of sodium and key electrolytes. If you haven't had their hot flavors yet, you need to get in on it, because they make the perfect winter treat. Order today and get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

Taylor, Reese, and Alex (long time BITR contributer) chat about running during winter. Love it or hate it, we all still need to move in the colder months of the year. What adjustments do you make to still get out? Topics of travel, nutrition, gear, training approaches, and more are all packed into this episode.Guest: Sophia Laukli is a multi-sport pro for Maurten and Salomon. She has cross country skied her whole life and still does so at an elite level. Trail running is a more recent endeavor in which she quickly rose to being one of the top runners in the world! Taylor and Sophia chat about her history with sport, living in Oslo, as well as the ups and downs of being a world-class athlete for two sports year round.

Thomas and Robbe sat down with Kiprun's CMO Julien Vancauwenberghe and Product Lead Pierre-Emmanuel Gaillard to chat about their entrance into the US next year, including what shoes you'll be able to purchase in April.

We went deep into the heart of Texas with nearly 6,000 other runners as we took over San Antonio for the The Running Event 2025. Over the course of three days, we lined up over 40 meetings to gather all the intel we could about running shoes, apparel, gear, and nutrition. This is our report of that event, as well as a full recap of our experience at the Rainforest Cafe. It's a long one, but well worth it.Limited spots remain for Winter GRIT! Get in today: https://www.believeintherun.com/gritSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!MAURTENMeg's heading off to The Marathon Project in a week and you know she'll be stocking up on Maurten for race day. Stock up your own stocking and save 15% off your order by using this link and code Believe15: https://bit.ly/BITR-MAURTENSWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day. We wear them pretty much every day, whether it's the Flite XT crew or the low cut no-show. They also make for great Christmas presents, so treat yourself or someone else today: https://swiftwick.comLMNTIt's winter, but we're still training and sweating. Which means we still need our LMNT, with 1,000 mg of sodium and key electrolytes. If you haven't had their hot flavors yet, you need to get in on it, because they make the perfect winter treat. Order today and get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

The Dirt Division met up with the Baltimore Crew down in San Antonio to check out all that's to come in 2026. Listen to their observations of trends, what they are excited about, and the inevitable stories that come out of such a weekend.Guest: Anna Gibson is one of the best that the US has to offer. The US Olympic Trials qualifier on the track just just wrapped up an epic year of trail with world-class results at Golden Trail Final and World Mountain Running Championships. Taylor and Anna chat about her relationship with sport, Grand Canyon rafting, coffee, and much more.

Andy Wacker is a professional runner from Boulder, Colorado who run roads, track, trails at an elite level. He also wears many other hats in the running world including directing an elite trail running development team. Taylor and Andy talk about all of that and more.Follow Andy on Instagram: @wackera

We’re headed off to TRE, but first we recap our Thanksgiving weekends including turkey trots and family fun. Eventually, we talk about our experience in the Brooks Glycerin Flex, a daily trainer with an ultra flexible midsole.Glycerin Flex: https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_us/glycerin-flex.htmlRegister for Winter GRIT: https://www.believeintherun.com/gritSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!MAURTENWe crushed nearly a dozen Maurtens each for the JFK 50 Mile race, finishing strong without bonking. Stock up for your own fall races and save 15% off your order by using this link and code Believe15: https://bit.ly/BITR-MAURTENSWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day. We wore them for the JFK 50 Mile race and finished with ZERO blisters, so we're not sure how else we can convince you to buy a pair. Get your pair today: https://swiftwick.comLMNTGuess what? Yes, we used LMNT before and during the JFK 50 Mile race. Robbe downed 4 packets during the actual race and got through with zero cramps or headaches. With 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes, LMNT helps restore balance to your life after any hard effort. Order today and get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop

If you're anything like Taylor and Reese, you're hard to buy gifts for. They are here helping us all out whether you're a trail runner or getting something for a trail runner. We have reviewed a lot of gift-worthy gear this year. Here are some of our favorites in all price categories. Guest: Dan Green has had a major year of trail running with a race calendar and results that any trail runner would dream of! The Maurten/ Salomon pro talks about how he got into running in the first place, his rise to an elite level, and whether he even considers himself as a professional.

Robbe talks with Andy Wynne, founder of Nuyarn, leading the way in Merino technology. It's a deep dive into one of our favorite materials on earth.Learn more about Nuyarn: https://nuyarn.com/Check out our guide to running in Merino: https://believeintherun.com/gear-reviews/merino-wool-guide-for-winter-running/

Thomas and Robbe recap all the ups and downs of their traverse through the JFK 50 Mile race, which turned out to be much better than their initial test run of the trail portion. Also, Winter GRIT registration opens at 9 a.m. TODAY (November 28), so make sure you get in on it before it sells out! Plus, we just announced our first ever shoe collab with Mount to Coast, which comes out in Spring 2026. Register for Winter GRIT: https://www.believeintherun.com/gritSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!MAURTENWe crushed nearly a dozen Maurtens each for the JFK 50 Mile race, finishing strong without bonking. Stock up for your own fall races and save 15% off your order by using this link and code Believe15: https://bit.ly/BITR-MAURTENSWIFTWICKYou already know that Swiftwick makes our favorite socks for running, from training to race day. We wore them for the JFK 50 Mile race and finished with ZERO blisters, so we're not sure how else we can convince you to buy a pair. Get your pair today: https://swiftwick.comLMNTGuess what? Yes, we used LMNT before and during the JFK 50 Mile race. Robbe downed 4 packets during the actual race and got through with zero cramps or headaches. With 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes, LMNT helps restore balance to your life after any hard effort. Order today and get an 8-count LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase, so don't miss out: http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop