The Drop

Good socks mean good running, and we've always been a huge fan of Swiftwick for our feet. This week, we have an in-studio interview with new CEO Mark Chou about all things running and running a business and what's new for his made-in-the-U.S.A. apparel brand.Check out Swiftwick socks: https://bit.ly/SHOP-SWIFTWICK

We'll be real– we don't even remember what happened during this train wreck of an episode that involved a debate on the consistency of ice rinks, reaching the end of the Instagram algorithm, the ongoing beef of Puma vs. Brooks, chicken soup for the soul, and terrible investing advice. Believe it or not, we eventually get around to the Nike Zoom Fly 6 and Asics Novablast 5. Winter GRIT registration opens on November 29 @ 9 a.m. ET! Save the date and this link: https://believeintherun.com/gritPick up the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: https://amzn.to/3Z6WJE3Read "Go Ahead, Dogpile on Matt Choi": https://believeintherun.com/go-ahead-dogpile-on-matt-choi/Check out Robbe's "Suppertime" newsletter: https://robbereddinger.substack.com/SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!LAGOON SLEEPGet the best night of sleep with a Lagoon pillow and save $25 off any pillow between now and December 2nd with code BELIEVE ➡ https://⁠⁠lagoonsleep.com/believeLMNTEventually it's going to be cold outside, but you're still going to need salt and electrolytes to get your body right. So make sure you're ready with LMNT's hot drink mixes, featuring Chocolate Chai, Chocolate Mint, and Chocolate Raspberry. Pick up your LMNT and get a free sample pack with your order here ➡ ⁠https://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠CHERIBUNDICherbundi’s tart cherry juice helps reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and aid in faster recovery. And now it comes in gummy form, offering the same benefits but perfect for snacking on the go. Use code THEDROP at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of gummies (limit 1 per customer). Shop here: https://cheribundi.com/collections/shop/products/pure-gummiesINDEX00:00 Intro00:30 A string of random stuff55:56 Asics Novablast 51:03:08 Nike Zoom Fly 61:19:00 Winter GRIT Info

A wild and wonderful songwriter from the great state of West Virginia, Charles Wesley Godwin is also a passionate runner who incorporates it into his life both on and off the road. In this episode, Robbe chats with him about music, touring, Venus fly traps, baseball, The Avett Brothers, and being a Mountaineer. This was just a really great conversation that probably could've gone on for hours; if you're a fan of music, running, and/or life, you're going to enjoy this one.Join his Strava Club: https://www.strava.com/clubs/CharlesWesleyG Follow Charles on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charleswgodwin/ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ErsJAz6qJ5cqjoVAvfvaC Check out his tour dates: https://www.charleswgodwin.com/

We took the train to New York City and Meg and Karl ran a race with 50,000 friends. Needless to say, it was a pretty fun weekend and we got to share it with a whole bunch of you. Here's our recap, with plenty of side tangents along the way. And yes, we talk about Matt Choi (but recorded this episode before he gave his apology). Can't think of anything more dramatic that happened this past week... SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS LAGOON SLEEPGet the best night of sleep with a Lagoon pillow and save $25 off any pillow between now and December 2nd with code BELIEVE ➡ https://⁠⁠lagoonsleep.com/believe LMNTEventually it's going to be cold outside, but you're still going to need salt and electrolytes to get your body right. So make sure you're ready with LMNT's hot drink mixes, featuring Chocolate Chai, Chocolate Mint, and Chocolate Raspberry. Pick up your LMNT and get a free sample pack with your order here ➡ ⁠https://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠ CHERIBUNDICherbundi’s tart cherry juice helps reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and aid in faster recovery. And now it comes in gummy form, offering the same benefits but perfect for snacking on the go. Use code THEDROP at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of gummies (limit 1 per customer). Shop here: https://cheribundi.com/collections/shop/products/pure-gummies

As headwear designer for Montreal-based Ciele Athletics, Julie St-Louis is responsible for making you look and feel great for training and race day. She's behind some of the iconic styles from Ciele, with plenty more in store. We get her behind-the-scenes look at the apparel industry and her processes and inspirations for creating utilitarian apparel designs.Check out Ciele: https://cieleathletics.com/

We're in that floating period of fall marathons where some of us are tapering while others are taking a running sabbatical. No worries, we find a way to fill the space with Lego talk and Ryan's post-Amsterdam Marathon race report in addition to a myriad of other topics that has Meg descending into madness. But at least her Ultra Human Air ring can tell her whether she's losing her mind or staying healthy and sane. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS LAGOON SLEEP Get the best night of sleep with a Lagoon pillow and save 15% off your first order with code BELIEVE ➡ https://⁠⁠lagoonsleep.com/believe LMNT Our go-to supplement for before, during, and after the Chicago Marathon, there is just nothing out there that packs the sodium and electrolytes like LMNT (and it tastes great, too). Pick up your LMNT and get a free sample pack with your order here ➡ ⁠https://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠ CHERIBUNDI Cherbundi’s tart cherry juice helps reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and aid in faster recovery. And now it comes in gummy form, offering the same benefits but perfect for snacking on the go. Use code THEDROP at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of gummies (limit 1 per customer). Shop here: https://cheribundi.com/collections/shop/products/pure-gummies

We love music and we love ultrarunning and this episode is a perfect intersection of those two things. From touring with Katy Perry and playing for Kelly Clarkson to starring on this season of The Voice, Kyle Whalum, Brad Sample, and Caleb Gilbreath are friends, professional musicians, and self-proclaimed running nerds who set out to train for, and complete the Pinhoti 100 ultramarathon on top of their already chaotic lives as they struggle to balance family life with the chaos of the music industry. Rhythm in the Darkness is a documentary about all of that and more, and so is today's conversation. It's a fun one for sure, so make sure you check out the documentary and the corresponding album at the links below.Watch Rhythm in the Darkness on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5pTUp-Pz05wListen to DFL Music's "Rhythm in the Darkness" EP: https://open.spotify.com/album/4YHJe49STFwNqLway8BA3P

We wanted to make sure we covered everything you needed to know about running this week, and that means considering what archaeologists will think of our 10-foot-tall skeleton decorations when they're unearthed 5,000 years from now. We also get a recap of the Baltimore Running Festival from the overall winner, Under Armour athlete Willy Fink, who ran the fastest course time since 2012. Enjoy the tricks, hopefully they're a treat. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! LMNT Our go-to supplement for before, during, and after the Chicago Marathon, there is just nothing out there that packs the sodium and electrolytes like LMNT (and it tastes great, too). Pick up your LMNT and get a free sample pack with your order here ➡ ⁠http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠ CHERIBUNDI Cherbundi’s tart cherry juice helps reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and aid in faster recovery. And now it comes in gummy form, offering the same benefits but perfect for snacking on the go. Use code THEDROP at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of gummies (limit 1 per customer). Shop here: https://cheribundi.com/collections/shop/products/pure-gummies

Live from Chicago, Thomas and Meg have a rooftop chat with Paul Zielenski, Senior Product Manager for Global Performance at New Balance. We talk about all things NB, from product development to FuelCell to the all-new 1080v14.

Look, everything in Chicago was great, especially the Chicago Marathon and the big group of running raccoons wearing Believe singlets as they chased down their goals over 26.2 miles. The epic shakeout run was also pretty rad. But we're just saying that maybe deep dish isn't for us and that tavern pizza is mid. The dogs ruled, though. Unsurprisingly, we manage to talk mostly not about the marathon, but eventually we get around to it. Thanks to MarathonFoto and New Balance and Endorphins Running and Fleet Feet for a special weekend, let's run it back again. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! LMNTOur go-to supplement for before, during, and after the Chicago Marathon, there is just nothing out there that packs the sodium and electrolytes like LMNT (and it tastes great, too). Pick up your LMNT and get a free sample pack with your order here ➡ ⁠http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠ CHERIBUNDICherbundi’s tart cherry juice helps reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and aid in faster recovery. And now it comes in gummy form, offering the same benefits but perfect for snacking on the go. Use code THEDROP at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of gummies (limit 1 per customer). Shop here: https://cheribundi.com/collections/shop/products/pure-gummies

No matter what his Wikipedia entry says, everyone in the world knows that Kilian Jornet is the greatest. We were so lucky to interview this legend about all his life's adventures, including his most recent feat with the Alpine Connections, in which he traversed all 82 peaks of 4,000 meters or more in the Alps, doing it in 19 days while covering over 220,000 feet in elevation gain. We talk about that endeavor, growing up in the mountains, raising kids to be independent, and so much more. Thanks to Coros for this opportunity and to Kilian for sharing his story. Learn more about the Alpine Connections project: https://coros.com/stories/more-than-splits/c/alpine-connections

Chicago is here and Berlin toenails are gone, dragon skulls are real, and we wax nostalgic about fishbones in beer and Mayor McCheese and also tarantula smuggling. Just another week for the gang of The Drop. We also cover the upcoming Mizuno Rebellion Pro Beta. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! LMNT Our go-to supplement for before, during, and after the Berlin Marathon, there is just nothing out there that packs the sodium and electrolytes like LMNT (and it tastes great, too). Pick up your LMNT and get a free sample pack with your order here ➡ ⁠http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠ CHERIBUNDI Cherbundi’s tart cherry juice helps reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and aid in faster recovery. And now it comes in gummy form, offering the same benefits but perfect for snacking on the go. Use code THEDROP at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of gummies (limit 1 per customer). Shop here: https://cheribundi.com/collections/shop/products/pure-gummies

It's actually unreal that we're giving the head of the #widefootfam the space to speak his mind for episode 300, but sometimes the planets align for the most average people. Just kidding, we love Jarrett and know how much all the wide foot runners out there love him too. We dig into his running story, which mostly involves his love of donuts and Costco, which we all can appreciate. Follow Jarrett on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarrettweisberg/

They say to give gold on the 50th anniversary, but we decided to get it instead. This is our recap of the 50th Berlin Marathon, a weekend filled with everything that makes running golden: community events, shoe releases, friends gained along the way, hardships and victories. We came away with a deeper appreciation and respect and gratitude for all it is we get to do, none of which would be possible without all of you. Thank you Berlin, and thank you believers. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! LMNT Our go-to supplement for before, during, and after the Berlin Marathon, there is just nothing out there that packs the sodium and electrolytes like LMNT (and it tastes great, too). Pick up your LMNT and get a free sample pack with your order here ➡ ⁠http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠ CHERIBUNDI Cherbundi’s tart cherry juice helps reduce inflammation, improve sleep, and aid in faster recovery. And now it comes in gummy form, offering the same benefits but perfect for snacking on the go. Use code THEDROP at checkout for 20% off your first purchase of gummies (limit 1 per customer). Shop here: https://cheribundi.com/collections/shop/products/pure-gummies

With some great updates to the Hyperion line and the release of the Brooks Glycerin Max, we think it's safe to say that Brooks is back. Today's guest, Carson Caprara, had a big hand in that as he oversaw the efforts in footwear over the past couple years, and the fruits of that labor are starting to pay off. None of us hold anything back as we talk about the state of Brooks, navigating the pandemic, revving up on innovation, and what the future holds for the #1 brand in running. Just another great episode for all the industry-curious listeners out there.

Sport psychology coach Emily Saul takes us through a pre-marathon meditation, just in time for all our fall marathons. Listen the night before to relax and get in the right mindset. Follow Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilysaulboston/?hl=en

The Berlin Marathon is just a couple days, and technically we're already there, but we're still back in Baltimore for this episode of the podcast. We keep it weird with our running updates and our discussion on Thomas and Robbe's shared fear of ears, while throwing in some industry talk on account of Nike's shakeup in leadership. We also give some initial thoughts on the Adidas Adios Pro 4. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! LMNTThe best hydration supplement out there. Now with all-new sparkling cans! Our listeners can get a free LMNT sample pack with the purchase of any order. Pick it up here ➡ ⁠http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠

Thomas and Robbe sit down and chat with Patrick Nava, Global Vice President of Product Management Running at Adidas, about all things running at Adidas, including everything that went into the development of the all-new Adios Pro 4 and the Evo Pro 1. Another good one for all the shoe geeks out there.

This week on the podcast, shoe reviewer Alex joins us to talk about his trip to Austria and the Adidas Terrex Infinite Trails 46K race. Then we dive into our own running, along with spectating cross-country, a deep-dive on soft pretzels, how to make a special Dr. Pepper beverage, and the adventures of Robbe’s 20-miler. Finally, we discuss the Brooks Glycerin Max, which is probably our favorite shoe from Brooks, ever. BERLIN MARATHON GROUP RUN W/ ADIDAS We finally have some Berlin details, so listen up! Save the date for Friday, 9/27 at 8 a.m. Meet us at the adidas Berlin Sport Base for a shakeout run and so much more. T-shirt giveaway (seriously it's a good one) to the first 150 runners who show up. We will run a 5K distance (with adidas product testing of course), followed by food and music and guest appearances. It's going to be huge, you DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Lagoon Pillows Get the best night of sleep with Lagoon Pillows and their all-new Night Bites. You can save 15% off your first order with code BELIEVE. ➡ ⁠⁠lagoonsleep.com/believe⁠⁠ LMNT The best hydration supplement out there. Now with all-new sparkling cans! Our listeners can get a free LMNT sample pack with the purchase of any order. Pick it up here ➡ ⁠http://drinklmnt.com/thedrop⁠

On this special in-studio episode of The Drop, Thomas and Meg chat with Paul Lang, ASICS global senior product manager. Go behind the scenes of what it's like to work for one of the biggest brands in running, how development and supply chains work, and what it's like figuring out consumer wants and buyer demands. Definitely a good one for all the industry nerds out there.