The Drop

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/grit

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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...

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.html

Register for Winter GRIT: https://www.believeintherun.com/grit

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MAURTEN

We crushed nearly a dozen Maurtens each for the JFK 50 Mile race, finishing strong without bonking. Stock up for your own fall ra...

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...

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/grit

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MAURTEN

We crushed nearly a dozen Maurtens each...

Reese gives the full recap on an epic day at the historic JFK 50 miler with the Believe in the Run Crew.

Guest: Tim Tollefson is on the Drop for the second time. This time, he's wearing his race director's hat. Taylor and Tim talk about the challenges and privileges of hosting an event like Mammoth Trailfest.

Robbe talks with Michael Doughty, founder of Hylo Athletics, about his vision for the brand, his life as a premier league footballer, and much more.

Check out Hylo Athletics: https://us.hyloathletics.com/Follow Hylo Athletics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyloathletics

Matcha is in, pumpkin spice is out, and we're your performative podcast to get you through your long run. We cover the whole spectrum of what goes on in our cranial cavities, from bib banditing to buying mountains in Maine. We also talk about the Brooks Glycerin Max 2, which seems to be quite different from v1.

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MAURTEN

The top two men and top three women at the New York City Marathon used Maurten to fuel their race efforts, including all three women finishing under...

Reese and Taylor start by talking about training and Taylor's trip to the NYC marathon. Then, they chat about all things JFK. Not only is the race unique, it's a sentimental homecoming for Reese.Guest: Epic Bill earned his name after heartbreak. His sucessful video store business collapsed which led him to approach new challenges the only way he knew how - show up and suffer. He has become known as the man who will not quit whether that means taking on the hardest endurance spectacles across the globe or daily training. Taylor and Bill talk about what led...

Robbe chats with Cole Townsend of Running Supply about his love of run culture, his favorite brands right now, and what's trending. They also discuss the state of running and the final boss question: has run culture peaked?

Subscribe to the Running Supply Substack: https://runningsupply.substack.com/

Hit scan on your car radio and tune in to this week's episode of The Drop, where Thomas and Robbe recap their adventurous 14-mile trail run as part of their JFK 50 Mile preview. Suffice it say, these city boys are ready to go for next weekend, whether that's true or not. We also talk about the R.A.D UFO, a running shoe that kind of came out of nowhere and stole our hearts.

Check out R.A.D: https://rad-global.com/collections/r-a-d-ufo

Check out Atwill: https://runatwill.com/

<...

Are 200's the new 100s? Reese and Taylor talk about the growing trend of going farther. Why is it a thing? We're still perplexed, and curious, about the challenge.

Guest: Taylor catches Parley Hannan, Hylo Athletics' first signed athlete, fresh off the plane. They discuss her running trajectory from not even running until college to setting NCAA records to OTQ’s and The Speed Project. They also chat her recent DNF at the Mammoth 200 and the reality that mental health plays a major role in our lives as people and runners.

Felix Cartal is a platinum- and gold-certified DJ and producer based out of Vancouver, Canada, Last month, he ran a 10K every day for 30 days leading up to the release of his newest album "i, sabotage." We talk with him about running, coming up as a DJ, working with artists like Tegan and Sara, what he listens to on his runs, and a bunch of other random stuff. Great guy, great music, great conversation.

Follow Felix on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felixcartal/

Stream his new album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3IjeoYQfPmuESwlMVAIbwc...

Another year, another trip through the five boroughs. We recap our experience during the New York City Marathon weekend, including an epic shakeout run with New Balance, the united front of our 4-hour pace group, and the full rundown of race day as we covered 26.2 from Staten Island to Central Park. Wide Foot Jarrett fills in for Thomas.
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MAURTEN
The top two men and top three women at the New York City Marathon used Maurten to fuel their race efforts, including all three women finishing under the previous course record. We...

Trail running is, perhaps, the worst at using acronyms. UTMB, GTWS, FKT. What does it all mean and how can you get experience some of the best of our sport? Reese and Taylor talk about some of the main trail running series and how you can potential join in on the fun.
Guest: Taylor Stack is a rookie professional trail runner for Brooks. While this is his first year as a pro, he has had performances that put him in the most elite conversations within our sport. Taylor and Taylor chat about his running background and how he...

Fresh off his American record-breaking finish at the Chicago Marathon, Maurten athlete Conner Mantz joins us for a special edition of The Drop. We talk about fueling and training and get the behind the scenes story of his finish at the Olympic Trials. Also, his great grandfather flew with Amelia Earhart across the Pacific, so that's cool. Thankfully, he picked the right ocean.

Conner fuels with Maurten for all his races, so you should too. Their proprietary formula encapsulates carbs to bypass the gut and minimize indigestion. Stock up for your own fall marathon...

It's marathon week (again) and we're already in the Big Apple as we prepare for a full weekend of activities. But first, we discuss our current training, updates to Robbe's injury, a little pre-Christmas gift giving courtesy of Thomas, and a movie review of Weapons. If you're in New York this weekend, we hope to see you there, and if you're running– have an incredible time running through the greatest city on earth!

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MAURTEN

Molly Seidel will be fueling with Maurten as she takes on...

Taylor and Reese of Believe in the Run's Dirt Division chat about injuries that plague us and some treatments that could help runners. They also chat about the gravel category of trail running shoes. Is it a legit thing? Craft and many other brands seem to think so. They dive a further into the Craft Nordlite Ultra Pro and Nordlite Ultra 2.
Guest: Emkay Sullivan is a trail runner for Craft. She has the unique experience of finding elite level success on the track, roads, and trail. Taylor and Emkay chat about all that as well as the rise...

Thomas chats with Mikey Kratzer, a run culture enthusiast and New Balance partner, about life, running, and his philosophy on all things.

Follow Mikey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikey_kratzer_/

INDEX

0:00 - Intro

0:26 - BITR Intro Video Contest

1:44 - Robbe's Injury / Karaoke after BRF / Meta Oakley Shields

16:57 - NYC Marathon 4-Hour Pace Group / 100 Women Los Angeles Marathon Program

26:22 - BITR x NYC Marathon Plans / MTV Shutting Down / Sirius XM

34:42 - Baltimore Running Festival / Cape Town Marathon Cancellation

1:13:27 - Shoe Talk / Fantasy Football / Closing Thoughts

Taylor and Reese of Believe in the Run's Dirt Division are here for Episode 1 of the Dirt Division podcast. They talk about their most recent adventures at Western States and UTMB, with a few side tangents thrown in.

Taylor chats with Lea Mulligan, pro runner for La Sportiva, who recently finished top-10 overall at the Leadville 100.

Follow Lea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leamulligan/

Read our reviews of La Sportiva shoes: https://believeintherun.com/shoe-reviews/type/trail/?shoe_brand=972

Our Chicago weekend was full of fun and friends and family, from our epic shakeout run with New Balance to Thomas's finish at the Chicago Marathon. We had an incredible time meeting so many of you, cheering you on during the race, witnessing Conner Mantz break the American record, and taking in the sights and sounds of the city. Not sure how we feel about Chicago Italian beef though. We'll just stick with the dogs.

Running NYC Marathon? Join the very unnoficial 4-hour pace group: https://forms.gle/XdGYJAQaipeoB6NNA

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Thomas chats with Chris Marroquin, Director of Player Rehabilitation for the Baltimore Ravens about what it's like to work with professional athletes, staying healthy while playing sports, his background as a physical therapist, his running journey, and much more.

Well folks, were so busy climbing the mountain that we forgot we made it to episode 400. So while we didn't bust out the balloons, we almost broke out a Ouija board and said Bloody Mary three times just to see what would happen. We also mansplain Taylor Swift's artistic direction before deep dishing on Chicago Marathon weekend and Thomas's fueling plan for the race. If you are in Chicago, come out to our shakeout run on Saturday morning, hope to see you there!

All the details for the Chicago Shakeout Run: https://believeintherun.com/event/chicago-marathon/2025-10...

Taylor packed his bags and headed out to the Mammoth Trailfest in Mammoth Lake, California (sponsored by Craft) for the weekend. Get his recap of one of the most fun events in trail running today.Read his recap: https://believeintherun.com/mammoth-trailfest/

Big things are coming as we head to Chicago next weekend, so we got you covered on that end. We also discuss Meg's infatuation with baby quails, running etiquette on multiple flybys, our training for the New York Marathon and JFK 50 Mile, and our somewhat delayed reactions to the Berlin Marathon. Finally, we cover the Hoka Mach X 3, which sees an improved upper over last year's version.

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MAURTEN

Get 15% off by using code Believe15!* We use Maurten gels for all our races and some...

Taylor chats with Mary Denholm, a pro ultrarunner and Craft athlete.

Follow Mary on Instagram: @eatrunandbemary

The gang came back to Baltimore while Thomas went to China. From Guangzhou to Hong Kong, we dive deep into all his culinary and running adventures, including a behind the scenes visit to a manufacturing facility for Mount to Coast and many other brands. We also do shots of Kweichoi Moutai out of respect.

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MAURTEN

Get 15% off by using code Believe15!*

We use Maurten gels for all our races and some of the most elite athletes in the world rely on their...

Taylor chats with Adidas Terrex Athlete Eli Hemming.

Follow Eli on Instagram: @eli_hemming

We traveled a day ahead and a week in time to experience the 2025 World Athletics Championship in Tokyo. From the 100 meter finals to the world record in the pole vault to the men's and women's marathons on a hot and humid morning, we witnessed greatness across the board. We did our best to assimilate and only made a few blunders along the way (that we're aware of, anyway). We may not have come back with any Labubus, but we brought home plenty of amazing memories. Thanks to Asics and thanks to Tokyo for being so awesome, we won't forget...

Taylor interviews Kyle Siegel, founder of Raide - a performance based apparel and equipment company focused in the trail space.

Check out their products and learn more about the company here: https://raideresearch.com/

Stuck with cacti and debating the merits of art school and She's All That, that's where we're at. We make sure you're covered with all the unnecessary info before diving into the Nike Vomero Premium, the third release in the Vomero line for 2025, featuring a 55 mm (!) stack height for the dual-Air Zoom midsole.

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MAURTEN

Get 15% off by using code Believe15!* We use Maurten gels for all our races and some of the most elite athletes in the world rely on their bicarb system for...

Robbe sits down for a chat with Mario Fraioli, running coach and author of The Morning Shakeout newsletter on Substack, to talk about daily journaling, how running changes as we get older, showing up when you don't feel like it, music, culture, and much more.

Subscribe to The Morning Shakeout: https://substack.com/@mariofraioli

Check out his website: https://mariofraioli.com/

Thomas and Karl are back in the U S of A where the salt mounds of South Baltimore are a close second to the snowy peaks of Mont Blanc. We hear all about their remaining adventures, including a seasick paragliding adventure and watching the finish of the greatest trail race on the planet. We also cover some of the Adidas Chasing 100 event and the wonderful world of piglet racing.

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MAURTEN

Get 20% off for one week only by using code Believe20! We use Maurten gels...

Thomas chat with Tatum Brandt, founder and creative director of Brandt Creative Co., a design studio specializing in branding and web development for fitness, wellness, and sports businesses.

The Dirt Division is in Chamonix for UTMB, so the crew is coming to you live from their little chalet. The gang recaps their time so far, including the ETC race which Thomas and Karl participated in. Taylor also recaps his experience racing Leadville 100.

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LMNT

We're in the full swing of marathon training, so get your 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...

Taylor sits down with Abby Hall, Adidas Terrex Athlete, straight off her win at Western States.

Grab a cod fillet bar, it's time to get some gainz. This week on The Drop, we recap Robbe's breathing struggles at the Leadville 100 as he helped crew Taylor, leader of the Dirt Division. We also recap Meg's latest Move Her Mind stop, before discussing The New York Times article every long distance runner is talking about. Eventually, we discuss a trio of shoes: the featherweight Asics Metaspeed Ray, the Under Armour Velociti Elite 3, and the Norda 001A.

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LMNT

We're in the full swing...

We sat down with Ben Rosario to talk all things The Marathon Project—but first, we trace his journey through the sport. From his early running days to launching Big River Running Co. in college, moving to Flagstaff to found NAZ Elite, Ben’s path has been a fun journey to follow. Now, he’s reviving The Marathon Project in a bold, reimagined way, and Meg will be one of the 1000 amateurs toeing the line of the Gold Wave. If you’re interested in running The Marathon Project, you can get more information and apply here: https://www.themarathonproject.com/ Duration: 00:59:32

Robbe is currently losing his lungs in Colorado as he gets ready to help Taylor run the Leadville 100, but we got this podcast recorded before he self-destructed. I mean, we kind of self-destructed by diving into things we know nothing about, like carnival games at the doctor's office, WNBA, and declaring the day after the Super Bowl an official federal holiday. Enjoy your day off, you're welcome. Oh yeah, we also talk about two shoes that dropped out of nowhere, the all-new Asics Sonicblast and Megablast.

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...

Fresh off his win in the 1500 at Hayward Field for the US Champs, Under Armour elite Jonah Koech joins us in studio to talk about that race, the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, and his mindset during running. Also, he's lived in Baltimore for three years and hasn't had crabs or gone to an Orioles game so we need to fix that ASAP.

Watch his race: https://youtu.be/dWnr_7vdQVk?si=nbI36ADoNehCScmu

From swim stories to ostrich racing to figure out if we're Team Shelby, the stars aligned this week to bring you the best running content second to the National Championships. We also recap Summer GRIT and this past weekend's ice cream party before diving in the New Balance Fresh Foam More v6 and a little bit of Puma Velocity Nitro 4.
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LMNT
Thomas is mixing and matching flavors, Robbe is tapped into the Mango Chili, but whatever you go with, just know you're getting 1,000 mg of sodium plus other key electrolytes that...

Taylor sits down with Josh Rosenthal, founder of Borderlands, a trail runner's hub that centers on community. We talk about his small-town roots, entrepreneurial spirit, and how running has hooked him like nothing else. Listen to his story and everything he's involved with in the trail running space.
Check out Borderlands: https://www.instagram.com/runborderlands/

We were all surprised to learn that Monterey Jack cheese came from Monterey, but we weren't surprised by Meg churning out some fast miles at the Wharf to Wharf 6-miler in Santa Cruz. We recap her West Coast journey as well as Thomas and Robbe's trip to Brooklyn (just a couple days after the launch of the On Cloudsurfer Max). Also, Summer GRIT just wrapped up and we had some incredibly performances to highlight (including one woman who has racked up 160,000 feet of elevation gain in one month). Lastly, we highlight the Nike Structure 26 and Norda 008, two shoes that...

Running is firing on all cylinders right now, which means that run culture is a multi-facted ecosystem revolving around branding, fashion, and personal style. Today on the podcast, Robbe chats with our run culture editor Alfredo Mejia, who joins him from Berlin to talk about the most exciting stuff happening in run culture, including everything he saw at Paris Fashion Week last month.
Make sure you read all of Alfredo's stories at believeintherun.com, and follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alfredo.mejiaa/

Robbe is manifesting true Florida Man energy this week so Karl takes his place in front of the camera. Topics this episode include our fall race plans, beer floats, the final TransRockies Run, and more Summer GRIT updates. We also take a look at the Puma Velocity Nitro 4, the new lightweight daily trainer from Puma that is pretty versatile by all accounts.

Join the boys this Sunday, July 27 in Brooklyn for "Coffee & Chill" and sample a pair of the New Balance Rebel v5.

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4o0Yop3

...

From Swiss underdogs to global heatseeker, On has won softly over the past decade with its unique approach to footwear design and performance. This week, Robbe chats with Ed Coyon, Global Head of Product for the brand, to talk about On's approach to running, design, production, and the all-new Cloudsurfer Max.
The On Cloudsurfer Max is available now for $180: https://www.on.com/

Throw on your sweaty headphones and tune in for this week's episode of The Drop, featuring an elevator pitch for America's hottest new airline: Weight & See. We also hear about Thomas's trip to the Bahamas and Meg's behind-the-scenes look at the Brooks HQ out in Seattle. Then there's Robbe, who was just sifting through trash in Baltimore. Finally, we cover the Adidas Adizero Prime X 3 Strung, a super trainer sporting a 50 mm stack height in the heel.

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LAGOON PILLOWS
We use Lagoon to get our best sleep and you...

This was a bucket list one, for sure. Thomas and Robbe's souls meet body as they chat with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service, as well as an ultrarunner and Speedland athlete. We dive into his recent finish at the Western States Endurance Run, what he listens to when he runs (Turnstile), as well as the release of his upcoming signature Speedland shoe, the GS:TMT.
Pre-order the Speedland GS:TMT: https://www.runspeedland.com/products/gs-tmt-copy
Listen to Death Cab For Cutie: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YrtvWJMgSdVrk3SfNjTbx

We're in the swing of Summer GRIT, big things happened at the Prefontaine Classic, and we try and figure out if cloud seeding meatballs can solve world hunger. If so, why aren't we doing that? Also, Meg heads to Seattle where she's going to dig into some mysteries outside of running. Finally, we talk about both the Skechers Aero Tempo and Satisfy TheRocker, two shoes on vastly different sides of the running spectrum.

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LMNT

You already know that LMNT has been getting us through...

It's another episode with Taylor, head of the Dirt Division, and this time he goes deep with ultrarunner Seth Ruhling. As part of The North Face team, Seth took on Western States and pulled in a 6th-place finish. This interview took place before the race, so we talk about Seth's upbringing, his training, and obviously his favorite shoes for taking on long challenges.

Merry GRIT-MAS to all who celebrate, it's been good to get some miles with all of you this week. And what a week it was, as Thomas and Taylor and the Dirt Division headed to Western States, while Meg said oui to Paris for the Nike Breaking4 Project. History was made and we were honored to witness it. Watch the Breaking4 recap on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/bivyb7HoeRwSUPPORT OUR SPONSORSLMNT

You already know that LMNT has been getting us through Summer GRIT thanks to its blend of electrolytes and 1000 mg of sodium.

...

Thomas chats with Adam Gamble, founder of Nowhere Somewhere, a start-up run apparel brand featuring a range of t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and other apparel.

Check out Nowhere Somewhere: https://www.nowheresomewhere.run/

We recorded this on Monday, but right now Meg is in Paris reliving the excitement of seeing Nike's Breaking4 project with Faith Kipyegon. Thomas and Karl are at Western States, while Robbe is home with George, making margaritas with LMNT mango chili rims. We also recap our fun weekend with Mount to Coast and then talk about Meg's experience in the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5.

Check out all our Western States events: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLPvXYpslu0

Here's the study on hair and wind drag: https://www.theengineer.co...

Thomas sits down with Andrew Dutton, better known online as @ad___sneaks. Dutton is a middle-school teacher in Lehi, Utah, who has earned a devoted following on Instagram through his passion for sneaker photography. Dutton began snapping sneakers during the pandemic and has since evolved into a recognized visual storyteller.

All Thomas wants is a techno song with Gregorian chants, but instead we get Sabrina Carpenter. All Robbe wants is an ultramarathon with tranquilizer darts and Mario Kart red shells, but instead we have the Western States 100. All Meg wants is for all of this nonsense to end. Anyway, we talk about all of that, as well as an in-podcast Between 2 Shoes where we compare the Brooks Hyperion Max 3 and Mizuno Neo Vista 2.

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LMNT

NEW FLAVOR ALERT! Squeeze the most out of summer with...

Dirt Division leader Taylor, and longtime BITR contributor, Alex, sit down with Adidas Terrex athlete, Dani Moreno. Dani comes by way of Mammoth Lakes, California but grew up in LA where life was much different. They talk about Dani's history with sport, her adventurous hiatus from running, and her aspirations as she comes back from injury which includes trail racing at the highest level of our sport and that hard fought OTQ.

Follow Dani on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_yell_a/

Let us all hold hands and gather in a circle as offer up a sacrifice to AI – but before we do, please turn your attention to The Drop, where everything is real and nothing is plagiarized, as evidenced by our conversations on shoes bought on the dark web, trying to figure out Mastercard naming strategies, and the real life questions that come with acquiring a pet dog. Plus, you'll get some authentic shoe talk when we dive into the one-two punch of the Asics Metaspeed Sky and Edge Tokyo.

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SWIFTWICK
The...

Thomas traveled up the Spotify Studio in NYC where he sat down with Brendan Dunne from Complex. They chat about running culture, the crossover between performance and lifestyle shoes and dive into Brendan’s personal running.

Follow Brendan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendandunne/?hl=en

Read his stories on Complex: https://www.complex.com/author/brendan-dunne

We've returned from our separate corners of the country and assemble to recap our individual weeks, including time spent in Colorado, Thomas's journey to the Spotify studios in NYC, and Meg's Minnesota sojourn. Plus, we talk about the Mount to Coast T1 and the very good update in the Mizuno Neo Vista 2.

Shop The Meg High Pony Hat ➡ https://shop.believeintherun.com/products/the-meg-fractel-x-believe-edition

Shop the Robbe Raccoon Legionnaire ➡ https://shop.believeintherun.com/products/fractel-x-believe-robbe-raccoon-signature-legionnaire

JOIN US ON THE RUN!

Saturday, June 21 @ 8:00 a.m...

If you're listening to this episode, you know that running changes lives. If it's changed anyone's life, it's certainly done so for Terence Gerchberg, who used running to help dig him out of a deep pit of gambling addiction. Eventually, it brought him to where he is today as CEO of Back On My Feet, an organization that works with people experiencing homelessness or addiction, empowering them to achieve economic independence through running and community. We talk about his life from past until present (including his experience on the Amazing Race), how running has transformed his life, and how...

Fresh off Memorial Day weekend and all of its misadventures, we accept the impossible mission of talking about running during a running podcast. But first – Summer GRIT is almost sold out, so get in if you still can. We also recap our past week of running, which included lost keys and trail runs in the Mount to Coast T1. Eventually, we talk about the Skechers Aero Spark, a really great trainer coming in at a $130 price point. This message will self destruct in five seconds.

INDEX:

0:00 Intro

4:14 - Pickleball 

6...

Thomas chats with Zach Litoff, a San Francisco based artist and designer with a love of athletics who as done work for clients like Hoka, Nike, Endorphins Running, and more.
Follow Zach on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/litoffstudios

We know everyone was concerned, but yes, we did in fact live through the 2025 Baltimore Tornado (though sadly many of the trees in our favorite little park did not). In other news, Summer GRIT registration opens on Monday at 9 a.m. ET! You know the drill, so make sure you get in before it sells out. We also try and figure out how a brand new pair of Jordans are the same price as an entry level running shoe. Speaking of running shoes, we also go more in-depth on the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5.

Learn more...

Thomas sits town with Taesun Kim, footwear designer at Puma, to chat all about running shoes and his background.

Baltimore is on the rebound and we're doing our best to keep the ball bouncing. Speaking of bouncing, we pinball around from organ donation to Skechers stock, to Meg's very desirable Beanie Babies collection. We also talk about the Brooks Ghost Max 3 and Brooks Ghost 17, since this is a shoe review channel, after all.
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LA SPORTIVA
Introducing the Prodigio Pro Running Shoe from La Sportiva—crafted for ultrarunners, trail addicts, or anyone chasing their next big effort. With XFlow Speed, a dual-super critical nitrogen-infused EVA and TPU midsole technology, AND an ultralight Power Wi...

Bimma Williams is a Collab Marketing Educator recognized by HYPEBEAST as The Voice of Collabs. With over a decade of experience, he has helped brands like Nike, Yeezy, adidas, and Saucony generate $1.5 billion+ in revenue through strategic collaborations.

His insights have been featured in Forbes, Complex, Business Insider, HYPEBEAST, UPROXX, and VIBE. His viral Instagram series, Collab Lab, has reached 15 million views in 12 months, breaking down what makes brand partnerships successful.

Follow Bimma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bimmawilliams

Back to Baltimore, which means more running and more package thieves coming after the summer 2025 Saucony collection. We recap our saga of tracking down shoes, while running in some sizzling heaters for the summer, including the Brooks Hyperion Max 3, Nike Streakfly 2, and Adidas Adios Pro Evo 2. Karl also wraps up his London experience.

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LA SPORTIVA

Introducing the Prodigio Pro running shoe from La Sportiva—crafted for ultrarunners, trail addicts, or anyone chasing their next big effort. With XFlow Speed, a dual-super critical nitrogen-infused EVA and TPU midsole technology, AN...

Robbe chats with Henry Abbott, basketball expert and former ESPN journalist, about his new book "Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance," which explores groundbreaking new approaches to athletic training, injury prevention, and enhancing performance using “ballistic” movements. The book reveals a surprising takeaway: The explosive moves and ground impacts we often avoid in everyday workouts might provide the secret to an injury-free athletic life. As you can imagine, we talk about injury, prevention, and what it looks like to reimagine how we assess injury.

Pick up "Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance": https://www...

Spring marathon season comes to a close, as Thomas and Meaghan run the London Marathon and barely make it back across the Atlantic alive as you'll see in this episode. It's been a real limp to the finish, but we're back and we're ready to relax ...oh wait, Meg heads out on the Move Her Mind tour with ASICS next week and Summer GRIT registration is just around the corner (Memorial Day). Anyway, buckle up and strap on the oxygen mask, you're gonna need it.

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Thomas met Toby Tanser while on his recent trip to Kenya and immediately knew he had to have him on the podcast. Shoe4Africa originated 30 years ago from Toby's vision of harnessing the power of sports to create positive change for African children. Initially focused on collecting and distributing athletic shoes to aspiring young runners in Kenya their efforts expanded to address broader issues, including healthcare and education. Currently operating with only one paid staff member, Shoe4Africa has built East and Central Africa’s first public children’s hospital, which has treated over 1.2 million children. Beyond healthcare, they’ve est...

We've returned from the Super Bowl of running – the 129th Boston Marathon – but first, we made a couple detours to the emergency room and the Cheesecake Factory. for a dose of pain pills and fine dining, respectively. Then it was a slew of events, including an incredible opening night with Adidas, running the B.A.A. 5K, a fun and festive marathon track relay with New Balance, the always epic shakeout with Asics, then front row seats to the best World Major of them all. Thanks to everyone who came out to one or more of the events or said h...

We sat down with Charlotte and Ben from the Adidas team while in Boston for marathon weekend to chat all about the new Boston 13. We had a few audio issues but we hope you enjoy this fun chat!

A few days out from Boston and one week out from London, so of course the taper crazies are coming on strong, as well as a well-timed viral infection. Meg lays low while Thomas and Robbe take the reins in recounting a trip abroad, the comeback of the receding hairline (thanks White Lotus), the joys of driving a manual car, and more. We also cover the Puma Fast-R 3, the first shoe since the Nike Vaporfly to show independent lab studies of 3% performance gains when compared against competitors. Wild times.

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We sit down with Dr. Desmond Wilson, Eternal's Chief Medical Officer. He's a doctor, avid trail runner and talks to us about aging as an athlete. Eternal is new healthcare service tailored to performance for athletes, which just launched in San Francisco and New York. Eternal provides a proactive, science-backed approach to help athletes better understand their changing bodies, optimize peak performance, and continue excelling as they age.

The boys are back in town, except now Robbe has ventured off to Spain. But that's okay, as Karl joins Thomas and Meg in front of the camera this week to recap their adventure in Kenya with Kiprun to unveil their new race shoe, the KD900X LAB - a 5K/10K racer which seems pretty promising. Plus, Meg recaps her time in D.C. for the start of the Asics Move Her Mind Event Series as well as racing the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. This episode is a pretty long one, so hopefully you're running enough miles out there...

We got Erin Azar back on the show, even though she’s officially too cool for us. This time, she’s talking casual convos with NFL players, her marathon training for London (using the Galloway method), and her very chill philosophy on doing less. Erin is down-to-earth and effortlessly funny and we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Thomas and Karl are off galavanting in Kenya, so we recorded this on a Friday, which is always questionable. We cover the usual nonsense, talk about the Nike Vaporfly, and petition some brand, somewhere, to take us up on our offer to have a real life unicorn in Boston. Robbe also gives us his review of the King of Moab, a trail running documentary that– spoiler alert– is pretty great. There’s also a lot of shoe talk at the end, so go listen wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts.

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Thomas spoke with Kyle Awtry, founder of Sauri Running—a niche running brand based out of LA. 

If you've ever looked a Canadian goose in the eye, well, you know you've seen pure evil. Today on the podcast, we talk about encounters with geese, jury duty in Baltimore, shark cages, and Karl's latest emo hit titled "Heartbreak Hill." We also talk about a few other shoes, including more experiences in the Tracksmith Eliot Racer and the Veja Condor 3 Advanced.

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One of the most fascinating athletes in the marathon scene right now, CJ Albertson is doing it his way and succeeding at every step of the way. From racking up ultra high mileage weeks to dropping it down to almost nothing in between cycles, to juggling running and a full-time job as a professor, coach and dad, all while managing to come out with top-10 finishes at the Olympic Trials, NYC Marathon, Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and CIM. And that was just in 2024. This was such a great look inside the training and accomplishments of one of the best...

Spring means one thing– the reemergence of snot slugs on the faces of marathoners. Just like this podcast, running ain't pretty, but we're good about putting lipstick on a pig, so we try to do it here by throwing in some talk about the LA Marathon and NYC Half Marathon. Also, let's say it for the record: don't take NSAIDs before or during a race. But DO take Zbiotics* afterwards.

*Does not consitute as medical advice, consult your doctor before and after listening to The Drop or celebrating St. Paddy's with Karl

...

In-studio guests are always the best, and since Speedland is always doing their best to be the best, it only made sense that they'd come to Baltimore to hang out. Robbe talks with founders Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon about upcoming 2025 models, including the RX:FPY, the brand's first-ever road shoe (now available for pre-order). This is a great episode for all you industry folks and shoe nerds, to see what goes into getting a small footwear brand off the ground.
Check out Speedland: https://www.runspeedland.com/
Follow Speedland on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runspeedland/<...

Southwest is basically Spirit Plus now, which makes this podcast Spirit Minus, but don’t worry– we’ll never charge you for all that baggage you’re carrying around. Zero guarantees this plane stays on course, because right after liftoff we veer right into King Richard III, Baltimore ice cream trucks, and our favorite variations of the Mandela Effect. Also, a couple of us signed up for the JFK 50 Miler, for better or for worse. Finally, we talk about the Tracksmith Eliot Racer, a surprisingly capable race day shoe with a super bouncy, dual layer ATPU and PEBAX midsole.

Duration: 01:25:45

A good collab is a great thing, and the all-new Puma x Saysky footwear and apparel collection hits all the right spots. We head up to Puma HQ in Boston to check out the collection and sit down for a podcast discussion with Saysky founder Lars C. Pedersen, as well as Puma designers and product line managers. Get the background on how it all came together, what went into the designs, and how much teamwork it takes to get a collaboration off the ground and into your hands.
The Puma x Saysky collection features three key footwear silhouettes...

It's a sign of the times that we ended up talking about the Tokyo Marathon, but first– we cover all the food topics we can with cockroach milk, Wendy's Thin Mint Frostys, Hop Water, and maybe some watermelon sugar (sounds like a great flavor of LMNT). Then we tie it all together with the Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2, a very comfortable and bouncy stability shoe, with just the right amount of support.

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We've made a huge mistake and gave Karl a dedicated microphone. Robbe's taken aback by his golden voice, but the show goes on with a recap of our visit to Puma headquarters, overview on the Hoka Clifton 10, first thoughts on the Norda 005, and Thomas's recap of a raucous weekend with Taylor, head of the BITR Dirt Division.

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So many things happening in running right now, and not enough time to talk about them all. So we'll make sure to cover the rest. From Barcelona to BU to Blue from Old School, we keep you on the front lines of all the things you need to know, including Severance recaps and Starbucks rebrands. We also talk about the Diadora Gara Carbon 2, which we're pretty sure is just the Diadora Gara Carbon 1, but hey– it's still a great shoe.
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Some of our favorite episodes are the conversations with the people behind the shoes. Richard Kuchinsky is a running shoe designer and founder of the Directive Collective Design Studios. He's worked with a number of brands over the years, seeking to combine aesthetics with performance in the best way possible. Hope you enjoy this conversation with Thomas about shoe design, trends, and everything behind what you wear on your feet.
Follow Richard: https://www.instagram.com/rkuchinsky/
Follow Directive Collective: https://www.instagram.com/directivecollective/

Always fun when you have to re-record an entire episode. That's what we had to do this week (after recording one of our best episodes over). We tried to replicate it the best we could by recapping the Super Bowl and the Millrose Games, marveling at Skechers audacity and insistence on ripping off On, and reminsicing about smoky dive bars and 8-bit video games. We also talk about the On Cloudsurfer 2, a daily trainer and first shoe of the On "SOFT WINS" campaign.
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Live from the beautiful and warm waters of Miami, Florida, the Believe in the Run duo of Thomas and Meaghan chat with Val Weilert (Senior Designer Manager of Performance Road Footwear) and Rebekah Broh (Senior Director of Product) of Hoka about all things Bondi 9 and Cielo X1 2.0. Get a look behind the scenes of what goes into footwear design and development at Hoka.

Read the review of the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 ➡ https://believeintherun.com/shoe-reviews/hoka-cielo-x1-2-0-review/

Read the review of the Hoka Bondi 9 ➡ https://believeintherun.com/shoe...

On this episode of The Drop, we recap our time running the Miami Half Marathon in the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0 and our group run that we hosted from a yacht. It was hot, it was fun, we want to go back.

If you're in Florida, check out Simmi's Bakehouse! ➡ https://simmisbakehouse.com/

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There's a hole in this ship and the only that can fix it Billy Mays (RIP) and flex tape. Even then, probably not. This week on The Drop, we surprisingly do talk a good bit about running, including the strength of our trail team, Paris Fashion Week, whether or not we know what intervals and repeats mean. We also discuss the totally wild and renewed version of the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0.

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Completing 100 Ironman-length triathlons in 100 days seems like hell, but James Lawrence set out to do it. And he did it. Hear about his journey and read all about it in his new book, "Iron Hope."

Our brains are mostly frozen, which is how we went a whole podcast forgetting to give our respect to Conner Mantz at the Houston Marathon. But we do manage to talk about running shoes, including the Brooks Glycerin 22, while mixing in a whole bunch of other interests, including our favorite TV shows of all-time.
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Eventually 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...

Keira D’Amato is back on the podcast (previously on Ep11, 100 and 292) for another fun conversation and a big announcement! Keira has always worn several hats (pro-athlete, realtor, oreo-reviewer, mom, to name a few) but she’s on the show to add yet another one: author. In her new book, Don’t Call it a Comeback, Keira relives her unusual, challenging, hilarious, un-filtered, fun, inspiring running journey and brings us all along for the ride.

Go ahead and pre-order this one: https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/dont-call-it-9781250344946/