The Directors
Episodes
Building (and Rebuilding) GP-81 with Cliff Simanski
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Cliff Simanski, the founder of GP-81, to go behind the scenes of one of the country’s most respected climbing gyms...
The Strip is Closed (And No One Is Winning)
14 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Formula 1 promised Las Vegas a billion-dollar windfall, but for the people who actually live and work in the valley, the reality looks more like a six...
Tim Tollefson: Trail Fest & The Mammoth
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with professional trail runner and race director Tim Tollefson, who leads Trail Fest and the Mammot...
Dave and Cooper: Bucket List Events
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cooper and Dave catch up on the World Series, the NYC Marathon, and their bucket-list races—sharing stories about the best events t...
Matias Saari: Mount Marathon
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cooper sits down with Matias Saari, the race director of Alaska’s legendary Mount Marathon in Seward. They talk about Matias’s pa...
Finn Melanson: Singletrack
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Director's Cooper chats with Finn Melanson, host of the Singletrack podcast, to talk about his journey into race directing and ...
Cherie Yanek: Burning Man 50K
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cooper Knowlton sits down with Cherie Yanek, the race director of the Burning Man 50K, to explore what it takes to organize an ultram...
Michael Krajicek: Atreyu
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Cooper Knowlton speaks with Michael Krajicek, founder of Atreyu Running, about his path to starting his own shoe company, the ch...
Jeff Merrill: Portland Track
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cooper Knowlton sits down with Jeff Merrill, president of Portland Track, to talk about the evolution of track and field and the role...
Cole Townsend: Running Supply
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cooper Knowlton sits down with Cole Townsend, writer of the Running Supply newsletter, which covers the intersection of running and f...
Cliff Bosley: BOLDERBoulder
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Directors, Cooper Knowlton talks with Cliff Bosley, the race director of the iconic BOLDERBoulder 10K. They discuss the race’...
Victor Zeitoune & Austin Lo: The $1 Ultra
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cooper Knowlton sits down with Austin Lo and Victor Zeitoune, the creators of the $1 Ultra, an unsanctioned backyard-style ultra they...
Brooks Bash: The Earthy 5000
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Cooper sits down with Brooks Bash, founder of Earthy, who’s in the middle of one of the wildest challenges you can imagine: the Ear...
Chris Tolley: The Driveway Series
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cooper Knowlton interviews Chris Tolley, the man behind the Driveway Series in Austin, Texas. They discuss the unique aspects of the ...
Trials of Miles: 2025 Midyear Performance Review
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down for a midyear review of the Trials of Miles business. From the best moments to the biggest ...
Alison Wade: Fast Women
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Alison Wade, the voice behind Fast Women, the go-to newsletter and media platform covering wom...
Aron D'Souza: The Enhanced Games
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Aron D’Souza, President of The Enhanced Games. They dive into what the first edition of the ...
Ben Rosario: The Marathon Project
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Ben Rosario, the former head coach of NAZ Elite and the current director of the Marathon Proje...
Abram Dickerson: Aspire Adventure Running
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Abram Dickerson, founder and director of Aspire Adventure Running. During the conversation the...
Peter Abraham: Abraham Content Marketing Studio
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Peter Abraham — former CMO of the LA Marathon and founder of Abraham Content Marketing Studi...
John Lacroix: The Human Potential Running Series
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with John LaCroix, the founder and director of the Human Potential Race Series. John shares the ori...
David Grass: Faces of Fitness Chicago
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Cooper chats with David Grass, founder of Faces of Fitness Chicago, a two-day, festival-style event that brings together top studio c...
Dave Dressman: Mountain Games
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Dave Dressman, the Event Director of the GoPro Mountain Games. They dive into the origin story...
Introducing Beat the Heat
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down and chat about the upcoming Trials of Miles virtual racing tournament Beat the Heat. During ...
The Coachella of Distance Running
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper dig into the Super Bowl of distance running—the NYC Marathon. They discuss the controversial ...
Mandy Mullen: Run Windsor
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down with Mandy Mullen, the director of the Run Windsor race series in Windsor, Colorado, and th...
Cooper & Dave: A Baldy Recap and 2025 Preview
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this one-on-one episode, Dave and Cooper start things off with a recap the Mt. Baldy 5000. They then discuss several upcoming Trials of Miles event...
Cooper & Dave: Athlos NYC First Impressions
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down just days after the Athlos NYC meet to share their first impressions of this new contender ...
Cooper & Dave: 1v1 Races, The Sphere, Prada, and Athlos
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down for a one-on-one chat to dive into the latest happenings in the world of events. They break...
Brian Mister: Around the Crown 10k Recap
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper catchup with Brian Mister shortly after he wrapped up his 6th year directing the Around the Crown 10k...
Sarah Stutman: Sea Otter Classic
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast, Cooper sits down with Sarah Stutman from Life Time to discuss the Sea Otter Classic. Held every April in Monterey, CA, this ...
Mailbag Episode: Cross Country, CrossFit, and More...
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down for a one-on-one episode where they chat about how to make cross country more popular, the d...
Dipen Shah: Track & Field After Paris
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Dipen Shah the mastermind behind Karmarush, one of the leading provider of results and broa...
Adrian Bozman: The CrossFit Games
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Cooper sits down for a one-on-one with Adrian Bozman, CrossFit's Competition Director. During the conversation they d...
The Craziest Week of the Summer
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down and recap one of the craziest stretches in the history of Trials of Miles. This includes a c...
Nils Arend: The Speed Project
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Nils Arend the founder of the Speed Project, the epic LA to LV unsanctioned relay race. Dur...
Grand Slam Track First Impressions
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this weeks episode of the podcast Dave and Cooper chat about watching the Olympic Trials and share their immediate impressions about the Grand Slam...
New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2024 Recap
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about their experience directing the 2024 installment of the New Balance National Outdoor meet. ...
NYC Trail Fest: A Day of Stumbles and Falls
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about the experience of directing NYC Trail Fest, a day that brought more than its fair share of...
Felicia Hubber: Hood to Coast
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Felicia Hubber the director of the iconic Hood to Coast Relay. During the conversation they...
Mailbag: The Future of Pro Track
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this one-on-one episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about Track Night NYC, the future of pro running, the "most popular running event in ...
Tyler Swartz: Endorphins Running
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Tyler Swartz, the founder of Endorphins, one of the largest and fastest growing run clubs i...
Trials of Miles at Icahn Preview Show
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this special edition of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about Friday night's event at Icahn Stadium in NYC. They unpack some of the top athletes...
Jon Hughes: The Olympic Trials Marathon
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Jon Hughes the director of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Orlando. During the con...
Aimee Kohler: The Running Kind
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down with Aimee Kohler the director of A Running Kind, a PA based events company that hosts carbo...
Kristy Maki: The American Birkebeiner
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Kristy Maki the Director of the Berkie (or the American Birkebeiner) the biggest cross coun...
Mailbag Episode
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Another mailbag episode where Cooper and Dave chat through some topics from the world of racing and events. This week's episode includes talk about th...
David Trimble: The Red Hook Crit
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down with David Trimble, the man behind some of NYC's most iconic races including the Red Hook Cr...
New Balance Indoor Nationals 2024 Race Report
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about the experience of directing the 2024 installment of New Balance Indoor Nationals. During t...
Aaron Robison: The Penn Relays
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Aaron Robison the Associate Director of the Penn Relays. During the conversation they chat ...
Trials of Miles at the Armory Preview Show
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of Saturday Night's Trials of Miles at the Armory presented by Tracksmith, Dave and Cooper breakdown ten story lines to watch. These include a h...
The Mailbag Episode
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors, Cooper and Dave talk about TV ratings for track, high school and college kids racing against pros, Olympic Trials ti...
Tes Sobomehin Marshall: The Race
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down with Tes Sobomehin Marshall, the director of the Race, a Half Marathon and 5K that takes pl...
Darcy Budworth: Take the Bridge
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors, Dave and Cooper chat with Darcy Budworth about her race series Take the Bridge. During the conversation they touch o...
Chase the Throne 2024 Race Report
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Cooper and Dave do a quick debrief on the 2024 installment of the Trials of Miles event Chase the Throne. They chat a...
Jesse Williams: Sound Running
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Directors Cooper and Dave chat with Jesse Williams the Director of Sound Running. During the conversation they discuss what it'...
Brian Mister: Around the Crown 10k
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the opening episode of The Directors, Cooper and Dave chat with Brian Mister the race director of the Around the Crown 10k in Charlotte, NC. Hoste...