The Trail Network Podcast

Robyn Lesh is one of the most interesting athletes in trail running right now because of how quickly she’s figuring things out and the results that are coming with it.
A former competitive sailor and MIT-trained engineer, Robyn came into trail running without a traditional background in the sport. In just a few years, she’s gone from learning how to pace her first ultras to racing at the front of some of the most competitive fields in the world.
This conversation digs into that progression. What it actually feels like to step up in distance. How you learn to push deeper when you don’t know where the limit is. And what happens when you stop racing cautiously and start racing to compete.
There’s also a lot here beyond results. Robyn shares how her background in sailing shaped her mindset, why she initially stepped away from being an athlete, and what brought her back. The conversation touches on sponsorship, learning in real time, and the moments in races where things start to go sideways — and you have to decide whether to back off or keep going.
It’s an honest look at what it means to still be learning while showing up at a high level, and why that might actually be the advantage.
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

There isn’t one way into trail running, and Shea Aquilano is a perfect example of that. In this episode, Hilary sits down with Shea to talk through her path from Midwest soccer player to professional trail runner based in Boulder. Without the traditional track or cross country background, she built her way into the sport through curiosity, patience, and a willingness to figure things out in real time.
A lot of the conversation centers around Black Canyon, a race she’s returned to year after year. Her progression on that course reflects what it actually looks like to improve in trail running. Learning how to manage effort, adjust when things go sideways, and keep showing up even when the outcome is uncertain.
They also get into the mental side of the sport. What it means to sit with discomfort, how to respond when a race doesn’t go to plan, and why failure is part of the process rather than something to avoid.
It’s a conversation about patience, perspective, and building something over time rather than chasing quick results.
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.

Plans shift quickly this time of year, and this episode reflects that in real time.

Katie and Leah catch up on how their race schedules have evolved over the past few weeks, including a pivot away from Madeira and a move toward more local racing. What started as a clear plan has turned into something more flexible, shaped by travel, timing, and everything else happening alongside training.

With that, UTMB preparation is starting to feel more real. The conversation touches on what that shift looks like, both physically and mentally, as training becomes more intentional and the season begins to take shape.

They also get into the realities outside of training. Leah shares what it means to support her husband’s growing photography career and how that has influenced recent decisions. The conversation highlights how much of the sport exists beyond race day, especially when careers, relationships, and travel all intersect.

The episode closes with a broader discussion around sponsorships and the structure of professional running. Using the lens of pregnancy and athlete contracts, they talk through the complexity of being an independent contractor in a sport where expectations often don’t fully align with protections.

It’s a look at where things stand right now. Not perfectly planned, but moving forward.
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Episode 100. Two years of conversations, 50+ guests, and a whole lot of growth.
In this milestone episode, Katie Asmuth, Leah Yingling, and Hilary Yang take a step back to reflect on the journey of the podcast, the evolution of the sport, and where things are heading next.
They dive into the biggest moments in trail running right now, including the electric women’s race at Chianti, the continued dominance of Courtney Dauwalter, and what it means to see different training styles all succeed at the highest level. 
The conversation also turns personal. Leah shares about her return to racing postpartum and what it taught her about patience, identity, and execution. Katie talks through the reality of balancing high-level training with family life and the importance of knowing when to pull back. Hilary reflects on stepping away from structure, rediscovering joy in movement, and finding creativity outside of racing. 
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!

Jon Albon and Henriette Albon join the Trail Network Podcast after their double victory at Transgrancanaria to talk about life and racing as one of trail running’s most accomplished couples. Jon is a former obstacle course racing world champion turned top trail ultrarunner, and Henriette is one of the sport’s toughest and most thoughtful competitors, known for her smart pacing and resilience in long, technical races. Together, they reflect on how their relationship has evolved through different sports, how they handle the highs and lows of racing at the highest level, and what it looks like to support each other through success, setbacks, and big ambitions.
This conversation goes beyond a race recap and into the mindset behind elite performance. Jon and Henriette share how they approach race tactics, problem solving, pressure, and decision making over long ultras, plus how those lessons shape the way they train and live. They also talk about building their trail running app, Ascent, and what they’ve learned from creating a training platform based on their own philosophy. It is a thoughtful look at competition, partnership, and the discipline it takes to keep showing up year after year.
This episode is edited and produced by the Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network.
A big shout out to our new sponsor ⁠⁠Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠⁠. Go to ⁠⁠pfandh.com⁠⁠ to crush your next race with a personalized fuel & hydration plan. Use code "TTNP15" at checkout.
A special thank you to Osprey for supporting this episode. Visit Osprey.com to explore their incredible products!