The Directors

On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with professional trail runner and race director Tim Tollefson, who leads Trail Fest and the Mammoth 200. They discuss Tim’s first year managing a 200-mile race—the lessons learned, the logistical challenges, and what it takes to bring an event of that scale to life. The conversation also explores the origins of both Trail Fest and the Mammoth 200, along with broader topics shaping the trail running world, such as how to approach prize money and the trade-offs between staying independent or joining major series like UTMB or Golden Trail. It’s a wide-ranging discussion that any fan of the sport will enjoy.

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 they’ve experienced and what excites them most about future ones. They discuss what draws them to certain races—the history, the views, the community—and lay out a plan to attend new events together, using those experiences to gain fresh insights and inspiration.

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 path to Alaska, the challenges of organizing a race in such a rugged setting, and the fascinating history behind this storied event. The conversation covers safety protocols for extreme mountain races, the essential role of community in keeping the tradition alive, and what’s ahead as Mount Marathon approaches its 100th running. Matias also reflects on his dual perspective as both a runner and race director, sharing how he works to preserve the race’s authenticity even as its popularity continues to grow.

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 the evolving landscape of trail running. We dive into the growth of his podcast Singletrack, emerging trends in the sport, and the economic realities of producing ultra events. Finn also shares his thoughts on the rise of 200-mile races, new opportunities for trail events, and where he sees the future of the trail running community heading. It's a great conversation and we hope you give it a listen.

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 ultramarathon in one of the most unconventional settings on Earth. Cherie shares her journey from first-time burner to race director, offering insight into the logistics of building a course on the playa, managing unpredictable weather, and embracing the free-spirited, creative energy that defines Burning Man. It’s one of the most unique events out there, a race that harkens back to the early spirit of the sport and the delightful weirdness that defines trail running. Give it a listen and let us know what you think. To learn more about the event, visit www.burningman50k.com 

In this conversation, Cooper Knowlton speaks with Michael Krajicek, founder of Atreyu Running, about his path to starting his own shoe company, the challenges of entering the footwear space, and the unique obstacles he faced along the way. Michael discusses the importance of running a business authentically—doing things your own way and not selling out. He also opens up about the difficult decision to begin winding down Atreyu, the impact of tariffs and outside market forces, and the lessons learned throughout the process. Finally, Michael reflects on what the next chapter looks like and how he’s thinking about what comes next. It's a really great conversation and we hope you give it a listen.