The Directors

On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Abram Dickerson, founder and director of Aspire Adventure Running. During the conversation they dive into Abraham's journey building Aspire and exploring how the company blends trail running with immersive backcountry experiences. The conversation also covers the unique challenges of leading multi-day running trips versus traditional races, the business model behind adventure travel, and what it takes to market and sell outdoor experiences. Abe also shares insights into the broader guiding industry and where he sees this niche heading in the years ahead.You can learn more about Aspire Adventure Running here.

On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Peter Abraham — former CMO of the LA Marathon and founder of Abraham Content Marketing Studio. They talk about the All-American Rejects tour, what running can learn from the world of cycling, the future of livestreaming, the power of storytelling, and how events can better connect with their communities. It’s a wide-ranging conversation full of insight for anyone working in or around the endurance space.

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 origin story behind the series and his path into race directing, offering a unique perspective shaped by two decades in trail and ultrarunning. The conversation covers how the sport of ultrarunning has evolved—from a grassroots community to one increasingly influenced by brands and big business. John doesn’t shy away from addressing some of the sport’s growing pains, including the risks posed by inexperienced race organizers. He also talks about how he maintains optimism in the face of these challenges and what the future holds for both himself and the broader trail community.

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 classes, celebrity instructors, and an immersive wellness experience in the heart of Chicago. David shares the origin story of the festival — where the idea came from, what inspired it, and how it took shape. He also reflects on how the event has evolved over time, including the thinking behind creative decisions like bringing in a major celebrity DJ to headline this year’s lineup. The conversation dives into the business of event production: partnering with brands, navigating sponsorships, envisioning the future of fitness festivals, and managing the unpredictable realities of live events. It’s a great conversation, and we hope you give it a listen.You can learn more about Faces of Fitness Chicago here.

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 of this iconic multi-sport festival and the immense challenge of managing 11 adventure sport disciplines and over 30 competitions—including kayaking, running, slackline, DockDogs, rafting, SUP’ing, mountain and road cycling, climbing, fishing, disc golf, and more. Dave shares insights on navigating unpredictable elements like river conditions and weather, the importance of strong partnerships, and how today's economic climate is impacting the world of events.Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think. You can find out more about the GoPro Mountain Games, taking place this year on June 5–8 in Vail, Colorado here.

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 episode they chat about the format of the competition, how the rules differ from Chase the Throne, and some of the basic guidelines around courses for all four rounds. They also share some thoughts about why this format is so much fun and the weirdness that virtual racing always brings. For more information on Beat the Heat visit our website at www.trialsofmilesracing.com.

On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper dig into the Super Bowl of distance running—the NYC Marathon. They discuss the controversial disqualification of Matt Choi, chat about the list of the most "tracked" athletes during the race, and explore the explosion of brand activations that happen around the race. They also dive into the economics behind organizing a world major marathon and the impact of the World Marathon Majors series. Give the episode and listen and let us know what you think.

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 the Colorado Relays. On the episode Mandy shares her journey into race directing, the growth and expansion of her business, and the challenges that come with managing races. She also discusses her motivation for taking over the Colorado Relays and her vision for its future.The conversation highlights the unique aspects of race directing, including the non-financial rewards that come from this profession. It also gets into how new races are born and when it makes sense to retire them. Mandy is an exceptional figure in the race director community, and we hope you’ll take the time to hear her inspiring story.

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 events, including the Golden Gate Relay, the Beantown Winter Classic, and the Montclair Doughnut Run, providing insights into what participants can expect. Toward the end of the episode, the conversation shifts to the newly released 2025 Diamond League schedule, where they explore how it aligns with the USATF calendar, the Grand Slam schedule, and emerging upstarts like Athlos.