The Directors

On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Jeremy Long, founder and lead race director for Daybreak Racing, to discuss the 2026 Hood Hundred and the wildfire that altered this year's event. Jeremy recounts how his team initially pivoted to reroute the race when the fire broke out, and walks through the difficult decision-making process that ultimately led to canceling the event mid-race when air quality rapidly deteriorated. As a race director who has spent extensive time studying the intersection of trail running and air quality, Jeremy shares invaluable insights on crisis management, course adaptations, and what the future of Western trail racing looks like as wildfires become an increasingly frequent reality for race organizers.

On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Austin Lo and Victor Zeitoune to break down the second installment of the legendary $1 Ultra.Staged out of a restaurant in the heart of Times Square, this year’s event was bigger, bolder, and even wilder than the first. Hundreds of runners took to the streets on a night that quickly descended into chaos when the Knicks clinched the NBA Championship right in the middle of the race.Austin and Victor reveal how the concept evolved from Year 1, how they pulled off on-the-fly pivots in the middle of NYC madness, and how the entire drama unfolded over 33 epic hours. It’s easily one of the wildest race conversation we’ve ever had, and a must-listen for anyone who loves hearing about crazy ideas coming to fruition.

On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Iram Leon, the race director for the Austin Runners Club, who manages the Zilker Relays, the Decker Challenge, and the Daisy Dash—three of Austin's most iconic events. During the chat, Iram shares how he first got involved in race directing, the unique challenges associated with managing a 1,800-person relay race, and Zilker became cemented as a local tradition. He also talks about what makes the Austin running community so special and what the future of the event world looks like in the city. It's a great conversation. Check it out and give it a listen!

What does it take to organize a 400-mile unsupported bikepacking race through some of the most unforgiving terrain in the country? In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Onermaa, the mastermind and race director behind Doom, an epic self-supported bikepacking race through the Ozarks. Andrew takes us behind the scenes of the event's history, the inspiration behind the Doom documentary, and the brutal logistical challenges of managing a multi-day race in such harsh conditions. We also dive into the unique and often difficult business model of hosting unsupported ultra-endurance events. It’s an awesome conversation packed with grit, behind-the-scenes insights, and pure passion for the sport. Tune in and enjoy the ride!

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. While the broader industry pivots toward "fitness-center" models and mass-market appeal, Cliff has doubled down on a business built specifically for the dedicated climber. We dive into the history of the gym, the risky but rewarding business model of prioritizing "true" climbers over beginners, and the unique challenges of staying profitable while maintaining a no-frills, high-intensity brand. It’s a candid look at the business of climbing and what it takes to build a community that values the craft of the sport above all else.

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-month traffic jam. In this episode, we chat with Alan Snel, founder of LVSportsbiz.com and a veteran LV sports reporter on why the most logistically challenging event in the world is leaving local residents and small businesses in the dust.

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.