Bill and Loren Armstrong, the husband and wife team behind NEVERSECOND - the cutting edge nutrition brand that in only a couple years has become very popular among trail runners, establishing itself as a leader in the category. Of course, Freetrail has officially been in partnership with NEVERSECOND since the beginning of the year, and in that time we’ve loved getting to know Bill and Loren and have developed a huge admiration for how they conduct themselves and their business – a quality and professionalism that 100% shows up in their products, which are exquisite. I’m excited to share a bit more of their story here.

 

 

Topics discuss:

 

 

• Their previous business Whipsmart which they owned and operated for 20 years
• The founding story of N2 and building a business on their own terms
• We talk about branding, timing, differentiation and other practical business considerations
• The systems based approach to fueling and recovery
• The NEVERSECOND product line and what sets it apart
• Doing things that don’t scale
• Working with some of the best athletes in the sport including Katie Schide and a funny story about connecting with Jim Walmsley
• The future of the brand
• The flavorless C30 gel that hit the market this week!
• A lot more

 

 

  Sponsors:

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

 

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Alex Honnold is among the most accomplished climbers in history. Bursting into the mainstream consciousness in 2008, Alex has personally changed what people have viewed to be possible in the vertical world. In 2017, Alex did the first ever free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, a feat that many consider to be the greatest athletic accomplishment in history, and that was documented in the Oscar winning film, Free Solo. We're honored to host him on the podcast.

Learn more about The Honnold Foundation: https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/#mission

Topics:

 

• Where Alex is the arc of his career
• His feelings recollecting to the times before he was famous
• The inspiration Alex took from climbing legend Peter Croft
• The state of climbing as a sport and the impact of the Olympics
• Training and the similarities between running and climbing
• How becoming a parent has impacted goal setting
• The physical and psychological toll of being a pro athlete for two decades
• Staying motivated over time
• Alex's relationship with competition 
• The aftermath of Free Solo and what Alex called his "deployment to Hollywood"
• His home in Las Vegas and why it's a great place to live
• The Honnold Foundation
• A lot more!

 

Sponsors:

 

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

 

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

 

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Welcome to Rest Day, Freetrail's occasional news pod covering the latest happenings in trail running. The docket today:

 

• Salomon Athlete Team Presentation
• Team Camps (Salomon, TERREX, Asics, CRAFT, & Brooks)
• Chianti by UTMB
• Barkley Marathons
• Tenerife by UTMB
• Alex Proctor breaking Dylan's 14 year old CR

   

 

Newsletter signup   Adidas TERREX: New Faces Video  

 

Sponsors:

 

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

 

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

 

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Welcome to Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 Big Alta. Our co-hosts today are Dylan Bowman, David Lam, & Paddy O'Leary. Thanks to the sponsors of the race, links below:

 

SPEEDLAND - Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear - https://www.runspeedland.com

NEVERSECOND - Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at - https://never2.com

GOLDWIN - 15％off coupon: BIGALTA0323 at the SF store (where bib pickup is)

Welcome to Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 Big Alta. Our co-hosts today are Dylan Bowman, David Lam, & Paddy O'Leary. Thanks to the sponsors of the race, links below:

 

SPEEDLAND - Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear - https://www.runspeedland.com

NEVERSECOND - Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at - https://never2.com

GOLDWIN - 15％off coupon: BIGALTA0323 at the SF store (where bib pickup is)

Welcome to Freetrail's coverage of the 2025 Big Alta. This is our race preview show, setting up the weekend of racing. This show especially focuses on the 50k. Our co-hosts today are Dylan Bowman, David Lam, & Paddy O'Leary.

 

Thanks to the sponsors of the race, links below:

SPEEDLAND - Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear - @ https://www.runspeedland.com

NEVERSECOND - Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at @ https://www.never2.com

GOLDWIN - 15％off coupon: BIGALTA0323 at the SF store (where bib pickup is)

Johen DeLeon is an up and coming pro trail runner from Crested Butte, CO. We discovered Johen at the Cirque Series A-Basin last September where he finished 2nd behind Patrick Kipngeno in a very competitive field. We did an interview with Johen after the race where the Freetrail team and the extended Freetrail audience fell in love with Johen, his personality, and his story. During that interview an idea was born to crowdfund Johen's participation at back to back Golden Trail World Series events on the following two weekends. It was the start of a great friendship.

  Today, Johen joins for a real long form chat about his background, goals for the future, and a really exciting new partnership with SATISFY.    This weekend, Johen will race at The Big Alta 28k, making his competitive debut with his new sponsors.   Follow Johen on IG Follow Johen on Strava Register for TrailCon  

Sponsors:

 

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

 

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

 

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Welcome to Rest Day, Freetrail's occasional news pod covering the latest happenings in trail running. The docket today:

• Chuckanut recap
• Barkley Marathons is underway
• Rod Farvard breaks Jim Walmsley's CR at Santa Barbara Nine Trails
• Anton re-signs with La Sportiva
• Golden Tickets at Chianti this weekend
• The Big Alta schedule
• A lot more!

Follow Keith Dunn on X   Register for TrailCon  

Sponsors:

 

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

 

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

 

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Welcome to Rest Day, Freetrail's occasional news pod covering the latest happenings in trail running. The docket today:

 

• Riley Brady signs with Nike
• Sabrina Stanley signs with OnlyFans
• Jazmine Lowther signs with Arc'Teryx
• Cat Bradley signs with SATISFY
• Transgrancaria results
• Courtney Dauwalter's season opener
• Chuckanut preview
• Chianti by UTMB preview
• Jim Walmsley's season opener
• The Big Alta preview
• A lot more!

 

Caleb Olson's Substack

  Sponsors:

 

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

 

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

 

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Seth Ruhling is a pro runner for The North Face living in Boulder, CO. A few weeks ago, Seth won and broke the course record at the Black Canyon 100k, earning a Golden Ticket to the Western States 100 in June. He's also a co-host of the viral sensation, Boulder Boys Podcast. This is his first appearance on the show.

  Follow Seth on Strava  

Topics discussed:

 

• Seth's approach to competition through the lens of the 2023 CCC
• Background and history with sport
• His breakout race at the 2019 JFK
• How Jim Walmsley influenced Seth
• How Zach Miller enabled Seth's first pro contract
• We talk about the Boulder Boys, exploring each person's unique spirit and how it impacts the group
• Seth's training and the groove he found building towards Black Canyon
• Seth's spiritual life
• The strategy and execution at Black Canyon
• Look ahead to Western States
• The Boulder Boys Podcast
• A lot more!

 

  Sponsors:

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

 

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Riley Brady is a pro trail runner living in Boulder, CO. Riley has been building a solid resume over the years but has recently broken through to achieve two huge back-to-back wins at the Javelina Jundred and Black Canyon 100k. This is Riley's first appearance on the podcast.

 

Topics discussed:

 

• Riley's move to boulder and the benefit of the community and training environment
• Being at peace and its benefits to performance
• Riley's background growing up on the east coast
• The benefits of not taking the safe route and setting big goals in life
• Riley's training and progression with coach David Roche
• Riley's win at Javelina, a performance that Riley was surprisingly not totally satisfied with
• The massive 30min CR at Black Canyon 100k
• Training towards Western States
• Being patient and waiting for the right sponsorship
• A lot more!

 

Follow Riley on Strava

 

Sponsors:

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

 

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava