Make It Make Sense: World Cross Country, Burrito League, and Running Media Losing the Plot

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/cc/24/fd/cc24fdfe-69a4-530a-ba53-a1dd29e2231a/mza_14026971529750728856.jpg/600x600bb.jpg

Free Outside

Jeff Garmire

178 episodes

2 days ago

Welcome to "Free Outside," the ultimate podcast for outdoor enthusiasts! Join me, Jeff Garmire, as I blur the lines between trail running, Fastest Known Times (FKTs), thru-hiking, backpacking, and all endurance. With 20 FKTs under my belt, a book, a movie, and plenty of unconventional experiences, I'm here to share my adventures and insights. Expect engaging interviews and fun interactions with guests who excel in various ways. Whether we're discussing the art of slowly running through forests, the thrill of a challenging hike, or simply an appreciator of beauty and comedy, here we are.

Running

Sports

RSS

All content for Free Outside is the property of Jeff Garmire and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Running

Sports

https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/39320563/39320563-1714852015826-072db93862556.jpg

Make It Make Sense: World Cross Country, Burrito League, and Running Media Losing the Plot

Free Outside

1 hour 12 minutes 16 seconds

4 days ago

Make It Make Sense: World Cross Country, Burrito League, and Running Media Losing the Plot

The Free Outside Show is back for the new year, and I’m joined by our correspondent on everything, Allison Mercer. We’re doing the exact opposite of the usual “five months from now” preview content that other podcasts are doing, and instead talking about what’s actually happening this weekend: Bandera (with Molly Seidel), Houston Marathon for the OTQ watch, and why you should care about World Cross Country in Tallahassee (yes, it’s watchable on Peacock, yes, team tactics make it way more fun than you think, and yes, there are statue alligators on the course).

From there, we get into the real chaos: Burrito League expansion, why it works as an “anyone can play” running challenge, and how these community-wide games can be more accessible than the typical big-race ecosystem. Then we go full rant mode on year-end lists, award season fatigue, media bias, and why FKT stories often get misunderstood or flattened by outlets that do not actually live in that world. We also touch on sponsorship transparency, influencer economics, West Coast bias, and why the sport would be better off funding real coverage of barrier-breaking performances instead of paying for interchangeable promo codes. New year, same old us. Racing is back, and we have thoughts.

Chapters

00:00 Racing Resumes: Exciting Events Ahead

05:30 The Thrill of Cross Country Championships

08:38 Understanding Cross Country Scoring and Team Dynamics

10:46 The Burrito League: A Unique Running Challenge

13:42 The Influence of Social Media on Running Culture

16:43 The Bias in Trail Running Media and Awards

19:49 The Importance of FKTs in the Running Community

22:40 The East vs. West Coast Debate in Trail Running

25:48 The Shift in Sponsorships and Influencer Culture

28:43 The Future of Trail Running Events and Coverage

31:44 World Championships and the Impact of Air Quality

35:34 Looking Ahead: Goals for 2026

Support our Sponsors:

Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726

CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee

Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab

Sawyer Products: https://sawyerdirect.net/collections/stay-put-sunblock

#RunningMedia #trailrunning #ultrarunning #runningpodcast #WorldCrossCountry #crosscountryrunning #BurritoLeague #fkt #runningcommunity #sportsmedia

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

Instagram: thefreeoutside

facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside