Western States Endurance Run | Trail Running with Jenelle Potvin & Steve Martelli | E41

In a shift away from skis and bikes, Episode 41 profiles two Truckee trail running core lords, Jenelle Potvin and Steve Martelli and their passion for ultra distance running events like the Western States Endurance Run. Just like Western States itself, this episode covers a lot of ground from how the couple had their first date on a seven hour trail run, to the history of the Western States trail, to preparing for a 100 mile adventure on foot with the support of an incredible trail running community. Steve also shares his emotional story of spiral fracturing his femur at mile 70 in the 2023 event after a nine year journey to be accepted into Western States. The boys also chat about the historic July heatwave hitting Lake Tahoe, the Reno Rodeo, listener shout outs and a tribute to PowBot and his wife’s dog Carson who recently passed after nearly 15 years of putting his paws in the track.

2:30 – Historic July heat wave hits Lake Tahoe and Reno just after the summer solstice.

5:00 – Kurt went on a multi-day rafting trip to the Deschutes River in Oregon.

6:40 – The joys of trail running – simplicity, no gear required. Just go running.

9:50 – Truckee Dirt Union rallies a crew for the Truckee 4th of July parade.

11:30 – Building trails for everybody. Including all user groups into trails and not discriminating against trail users.

13:50 – Listener shout outs – JT Robinson, Alex Horgan, Rob McCormick, Nate Melen.

17:00 – Trail Whisperer and Burning Man

19:00 – Rainbow Gathering disaster in Plumas National Forest.

22:00 – The Sphere in Las Vegas.

23:00 – Trail Whisperer recommends Reno Rodeo – The Wildest and Richest Rodeo in the West.

25:10 – PowBot and his wife say goodbye to their dog Carson.

28:47 – Introducing Jenelle Potvin and Steve Martelli – hardcore trail runners.

41:00 – How do you go from a 10 mile run to doing a 50 mile trail run?

43:30 – When Steve and Jenelle met – on the trail running Western States trail.

48:00 – What does it take to be a pacer in a running event?

53:45 – How do you stay cool in 100+ degree temperatures during Western States Endurance Run?

57:45 – The history of the Western States trail and the Tevis Cup horse race.

1:06:00 – Western States race in big snow years when the course gets rerouted.

1:09:40 – How do you qualify and get accepted into the Western States Endurance Run?

1:13:40 – How do you run a 100 mile event when your longest run has only been 30 miles?

1:18:15 – There are six sections to the Western States trail – The Canyons break the most people.

1:20:50 – Steve’s story of running the 2023 Western States event and spiral fracturing his femur at mile 70.

2:00:40 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?