This episode is from of the Borderlands Trail & Ultra Running Podcast.
Episode Summary
Legitimate dirtbag ultrarunners started wearing luxury running brands giving credence to a vision that endurance trail runners deserved too.
But what is a Luxury Running Brand exactly and how do Luxury Running Brands coexist in trail running and ultrarunning culture?
There is tension here to be sure. The old guard wants to see the heritage dirtbag ethos preserved with a set of unspoken rules on how we ‘should’ be ultrarunners. And others, like Josh, think that ultrarunning is what makes someone an ultra runner, not the apparel or gear or whatever else.
Will Luxury Running Brands survive the brutal reality of the sport and those who fancy themselves gatekeepers? Or will it push through with no regard for what the naysayers think?
Are luxury running brands are here to stay?
It’s probably too soon to say, but in this episode we explore:
- What is traditional ultrarunning culture?
- What is luxury?
- What is a luxury running brand?
- The appearance of authenticity vs. earned authenticity
Topics / Timestamps
01:14 Why does Luxury Feel Strange in Ultrarunning?
03:45 What is Traditional Ultrarunning Culture?
10:48 5 Markers of Traditional Ultrarunning Culture
15:44 What even is luxury?
20:40 What is a “luxury running brand”?
24:25 Why do luxury running brands bother people?
27:43 A Weird Moment in Luxury Ultrarunning
31:45 The Old Guard of Ultrarunning
Resources / Links
- [article] Why “Luxury Running Brands” Feels Strange In Ultrarunning
- Satisfy
- Currently
- Running Sucks
- Ultrarunning History by Davy Crocket
