WeeViews

05/29/2026

From "one and done" on the flat roads to a two-time Laurel Highlands Ultra Champion. 🏆⛰️

In our latest episode, Eric Kennedy sits down with Casey and Rob to share how a string of lower-leg injuries actually became the catalyst for his jump into the trail world. If you've ever finished a brutal road race swearing you'll "never run again," only to find yourself signing up for a trail ultra a few weeks later, you are going to relate to this one!

We dive deep into:How Eric transitioned from a Penn track walk-on to the ultra scene. Crucial pacing strategies for the brutal downhills. A preview of this year's highly competitive lineup (and that legendary 1998 course record).

👇 Stream Episode 68 on Buzzsprout or your favorite podcast app:

Welcome to The Hobby Jogger Podcast, where elite athletes and ham-and-eggers lace up their stories. We explore the common ground that running creates from the world-class runner to the hobbyist hitting the pavement, trail or treadmill. Expect a bl...

05/28/2026

Race day has a funny way of making even the most prepared runner feel like a beginner again.

For our Race Day Insights 2026 campaign, we surveyed 252 runners about what they actually do on race day: how they choose shoes, fuel, pace, manage nerves, recover, and adjust when the plan starts changing.

The biggest takeaway?

Runners plan ahead, but race day rewards flexibility.

From carbon-plated shoe choices to fueling mistakes, pacing regrets, recovery routines, and the most common race-day mistake runners admitted to making, the full Rundown article digs into what real runners have learned from experience.

As Elizabeth Clor put it: “Everyone’s just trying to give themselves the best opportunity for success…But it’s never going to be perfect.”

Curious how your race-day habits compare? Read the full Race Day Insights article here: https://www.weeviews.com/rundown/race-day-insights-2026-what-252-runners-actually-do

What’s one piece of race-day advice you wish someone had given you sooner?

See what 252 runners revealed about race-day shoes, fueling, pacing, mistakes, recovery, and goals i...

05/27/2026

Race-day shoe choice: part science, part art. 👟

For our Race Day Insights 2026 campaign, we surveyed 252 runners about how they make race-day decisions, including what shoes they trust when it’s time to line up.

A few findings stood out:

👟 Most runners choose their race-day shoes weeks in advance.

✅ Comfort mattered most
67.1% of runners said comfort was a top factor when choosing race-day shoes, followed by performance/speed and what they trained in.

⚡ Carbon-plated shoes are popular, but not universal. 41.3% of runners said they planned to race in carbon-plated shoes, while 51.6% said they did not. But adoption jumped among marathoners and higher-mileage runners.

📊 Marathoners are especially carbon-curious
63.4% of marathon runners planned to race in carbon-plated shoes, and 64.7% of runners training 60+ miles per week planned to do the same.

👀 Brand trends varied by context. Nike led carbon shoe adoption by percentage, while Saucony had the highest overall brand representation in our survey.

The big takeaway? The “best” race-day shoe is not just the fastest shoe on paper. It’s the one that matches your preferences!

What matters most to you when choosing race-day shoes: comfort, speed, familiarity, stability, or something else?

05/21/2026

A good trail vest should carry your gear without making itself the main character.

Mike tested the Kailas Fuga Air 8 IV Trail Running Vest and found an 8L pack built for long trail days, race-day essentials, and runners who really do not want to deal with bounce, sloshing, or hard-to-reach storage.

In his review, Mike breaks down the vest’s ADF dial adjustment system, BI-FIX flask compression, 14-pocket layout, 2 × 500mL soft flasks, trekking pole carry options, and built-in trail trash bag. He also calls out a few quirks worth knowing before you buy, including tricky sizing, limited availability, and flask pull tabs that can click if they are not tucked away.

So, is this lightweight Kailas vest a strong option for medium-to-long trail races?

Read Mike’s full review here:

A snug fitting vest made for long days with ample pockets and gear storage. An ADF strap system sim...

05/20/2026

Some runners chase finish lines. William helps other runners believe they can reach theirs. 🏁

Meet William Brent: marathoner, triathlete, full Ironman finisher, dad, 3D-printing “Chief Toy Repairman,” and longtime pace setter.

William first found running as a practical way to lose weight and keep up with his kids. Over the past decade, that habit has grown into a deep love for endurance sports, from marathons to triathlons, and a steady commitment to simply showing up.

But when William looks back on his most meaningful running moments, it’s not his own PRs that stand out most.

It’s the runners he’s helped along the way.

As a pacer, William describes himself as a “goofy people-pleaser” on the course, using humor, encouragement, and a steady pace sign to help runners get out of the dark place and keep moving forward. One of his most memorable moments came after his first pacing assignment in Erie, PA, when a runner emailed him afterward, not just to thank him for the finish time, but for the effort he put into their journey.

That’s the heartbeat of William’s running story: the work we put into ourselves becomes even more meaningful when we use it to lift others up.

Right now, William is gearing up for Muskoka 70.3 this summer. And after a recent breakthrough at the Durham Marathon, he’s starting to believe a Boston Qualifier may be sitting somewhere on the horizon. 👀

Outside of running, William is a Senior Operations Leader at Mack Trucks, a husband, dad to three awesome kids, 3D-printing hobbyist, and dog dad to Dexter.

Give William a big WeeViews welcome in the comments! 👏

05/16/2026

Race day rarely goes perfectly. That’s why Elizabeth Clor doesn’t just show up with one goal. She shows up with A, B, C, and D goals.

In this episode of The Hobby Jogger, we sat down with Elizabeth to unpack findings from our WeeViews Race Day Insights survey, where 252 runners shared the decisions, habits, mistakes, and lessons that shape race day.

We talk about carbon-plated shoes, fueling plans, pacing discipline, Garmin screens, backup goals, and the race-day mistake many runners know a little too well: starting too fast.

Elizabeth’s advice is a good reminder that success doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Sometimes the smartest race-day plan is the one that gives you more than one way to walk away proud.

🎧 Listen to E67 | Race Day Insights with Elizabeth Clor:

The easiest way to sabotage a marathon isn’t missing a workout, it’s making a tiny race day choice that snowballs. We pulled 252 responses from our WeViews “Race Day Insights” survey and sat down with returning guest Elizabeth Clore (Boston Bound ...

05/14/2026

A $99 lightweight daily trainer with PEBA foam, solid traction, and solid versatility?

Scott put the Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Pro through 50 miles of testing to see how it stacks up against more familiar daily trainers like the Hoka Mach, ASICS Novablast, and Brooks Hyperion.

His biggest takeaways: it has a responsive, stable ride, strong traction, a durable upper, and a strong value proposition. The main drawbacks are a warmer toe box, a less forgiving fit for higher-volume feet, and some potential inconsistency with availability depending on where you order.

Read Scott’s full review here: https://www.weeviews.com/reviews/4419/li-ning-red-hare-pro-9

Would you take a chance on a lesser-known running shoe brand if the price and performance looked right?

The Pro model of the Red Hare line by Li Ning and 10th shoe of the brands from the East series. Thi...

05/13/2026

Race-day mistakes: a support group for runners who have been personally victimized by mile 1 confidence. 🫠

For our Race Day Insights campaign with Elizabeth Clor, we surveyed 252 runners about the decisions, habits, worries, wins, and lessons that shape race day.

One question we asked:
“What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made on race day?”

The top answer? Starting too fast. Shocking? No. Relatable? Painfully.

Runners also called out fueling and hydration mistakes, trying something new on race day, weather/gear mismanagement, mental mistakes, and racing when undertrained or injured.

And this is just one piece of the full Race Day Insights project. Stay tuned for more findings on race-day goals, shoe choices, fueling, pacing, mindset, recovery, and more.

We’ll also be digging into the results with Elizabeth Clor on an upcoming episode of The Hobby Jogger Podcast.

Your turn: What’s the biggest mistake YOU’VE made on race day? 👇

05/12/2026

Some running stores feel like fast food: quick, transactional, and pretty much the same no matter where you go.

But The Aid Station is aiming for something different.

On the latest episode of The Hobby Jogger Podcast, Jeremy Pope talks about building a running shop that feels more like a real gathering place: curated gear, thoughtful recommendations, actual running experience, and a space where runners can sit down, ask questions, meet up, refuel, and feel supported.

Because sometimes you don’t just need another shoe wall.

You need a place that understands the assignment.

🎧 Listen to the full episode with Jeremy Pope here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2268098/episodes/19125684

What makes a local running store worth supporting to you?

Welcome to The Hobby Jogger Podcast, where elite athletes and ham-and-eggers lace up their stories. We explore the common ground that running creates from the world-class runner to the hobbyist hitting the pavement, trail or treadmill. Expect a bl...