This episode’s guest, @Bao — Outopia’s Race & Athlete Manager. She crossed over from the IT industry to trail running and, step by step, helped build China’s unique trail-running ecosystem. From a programmer’s desk to the mountains.
Highlights
- From IT to Trail — a computer-science career abandoned, serendipitously, for the sport
- Scouting Athletes — results aren’t everything: character, vibe and future potential all count
- Personal Care on Race Day — treating athletes like family, in a sport where China’s agent system is still young
- A New Ecosystem — overseas vs. domestic, and defining a mountain-living lifestyle
- Outopia’s Philosophy — serving elites and beginners alike, growing the whole ecosystem
- Host’s Field Notes — Youzhou 100, a midnight solo run as a mindful mountain experience
- Industry Watch — race suspensions, growing awareness, art meeting race design
- Healing Social Running — Beijing hutong runs & Heyrunning: no titles, just running
Beyond Trail Running
Trail running has always been the seed and the premise of this podcast. Through conversations with different guests, we also want to pass this along: it doesn’t stop at the sport itself. The word has outgrown its definition — it’s a lifestyle, a healing kind of socializing, a pure love of the wild with every social label stripped away. May everyone find what they love.
We talked 18 minutes longer than planned — listeners, go run a few extra kilometers for us.
Listener Giveaway
A heartfelt thanks to Outopia for supporting this episode. Time is the ultimate test of truth — we invite our listeners to “talk to the brand” at races: runners of every level can find their place, and trail running unites the world!
Comment below with a fun or moving trail-running memory of yours, or tell us what you’d love to hear next. We’ll pick the best comments and send out Outopia goodies.
Side note: if a race feels like too long a journey, community events are a great alternative. I’ve joined Outopia community runs in Hangzhou, Beijing and Chengdu — beginner-friendly and veteran-friendly alike. Personal recommendation.