I have lots of thoughts on the news about UltraSignup's content shrinking or pivoting, and what trail/ultrarunners want to read. The loss of Matt Hart developing that newsletter is a real loss. I'm skeptical about their plans to do any original reporting, despite what David says in your report, given that I just last week got this message back from their marketing director when I pitched a story: "At the moment we are not accepting any new pitches. Our goal is to continue to improve how we highlight runners, businesses, storytellers, and creators within the running community." I predict they may simply aggregate others' content and provide links to it (filling a role that URP's Daily News used to) and, hopefully, continue the good podcast by Buzz & Corrine. I'm grateful that Zoe at Trail Runner sometimes assigns more "soulful" stories that aren't service-y or gear-oriented or about the pro runners; for example, she gave me the green light to report on a 60-something Hardrock finisher (https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/profiles-people/hardrocks-accidental-age-record-setter/) who came out of nowhere in her 50s and started smashing ultras. Speaking for myself, but maybe also for those of us who've been at this sport quite a while, the service-oriented pieces and gear reviews make my eyes glaze over. I want stories with interesting and funny characters facing change and challenges.
"I wasn’t planning on making another media impact report this year, but if it’s useful for your job or you just really want me to make it, respond to this email"
I'm interested!
My side note: I ran in the World Masters Mountain Running Championships which concluded this afternoon in Madeira. The difference between proprietary races (privately owned) and official races (USATF, Worlds, etc), remains dramatic for MUT (Mountain Ultra Trail) events. Most runners do not know these official championships even take place. My guess has always been that free enterprise incentivizes RD's to do a good job promoting their race which will make them money, while official races are sort of like communism, where the official's small salary is the same whether the event is wildly popular or sparse.
Fortunately that has been changing, as runners realize that running for team and country is really quite satisfying in a way that for-profit events are not. That was definitely my take on this weekend - it was great - and I was in Chamonix for the big circus.
But now with UTMB blowing up, essentially becoming it's own story that requires everyone else to cover it, and basically requiring pro ultra runners to do UTMB events, that private vs official races balance has been tilted even more.
I have lots of thoughts on the news about UltraSignup's content shrinking or pivoting, and what trail/ultrarunners want to read. The loss of Matt Hart developing that newsletter is a real loss. I'm skeptical about their plans to do any original reporting, despite what David says in your report, given that I just last week got this message back from their marketing director when I pitched a story: "At the moment we are not accepting any new pitches. Our goal is to continue to improve how we highlight runners, businesses, storytellers, and creators within the running community." I predict they may simply aggregate others' content and provide links to it (filling a role that URP's Daily News used to) and, hopefully, continue the good podcast by Buzz & Corrine. I'm grateful that Zoe at Trail Runner sometimes assigns more "soulful" stories that aren't service-y or gear-oriented or about the pro runners; for example, she gave me the green light to report on a 60-something Hardrock finisher (https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/profiles-people/hardrocks-accidental-age-record-setter/) who came out of nowhere in her 50s and started smashing ultras. Speaking for myself, but maybe also for those of us who've been at this sport quite a while, the service-oriented pieces and gear reviews make my eyes glaze over. I want stories with interesting and funny characters facing change and challenges.
"I wasn’t planning on making another media impact report this year, but if it’s useful for your job or you just really want me to make it, respond to this email"
I'm interested!
My side note: I ran in the World Masters Mountain Running Championships which concluded this afternoon in Madeira. The difference between proprietary races (privately owned) and official races (USATF, Worlds, etc), remains dramatic for MUT (Mountain Ultra Trail) events. Most runners do not know these official championships even take place. My guess has always been that free enterprise incentivizes RD's to do a good job promoting their race which will make them money, while official races are sort of like communism, where the official's small salary is the same whether the event is wildly popular or sparse.
Fortunately that has been changing, as runners realize that running for team and country is really quite satisfying in a way that for-profit events are not. That was definitely my take on this weekend - it was great - and I was in Chamonix for the big circus.
But now with UTMB blowing up, essentially becoming it's own story that requires everyone else to cover it, and basically requiring pro ultra runners to do UTMB events, that private vs official races balance has been tilted even more.