In this episode, Cooper chats with David Grass, founder of Faces of Fitness Chicago, a two-day, festival-style event that brings together top studio classes, celebrity instructors, and an immersive wellness experience in the heart of Chicago. David shares the origin story of the festival — where the idea came from, what inspired it, and how it took shape. He also reflects on how the event has evolved over time, including the thinking behind creative decisions like bringing in a major celebrity DJ to headline this year’s lineup. The conversation dives into the business of event production: partnering with brands, navigating sponsorships, envisioning the future of fitness festivals, and managing the unpredictable realities of live events. It’s a great conversation, and we hope you give it a listen.

You can learn more about Faces of Fitness Chicago here.

On this episode of The Directors, Cooper sits down with Dave Dressman, the Event Director of the GoPro Mountain Games. They dive into the origin story of this iconic multi-sport festival and the immense challenge of managing 11 adventure sport disciplines and over 30 competitions—including kayaking, running, slackline, DockDogs, rafting, SUP’ing, mountain and road cycling, climbing, fishing, disc golf, and more. Dave shares insights on navigating unpredictable elements like river conditions and weather, the importance of strong partnerships, and how today's economic climate is impacting the world of events.

On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down with Mandy Mullen, the director of the Run Windsor race series in Windsor, Colorado, and the Colorado Relays. On the episode Mandy shares her journey into race directing, the growth and expansion of her business, and the challenges that come with managing races. She also discusses her motivation for taking over the Colorado Relays and her vision for its future.

The conversation highlights the unique aspects of race directing, including the non-financial rewards that come from this profession. It also gets into how new races are born and when it makes sense to retire them.

Mandy is an exceptional figure in the race director community, and we hope you’ll take the time to hear her inspiring story.

On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down just days after the Athlos NYC meet to share their first impressions of this new contender in the track and field world. They break down the event’s presentation, the impressive production quality, and discuss the excitement surrounding the races and storylines. The conversation also touches on the integration of betting with DraftKings and how the event schedule was crafted. Finally, they explore what the future holds for Athlos, its place in the broader events landscape, and the business model driving this unique event. Tune in and let us know your thoughts!

On this episode of The Directors, Dave and Cooper sit down for a one-on-one chat to dive into the latest happenings in the world of events. They break down the thrilling 1v1 race between Mondo and Warholm, discuss the recent UFC event held at the Sphere, and chat about the announcement of increased prize money at the Diamond League meets. The duo also previews the much-anticipated Athlos Meet in NYC and talk about the recent collab between Red Bull and Prada. Tune in, and let us know what you think!

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper catchup with Brian Mister shortly after he wrapped up his 6th year directing the Around the Crown 10k in Charlotte, NC. During the conversation Brian shares some of the strategies he’s used to get 25% year over year growth, the creative thinking he’s used to bring on brand partners, and how he’s turned this race into a 365-day evergreen event. Brian is one of the best in the business and this conversation is jam packed with valuable information. It's well worth a listen for anyone in the race industry. 

This week on the podcast, Cooper sits down with Sarah Stutman from Life Time to discuss the Sea Otter Classic. Held every April in Monterey, CA, this event is more than just a race—it's a multi-day festival and expo that has become one of the largest gatherings in the cycling world. Tune in to hear the story of how it all began, its growth over the years, and what makes it such a unique and celebrated event.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down for a one-on-one episode where they chat about how to make cross country more popular, the death of an athlete at the CrossFit games, the Marathon for the People at the Paris Olympics, the Fanatics Fest NYC and more. Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Dipen Shah the mastermind behind Karmarush, one of the leading provider of results and broadcast technologies in the world of track and field. During the conversation they dive into the experience of watching the 2024 Olympics, with a special focus on the coverage of Olympic track and field events. They also get into where track and field stands once the Olympic spotlight fades and discusses the emergence of new leagues and events like Grand Slam Track and Athlos. They also explore what these new leagues need to do to distinguish themselves from the grandeur of the Olympics. This wide-ranging conversation is a must-listen for fans of the sport. We hope you enjoy it!

On this episode of the Directors Cooper sits down for a one-on-one with Adrian Bozman, CrossFit's Competition Director. During the conversation they discuss the history of the CrossFit Games, the structure of the CrossFit Games season, and the unique format of the individual competitions. They also chat about the role of the Competition Director, how Boz thinks about picking events for the games, and what a sport like track & field can learn from the success of the CrossFit Games. It's a really fun conversation and we hope you give it a listen!

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper sit down and recap one of the craziest stretches in the history of Trials of Miles. This includes a conversation about the Twilight 5000 series, the first year of the D.C. Crit, and the iconic 5k on the Beach. They also chat a little bit about the upcoming Montclair Mile.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Nils Arend the founder of the Speed Project, the epic LA to LV unsanctioned relay race. During the conversation Nils shares the Speed Project's origin story, talks about how the event has evolved and grown, and talks about the biggest challenges associated with putting on an event of this size. Nils also talks a little about the future of the Speed Project and shares where he derives inspiration for events. It's a great conversation and we hope you give it a listen.

On this weeks episode of the podcast Dave and Cooper chat about watching the Olympic Trials and share their immediate impressions about the Grand Slam Track league. The conversation on Grand Slam Track touches on the three day event format, how the league fits into the current pro track landscape, and how they can make the business model work. Give the conversation a listen and let us know what you think.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about their experience directing the 2024 installment of the New Balance National Outdoor meet. During the conversation they discuss how they applied learnings from year one to improve this year's event, the challenges associated with Franklin Field, and what goes into scheduling a 6,000 person event. They also share some of their favorite moments from the meet and discuss what this might look like moving forward.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about the experience of directing NYC Trail Fest, a day that brought more than its fair share of challenges. During the conversation they touch upon shuttle buses not showing up, last minute changes to the course, problems with the course markings and more. Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Felicia Hubber the director of the iconic Hood to Coast Relay. During the conversation they unpack the history of the race and the unique challenges associated with managing an event that spans over 200 miles. They also discuss Hood to Coast's expansion overseas, the demand for multi-day relay races, and the future of this style of event. This is an amazing organization run by some amazing people. We hope you give the conversation a listen.

On this one-on-one episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about Track Night NYC, the future of pro running, the "most popular running event in the word" and more. Give the episode a listen and let us know what you think.

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Tyler Swartz, the founder of Endorphins, one of the largest and fastest growing run clubs in the country. During the conversation Tyler shares the Endorphins origin story, the fundamental values that have led to the club's growth, and Tyler's unique and evolving role as community leader. Tyler also chats about the business of run clubs, how Endorphins manages its relationships with brands, and what the future holds in store. This is one of the most fun conversations that we've recorded so far and we hope you take some time to give it a listen.

On this special edition of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat about Friday night's event at Icahn Stadium in NYC. They unpack some of the top athletes to watch in the high school and elite races, and also share some of the storylines to watch for in the open races. You can watch all the action on RunnerSpace or can come to the stadium to watch all the action live. See you under the lights!

On this episode of the Directors Dave and Cooper chat with Jon Hughes the director of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon in Orlando. During the conversation Jon explains why this race presents so many incredibly unique challenges, the Olympic Trials Marathon business model, and the bidding process required to get the trials to your city. Jon also chats about what the future of the Trials looks like in 2028 and beyond. It's a great conversation and a must listen for any fans of this incredible race.