Rachel Entrekin Wins the Cocodona 250 in $30 Shorts and a Party Shirt
And other notes from a legendary week in women's sports!
For those paying attention, it’s long been a matter of when, not if, a woman would take a major ultra title ahead of the men. Rachel Entrekin’s dominating performance at Cocodona 250 served to underscore many of the prevailing themes shaping running writ large right now: women are powering the sport and trail is increasingly mainstream. (Though, it was interesting to see who outside of endemic media covered the victory – I saw the story on Good Morning America, USA Today, Bloomberg, BBC, and The Guardian, but it hasn’t yet cracked WSJ (who, via Ashley Mateo, just covered runners shifting to trail) or The New York Times.)
Rachel is sponsored by a consortium of emerging brands, all of whom made out like bandits thanks to her win. For her record-setting run, she wore the unreleased Norda 055, a max cushion, high-stack version of their 005 that’s slated for launch in summer. I asked the Norda team if Rachel had given any input on the design, but since she only joined the brand earlier this year, her opportunity for feedback has been limited. Still, a win’s a win. “What’s pretty cool is that the shoe that originally brought Rachel to us was the 002,” their head of PR and comms, Ross Dwyer, told me via email. “She loves a low-to-the-ground, nimble model, and we never mandate our athletes to wear any specific silhouette — instead, we let them choose a shoe that suits their preferences. Rachel was sent one of the very first pairs of 055s off the production line and loved it immediately, even though it’s quite different from the more minimal silhouettes she’s gravitated toward in the past. I believe she said that it’s a ‘shoe that makes you want to go fast.’” Indeed.
Rachel also works with Tantrums, the Californian hydration vest-makers who won TRE with their immersive bodega build-out, Bolle Sunglasses, and Precision Hydration. She doesn’t appear to have an apparel sponsor (yet), so Precision decked her out in a customized sun hoodie and Party Shirt by triathlon brand Zoot (which helps explain the wacky prints – triathletes have never met a novelty graphic they didn’t love).
On bottom, she alternated between a pair of $30 Sendero Shorts from the under-the-radar, accessibly-priced trail brand Terignota and what looks like a pair of $68 Vuori Studio Pocket Shorts (which she’s worn for ultras in the past). Plus, some Run Steep Socks.
One thing I find appealing about the trail and ultra scene is the way it rejects the standard performance “look” that’s so pervasive on the roads. Rachel ran most of Cocodona in a button-down “Party Shirt” for god’s sake! Trend-conscious amateur road-runners would NEVER. It’s become virtually unthinkable for runners to attempt a 3:00 marathon in anything other than bonded seams. Real talk: most of us don’t need gear built for running 4-minute miles. Shorts that can handle 3 days of running, though? That’s a serious testament to comfort, utility, and durability, even if you’re only logging 5-10 miles a day. Unsurprisingly, the Terignota Shorts are totally sold out.1
For more on Rachel – whose “Why Not You?” mantra is worth stealing – check out her newsletter. I’ve mentioned before that trail runners are eating road runners’ lunch when it comes to Substack (call me!). Rachel’s Substack is out here giving away trade secrets.2
Courtney Dauwalter continued to cement her legacy with a 2nd-place finish (6th overall), a gritty result after a frustrating DNF last year. As Salomon’s hero athlete, they went all in, debuting a custom Courtney kit complete with her signature 8” shorts in with a trippy Dawn to Dust graphic, oversized tee, and coordinating S-Lab Ultra-Glibe 2 shoes in a vibey “Ebb And Flow / Rose Taupe / Knockout Pink” colorway. (Into the naming!) She accessorized with her SunGod sunglasses and Iniji Crew toe-socks.
Rounding out the podium was Megan Eckert, who also scored big points for challenger brands, including Mount to Coast and Janji. Thanks to the Mount to Coast team, I got a little insight into her gear strategy for a multi-day race. Per Megan, “I changed clothing once, socks twice, and shoes five times, but only due to the terrain. I wore the Mount to Coast M1s from Black Canyon City to Kamp Kipa, down Mingus to Jerome and up/ over Elden. I wore the Mount to Coast H1s from Whiskey Row up Mingus and Jerome to Wild Cat.” For her kit, she wore Janji’s new Pinnacle R.D Gossamer Tee (launching soon) and Sunchaser Arm Sleeves, plus an Ultraspire vest.
Unsurprisingly, when it comes to selecting gear, a running insider told me, “These ultra long distance athletes have very unique tastes and needs.” It reminded me of one of my favorite Substack reads to date, in which Molly Seidel provided a pitch-perfect and totally unfiltered product review following her first 50K.
“My years of grabbing bottles off folding tables are now completely wasted, and instead I have to get comfortable racing with a variety of soft flasks and bottles strapped to my body in ever-increasingly uncomfortable means. I’m already quite sensitive to sensory stimuli as a spectrumy girlie, so this is a fucking nightmare and results in me trying to carry as little as possible. I’m not even trying to be minimalist, I just HATE how it feels to be touched by that many things for so long. Hence why I threw a mild fit at needing to wear a vest, and blatantly refused to carry hand bottles.”
I am fascinated by the quirks and minutiae of dressing for performance and ultra running takes obsessing over the details to a whole new level. It’s no surprise then that brands like Nike are increasingly bullish on trail. As I noted above, a record-breaking 250-mile run is pretty unbeatable product testimony. While I have zero interest in running for 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 48 seconds, in many ways it’s a more realistic reference point for me than running a 4:16 mile. Who hasn’t fished the same pair of running shorts out of the laundry a couple of days in a row? Ultramarathons and running mom life? Basically equal.
Brand Chat Vol. 16: Planet Nusa
Maybe you don’t know Planet Nusa, the Copenhagen-based “comunity-driven” activewear brand by name, but perhaps you’ve spotted their LS2 Long Sleeve popping up on your feed or in your neighborhood. It’s a perfect foil to the layered running look that’s trending right now – a fun yet technical and lightweight top with cute rouching down the mid-line.
I’d been watching the rise of the LS2 and was eager to speak with Mille Skat, one-half of the founding team of Planet Nusa. The brand’s been on a roll recently, introducing a trail collection and slowly but surely gaining recognition in the U.S., where their Scandi approach to “hybrid” training (i.e. pursuing a host of different sporting activities with an air of easy-going confidence) has increasing appeal.
What was your introduction to sports? Do you remember what you wore?
Growing up, I spent most of my time outside playing sports, everything from football in the park to handball matches at school and running drills on the track. When I wasn’t moving, I was nurturing my interest in fashion by taking drawing and sewing classes.
I still remember some of the early outfits I created and wore like a custom pair of loose-fit shorts paired with a cropped hoodie I designed myself. I ultimately was able to marry my two interests through Planet Nusa where I can design amazing outfits to wear while doing what I love.
What inspired you to launch Planet Nusa? Was there a lightbulb moment or more of a slow realization?
My best friend and co-founder Kristine Esmer and I decided to start Planet Nusa when we were both living in big cities for the first time. We felt like we were missing a strong community so we built a brand that not only aligned with our passion for style and activewear, but that also met our need for connection. Planet Nusa is not just an activewear brand. We offer group activities including group runs, swims, and sauna sessions designed to bring people together through a shared love of movement.
Congrats on 7 years! Planet Nusa’s growth has felt really palpable over the last year or so (at least here in the US), to what do you credit the acceleration?
After building our brand in our home country of Denmark, we decided to expand to reach new audiences in the U.S. Over the past year we’ve hosted tons of community-based events in the U.S., like run clubs, to bring the brand to the states first-hand.
You’re a Copenhagen brand making waves globally. How does your home influence your approach? What about the Danish/Scandi lifestyle do you think appeals to other markets?
Things like sauna culture and outdoor sports like swimming and cross-country skiing have been huge in Denmark our whole lives, but they are really starting to take over in the U.S. People seem to really resonate with the Nordic values that Planet Nusa holds, which revolve around communal wellness and social trust and accessibility.
People are also starting to think differently about where they’re shopping, identifying clothing that will last for years and is made diligently. Because of that, they are drawn to European brands like Planet Nusa, which maintain rigorous production and distribution standards.
Your LS2 Shirt feels like a big winner for the brand. To what do you owe its success?
The LS2 is our most popular style. Over the past seven years, we’ve made it in over 50 colors and it continues to resonate with our community. It is an athletic long sleeve top crafted with a fabric that has tiny holes, making it breathable and light. The LS2’s signature planet print and front ruching create a flattering, feminine look that’s as comfortable as it is cute.
I think it is so popular because there is truly nothing like it on the market. It is a fun style that brings a little joy to your workouts, plus it is flattering on every body type.
You just launched a trail collection. What inspired the line? How do you decide what activities to explore next?
For me, even when I’m doing the most extreme types of workouts, I still want to feel and look my best. There really just isn’t that much cute outdoor gear out there, so our collection aims to fill that gap with clothing that can withstand the biggest adventures in style.
We are coming out with a new running collection next month. Running has always been at the core of our brand because it is such a great way to connect with other people and build communities, so I am excited to expand that collection.
Community is a buzzword in fitness right now. How does Planet Nusa make it your own?
At Planet Nusa, our community events are not just marketing events where people walk away with free products. They are places where people make real, lasting friendships and achieve new goals. Some of my most favorite memories stem from the feedback people have given us after attending an event. I always remember the times when people tell me they didn’t think they’d be able to run the distance, but the group got them through it, or that they made a new lifelong friend.
