Welcome back or welcome to the single track podcast. I am your host, Finn Melanson, and in this episode, we talk with Taggart Van Etton, who has one of the best names in running in addition to being a great endurance athlete based in central Illinois.

Taggart made a big splash on the road ultra scene in 2021. We cover a lot of topics in this conversation,

including how his background has influenced the type of training he does, which is monumental

in a lot of ways. We talk about what attracted him to Ultras, why he's leaving the scene for a bit,

his thoughts on sponsorship, the culture of our

sport, and way more.

I enjoyed this conversation, felt like I made a friend in the process, and will definitely

be on the lookout for Taggart's return to the scene in a few years.

He's got some lofty goals for sure.

Let's get started.

Taggart, Van Etton, welcome to the single track podcast.

Hey, Ben, thanks for having me. I'm glad to be here and very lucky to have this conversation.

Before we get into your background, I want to make a note, I think you have one of the most

badass names in all of Ultrarian.

Thank you so much. My first name actually comes from like a Western

Cowboy book. My dad read a long time ago. So I've got the book at my garage somewhere. I've never

read it, but I guess it's a good one. Yeah, I was telling my girlfriend earlier this morning that I was

going to record with you. And she's like, does he know that that's like the most badass name ever?

And I was like, I think so. Anyways, I wish I had like a van in front of

my name or something like that. It's I dig in Taggart's a sick name too. Thank you so much.

Anyways, I know you've done a couple podcasts in the ultra running scene, But just in case there are some listeners that haven't heard of you,

could you give us a bit about your running background

...