Long Run Labs

Jonathan Levitt

Long Run Labs is a weekly series exploring the intersection of endurance and entrepreneurship from the team that brings you For The Long Run Podcast. From brand builders to movement makers, we spotlight the runners driving change in the outdoor and endurance space. These are the untold stories behind the tools, companies, and communities that shape the industry, told with curiosity, honesty, and heart. Hosted by Jon Levitt. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

  1. 6D AGO

    The Custom Insoles Revolutionizing Elite Running Performance

    What happens when a successful entrepreneur sells his lighting company, attempts to qualify for Olympic trials, and then decides to revolutionize the insole industry using iPhone technology? Cole Zucker is an entrepreneur with a running addiction. Cole's most recent business is Kila Run. They make the lightest custom insole in the world, which is used by podium winners such as Tom Evans.  Jon chats with Cole about: entrepreneurship and business-building philosophy running journey and athletic background the Kila custom insoles startup  investment philosophy and capital strategy Stay Connected: www.kilarun.com https://www.instagram.com/kilarunning/ This episode is supported by: The Huddle If you’re at the point where going at it alone isn’t working or you’re ready to level things up in your business, go to https://findmyhuddle.com/ and fill out the application

    1h 5m

  2. MAR 17

    From Kickstarter to a Brooks Partnership: PYNRS Founder’s Blueprint for Community-First Business Building

    When immigrant parents chase opportunity across continents, their children often become bridges between worlds. Sid Baptista discovered that running could be the vehicle to bring transformative experiences back to the communities that shaped him.  Sidney Baptista is the Founder of PYNRS Performance Streetwear, a Boston-based running brand rooted in culture, community, and performance. Inspired by the legacy of Black pioneers in distance running, Sid created PYNRS to amplify, celebrate, and expand who gets to belong in the sport. Through product, storytelling, and community-driven experiences, he is redefining what running culture looks and feels like. Jon chats with Sid about: building community through inclusive running experiences creating performance apparel for underserved athletic bodies innovative product design addressing real runner needs strategic brand partnerships driving market validation entrepreneurial hustle and creative problem-solving approaches Stay Connected: For Sidney - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidbap/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidbap For PYNRS - Website: https://pynrs.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pynrs_/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pynrs/ This episode is supported by: Skej My favorite tool to help schedule meetings. Check out skej.com/longrunlabs for a very special offer!

    1h 9m

  3. MAR 10

    Consistency is a Competitive Advantage: Carbon Plates, Speciality Retail, and Smarter Marketing with Gelindo Bordin

    From marathon champion to business leader, Gelindo Bordin transformed his Olympic gold medal triumph into executive expertise, now directing innovation at Italian running brand Diadora while bridging the gap between elite performance and everyday runners. Gelindo Bordin is the Marketing Director at Diadora, where he leads the company’s marketing strategies with a deep passion for both sports and brand development. A former Olympic gold medalist, Bordin made history as the first Italian to win the Olympic Marathon. He began his career as a mountain cross-country runner before transitioning to longer distances, debuting in the marathon in 1984 and later winning the Milan Marathon. Over the course of his illustrious career, Bordin earned an Olympic gold medal, two European titles, a bronze medal at the World Championships, and an Italian half-marathon title. He is, still, the only male to win both the Boston Marathon and an Olympic gold medal in the marathon. He won the Boston Marathon in 1990 and describes the victory as his "second greatest run, after winning the Olympics”. Retiring in 1993 after competing in 18 marathons, he now brings his wealth of experience and passion for sports to his role at Diadora, where he drives the brand’s visibility and engagement in the global market. Jon chats with Gelindo about: his Olympic Marathon champion career product development technology innovation  athlete sponsorship evolution  running injury prevention focus  how to maintain brand consistency Stay Connected: https://www.instagram.com/diadora/ This episode is supported by: Skej My favorite tool to help schedule meetings. Check out skej.com/longrunlabs for a very special offer!

    1 hr

  4. MAR 3

    How Wilderdog Turned Dog Gear into a Profitable Business

    From selling braided iPhone chargers on Instagram to building an outdoor dog gear empire - Rachel Friedline's wild journey started with a red iPhone cord and a weekend ski house. Rachel Friedline is the co-founder of Wilderdog, an outdoor dog gear company built for dogs and their humans. With a focus on durability, thoughtful design, and community, she has helped grow the brand from the ground up into a trusted name in the outdoor space. Rachel is passionate about building products that inspire people to get outdoors with their dogs. Jon chats with Rachel about: early social media marketing through customer photo reposts her origin story going from an iPhone cord business to Wilderdog  Wilderdog’s company philosophy inspiring outdoor adventures with dogs bootstrap growth maintaining complete business control the purchase for Pup program donating $500k+ to shelters Jason Kuperberg’s Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5NrgwRPgvBXoRcvWsJ7oRI?si=d89633362efb4cb8 Michael Brandt’s Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5JVLA5CFL5xTFChTiU01Ar?si=5ad7281b84ed461d Stay Connected: Follow Wilderdog: https://www.instagram.com/wilderdog/ https://www.wilderdog.com/pages/purchase-for-a-pup This episode is supported by: Skej My favorite tool to help schedule meetings. Check out skej.com/longrunlabs for a very special offer!

    43 min

  5. FEB 24

    The Evolution of Performance Marketing in Niche Markets

    Jason Wiener has spent over 25 years navigating the intersection of sports and technology, transforming from an adventure sports agency owner who represented major brands like PowerBar and Specialized to a data-driven athlete development pioneer who's using physics modeling and digital twin simulation to help young cyclists reach elite status. Now focused on building a highly technical program for junior mountain bike athletes in the United States, Wiener applies the same precision he once used consulting with IndyCar teams to break down race courses with 30-second accuracy, creating targeted training regimens that helped his daughter place fourth at national championships in her first year. With eyes set on the 2028 LA Olympics, he's leveraging his unique blend of motorsports analytics, Silicon Valley tech experience, and quantified self expertise to identify and develop the next generation of American cycling talent. Jon chats with Jason about: the athlete development pathway from junior to elite cycling data-driven course simulation and performance modeling podcast network advertising and brand partnerships Olympic medal targeting for LA 2028 trail running market trends and brand positioning Stay Connected: Follow Jason: http://jasonwiener.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwiener/ This episode is supported by: Skej My favorite tool to help schedule meetings. Check out skej.com/longrunlabs for a very special offer! Superfiliate helps brands turn creators, customers, and communities into a scalable growth channel, without the usual affiliate mess.

    1h 1m

  6. FEB 17

    Want to be a Sponsored Trail Runner? Listen to This

    The most successful trail sponsorships happen when brands stop asking 'what can this athlete do for us?' and start asking 'what can we build together that neither could create alone? Born in Bennington, Vermont and growing up on the Long Trail, Alyssa Clark is a professional trail runner, coach, podcast host, and partnerships manager. Her greatest passion is mountain running and she is working to become the best 100 mile runner both racing and for long distance trail and multi-sport adventures as she can be. Alyssa currently resides in San Diego, CA with her husband and two cats.  Jon chats with Alyssa about: company culture and employee engagement through storytelling sponsorship evolution and contract growth in trail running building community through hospitality and personal connections professional athlete development and brand partnerships product testing and athlete involvement in development Stay Connected: Follow Alyssa: https://www.instagram.com/theory_in_motion/ Alyssa’s “Uphill Athlete” Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trail-running-series-crewing-and-pacing/id1523174465?i=1000624374730 “Why Fit Compounds” Substack Essay: https://open.substack.com/pub/longrunlabs/p/why-fit-compounds?utm campaign=post-expanded-share&utm medium=post%20viewer This episode is supported by: Skej My favorite tool to help schedule meetings. Check out skej.com/longrunlabs for a very special offer! Superfiliate helps brands turn creators, customers, and communities into a scalable growth channel, without the usual affiliate mess.

    54 min

  7. FEB 10

    How Michael Brandt Built Ketone-IQ by Failing Until He Won

    From selling $30 shots that tasted 'completely crazy' to building a nine-figure business now sold nationwide in Target, Michael Brandt proved that scaling isn't about perfection—it's about refusing to stay in the ivory tower and dancing with your customers through every messy iteration. Michael Brandt is co-Founder & CEO of Ketone-IQ, building what's next in human nutrition. Prior to Ketone-IQ, he was an adjunct professor of brand strategy at Academy of Art in SF, product manager at YouTube, and studied engineering & design at Stanford. He’s also a competitive marathoner and currently lives in LA. Jon chats with Michael about: Persistence until success mindset Building/Scaling Ketone-IQ Marathon running and competitive goals Going deep vs dabbling philosophy Early product development and sales Check out Ketone-IQ: ketone.com/FTLR Stay Connected: Follow Michael: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldbrandt/ This episode is supported by: Skej My favorite tool to help schedule meetings. Check out skej.com/longrunlabs for a very special offer! Superfiliate helps brands turn creators, customers, and communities into a scalable growth channel, without the usual affiliate mess.

    1h 3m

  8. FEB 3

    From Coca-Cola to KIPRUN: Launching a Running Brand the Hard Way

    Would you trade 20 years at Coca-Cola and Amazon for the chance to democratize high-performance running gear? Meet Julien Vancauwenberghe, the Chief Marketing Officer behind KIPRUN, the most anticipated running brand launching in the USA this year. Julien didn't take the traditional path to the starting line. Driven by challenges and a desire to make an impact, he honed his skills at fast-moving organizations like Amazon and Coca-Cola before bringing his unique European-US perspective to Decathlon: the third largest sporting goods company in the world. Julien joins us to discuss his personal journey, what he learned across three different industries, and how KIPRUN plans to debut in the USA. Jon chats with Julien about: Julien's background as a French-American CMO with 25 years of experience KIPRUN’s brand strategy: Decathlon's running brand targeting expert runners US market entry: April 2026 launch through wholesale partners Brand vs performance marketing: Focus on community trust over ads Athlete partnerships: Co-creation with 40 athletes, journey over results Stay connected: Follow KIPRUN: https://www.instagram.com/kiprun/ www.kiprun.com Share this episode on LinkedIn with someone who you think could also find it helpful!

    53 min
See All (45)

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Long Run Labs is a weekly series exploring the intersection of endurance and entrepreneurship from the team that brings you For The Long Run Podcast. From brand builders to movement makers, we spotlight the runners driving change in the outdoor and endurance space. These are the untold stories behind the tools, companies, and communities that shape the industry, told with curiosity, honesty, and heart. Hosted by Jon Levitt. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Levitt
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jonathan Levitt
  • Show Website
    Long Run Labs

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