Tales from the Wild Goose: Carson Hopwood’s 85-Mile Journey

In this episode of our series, Tales from the Wild Goose, we hear from Carson Hopwood, a nonbinary athlete from Charlottesville, Virginia, who participated in the 36-hour event at the 2024 Wild Goose Trail Festival. Carson achieved an incredible milestone, covering 85 miles—their first time going beyond 50 miles and their first event running through the night.

✨ Tune in to hear:

• Carson’s reflections on the emotional finish, coming up shy of their 100-mile goal but celebrating a huge personal record


• Their experience navigating the challenges of running overnight for the first time


• A thrilling encounter with a black bear on the trail (and how they handled it!)


• What this milestone means for their journey as a trail runner

Carson’s story is one of resilience, courage, and learning to embrace both triumphs and challenges. Their experience inspires us to keep pushing our limits and savor every step of the journey.

📢 Want to be part of this amazing festival? Learn all about the ⁠2025 Wild Goose Trail Festival HERE!⁠

💬 Have your own “Tales from the Wild Goose” to share? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear your story!

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sassquad Trail Running Podcast and leave us a review if you enjoyed Carson's incredible tale.

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