As a marketer who has supported teams 2x at TSP (none with influencers on them!), the allure definitely lies in the storytelling and the racing that can happen under extreme pressure (and with no real prize!). I admire Nils’ convictions and his content engine is masterclass. The TSP scene is a WHOLE other thing entirely (Burning Man is definitely the best comparison.)
Sometimes, as with that first photo, the team itself is the influencer tho! OMRC + KRC? Gold dust.
I really love how the brands existence seems to have pushed Nils towards doing cooler and cooler stuff. Again reflective of wider society just pushing towards the extremes. Fun to see! If not to live through.
I have no idea how I missed seeing this in my inbox, but what a great read! A couple of my former college teammates participated this year, and it was so much fun to follow along. The grit and camaraderie reminded me of why I love running in the first place.
But also I loved reading this: “The kind of funding that means their entire job is to run, carefree, but often devoting their life’s work only to themselves, rather than to a community endeavor.”
Would love to read more thoughts on this, or more about the general frustration with running “influencers.” I have no set feelings either way, but I think that sentence captures the concern so well.
My headline thought/opinion is that influencers should use their position for good, whatever that means to them.
Even though I classify myself as a journalist, with a growing audience I increasingly find myself in a position of influence, and it's important to me to be a net positive in the world. So I'm having to figure that out as well!
I have also loved watching my friends running to Vegas this weekend. The sleep deprivation...!!
Agree! For now, my position is that the more people who enjoy running, the better. For the longest time, running was seen as an “uncool” sport, so I’m happy to see people getting excited about it. There’s enough space in the running community for everyone.
Very well written. The influencer element has ruined the image to the ultra/running community, but also is a perfect fit for the event. Anyone “influencer” I know that’s participated has been a good person with the right vibe. It’s up to Nils to keep the event radical.
I love the official content they put out this year
I totally agree with Amy (who I’ve met in ATA👋) that running TSP should be all about the experience. When you embrace the spirit of TSP, it becomes a trip like no other. The less comfortable you become, when everything goes wrong and you have hurdles to overcome, that’s when you will grow, as a person and as a team. At its best, this event is messy, an emotional rollercoaster, a story of tragedy and triumph. I would argue you are missing out if nothing goes wrong. A lot of people won’t get it, the few that do, these are my tribe.
Storytelling is a human instinct, a fundamental way we connect with others. The Hero’s Journey includes the Call to Adventure, Trials and Ordeals, Resurrection and finally Success. “We did and everything went smoothly” is a rather bland story.
Money from brands is necessary to make events like TSP economically viable, even more so if you want to open up the event to communities traditionally underrepresented in running, which is one pillar of the TSP experience.
On one hand, brands want captivating, authentic stories, on the other hand, they fear damage to their successful image if things go wrong. But I would argue this risk is worth it because the stories that will come out are raw and will ooze authenticity. But it needs the right person to tell the story this way, and a brand that understands the value of storytelling and accepts the ethos of TSP.
Nils offers a platform to connect and a loudspeaker, as well as a blank canvas. The spirit of TSP is to make it your own, to take the few pointers you are given, the stunning landscape, the other teams you’ll meet, the challenges that will present themselves, and run with it and share your experience with the community and the world. Nils so far has done an amazing job of preserving the ethos of TSP. I hope, he continues finds the right partners who truly understand this special event so that he can continue to take it to the next, radical level.
As a marketer who has supported teams 2x at TSP (none with influencers on them!), the allure definitely lies in the storytelling and the racing that can happen under extreme pressure (and with no real prize!). I admire Nils’ convictions and his content engine is masterclass. The TSP scene is a WHOLE other thing entirely (Burning Man is definitely the best comparison.)
Sometimes, as with that first photo, the team itself is the influencer tho! OMRC + KRC? Gold dust.
I really love how the brands existence seems to have pushed Nils towards doing cooler and cooler stuff. Again reflective of wider society just pushing towards the extremes. Fun to see! If not to live through.
I have no idea how I missed seeing this in my inbox, but what a great read! A couple of my former college teammates participated this year, and it was so much fun to follow along. The grit and camaraderie reminded me of why I love running in the first place.
But also I loved reading this: “The kind of funding that means their entire job is to run, carefree, but often devoting their life’s work only to themselves, rather than to a community endeavor.”
Would love to read more thoughts on this, or more about the general frustration with running “influencers.” I have no set feelings either way, but I think that sentence captures the concern so well.
My headline thought/opinion is that influencers should use their position for good, whatever that means to them.
Even though I classify myself as a journalist, with a growing audience I increasingly find myself in a position of influence, and it's important to me to be a net positive in the world. So I'm having to figure that out as well!
I have also loved watching my friends running to Vegas this weekend. The sleep deprivation...!!
Agree! For now, my position is that the more people who enjoy running, the better. For the longest time, running was seen as an “uncool” sport, so I’m happy to see people getting excited about it. There’s enough space in the running community for everyone.
I actually have a piece coming about the cool factor of running as soon as I gather those thoughts!
Very well written. The influencer element has ruined the image to the ultra/running community, but also is a perfect fit for the event. Anyone “influencer” I know that’s participated has been a good person with the right vibe. It’s up to Nils to keep the event radical.
I love the official content they put out this year
I love that Nils created the Secrets route, but it's irritating that it was won by a brand team. A new brand, using it to launch. Nothing can be pure!
I think we've reached peak capitalism in America where everyone expects to be sold to.
Somehow, I fear we haven't peaked yet.
You're probably right, but HOW RAZ...HOW😳
This can’t be real. Someone not covered in tattoos and Satisfy products did TSP??
I totally agree with Amy (who I’ve met in ATA👋) that running TSP should be all about the experience. When you embrace the spirit of TSP, it becomes a trip like no other. The less comfortable you become, when everything goes wrong and you have hurdles to overcome, that’s when you will grow, as a person and as a team. At its best, this event is messy, an emotional rollercoaster, a story of tragedy and triumph. I would argue you are missing out if nothing goes wrong. A lot of people won’t get it, the few that do, these are my tribe.
Storytelling is a human instinct, a fundamental way we connect with others. The Hero’s Journey includes the Call to Adventure, Trials and Ordeals, Resurrection and finally Success. “We did and everything went smoothly” is a rather bland story.
Money from brands is necessary to make events like TSP economically viable, even more so if you want to open up the event to communities traditionally underrepresented in running, which is one pillar of the TSP experience.
On one hand, brands want captivating, authentic stories, on the other hand, they fear damage to their successful image if things go wrong. But I would argue this risk is worth it because the stories that will come out are raw and will ooze authenticity. But it needs the right person to tell the story this way, and a brand that understands the value of storytelling and accepts the ethos of TSP.
Nils offers a platform to connect and a loudspeaker, as well as a blank canvas. The spirit of TSP is to make it your own, to take the few pointers you are given, the stunning landscape, the other teams you’ll meet, the challenges that will present themselves, and run with it and share your experience with the community and the world. Nils so far has done an amazing job of preserving the ethos of TSP. I hope, he continues finds the right partners who truly understand this special event so that he can continue to take it to the next, radical level.