Episode 117: Western States Winner Abby Hall and the Freedom of Owning Ambition

What does it really look like to pursue excellence over a decade — through injury, uncertainty, quiet rebuilds, and breakthrough moments that seem sudden only from the outside? In this episode of Trail Society , host Corrine Malcolm sits down with one of her closest friends and most compelling athletes in the sport: Abby Hall . Fresh off her 2025 Western States 100 victory, Abby reflects on the long road that led there — and why the “messy middle” matters just as much as the podium. This conversation is less about one race and more about a philosophy: making it "cool to care," showing up honestly, and staying in it when things don’t go to plan. Together, Corrine and Abby dig into the rhythms of professional running beyond the highlight reels — from late-day training runs and household logistics to mindset shifts, team alignment, and the vulnerability of saying “I want to win.” Whether you’re chasing podiums, consistency, or just a deeper connection to why you run, this episode offers a powerful reminder: there’s no one right way to do this — but there is value in doing it fully. It’s a thoughtful, funny, deeply human conversation about longevity, grit, and what it means to grow alongside a sport that’s also growing up. Support our partners: This episode is brought to you by rabbit. If you're looking to treat yourself after the holidays or upgrade your winter running kit, head to and use code TRAILSOCIETYJAN in January for 10% off. Trail Society is newly a part of the Feisty Media podcast network. Learn more about Feisty, a women's sports and health media and education company, at feisty.co

You can listen to Episode 117: Western States Winner Abby Hall and the Freedom of Owning Ambition online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 117: Western States Winner Abby Hall and the Freedom of Owning Ambition is an episode from Trail Society by Keely Henninger.

This episode is 01:01:15 long.

This episode was published on Jan 20, 2026.

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