August came in hot and with it, the buzz around Idaho’s highest trail race—Stand Hope Ultra Challenge, a quad‑crushing, soul‑stretching test woven through the wild Pioneer Mountains. Every summer, this rugged corner of Idaho transforms from quiet high desert to a gathering place for runners chasing altitude, grit, and something deeper than a finish line.
Which means it’s time for another episode of the TURD Podcast (Trail Ultrarunning Race Directors Podcast).
**🎙️ Season 2, Episode 8**
This month, host **Shalini Bhajjan**, Founder and Race Director of Terrain Trail Runners–STL, sits down with **Mary Martin**, the force behind Standhope. A former educator turned software engineer and race director, Mary is reshaping what ultrarunning can look like for women—especially moms—while stewarding a race defined by steep climbs, grassroots charm, and fierce community.
We dig into her journey, the 23,000‑foot beast she directs, and her mission to build a sport where motherhood and mountain running can coexist without compromise.
Mary MartinGuest
Shalini BhajanHost
