Ryan Blair, one of the OGs of trail running in Asia, takes us on a wild ride through his journey. From organizing adventure races in the 90s to building Asia’s first professional trail running team, Ryan shares how he turned passion into purpose. Whether it’s pulling off events against all odds or fighting for better opportunities for Asian athletes, Ryan’s been at the heart of it all.
He talks about Sumaya Buddha, his star runner from Nepal, whose story is as gritty as her racing. Ryan doesn’t hold back on the challenges—like the lack of prize money and global recognition for athletes from the region—but he’s all about creating change. This episode is packed with honesty, history, and a whole lot of heart, straight from someone who’s been in the trenches (and on the trails) for decades.
Timestamps:
(00:30) Intro Ryan
(01:00) Why One More K?
(03:05) Ryan’s story coming to Asia from the US
(08:30) Building the Action Asia Race Series
(18:00) Comparing trail running now to 30 years ago
(26:40) The North Face Racing team, including Sunmaya Budha
(39:00) Sunmaya is an outstanding athlete
(43:30) How to improve the trail industry
(50:50) Ned’s drop
Show Notes:
www.AsiaPacificAdventure.com
www.PCI-Asia.com
www.HotReels.tv
www.apa.co
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Brought to you by Lecka Nutrition (www.getlecka.com)
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