Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running22 Dec 2025

The Speed Project: The Underground Race Changing Running

The Speed Project is one of the most unusual events in running—an unsanctioned, no-rules relay that sends teams roughly 340 miles from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (and now across Europe from Chamonix to Marseille). Josh sits down with founder Nils Arend on a rugby field in Albi, France at midnight to talk about how TSP began and why it has become something far bigger than a race.

What started as an extreme endurance challenge through desert heat, sleepless nights, and relentless miles has evolved into a powerful community. The conversation explores the origin story of The Speed Project, the transformations it sparks in participants, and how this underground event created a culture and identity that exists outside the traditional ultrarunning world.

For runners fascinated by the stories, people, and ideas pushing the edges of endurance.

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Topics / Timestamps

00:00 The Birth of The Speed Project
06:04 Creating Moments Through Running
12:04 The Role of a Curator in Running
19:02 No Rules: A New Approach to Running
25:05 Building a Community Around The Speed Project
32:38 The Evolution of The Speed Project
37:39 Navigating Challenges and Responsibilities
43:57 Nils Would Have Ended TSP without Scotty Crowe
45:57 The Influence of Daniel Dart from Time Again
56:05 Runner's World and TSP

Presented by Kiprun.

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