Cherie Yanek: Burning Man 50K

Cherie Yanek: Burning Man 50K

From The Directors by Trials of Miles Racing LLC

October 15, 2025 · 36 min · Season 1 · Episode 51

About this episode

Cooper Knowlton interviews Cherie Yanek about organizing the Burning Man 50K ultramarathon.

In this episode, Cooper Knowlton sits down with Cherie Yanek, the race director of the Burning Man 50K, to explore what it takes to organize an ultramarathon in one of the most unconventional settings on Earth. Cherie shares her journey from first-time burner to race director, offering insight into the logistics of building a course on the playa, managing unpredictable weather, and embracing the free-spirited, creative energy that defines Burning Man. It’s one of the most unique events out there, a race that harkens back to the early spirit of the sport and the delightful weirdness that defines trail running. Give it a listen and let us know what you think. To learn more about the event, visit www.burningman50k.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Cooper Knowlton

Guest: Cherie Yanek

Topics covered

  • ultramarathon
  • event organization
  • trail running
  • Burning Man
  • logistics
  • weather management

Keywords

  • Burning Man 50K
  • ultramarathon
  • Cherie Yanek
  • event logistics
  • trail running
  • weather challenges
  • race director

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Burning Man 50K

Places: playa

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