Issue 96 · July 16, 2026
All issuesThe last time USA's were at Icahn Stadium ('91... "Downing Stadium" at the time) Leroy Burrel ran 9.90 in the 100m breaking Carl Lewis's world record with a perfectly legal and highly favorable +1.9 m/s tailwind setting the stage for the legendary World Champs final in Tokyo, where Lewis ended up reclaiming his crown in 9.86. #ballknowledge
Next week, the best athletes in track & field our nation has to offer descend upon Randall's Island for four days of good 'ol fashion competition. There's only one problem... Still, to this day, many (and we mean—many) of these athletes go without any monetary support from the brands whose gear they donn on the track. Enter our solution: The Unsponsored Project.
We've provided 75 competing athletes with cold hard cash for flights/hotels/anything else they need, a duffel bag full of our finest 100% unbranded gear to represent themselves, and a 14 day contract featuring an immediate opt-out clause if another brand comes along with a larger deal. To-date, 12 Unsponsored Project athletes have gone on to sign traditional deals with the big gunz.
Peep more below & tune in next week on the 'gram as we highlight these athletes with a special Dialed episode and race day coverage.
B-Mail: enter to win, meet the athletes, world tour, about us, a new Amateur in town.
01 — Enter to win
The Unsponsored Project is officially back to raise the floor and empower athletes to represent themselves on the track—this time right in our backyard at Icahn Stadium. Meet all the legends working double duty to chase their dreams in this beautiful sport we call home. Tap into Rossi's explainer from '24, watch a Dialed or two, get invested! You're gonna like the way you push the sport forward with us... We guarantee it.
TAP IN
02 — Meet the athletes
Familia, we bought up a whole section of tickets on Saturday and Sunday at USA's to give away to the brave souls willing, able, and ready to sacrifice their vocal chords to the race gawds for the 75 Unsponsored Project athletes taking Randall's Island by storm. Tap in to pro running, support the athletes, push the sport forward. Wear black. YKTV.
ENTER TO WIN
03 — World tour
We took an early punch to the gut this year with our yellow stallion in the sky, Spirit Airlines, declaring bankruptcy . Fortunately, we found a stockpile of points Finley has been hiding in the sample closet to keep the road on the show. Peep all the places we're going in the back half of the year. Pull up. Come thru. Bring your dog.
SPIN THE GLOBE
04 — About us
It's come to our attention that we no longer operate out of a basement apartment and not everyone knows everything there is... to know... about us. Why didn't anyone say something sooner?! Allow us to re-introduce ourselves with the full backstory and just about everything we stand for. Pleasure to meet ya. (Disclaimer, this page was a beast to create so it's a biiiit of a work in progress.)
BANDIT HISTORY
05 — A new Amateur in town
There comes a time in every state's life when they sit down around the dining room table and say, "Ya know what, it's time we open a very dope multi-brand retail specialty store." For Connecticut, that time comes now and by way of a one Mr. Alex Holmes. Hear what plans these fine folks have literallyyyyy in-store for their local residents.
AMATEUR'S HOURThe flood of AI imagery will make human-made art even more precious, not less. How Elite Athletes Approach Big Projects & Film Budgets. Composer Aska Matsumiya routed centuries-old Tibetan bowls through a generative engine that never loops. A visual exploration of the US's earliest restaurant menus. Meta is testing "super sensing" AI glasses that capture every moment #nothanks. A timeline of what happens to your body when you stop running from day one to a month and beyond.
Download our 100% free half & full marathon training iOS app, The Program.