Becoming Ultra: Recent Episodes
Athlete On Fire
Becoming Ultra is following the journey's of two runners who are being coached by two of the best ultra runners in the world to finish a 50k in Aspen Colorado. The catch is that neither runner has ever run more than a half marathon. Along the way will be coaching tips, race directors perspective, and the stories of elite and everyday runners on their first Ultra run!
Scott has a conversation with Adam Ludwin who shares his entrepreneurial journey from founding Captify Technologies to discovering the transformative power of breathwork.
He discusses the challenges of running a high-pressure business, the importance of self-awareness, and how he transitioned into creating fivepointfive, an app designed to make breathwork accessible and beneficial for everyone.
Adam emphasizes the physiological and psychological benefits of breathwork, its role in education, and the necessity of teaching healthy coping mechanisms to future generations.
They discuss the significance of breath work in enhancing performance, recovery, and overall well-being. He emphasizes the importance of different breathing techniques for various activities, including weight training and endurance sports. The discussion also covers the benefits of nose breathing, the role of breath work in recovery, and natural alternatives to pre-workout supplements.
We think you'll enjoy this unique perspective with something all athletes can implement in their lives!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Adam Ludwin and His Journey 02:53 The Birth of Captify Technologies 05:50 The Transition to Breathwork and Self-Discovery 09:13 Lessons Learned from Building a Business 12:01 The Launch of 5.5 and Its Vision 15:09 Understanding Breathwork: Definitions and History 17:56 The Science and Benefits of Breathwork 20:46 Breathwork in Education and Its Importance 23:47 Physiological Effects of Breathwork Techniques 28:09 Breath Work for Performance and Recovery 30:39 Breathing Techniques for Weight Training 32:28 Nose Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing 34:18 The Importance of Recovery Breathing 36:03 Natural Alternatives to Pre-Workout Supplements 39:31 Breath Work for Endurance Athletes 42:28 Diaphragmatic Breathing Techniques 43:03 Improving Sleep Quality through Breathing 46:08 The Business Journey of Breath Work App
On this episode Denise shares her transformative experience running the Mendocino Coast Ultra. From her initial impressions of the beautiful coastal town to the challenges faced during the race, Denise recounts her journey.
With insights from her coach Addie Bracey, the conversation highlights the importance of consistency, overcoming physical obstacles, and the emotional highs and lows of ultra running. Denise's story serves as an inspiration for anyone considering taking on such a challenge, emphasizing that the journey is just as important as the finish line.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Journey 02:00 Exploring the Mendocino Coast 04:50 Race Day Experience 10:12 Overcoming Challenges During the Race 13:58 Crossing the Finish Line 17:52 Lessons Learned and Future Aspirations
Run with us!
Scott Jones and Henry Abbott explore the importance of outdoor play, the evolution of sports, and the significance of injury prevention in athletics.
They share personal anecdotes about their childhood adventures and parenting experiences, emphasizing the need for unstructured play in children's lives.
Abbott discusses his journey as a sports writer and his recent work on biomechanics and injury prevention, highlighting the joy of movement and the relationships built through sports.
They delve into various aspects of athletic performance, focusing on injury prevention, particularly ACL injuries, and the biomechanics of landing. They discuss the importance of understanding body mechanics, the impact of footwear on performance, and practical coaching tips for athletes. The dialogue emphasizes the need for tailored training methods and the significance of addressing common issues like 'computer back' in today's athletes.
They discuss the evolution of running techniques, the significance of ballistic training, and practical drills that can be applied by anyone. The conversation also touches on the concept of Misogi, emphasizing the value of outdoor challenges and creative training methods to engage communities and promote physical fitness.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:03 The Joy of Outdoor Adventures
06:02 The Importance of Play in Childhood
08:59 Navigating Parenting and Outdoor Activities
11:59 The Evolution of Sports and Competition
15:08 Injury Prevention and Biomechanics
18:03 The Power of Movement and Joy
21:57 Exploring Athletic Insights
27:15 Understanding ACL Injuries
33:32 The Importance of Landing Mechanics
39:41 Addressing Computer Back Issues
41:02 The Shoe Debate in Athletics
49:53 Injury Insights and Athletic Training
50:12 The Evolution of Running Techniques
51:45 Ballistic Training for Peak Performance
53:41 Practical Drills for Everyone
57:28 Youth Sports and Development
01:01:10 The Concept of Masogi and Outdoor Challenges
01:05:22 Creative Training Methods and Community Engagement
Today Scot interviews Jennifer Conroyd, the founder of Fluid Running, about her journey into the world of aqua jogging and how it can help runners maintain their fitness while recovering from injuries.
Jennifer shares her personal story of training for a marathon while injured, the science behind deep water running, and the importance of engagement in workouts. They discuss common running injuries and how aqua jogging can be a beneficial alternative for maintaining fitness. Jennifer also shares success stories from users of Fluid Running, including an ultra runner who overcame a stress fracture. Enjoy the show!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Fluid Running and Jennifer Conroyd 02:56 Jennifer's Journey to Fluid Running 05:50 The Science Behind Aqua Jogging 09:00 Engagement and Motivation in Aqua Jogging Workouts 12:07 Common Running Injuries and Aqua Jogging Benefits 14:52 Success Stories: Greg's Journey with Fluid Running 17:59 Conclusion and Special Offer
On this episode, Dr. Scott Frey discusses his journey from academia to the world of sports science, focusing on the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and athlete performance. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the brain's adaptability and how it can enhance training techniques for endurance athletes. The discussion also covers traditional sports psychology and how a proactive approach can lead to better performance outcomes.
They discuss strategies for managing mental load, overcoming perfectionism, and navigating the emotional ups and downs of endurance events. The role of technology in training is also examined, highlighting the potential distractions it can create.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Backgrounds 08:54 Transitioning from Academia to Sports Science 16:55 Understanding Traditional Sports Psychology 23:56 Innovative Training Techniques for Endurance Athletes 32:03 The Impact of Mental Fatigue on Performance 39:00 Overcoming Perfectionism in Training 45:00 Navigating the Ups and Downs of Endurance Events 48:47 The Role of Technology in Athletic Performance 56:54 Personal Stories and Lessons from Endurance Racing
The Becoming Ultra Project
In this episode of Becoming Ultra, Deidra shares her inspiring journey to becoming an ultrarunner, detailing her training, race experience, and the personal growth she achieved along the way. From overcoming physical challenges like back surgery to embracing the beauty of the of Mendocino, Deidra's story highlights the importance of mindset and perseverance. She reflects on her post-race recovery and the lessons learned, giving some words of encouragment to other new runners out there!
Chapters
00:00 Deidre's Journey to Becoming an Ultrarunner 02:52 The Race Experience: Challenges and Triumphs 06:00 Post-Race Reflections and Recovery 09:03 Mindset and Overcoming Life's Challenges 11:58 Looking Ahead: Future Goals and Advice for Others
Run with us!
In this episode, Scott Jones introduces Jackson Brill, a coach based in Bend, Oregon. They discuss Jackson's background, his experiences in teaching and coaching, and his love for outdoor sports and trail running. Jackson shares insights about growing up in Boise, Idaho, and his educational journey in integrative physiology. They discuss the balance between the art and science of coaching, and the differences between in-person and virtual coaching dynamics. Jackson shares his coaching philosophy, emphasizing simplicity and enjoyment in training, while also highlighting the importance of stable relationships with athletes. The conversation wraps up with memorable race experiences and the lessons learned from them. Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jackson Brill 02:08 Life in Bend, Oregon 06:52 Teaching Style and Experiences 11:04 Growing Up in Boise, Idaho 17:03 Education and Background in Physiology 22:24 The Challenge of Wingate Testing 25:15 The Art of Coaching vs. Science 27:45 In-Person vs. Virtual Coaching Dynamics 31:11 Coaching Philosophy and Simplicity 36:38 Building Harmonious Coach-Athlete Relationships 38:50 Memorable Race Experiences and Lessons Learned
Apply to the project!
In this episode, Scott Jones and Deidra discuss her journey leading up to her first 50K race. They explore her training experiences, the challenges she faced, and the mental preparation required for such an event. Deidra shares her excitement and gratitude for the support she has received from her family and friends, as well as her strategies for race day, including nutrition and hydration. The conversation emphasizes the importance of mindset, community support, and the joy of running. Chapters
00:00 Preparing for the 50K Adventure 03:02 Building Confidence and Overcoming Challenges 05:57 Training Insights and Strategies 09:01 Race Day Logistics and Mindset 11:59 Nutrition and Hydration Strategies 14:58 Mental Preparation for the Race 18:01 Support Systems and Community 21:02 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
The project for new ultra runners!
In this episode of Becoming Ultra, Scott Jones, Denise, and Addie discuss the journey of preparing for an ultra marathon, focusing on the challenges of tapering, dealing with injuries, and the importance of mindset. Denise shares her recent experience with an injury and how she is managing her nerves leading up to the race. The conversation also covers race strategies, nutrition, and the significance of having a support system throughout the training process.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Journey 03:51 Tapering and Illness: A Common Challenge 06:47 Denise's Injury and Recovery 11:16 Mindset and Pre-Race Nerves 16:38 Race Strategy and Nutrition 22:19 Setting Goals and Expectations 27:23 Support System and Shout Outs
The project for you!
Today Scott and race director Sid discuss the upcoming Mendocino Coast 50K, focusing on pre-race nerves, logistics, course strategy, aid stations, and post-race activities. Sid shares insights on how to prepare mentally and physically for the race, emphasizing the importance of pacing and the unique features of the course. They also touch on the community aspect of the race and the support available for both runners and spectators. Chapters
00:00 Pre-Race Insights and Nerves 03:03 Race Logistics and Packet Pickup 05:59 Course Overview and Strategy for First Timers 09:08 Aid Stations and Nutrition 11:57 Spectator Information and Post-Race Activities 15:11 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Apply for the Becoming Ultra Project here.
In this conversation, Denise shares her experiences and insights from her recent marathon as she prepares for her first ultra marathon. The discussion covers her mental and physical state post-marathon, the challenges she faced during the race, and her recovery process. Addie provides guidance on navigating the next steps in training, emphasizing the importance of listening to one's body and adapting plans as needed. The conversation highlights the excitement of marathon running, the lessons learned, and the strategies for effective recovery and preparation for future races.
Chapters
00:00 Preparing for the Ultra: Mental and Physical State 05:57 Marathon Experience: Lessons Learned and Challenges Faced 11:56 Recovery and Future Plans: Navigating the Next Steps
Trail camp
Our first ultra event.
In this engaging conversation, Scott and Cassidy Randall explore the world of freelance writing, the impact of AI on creativity, and the adventures that inspire Cassidy's work. They discuss the challenges of the writing industry, the importance of vulnerability in creative pursuits, and share personal stories about their journeys in the outdoor and writing realms. They discusses the challenges and opportunities of navigating social media as a writer, the value of platforms like Substack for building community and sharing stories, and her journey in writing her book '30 Below,' which highlights the first all-women's ascent of Denali. She reflects on the impact of trailblazing women in mountaineering and shares personal adventures that inspire her work. The discussion emphasizes the importance of storytelling, community, and the legacies of those who break barriers in their fields. Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties 02:09 Getting to Know Cassidy Randall 03:11 The State of Freelance Writing 06:30 The Impact of AI on Writing 07:39 Exploring Influential Writers 10:09 Living in Missoula, Montana 12:42 Cassidy's Journey to Writing 21:06 The Vulnerability of Writing 26:14 Navigating the Social Media Landscape 28:42 The Value of Substack and Community Building 30:10 Exploring the Journey of Writing and Publishing 34:50 Unveiling the Story Behind '30 Below' 46:32 Impact and Legacy of Trailblazing Women 53:04 Personal Adventures and Inspirations
Cassidy's book is here!
Check out her website. Find your own adventures!
In this episode, Scott Jones, Carrie, and her coach Ian Sharman discuss Carrie's journey as she pivots from training for her first ultra marathon to participating in the Napa Valley Half Marathon. They explore the challenges she faced, including injuries and mental health struggles, and how she found closure in her athletic identity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of adapting expectations, embracing change, and setting short-term goals that bring joy to the fitness journey.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Carrie's Journey 01:24 Carrie's Experience at the Napa Valley Half Marathon 07:04 Reflections on Improvement and Injuries 09:35 Finding Closure and Acceptance 13:19 The Evolution of an Athlete 18:08 Looking Forward: Embracing Change 22:26 Short-Term Goals and Enjoyment in Fitness
Apply to the Becoming Ultra Project here!
In this episode of Becoming Ultra, host Scott Jones, along with coach Addie and her client Denise, discuss Denise's journey as she prepares for her first ultra marathon.
They talk about various aspects of training, including the impact of a recent dental surgery on her running schedule, strategies for the upcoming LA Marathon, nutrition and gear considerations, and the importance of recovery. They also share personal stories and adventures outside of running, including Addie's adventurous heli-skiing adventure!
Enjoy the show!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ultra Training Journey 03:00 Denise's Dental Mishap and Its Impact 06:13 Preparing for the LA Marathon 08:59 Race Strategy and Goals 11:53 Nutrition and Gear Considerations 15:01 Post-Marathon Recovery and Future Plans 18:02 Adventures Beyond Running 23:58 Conclusion and Future Check-In
Deidra's Journey to Ultra Running Continues:
In this episode, Scott talks with Deidra about her training regimen leading up to a crucial race in April.
They discuss the intricacies of dealing with Texas weather, allergies, and maintaining energy levels during long runs. Deidra shares her recent experiences with physical challenges such as leg tightness and concentration lapses, while Scott provides advice on fueling strategies and mental preparation. They also touch on the importance of recovery, maintaining proper nutrition, and balancing family life with training.
The discussion ends with Scott giving tips for the upcoming weeks and both expressing excitement for the progress made so far.
00:00 Introduction and Greetings
00:20 Weather and Running Conditions
00:55 Allergies and Their Impact
02:28 Training Progress and Challenges
03:07 Mental Preparation and Strategies
04:01 Understanding the Bonk
05:01 Fueling and Hydration Tips
07:27 Balancing Training and Life
14:55 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
15:55 Upcoming Plans and Events
Run with us. Becoming Ultra
Summary
In this conversation, Scott Jones and Mari Lowe discuss Mari's journey from training for her first ultra marathon to summiting Kilimanjaro. They explore the mental and physical challenges of ultra running, the importance of training, and the personal growth that comes from facing fears. Mari shares her experiences with cultural insights from Tanzania, the logistics of her trip, and the impact of her adventures on her perspective of life. In this conversation, Mari Lowe shares her transformative experience of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, detailing the preparation, the challenges faced during the ascent, and the camaraderie built among the group. She reflects on the physical and mental hurdles of altitude sickness, the emotional support from fellow climbers, and the personal growth achieved through this adventure. Mari also discusses her future aspirations in outdoor activities and the importance of community in overcoming challenges.
Takeaways
- Mary faced trepidation before summiting Kilimanjaro, highlighting the mental challenges of adventure.
- Training for the ultra marathon taught Mary about her mental toughness and ability to push through.
- Mary's experience with the ultra marathon was empowering, allowing her to confront her fears of heights.
- The winter training for Kilimanjaro was psychologically challenging without a running goal.
- Mary learned to appreciate the importance of strength training in her fitness routine.
- Traveling to Tanzania provided Mary with humbling insights into cultural and economic disparities.
- Mary enjoyed the local food in Tanzania, which was fresh and grown nearby.
- The experience of hiking Kilimanjaro was enhanced by the support of local guides and porters.
- Mary's perspective on fitness and health has changed significantly since working with a coach.
- The conversation emphasizes the value of adventure in personal growth and perspective.
- Preparation is key for a successful climb.
- Altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of fitness level.
- Mental toughness is as important as physical strength.
- Camaraderie among climbers enhances the experience.
- Hydration and nutrition are crucial at high altitudes.
- Summit night is both physically and mentally challenging.
- Experiencing nature can be a profound and grounding experience.
- Post-adventure blues are common after significant challenges.
- Reflecting on experiences helps in personal growth.
- Future adventures are essential for continued motivation.
Run with Us: Becoming Ultra
Adapting Goals and Overcoming Challenges in Ultra Training. Pivoting is not quitting.
In this episode of Becoming Ultra Season 16, host Scott Jones and coaches Ian and Carrie discuss Carrie's decision to shift her training focus from a 50k race to a half marathon. Due to recurring injuries and the demands of scaling her business, Carrie reflects on the emotional and physical challenges she faced in making this decision.
The conversation highlights the importance of adaptability and resilience in ultra-running, emphasizing how setbacks can lead to new opportunities and healthier habits. The team also discusses ongoing physical therapy and the mental adjustments required to stay motivated and find joy in the process.
00:00 Introduction and Updates
00:28 Carrie's Shift in Focus
01:31 Emotional Decision and Business Challenges
04:55 New Goals and Adjustments
06:24 Physical Therapy and Running Mechanics
08:34 Adapting to Changes
10:46 Reflections and Moving Forward
19:06 Conclusion and Future Plans
Becoming Ultra: Training Tales and Marathon Musings with Denise and Addie.
In this episode of 'Becoming Ultra,' Denise and Addie catch up on Denise's running journey, discussing her increasing mileage, recent crewing experience, and upcoming training race.
Denise shares her pain-free yet challenging training progress, including a memorable long run in Griffith Park and plans to run the LA Marathon as part of her training.
Addie reflects on her own marathon experience and offers advice on pacing and race preparation. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges and setups in ultra-running, the importance of self-care while crewing, and the contrasting dynamics of road and trail running.
Tune in for insights, personal anecdotes, and tips for runners at all levels.
00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
00:31 Training Updates and Challenges
02:05 Griffith Park Memories
5:03 Crewing and Pacing Experiences
11:43 Upcoming LA Marathon
19:53 Concluding Thoughts and Announcements
Come run with us in Colorado
In this episode of 'Becoming Ultra', Scott, Ian, and his coaching client, Carrie, discuss the emotional and physical hurdles faced during Carrie's preparation for her first ultra marathon, the Mendocino 50k.
The conversation delves into the common struggles of first-time ultra runners, the importance of learning from setbacks, and finding balance amidst a busy life. Carrie shares her personal journey, dealing with injuries, and managing a business, while receiving valuable insights and encouragement from Ian and Scott. They emphasize viewing the bigger picture and appreciating the progress made, despite not always meeting immediate goals.
00:00 Introduction to Becoming Ultra
00:25 The Challenges of Training for Your First Ultra
02:10 Carrie's Personal Struggles and Progress
05:23 Balancing Life and Training
09:12 Finding Motivation and Adjusting Goals
11:28 The Importance of Self-Care and Perspective
20:23 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Training for Your First Ultra: Overcoming Challenges with Deidre
In this epsode, Scott and Deidre discuss her journey of training for her first ultra-marathon scheduled in Mendocino, California. They explore challenges she has faced recently, including minor injuries, stomach issues, and strategies to overcome them.
Some of the topics include the importance of communication with her coach, proper nutrition and hydration strategies during long runs, and how to manage the physical demands of increasing mileage.
Deidre shares her progress, the support she has received, and how she is mentally and physically preparing for race day.
00:00 Introduction and Training Overview
01:03 Current Training Status and Challenges
03:20 Foot Pain and Shoe Tightness
05:13 Long Runs and Physical Condition
06:38 Stomach Issues and Fueling Strategies
09:44 Caloric Intake and Nutrition Tips
15:14 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Come run with us here, or here!
Creating Inclusive Athletic Opportunities: The Kyle Pease Foundation Story
In this engaging conversation, two brothers from Atlanta, Brent and Kyle Pease, share their inspiring story and the creation of the Kyle Pease Foundation aimed at promoting inclusion in sports for people with disabilities. The discussion highlights their journey from memorable childhood sports moments to completing multiple Ironman events and the significant impact of their foundation. They delve into training regimes, facing adversity, family support, and their hopes for the future. The conversation emphasizes the power of endurance sports in bringing people together and creating unique opportunities for those with disabilities.
00:00 Introduction and Greetings
00:09 Atlanta Traffic Woes
00:56 Brent's Scary Breakdown Story
01:31 Introducing the Kyle Pease Foundation
01:47 Inspiration from Dick and Rick Hoyt
03:00 Kyle's Love for Sports
03:41 The Birth of the Kyle Pease Foundation
04:47 Challenges and Triumphs in Endurance Sports
07:30 Kyle's Early Life and Cerebral Palsy
09:06 Parenting Styles and Family Dynamics
14:58 Training and Competing Together
28:07 Family Support and Reactions
30:23 Baseball Fandom and Childhood Memories
31:51 Parenting and Family Values
33:20 Ironman Challenges and Strategies
35:56 Fueling and Nutrition for Endurance Events
41:36 Overcoming Adversity in Races
46:28 Foundation Goals and Community Impact
49:15 Fun and Personal Insights
52:40 Final Thoughts and Future Plans
Come and be a part of one of our live events from races to retreats at Becoming Ultra.
In the first call of 2025, Denise catches up with her coach Addie about her training progress for her first ultra marathon, set for April 19th in Mendocino.
They discuss balancing holiday breaks, ski trips, and work commitments, and address ongoing air quality issues in Southern California. Denise talks about her company's efforts to support associates affected by the Pacific Palisades fire.
The conversation also covers Denise's cross-training activities, including a high-altitude skiing trip and her experience with recovery and endurance.
The episode concludes with advice on specific training inquiries and race day preparations.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:23 Holiday Recap and Balancing Life
00:59 Weather and Relocation Updates
01:31 Denise's Work and Community Efforts
03:34 Grocery Industry Insights
05:10 Ski Trip and Cross Training
08:14 Training Progress and Future Plans
12:25 Final Thoughts and Next Steps
In this episode of Becoming Ultra, host Scott Jones interviews Carrie and her coach Ian Sharman.
Carrie is training for her first Ultra marathon on April 19th in Mendocino.
They discuss several key aspects of her training regimen, including a recent sleep study that diagnosed her with moderate sleep apnea, and the use of a CPAP machine to improve her sleep quality.
Other topics covered include gait analysis, fueling strategies during training, and the importance of incremental improvements in training routines. Ian emphasizes the importance of consistency, incremental progress, and adapting training based on individual needs.
There's also a focus on the balance between work, life, and training, highlighting the challenges and strategies for maintaining a healthy routine. Carrie shares her experience of joining a local running group for accountability and the benefits of social running.
00:00 Welcome to Becoming Ultra
00:06 Carrie's Training Journey
00:56 Entrepreneurial Insights
02:45 Nutrition and Fueling Strategies
10:45 Dealing with Aches and Pains
23:09 Sleep Study Results
28:04 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Learn more at Becoming Ultra
Overcoming Winter Challenges: Deidra's Journey to Her First Ultra Marathon In the first call of 2025, Scott and Deidra discuss how she is faring in the initial weeks of 2025 of her training for her first ultra marathon.
Deidra shares her struggles with running in cold weather in Texas, her efforts to adapt to new training routines, and her recent achievements in strength training. They talk in detail about the importance of consistent strength training, proper running form, and strategies for dealing with cold weather runs. The conversation also covers the gradual ramp-up in training intensity and the mental fortitude required to stay motivated.
00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
00:17 Running in Cold Weather
04:19 Training Progress and Challenges
07:30 Strength Training and Its Importance
12:56 Running Form and Technique
20:39 Final Thoughts and Shoutouts
Midpoint Training Updates and Overcoming Challenges in Ultra Marathon Prep
In this episode of Becoming Ultra Season 16, host Scott Jones catches up with Carrie and her coach Ian Sharman as Carrie prepares for her first ultra marathon. They discuss their progress halfway through the training, overcoming challenges such as sickness and a busy schedule, and the importance of recovery, including insights from Carrie's recent sleep study. Coach Ian provides valuable advice for maintaining consistency and managing health during the training process, while Carrie shares updates on her personal journey and professional life.
00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
00:30 Holiday Recap and Listener Feedback
02:04 Carrie's Health and Training Updates
03:07 Training Tips for Cold and Flu Season
04:57 Balancing Work and Training
09:26 Adjusting Training for Injuries
20:14 Sleep Study Insights
24:45 Conclusion and Next Steps
Sign up for the Powderhorn Mt Ultra and Vert Challenge
A Deep Dive into the Hard Rock 100 with Race Director Dale In this episode, Scott chats with Dale, the race director of the Hard Rock 100 Endurance Run. They discuss Dale's personal journey, the origins and evolution of the Hard Rock 100, and his experiences as both an educator and a race director. Dale shares insights on the importance of community in the race, the logistics involved with organizing the event, and how the race has positively affected the local economy. They also delve into the challenges of maintaining the course, managing the lottery system, and advice for new participants. The episode wraps up with tips on race directing, emphasizing the significance of relationships and effective communication.
00:00 Catch-Up and Family Life
00:49 Professional Background and Retirement
02:28 Exploring Local Trails
02:53 Teaching Career and Passion for Leadership
04:33 Introduction to Hard Rock 100
04:56 Founding and Early Days of Hard Rock 100
07:00 Course Mapping and Permitting Challenges
07:53 Managing Hard Rock 100
16:21 Economic Impact and Community Relations
27:20 Lottery System and Community Building
31:31 The Significance of 146 Participants
33:19 Challenges of Managing the Lottery System
36:00 Technological Advancements in Ultra Running
36:46 Funding and Philanthropy Efforts
41:33 Memorable Moments and Finishers
46:34 Future of Hard Rock and Ultra Running
48:32 Advice for First-Time Ultra Race Directors
52:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Balancing Training and Holiday Cheer: Denise, Addie, and the Importance of Cross-Training In this episode of 'Becoming Ultra,' Denise and Addie discuss their recent training updates and balancing commitments during the holiday season.
They cover the importance of maintaining a variety of workouts, incorporating cross-training, and staying motivated. Denise shares her insights on the benefit of hiking versus running and how cross-training like mountain biking can complement her running routine.
They also delve into the pros and cons of different types of running shoes and the importance of finding the right fit according to personal needs. The conversation wraps up with holiday wishes and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset during the festive period.
00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
01:03 Holiday Cheer and Traditions
02:32 Gift Giving and Personal Touches
03:57 Running and Training Updates
09:55 Mountain Biking Adventures
13:02 Balancing Training and Life
23:09 Shoe Talk and Race Preparation
29:27 Conclusion and Holiday Wishes
The Becoming Ultra High Desert Trail Retreat!
The Powderhorn Mt. Ultra and Vertical challenge!
Carrie brings some great questions about her training to the call today including: How to decide when running is too much when you aren't 100% well? Pre and post training Dexa scans. Is gait analysis worth it? How much of the training should be walking verse running?
Coach Ian Sharman gives some great insight as she navigates training for her first ultra.
About the hosts:
Ian Sharman
Ian has been racing around the world in all formats of event since 2005 and coaching since 2010, having run over 250 marathons and ultras on five continents (marathon PR 2:21 at age 43, half marathon PR 1:03 at age 44). He's won over 50 marathon+ races with at least one win every year for 19 (and counting) consecutive years. He also holds the fastest time in a trail 100-mile race by a Brit (12h44m), the record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (69h49m), has won the USATF 100-mile trail championship twice and is a four-time Leadville Trail 100 Champion. Ultra Running Magazine has voted him as high as 2nd in its annual Ultra Runner of the Year rankings and 4th in Ultra Runner of the Decade.
Scott Jones, M.S.
Scott started Becoming Ultra to bridge the gap between athletes doing amazing things and the rest of us. There are so many runners that have experienced the joy of training for big things and getting them done and he wanted to bring that to the masses.
The mission is to bring entertaining content and education to the world of running and to continue to coach runners with big goals as he has for the last 20 years! You can listen to him on the Becoming Ultra podcast as a host and coach, find him interviewing other types of athletes and adventurers on Athlete On Fire, or putting on retreats and training camps all over the world.
He has his M.S. in exercise science and has coached athletes from most major professional sports teams, Olympians, 1000’s of young athletes, and hundreds of endurance athletes in his 20+ year career as a coach.
Scott had a chance to sit down with Ben Tracy who is running across the country to highlight the importance on online safety for our youth. Some of the stories from the kids he gets to meet are pretty wild and it's a cause we can get behind with young kids being so vulnerable to the evils online.
Ben Tracyis a leading keynote speaker on digital citizenship, online safety, and responsiblesocial media use. Drawing from personal experience, Ben shares his compelling story aboutthe impact of teenage social media usage at schools and organizations nationwide.Ben is currently running across America to advocate for youth online safety. He is running amarathon each day for 120 consecutive days while speaking at schools and organizationsalong the way. His mission is simple: Keep Kids Safe.As the founder of Safe Social Network, Ben provides essential online safety resources forstudents, parents, and educators. He speaks to more than 100,000 people each year andvolunteers his time to help families report online predators and internet crimes to lawenforcement. Additionally, he awards scholarships annually to high school seniors whoactively promote positive social media usage, mental health awareness, and anti-bullying.
Dreama Walton is an ultrarunner and parent with a great story of perseverance from life circumstances. She took chances to get out of situations that weren't ideal and has settled into a community that supports her and her goals! Scott and Dreama talk about life and running, training, living in the mountains, parenting, and more. Enjoy the show!
Many ultra runners start training perfectly healthy with no past injury or issues to slow them down and some of us have to start while we are dealing with those issues. Deidra is managing a back injury she had fixed with surgery as she ramps up. It's almost always 2 steps forward and one step back with these types of issues so don't get discouraged if you are going through it. Thanks for listening.
Our first live race from Becoming Ultra is now taking registrations. Check it out here!
As coach Ian Sharman guides Carrie throughout the holiday season ramping up for big goals in 2025 she asks some common but pertinnet questions about footwear and strength training. Scott announces Becoming Ultra will be putting on their first ultra event in Western Colorado in July of 2025! Enjoy the show and thanks for listening!
Cale Pearson was a runner for Season 11 of the Becoming Ultra project. One thing that has been so cool are the side projects and trickle down of the project. We have had books written about the project, podcasts started, friendships, and so much more. On this episode Cale brought some of his peers from the Freight brokering industry on his channel to talk about an upcoming team ultra at Desert Rats (where Cale ran his first ultra). We hope you enjoy.
Cale's biz You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@B2BTransportationServices
On the show today we talk about Ian's amazing PR in the half marathon recently as he had to adjust from a marathon effort to the half. Carrie travels and gets some rest and come back ready to train as she focuses on body care early in the training cycle. Enjoy the show!
Deidra comes back from the amazing mountains of Big Bend and we talk about her adventure as well as come up with some best practices dealing with plantar fasciitis, something that many runners deal with. We are early in the training cycle so taking time to get right early is the goal with slow ramp up in mileage, strength and mobility, and being present along the way. Enjoy!
Change is here! Kris & Carly discuss how much the past 151 episodes have meant to them and what the future holds! They recap some of their favorite moments and give info on where to find them in a few weeks! Don't forget to follow us on IG so you can get the info on our new podcast!
Kris - @birdielovestorun
Carly - @sherunderlusts
Pod - @myfirstultrapod
Coach Addie and Scott get to know Denise on her first epsiode of Season 16. Denise has an amazing coming to running story that I think many will be able to relate to. Starting in roller rinks and moving to roller derby and Spartan races where a shoulder injury left her looking for something bigger. We think she is going to be an awesome follow for the next 6 months so stay tuned and share with someone who needs to hear that just because one door closes doesn't mean an epic one won't open!
One of Kellie's friends describe her as "an all-around incredible runner. Her feet are basically wings as she climbs mountains like they are anthills. She is not only a great athlete and talented photographer, but she is probably one of the greatest people you will ever meet."
Kellie's love for the running community is evident as well as her gratitude for how it has changed her life. She comes from a family of runners and that tradition has continued on, now with her husband who is also a trail runner! Our conversation really highlights how special the sport of running is to Kellie!
Today we get to meet our second runner of Season 16, Carrie Balick who shares her story with Scott and her coach for the season, Ian Sharman. She grew up on the east coast and has spent most of her adult life in California in the school system as a speech pathologist. She recently went all in on her own business so she will be balancing her professional life with training for Mendocino. We hope you enjoy the show!
Anderson Dibble does not shy away from hard races. In fact, she seems to gravitate towards challenges. Some of her racing adventures include the Sugg Farm Ultra 50 Miler (First female), Pikes Peak 50k, Drews Angel Creek 50k in Alaska, Umstead 100, and the R2R2R.
Anderson loves life and embraces every challenge with gratitude. On this podcast we discuss her military background and the similarities with ultra running. Anderson takes us through a few of her most challenging ultras. She sees every challenge as an opportunity for growth. We also discuss the impact the trail running community has had on her life. This conversation left us both smiling and inspired!
https://www.youtube.com/@andersondibble
IG - anderson_dibble
Coach Scott meets his runner for Season 16 of the Becoming Ultra project, Deidra. Deidra resides in Round Rock, Texas, just outside of Austin. She is currently a stat at home mom who is coming off of a disc replacement surgery that got her back to running. We get to know about her life and who she is before diving into the training on this first episode. She is training for her first ultra for the Mendocino Coast 50k. Enjoy.
Hurricane Helene ravaged many of the communities in the mountains of North Carolina. Scott brings Mariah from Season 10 of the Becoming Ultra project on to talk about her small town of Spruce Pine and the effect of the damage. We came up with a challenge to use as a fundraiser to help the rebuild. You can join the challenge here.
The Indiana Trail 100 took place at Chain O’ Lakes State Park in Albion, Indiana on October 12-13. The course consists of four 25-mile loops with about 1,500 feet of gain per loop. This was Eric’s first 100-mile ultra marathon, and he came in with a 3rd place finish.
Eric ran his first ultra distance of 50k in October of 2023. In one year, he accomplished the 100-mile distance. He is showing us that with hard work and consistency anything is possible. On this podcast Eric shares a recap of his recent race. We discuss what went wrong, what went right and how he maintained a positive attitude throughout his race.
Today Ian, Addie, and Scott come on to choose the runners of Season 16 who will run their first ultra at the Mendocino Coast 50k in April! Enjoy the show!
What a fun conversation this was with Missy! We know Missy through BU and she was one of our biggest supporters when we launched the podcast. Just a joy to talk with, Missy shares with us how she became the adventurer she is today!
Women Who Explore is the company we discuss throughout this conversation. https://www.womenwhoexplore.com/
Some of our most inspiring guests come from referrals. Our friend Rebecca messaged us about Heather. They met during Vol State and Rebecca knew we had to chat with her. Heather is a mom, nurse, veteran and all-around bad ass. She has tackled some of the toughest races including the Leadville 100 and Barkley Fall Classic.
What else can I do? That is the question Heather always asks herself after accomplishing big goals. On this podcast we talk to Heather about her trail running journey that started in 2020; how it evolved to 100-mile races and beyond. We also talk about how she trains, balances life, self-care and showing up for herself daily. Heather is full of inspiration and encouragement!
Coach Addie Bracey joins the show again to share her recent adventures which include an epic race that took 30 hours and finishing a retreat center near Leadville! We talk about runners and why this Mendocino Coast 50k is such a good race for first timers. Enjoy the show. Season 16 is now taking applications!
We catch up with Lucja after her latest adventure, and wow was it a big one! The Divide 200 is Canada’s only 200-mile ultra marathon. It takes place in the Castle/Crowsnest/Flathead region of the southern Rockies and highlights portions of The Great Divide Trail. Lucja takes us through the race, including a near death experience and, you guessed it, a bear encounter. Lucja is one of a kind!
IG - @runningdutchie
As Season 16 kicks off we are talking to the coaches of the project about all things ultra running. On this episode Ian Sharman and Scott talk about the most common reasons or excuses people make to not take the first step to training for an ultra. We hope you enjoy and if you are on the fence about running your first ultra, now is a good time to apply for Season 16.
Erin trained for over 4 months for her first ultra with Coach Lindsay and nailed it on the Grindstone 50k course! We talk about things she learned on race day and what is next. She also gives one of the best answers ever as to why you should try for your first ultra! Enjoy the show and check out the launch of Season 16.
Scott talks to the race director and founder of the Mendocino Coast 50k, Sid Garza-Hillman about the history of the race, his running journey, and the launch of the newest season of the Becoming Ultra Project, Season 16. Si didn't run his first ultra until he was 46. We talk about his life as a musician and actor and why he decided to uproot and more to the northern part of the state. His race sells out fast and running along rivers, redwoods, and ocean probably has something to do with it all. Sid even wrote a book about running ultra's as a normal person which is amazing! We hope you enjoy the conversation and share with a friend that a great opportunity to run their first ultra is now taking applications.
Season 16 information
The race
We had the most fun talking to Tracy Meyerson. She recently finished her goal of running a marathon/ultra distance in every state. We discuss what it takes to accomplish that goal and how long it took her. Tracy will be sixty-one soon and not slowing down. She tells us how she maintains good health and the importance of nutrition. Tracy is living her best life, having amazing adventures and thriving. We hope you find this conversation as inspiring as we did.
Instagram - @seetracyrun
website www.goodhabits.guru
If you have ever wanted more information about the World Major Marathons, this episode is for you! If you haven't, well, still listen for a educational lesson :). We talk all about the six world majors, how you get in, the NEW Boston qualifying times, and our upcoming trip to Japan!
The time has come for Erin to go celebrate her training on the Grindstone 50k course! Her calf woes are over and the training is in the bank. We started the call with a little quiz about her race and she nails it. We hope you enjoy the show!
Kris is back from an epic backpacking trip and is here to tell us all about it! She gives listeners some great advice on how to get started in backpacking, based on her own experiences. This trip was in the Shining Rock Wilderness/Pisgah National Forest and she booked the trek through The Wildland Trekking Company!
https://wildlandtrekking.com/
Erin is experiencing the ups and downs of training as we get ever so closer to her first ultra. On the show today she shares her advneture on the Aqua Blaze race. A rowing and running adventure race. She also deals with her first real setback in the form of a knotted up calf for a few days. She seems to be on the mend though so for now, it's taper and get the mind right for the Grindstone 50k!
Kris first met Ashley during a 50 mile race Ashley was running and then continued to see her at other local races. With Ashley's unassuming confidence and talent, Kris just knew we had to have her on the podcast! Ashley talks with us about her running past, how the road led her to the trails, and how she is now in the middle of a huge running streak (well over five years, which is amazing)! We love talking to runners like Ashley because it really showcases that everyone's journey to who they are as a runner "today" is totally different!
Karmell Ohlrogge & Lee Conner are two bad ass women. Collectively they have conquered over eighty 100 milers. They are also champions of women who want to experience a 100-mile race. They are the creators and driving force behind the Women’s 100 Miler Project.
Karmell & Lee are champions for supporting women, they have started a program that supports women who want to embrace ultra distances. On this podcast, we talk about both of their running journeys and the inspiration for the project. They both have powerful reasons why they run. Their support of each other is also inspiring. These women are passionate about supporting women and doing their part to help them achieve their goals. We encourage you to check out The Women’s 100 Miler Project and go for it!
You can sign up for the Women's 100 Miler Project for HALF OFF with this code: BU50OFF
https://thewomens100milerproject.com/
Enjoy another episode about ultra endurance. Our guest, Jenn Pattee, is an ultra runner and entrepreneur who took on the challenge of riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to Mexico. Seeing how much the sport of running can open up opportunities for adventure is always inspiring. Enjoy the show
Check out here adventure on IG and Follow Jenn
Training fatigue has definitely set in as Erin balances her demanding work and training schedule but it doesn't mean she isn't going to find adventure to keep her spirits and energy up. She shares that she is doing a race called the Aqua Blaze which is rowing the Shenandoah River and running after which is a great reminder that keeping fun things in the mix during training can be a great way to stay motivated. We hope you enjoy!
Eric Davis is new to ultra running. He has tackled some technical ultras over the last year and has consistently finished in the top, including winning the MoMoFo 100k in June. He has an incredible work ethic and is one of the most positive people I have ever met.
This was such an uplifting conversation. Imagine being diagnosed with cancer during Covid while in another county and just starting your family. Eric was faced with this and chose to live by the words “Be Brave, Be Powerful, Be Fearless. Eric talks about that defining moment and how he moved through it. Eric is new to ultra running but has quickly excelled in the sport. We discuss his races, training and how ultra running teaches you many life lessons. Eric also talks about how he manifests positivity in his life, future goals and balancing family and training. This conversation will leave you thinking about the choice we make to be happy. Kris recorded this in her sun porch with Eric. It was a beautiful setting and one of her favorite conversations. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Will Sprouse is an interesting guy, I think everyone will feel inspired after hearing what he has to say. Will is an ultra-runner, restaurant owner, pilot, race director, husband, and father. He has had two major health scares in his life but that has not stopped him from achieving his goals.
Most people can’t imagine running the distances Will has. The fact that he continued ultra running after a motorcycle crash that left him with numerous broken bones and after having a stroke that affected his ability to talk, swallow, see or stand is even more remarkable. On this podcast Will shares his amazing story of how he has learned to heal his body through movement. He knows no limits and has an incredible belief in himself. Will also talks about race directing and creating races that are inclusive and adaptive to all athletes. He has earned the nickname “Iron Will.” You will rethink what is possible after listening to Will’s story.
Andrew Kelly is extreme, and we mean that in the best way. He rises at 4 am every day to run and is currently on a running streak that is over 1,500 days. He loves the challenge of a big race, he has tackled the Canebrake 200, Across Florida 200, and most recently the Cocodona 250.
Andrew lives by the motto, no excuses. On this podcast we got to know Andrew a little better. He is a very interesting guy who decided to take some big steps to lead a healthier and more productive life. We discuss his run streak and what it takes to accomplish this goal daily. We also talk about the Cocodona 250, Andrew shares the struggles and accomplishment of taking on such a hard race. There is a lot to unpack in this one. We had a lot of fun getting to know Andrew. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
Scott had a great chat with Susie Chan on all things adventure, life, and running. We aim to make more content to inspire big efforts from regular, amazing, humans. Enjoy!
From her book blurb:
Susie Chan is an icon of endurance running. Since taking up running at the age of 35, she has completed the legendary Marathon des Sables more times than any other British woman, set the 12-hour treadmill World Record and was one of the first women to finish all the World Marathon Majors. Susie's story is an inspirational fight against the odds. From leaving a dysfunctional marriage, managing as a single mum and tackling cancer treatment, Susie has had her fair share of adversity. Throughout it all, running has kept her going. She always finds a reason to lace up her shoes and hit the road – or the track, trail or tread. Her mantra: You never regret a run. From the Moroccan desert, the Peruvian jungle and the sweltering Death Valley, to Susie's local South Downs and a running track in Tooting, her adventures take her across the globe. With Susie's down-to-earth personality, refreshing attitude and wicked sense of humour, we learn the countless reasons she finds to push herself further and the life-changing opportunities running has given her.
Delorean Ostrom was a featured runner on Season 13 of the project. His amazing wife lost her battle with a rare cancer in January and we wanted to check in on Delorean. He is setting some big running and fitness goals while starting a new restaurant business and raising his two young daughters. This one is full of love and emotion and we hope if you or someone you know is going through a tough time that this conversation helps even a little. Thanks for listening.
Donate to the Cholangiocarcinoma foundation here.
Erin had the chance to get out and run a part of the course for the Grindstone 50k to see how technical the trails were. School is back in session so a new training schedule had to emerge for the last 7 weeks of training. The humidity and heat are still wreaking havoc. Coach Lindsay helps coach her through some niggles and continue to prep for the big effort in September!
Becky & Sarah are two fun spirited, adventurous friends. They have shared many miles together on the trails including backpacking sections of the AT, trail runs, and most recently the 100k One Day Hike from DC to Harpers Ferry, WV.
We had such a great time discussing friendship and adventures. This one will make you want to grab your bestie and hit the trails. Becky & Sarah tell the story of their friendship and love of trail adventures. We discuss how their support of each other has opened them up to amazing experiences. These beautiful ladies have a wonderful bond that has been strengthened by lots of miles. Their support of each other will leave you inspired.
Today's episode is a change up from typical ultra conversations but an important one nonetheless. Whether you are training for the Olympics or your own big goals, having coaches and people in your corner that want the best for you on the field or trail is important. One of Scott's former athletes shares her journey with the author of All In Stride to hopefully help other athletes navigate training, disordered eating, and more. Hope you enjoy!
In All in Stride, Johanna Garton tells the gripping and inspiring stories of Elvin and Shadrack. Beginning with their upbringing in Kenya, Garton follows the runners through their journeys to the United States, running for Division One universities, their blossoming romance as college students, and ultimately their service as U.S. soldiers and professional runners. Woven through the narrative is the story of Samantha Schultz, who also competed for the U.S. Army. Like Elvin and Shadrack, she struggled with several obstacles throughout her journey, including poor coaching, over training, the intense pressure to make the Olympic team, and disordered eating, a condition that plagues so many young female athletes.
Erin is getting to the higher volume of her training as she continues her journey towards her first ultra. We talk about dealing with heat and seeking water post run during the dry east coast summer. Snakes and bears make it into the conversation as she gets on new trails. She starts to think about the changing schedule as school is about to start back up as well. Her coach is gone for todays episode so we just catch up and have a great conversation about training and life!
Erin is training for her first ultra at the Grindstone 50k coming in September. Today her coach talks about her longer efforts and early aid station strategy to start thinking about it while she fuels for her current efforts. We talk about poles and how to implement in the training. Enjoy the show
On this episode of Ultra Nutrition we get a great question that many runners and athletes can relate to. As your training volume goes up how do you find ways to get the calories in a healthy way. Enjoy the show!
Jess Vanderbush has many interests, she is an ultra-runner, poet, and documentary filmmaker, she is also the founder, editor-in-chief, and creative director of Eat Clean Run Dirty magazine. She is seeking adventure and connection everywhere she goes.
This was a fun conversation full of wisdom and captivating stories. Jess has many interests, we spent time diving into several of them. She takes us back to how her journey into ultras started and how ultras have led her to all the adventures she pursues now. We also talk about the Orcas Island race and what inspires Jess to take on challenges. Jess lives her life driven by the motto, the only regrets you have are the chances you did not take. We think you will love this conversation as much as we did.
Nutrition coach Abby and coach Scott address listener questions in this ongoing series about nutrition and fueling for athletes. The questions were regarding plant based athletes being low in iron and B12. We hope you enjoy!
Aneta Zeppettella (Nettie) is a 52-year-old ultra runner who grew up in Poland but has been living in the US since 1999. She has finished some of the most iconic ultras including Western States 100, Badwater 135, Hurt 100, and Fat Dog 120. She is the second female to complete the Potawatomi 200-mile race. She is a Mom, librarian, community organizer and RD. She is also the co-owner of Empower Ultras.
Nettie is a true champion for supporting others, she has formed a race company that embraces building people up. On this podcast, she talks about her journey to the United States and how she found her way to trail running. Nettie has a powerful reason why she runs. She explains how ultras are easier than things we can experience in life. She is passionate about supporting women and doing her part to help them achieve their goals. Be sure to check out the documentary "Nettie from Ohio".
Our friend, Cale is back to share his race experience at the Miwok 100K on May 4th. This race has 11,800 feet of gain – views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, the redwoods, and the seashore. Founded in 1996, it has grown from 70 people to 450. Cale shares why this race is special to him and how he prepared for it. He tells us what it is like to run the first 40 miles in the rain and the difference a good crew can make. Cale ran the last thirteen miles with his coach and friend, he shares how that experience changed his race. Cale shares how his recovery is going as well as how important it is to listen to your body as you prepare for the next goal. Every time we talk to Cale, we feel like we have learned something that helps us live our best life.
Erin and her coach Lindsay sit down with Scott to talk about the first few weeks of training for her first 50k at the Grindstone 50k. Humid days, ticks, and other random things that come up in the heat of summer made the conversation. We hope you enjoy!
On this podcast our friend, Jenn shares her experience of five days taking on one of the most diverse 200+ mile races, the Cocodona 250. We had this conversation as Jenn is still working through all the emotions and healing physically. Jenn was very candid about the mental strength it took to get to the finish line and how she is processing things after. We are grateful to Jenn for being so vulnerable and sharing things about racing that we do not often hear. We hope you enjoy this honest conversation.
Rhonda Bompensa-Zimmerman is fairly new to ultra-running. She has been putting in the work and taking on some big challenges, most recently, Sedona Canyons 125. On this podcast we learn how Rhonda made her way to trail running and the impact it has had on her life, how running has been crucial for her healing. She reflects on the pivotal moment she stepped out of her comfort zone and said yes to a group run. Rhonda shares the many ways she has embraced the trail running community. We also talk about navigation struggles (we have all had them). This is a story of no matter where you are in life you can change the direction, set goals, work hard, and find yourself in the process.
We have the pleasure of introducing Erin to the world. She is an educator that grew up on a family farm not too far from Washington D.C. Today, we just get to know her as we will be talking lots of running in the coming months. We hope you enjoy!
We welcome back Scott Hagerty to the podcast to give us a recap of the Earth Day Buckle Mania, his 8th 100 mile race. Scott’s knack for finding the coolest races makes for a good race report. We also learn a little about the Race Director for this one.
Nutrition coach Abby and Scott answer the question, "What is the best way to fuel and eat in general after races and big efforts?" We talk about fueling so often and really enjoyed the question. We know during these big events we are running at a big deficit so how do we use our nutrition for better recovery and energy after these efforts was a fun conversation! If you have any questions, let us know!
Tara is a Becoming Ultra coaching client from the west coast. She calls in today to ask Coach Abby and Scott the best way to drop some weight to be more efficient for big running goals. It's a popular question we get as coaches so we hope you take something away for your own goals! Thanks for listening.
Joe Hardin is a husband, father of two, ultrarunner, aspiring writer, and an artist. He is also an advocate for addiction recovery and a plant-based lifestyle.
We spoke with Joe about his journey to sobriety and the impact it has had on his life. He shared how he discovered ultras and the support he receives from the ultra-running community. Joe is genuine, relatable, and full of wisdom. We are excited to see what the future holds for him and hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
Amanda and her coach Addie Bracy talk about the day Amanda became an ultra runner. The highs and lows and everything in between. We hope you enjoy!
She did it! Mari diligentely trained for her first ultra over the last 6 months and got to test herself on the amazing trails in Sedona. On the show today she shared her experience and all she learned from the experience. We hope you enjoyed following her journey over the last 6 months. Season 15 is now taking applications!
Sarah Snyder is the RD for the Crewel Jewel 100; ultra runner; cyclist and loving dog mom. Sarah is also an advocate for woman in the sport. She is paving the way for busy woman to have opportunities to reach the goals they set for themselves and providing support along the way. This conversation will inspire you and make you see that your dreams are possible. There are so many people behind the scenes doing great things for the trail community. We love sharing their stories and passion for all things trails with you.
After 7 months of training and planning Brittany finally got to test herself on the beautiful trails of Sedona to run her first ultra. Some heat and misdirection along with and epic finish caps off another successful season. We hope you all enjoy. Season 15 is now taking applications!
www.becomingultra.com
On the newest episode with Abby McQueeny Penamonte we answer a listener's question about how to get lots of calories without fat and carbs. We are here to answer the questions you have and hopefully give you a better understanding of what your body needs to perform and function at the highest levels. Enjoy!
The work is done and Amanda is ready to get to Arizona to run her first ultra. She has had an amazing training cycle and is looking forward to celebrating her fitness in the Sedona sunshine. She has some great mantra's for the run, many that happen to be on her body in perpetuity as tattooes! We hope you enjoy her last call!
The training is done and Brittany has a few pre race questions for her coach before she gets to Sedona to run her first ultra. What are her expectations, mantra's, and goals for the race? How will she plan for the heat? These runners work hard for 6 months before running their first ultra so we hope you enjoy the show and energy everyone has put in!
Some last minute questions and a little conversation about specifics for Arizona on this last call with Mari before she becomes an ultra runner! Enjoy.
Coaches Ian Sharman, Scott Jones, Lindsay LaForce, and Addie Bracy get together to talk about the upcoming Season 15 for Becoming Ultra. Season 15 will be held at the Grindstone Trail Running Festival in Virginia in September. If you are ready to run your first ultra, consider applying for the newest offering from Becoming Ultra. You won't be disappointed!
Season 15
Amanda is cruising through some long efforts on the trails and getting more comfortable in her new running surroundings. Addie brings some wisdom to call about race as a celebration of the training and accessing your best at any moment. It's been a great ramp up to Amanda's first ultra. Hope you enjoy! Season 15 is taking applications now!
Brittany is only a few weeks away from running her first ultra and she had some specific course questions for her coach Ian Sharman. How do I deal with stream crossings. Do I take off my shoes? Change socks right after? How can I prep for the heat in the desert since the training has been in cooler weather? Great questions for the ramp up to her first ultra. We hope you enjoy!
Scott Hagerty is a fellow BU teammate, grandfather, and ultra runner. We had a blast talking to Scott about all things trail running. Scott has an incredible knack for finding the coolest races. We get a fun recap of the Outlaw 100 and talk about the upcoming Earth Day Buckle Mania race. Scott discusses how he makes his love of running a family affair and keeps his need for adventure alive. Scott’s reason for running will resonate with a lot of us who started hitting the trails later in life. We hope to hear more race recaps from Scott in the future!
We have found an amazing race partner for the next season of Becoming Ultra. We are headed back east for epic trails and memories in the mountains of Virginia. On the show today we have the founder and RD of the Grindstone Trail Running Festival by UTMB, Clark Zealand. As a collegiate runner, Clark started his ultra running journey in the late 90's. It led to him eventually starting the Grindstone 100 miler. He talks about his own running journey, the Grindstone course and history, and the area as we pain a picture of the partner race for Season 15. If you or someone you know wants to train for and run your first 50k, applications are live now.
APPLY
Mari has a few questions and concersn abou thte race in Sedona as she nears the end of the training cycle. We set up expectations for the last training weeks for her first ultra! Enjoy.
We would like to dedicate this episode to our friend and fellow Team BU member, DeLorean, whose wife, Mandy recently lost her battle with cancer.
Caitlin Miller lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and rescue greyhound. She loves running but almost gave up on it after a debilitating lower back injury. Not soon after a long recovery and getting back to running she learned about the depths of grief and running through it. We hope Caitlin’s story will inspire others and instill perseverance in those struggling to get back to doing what they love.
We are so fortunate to connect with amazing people through this podcast. Caitlin is full of self-awareness and wisdom. She has turned to writing to help her get through hard things. Below are two paragraphs from Caitlin about being injured and getting back to running and running through grief.
“To injured runners out there, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I know it’s hard to see it and my closest friends will tell you I didn’t always believe them. On your best days, it’ll shine bright. On the painful days, it’s really dim. But if you work hard, you can get through it. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, especially on the days when you don’t.”
“If you’re grieving and you’re not where I am yet, it’s okay. It takes time and everyone is different. While you might want to rush the process and get to the part where you feel okay, unfortunately, you can’t. You must just sit in it and feel it all. My hope for you is that someday you will experience peace and be able to smile and laugh when you think of your loved one. I am sending you strength in your journey.”
IG- @_caitlinmoser
Nutrition coach Abby is back to answer another listener question. Should athletes be concerned with whole foods on the run? We talk about the different options and what variables may or may not change how you decide to fuel your runs. Enjoy!
Amanda got the full trail race treatment at her first trail race recently. Full with mud, rain, cold, snow, and slosh she learned a lot to bring with her to her first ultra in April! She also ran her longest of the training, a 22 mile and is realizing that trail running has a "more unexpected element" compared to road running! We think it's the best part of the sport. Enjoy the show!
Megan Eckert is someone who has found her community and embraced them. She didn’t start trail running until she was 30. Recently, at the Snowdrop Ultra she completed 218.87 miles, set a new female course record, and qualified for the US National 24-hour team. Three weeks later she was the last person standing at the Saguara Showdown Backyard Ultra, completing 270 miles. Megan talks about those experiences with gratitude and enthusiasm. We also talk about her influence as a cross country coach and how she wants to show her students the joy of running. Megan discusses what training looks like for her, self-care, and how she uses hobbies like backpacking in her training and recovery. Megan is a great role model for trail running and women. We are big fans of Megan, and you will be too after hearing this one!
IG - @_megeckert
As Mari continues to train for her first ultra she keeps breaking her own personal records. In the last couple weeks she has put up the most volume for a week ever and the fastest mile ever. Pretty impressive in the middle of the big volume. We talk about the training for the last month and answer some more about race day! Enjoy the show!
As Brittany works through a slight setback her coach, Ian Sharman, makes sure she is getting ready for the start of her first 50k with a thoughtful approach to dealing with niggles and ramping up for big running goals! We hope you enjoy!
The owner and founder of our partner race for Season 14 is back on with her social media and community manager to talk about the weekend festivities, local happenings, and race course so you can show up in Arizona ready to roll. Enjoy the show!
Libby Jones is the founder and Race Director for The Active Joe. Since 2008 she has been putting on fun, friendly, affordable races with a focus inclusion.
Libby Jones is a race director with a passion for bringing all people together. On this podcast we discuss how she creates races that include the underrepresented in running. We also discuss her journey to become a Western States qualifier and what it takes to organize these races. Libby stands by her morals and does everything with heart and a mindfulness that is unmatched.
IG - @theactivejoe
linktr.ee/theactivejoe
IG - @libbyruns
Chad Sullivan is a father, husband, writer, and ultra runner. He is the creator of Hard Prairie, a magazine and website that highlights the trail and ultra running community with human stories of vulnerability and beautiful photography that compliments each story.
We talked with Chad about his journey to sobriety and the changes it brought to his life. We learn about Chad’s running background and how he found his way to writing for Eat Clean, Run Dirty magazine and eventually starting Hard Prairie, a story telling magazine. Chad discusses how the ultra-running community has supported him and impacted his life. His passion for connecting people through stories is inspiring. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
IG - ultra.sully
hardprairie.com
Nutrition coach and RD Abby Penamonte McQueeny and coach Scott Jones discuss more listener questions in the new series about nutrition and fueling for runners. Today's question was "For those of us who HATE logging our food. Is there an alternative?" Enjoy the show and shoot us your best questions for upcoming episodes!
As Amanda recovers this week Addie preps for her first race of the season in the PNW. We even have Amanda give her coach some advcie for the effort! Becoming Ultra follows the journey of first time ultra runners. Enjoy!
Brittany is still dealing with the shin pain that kind of sidelined her for a couple weeks but it is getting better. He lays out a plan for her to keep her focused and confident that setbacks aren't always as final as we feel they are in the moment. We hope you enjoy!
Please listen with an open mind and heart. When we are open to expanding our views and learning with compassion it is a beautiful thing and that is what sparks change.
Eric Quallen is a trans ultra runner, Wildlife Biologist who recently obtained his PhD, he is a dog lover, and master educator for leave no trace. He has completed many ultra marathons including Moab 240, Wyoming Range 100, and Zion 100.
Eric is one of the most open and honest people we have had on our podcast. He shares his journey as a trans runner and discusses his experiences through transitioning. Eric tells us what trail running brings to his life and what it is like to run 240 miles. We discuss challenges he has faced, mental health and so much more. Eric not just living, he is thriving.
Mari has had some mentally down moments after her long run from a couple weeks ago had her reeling a bit. Her coach Scott gives perspective from a few different angles to get her back on track. Realizing that so many go through the same tough spots is so helpful for new ultra runners. We hope you enjoy!
We love a story of friendship born on the trails. Bailey and Katie were both selected as season 10 participants of Becoming Ultra and now they are the best of friends. On this podcast we discuss how running ultras impacts your life and how it helps you gain the confidence to take on other substantial life changes. Bailey and Katie talk about how they supported each other for their first 100 miler, even when the outcome is not what was planned. We had an interesting conversation about being a hunter and living a vegan lifestyle. These ladies have a wonderful bond and mutual respect for each other’s point of view. Their support of each other will leave you inspired.
In a new series, we bring on Nutrition coach and Registered Dietician Abby McQueeny Penamonte to answer your questions about all thing nutrition. On the first episode she answers your questions.
Today she answers:
- Weight loss drugs (ie: Ozempic)- how do you integrate that with endurance athletes and eating since this medication curbs your appetite?
- How do you feel about Intermittent fasting when it comes to endurance athletes?
Have questions? Send them to becomingultra@gmail.com
Learn more about her and her services here!
If and when we get injured we have to deal with the physical aspect of coming back to health but sometimes, the mental aspect of losing momentum is much tougher. Sheila suffered a setback with a knee injury and her coach and PT Lindsay talks her through the process on both the physical and mental side of things. We hope you enjoy!
Amanda had one of those longs runs. You know the one where you start off not feeling great and it never really gets better. Spending time in the "pain cave" can be a big deterent but reframing the experience as her coach Addie does on the show today can pay off big time for future efforts and race day! Enjoy the show.
Brittany is dealing with some shin pain that seem like shin splints and her coach Ian Sharman wants to make sure it isn't serious so they are backing off and relying on more power hiking in the training for now. It's a great lesson on adapting to our bodies even when big goals are on the line. Enjoy the show.
As Mari's long runs get longer she is finding new trails to explore. Her four hour effort had her frustrated and maybe even shedding a few tears but she came out with a better understanding of the importance of being present on these efforts. She also asks some great questions about race day. Specifically, how to get in the right place on the trail early on in the race. Enjoy the show!
Mark White describes himself as just a heavy Dad who runs ultras. He ran his first 50k when he was 45 years old and weighed 310 lbs. The following year he took on the 50-mile distance. Since then, he hasn’t stopped training and running trails all over the country.
The best part of doing this podcast is being able to tell peoples stories of inspiration. Mark is not letting anything stop him from going after big goals. He knows the value of doing hard things and is putting in the work daily. With the support of his family and ultra-running community, he is hitting trails all over the country. This is a great conversation about not letting anything hold you back. We are excited to follow Mark’s ultra journey as he continues to push himself. Failure is in not trying!
IG - @heavyultradad
Sid Garza-Hillman is an author, podcaster, public speaker, certified nutritionist and running coach, Oxygen Advantage breathing instructor, and founder of smallsteppers.com. He is also the Stanford Inn & Resort’s Wellness Programs Director and Race Director of the Mendocino Coast 50k trail ultramarathon.
We had the best time chatting with Sid. He is so engaging and fun, we could have talked for hours. We discussed his new book, Ultra Running for Normal People; Life Lessons Learned On and Off the Trail (which was released today, February 6th!). This is a must-read handbook for living a happy life. We also talked about Sid’s coaching and Small Steps Programs; Podcast; the Mendocino Coast 50k trail race he puts on every year and so much more. This one is full of fun and inspiration!
Check out his website to learn more! www.Sidgarzahillman.com
Bad runs are going to happen. There are plenty of reasons why but being two thirds of the way through a training cycle seems to be the sweet spot of heavy legs and "bad" runs. Coach Addie helps to reframe the effort as well as brings up some of the legitimate positives of dealing with these types of runs! It's something we can all relate to so we hope you enjoy!
Brittany is feeling the effecs of her efforts in training and coach Ian Sharman reframes many of her efforts to keep her rolling. On the episode we talk about best ways to deal with hot spots on longer runs. We talk about running with fatigue at this point in the training cycle. Lastly, we talk about dealing with more hill running where the access has been tough. We hope you can relate and learn something too!
We sit down and chat with Scott & Cale about their epic 100 mile adventure from Moab to Fruita!
Mari is seeing the work pay off as she in her words,"finally got under 2 hrs" for the half marathon distance. We talk about the next month of training and what to expect as the long runs will keep lengthening. Enjoy listening to the journey of runners training for their first ultra!
Well, the theme of these last few calls is how do we adapt to the season. The season would be winter who brought lots of cold and annoying ice to the mix for the runners of Season 14. Addie shares some tips on training in the cold and even got out in -25 herself. Amanda is figuring it out and getting her training in! Enjoy.
Brittany and her PNW people have been dealing with lots of unique weather, mainly ice, that has made training tricky. Ian suggests some ways to keep the long efforts exciting and interesting and where Brittany should put her focus! Enjoy the show!
Helen Mino Faukner has been named the #7 female ultra runner of the year by ultra running magazine. She recently had a podium finish at one of the most competitive ultra marathons in the world , CCC 100k. She is positive, always smiling and always wearing heart shaped glasses.
We can’t say enough good things about Helen. At age 27 she has managed to figure out a few things that take most of us a lot longer. She is living her life aligned with her values and not letting her ego get in the way. We talk about her background, the coaching style that works best for her, how yoga has helped her trail running, and her upcoming races. We also hear the story behind those awesome heart shaped glasses. This one will leave you feeling inspired!
IG - @helenredcloud
Sheila is dealing with what so many runners and people with big goals might be dealing with, a demanding work schedule. Sheila shares it has been hard to get in all the work but Lindsay makes sure she knows she is in a normal place and the training can be a priority too. Enjoy the show!
Mari is dealing with winter which seems to be the theme of the week for all of our runners in the project. We talk about mindset for the long runs, especially the end of them, so she can start the mental prep of what it will take to tackle the 50k. We talk a bit about fueling for these efforts and her upcoming training half marathon! Enjoy the show.
Mary Davison is an 82-year-old long distance backpacker; she is a retired Pastor and Grandmother of 10. She began long distance backpacking at age 60 and has accomplished the Triple Crown, The Appalachian Trail (2,198 miles) , Pacific Crest Trail (2,653 miles) , and the Continental Divide (3,028 miles). She is also the author of two books with a third on the way.
Mary has redefined what it means to be old. On this podcast we discuss Mary’s accomplishments as an older backpacker. We also discuss the fear that keeps us from doing things and how to overcome it. Mary is an inspiration and wants everyone to know they don’t have to stop hiking because of their age.
Her books include:
Old Lady on the Trail: Triple Crown at 76
Aren’t You Afraid?: American Discovery Trail From The Atlantic Ocean to Nebraska
Amanda is nailing her training recently but has one hang up we delve into on the episode. She hasn't run alone on trails so Addie and Scott give her a crash course on things to consider. The elements, animals, people, and etiquette. It's a question and concern we get pretty often as coaches so we hope you enjoy the chat!
Brittany conitnues to get all of her training in through the busy season. Coach Ian helps put pain verse discomfort in perspective which is a good lesson for all runners and athletes. Brittany sees PT for shoulder and hip issues but seems to be good! Enjoy the show!
On this episode Scott and Mari have a great conversation about where her training is and how she is feeling. She has nailed every effort in the training and is experiencing some of the heavy legs we get when volume increases. We talk about headphones and when to use and not use them. We make sure Mari keeps her evening walks and she celebrates her 38th birthday! Enjoy.
Coach Addie guides Amanda through early training and gives some great information on fueling needs that Amanda will have to consider for her long efforts. We break down where she runs based on trail, road/path, and indoors. Scott had to ask when they stopped believing in Santa, if ever! Enjoy.
Coach Ian and his runner for Season 14 catch up on her training. She hit her first double digit run at 10 miles and is feeling generally good, with some fatigue to be expected. Ian coaches her up on some concepts of fueling that she can put into practice!
Travis and his coach Scott navigate some recovery issues stemming from a couple different issues but he seems to be on the mend and ready to train well for his first 50 miler in Sedona. He is coming back from a hernia surgery and learning how to deal with some out of whack liver enzymes. We hope you enjoy hearing the stories of everyday people training for big things!
On this episode coach Lindsay helps Sheila navigate some new experiences and gives some great coaching on dealing with the running in the winter issue we all have this time of year. Sheila is a new runner from Grannd Junction, Colorado training for her first ultra in Sedona in April!
On this episode Noel catches us up with her training and takes the second half to interview her coach to get to know her better!
As Brittany tries to stay consistent through the changing weather and holiday season which it seems she is doing a pretty good job with she takes some time out to interview her coach on this episode to learn more about him. She had some great questions and the conversation was awesome. We hope you enjoy!
Kris & Carly do a quick update before heading to the holiday break! We will be back January 16th with new episodes!
Mari is on a roll and has some more firsts to share with everyone including a consecutive days in a row running. She also sticks to the theme of the week and interviews her coach Scott for the second half of the show. Hope you enjoy!
Sierra started running ultras in 2015 and has excelled in the 100-mile distance. On this podcast we talk her recent win at the USATF 24-hour national championship, what that means to her and what she hopes to gain from that experience. We also discuss a recent 100-mile race, the Bear 100. This is one of the best stories of mental toughness and resiliency we have ever heard. Sierra is incredibly disciplined; she puts in high mileage and balances her time to train and race. You will be inspired to get those miles in after hearing this one.
IG- @sdegroff
Amanda flips the script and interviews her coach Addie Bracy on today's episode. We talk about imposter syndrome in new runners and in general and it's a conversation most of us have had if even with ourselves. Other topics that came up were what is the biggest lesson from endurance efforts from a mental standpoint? How does running on trail verse road change the meditative benefits of running? We hope you enjoy!
Kris first met Steve in Texas a couple years ago while crewing at Bandera 100k. Steve has done some amazing things. He is one of the most supportive people she has ever met she has never known anyone who steps in as much as he does to help others achieve their big goals. While recently crewing and pacing a friend, Beth, for the Bear 100 in Utah, Steve shared his why. Kris was so moved by it she told him he needed to come on the podcast and share more.
We love a podcast guest that makes you feel inspired to do more giving. Steve is a 21-year retired Air Force veteran; he has been searching to find his purpose and live a life that is in line with his principals. Steve shares his journey after retiring that takes us through his Dad’s passing and becoming sober. He has immersed himself in the trail running community. Steve is making an impact through Band of Runners and bringing awareness to drug and alcohol addiction. Steve is a wonderful person who loves connecting people. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
Alexa has had some big changes since we last talked. She is still leading by example and empowering women to do big things.
We had another great conversation with Alexa. She is still busy but has found a way to shift her priorities and conquer big goals. Alexa shares her journey to running Bigfoot 200 and gives a full race recap. She merged her passion for mountain running with the need to raise awareness for gun violence. Alexa continues her mission to raise funds and awareness while setting her sights on Cocodona 250. When we talk to Alexa, we feel the support and enthusiasm for anything we want to accomplish. She truly is our Wonder Woman!
IG -@alexahasman
https://runsignup.com/runtoendgunviolence?fbclid=IwAR1rYt0h-8x2KP3eNauDWUGgyx9XKUDr_AQ5b-y21R6_9VBQMlmCl2XKJcg_aem_AYDsX5GMFaH-CVsk-HOw4RhUOdDdydqBxrnZxUCIUXzjubHBxqRbvlWSLhaWGdkCx0o
IG - @uphill_athlete
https://momsdemandaction.org/about/
Most endurance athletes have heard about post race blues. In this short one I give 6 ways to plan for it should it happen so you are ready to move on mentally and physically from your epic adventures, races, and other efforts!
Coach Addie Bracy and Scott chat with Amanda to see how her last couple weeks of training have gone. She is dealing with work stress, don't we all, but Addie has some great tips for managing it all. We bring up the beer mile and have a little fun planning one. Amanda is training for her first ultra in Sedona next April!
Coach Ian Sharman and Scott talke with Brittany about early training and how she is handling it so far. We dive into how she recovers from multiple overnight shifts in a row and how her upcoming schedule can be managed. She plans on more social runs to find more accountability and local community. Enjoy the show!
Tara has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, she has found healing through trail running with her husky, Suki and hopes to show others that they can move their bodies even if they are diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Tara is on a mission to show people a diagnosis does not mean you have to stop doing what you love. She has taken charge of her health and wants to encourage others to do the same. We discuss what it means to have a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and how to move through it. Tara is incredibly positive and driven to help people. This conversation left us feeling inspired.
While we were catching up on the second call for Noel for Season 14 we learned how her first time trial went, why she makes her boyfriend ride his bike next to her, and what is coming up in training! Coach Lindsay shares some of the life adjustments with her newly added twins. Enjoy the show!
Mari is ini the thick of it now. She got on the call and was excited to share her four first from the frist week of training. Running 5 days in a week, running 2 days in a row, running trails, and intervals. This project is meant to get athletes out of their comfort and pushing limits so hearing this on the second call was such a good reminder of how many people we could really inspire to try new things. We hope you enjoy!
Scott sits down with Travis Zmak to talk about his running story and how he got into the sport. We love to showcase everyday people training for big things. Travis is a working husband and father of three out of Idaho Falls. We talk about his first ultra, some challenges that have some up recently with his health and why he is ready to take on his first 50 miler! Enjoy the show.
We had Sabrina Stanley on the podcast two years ago. What stands out most is her confidence and drive. She has won some of the most difficult 100 milers including the Hurt 100 and Hardrock 100 twice. Ultrarunner magazine has named Sabrina one of the top ultra runner’s multiple times.
Another great conversation with one of our favorites. On this episode we talk about what the last two years have been like for Sabrina. The heartbreak of preparing for a big event and not being able to compete due to Covid followed by a tough DNF. We discuss the physical and mental work it takes to overcome setbacks; Sabrina is very open and honest about mental health. We appreciate this conversation and hope it helps others. Sabrina is a strong woman with a positive message for all of us trying to do hard things.
IG - @sabrinaleannstanley
Becoming Ultra coach Linday LaForce and Scott introduce Sheila Munch. Sheila is a mom of 4, wife, and nurse out of Grand Junction, Colorado. Not too long ago she decided it was time to take care of herself and see what was possible. On today's introduction we talk about her life and her goals and the fact that she will be training for her first ultra in Sedona with the rest of the Season 14 crew. It's another reminder that it's never too late to start with these crazy goals!
John Calabrese is embracing life! We had a great time chatting with him about racing, the trail running community, parenting, and caregiving. John is racing almost every weekend. He is a proud dance Dad and puts parenting at the top of his priority list. John also tells us about his special relationship with Donald, who is confined to a wheelchair but has taught everyone he meets so much about living. John’s energy and joy are contagious. You will be inspired by this one.
IG- @breezytrailhead
Mari is ready to train for her first ultra. With good work/life balance she is pumped to test her limits on trails and see what she is capable of doing! We hope you enjoy the episode!
Scott and Lindsay take some time to get to know one of the runner's of Season 14. Noel has found purpose in her work and inspiration from her sister. Now she gets to train for her first 50k! We hope you enjoy!
Addie and Scott get to meet Amanda who is just now starting her journey to run her first ultra. Amanda works at Trader Joe's and bartends and has some great reasons to take this challenge head on. We hope you enjoy!
Ian and Scott sit down with Season 14 runner, Brittany, to learn her story and get her rolling to training for her first Ultra. She resides in Oregon and works as a shift nurse in the Cardiac unit. We hope you enjoy!
Marshall Ulrich is 72 and isn't showing any signs of stopping. After a couple surgeries and seeing close friends deal with things like Alzheimers, Marshall can't help but do what he has always done, keep it moving. His endurance exploits are second to none from circumnagivating Death Valley to climbing the seven summits. This is one to share with anyone who wants to do epic things late in life or someone who just needs a reason to start! We hope you enjoy.
Taylor Spike (Tspike) is an ultra-endurance athlete, Husband, Father, and recovering addict. He is one of the few people to complete a 200-mile ultramarathon in less than 60 hours. He also holds the master’s course record for the Tahoe 200 clockwise and counterclockwise. Taylor has experienced extreme discomfort on the trails and in life. Taylor doesn’t make excuses; he is sober and accountable to himself. He embraces his family and the moments he shares with them.
Kris met Taylor and his dad, Greg at the Wy’east Wonder Ultra in June. She knew immediately she wanted to talk more. It was a short meeting but made an impact. On this episode Taylor talks openly about addiction and loss. We discuss what shapes us, inspires us, and drives us as trail runners and how we persevere through pain. It was a privilege to have this conversation. We hope it resonates with people who have similar struggles.
IG- @tspike2
IG- @live_recovery_strong
Scott, Ian, Addie, and Lindsay sit down to pick which runner they will work with to get to their first ultra. The Becoming Ultra Project brings new ultra runners along with training, podcasts, and community to the start line of their first ultra. This show is the first of Season 14 which will finish with runners in the Sedona desert in April 2024. Enjoy!
Today we catch up with some old friends, and some new ones, to talk about the TransRockies Race! TRR is a 6 day stage race across the Rocky Mountains that covers 120 total miles and 20,000 feet of elevation gain. Ina & Mike along with Jenn and Dave relive their experience during the week and talk about how as partners they successfully completed the event.
We are all familiar with the Leadville 100, Hisa has a great story about how she made her way to the iconic race. In 11 months, she went from running 2 miles to 100. We discuss her athletic background as well as training for a mountain race at altitude in the heat of Baton Rouge. We absolutely loved this conversation with Hisa. Her story is one that will make you feel inspired and happy. Taking a chance and not being afraid to fail can lead to some great things.
IG- @hisa.turner
Scott and Dylan have a great conversation that goes all over the place.
- What's on his radar now that he is a dad (product)
- What are some over talked about topics in the world of ultra running
- What it's like working with his spouse on FreeTrail and why it works well
- A fun brainstorm on new ideas in running biz
- The importance of volunteering, especially for elite/pro's
- How he manages his "violent" schedule
We hope you enjoyed the show!
Becoming Ultra Season 14
FreeTrail
Scott and Jason Fitzgerald catch up on all things running from group run etiquette to losing his voice cheering for one mile racers. We talk about why he has kept a running journal for decades and so much more in a fun conversation from the Strength Running founder.
Scott had a chance to interview Phil Parsons the day before he embarks on the 444 mile Natchez Trace effort.
The Natchez Trace is a 444-mile stretch of road that begins in Nashville and ends in Natchez, MS. To date, no one holds the record for the fastest known time (FKT), Natchez-trace-parkway-FKT completing the southbound journey on foot. This adventure is exactly what I am going to do this September — Suicide Awareness Month — to bring awareness to the issues of mental health and suicide among Veterans.
His story is one that is too commonly ended with a less positive outcome. We have to love on our veterans and share what is bringing them together! Running is often the answer, or a piece of it. Hope you enjoy the show!
On this episode of the Season 14 launch, Scott has the script flipped on him and is interviewed by client and friend, Cale Pearson.
They talk about:
- What kind of coaching style Scott has
- Heavy lifting day or HIIT workout preference
- Morning or evening training sessions?
- Importance of being present
- Who should apply for Season 14
Be sure to check out the episode with the RD of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
Lindsay LaForce joins Scott to talk about her background as a PT and coach over the years. She will be our newest coach on this Season 14.
Some of the things we covered:
- Why strength training is so important for injury prevention
- How she manages her time as a mom of 4 and athlete
- The types of runners she would love to see apply for the project
- Ideas on training through the winter
Be sure to check out the episode with the RD of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
Ian Sharman and his company Sharman Ultra have been partners with Becoming Ultra since the first season way back in 2015. His insights to the sport and coaching are always interesting and today we took some time to talk about a bunch of stuff to get you pumped for the new season.
Some of the things we covered:
- What is new, if anything, with the sport.
- How coaching is evolving
- The types of athletes he would love to see apply.
Be sure to check out the episode with the RD of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
Addie Bracy has had an awesome running career and life that started at an early age wanting to run with her dad. On today's show, we get to introduce the newest coach for Season 14 and learn a bunch along the way.
Some of the things we covered:
- How she got into running
- Why her major was track and cross country at UNC
- How she got into ultra running and learned so much the hard way
- Why she delved so deep into the psychology of sport
- Why durability is important
- Some mental red flags for runners to be aware of and who she is excited to see apply for Season 14!
Be sure to check out the episode with the RD of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
On this show, the official launch of Season 14, Scott hangs out with the Race Director of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
We talk about:
- Why she started the races after moving there from California.
- What the trails for the course are like and why it's tougher than the vertical suggests
- Best places to stay in town for travelers
- Why it's a great place for first time ultra runners
- Why she added so many distances for one day of running
- Why the after party is going to be so fun!
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
Rachel Belmont is an adventure seeker; she has traveled the world conquering some of the most extreme foot races to raise money for running programs organized by Girls on the Run. Her career as an adolescent psychiatric nurse has inspired her to take action and to help young adults turn to a healthier outlet such as running.
Rachel discusses the path that led her to ultra running and some of the most extreme stage races. We also talk about her life changing experience at Badwater 135. Rachel discusses how she has found the perfect balance between her career and her desire for adventure.
IG- @_skyrnr_
We welcome back to the pod, our friend Andrea Casella Kooiman. Andrea is a person who asks herself why not me and has accomplished some amazing things. Over 150 marathon and ultra-marathons under her belt including Badwater 135 three times, and most recently the Barkley Marathons and Tahoe 200. Andrea has a passion to assist others in becoming their own superhero, she is one of the founders of WeRock, an after-school, intervention program for Middle and High School students focused on the endurance sport of running. We talked more about this on our last podcast that aired 11/29/22. Today we discuss Andrea’s most recent accomplishment, the Tahoe 200.
This is another great conversation with Andrea. This woman is all about inspiring others and pushing herself. On this podcast we talk about the successful virtual book club she started during COVID. We have included more details about it below.
Andrea takes us through her recent race, the Tahoe 200. 206.2 miles with 35,117 feet of climbing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Andrea finished in 97 hours 6 minutes and 41 seconds. She breaks it down mile by mile and shares all the details. We love the enthusiasm Andrea has for big races. Be sure to check out her Instagram for pictures and an awesome video to recap the race. Andrea closes with sharing her next races. We look forward to hearing all about it!
Katie Hernke is a mom, nurse, and writer who creates content for trail lovers. She is on a mission to get all her hiking friends to try backpacking and help educate those of us who want to do more backpacking.
Katie is passionate about all things trails, especially backpacking. We loved this conversation with Katie, it was like chatting with a good friend. She talks about how her running journey has evolved over the years and what led her to backpacking. She is full of knowledge and enthusiasm. Katie shares some great tips regarding planning and gear. You will be inspired to grab your friends and plan a trip after hearing this one!
Join Scott and his partner with Adventure Leadership Retreats, Cale Pearson. After spending time doing hards things and getting others to do and succeed at hard things, we wanted to bring an event that combined the skills we learn doing these things with leadership skills that can help in work, sport, and life. The inaugural leadership retreat is coming in Februaury of 2024 in beautiful Costa Rica. Learn more here.
On this episode Scott interviews his friend and client about the recently completed Tahoe 200. From running to manage weight to full on catching the ultra bug, Brent shares his story of the first thought to do a 200 to the training and ultimately the effort itself. We think most every day runners will enjoy this show! Thanks for listening!
Scott got to talk with his Aunt on the show today. And while she could probably spend a whole episode sharing travel adventures and recipes (she's an amazing cook) we decided that debunking myths around wound care in 2023 would be a much more helpful and practical subject. We talk about the differences in care over the last couple decades and give some tactics that can help you and your family take care of cuts, abrasions, and more. While this inofrmation is great for us runners who catch a toe every once in awhile it's really just good information for everyone.
My favorite parts:
- Her friend and the malfunctioning hiking pole
- Her laceration on the trail that cut the trip short
- The breakdown of best practices for new wounds
- The retelling of Scott's forearm gash on an island in Alaska
Enjoy the show!
Brittany Peterson is an amazing ultra-runner and even better human being. We first met her last year on the podcast. If you want to learn more about her running journey, check out that episode. On this podcast we are going to talk about other big changes in her life. Brittany has been dealing with hip issues and recently had surgery on both hips. She has experienced some major life changes while on a journey to self-discovery. Brittany is handling everything with a wonderful attitude and hope for the future. Let’s get caught up!
We first met Brittany on the podcast over a year ago. One of the things we love most about her is her amazing attitude. She has been faced with some challenges lately as she recovers from surgery on both hips. Brittany is candid about the recent challenges and changes in her life. She is choosing to embrace change and move forward with positivity.
IG- @runhappyb
Becoming Ultra is to share the stories of everyday people doing amazing things. Check out the new intro and voice talent to kick things off. Scott goes all the way back to 2015 to do a quick recap of every season since the projects inception. He shares where Season 14 is going to be and shares the new vision for Team BU 2.0.
Enjoy the show!
Join the team, we'd love to have you and need the help!
Check out retreats.
We have coaching spots open now too.
Delorean brought the family to Oregon to experience the state and the beauty together. Unfortunately, the kiddos and Mandy(wife) would have to "rescue" Delorean when things went south after mile 21. He put it all out there and learned a bunch in the process. We hope you enjoyed the talk. Also, we put together a fundraiser for the family, hope you can help!
Stacey ran her first ultra and like most of us, learned a lot about herself and what it takes to run these long distances. Isabel had a rough start but persevered with a great attitude and had a great day on the trails. They both hang out with their coach Hillary Allen to talk about the day on the trails near the epic Mt. Hood.
We are trying to help one of the runners of the community. If you have any way to help out, it would be amazing! Here is the fundraiser. Thanks!
Benny Braden is a retired EMT and rescue diver, Electrician, long distance hiker, founder and CEO of responsible stewardship, photographer, YouTuber, and PTS survivor. Benny is living his best life thanks to long distance back packing and God (quote from the Highline documentary).
Benny Braden is all about making a positive impact. We had a great conversation about trauma, mental health, and long-distance backpacking. Benny shares his insights on the importance of nature and healing. He is very candid about his struggles with PTS. We also discuss his FKT in the Smoky Mountains and other amazing hikes. Benny is passionate about educating people on how to practice responsible stewardship on the trails. He also shares some stories about the Highline Documentary. This is an important conversation that we were honored to be a part of.
Highline is available for download on Amazon Prime, ITunes and Google Play.
To learn more about responsible stewardship visit ResponsibleStewarship.org.
To learn more about the Reboot Recovery Program or donate visit rebootrecovery.com.
IG - @therealbennybraden
Jeffrey James Binney is living his best life. He is an adventure travel host with Trova Trips, trail runner, comedian, and public speaker. He is also the producer and director of the amazing documentary Once Is Enough. Jeffrey was our very first podcast guest two years ago, we could not think of a better person to celebrate 100 episodes with. So much has changed in the last two years so let’s get caught up!
To celebrate our 100th episode we brought back our very first guest and one of our most favorites, Jeffrey James Binney. You know you are going to have fun whenever he is around. This is an entertaining and inspiring conversation; we cover a lot of topics. Thank you for being a part of our 100th episode and supporting us along the way!
Check out Jeffrey's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyn34XHws1HeMzDKa8JLyTg
Coach Amanda Basham and her runners all catch up after the epic Oregon weekend where Kristi did the hardest physical thing to date she has ever done and Kelsey deals with some legit adversity on the course. We hope you'll find yourself doing hard things, inspired by their efforts!
Kris & Carly chronicaled the shenanigans behind planning an all-gals backpacking adventure with our friends Caitlin and Muriel. This one is fun and goofy but goes to show that ANYONE can get out there and do new things!
Congrats to Darin who went and ran his first ultra. Listen today about his experience on the beautiful course and the moment that almost ended his day. It's always amazing to see people do things they didn't think they were capable of just months ago. We hope you enjoy the show!
Our fabulous friend Bill is back on the pod to talk all about REDEMPTION. We hear about the race that didn't quite work out and the race that absolutely crushed expectations!
Scott and Delorean talk about the upcoming 50 miler. With so many things in life that could sidetrack Delorean he has stilled showed up. That is THE lesson. Show up for your family and your friends and do this for more than yourself. He has and it's so inspiring. Full time small biz owner and chef. Raising little girls. Coaching his girls softball team. Dealing with his wifes search for answers for her cancer. WOW. We can all do HARD things. Thanks Delorean for being a part of this all. Enjoy the show everyone else!
Six months. Ups and downs and travel and life and everything else that can happen in 6 months has happened. Training for an ultra takes lots of time and effort and discipline and on today's episode you get to here coach Hillary get the ladies ready for their first 50k and first 50 miler! We hope you enjoy!
As Kelsey and Kristi prep for their first 50 miler and 50k, coach Basham has answers ready. They have been training for the last 6 months for the big weekend and we can't wait to see how it all goes down on the trails in Oregon! Enjoy the show.
Lizzie Jones was arrested in 2018 while running down the street in the middle of the night high on drugs. Her Dad came to her rescue and helped get her admitted into rehab. After spending the first few months of her sobriety completely lost, trying various activities, it wasn’t until she found running that she found the confidence and strength that she never knew she had. She ran her first 100 miler six months into her running journey, completed two 100 milers and logged 3,000 miles last year. Lizzie has found peace within herself and a drive to explore her potential in the sport that has transformed her life.
Lizzie is living her best life; she has found the thing that fulfills her. Running ultras has helped her transform her life and bring her joy. This is an amazing story of strength. Lizzie talks about what led her to trail running and how the community has enriched her life. She also talks about her first 100 miler (it was her first ultra). Lizzie shares some skydiving and base-jumping adventures as well. We are so grateful Lizzie shared her story with us, you will be inspired.
IG - @lizzielizardjones
Darin has put the work in over the last 6 months and is ready to go and celebrate his training in his home state. We can't wait to see him finish what he started. On the call today coach Annie helps get him ready for the big day. Enjoy the show!
You can support the project here!
Listen to this last interview before runners take to running the 50 mile and 50k Wy'east Wonder around the spectacular Mt. Hood. Todd and Renee break down some details about the course and the area and add some race strategy for runners to consider for their big effort. We also talk about where access is for friends and family. We hope you enjoy!
You can support the Becoming Ultra project here!
Loretta Tobolske-Horn is an ultra-marathon addict and Ornery Mule Racing Endurance Coach. Loretta has some impressive finishes under her belt, first in the 2021 Alexander County 24-hour race; third female in the Six Days in the Dome 24-hour race in 2021; third place female in the Desert Solstice Elite 24-hour track event just to name a few.
We had a great conversation with Loretta. She didn’t start running ultras until later in life but that hasn’t stopped her from some amazing accomplishments. Loretta shares her journey to ultras and why she loves the 24 hour and track races. As a former special education teacher, we discuss inclusion and how that factors into her coaching style. Loretta will inspire you to keep training and challenging yourself.
Evangelyn Willdrot was a Becoming Ultra season 11 participant. Evangelyn wrestled with addiction and mental health issues in adolescence and young adulthood. Her search to heal her own trauma led her to specialize in treating trauma, eventually becoming a therapist. Evangelyn is also the mother to three young children.
Evangelyn is a true warrior. This conversation will resonate with so many of us who struggle. Evangelyn talks openly about trauma in her life and how she numbed the pain with alcohol and unhealthy habits. She made a choice to change her entire life and has not looked back. She also shares the ongoing struggles and how she manages them. We talk about hunting and how that has helped her find peace and confidence. Evangelyn also shares her ultra running journey and what spending time in nature has given back to her. We loved this conversation!
IG- @arrowsandultras
Emily Hawgood is a professional athlete for Addidas Terrex. She grew up in Zimbabwe, from the age of 5 she attended boarding school 2 and half hours from home and attended college in Idaho. She is currently living and training in California. She has had some impressive ultra-running finishes. 1st women at Ultra Trail Cape Town 100k in 2018 and 2nd place in 2019; 1st women at Idaho Mountain Trail Ultra in 2020; 7th place women at Western States in 2021; 6th woman at UTMB in 2022, just to name a few.
Emily is one of the sweetest guests we have had on our podcast. Her openness and smile pull you in. Emily tells us about growing up in Zimbabwe and how her experiences there have shaped her. We talk about attending college in Idaho, meeting her running coach, Paul Lind, and her love of the mountains. Emily also talks about her journey to Western States. Emily embraces the phrase be kind and give people time. This one will leave you feeling happy.
IG- @emilyhawgood
Coach Amanda Basham and Scott hang with Kristi and Kelsey a month out from their race. With only one more call before race day the excitement is gaining. Kristi asks about trail etiquette and Kelsey gets out on the course to check it out a bit. Basham was killing a couple feet of bread and some gouda so yeah, it was an awesome call. Hope you enjoy it!
Coach Hillary Allen and Scott sit down with Stacey and Isabel with exactly one month left until they run their race. They both have some slight pain but it doesnt seem serious for either. Isabel's poor dog got skunked but she had a great plan to take care of it! We hope you enjoy the show!
Coach Annie Hughes and Scott hang out with Jasmine and Darin as they are officially less than a month away from the race. Jasmine has to miss her first workout of the training which is wild. She also starts a great conversation on what her why is with running. Darin prints out the course info and goes over some of his notes. The "hug my wife" note had us laughing pretty good. Enjoy the show.
Wanna hang out? Come to one of our live retreats!
Delorean is still staying disciplined through all of the tough stuff life is throwing at him and his family. He is getting the long runs in which is huge but it's heating up in Georgia so that part is getting tougher. He shares the logistics around chemo and how it affects their schedule. He also shares the cold capping they do to keep her hair. It's a pretty involved process and they decided it was worth it to keep their little girls' world as normal as possible. He also shares the newest recipe for the charity cooking. You should definitely donate this go round.
https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/2023NYC/DeloreanOstrom
Hey, it only took 8 years but we finally decided to bring on our second coach. On this podcast we talk to Lindsay LaForce, PT, DPT about her career as an endurance athlete and PT in the endurance world. We get to know her personally and professionally. We took so long to bring on our second coach and it was well worth the wait. The goal was to find someone who had tons of experience with in person coaching, has a passion for running, and had a little different background than Scott. Enjoy the show and if you are looking to be coached, her rates are as low as they will ever be until June 11th! Learn more about our coaching here.
Annie came back to talk to Scott one on one to share her story from the Canyons 100. Hypernatremia is a serious condition and she succumbed to some serious symptoms on the course. We talk about the experience in hopes to educate other athletes about how to know when you may be at risk. Annie is such a tough human and we were pumped to have her share the story. Thanks for listening.
We are very excited to have Harvey Lewis joining us on the podcast. He is an ultra-running legend! Harvey spends his days as a teacher in Ohio and appears to be one of the nicest people in ultra-running. Harvey is a 5-time member of the USA National 24-hour team. Harvey has competed in well-known events all over the world such as Badwater, Barkley Marathons, Marathon des Sables, Bid Dog Backyard Ultra and many more.
Harvey is living his best life; he is full of enthusiasm and joy. We talk about living and training in Cincinnati and running to and from work. Harvey talks about being competitive for more than 25 years and self-care. We also talk about some of Harvey’s biggest races including the Barkley Marathons and Badwater. Harvey is a wonderful role model and is a true example of when you put good out there good comes back to you.
IG- @harveylewisultrarunner
http://www.runquesttravel.com/home/
ON today's show Jasmine and Darin share their weeklky volume and long efforts over the apast couple weeks with their coach, Annie Hughes. Becoming Ultra follows runners doing their longest and biggest efforts. We hope you enjoy!
Today Scott hangs out with Marcus Smith of InnerFight from across the globe in Dubai. Marcus owns a training facility as well as online coaching and podcasts that reach athletes all over. On the show they talk about endurance adventures, training concepts, and the business of it all. Marcus talks about his upcoming SteelMan effort in Italy. We talk about age and ability not being a limiting factor anymore. It was a great conversation. We hope you enjoy.
Check out Inner Fight and all they do!
InnerFight
Follow Marcus
Katie Zornes is on an ultra-journey to become healthier, both mentally and physically. She has struggled with depression her entire life and struggled with weight most of her life. After a mental crumble in 2021 she has slowly crawled out of that dark space by having the courage to do one hard thing at a time and document her journey on her website and Instagram.
This one is sure to inspire you! Katie takes us through her mental and physical struggles and how she is taking hold of those hard moments and moving forward. Katie discusses how she believed the key to happiness was weight loss and how that impacted her mental health. We talk about doing 22 hard things in 2022 and what is on the list for 2023. Katie is a beautiful person who is using her voice and actions to inspire others.
Instagram @tri_ing_to_live
Website: katiezornes.com
We had the chance to talk to Luke Tuttle of Ultra Running Destinations. He uses the site to review trails and events all over the world. On this episode we got to talk about some of the amazing locales and adventures Luke has been on and we get to learn more about his story. If you like running and travel, you'll love this episode.. Thanks for listening!
Devon Yanko is an accomplished ultra-runner with some impressive wins including most recently, Javelina 100. She is also ranked #6 female ultrarunner of the year by Ultrarunning magazine. There is much more to know about Devon.
We had a lot of fun talking to Devon. We talked about the challenges she faces since being diagnosed with Lupas. She shares how self-care has changed and how she finds balance. We discuss her recent Javelina win and what is next. We also talk about her labor of love, Women of Distance Podcast. We loved everything about this conversation!
IG - @fastfoodie
Today Scott and Delorean got to catch up a bit. It is obvious how much this family is going through so reminding Delorean that perfection is NOT the goal seemed to be a big part of today's call. That, and youth sports! We know so many of you are going through tough stuff and Delorean and his family are just more proof of what is possible and why it's so important to keep pushing to get stronger for yourself and your loved ones. We hope you enjoy the show!
Hillary is back to coach up Stacey and Isabel. Isabel ditched the socks on a long run recently. Stacey is enjoying the Oregon trails. Both women look to events to get some longer efforts in and prep for the upcoming race! Enjoy the show!
Lindsey McElroy Ulrich lives for adventures, trails, and mountains. She is not only a fierce trail runner but also a 10-year stroke survivor and busy mom. She went from barely being able to walk to crushing down barriers and living her best life. She lives her life full of gratitude for every day.
Most people can’t imagine running the distances Lindsey has. The fact that she became an ultra-runner after having a stroke and losing her ability to walk is even more remarkable. On this podcast Lindsey shares her remarkable story from a place of gratitude. She has had some amazing adventures from the Marathon Des Sables to nine days on the PCT. She knows no limits and her motto is never give up on yourself. You will rethink what is possible for you after listening to her story.
IG - @lindsruns
With only 2 months before the Wy'east Wonder race in Oregon, Coach Amanda Basham catches up with her athletes. We follow the journey of ultra runners and shares their coaching calls with the world!
Annie catches up with Jasmine and Darin and the fact that there is no big news is great news! Both runners are seeing huge improvement with their fitness which is amazing. We talk about a recent Instagram post Annie shared about running being the olnly sport she ever excelled at and loved. Pretty cool. Enjoy the show.
Fresh off her Boston Marathon finish our own Carly shares her experience. She has dreamed of qualifying for and running Boston since her early marathon days. This is a fun episode you don’t want to miss!
If running is good for anything, helping us deal with real life stuff that isn't fun or easy might be the the most important thing we gain from it all. Delorean and Mandy head to Texas to look for better treatment options. T/he running took a back seat but it had to. Delorean will just get back at it the next week. The optimism and love in this family is awesome to see. We also share a fundraiser for the rare cancer where Delorean will teach us all how to cook his signature dish. You can learn more here. Hope you enjoy!
Monica Soileau with the help of her amazing crew recently finished the Badger Mountain Challenge 100 Miler. This race has over 17,000 feet of elevation gain. Of the 127 registered, 65 finished. We love to feature our fellow Team BU people when they accomplish hard things. Monica couldn’t share her story without her incredible crew being a part of it. When people pull together to help someone accomplish their goals everyone wins. This is a fun one!
Isabel and Stacey have been pushing their training and it is all paying off. A long uphill goal of not walking was met by Isabel and she notices some positives of running with other people. Stacey tests her legs with lots of vert on her long run this week! Enjoy the show and following along!
Kristi and Kelsey are continuing to put the work in for their big goals. Kristi is on her feet a bunch dancing for a production of Spamalot so Coach Basham pulls back her volume a bit to match. Kelsey has a brutal long run and they refocus on the fueling. Enjoy the show!
Coach Annie Hughes is fresh off her win in the desert around Moab as she helps get Jasmine and Darin closer and closer to their goals of the 50k and 50 miler this coming June. Jasmine ran her first sanctioned 50k in Oregon and shares her experience running the Pacific Northwest for the first time. Darin feels the training take hold as he runs a PR for the 5k. Things are looking great for this crew!
John Kelly is a husband, father of four, ultra-runner, and explorer. He has a PhD in electrical engineering and is the tech co-founder at Envelop Risk Analytics. He is also part of an elite group of people to have finished the Barkley Marathons. One of only 17 people to have finished and one of three people to finish more than once.
In this conversation we discuss what it takes to succeed at the Barkley Marathons, how the BM has evolved for John over the years, training and preparing for it, and why Laz has made changes over the years. We also talk about John’s amazing Hard Rock finish. John also shares how he balances family, training, and his career. He has an incredible mental toughness and positive mindset and looks forward to hard challenges. This one is sure to inspire you to do that hard thing.
www.randomforestrunner.com
IG- @randomforestrunner
Join Scott and Ian Sharman as they talk about all things running, coaching, training, and more. Ian owns Sharman Ultra, a long time partner of Becoming Ultra. They get to talking about the business of online coaching and where they see it going in the near future. They talk about some races that don't get enough love and bounce around the running world to share some of their experiences. Enjoy the show!
Lauren Jones is the founder of Life’s 2 Short Fitness. She has a passion to educate, encourage, and empower women through her many retreats. Lauren is one of the most positive and encouraging women we have ever met. We have had the pleasure of sharing trail miles with her and experiencing it firsthand. She has her own story of struggles to share. We discuss that and the power of staying positive and never giving up on your goals. Lauren believes you don’t know your limits until you push past them. This conversation is full of inspiration. Hopefully you will be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone and have an amazing adventure.
IG - @lifes2shortfitness
www.lifes2shortfitness.com
Running is rarely ever the main thing when it comes to ultra running and the people who toe the line. Delorean is a great example of keeping himself strong and ready to be there for his awesome family. We hope you enjoy their story and finds ways to support them all.
As we continue to follow Darin and jasmin as they prep for their first 50k and 50 miler we talk mindset on long uphill efforts, mentality in going to run a 50k around people when training is usually solo, and what to do when unruly customers try to ruin your day! Enjoy the show!
Jeff Browning (aka Bronco Billy) is a veteran ultra-runner and endurance coach. He has competed in some of the world’s most difficult ultra-mountain races over the past two decades, amassing nearly 200 ultra-marathon finishes and 39 career ultra-wins. Of those, 27 were in the 100-mile plus distance, placing him second in the world for the most 100-mile wins in history. He holds multiple course records, including Moab 240 and The double record for the fastest combined times of Western States 100 and Hardrock 100 (a mere 19 days apart). He was ranked No. 3 in Ultrarunning Magazine’s North American Ultrarunner of the Decade (2010-2019) and has been ranked seven times in the Top Ten of Ultrarunning Magazine’s North American Ultrarunner of the Year – the first and only man over 50 to make the list. He lives and trains in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife and three children.
We really enjoyed this conversation with Jeff. This guy has been doing Ultras for a long time and is full of knowledge and wisdom. We covered so many topics on this one. Jeff talks about how embracing the process of training has kept him motivated. He also talks about nutrition and how that has made the biggest impact on his performance. We also talk about balancing family, career, training, and coaching. We even got into a fun discussion about music. Jeff’s words of encouragement are some of our favorite. We know you will enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
IG- @gobroncobilly
Coaching - www.gobroncobilly.com
Dave & Jenn Goins are no strangers to ultra-marathons. They were Becoming Ultras first married couple selected as part of season 10 and they have not stopped taking on challenges. In February they ran their first ultra-together, Black Canyon 100K. On this podcast they talk about the highs and lows and how they got each other through it. We love to see couples supporting each other.
We are almost at the halfway point for season 13 and the runners are getting it done and learning along the way. Learning how to get training in when travel is imminent and learning what running on trails feels like after a long winter. Hillary was traveling too and shares a little about her time in Spain. Enjoy the show!
Kristi and Kelsey had some good questions for coach Basham. Their training is right on schedule for the big day in June. Becoming Ultra is all about following the journey of ultra runners!
Coach Annie Hughes catches up with Jasmine and Darin as they prepare for the 50k and 50 mile run in Oregon. Darin ran into his first snake of the season in Arizona and Jasmine gets ready for a 50k in Oregon soon. Becoming Ultra follows the journey of ultra runners!
Riley Brady is a 27-year-old trail runner and bicycle mechanic, who recently moved to Boulder, Colorado. They are spending the next few months focusing on running but eventually hopes to move into the frame building side of the bike world. Outside of running and work Riley loves goofing around with friends and internet cat videos.
Riley is living their best life! We had a great time chatting with them. Their positive energy is contagious. We covered so many topics on this one. Riley discusses their Javelina 100 race that earned a Golden Ticket as well as being name one of the top ranked ultra-runners by Ultra Runner Magazine. We also discussed being a non-binary athlete and inclusion in ultra-running. Riley shares some DNF experiences and how they view them. This was one of our favorite conversations. I hope you listen with an open mind and open heart.
IG - @rye.outside
Melissa McGaughey has always been passionate about health, fitness, and nutrition. However, in today's society there is so much conflicting information, fad diets and trends to follow that we become overwhelmed. This can lead to unhealthy habits and leave us under fueled when we are trying so hard to live a healthy life. Through years of experimenting with the latest and greatest trends, fad diets and attempting to live a healthy life, she found herself unbalanced and unhealthy. Having a baby inspired her to follow her passion for health and fitness, so she could learn to decipher the conflicting information about nutrition and fitness, truly nourish her body, and be a good role model for her daughter. Melissa studied to be an integrative health and nutrition coach at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC, where she became a Certified Health Coach. Further expanding her nutrition and fitness knowledge by becoming a Master’s Sports Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer at the National Association of Sports Nutrition in San Diego, where she became proficient in exercise metabolism, body composition testing, metabolic evaluation, pre and post workout fueling and nutrition for recovery. she also discovered a love for reformer Pilates and completed the training to become a Pilates instructor. Hours of reading, research, and certification through the Self Talk Institute, taught her that your mindset and internal self-talk play a vital role in whether you're successful in achieving your goals. Melissa is also an avid runner and advocate for being outdoors.
This is a subject we have been wanting to talk about for a while. This is a great conversation about nutrition, fitness, and aging. Melissa has so much knowledge, we could have talked to her for hours. We discuss macro training; intermittent fasting; whole foods; protein and the unique needs all of us have. We also talk about mindset and internal self-talk and much more. Melissa is a wonderful advocate for a healthy life and wants to share that with everyone.
IG - @melissa_eduralife
www.enduralife.com
Darin has a scheduling snafu for the last team call so Coach Annie Hughes hopped on a call and sent us the recording to catch up on Darin and his progress in training. Enjoy the episode!
We had the chance to sit down with RD's Scott and Ellen on this episode. They share stories from runners of their Wisconsin backyard event and we talk about where grit comes from, Ellen shares some of her crazy hallucinations from a recent winter race. We love talking to small homegrown race directors and think you'll enjoy the chat!
Check out their race! Check out our events.
Isabel and Stacey take some classic advice from their coach Hillary on this most recent episode! Stacey juggles parenting and dark mornings and Kelsey keeps plugging along in the early training for the Oregon Ultra this coming June!
In 1998 at 17 years old Harold Jr. Allen’s young life was forever changed. He was arrested for a crime he did not commit and served 10 years in prison. Initially filled with anger and despair, he eventually resigned himself to serving his time and making the most of it. After his release he gradually slipped into destructive behaviors until 2014 when he was recruited to run a local 5k, he loved it and within a few months was training for a marathon. Harold has been running 100 milers for the last five years. Seven years ago, Harold created Buckle Up a fitness / running group that provides a positive and encouraging environment designed to help others discover what they can achieve. Harold turned tragedy into triumph!
Buckle Up everyone! Harold has remarkable story to tell. Harold talks about the lessons he learned in prison and how he learned to believe in himself. We talk about his path to running and eventually to 100 milers. Harold has found a way to inspire his community with Buckle Up, we talk about what this gives back to him. We covered so much in this hour of talking. Harold is someone who turned tragedy into triumph. He follows the best advise he was ever given, love life and love people.
IG - @haroldallen19811
If only every week and every run would feel perfect everyone would do this stuff. The truth is, it rarely goes as smoothly as you would like. This last week is a perfect example. Delorean and Chelsea both have been dealing with some issues but we gameplan how to get back on a roll. We hope you can relate and enjoy the show!
Beth and Rebecca are both very driven and have finished some extremely challenging events. They have also experienced DNF’s. On this podcast we take a deep dive into the emotions that go along with a DNF. This is not always an easy topic for people, we appreciate their candor. Our hope is that if you experience a DNF you will remember some of the wisdom shared on this podcast and move forward ready to tackle another goal.
On this epsiode we talked about the early volume with the runners, how to deal with Texas winters, when to fuel on your longer runs, and coach Basham talks about her New Zealand racing experience. Kristi and Kelsey have had a great start to the season 13 training. Enjoy the show. Looking for adventure? Check out our retreats.
Brian Murray is an accomplished real estate investor and author who loves trail running and is an amateur endurance athlete. He was on Season 9 of Becoming Ultra and has completed 16 marathons and three ultramarathons. His biggest brush with fame was when he got to be Carly Heard’s teammate on Becoming Ultra. Brian recently returned from a trek to Everest Base Camp and is currently training for the Black Canyon 100K in February. He lives in Alpharetta, Georgia with his wife, son, and two dogs.
It was so fun catching up with our Becoming Ultra teammate who was Carly’s partner for season 9. Brian is not just inspiring because of his accomplishments but because of how he lives his life. Brian shares with us what led him to getting fit later in life, how he maintains good habits, and why it is important to step out of your comfort zone. We also talk about his latest adventure at Everest and how much he gained from the experience. There is some great insight on this podcast. We know you will love this one as much as we do.
IG- @crushingitbrian
If the title says anything it's that these two runners were dealing with some stuff in the last couple weeks. We talk about lot's of life and running in this one so I think you'll enjoy and be able to relate. Enjoy the show!
Marshall Ulrich is an ultra-marathon running legend, adventure racer, mountaineer, and author. He has completed over 130 ultra-marathons, completed a 3,063-mile run across America, he has climbed the tallest summit on each continent, and finished 12 expedition length adventure races, and completed all 10 Eco Challenge Adventure Races, something only two people in the world have done. He has crossed Death Valley on foot for the 30th time to raise money in honor of his dear friend and teammate, Mark Macy, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2018. Marshall is arguably one of the most driven men on the planet.
What a privilege it was to spend time talking with Marshall. He is a genuine, kind, and inspiring person. On this episode we talked about the Route 66 Ultra run and why Marshall and his wife Heather created it. We also discuss the special bond with Mark Macy and the Stray Dogs. Marshall explains why it is important to keep challenging yourself and discusses how aging has changed things for him. We also talk about Badwater and the Eco challenges. There is a lot of wisdom in this one. It will always be a special one for us. Enjoy!
IG - @marshall.ulrich
www.route66ultrarun.com
https://www.facebook.com/marshallulrich/
On today's show Scott interviews Jake Rastas, a young athlete who played college football and found ultra running in post grad as a way to continue pushing himself. He brings lots of passion adn it's a great reminder that the roles we start as athletes can always evolve. Enjoy the show!
On this episode Coach Annie Hughes and Scott find out where Jasmine is in her training physically and mentally. She is training for her first 50 miler. Enjoy the show!
Isabel and Stacey are under way with their training from coach Hillary Allen! Intervals and pyramid sets to make it more interesting early on is the goal. Stacey talks about the challenge of switiching from lots of treadmill miles to outside miles and Isabel shares her goal of being able to run up a local route without stopping! Good stuff!
Michael Ormiston was born in Sydney, Australia in 1971. In 1999 he moved to Hong Kong and married his wife, Sandra in 2003, they have 2 daughters ages 16 and 18. His passions are cooking, wine, trail running, cycling, and skiing. In 2016 he was made redundant from his job and moved to France, skiing all winter, and running in the summer, in 2019 he moved back to Hong Kong where he currently resides with his family. Michael is a partner at TouchPoint, Race Director/Partner at RaceBase (organizes Hong Kong trail races). He started racing in 2005 with 10-15k trail and adventure races and built up from there, running his first 100k in 2007. In June of 2022 Michael was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma and just finished five months of chemotherapy. He recently did his first trail race post chemo and finished first in his age category. For the past 12 weeks Michael has been training four times a week at the gym with a personal trainer to prepare to compete in Hyrox, a goal race to focus on and celebrate the end of his cancer treatment. He finished the event in 1 hour 23 minutes, placed 5th in his age category and 58th overall.
If you have ever wondered what the impact of a positive mindset has on a very difficult circumstance just listen to this podcast. Michael shares his running and cancer journey; he explains how he used movement as medicine and the power of a positive mindset. We discuss the daily struggles of setting a goal and working towards it while also receiving cancer treatments. We were so moved by Michael and his journey. There are so many beautiful nuggets of wisdom and inspiration in this one.
IG- @ski_run_eat_wine
Early training for the runners of Season 13 is not disappointing. Chelsea gets the work done and has some great, if not funny, feedback about her core work. Delorean nails the runs but may have cut a bit more than a carrot on the cutting board. Hopefully he is ok. We follow the journey of runners doing big things!
Coach Amanda Basham gets to meet her runners for Season 13 for the first time on today's call. Kristi from Texas and Kelsey from Oregon. They both balance so many things and found running in different ways so watching them train for their first 50k and 50 Miler is going to be a blast! Enjoy the show.
Sheri Gewelke loves to run.... and run.... and run....for the pure love of the sport. especially ultramarathons. She has run 1,000s of races and is going on her 12th 100+ miler, which is her specialty. Running is her passion- it is who she is. She is single and a mom of 8 biological children ranging from the ages of 12-28, 5 boys and 3 girls. One of her daughters, Iris, has 3 state records and ran a 50 k barefooted at the Pistol when she was 8 in 7 hours and 26 min. Sheri is a teacher, cross country coach, and athletic director and she just recently got her master’s degree of Education in Administration and Leadership, her Principal's License, and she plans to go back to get her PhD. She is also a personal trainer, a missionary and loves to travel and serve others. Sheri has paced 6 people to 100-mile buckles and a few to state records. Her motto is “Health is wealth”.
Sheri is full of positive energy; she is a doer who always strives for excellence. She is also someone who appreciates the gift of running. On this podcast Sheri tells some great stories with a good message for everyone. She explains what it means to be organic. Sheri also discusses having eight children and how she prioritizes her time to be present for them and herself. We talk about completing 207 miles at the Ozone Endurance Challenge and training in the TN mountains. Sheri lives by the motto a positive mindset is a champion mindset. This one may change the way you think about negativity.
Coach Hillary gets to meet her runners for the first time on this episode. Stacey and Isabel are both on the west coast and we get to know more about them today. We hope you enjoy!
Coach Annie Hughes finally gets to meet her runners for this Season 13 of the Becoming Ultra Project. Jasmine and Darin are respectively the oldest and youngest of the season and they both were great to get to know on this first call. From Darin's sobriety and Jasmine dealing with loss, they are both going to bring so much to the listeners and other runners this season. We hope you enjoy the show!
This is the first episode introducing the runners of Season 13. Delorean will be running his first 50 miler while he tends to family issues like raising young kids and his wife's cancer treatment as well as a busy work life. Chelsea will be running her first 50k in the state she grew up in and is looking to prove to herself what she is capable of. They are being coached by Scott and today's call captures their first time meeting as well. Enjoy the show!
Jennifer E. Rizzo is an ultramarathon runner and award-winning writer from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Her work has been published by Vanity Fair, Motherwell Magazine, and Moms Don’t Have Time to Write. She is a wife and mom to two humans and one dog and is trying to tame a newly adopted semi-feral cat.
We love a guest that when you are chatting it feels so comfortable and authentic. Jennifer is very honest about what it takes to balance family, career, and ultra-running. She shares what ultra-running adds to her life and how she uses it in all areas to improve. On this podcast we get into the hard choices it takes to accomplish your goals. We also talk about Jennifer’s 2021 and 2022 Riverlands 100 attempts. This is a great story! Jennifer shares her experience of crewing for a blind runner and how that has impacted her life.
IG - @jennifererizzo
Scotty Kummer Started Ten Junk Miles around the sane time we got rolling with Becoming Ultra. We bounce around a bunch of topics on the show today from the uniqueness of the 100 miler he race directs to the importance of consistency in running and podcasting. Enjoy the show!
Dusty Hardman was born and raised in New Jersey and lived in Boulder, CO and Victor, ID. She started running in Teton Valley, ID around 2007. Inspired by an interview with Lisa Smith-Batchen in Running Magazine Dusty started running. Starting with a marathon and within two years tackling the Bear 100 in Utah. Having health issues, it took Dusty a while to dial in her training, medications, and overall health. It didn’t take Dusty long to start tackling amazing adventures such as the Barkley Marathons, Badwater 146, Vol State and running across Florida from Coco Beach to Withlacoochie Bay on the Florida Trail. Dusty is one of only a handful of people to complete Badwater 146 and only the second woman. Dusty is inspired by all the amazing ultra-runners she has met and feels honored to toe the line, hang out with or even have so much in common with all of them.
Dusty is one of those amazing unassuming athletes that you probably have never heard of. She has been setting big goals and having incredible adventures for a long time. On this episode we talk about what led Dusty to three Barkley Marathon attempts and the Badwater 146. Dusty also shares some great stories about meeting her ultra-running role models along the way. We discuss health struggles and how that has affected her training and mindset. This one covers a lot; you will enjoy getting to know Dusty.
www.toughlovetraining.net
Recovery after any race or long effort can be different for everyone. We brought on one of Scott's athletes from Sweden who ran through the cold and dark night to get her first 100 miler just a few days before this call. We talk about the unique set up for the run, the charity, and what the goals are for recovery moving forward. Hope you enjoy the chat!
Join Scott, Hillary, Annie, and Amanda as they choose the runners for Season 13 of the Becoming Ultra Project!
Matt Fitzgerald is an endurance sports author, coach, and nutritionist. His many books include The Comeback Quotient, 80/20 Running, and The Endurance Diet, How Bad Do You Want It and his latest book, On Pace, Discover How To Run Every Race At Your Real Limit. Matt’s writings have also appeared in numerous magazines, including Outside and Runner’s World, and on popular websites such as podiumrunner.com and nbcnews.com. He is a cofounder of 80/20 Endurance and the creator of the Diet Quality Score smartphone app. A lifelong endurance athlete, he speaks frequently at events throughout the United States and internationally.
We always love talking to Matt. He has so much knowledge, we are always grateful to learn from him and share with you. On this podcast we discuss his latest book, On Pace, Discover How To Run Every Race At Your Real Limit. We talk about all things pacing, including:
- The inspiration for the book
- Three key mental traits
- Why pacing is so difficult
- Do GPS devices help us or hurt us
- Perceived effort
- The mental side of pacing
- How pacing applies to ultra-running
This book is a great reference book to have on hand. Grab a copy and enjoy the podcast!
Every runner stops getting faster at some point, but pacing is something that any runner can get better at indefinitely.
The true winner among competitive runners is not the swiftest but the happiest, and the happiest runner is the freest runner, and the freest runner is the runner who has most fully mastered the art of finding his or her limit.
Book available at:
80/20books.com
Mattfitzgerald.org
80/20endurance.com
From across the country, and world, applicants shared the reasons they wanted to be a part of the Becoming Ultra Project! We will be choosing during the selection show so stay tuned. Thanks for listening.
Excuse the cheesy title but this is basically how it all went down. Bailey and Katie met on Season 10 of the Becoming Ultra project and became fast friends. Today's show is a dive into why they both live a certain lifestyle when it comes to food and where we get our food. More than the light debate, the lesson is that we can all get along with the biggest personal differences. A good lesson for the world right now! It's a great conversation and hope you all enjoy!
You have put in so much work over this challenge. If you completed it all I would love to hear from you so shoot me a message at becomingultra@gmail.com. I want to know what your experience was like!
The 12th run is here! We call this the grateful run.. The goal is to reflect on the things in your life you are grateful for and have fun doing it! Every 10 minutes for 50 minutes you will focus on a different aspect to be grateful for. I came up with this while visiting my family years ago and even recorded a video explaining. You can watch it here if you like.
I personally am grateful you are a part of this all!
The Grateful Run
1-10: For a working body
11-20. For a working mind
21-30 for important people in your life
31-40 for important people you have lost
41-50 for your future
If you liked this challenge, maybe you'll like a year long one I came up with called the Be Ultra Year.
In any case,
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and thanks so much!
On the 11th Run Of Christmas...
11 accelerations @ 100 meters
How it's done:
- Warm up for a mile or 10 minutes.
- You are going to run 100 meters at a time and then recover for a minute or so in between each.
- Know your body. If you haven't run fast in a while keep a governor on the top end pace.
- A football field is a great place for this but any straightaway will do.
- Start each effort like a plane taking off. By the time you are at the 50 meter mark you should be at the max speed you will go for the effort. Keep that high end speed for 30 meters and then tail off slowly for the last 20.
- Focus on turnover and posture.
This is a fun one to coach in person so you have to self manage this one to be smart and avoid any tweaks. For some of you the peak pace is going to look like a sprint and for some it'll look like a fast jog. Be sure to slow down slowly. Meters can be interchangeable with yards as it is just a good way to visualize the effort!
See you tomorrow for the last and 12th run!
On the 10th Run of Christmas...
We hope you are enjoying this challenge. The 10th run isn't necessarily hard but it is time consuming.
Go for a double digit run OR go for your longest run. Go out and spend some time in the fresh air and have a good one!
If your longest run to date is 5 miles we would suggest to not add more than a couple miles.
Enjoy the relaxed pace and the effort you have put into this so far!
Great work and see you tomorrow on the 11th day.
What happens when 6 runners race and run and crew each other all over the country when they come back to their home in Wasau, Wisconsin? They create a killer backyard ultra of course. Two of the six race directors and founders of Wasaultra came on the show to talk about how the race was conceived, their big goals in the future, and how it works with so many cooks in the kitchen. It was a fun sit down to just get to know some passionate RD's in the world of ultra running that we all love! Enjoy the show.
On the 9th Run Of Christmas...
90 minute power hike
How it's done:
- Today we are going to the ultra roots. Being able to power hike for long periods of time is a huge skill for covering long distances. The goal today is to power hike for 90 minutes and trying to stick to as close to a 15 minute/mile pace as possible.
- That's it. No running allowed.
- Record how much distance you covered for retesting!
It's tougher than it looks. Try not to default to just a walk.
See you tomorrow for the 10th day!
On the 8th Run Of Christmas...
8x400's
How it's done:
- Warm up with a half mile at 70% effort.
- This is best done on a track. If you don't have access to a track then marking off the distance is ideal. You should be able to run without looking down too much(watch/phone)
- Run 400m, recover for 90 sec.
- Do this 8 times. The 400 is a tough 1-3.5 minutes for most of us.
It's simple but it ain't easy. Be strict on recovery. The faster we run, the more efficient our form typically is so keep in mind the end goal is effort and running economy!
See you tomorrow for the 9th day!
On the 7th Run Of Christmas...
7x3x10:
How it's done:
- You are essentially doing 7 rounds of 10 minutes with the first 3 minutes of every set being all out.
- Round one is a warm up.
- The pace for the last 7 minutes can be an easy jog or walk.
- The reason there is so much recovery is that the 3 minutes needs to be really tough.
- If you want to do on a track or treadmill it is a good set for that.
This is another good one to practice active recovery in long efforts. Think about running up a hill to have flat and downhill right after. It's a good skill to work on!
See you tomorrow for day 8!
On the 6th Run Of Christmas...
A 60 minute effort at night(or in the dark)
How it's done:
- Run for 60 minutes in the dark.
- If you live somewhere cold it is so hard to just get out there int he cold night or morning but WE can do it.
- Today is all about finding joy in running in a time or place you don't usually.
- Find a route with Christmas lights or a safe track.
- Be careful and bring a friend if you can.
- Finish up with hot chocolate or a coffee!
Our comfort zone is meant to be pushed. You've got this.
See you tomorrow for the 7th day.
On the 5th Run Of Christmas...
Run a 5k.
- Keeping this one simple so warm up for 5 minutes and go run a 5k
- The goal is to push yourself and see what you got!
Many of you are going to justify the fact that you are sore, or tired, or don't like running fast and just go and get it done going through the motions. The challenge today is to not think of anything but putting a good effort in. You've got this.
See you tomorrow for day 6!
On the 4th Run Of Christmas...
4 Lunge Miles
How it's done:
- You are going to do 20 lunges(10/leg) before every mile.
- Ideally you are doing step back lunges as they are easier to keep good form.
- The second your last lunge is complete you start running the next mile.
- 4 total miles and 80 total lunges
This is a great set to learn how to run on fatigued legs. Think mountain efforts. We use sets like these for people training for mountain runs when they don't have access to mountains.
See you tomorrow for day 5!
On the 3rd Run Of Christmas...
3 progressively faster mile repeats
How it's done:
- Warm up with 5-10 minutes of movement. Get the HR up and prep that body for a tough set.
- Mile repeats are typically running a mile at a high effort with minimal recovery(2-3 minutes)
- For this set you will run a mile at 70% effort then recover for 2 minutes, run one at 80% with 2 minutes of recovery and then run one more at 90%.
- Most will do better running the first at effort then trying to speed up based on time for the next two. For instance, you run the first at 70% and it is a 10 minute pace. Try to run the next at 9 m/m and the last at 8m/m.
- It won't be perfect but the goal is increasing the effort significantly every mile!
- Because it is effort based the times don't matter, just that they get quicker.
- Be strict on the recovery.
This one helps learn pacing on a deeper level. Embrace it!
See you tomorrow for day 4!
Tracie Hunter is a certified running coach and business owner of IRG Training. She has been running since the 90’s, and just completed her 30th marathon and 4th world major marathon at the Abbott World Age Group Championships in London. She has also completed 2 ultra-marathons: a 50 miler and 100k and would like to someday complete a 100 miler. She has been running for over 25 years, but her fastest marathons have all come in the last year.
Tracie has been running marathons for years (she ran Boston 6x’s) and she is getting faster. We discuss how she has changed her training to make that happen and how her training has evolved as she ages. Tracie shares stories about some of her favorite marathons as well as where she is running next. Tracie is also a running coach and shares with us the joy and motivation that brings into her life. Getting older doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get slower.
IG- @indianarunnergirl
On the first Run Of Christmas...
Run a 20 minute time trial. These are great no matter what fitness level you are bringing to the table. Here is how it's done.
Warm-up for 5-10 minutes. You should be close to sweating and your heart rate should be noticeably higher. Here is a great warm up for this type of effort.
Then, set your timer for 20 minutes and cover as much distance as you can. Record the distance and make sure you run it somewhere that you could retest in the future.
You aren't allowed to stop the time.
This is a great exercise for a couple reasons. First, it teaches you how to pace at high intensity. Second, it gets rids of some of the anxiety for set distance time trials (think, 5k). Lastly, most long distance runners are fine suffering for 10 hours but for 20 minutes, that's a different story.
Get after it and let us know how it went on the socials. Just tag us on IG or FB!
Join Scott as he catches everyone up on ways to engage and be a part of the Becoming Ultra community from year long challenges to hyper seasonal challenges and everything else! Enjoy the show.
Check out everything else here.
Makinsie Bartholomew came from a background of triathlon. In high school she did swim team and track & field, and a handful of sprint triathlons. After graduating in 2011 she competed in half and full Ironmans. Makinsie completed her first Ironman in 2014 and then her first 50-mile ultramarathon in 2015. She had never done any trail races further than 13 miles and jumped straight to 50 miles. She has completed 4 Ironmans, 10 Half Ironmans, a 50-mile ultramarathon and the Bigfoot 200. Makinsie has a very supportive family and has her Dad to thank for getting her into trail running, together have been able to do some great ultramarathons.
We have so many wonderful conversations but this was one of my favorites. Makinsie has an amazing attitude and a lot of grit. She takes us through her 2022 Bigfoot 200 finish with all the highs and lows that came along with it. Makinsie credits her Dad for getting her into trail running and shares many stories of their adventures together. We also talk about DNF’s in a positive light. We wrapped up the podcast and kept talking. We recorded this one on a Friday morning. It was a great way to kick off the weekend. Enjoy!
Find her incredible race report for the Bigfoot 200 here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TaqjqtoNnoqAiuClvqxGYFIHM9hqpnteyEJEzU3t4ds/mobilebasic
IG - @imkinsie
Andrea Casella Kooiman is an avid runner with over 150 marathon and ultra-marathons under her belt. Some of her accomplishments include the Boston Marathon, Grand Slam of Ultra-running (4 oldest trail 100’s in one summer), Badwater 135 three times, Western States twice, HURT 100, UTMB, Vol State 500K, taking 3rd place overall. Andrea is also one of the founders of WeRock, a program created as a response to the challenges faced by the Orange County communities’ young people. It is an educational, after-school, intervention program for Middle and High School students focused on the endurance sport of running. She is also the executive director and head coach; she considers some of her greatest running accomplishments watching as the kids cross the marathon finish line year after year. It is her solid belief that everyone can and will achieve all their wildest goals and aspirations if they can first visualize themselves in that position. She is on a mission to HUG the world and assist others in becoming their own Superheroes.
Start asking yourself why not me. This is a question Andrea always asks herself and she has accomplished some amazing things. We loved talking to her about her adventures, coaching her kids and life in general. This woman is full of joy, optimism, and fun. We talked about the Barkley Fall Classic and moving on to attempt the Barkley Marathons (watch for her name). Andrea lights up when discussing WeRock, she talks about how it started and what she has gained from coaching. We also get into some great Badwater stories and how she balances everything from family life to the big races. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
IG- @runcoachkrun
We were so excited to get the founder of the Pacuare Outdoor Center on the show to talk about how the business came to be and why doing eco tourism the right way is so important. We wanted to do our retreats a bit different so we are getting off the grid and away from the traditional tourists traps in Costa Rica and we can't wait to show you all how to run and adventure in this beautiful country!
The retreat!
Coach Hillary Allen and Scott spend a few minutes talking about the first Becoming Ultra international retreat in Costa Rica in February of 2023. They talk about the itinerary and the launch of Season 13! Enjoy the show!
The Retreat
Apply for Season 13
Every season for Becoming Ultra, we partner with a new race for the runners to train for and go and run. This season, we head to the Pacific Northwest to run the trails near Mt. Hood. Today we talk to the race directors to learn everything there is to know about the race and surrounding areas. Enjoy the show!
On this episode, we introduce the newest addition to the Season 13 coaching crew, Annie Hughes. Annie has been racing at a very high level but today we dive into her story and coaching philosophy. It's going to be fun to see how her experiences add to the project. Enjoy and you can apply here for Season 13!
Coach Amanda Basham and Scott talk about raising kids and training and how the mindset after two kids may affect her racing efforts! We talk about the Season 13 race and can't wait to see who applies. You can here.
Gary Cantrell also known as Laz Lake is the creator and race director of two of the hardest ultramarathons in the world, the Barkley Marathons and the Big Dog Backyard Ultra. He also created the Barkley Fall Classic, Strolling Jim 40, the Vol-state 500k, and the epic virtual team event, the Circumpolar Race Around the World. Gary is also a husband to Sandra who he met in college and a father to three grown children. Before retiring in 2011, he was an accountant for 35 years.
Well, this was a whole lot of fun! In this episode we chat to Laz about the early ultra-running days, the inspiration for all his unique races, and his trans-continental walk across the US. Laz has some great Barkley Marathon stories to share. You are sure to learn a few things about the Barkley’s you may not have known. We learn what Laz has planned next, the current Barkley theme, and how to get a Geezer hat. This one is full of great stories, encouragement, and lots more. Gary Cantrell aka Laz Lake is truly a legend in the Ultra-running world. We had the best time meeting him. Enjoy!
Fresh off of completing an epic 100 miler in an amazing way, Scott joins us to recap the experience! When Scott decides to do something, it is never simple or easy and this is no different! We talk all about Band of Runners, the news season of Becoming Ultra, and the upcoming BU events across the globe!
https://www.bandofrunners.org/
www.becomingultra.com
Demarion & Carlita Farmer are married with two young children ages 2 & 4, they also own a small business. Recently they started training for and ran their first ultra in 2021. This is a story of inspiration on so many levels.
Couple goals! These two are conquering all kinds of goals and supporting each other 100%. This was a fun, enlightening, and inspiring conversation. Demarion & Carlita could have so many excuses to not train and work hard towards their goals, but they do not focus on excuses. They have learned the value in believing in themselves and helping each other. On this episode we talk about what prompted them to get into ultra-running and how they balance the training with a young family. We also discuss diversity in ultra-running and the impact they have made on their local community. There is lots of good stuff in this one. We could have talked to this awesome couple for hours. There is nothing better for us than starting our day with lots of laughs and some great conversation.
Nick travelled the furthest of any of the Season 12 runners from Washington state all the way down to Palm Coast, Florida. On the show Scott and Nick talk about tough spots and how he got out of them as well as his biggest takeaways a week or two after the event. If you have ever thought of running your first ultra, we think you'll enjoy his story!
Jason ran 50 marathons in 50 states before the project but he had never run an ultra. Katie dealt with multiple physical ailments. They both figured it out alongside their coach en route to their first ultra. This episode is their recap show of the race. Enjoy!
Lucja Leonard is a Dutch-born Aussie-Brit currently residing in the USA. Wife to Dion Leonard, and Fur-mama to Gobi and Lara, check out 'Finding Gobi' the NY Times bestselling book for more details on that side of her life.
Lucja is an ultra-runner but has not always been one! After becoming overweight in her early 20's Lucja took up running to become a healthier, fitter version of herself and after running her first road marathon, Amsterdam in 2010, she discovered a love of going long and went on to run the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon; a 6 stage, 7-day self-sufficient multistage ultra-marathon through the Kalahari desert in northern South Africa where she fell in love with ultra-running.
Lucja has since gone on to run a multitude of multistage and single stage ultras with the likes of Marathon Des Sables, Leadville 100, Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, Mohican 100 and even 200+miles non-stop with Bigfoot200 and Moab 240. Most recently she tackled the TransRockies Race, a multistage ultra in Colorado with her friend, Amanda, running as a pair with 120miles and 20,000ft over 6 days as 'Team Granny Pants' where they duo came third open female team.
Lucja is also a running and health coach and can be found traveling all over the USA, exploring the most amazing places while working alongside her husband Dion, and his book 'Finding Gobi' with inspirational talks at corporate events, schools, libraries and running stores.
Amanda Asher is a single mother of 3 teenagers (son 17 and twin daughters 15) and 2nd grade elementary school teacher who started ultra-running in 2016 when she tackled her first 50k in Huntsville, Tx – Rocky 50. Since that time, she has taken on dozens of races across Texas, ranging anywhere from 13 milers to 100k’s. Shortly after completing her first 50k, Amanda ran her first mountain race in 2016 when she took on the Pikes Peak Ascent, followed by the Leadville Trail marathon in 2017. Most recently Amanda competed in her first team relay alongside her daughters as they raced the clock during a 12-hour relay at Spider Mountain in Texas. The 3 of them along with one additional teammate – placed 1st female team. Amanda used this race in May as a training run for her most recent endeavor that took place in Colorado – the Transrockies Stage Race – Amanda, alongside her teammate Lucja Leonard, managed to take the podium 4 out of the 6 days. Placing 3rd overall for the week. When Amanda is not busy raising her 3 teenagers or working on lesson plans for her second graders, she can be found solo backpacking all over the U.S., completing various sections of the CDT, John Muir Trail, AT, and hundreds of miles of loop trails, within Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado.
It is always a fun time when Lucja is involved. We loved this conversation with Lucja and her adventure buddy, Amanda. These ladies tell us all about tackling the Transrockies stage race together and how they came up with their team’s name, Granny Panties, it is a great story! Amanda talks about finding balance with adventuring, raising three kids and work. When you hear her talk about it you will think it is possible for you too. Lucja shares her latest adventures and what she has coming up. These ladies are big supporters of each other and other women. I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!
Dave and his coach and RDof Jack's 50k recap his efforts in Florida for his first ultra. It was tough and there were ups and downs but he lived to share his story! We hope you all enjoy the show!
After 6 months of training and hanging out to share their journey on this podcast Natalie and Dayna have gone out and done the thing they trained for so diligently. They take the time to reflect on the experience and it was great to hear their story and the pride they took in their efforts. Enjoy!
Pamela Chapman is a 66-year-old ultra-runner, cancer survivor, nurse anesthetist and inspirational speaker. At the age of 19 she was diagnosed with cancer and given six months to live. When she outlived the diagnosis, she was told she would never be able to have children. She gave birth to three daughters and raised them as a single mother. After her children finished college and began lives of their own, Pam looked for things to fill her time. She rode a Harley on the weekends, became a licensed sailboat captain, learned to surf in Costa Rica, then ran a 100-mile race. Pam never ran in a foot race of any distance before the age of 55; not even a 5k. Her first race ever was the 100-mile Rocky Racoon Ultra in 2011. Since then, Pam has completed in over 68 ultra-marathons including, Badwater 135 five times. She holds USA records in her age group for 24 hours, 48 hours, 100 miles, and 100k, in the 2019 Six Days in The Dome 24 hour race she came in 1st female and 2nd overall.
Pam is a true legend! This talk was so empowering and positive. Pam discusses the many challenges she has had during her life. She has overcome them with a strong faith and the ability to always be grateful. Her story is truly amazing. We chat about how her running career began. We also discuss taking on those big races including the Badwater 135 five times. Pam is also a champion for women, she is determined to prove that age should not define what you can do. When I think of a strong woman role model it is Pamela Chapman that comes to mind.
Jennifer was never an athletic kid, always picked last at PE, made fun of for her weight, struggled with body image and eating disorders in high school through grad school eventually gained a lot of weight in college, decided to start running her junior year and gradually worked up to her first 5k two years later, then ran her first marathon a few years after that. She ran on and off for the next 10 years and trained for her first ultra-distance. After having her son, she jumped back into running, but found out she had a torn labrum in her left hip, had surgery followed by a long rehab, eventually she switched to trails and ran more ultras including a 50 miler.
Jennifer’s transition into photography began when she met her friend Kristy through a FB group, started pacing her at Ornery Mule Racing events and took cell phone pics of her while at races. The RD would frequently repost her pics and eventually offered to hire her to photograph some races. Jennifer gradually took over photographing all of their races as well as some in other states. Health issues have prevented Jennifer from training for her own races, so this is a way for her to stay involved in the community.
Jennifer has the most amazing attitude and the way she deals with setbacks is inspiring. We talk about Jennifer’s ultra-marathons and the Barkley Fall Classic. We discuss her many injuries and how she always reinvents herself to stay involved in a community she loves. Jennifer’s transition into photographing races is a great story. “It’s never too late to go for a big dream – don’t be the obstacle”.
Jennifer is also a contributor to Silent Sports Magazine and Ultra Runner Magazine.
@luoyunghwa
Coach Ellie Greenwood fields questions from Dayna and Natalie who always have great and unique questions. You only get one first ultra so it will be awesome to see what these women do with theirs! Ellie shares that neither one of these runners missed a sinlge training assignment. So impressive and we are sure it will pay off. Enjoy the show!
Dave has had some ups and downs for sure in this training cycle. From oppressive desert heat to a nagging achilles issue, he has weathered it all and is ready to test himself in Florida at Jack's 50k. His coach Dawn answers last minute questions and makes sure he is ready to go run her race in her late brother's name. Enjoy the show.
So much of the last few weeks leading up to your first ultra is the mental game of it all. Having a coach who understands this and can give you perspective is so helpful for first time ultra runners. On this episode, coach Hillary fields questions and lays out what to expect on race day for Jason and Katie! Enjoy the show.
As Jackson reports back from his first ultra, a few weeks before the rest of the Season 12 crew, we get to learn how it all went down for him. Did he make good pre race nutrition decisions? Did he hit any walls? Nick on the other hand still has a few weeks of training to get ready for the Florida ultra and he asks more specific race day questions. Enjoy the show.
Colleen Rue is a 2x Ironman finisher, Ultra-marathoner, marathon maniac and an endurance fanatic. She is a wife and mother of two teenagers and has 20+ years’ experience as a coach, personal trainer, and instructor in the fitness industry. Known as the Voice of the Mountain at 29029 Everesting events, she has been all over the US as a host, emcee, and race announcer. Colleen has an ability to connect people with brands and events in a way that fosters personal growth and develops bonds for life.
Be brave and do not be afraid of no. Wise words from Colleen, and words that have served her well. This was such a fun conversation for us. Colleen is so genuine and open; we could have continued this conversation for hours. Colleen shares her journey to becoming the voice of the mountain for 29029 Everesting events and the voice of Vacation races. We also talk running ultras and Trans Rockies and so much more. Colleen has several ultras under her belt and lots of great stories. We know you will enjoy Colleen as much as we did!
IG: @colleenrue
@voiceofthemountain
FB: @colleenrue
Web: raceannouncing.com
Dayna had an awful time on a recent trail marathon and she is using that lesson in her fueling now and has seen positive results. Natalie runs at all hours after international travel. Both women do their beer mile. It was a great chat with a few of our favorite people. Enjoy the show!
Training for his first ultra in the super hot desert climate is tough but when the weather starts to change everything seems to come together. That is where David is with his training and longer efforts. Enjoy the show that shares the journey of new ultra runners!
As Jackson gets ready for his upcoming effort in Minnesota, we talk about mindset and strategy for the 50k. Nick is hitting longest runs most weeks now and continues to train hard! Enjoy the show about the journey of first time ultra runners!
Rebecca Roehm never dreamed that she would be running for the fun of it. Growing up in Ohio, she played basketball and tennis and always considered running as a punishment. In 2016, the only open treadmill at the gym jump started her foray into running. With the help of a friend and a new pair of running shoes, Rebecca signed up for her first 5k. Less than 18 months later, Rebecca found herself as one of the featured runners on Season 4 of Becoming Ultra where she completed the Minnesota Voyageur 50 miler.
The experience of the Becoming Ultra project has led Rebecca to continually challenge herself. One of the lessons she took away from the experience was that it is important to do hard things. When asked why she runs ultras she responds, “If you aren’t challenging yourself, you aren’t growing as a person.” Some of her notable races include the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Zion 50k, Bandera 100k, the Javelina Jundred 100 miler, and most recently the Last Annual Vol State 500k.
When Rebecca is not working or running, she is traveling with her husband, volunteering, and co-leading the local Portland Oregon chapter of Trail Sisters. One of her passions is increasing the participation of women in sports, especially trail running. She hopes that her experiences as an athlete can inspire others to try something new and do hard things.
We had a lot of fun talking to our friend, Rebecca. This lady is one of the most supportive people we have ever met. She embodies everything the Becoming Ultra community stands for. Rebecca takes us from her first Ultra, a 50 miler to most recently the Vol State 500k and everything in between. She talks about chasing cutoffs and not getting discouraged by finishing DFL or even a DNF. She is wise enough to know there is value in every experience. Listening to Rebecca will inspire you to do something big!
Caitlin grew up in Oakland, CA and now lives in San Francisco, CA with her boyfriend, Daniel after going to college in the Midwest. She grew up playing soccer, then rugby, then discovered Australian Rules Football after graduating from college in 2015. She made the national Australian Rules Football team in 2019 and was going to compete in Australia in 2020 in the International Cup, but then COVID shut the world down. The outdoors have always been a huge part of Caitlin’s life. Her parent’s first took her backpacking when she was 3 years old and did numerous trips in the Sierra Nevada’s that Caitlin eventually came to love (although at first, she thought her parents were torturing her and depriving her of a normal childhood). She discovered distance running in 2014 when she was training to hike across Spain but didn’t have the time to go on longer hikes so resorted to running. In 2016, she came to the realization that you can not only hike on trails, but you can also run on them! She ran her first trail marathon in 2017 and applied to Becoming Ultra at the end of 2021 right after she had foot surgery for a foot injury that had sidelined her from running for a year and a half. Since then, she’s re-fallen in love with trail running and has found amazing communities though Becoming Ultra and Trail Sisters. She’s run two 50Ks, an “ultra” Ragnar, and has her first 50-mile race in Oregon in early July.
Ever wonder where exposing your children to the great outdoors can lead? Caitlin grew up with parents who exposed her to lots of camping, hiking, and backpacking in amazing places. It is so fun to hear her talk about her adventures throughout her life, which includes a very special hike with her Dad. Caitlin shares her experience with training for her first ultra and the disappointment of dealing with an injury. We also discuss her first 50-mile race at Mt. Hood (that she crushed by the way). This is a fun, feel good episode. I will leave you with one of Caitlin’s favorite quotes that I cannot stop thinking about. “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire”.
Cale came to running as he signed up for his first sprint triathlon in 2011. He hated running and only ran when it involved team sports. It took several years to enjoy running as he often worked only on speed and trying to be faster. This often resulted in nagging injuries that curtailed his running. This cycle repeated itself until becoming selected for season 11 of Becoming Ultra. Learning the reasons behind different types of runs was critical. It allowed him to keep running and build up strength and stamina. He is a father of two boys Colin age 17 and Ian 15. Cale and Meghan will be celebrating 20 years of marriage on July 6th, 2022. Being able to share their long runs together is a big part of their relationship and helps them get out and enjoy Central Oregon and all its beautiful surroundings. Cale is passionate about developing leaders outside of running. He has two companies that he runs-Crestcom which is a leadership development franchise and B2B Transportation which is a full-service freight brokerage. He has coached youth basketball since 2011 and loves the game.
Meghan picked up running when her kids were young. She would put them in the jogger, give them their snacks and drinks and hit the road! She has always been active and often attended group fitness classes prior to picking up running. She is an amazing wife and mother to two boys aged 15 and 17. She has a magnet on her fridge that she lives by."I create peacefullness in my mind, and my body reflects this peacefullness as perfect health." She enjoys cooking and helping her family lead a healthy lifestyle. She has been a nurse her whole life and currently works in ICU . She applied to Season 9 of Becoming Ultra and was not selected. It turned out to be a great thing because Cale and her both applied to Season 11 and were selected to run their first Ultra at Desert Rats 50k in April of this year. She finished her first Ultra in just over 7 hours. She loved it so much she signed up for season 12's event to cheer and support them in their journey to complete their first Ultra. She recently set a PR in a road half of 1:51:47 and beat Cale who also PRed at 1:53:46. She is sneaky fast when she wants to be. She will tell you she is not competitive but every now and then it comes out and she starts taking souls out on the course!
Meghan and Cale recently completed R2R and are looking at when they will do R2R2R or R3. They are signed up for Jacks 50K race in Florida and look forward to supporting season 12 runners on their inaugural 50k.
We had such a great time catching up with our friends Cale and Meghan. They are another awesome couple we met through the Becoming Ultra Community who share the love of trail running together. We talk about their ultra-journey and the impact it has had on both their family life and careers. Cale talks about how his job stress was the catalyst for a life change. I was personally so inspired by this. Cale and Meghan have a very supportive relationship. Hearing them talk about how they balance everything will make you feel empowered. Meghan also shares how she keeps peacefulness in her life. This one will leave you feeling encouraged and motivated.
Hillary is back from UTMB related travel and Jason and Katie have been getting it done. Katie has dealt with ailments but is coming out on the other end! Jason is staying very discipliined with crazy early runs. We talk training and of course ask questions about birds, dumb ones, and physical therapy to keep it fun! Enjoy the show!
Gina Lucrezi is a professional ultra-trail runner and the founder of the Trail Sisters Community and on line journal. She is a huge advocate for promoting women’s trail running and outdoor activity. She loves sharing her thoughts and experiences through words and photographs. Gina holds the women’s FKT on Mt. Whitney’s standard route, is a USATF Trail 10k Champion, 2012 Team USA 1st place world long distance champion, and 2x winner of the Leadville Silver Rush 50 miler and a 5th place finish at CCC 100k.
A true champion for gender equality in the sport of ultrarunning. Gina has a great spirit and is fulfilling her mission to increase women’s participation and opportunity in trail running and hiking through inspiration, education, and empowerment. We covered so much on this one. Listen to Gina share about the Trail Sisters Community from the start and how it has impacted her life. We also talk about Gina’s rich running history and current 100-mile goals. There is a lot to unpack in this one. I will leave you with some words of encouragement from Gina written after our podcast. Take a bet on yourself!
Yesterday I had the opportunity to be interviewed by the lovely ladies of My First Ultra podcast (it was a blast!). One of their final questions was, "What special message would you like to share with listeners?" This is usually a toughie...as multiple things come to mind, and I'm a talker :)I decided to speak about the practice of building confidence, and remembering to take a bet on yourself. Like anything else we do in life, practice makes perfect. We repeat a process, learning what works (and doesn't), and fine tune it. Building one's confidence takes that same repetition and fine tuning! Every day, focus on one action that reminds and strengthens your belief in yourself. This does not have to be running related...just something you enjoy and can demonstrate your capabilities.A daily practice of positive reinforcement will build that "I Can!" attitude, and sets you on a path for stronger confidence in whatever may come your way!
IG - @ginalucrezi
trailsisters.net
You know the saying, "life's what happens while you are busy making plans", well, it's mostly true and it's definitely the experience Jackson and Nick have had in the last week or so. The ability to be flexible in life and sport is always a theme and we think today's show is a good reminder of doing the right thing at the right time! We hope you enjoy the show!
David has been training for his first 50k in some of the hottest weather in the country and is coming along. The achilles issue seems to be slowly going away and he has turned his focus on other aspects of his running and especially fueling. Dawn gives him some ideas on natural foods over packaged endurance products! Enjoy the show.
Dayna and Natalie are both plugging away and nailing their training but it seems they both ran into the dreaded stomach issues on long efforts this last week. Coach Ellie and Scott help troubleshoot so they don't have to experience it again anytime soon! Enjoy the show!
We want to inspire you today with someone special. When most people hear the name Mickey Maurer it is related to business or writing because he has had much success with both. But today we are going to talk about adventure, giving, and happiness, areas where he has also had much success. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Mickey over the last 17 years. We may have bonded over being persuaded to represent our age brackets at the Corporate Challenge in the running events over the years. Mickey is one of the most positive, giving, and energetic people I know. Mickey Maurer’s career as an attorney, author and entrepreneur has included cable television, film production, radio broadcasting, publishing, real estate, and banking. Mickey is an active participant in numerous business, civic, educational, and philanthropic organizations. In 2001, Mickey established Mickey’s Camp, a charitable endeavor that has raised over $3 million for central Indiana charities. Recently he traveled to Poland to help with the Ukrainian refugees. Some of Mickey’s hobbies include mountain climbing, having successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, skiing, and underwater photography. At 80 years old he doesn’t seem to be sitting idle.
What a fun conversation we had with Mickey. Mickey is a person that is always learning and using his skills and knowledge to help others. On this podcast we talk about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu twice. We had a heartfelt conversation about his recent trip to Poland to help with the Ukrainian refugees. This was my favorite part of the podcast. According to Mickey one of the keys to happiness is to stay curious. There is definitely some inspiration and wisdom here. Stay curious friends!
Dreama Walton is an experienced mountain athlete with hundreds of miles spent in the Alps, multiple ultra-marathons in the desert landscapes of the Canary Islands, and day to day training in the upper altitudes of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, she is well aware of the kind of innate desire and commitment it takes to be an endurance athlete. She knows what an important role diet before, during, and after training and competition play in overall wellbeing. She has experienced firsthand the limitations placed on her with poor hydration, using ill designed equipment, and a lack of a level head when things don’t go as planned. She has accepted that running during bad weather is her way of paying dues for running during the good days. Running on no sleep rewards her by letting her see pieces of this planet that most people will only have the opportunity to see on the discovery channel. Pushing her body and mind allows her to see what the human animal is capable of when she reaches the end of a challenging race. The elation she feels when the race is done is the reward for hours, days, and weeks of training. This is why she loves ultra-running so much. It allows you to see that the only limits we have as humans we place on ourselves. Dreama is also a mother to an amazing little girl and loves showing her that we can do difficult things and that if she wants something bad enough, she too can put in the work to achieve it.
On this podcast Dreama talks about some of the struggles she has faced in her life and how they shaped her strong work ethic as a runner and in life. We also discuss balancing being a single parent and chasing big goals. Dreama is a very strong mountain climber so of course we had to talk nutrition. We felt so inspired after talking to Dreama. She has found a nice balance and figured out how to keep the focus on happiness and love. We are excited to follow along with her summer adventures!
IG- @dreamawalton
Dawn and David continue the coach and runner back and forth as he continues to run in some crazy heat. His longest back to back is coming up. Achilles is seeming to hold up! Enjoy the show!
Nick and Jackson are seeing their fitness improve as they keep plugging away. Their miles are going up and the back to backs are getting real. Listen as two runners train for their first ultra!
Natalie is in Colorado and loving the "flat" runs and weather. The run streak is on and Dayna still gets up early to get it in. Natalie learns how to run after dinner and in jeans. We have a great chat about volunteers and finding comminity in this crazy sport! Enjoy!
Hannah Allgood is originally from Wisconsin but has lived in Colorado Springs since 2016 with her husband Gil and vizsla, Gunner. She works as a pediatric sports medicine physical therapist at Children's Hospital Colorado and began trail running in 2019 because of Gil. That same year she ran her first 50k, The Dirty Thirty. Hannah enjoyed the 50k-100k distances the most, but is looking forward to eventually running a 100 miler. She holds the course records for the Fall Back Blast 50k, Indian Creek Fifties 55k, and Gorge Waterfalls 100k. When she is not running, she enjoys hiking with her dog, baking desserts, and reading. The thing she loves most about trail running is being outside for long hours with her friends.
This was a fun conversation; Hannah is full of positivity and energy. We discuss how she has evolved as a trail runner since her first race in 2019. We also talk about self-doubt and importance of believing in yourself. We dive into the impact coaching has had on her, both mentally and in running. We chat about the importance of strength training. Hannah takes us through her recent Gorge Waterfalls 100k win. Hannah is one to watch, she has some big things coming up. I loved this quote from her “later becomes never” she definitely embraces that.
IG - @shesallgood21
David is recovering from a nagging achilles issue and Dawn conitnues to consult on how best to get past the pain. Dawn shares her Badwater story and even though things didn't go as planned she is happy to be on the other end of it all healthy. Enjoy the show!
Scott has a great talk with Nick and Jackson about training and what to expect in the near future with their training. The idea of staying present in running and worklife came up as Nick is about to head back to school to teach and Jackson's work flow changes seasonally. It was a great call and we hope you all enjoy!
Alexa Hasman lives in Portland, Oregon and is a mom to two small humans, ages 5 and 7. She owns a coaching business called Fit Life which she opened in 2014. She likes to make each of her clients feel special and empowered as they work towards their goals. She also owns a race company with her business partner, Zina. They purchased it a year and a half ago and just kicked off their second season of races. The company is called Gorgeous Relay Series and they do one day relays in the most beautiful parts of Oregon. They can also be run as ultras, as a single person team and that is something Alexa is most passionate about growing for this business. Alexa is currently finishing her dual masters in exercise science and sports psychology and will then be pursuing her PhD in sports psychology. In her free time, she is a passionate ultrarunner with a love for the longer and more mountainous races.
Did you ever meet someone that felt so familiar? That is how we felt when talking to Alexa. We had a great conversation about how she is using her coaching business and race company to empower women. You feel her passion for this when she speaks. Alexa is also a busy mom of two young children. It is always interesting to hear how inspiring women balance priorities. We also discuss her recent 100 miler and the community she has embraced and is working to build. We recorded this one on a Friday morning. It was the best way to kick off the weekend!
IG - @alexahasman Owner/Coach: @fitliferunlife
Owner/Race Director: @gorgeousrelayseries
•ultrarunner •vegan athlete •mom www.thefitlifepdx.com/schedules
Once again Dayna and Natalie prove to be the disciplined and coachable runners we hope for with this project. Natalie gets back to Colorado and Dayna keep plugging away. Someone is worried about alligators in Florida. Ellie shares her epic berry expeditions. It was a great chat and we hope you enjoy it all!
Ultra runner Pam Smith shares her training and race experience with the epic Badwater 135 run through Death Valley. We talk about why she thinks confidence is underrated and how she prepared for Badwater. It's a great chat that shows how many different ways strong runners get to the finish line! Enjoy the show!
Christy has been playing sports since she was a young girl and carried her love for Soccer into high school where she played Varsity and was captain her senior year. She absolutely hated running and can remember barely finishing the one mile run during try-outs. Fast forward a few years, Christy continued playing on co-ed leagues, and stayed semi active, but soon after she married her husband, got pregnant with her first daughter, Emma, and two years later, had her second daughter Carleigh. After her second daughter, she started to run more to get back into shape, and when she was finally hitting her groove, BAM, she found out she was pregnant with baby number 3. Baby 3 would be the turning point of her entire life, where she soon found out at 20 weeks that her son, Alex, had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and would later pass away at 24 weeks pregnant. After losing Alex, Christy created a social media page called All For Alex where she set a goal to run 100 miles in July to honor his short life. This page allowed the community and even people from around the world to join in with this July goal and friends, families and strangers were flooding the page with running pictures in July in honor of Alex. Since that day, Christy hasn't slowed down...well actually she did when she got pregnant again in September with identical twin boys who were born that following May.
Lauren first started running in 2015 after a tragic house fire. She was living in an apartment where she found the apartment gym one day and would run to relieve the stress. When the stress or anxiety would consume her, she started to hit the pavement and never looked back. Lauren continued running throughout the years, finished her first half marathon, and even while pregnant with her daughter in 2021, continued to run and stay active . Christy and Lauren have always been super close, but when Christy moved on the same street as Lauren, they started to chat more about crazy challenges which one would always convince the other to do.
They have both ran at least one race a month for over two years, completed the 24-hour Yeti ultra-challenge, and they just completed their first 12 hour ultra this past August.
We had a blast hanging out with Christy and Lauren. We discuss their super fun Instagram. They talk about how it keeps them motivated and accountable. We also talk about balancing family, work and staying healthy. They have some great advice for those of us trying to find balance. Their support of each other is really special. They are very different runners but always work together to achieve big goals and keep each other going. We love these stories of support. Enjoy!
IG- BecomingUltraMoms
Liza Howard trained in the Texas heat and the Lifetime fitness sauna for the effort that is Badwater 135. Crazy heat, stomach issues, hypernatremia and more didn't keep her from finishing. Enjoy the chat today on the show and be sure to check out our updated website!
Coach Ellie is moving her runners right along as they have not missed a single run in their training so far.. Pretty amazing to be honest. Dayna deals with extreme Texas heat and Natalie finds a way to check out the Badwater course. Enjoy the show!
Angela Tortorice lined up for her first marathon in support of her former husband, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. Since then, she has taken part in 999 marathons across North America and all 50 U.S. states. Through this journey, she has raised over $170,000 for MS. On April 2, 2022 she finished her 1,000th marathon at the Irving Marathon in Irving, Texas making her the youngest woman to complete 1,000 marathons, at the age of 54 years old. She also holds the record for most marathons run in a calendar year but a woman (129).
Most people have running one marathon on their bucket list. Running 1,000 seems unimaginable to most people but Angela is not like most people. On this podcast she talks about why the marathons and raising money for Multiple Sclerosis is so important to her. We also talk about how she has managed her life to achieve this huge accomplishment. She also shares some mental tricks that have come in handy over the last 25 years. Angela is proof that if you are committed and passionate about something you can accomplish big things.
www.rtdtexas.com
The training continues for Jackson and Nick as they both ramp up their efforts. Nick is looking for a good effort at a half marathon this weekend and Jackson is getting his head around longer efforts and more time training with the balance of family life. Enjoy the show!
On this episode Dawn shares her crazy Badwater experience and Dave is flying solo after Makena drops out of the project. Enjoy the show!
Hey friends, we are back for another season! Catch up with us after our month off and let's chat about some upcoming guests!
Rebecca Roehm is no stranger to sufferfests as she was the only Becoming Ultra runner to run her first ultra as a 50 miler at the Voyageur 50 in Minnesota a few years back. Since then she has done a 100k, a 100 miler, and just last week she took on the Vol State run across the state of Tennessee. She covered 314 miles in 7 days and so we had to have a chat while it was still fresh and while she was easy to get ahold of recoverng from the effort. Enjoy the show!
To say that Katie has been through the ringer in the last few weeks is about right. Running setbacks and illness got her down but she is making a strong comeback. Jason continues to beat the Florida heat with early runs and wonders, "Does Hillary even like me?" after some of the tough training! Enjoy the episode!
On this episode we learn a new tactic to get first in line for a new car and we find that surprise, Texas is hot! Dayna and Natalie are doing great in their training and get some great coaching from Ellie Greenwood once again! Enjoy the show!
Nick and Jackson have been training hard and seeing some results recently. Nick is getting close to his longest run ever in training and feeling pretty good. Jackson get's some family time and continues to push! Enjoy this episode of the Becoming Ultra show!
Scott gets to talk with Shawn Livingston about his life and running. Shawn's life from early sports to military and now, ultra runner, has plenty of lessons about addiction, family, and perseverence.
Natalie and Dayna continue their journey to run their first ultra! Natalie wants to be a morning runner but does it even makes sense to try? Dayna went out fast in her hot 10k on pavement, in Texas. Ellie helps guide these two runners through it all!
Jackson and Nick are both doing great from different parts of the country and different levels of training early on. Nick get past a frustrating foot issue and Jackson has a 25k he is ready to push at for a little competition. Enjoy the show!
On this episode Jason and Katie are training more after recovering from big efforts and nagging injury so we get to see what their coach, Hillary Allen, has them doing. Don't worry, we dive into more bird questions with Katie from hawks to babies and what to do if they fall out of the nest. Jason talks about the importance of preventative care! Enjoy the show.
On this episode we troubleshoot issues Dave is having with achilles and catch up with Maken after her most recent race, a 25k in Whistler. Enjoy the show!
Zoe is a Colorado based writer and trail runner. Southern storyteller turned mountain dweller, she starts every day with a cup of strong coffee and a good story. Her work has appeared on NPR, in REI Co-op Journal, Discover, Rock & Ice, Trail runner, Backpacker, and Threshold Podcast. Zoe merges her passion for storytelling with her love of trail running in her work as an editor at Trail Runner magazine. She currently hosts and produces the DNF podcast from Trail Runner magazine. Her trail running accomplishments include 1st place at the Crested Butte 100k, Athens Big Fork Trail Marathon and two consecutive wins at the War Eagle 50k. Her running and coaching are powered by the belief that with smart, efficient training and enough self-belief earth is 97% runnable.
I can’t think of anyone else who finds as much joy in running as Zoe. Her motto is pay attention to the things that make you feel joyful and run towards them. We had so much fun talking with Zoe. We talk about how she juggles running, writing, and podcasting and stays present. Zoe tells us why she always knew she would be a writer. We talk about how she found her way to running and the parallels between running and writing. Zoe in Greek means full of life, and we think it describes her perfectly.
IG- @carrot_flowers_z
https://www.trailrunnermag.com/collection/the-trail-runner-podcast
On their second call of the season Nick and Jackson are plugging away. We have a good chat about footwear and getting around some discomfort early in the training with Nick and Jackson is balancing multiple time intensive roles with work while trying to get his training in. Nothing too crazy but definitely things most of us runners go through at some point! Enjoy.
Coach Dawn and Scott get to know Makenna. Dave is ramping up and dealing with a small niggle. Dawn gives tips on finding a good ART specialist. Enjoy!
Jameelah Abdul-Rahim Mujaahid is a Georgia super-woman, she is a single mom of 6, works a full-time job and runs Ultra marathons. It is common for Jameelah to drive several hours to a race, run 100 miles, jump in her car for the long drive home and go to work the next day. Jameela has always been athletic and excelled at the 100 meters to 400 meters. In her adulthood she became fascinated with the longer distances, she would go out and make herself run as far as she could, this began her obsession with running the long distances. Always looking for more Jameelah has accomplished some big goals from 100k and 100 miles to multi-day races up to 314 miles. Jameelah does not believe in quitting!
We are going to call this one the no excuses episode. After listening to Jameelah you will be inspired to think of reasons to succeed instead of excuses to quit. Jameelah shares so much with us including the moment that changed her life. We also discuss ultra-running and motherhood and how she has managed to do it all and remain devoted to her family. Giving is very important to Jameelah, she talks about how she is giving back to the community and encouraging minorities to get involved in running. Jameelah believes 100% that if you are here, it is not impossible.
IG- @hotlotsofkids
Jason and Katie are back for their second call of the season and Jason came with stories of running 7 marathons in 8 days last week on his quest to run one in every state. He also give some good PT advice to his teammate Katie who is dealing with some foot issue. They both have recovery planned from their coach, Hillary Allen!
We wanted to put together something more organized for the Season 12 race weekend and this is what we came up with, an epic St. Augustine, Florida weekend with running, adventure, amazing food, and of course, the ocean!
We hope you'll consider joining us!
Be Ultra Coastal Retreat
Getting the training in is often about choices so when the decision to eat shrimp and grits or potatoes came for Natalie, you won't be surprised what she picked. Dayna is dealing with the Texas summer heat. Both runners are doing great but there is lots of training ahead!
Shawn Goertz is a 49-year-old recovering addict and cancer survivor. After a 20-year addiction he has been sober since 2007. On any given Thursday in the spring and fall you can find Shawn and his girlfriend, Andrea marking the trails of Three Creeks Conservation Area near Columbia, Missouri for that evening’s trail run. Trail running has been a lifesaver for him. To his local community, Shawn is an inspiration. His kindness, understanding, motivation, and ability to bring people together has helped many find their love of the trails. Shawn supports others in their efforts and has improved the lives of those around him. Shawn currently lives in Missouri with his dog Opie and spends time hitting the trails with his ultra-runner girlfriend, Andrea.
This was such an open, honest conversation about the struggles of addiction and much more. Shawn’s story is one of hope and giving back. We talk about how he made his way from prison to trail running. We also talk about how giving back to the trail running community has impacted Shawn’s life. He shares the struggles of dealing with injuries and slowing down on the trails. Shawn shares the touching story of his emotional Lake Tahoe Ultra where he spread his Mother’s ashes, it was a full circle moment for him. I wrote down many things he said but one thing I can’t stop thinking about is “we can only keep what we have by giving it away”. We will be cheering Shawn on in everything he does. I think you will be too!
What a ride! 50 episodes!! We are so thankful for each and every guest we have had on the show and their willingness to share their stories. We are also incredibly grateful for our listeners! We love doing this gig...so thank you! This episode is a summary of all the incredible words of encouragment our guests have left us with. Enjoy!
David has a lot to run for as you will hear in today's episode. Makena couldn't make the call so we will get to meet her soon as well! Coach Dawn gets to meet her runner and we get to know David throughout the call. Enjoy!
Jessie Gladish was born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. She considers herself lucky to have parents who took her and her sister camping, hiking, skiing, and taught them that being outside is possible in any weather and in the dark. After high school she moved to British Columbia to attempt post-secondary school and ended up working and traveling more than going to classes. She has since worked hard and earned a diploma in Adventure Guiding in 2012, and in 2021 finished a science degree in earth and environmental science with a focus on geology. Jessie has been running off and on since 2006. Jesse has now completed the Moab 240 twice; the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra 300-mile race; winter ultras; desert ultras; 430 miles on skis; 300-mile Iditarod Trail; 120 mile fat bike race; 233 miles in the Yukon Ultra on her bike and many other races. Jessie currently lives a life of adventure with her husband in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jessie is not your typical adventurer; she is whole other level. There is a quiet unassuming confidence about her that comes through. On this episode you may just get lost in her story telling like we did. We talked a lot about her experiences taking on the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra. We discuss how her childhood impacted her life of adventure. We also talk about the mental toughness it takes to accomplish such hard goals. There are also some good wildlife encounter stories on this episode. We are really hoping Jessie writes a book. We will be the first to buy it! I know you will enjoy this one and find a lot of inspiration from Jessie.
Here is one of Jessie's race reports! Enjoy!
2015 Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra Race Report By: Jessie Thomson-Gladish
February 23rd, 2015: Over the past two weeks, I trudged at a speed of 3.5-4.5 km/hr, pulling a 65lb pulk loaded with all my winter survival and camping essentials, food and water. This steady pace for 12 and a half days propelled me from Whitehorse to Dawson City on the Yukon Quest sled dog trail. The MYAU is a single-stage, multi-day race with four distances: a traditional 26 mile marathon, 100 miles, 300 miles, and the 430 mile. Participants choose one of 3 modes of transport: on foot, on cross-country skis, or on a fat tire snow bike. Each one has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the temperature, snow fall, terrain and mechanical issues.
Why?
I chose to attempt the 430 mile, on foot. Everyone wants to know why. Why do the race at all? Why on foot? Why not try the 100 mile first before jumping into the big distance? I wanted to try the YAU because it took me home to the Yukon, it followed the iconic Yukon Quest sled dog trail (a big part of Yukon gold rush history), it offered solitude, and it offered a major personal challenge which I felt I could achieve deep down but the potential for anything to go wrong was there – any mistake could lead to having to scratch from the race. Why on foot, well, I felt it was the simplest mode. Shoes are simple. Skis can break, waxing can be difficult, ski boots can be cold and hard to warm up in; mountain bikes can break down and are expensive to buy. I felt the benefit of coasting down hills on skis or a bike didn’t quite outweigh the idea of walking the trail, although now having completed the distance I would like to try it on skis one year. The two guys from Sweden on their skis seemed to fly by me every day, after having sufficient rest at each checkpoint. I would travel later every night, they would be sleeping when I arrived, and sleeping when I left at 4 or 5am, only to fly by me again later in the morning or afternoon. Why the 430 mile? Well, I didn’t want to arrive at 100 miles, or 300 miles, and feel good and wish I could keep going but have to stop. I figured if I had to scratch at any point I would be happy with the distance I did make, but I wanted that Dawson City destination in my head, just in case I could put one foot in front of the other for the whole way.
1- Start Day
I feel like I could write pages and pages about the race, so I will! There are so many elements to it. The temperature was my biggest concern. We started at -30C in Shipyards Park and the first night at Rivendale Farms Checkpoint 1 on the Takhini River was reported down to -48C. Very cold night. Many people were not prepared for the low temps and when they attempted to camp/bivvy that first night found they were too cold to sleep and too tired to walk. I’m not sure how many racers scratched that first night, it seemed like half the field. The next day was cold too, around -30C all day. I managed to spend the night in my tent, however, I couldn’t pack it up in the morning – I was too cold. I wondered if I was cut out for this and could hardly imagine another 12 days like the first one. Instead of stuffing my tent I just laid it in my sled to deal with it later when I had more body heat. I had never experienced packing up in this kind of cold before, even with growing up in the Yukon. Most normal humans do not go out in these temps and if they do it’s for a short time with a cozy wood stove blazing for their return home. I spent a long time on this first night in my tent, about 10 hours, assessing my abilities and desire to go on. At 5am I was finally moving again, waiting for daylight and some feeling of safety and comfort from the sun so I could mentally recover from the reality of the extreme cold.
2 - Day Two
The next checkpoint would be Dog Grave Lake, which was a long 33 mile (53 km) day. I wore my down jacket with fur-lined hood all day without breaking a sweat. Constantly trying to keep my hands and feet warm and monitoring for frostbite, keeping my face as covered as possible. Luckily it was a beautiful clear day, which makes the cold more bearable. Mountains to the south, snow crystals shining. The man I was walking with that day, Helmut, stopped to take photos more often than I hoped as it slowed us down quite a bit. Eventually, I left him behind as I pushed on to Dog Grave Lake CP, only to find it way farther than I had expected (or it just felt like that). Traveling in the dark (dark by 630pm at this point), alone, through winding low-land alder and willow growth, then up up up a huge climb seemed endless and unfair, until finally reaching the remote CP around 1030pm. The small wall tent was packed with sleeping bodies, and I found out from the volunteers most of them were scratching and waiting for a snowmobile ride out the next day. There was no room for me to sleep in the wall tent, so I set up my sleeping bag on some straw dog beds left over from the mushers who passed through days earlier and slept fairly well in the -41C night. I didn’t set up my tent and instead just slept in my bag with my dads old army bag liner over top – much easier than dealing with tent poles.
3 - Day Three
I woke early and left by 530am, walking by the half-moon light and enjoyed myself, knowing the sun would come up in a few hours and Braeburn CP was my next stop, though not for many miles (35 miles) and hours. Braeburn was the first chance to sleep inside, dry my stuff out, eat a massive burger and let it sink in that I’d traveled 100 miles up to that point. This was the finish line for many, but not even a quarter of the way to Dawson for the 430 mile race!
4 - Day Four
From Braeburn to Ken Lake that fourth day was a beautiful one, although the longest day, at 45 miles, 74.5 km, it was a long haul. Chains of lakes with winding trail through the forests between. A flat day. I enjoyed catching up with Julie Pritchard, who had left Braeburn not long before me. We traveled together in silence and then chatted during our snack breaks. Before the sun set Oliver caught up with us, a 35 year old English doctor, and I ended up leaving the two of them behind to pick up my pace to Ken Lake CP. This was a long night for me, the lakes went on and on, and seemed to go uphill in the darkness. The forests between weren’t as much fun as they were in the daylight and the CP seemed to be farther away than I’d hoped (a recurring phenomenon throughout the race..that last 10 km before each CP was unbelievably long). I’d left Braeburn at 5am and arrived at Ken Lake by 11pm. Ken Lake checkpoint is at a small fishing & hunting cabin with a wall tent set up for athletes to have a meal in. There is no indoor sleeping. I quickly set up my sleeping bag (no tent again), using my pulk to sleep against so I didn’t roll down the sloped ground, changed my shoes and put my glorious down booties on. The small wall tent was warm, and I could dry my shoes and a few things out. I wolfed down the moose chili and a couple buns provided by the CP then hit the bag.
5 - Day Five
I ended up sleeping in until 630am, far later than I wanted! I bolted up, packed up quickly in the cold and filled my thermoses with hot water from the hard-working volunteers and got started on the trail. I was headed for Carmacks, a long 35 miles away.
More lakes to start with, and then the trail wound through a beautiful burned forest, and along the edge of the Yukon River. It felt good to see the Yukon River again. I caught up with Oliver and Tim and traveled with them most of the day. We were all tired and ended up snacking, breaking a lot, and walking painfully slow. We were close to Carmacks around 830/9pm, but still 4 km out when the snowmobile guys, Glenn and Ross, showed up and informed us we were cutting it close for arriving in Carmacks in time to make the 4.5 day cut-off time. We had no idea! We all thought it was the next morning. This kicked us into a gear I didn’t know I had in me, and we literally ran 4 km to Carmacks, pulks flying behind us up small hills, down, and along the river all the way towards the lights of the tiny village. It was not fun, but once we made it in time had a good laugh about how close we were to being pulled out of the race for what would have been a silly mistake.
Carmacks was a great place to be. The recreation center graciously gave us space inside, even for our pulks. So, it was a nice treat to dry everything out, reorganize the pulk, leave some gear behind that was too heavy and not being used, pick up the food drop bag and resupply the snacks. I ended up staying up until midnight as everything takes so long to do. I was able to talk on the phone and even check some emails. It was at this point I was realizing just how many friends and family were following my progress (via SPOTtracker online). I was overwhelmed by the support and love I felt, and it gave me extra energy and motivation.
6 - Day Six
Carmacks to McCabe Creek, 38 miles..another great day, a solitary one, I saw almost no one. The Swedish guys passed me, and we exchanged a few words and the usual smiles and then they were flying away on their skis. The snowmobiles came by once, the comforting fatherly face of Glenn always brightened up my day or night. But other than that, I had a solo day all the way. The sunny, shimmery, winter wonderland day turned into a dark tunnel at night, as usual. This was the worst night of the race for me mentally and physically. It felt endless..endless trail in endless dark. The trail seemed to wind in circles in the forest and at one point I thought I saw a red glow of fire in the distance, but it must’ve been imagined because it took another couple hours, a mental breakdown, and acceptance of reality, before I finally stumbled back onto the river and across it to the CP. It was 10pm. McCabe Creek. Finally. I slept on the floor beside other racers in the shed provided by a local Yukoner’s home. It was hot in the shed, but to let my body rest after such a long day on my feet was such a relief. I ate vegetables which tasted unbelievable. Rice and fish with the veggies then chicken, and then bread and peanut butter with something sweet for dessert.
My body felt broken after this many days on my feet and very little rest – joints screamed, and my bones ached as I lay on the floor in my sleeping bag. It really felt like all the stress and fear of the cold had cumulated in my body and were now being released. It was also the turning point in the race for pain. I felt like if I woke up and was still in this much pain I’d have to quit, but what happened instead was I woke up feeling better than I had since the start. My body figured out what we were doing and suddenly felt stronger day by day from then on, instead of breaking down.
7 - Day Seven
I left early, again. I was walking by 4 or 430am. I’d discovered my prime rest time was between 11pm and 4am, using some darkness to rest but getting away early enough to wait hours for the sunrise and maximize my daylight travel. The Swedish guys were still sleeping, of course, I would see them later on for sure. Today was a 6 mile long powerline walk near the highway towards Minto, then through low lying willow & alder land, along some lakes then eventually finding Pelly Crossing, 28 miles away, on the bank of the Pelly River. A shorter mileage day – but not a piece of cake by any means. I encountered overflow during the low laying land and had to put my snowshoes on to spread out my weight, use my poles to prod for harder ice sections that might not break through, and hope that my pulk didn’t tip over into the puddle of water. I made it through high and dry, but the thought of getting wet feet in this cold environment got my heart racing.
Pelly Crossing arrival in the daylight! That was my goal for the day, it felt great to roll in at 5pm, finally I had gotten somewhere at a ‘decent’ hour. Glenn took me over to the store to buy apples and new snack food, which was all I was thinking about all day! In the rec center I sorted and dried my gear, repacked my sled, visited with volunteers and racers (Oliver and Tim were there, both having scratched due to recurring injuries..back pain and shin splints). I also made a phone call to my Dad and stepmom Denise, who’d been quite anxious and worried up to this point on how I was doing. They were relieved to hear my voice and that I sounded confident and happy, and I think starting to realize I may just make it to Dawson if I kept doing what I was doing. My Dad said if I kept going he would be in Dawson for the finish, and this unexpected news made me so happy; knowing he’d be at the end consumed much of my thoughts for the next 6 days on the trail. After my phone calls and organizing I wolfed down bison stew and went to sleep amongst the other snoring bodies.
8 - Day Eight
3am wake up..bison stew for breakfast..then I was off on the Pelly River for 16 km which was absolutely beautiful in the starry morning and eventual sunrise. The rest of the day was on a road into Pelly Farms (33-mile day) on the longest, most beautiful driveway I’ve ever seen. I was near tears a few times because of the beauty. It was a special day and I travelled alone again all day – I hadn’t been on pace with anyone really at all yet and had spent more time than I ever had on my own in the wilderness. Arriving at the farm at 530pm as the sun was setting felt like a great end to the day. It got even better though once I realized I had arrived to heaven on earth. Pelly Farm is at the end of the Pelly River, just before it hits the Yukon River near Fort Selkirk. Dale and his wife run the farm, they have cows, chickens, pigs, and some beautiful collie dogs running around. Their house is tiny and cluttered, full of life with a real Yukon character; it was warm and inviting. Their generosity knew no bounds – we invaded their home, slept in their bunk beds, dried out gear, drank coffee and tea and used their tiny bathroom. The dinner they provided was a bread loaf pan of lasagna. Probably 2lbs of food. Apparently, it was a mix of bear and beef meat, and man did it taste good. I ate every ounce of it, plus a kit kat bar, and various chocolates and cookies and muffins kicking around. I slept like a log even with Jorn snoring on the bottom bunk, but only for a few hours.
Julie and I woke up at 230am, ate pancakes and amazing farm fresh eggs, packed up and were on the move by 4am. Julie had shown up at the farm the night before, much to my surprise. She’d fallen behind before McCabe Creek due to getting sick and losing a full day of travel time. It was a hard decision, but she decided to scratch from the race. She had been taken to Pelly Crossing, and after some rest and a chat with the RD she decided to take a snowmobile ride to Pelly Farm to catch up with me to see if I wanted to finish the race together. She would be an unofficial racer without a finish ranking, but I think this just shows her true spirit – Julie was there for the trail and experience, not a medal or status. I was more than happy to spend the next few days, the most remote days of the race, together. We’d become a team.
9 - Day Nine
Pelly Farms to Scroggie Creek CP is 65 miles. This meant we’d be camping out overnight somewhere in between the checkpoints. With really great information from Dale at the farm, we traveled about 50 km or so through the gorgeous burned forests and overflow sections, then up a 6 km hill climb and found a place to set up a bivvy beside the trail. We melted some water for our thermoses for the next day, ate a quick freeze-dried meal, and went right to sleep. We meant to wake up early, like 3am, but ended up sleeping in as I didn’t hear my watch alarm buried in my sleeping bag. We slept til 645, and I bolted awake and we quickly packed up and were moving by 730. This meant we were later into Scroggie Creek than we wanted to be, but I suppose we needed the sleep too. We followed a valley all the way, so much of it was flat. A nice “7.5km to go” message was written in the snow by Mark Hines, keeper of Scroggie Creek CP this year, and a 3-time MYAU 430 finisher and professional ultra-athlete. It was so great to meet him, as I’d read his book last summer – a couple times – in preparation for the race and Julie is a good friend of his. We ate dinner and visited in the small cabin. This place is remote and Mark was here for the whole duration of the Yukon Quest and the MYAU (checkpoint manager for the dogs/mushers who started a day before us, plus our race..he was there for about two weeks straight). The only way in is by snowmobile and it’s a long ride out either to Dawson or back to Pelly Farm. The dinner was chicken stew for me, and Mark made Julie a curry dish to make up for the last time he made it for her. I guess he mistook the cayenne for paprika and make it far too hot to the point of being inedible! Julie said this curry was just perfect.
10 - Day Ten
We left Scroggie at 4am. 99 miles to Dawson City from here. 99 miles!! I’d been dreaming of the moment I could say that, especially since I’d made up a song called “99 Miles to Dawson” in preparation for this moment. We were on the Stewart River for a short time, then eventually wound through the forest and into mining territory. We passed cats and bulldozers, haul trucks and sluicers. Great white mounds of snow-covered tailing piles as well.
That day we had the Black Hills/Eureka Dome climb ahead of us. It was a switchback road that took us from about 400m elevation up to almost 1200m. 2.5 hrs later we were sweaty on the top due to warm temps and spent the next few hours gently rolling along the ridge top, with a few surprisingly big hills to climb still. Also up here were many large wolf tracks. If I’d been alone my imagination may have wandered more to terrible scenarios that were unlikely to really happen, but in the company of another we were glad to find the tracks as evidence of animals moving about around us. Before we descended from the hills, we decided to set up a bivvy to get a couple hours sleep. It was already 930pm and Indian Creek CP was still a few hours away.
11 - Day Eleven
We slept until 3am then quietly awoke and packed up our tents to continue on our way. By this point in the race, actually ever since Carmacks, the temperature had risen, it was now much more comfortable traveling. The nights were lows of -12C ish, and daytime highs were even up to -2C. It felt warm. Indian Creek CP was reached just as daylight was breaking. We had Gerard’s amazing coffee, a pot of ichiban noodles, and a nice visit with his rather chubby rotweiller named Celise. Diane (medic) and Yann (photographer) were also hanging out there at the wall tent, so Julie and I had a tough time getting on our way! Coffee and socializing, plus some chocolate treats were enough to keep us there for a couple hours. But we had walking to do. And so, we continued. Our next big obstacle was King Soloman’s Dome, another hefty climb up to 1100m after losing a bunch of elevation the day before. So up we went, starting the climb that night around 7pm. We made it to the first switchback and decided to sleep for a couple hours before the final push to Dawson up and over the Dome, and all the way ‘downhill’ to Dawson on the other side. The night sky was great, bright stars, crisp night, maybe -15C or so, a slight breeze made it feel colder but we were protected by trees. We had boiled water and eaten our freeze-dried meal of choice by 11pm, crawled into our sleeping bags, and apparently, I was snoring within a minute of laying down. The northern lights were the last thing we saw before sleep, they were just coming out to dance as we slept.
12 - Day Twelve
At 2am we packed up. The sky was clouded over, no stars, and a layer of fog to travel through in the middle of the night made our headlamp light difficult to see through. The physical summit of the Dome was anticlimactic, as we still had some uphill grinds to do along the mountaintop, but we did take a photo for Jorn, who had scratched before Scroggie Creek and gave us treats to continue on with, and said we “had to make it to Dawson, for him, and for everyone”. He gave us gummie bear packages and we took our photo holding onto the bright packages in the darkness. I then ate all them at once.
We didn’t have daylight until we were well off the Dome and onto the downhill road descent on Bonanza Creek Road. We ran a little bit, maybe a 6-7 km/hr jog, when we could. Two more sections of overflow to cross as well, just when we thought we’d put it behind us! The snowmobile guides caught up with us at some point, Gary said we were doing great and to just keep going. We knew Bernhard was ahead of us, and Shawn behind. With Dawson in our sights we passed Claim 33, a splash of color, finally after the black and white past couple days, and then past Dredge #4. Joanne and Lucy came out to meet us with hot chocolate. Music was playing from their vehicle to pump us up for the final 13 km. But it ain’t over til it’s over, and in true MYAU form the last 10 km was tough! It was mid-afternoon and we knew we’d arrive in daylight, but it made it no easier or faster. We still plugged along, wondering when the hell we’d see the city and that finish line.
We had a visit with a local man and his Pomeranian fluff ball, then had to skirt past a barking black dog guarding the street. Finally we could see the bridge over the Klondike River and the path which would lead us into town. Walking the riverfront trail into Dawson City felt like coming home, kids playing and sledding, people going about their daily business, probably wondering what we were doing, or not caring at all. I could see the visitors center, which was the finish line and a small crowd of people gathered. My Dad and Denise were standing there just before the finish, relieved to see me looking fine after all that way and all the worrying. Finish line hugs and photos and congrats were a mix of emotions – I was so happy to be done, but also a little sad it was over.
Post-Race Thoughts
There are so many moments that happen in almost 700km of walking. Ups and downs, daylight, nighttime, sunrise, sunset, worrying, wondering, being amazed at scenery, eating and drinking, resting and walking, sleeping minimally, reorganizing, packing/unpacking. Things happen slow, but now that it’s over it feels surreal and fast. 12.5 days of walking. I had thought I’d have some kind of great epiphany, some life revelations, some ingenious moment. Instead, I spent hours worrying about battery life, headlamp quality, how much water I had, my dwindling snack bag, sore hips, then sore heels, then a sore quad muscle, cold hands, layer on layer off, gloves on gloves off. Too hot too cold. Where is the checkpoint, how far have I gone, how fast am I going, how many hours can I sleep tonight? My mind was consumed by the present, which really is the beauty of survival at its simplest. Eat, sleep, water, shelter, keep moving. I loved it all, and even the moments I was alone in the dark and cold I felt in control and ready for anything.
March 15, 2015
It’s been 5 weeks since the start of the MYAU. Recovery has been easier than I thought it would be, but what isn’t easy is realizing it’s all over. The past year of thinking about the ultra, preparing for it, organizing my gear, buying more and more, training with my pulk and having it take up more mental space than I imagined it would has left a void I wasn’t ready for. I want to be back on the trail where life is simple. Move forward, eat, sleep. I miss the sound of my footsteps and the scrape of my pulk on the snow, and the pull of my harness on my hips. I miss the volunteers and the racers, the animal tracks, the snow. I even miss my small headlamp beam in the dark. I plan to do the YAU again in 2017 and that seems too far away.
My official result:
4th place out of 5 finishers on foot for the 430 mile. (19 people at the start line)
1st female in, and the only “official” female finisher of 2015.
2nd woman ever to finish, 1st Canadian woman to complete the 430.
Official time: 293 hours 25 minutes (12.5 days)
Thanks for taking an interest in my write up, and I hope it inspires you to challenge yourself in whatever way you want to.
Links:
http://yannbb.com/ (professional photographer, also on Instagram @_y_a_n_n_b_b_ )
http://www.arcticultra.de/en/event/results/results-2015 (MYAU website and results)
Natalie is the artist and creative in California. Dayna is the software engineer in San Antonio. They both just started training for their first ultra with coach Ellie Greenwood. We hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we do!
Katie is the bird expert. Jason is the physical therapist. They both come to training for their first ultra with coach Hillary Allen with lots of experience and energy to do it right this training block! We can't wait to follow their journey and this episode is a great introduction to who they are as runners and people! Enjoy.
Coach Scott meets his runners for Season 12 for the first time. Nick is from Washington and got inspired seeing his wife recently run her first ultra. Jackson is in Minnesota and has some big goals for himself and to inspire the younger members of his family. We just got to know them both a bit on the first of many calls for Season 12.
Dr. Terrie Wurzbacher is a 73-year-old retired Navy captain who served on active duty for 30 years, she is also an author. After retirement she continued to pursue her love of metaphysics, starting the business Getting Unstuck, LLC. Terrie absolutely hated running until 1993 when she tore her ACL playing softball. Six months after surgery she needed to see if she could run so she could play softball soon. She was 40 years old, fat, a smoker and disgusted with herself. She tried to run until she could get to the end of the block without stopping, by the time she made it she was hooked. A year later she was doing marathons. Due to some medical conditions Terrie took a long break from running. In 2014 she attempted Vol-State, making it 100 miles. Then completing it in 2015, 2018 and 2021. Terrie continues to conquer long distances and is currently working on a book about Vol State and it being a metaphor for life and hope. Terrie is full of wisdom and strength. I don’t think I have ever met anyone with more mental toughness. Terrie is also a person who is passionate about helping people and uses her knowledge to do just that, from honoring veterans, mentoring, to educating people about chronic pain. We talk about her 300-mile Vol State races and how they have impacted her life. I love the mental techniques she uses to keep pushing on. We also talk about pain and the impact it has on people. This is a subject Terrie is very educated in. Terrie also shares the keys to aging happy. We really enjoyed chatting with Terrie and feel grateful for the chance to learn a few things from her.
https://terriewurzbacher.com/about-dr-wurzbacher/
https://www.facebook.com/terriestrek
Coaches Scott Jones, Ellie Greenwood, Hillary Allen, and Dawn Lisenby take the time to find the runners for Season 12 to run their first ultra in Palm Coast, Florida in October. Enjoy the show!
Every season of Becoming Ultra start with people all over getting out of their comfort zone. This is before even one day of training is complete. It's the audio application and you can listen to them here!
Nick Coury started running in junior high, ran high school cross country and track with his older and younger brother, they all ran their first ultra-together when he was 17, and he's been doing them ever since. Nick has done 24 races 100 miles or longer, including 5 finishes at the Hardrock 100, running the World 24 hour twice, and most recently setting the American Record at 24 hours with 173.015 miles. Outside running, Nick has a lovely wife Lauren who is an accomplished ultrarunner on her own, a dog and a cat. Nick is a software engineer at Google, and a part owner of Aravaipa Running. We had such a blast chatting with Nick. Nick has been an ultra-runner for 16 years and has gained a lot of wisdom. He is also part of the family business, Aravaipa Running. The Coury’s are a close family and that really comes through when talking to Nick. We absolutely loved Nick’s enthusiasm for the sport and love for his family. We discuss races and so much more. I guarantee you will learn some things about Nick you didn’t know. This was a fun episode. Enjoy! IG- @nickcouryruns www.nickcouryruns.com
Scott takes some time down memory lane when during Season 2 he captured some legit drama as Janet emptied her stomach before the big final push up the mountain. Matt Fitzgerald loses his way on his first ultra at the same race. We also read a couple entries from Season 12 entries including a prolific marathoner who hasn't run an ultra yet and a woman who overcame the wheelchair to start running again! Enjoy!
The crew and racer Amanda Follmar from last week's Miwok 100k in the Marin Headlands come together to talk about the experience. When people come together, good stuff happens! We think you'll enjoy this one and be sure to share with your crew for your next race!
Running isn't the easiest of sports to turn into a team effort but we are figuring it out. Scott shares how they made crewing a 100k into a team effort and Coach Hillary shares thoughts on the upcoming season!
Scott shares a little about what the next week entails and Ellie shares why she is excited and what she would love to see in the applicants of Season 12! Enjoy the show and apply here!
A former mixed martial arts fighter, Justin True was no stranger to pushing through unimaginable pain to win in the octagon. However, this pain was different, and too much for him to overcome.
True’s first attempt to take his own life was not successful, so he tried again. When the second attempt also failed, True had a fundamental shift in his outlook on life. He emerged wanting to turn his life around, and to help others who are suffering and feeling hopeless. Since that day, True’s life has been a calling to help others.
“Being tortured by my brother, being held at knife point, water boarded, torched, and locked in dog kennels growing up that it taught me that no matter what card your dealt with you have to keep going,” True said. “You have to keep fighting and get back up.”
True’s new outlook on life has pushed him to create the True Triathlon — a roughly 50-mile swim from Key Largo, FL to Key Biscayne, FL, 3400-mile bike ride to San Diego, CA, and a 600-mile run in an effort to raise $500,000 for Mental Health Awareness Month. True also hopes to break the stigma surrounding mental health while showing others the “undeniable power of speaking their truth.”
While this might seem like a physically insurmountable task, True’s past mental and physical challenges have prepared him for this new test. His past endeavors include completing a tandem 150-mile bike ride through the Cascades in Oregon state, an Olympic Triathlon carrying a 90-pound concrete Thor hammer, a marathon while pulling a truck 26.2 miles, and a 29-day, nearly 500-mile, walk across Madagascar in which he encountered numerous life-threatening situations.
“The triathlon is such a perfect metaphor for what I’m trying to convey, ” True said. “Swimming in the ocean symbolizes life’s waves — sometimes you can't tell up from down, but eventually you’re going to hit a clear spot and at some point the rough part’s going to end.”
A hybrid-athlete who loves action sports, adventure sports and extreme sports, True found a passion for pushing himself to the limit early on through mixed-martial arts. He trained out of Bend, Oregon and traveled all around the world to hone his skill, including to gyms across the United States, Netherlands, Belgium and Asia. Still to this day, he draws on lessons he learned in the octagon to help him push through crippling depression and inspire others.
“Back in the fighting days, when pinned against the cage you had one of two options: Get up and keep fighting or accept defeat and get beat down even more,” True said. “You need to keep fighting whether it’s against life or the emotions in your head telling you to give up. Even if it’s just one more second those seconds add up to minutes then to days eventually those battles add up to winning the war.”
True hopes that the triathlon will serve as both and a platform for discussing mental health and a fundraising catalyst. He has invited anyone who is willing to join him along his route for as long as they would like. As he undertakes each leg, he hopes well-known athletes, actors, musicians and thought leaders will join Justin for segments, creating space to share their own stories. True plans to document the True Triathlon and the stories shared along the way as part of a feature film.
“When you’re struggling with depression, the next day might be tough, the next week might be tough, but eventually you’re going to hit a spot that’s so cool,” True said. “The struggle will always be worth it.”
IG- @therealjustintrue
www.truetriathlon.org
We are pumped to introduce Dawn Lisenby, the race director and coach in charge of East Coast Trail Racing. Her race, Jack's Trail 50k will take place in Palm Coast, Florida this coming October and benefit a scholarship fund for her brother Jack. She shares her coaching philosophy, the history of the race and region, and why she is pumped to partner with us for another epic season!
We sit down with founder and podcast host of Chasing Cutoffs, Ben Mead. As a self proclaimed back of the packer Ben thought there should be a show about the runners that don't always have the most perfect days racing. That, and the fact he interviewed Season 4 Becoming Ultra runner Rebecca Roehm who had one of the more epic cutoff chasing races we have ever been a part of was reason enough to have him come share his vision for Chasing Cutoffs!
Annie Hughes lives and trains year-round in Leadville, Colorado. This past summer at 23 years old, she became the youngest ever female champion of the Leadville 100 and the Moab 240. She ran one of her very first ultras at the Silver Rush 50 when she first moved to Leadville in 2019 and ended up qualifying for the 100. Annie has since fell in love with the sport and the longer 100 – 200 plus mile distances. Living in Leadville opened so many doors for her as an up-and-coming ultra-runner. She has met so many inspiring and supportive people and enjoyed training in one of the most beautiful places on the planet with endless trails to explore. She is so excited to share what she has learned the past few years on the “My First Ultra” podcast! Annie Hughes was everything we thought and more. Her positive, happy energy really comes through. On this podcast we talk about what it is like to be the youngest female champion of the Leadville 100 and Moab 240. Annie shares fun stories about some of her other adventures and what drives her to keep pushing for more. We also discuss the influence other female ultra-runners have had on her. Annie embraces living and training in Leadville and shares some of her creative runs. We are excited to see what she does next!
IG- @outdoorable_annie
Lene makes her way across the world to run her first ultra in Colorado and Caitlin enjoyed 98% of her first ultra. Coach Ellie Greenwood gets to hear how it all went down on this post race recap call from Season 11 of the Becoming Ultra Project!
"Mom strength will prepare you for anything." Coach Hillary
" Why would you not do something that gives you the feeling that you can do anything." Evangelyn
"My rigid limitations of what I think is possible for me have gone away." Jeremy
Running these long distances are more than just running. Enjoy the show!
Anthony Costales is a Junior High PE teacher and Ultra-Trail runner from Salt Lake City, UT where he lives with his wife Katie, 16-month-old daughter Piper, and their cattle dog Brighton. Born and raised in Northern California he started running in 6th grade after his Jr High PE teacher suggested he go out for the cross-country team, having no idea what that was, he showed up and the rest is history. He ran XC/Track at his local high school and continued on competing for American River Junior College and Chico State University. After obtaining his bachelor's in Kinesiology and teaching credential, Anthony moved to Utah and spent a few years road racing in distances from 10K to marathon, he then started the transition to trails. In 2018 he ran his first Ultra at the Moab Red Hot 55K and has now competed in distances from 50 miles, 100K, and 100 miles.
Anthony was so much fun to chat with. He is a very focused and disciplined runner who juggles family and career responsibilities and manages to excel in the ultra-world. We talk about his experience qualifying for the 2018 US long distance mountain running team and winning the Canyons 100k which earned him a Western States Golden ticket. We also discuss balancing teaching and running and share a few laughs about it. I loved hearing Anthony talk about the impact his High School coach has had on the trajectory of his life. This is a good one! Enjoy!
IG- @acostales54
Cale and Meghan followed the training, put the work in and sacrificed when needed for a big goal and we couldn't be happier for them. Listen to the post race recap from the Desert RATS 50k in Fruita, Colorado!
Brittany Peterson is a Minnesota native who has been running since Junior High School. She has been in Idaho for the past 12 years, which is where her ultra-running and mountain running really took off post-collegiately. She has run professionally for Nike Trail since 2018 while she also balances a career as an occupational therapist teaching at a university. Brittany and her partner, Cody, enjoy traveling, running with their dogs and exploring the mountains in their backyard. They put on a Technical Mountain Running camp each year to share their passion and expertise in off-trail, mountain running. Brittany enjoys all distances, but particularly enjoys the 100k distance, where you can incorporate speed, while still having to problem solve any type of situation that may arise during an ultra-distance event. She has finished 2nd and 4th at the Western States Endurance Run in northern California and was the 4th top female in the 2021 Ultra Runner of the Year ranking. We had so much fun chatting with Brittany. We talk about the transition from road to mountain running and the importance of keeping it fun. We discuss how she balances working and running as a professional athlete. Brittany gives some great advice on this topic. We also had a great conversation about the struggle with comparison to other athletes. We are excited to watch Brittany this year at Western States. Brittany is one of those people you instantly like. We think you will enjoy getting to know her a little better.
www.brittanypetersonruns.com/running-camps
IG- @runhappyb
Jeremy and Evangelyn dealt with the weather and life to get here to the start line of their first 50k. This is their pre race call with their coach. Enjoy!
As Amy heads down to the lower 48 to test her legs this weekend as the Pearson's ready themselves for their first ultra. This is their call with their coach before the race! Enjoy!
The time is here. Caitlin and Lene trained through a pretty interesting 6 months and their days is upon us. They will be running their first ultra. This is the call with their coach before they get it done. Enjoy.
We had some good questions from listeners online and a couple runners joined us to ask theirs as well! How do you keep your energy up after long training runs? How do you know when to go up in distance and more! Enjoy!
Hector Rodriguez is a husband, father of two girls and an Ultra Endurance athlete that resides in San Diego, CA. Since 2020, he has competed in over 20 Ultramarathons all over the country. His resume includes multiple 100+ milers on treadmills, top 5 finishes in 24/48-hour races, and four 200+ races including the Triple Crown of 200s in 2021. Hector is also very passionate about giving back to his community.
Hector has this amazing energy that makes you smile and pulls you in. We had so much fun chatting with him. Inspired by David Goggins, Can’t Hurt Me book Hector has mastered the mental toughness it takes to keep going no matter what. We talked about the life changing experience that happened during the Moab 240 and running the Triple Crown of 200’s. We also discuss Hector’s running community, the Wolfpack and how they helped him stay focused with training through COVID. Hector believes to build a life of your dreams you have to help people build theirs. We talk about why that is important to him and how he is using his website as a platform for that mission. We are big fans of Hector and you will be too!
Instagram - @hrod619
Website - www.wolfpackendurance.com
Training for Ultra is the brainchild of ultramarathon runner Rob Steger and includes a website, an Amazon TV series, multiple films, a self-published book, and a globally ranked podcast. Rob started running in 2015 and since then he has run 30 ultramarathons including four 200-milers. He is currently getting into race directing and recently hosted his first virtual 50k! On his podcast, Training for Ultra, he has hosted numerous guests including Eliud Kipchoge, Courtney Dauwalter, Camille Herron, Dean Karnazes and many other fascinating people from the running world. Rob hopes to use his platform to inspire people to enjoy running and find fulfillment in life through healthier lifestyles and more time outside.
We were so honored to be able to talk with Rob. He is very busy with several projects going on, we had to pull him away from editing for our chat. We had some questions lined up, but our conversation went in another direction. Rob shares his struggles with dyslexia and how he embraced his learning difference and used it to succeed in many areas “Embrace failure and learn from it”. We also talk about Running the Triple Crown and the why behind it. Rob is someone who cares about helping others and is using his platform to support and encourage people. This was a very special episode. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
Podcast - The Training For Ultra Podcast
Instagram - @TrainingForUltra
FaceBook - Rob Steger (Training For Ultra)
Twitter - Training4Ultra
YouTube - TrainingForUltra
Beth Freymiller is a wife, mom of three girls, engineer, yoga teacher, cyclist, and trail runner with a passion for being active in the outdoors. Beth was a college track and field and cross-country athlete. She took a long break from running after college just returning to the sport in 2020 as a trail runner. Since then, she has completed two 50k’s and one 100k. Beth is also active as a cyclist who competes in endurance races on gravel, mountain and fat bikes. Beth is a total bad ass with an unbelievable drive and focus. She is also highly proficient at driving her coach nuts by signing up for too many races.
We had a great chat with our friend and fellow Team BU member. Beth embodies focus and determination, she believes in herself and is always striving for more. Beth is not just a runner but an avid biker, we discuss her dedication to both running and biking. She talks about her big goals and how she is balancing family and work life to make them happen. We also talk about the importance and impact of the running and biking community. After you listen to this one you just might feel like stepping up your game and tackling some big goals.
Cale and Meghan deal with some seasonal allergies but keep increasing volume and look strong. Amy gets more miles on the bike as her leg continues to be an issue but she is keepnig it positive!
Coach Hillary gets her crew mentally ready for the coming weeks! Jeremy plans to practice eating aid station foods and deals with a hip. Evangelyn has a tough long run! Enjoy!
Ellie meets with her runners on this episode to talk about the last few weeks before their first 50k! Lene looks for solutions for the end of her long runs. Caitlin gets a little tough love and seems to have found a distraction on the trails!
Coach Scott Jones fields a handful of questions from runners. Is cadence that important? How do you maintain 100 mile weeks? How do you get better running downhill? Enjoy the show!
Sarah Cummings is a marathon, ultramarathon and ultra-trail runner. She is a 2-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (2:34.47 personal best) and 3-time member of Team USA (Road 50K x2, Pan American Games Marathon). In 2014, she was 10th at the Chicago Marathon.
Sarah started her running career at Corona del Mar HS in Newport Beach, CA and continued at Princeton University where she graduated in 2011 with a degree in Economics. While at Princeton, Sarah was a 4-time Ivy League Champion and earned All-America honors in 2009 in the 10K. In 2017, following a near career ending hamstring surgery, Sarah discovered her love for the trails while on a "runcation" in the Dolomites. It was only in 2020 that she got the chance to trail run and adventure on a regular basis after moving from New York City to Park City, Utah.
Sarah's top ultra and ultra-trail performances include a win at the 2021 JFK 50mi in 6:18.43 (and a runner up finish in 2020), overall (M/F) win and CR at the 2021 Arches 50mi, win and CR at the 2021 Antelope Island 50K, and a win at the Hardloop 50K in 3:19.15 (Road 50K PR). Sarah was named #5 2021 UltraRunner of the Year by UltraRunner Magazine.
Sarah is a winter sports aficionado. She loves snowboarding, splitboarding, nordic skiing, and ice skating. Sarah is an assistant coach for the Park City High School Cross Country team.
“Accept what your body is willing to give and stay present”. Wise words from Sarah Cummings! Sarah takes us through her running career and how she came to be one of the top trail runners of 2021. We also talk about what inspired her move from New York to Utah. Sarah also talks about her almost career ending injury and how she came through it. Sarah has so much gratitude and it really comes through when you talk to her. We are excited to follow along with Sarah’s running journey and are rooting for her. We know you will be too!
IG- @sarahcummings
When you google teamwork, you just might see Willy’s picture next to it. Also google crazy, same pic different outfit. Willy is all about helping others and hates to be the center of attention. At 49 he was very overweight, mentally strong and positive but not physically well. Being the great polish wife, I am I got his fat ass a gym membership and put us both on a nutrition plan. We were in this together! The weight loss is what started the journey. One day he woke up and said he is going to start ultra-running. He applied and was chosen to be one of the two runners on season 8 of Becoming Ultra, completing his first 50k. Later that same year Willy was diagnosed with tonsil cancer. Cancer didn’t stop him from doing a 24-hour running event to raise money for a local veteran or attempting a 100-mile run with 30,000 feet of vertical at Mt. Hood. Willy is currently battling a recurrence of the cancer, this time in the lymph nodes in his neck. He is doing it with the most positive attitude and resiliency and still taking the time to help others. What a fun and inspiring conversation we had with Will. He is one of a kind in the best way. We got to know Will from the COVID season of Becoming Ultra, he was one of two people selected to run their first 50k. Since then, Will’s life has taken a few turns. Diagnosed with tonsil cancer, he never let that stop him from setting goals and doing hard things to help others. Subsequently, Will discovered he has cancer in his lymph nodes. Still can’t stop this guy! His mindset and positive attitude are amazing. This one is full of fun talk and lots of inspiration. We feel so fortunate to know Will and hope you enjoy this one.
It happens to everyone at some point. You feel guilty for running when you have so much else to do. Sometimes you just need a little perspective and that seemed to be the theme on today's episode with Caitlin, Lene, and their coach Ellie Greenwood!
Evangelyn has an epic time in Moab. Jeremy wants to know how to mentally prepare for the distance when you don't go all the way in training. Another great conversation for Season 11 runners!
Amy made her way to Arizona and vounteered for a race while the Pearson's have a couple big weekends in the books. Enjoy the show!
Erica Efinger-Gratton is a mother, race director and runner. She is grateful to her father for encouraging her to run at a very young age. Before race directing Erica went to school for the recording arts and worked as a sound engineer and in production management. She worked with numerous bands which included Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park where she gained her knowledge of producing events. In 2001 she started her family and stayed home to raise her girls. In 2010, she got certified as a running coach, coaching for many years until her trail running events took off. Since 2014 Erica has been producing races and camps. Erica’s newest project is a 2-day stage race in the Red Rocks of Sedona on April 2-3. It’s the first of its kind; showcasing the best trails on Sedona’s West and East side, offering distances from 50k to 16k. Erica shares her home with her significant other, youngest daughter and rescue shepherd and cat. When she is not producing events, she is working as a cycling guide, exploring new trails, mountain biking, reading, writing, and hanging out with her family. If you are considering a trail camp or running vacation this one is for you. Erica talks about her latest stage race and trail camps. Her enthusiasm, support and attention to detail will make you want to go for it. Erica is also an ultra-runner with some impressive races under her belt. We talk about how her career in music production and passion for running made the transition into running camps and vacations the perfect fit. One of my favorite parts of this podcast was Erica talking about change. We think her superpower is being happy and making others happy. I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!
trailrunningescapes.com
IG- trailrunningescapes
Sabrina is a professional trail and ultrarunner for HOKA, a philosophy instructor at Morehead State University, a writer, a wife, and a mom to a 20-month-old daughter named Lucy. She has been selected to 5 US teams and has won 5 US national titles. She was the individual silver medalist in the World 24-Hour Championships in 2013 and a scoring member of the 2018 Trail World Championship bronze medal-winning team. Sabrina's philosophy research is moral character and emotions, and her current project examines character development in the context of distance running. Carly and I really enjoyed this conversation with Sabrina. One of the things that stands out about her is her understanding of priorities and how they change. Running helps her maintain a well-ordered life and live a morally good life. We discuss her philosophy research and the impact it has had on her own relationship with running. We also talk about running for Team USA. Sabrina shares how her love of running has changed since the birth of her daughter; her order of loves is how she describes it. There is so much more we could talk with Sabrina about, we told her she would make the perfect dinner guest. I know you will enjoy this conversation with Sabrina as much as we did.
IG- sabrinablittle
Scott recaps the Run For The Love challenge with some quotes from the participants as well as had a Minnesota runner who completed it come on to chat about it. Enjoy the show!
Coach Ellie, Scott, Lene, and Caitlin had a fun conversation about creek crossings and finally everyone is running again! Enjoy the show. Thanks to Venga CBD for today's show.
Jessica is a mom, wife, 5-year survivor of stage IV cancer, creator of the website: www.carebetter.org, works in financial services, and teaches a finance course at a local college. She started distance running in college when she completed her first marathon and has finished a total of 12 to date. She also loves doing half marathons, triathlons, road biking events and has a newfound love for trail running. Jessica’s story has sadness and challenges, but she does not dwell on that. Instead, she chooses to pay it forward and live with joy. Jessica takes us back to her cancer diagnosis and how she was determined to continue to grow her family despite the diagnosis. We discuss how running has changed for her over the last 5 years and how important movement is to her healing. Jessica believes that by helping others it helps her which is why she created the website www.carebetter.org. Jessica has learned a lot throughout her journey and shares her wisdom with us. Sometimes you meet someone who without even trying makes you want to do better. That would be Jessica! I hope you enjoy this one and it inspires you to pay it forward.
IG- carebetter.for.cancer
Hillary, Scott, Jeremy, and Evangelyn have a great conversation of the expectations on your running when you give so much to others all day long. Parents, busy students, and many more of you will definitely be able to relate. Enjoy and much thanks to Venga CBD for sponsoring today's show!
Coach Scott and the crew talk about the last few weeks. The ups and downs of training and how to reframe the downs with the goal of a lifetime of running. Amy gets a break from the cold north Alaska and the Pearson's get ready for a back to back 25k. Enjoy the show. Thanks to our sponsor Venga CBD for today's episode!
Stevie Kremer was born in Germany and moved to Connecticut when she was just under a year old because her dad was transferred with a German bank. She grew up playing soccer (even though she was terrible), tennis, and golf, and ran indoor track to keep in shape. After high school, she attended Colorado College where she obtained a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s in education. It was in September of her senior year at CC that she ran her first marathon-it was a dirt road marathon in Boulder an she loved it. After graduating, Stevie moved with a friend to Crested Butte, CO, where she spent a year working for CBMR (Crested Butte Mountain Resort), then moved into a role as a 3rd grade teacher. Stevie enjoyed running, she primarily ran on roads where she felt safer from animals and couldn't get lost as easily. She had no idea about the trails. After a few years of running around the very few roads in CB, she was convinced to do a local trail race. Although she walked more than she ran, it opened her up to trail running. Not only did she discover a love of the trails but found friends that would run with her on the trails. That's when it all began. Stevie soon started racing all around Colorado. In 2012 she signed a one-year contract to teach in Italy, this started her racing career in Europe where she ran everywhere. Now she is a middle school counselor in Crested Butte, in the same school where she was an elementary teacher for 10 years, with a little 3-year-old and still loves running!
This was a fun one! Stevie is full of energy and enthusiasm. She shares with us the struggles of juggling single parenting, a career and running. Stevie is very candid about her personal struggles and how she overcame them to find joy, laughter, and happiness. Stevie has a rich running history that has taken her to some incredible places. We talk about her Pike’s Peak Ascent win, two times and her most memorable race. We could have chatted for hours. Enjoy!
IG- @steviekremer
https://living-journeys.networkforgood.com/projects/141705-laci-stevie-are-running-against-cancer
Louise Bruce used to have a passion for drinking, wine was her choice, and she drank it to celebrate, to commiserate because she had a great day, a rubbish day, because it was Tuesday or Friday and so the list went on. Lou’s life was an emotional roller-coaster of some lows, some very lows and the odd high which was almost always short-lived – largely because her self-worth was so horrendous, she sabotaged anything good because she didn’t believe she deserved it. And then something changed, she decided enough was enough. She rediscovered her passion for running, went Vegan and dropped 6 dress sizes and writes a blog about her journey. Her goal was to feel healthier mentally and physically, and 3 years since making that decision she is now studying at university and training for her first-ever ultra. She drank to make herself happy, but it only ever made her anxious and sad. When she stopped drinking, she started living and this is her journey. No matter how hard it gets there is always light at the end of the tunnel if you are able to look up. These are words Louise would remind herself of often. On this podcast Louise is candid about her traumatic childhood with an abusive father and the impact that had on her adult life. We discuss how Louise went from relying on alcohol and sugar to cope to becoming a vegan and runner. There are probably so many of us that can relate to Louise and her story. She is on a mission to share her story in the hopes that other people will be inspired to make positive changes.
IG- @mysugarevolution
www.mysugarevolution.com
Coach Hillary is setting Evangelyn and Jeremy up for an exciting last couple months of training as they switch from primarily timed efforts to more mileage goals for long runs. We remind the runners that missing a run here and there is normal and ok! Enjoy the show and show some love for Venga CBD!
Coach Ellie gets some great news as Caitling and Lene are back to a semi normal training schedule. Caitlin drops her caffeine intake significantly! Only 74 days from their first ultra! Enjoy the show and show some love for our sponsor Venga CBD!
Jenn started running in Nov. 2017 completing her first 5k in February of 2018 and then moving up to longer distances almost every weekend. 2021 was what Jenn refers to as her mid-life crisis as she ran her first marathon in February, turned 40 in March, bought a sports car in June, ran her first Ultra in October and then finished the year by taking an early retirement from her job of 21 years. Jenn discovered her love of trail running while training to complete her first ultra and can’t wait to spend more time on the trails. In 2020, Dave knew he had to make changes to his life so he could be around for his family. In June of 2020, he tried running but struggled at his weight with knee pain. After seeing a doctor, the doctor said, “Your old and fat. Don’t run. It’s hard on the body. Get a bike.” And so, he did just that and started biking and losing weight. In December after significant weight loss, he tried running again and the rest is history. He completed his bike training completing a century ride and began running daily. Dave through diet and exercise lost 80lbs. Dave completed the Goggins 4x4x48 Challenge in March and ran is first marathon in April and then first 50k in October.
Dave and Jenn have been married for 10 years (they even celebrated their 10-year anniversary by running their first ultra the day after). Dave and Jenn have a blended family of 6 grown children, 1 almost grown and 4 grandchildren. They love being able to challenge themselves individually, but also love getting out there and exploring the world together. Dave and Jenn completed their 2nd ultra, just a month after their first 50k taking on the 50-mile distance, They crossed the finish line hand in hand just 7 minutes before the cutoff (Dave officially securing the DFL spot). They are excited for what 2022 has in store for them.
Whether you run with your partner or are thinking about it, this episode is for you. We hear the good, the bad, and the ugly from our Becoming Ultra friends, Dave & Jenn. This husband-and-wife duo have experienced the best and worst together. From what drives them to recovering from frustrating injuries, we have an honest conversation about all of it. We also talk about their first ultra together and a month later a 50 miler as well as what is next for them. This couple will inspire you to grab your partner and hit the trails!
IG- jenngoins1015
IG- phx1ddg
A few months out from their first ultra and the Pearson husband and wife team seem to be plugging right along. Amy has some knee and back issues and tries to find answers. We hope you enjoy the show of real people training for really big things!
Ricky Haro was born and raised in Montana. He hated running as a kid, it wasn’t until his Sophomore year that the cross-country coach worked with him to complete his first mile and tried to convince him to be part of the track team. Ricky moved to Arizona in 1994 and joined the cross-country team. Coach Mark Hudson, who is still a great friend and mentor showed Ricky so much about outdoor recreation. Ricky qualified for Nationals but suffered a quad injury and was on crutches for months. Eventually he dropped out of college and joined the military. Ricky became a SERE specialist in the Air Force (Survival Evasion, Resistance, and Escape specialist). The Air Force’s experts in all things related to someone being separated from support and in need of rescue, they train all aircrew personnel on how to handle themselves if they are caught up in hostile territory. This is where Ricky learned about endurance, grit and the will to survive. From 2005-2011 Ricky did not run a single day due to IT band syndrome and core imbalances. In 2012 Ricky decided to dedicate an entire year to running and see what happened. Ricky continued running and completed the Rome marathon; Magredi Mountain Trail 100; Blue Ridge Marathon; Marathon Des Sables; placed 5th in the Mogollon 100 just to name a few. In 2016 Ricky did the Badwater 146 solo while pushing a baby jogger of supplies. Currently Ricky gets high praises for being an amazing crew leader; serves on the Board of Band of Runners; Race Director for Kaniksu Ultras and overseas many adventures with his company, Rare Earth Adventures.
Have you ever heard so many good things about someone then meet them and they lived up to all those wonderful words? Yep, that is Ricky. This guy is a running, crewing bad ass in the ultra-world. We caught up with Ricky on a break from his Across the Years multi-day running event. Ricky shared some amazing crewing stories and how to excel at crewing. I personally used all his advice the following weekend and everything went great. We also talked about his Badwater 146 experiences. Ricky is a race director and owns an adventure company. We could have listened to his adventure stories for hours. Ricky also shares with us personal stories about his childhood and one of the most significant people in his life, his Grandfather. There is something for everyone in this podcast so sit back and enjoy.
IG - rareearthrunner
www.rareearthadventures.com
Lene is still dealing with the after effects of having COVID and Caitlin is in a similar boat. Both are itching to get back out and train well but as with everything else in life, they have been dealt a couple curveballs. Ellie does her best to comfort them knowing it could all turn around any day now!
Venga Garmin Fenix Giveaway
Coach Hillary puts Jeremy and Evangelyn at ease as the training ramps up and their bodies are feeling the stress. We know so many runners go through these things so we hope it is a helpful episode for you all!
Episode sponsored by Venga CBD
Liza Howard is a longtime ultrarunner and running coach. Since her first ultra in 2008, she has won numerous 100-mile races including the Leadville 100 twice and multiple USATF Championships in the 50 mile and 100k distances. She completed the Marathon des Sables, a multi-day stage race in the Sahara Desert, twice, and ran for the United States at the 100k World Championships in Croatia in 2018. She’s currently training for the Badwater 135, which will be held in Death Valley this July.
In addition to running, Liza coaches for Sharman Ultra Coaching, teaches for NOLS Wilderness Medicine, and directs Band of Runners, a non-profit that supports veterans and their surviving family members by introducing them to trail running and the trail running community.
Liza lives in San Antonio, Texas with her husband and two school-aged children. Sometimes she cleans the house too.
Manny is a former Infantry Marine Reservist who deployed to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2010 with 1st Marines, 23rd Battalion Alpha Company. While inactive from duty from 2006 to 2013, Manny worked as Personal Trainer who Specialized in Obstacle Course Training. Races like the Tough Mudder and Spartan are what first introduced him to trail running. Fast forward to 2019 - Manny is suffering from reoccurring running injuries and is told by his VA doctors that he should seriously consider not running. Fate said otherwise when he met Rob, who then got him in the Band of Runners Trail Running Camp, where he learned the skills to prevent injury and improve his running and met a community of trail runners who are all eager to see him succeed. And through the help and mentoring of the BOR community, Manny ran his first successful 50k at Hoka One Bandera, a virtual 50k hosted by BOR, his first 50 miler and 100k, and his first 100-mile race at the Badger. Now, through the Samaritan Center, Manny serves the community as a Mental Health Peer Coordinator where he coordinates and facilitates - mentoring, PTSD, substance abuse, life skills, and wellness groups - for Veterans in the Greater Austin community and helps run the Veteran’s Re-Entry Dorm at the Travis State Jail for the Texas Department of Criminal justice. Manny is currently training for the Caballo Blanco Ultra, formerly known as the Copper Canyon Ultra.
We had a lot of fun on this one! Liza has some great stories to tell, and she tells them with so much humor. We talk about how she balances training for the Badwater 135 with family life and a nagging hamstring injury. Liza shares her witty take on her Instagram posts after a long break from social media. Most importantly, we discuss Liza’s passion project, Band of Runners. This is an important program that really makes a difference in the lives of Veteran’s. Manny is a Veteran who participated in the program and then became a mentor. He has a caring heart and lives a purposeful life of helping others. He shares his experience with Band of Runners and how it has changed his life. Manny also talks about his many Ultra’s and battling through injuries. We know you will enjoy getting to know Liza & Manny and learning more about Band of Runners. These are two very special people. Enjoy!
Coach Scott Jones and Venga CBD founder Jay OHare bust out the year long calendar to talk about how to efficiently and effectively plan your year of training. Whether you are running your first ultra or training for multiple events you'll walk away with a few ideas and concepts on better planning for endurance athletes!
www.becomingultra.com
www.vengacbd.com/becomingultra
Music: 9WCXJVU52NVKIZZC
Coach Ellie is dealing with a type of recovery we didn't have to deal with a couple years ago, COVID. Lene is a couple weeks out but still taking it slow to build back up. Caitlin just got it and is dealing as well. We talk about their running and bring in a bunch of stories from running life! Enjoy the show.
This episode is sponsored by Venga CBD!
Kriste Peoples is a Denver-based outdoor enthusiast and guide, runner, writer, and mindfulness meditation teacher. When she's not out adventuring along the trails of Colorado’s Front Range, Kriste is likely writing about it or recovering with carbs in a local eatery. Her work has been published in Trail Runner Magazine, Outdoor Research, Altra Running’s Run Better blog, Outside Magazine, Elevations Outdoors, and others. As Program Manager for the Women’s Wilderness Trailblazers program, she creates nature-based events that cultivate a greater sense of agency, community, and engagement in nature among women of color. Kriste offers talks that address increasing the representation of people of color in nature. She has facilitated workshops, participated in panels, and delivered online trainings at conferences such as PGM One, Outdoor Retailer, REI, Summit Sisters, and more. She serves on the board of Running Start nonprofit, an organization dedicated to helping women overcome obstacles to fitness. She is a trail running coach for Life’s Too Short Fitness, has coached for Black Girls Run, and led nature-based outings for organizations that include CitiWild and Outdoor Afro. In addition to her passion for introducing women and people of color to new narratives of wellness, she is the founder of the Black and Brown Women’s Alliance, which provides mindfulness-based in-person and online events that prioritize wellness, self-care, and collective healing.
“Giving yourself grace to meet yourself where you are on that day” I love this quote from Kriste. Talking to Kriste is a wonderful, enlightening experience. Hearing her talk about her love of the outdoors makes you want to lace up and head right outside. On this episode Kriste talks about how being mindful and meditation has improved her life. We discuss how she is empowering other women and what she is most passionate about as well as the importance of self-care. I had a few light bulb moments as I listened. We also talk about her community involvement and where change still needs to happen. Kriste is someone we could talk to for hours. Enjoy!
IG- @kristepeoples
https://linktr.ee/kristepeoples
Jeremy and Evangelyn are plugging along. Coach Hillary Allen gives more solid advice for the weeks ahead!
Today we talk about using the treadmill for consistency especially for Amy in Alaska. We talk about how to switch from a mileage goal on a run that is going slow from weather or terrain. The Pearson's do their beer mile! Enjoy the show.
Let's reminisce about the past six months of amazing guests!
Kris and Carly take a walk back into time and recap the amazing guests they have had in 2021. Fabulous times...lots of laughs and some tears.
A big huge thank you to all of our listeners!
To kick the year off right we got to know a new partner of Becoming Ultra today! Jay OHare and Scott sit down to talk about how Jay got into the business world and especially this newest endeavor. We talk science of CBD, training principles, and hard physical and business experiences. Enjoy the show and go here to learn more and get a little discount from our newest partner!
Jacky Hunt-Broersma is an amputee, cancer survivor, and ultra-runner who has only been running for the past five years. Originally from South Africa, Jacky currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Being an amputee has not stopped Jacky from accomplishing some big goals such as her first 40-mile trail race, the TransRockies stage race and 100 miles on her treadmill in less than 24 hours.
Have you ever met someone that inspires you? I mean deep down inspiration! Meeting Jacky gave us a feeling of inspiration and awe that is hard to match. Jacky was not a runner before her leg was amputated, she became a runner after. Most people wouldn’t even think that was a possibility. Jacky is not like most people. Her motto is you are stronger than you think you are, and she lives it. She doesn’t focus on where she was, she focuses on what where she wants to be. I find myself thinking of this conversation often. I know you will enjoy Jacky’s story and wisdom as much as we did.
IG- @ncrunnerjacky
On the 12th run of Christmas we want you to find ways to be grateful out there. Every ten minutes you change your focus to something different to be grateful for in your life! Enjoy
On this 11th run of Christmas, we want you to push the vertical. On the podcast we give you a few ideas of how to do it! Enjoy and get after it!
This one is going to be easier for some than others depending on your running history! We also give a few save the dates for adventures in 2022! Enjoy the show.
Amanda runs to stay halfway sane, and to spend time with her amazing friend and running partner, Alissa. Which means she runs a lot. Amanda has been running for nearly 30 years and has done all sorts of races with a primary goal to run until she is an old lady. When she is not running, she is leading the Institute for Religion, Politics & Culture at Iliff School of Theology, working her way toward a PhD, writing, and speaking, and parenting 3 teen/ young adults. Amanda ran her first marathon in 2001 and it was so horrible it took her 11 years to run another... and she hasn’t stopped since. Ten years ago, she was lucky enough to move into the house directly behind Alissa they quickly discovered that they were both runners, and even better, found that they ran a similar pace and had more in common than she ever could have imagined. Amanda & Alissa did their first ultra in the summer of 2019- the Bear Creek 50K, and just survived the Bear Creek 50 mile.
Alissa is a research faculty at the University of Denver and has dedicated her professional life to education. Personally, she is the mother of 2 and it was motherhood that propelled her into running about 18 years ago. She ran her first half marathon in 2013 and her first marathon in 2015. She has run 3 marathons, a 50K and most recently a 50-mile race. Alissa describes running as her coffee, her happy hour, her social time, her therapy, her time in the outdoors … and oh yeah… and exercise.
“Today well lived makes every yesterday a memory of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.” We had such a great time discussing friendship and trail running. This one will make you want to grab your bestie and hit the trails. Amanda & Alissa tell the story of their friendship and love of running. We discuss how beneficial having a good friend is during runs and races. These beautiful ladies have a wonderful bond that has been strengthened by lots of miles. Their support of each other will leave you inspired.
On the 9th run of Christmas we ran faster the shorter the interval. Learn pacing and turnover in one of our favorite track sets. You can do it anywhere really but flat would be ideal! Enjoy.
On the 8th run of Christmas, we want you to go for an enjoyable run with no major expectations other than have fun. 5 miler! Enjoy.
On the 7th run things got real. Especially if you have never run mile repeats before. Enjoy and get after it!
Although both runners have different things going on they both have a similar training trajectory, recovery. We talk about the running and the culture around the holidays.. Enjoy!
For any given race, a bunch of friends will get together and plan to crew for a friend and fellow runner. We get to listen in on one of those conversations on this podcast. Beth is running the Bandera 100k in Texas in January and her crew had a call to go over everything. Enjoy!
On this, the 6th run of Christmas, we run on tired legs. The lunge run is a staple for runners wanting to run strong in mountains or to change up their mid week training! Enjoy
On this, the 5th run of Christmas, we ask you to pick up the pace a bit and do a different type of run workout. You can call them striders or accelerations but make sure you warm up well and know your limits. Enjoy the effort out there!
Due to a high mountain wind storm this episode is wayyyy shorter than intended but we got the information to you! Enjoy your run today!
Coach Hillary Allen has been across the globe winning an ultra on her own and has come back to see how Jeremy and Evangelyn have been doing with their own training! Enjoy.
Listen to the goal for the third run of Christmas as well as a few stories from night runs of your host, Scott! The time his buddies ran at night so he would go out with them. The shooting star at the end of 100k. The critter who joined a night run. Enjoy the show!
Ryan Steiner is an unlikely ultra runner. Ryan spent most of his life extremely overweight topping off at over 700lbs, currently he has lost over 400lbs of that. Ryan is autistic and has a complicated relationship with food. In the last few years, he has overcome this complicated relationship with the help of his 5-year-old daughter, Kala and their mutual love of running for hours. Ryan and Kala just finished their first ultra 50k together at the Hennepin Hundred, on October 3. Ryan pushed Kala the entire way in a stroller that he calls the chariot. This next year, Ryan promises, will be even more epic for the duo! As a stay-at-home dad Ryan and Kala spend all their time together. These two are best friends with a symbiotic relationship that will fill your heart.
Have you ever met someone that changes the way you look at something? We are excited to share Ryan’s story with you. Ryan talks about being autistic and immersing himself in running. He shares with us the long journey of weight loss and how moving his body and running have changed his life. Once you hear his unique perspective on DNF’s I promise you will think differently about them. Ryan lights up when he talks about his daughter Kala and the special bond they share. Ryan is an incredibly kind and positive person. This was a very special podcast for us. I know you will think so too!
IG- @running_with_kala
On the second run of Christmas... we gave you a tough negative split based run. Listen in and let us know how it went for you!
Scott is taking the time to share the 12 Runs of Christmas over the next couple weeks as a way to keep you moving and changing it up a bit during a time that many find tough! Today on the show, a description of the run and ramblings around the goal of the day. We hope you like and if you want to support the project, sign up officially HERE!
Coach Hillary Allen and Scott get to meet Jeremy of Missouri and Evangelyn of Colorado. Although they are both coming from a completely different set of circumstances we learn how alike they are when it comes to these big goals. Enjoy getting to know them!
We are so glad we didn't lose these awesome first shows of Season 11. Coach Ellie meets her newest Becoming Ultra runners Lene and Caitlin. Enjoy the show!
We thought these first episodes of Season 11 were lost but luckily we got them back so you can hear the first episodes getting to know all of the runners of Season 11. Enjoy the show!
Cale and Meghan Pearson are in Portland for their sons basketball tournaments and had to find a local trail to run 13.1 on for today's effort. They update us on their training and mindset as we finish out the year. Enjoy the show. Need a December goal? Do the 12 Runs Of Christmas with us!
Coach Ellie fields questions from her runners who are training for their first ultra! Caitlin has a nagging knee and Lene is dealing with minimal light in the Norwegian winter! Enjoy the show.
Jen didn’t realize where running could take her until she was in her late 20s. She grew up in small town rural Ohio where she dabbled in multiple sports, but credits years of competitive gymnastics with leaving her strong, athletic, and disciplined. A rigorous graduate school program led to a Doctorate in Physical Therapy but left little time for training. At the age of 25, she began training with friends and her husband to run a half marathon, despite not being able to comfortably run more than a mile. Realizing that running doesn’t have to be a form of punishment, Jen raced more road half marathons with a dream of completing a marathon that was never fulfilled due to injuries, a demanding job and the birth of her daughter. Her love of trail running began when she discovered obstacle course racing, tough Mudders and Spartan Races. A few trail half marathon finishes and the documentary “How to Run 100 Miles”, sparked her interest in trying to run farther than a half marathon. A pandemic, turning 40, a leave of absence from her job and virtual learning for her daughter, her interest suddenly became a reality. Jen decided to “go big or go home” and registered for (and finished!) the OPSF 50K which is hailed as the “toughest trail race in Indiana” for her first ultra in March 2021, followed by Dances with Dirt 50K in May and is now training for the Jackson County 50K in southern Indiana in December. She currently lives in flat central Indiana with her supportive husband and her 7-year-old daughter. She hopes she can be an inspiration to anyone that is hesitant to do big things, no matter what those might be. Ultra running has taught Jen that you’ll never know what you are capable of if you never try. And this is just the beginning of her own ultra journey.
“Find something big that lives inside you” Jen did just that, she is getting ready to conquer her third ultra marathon in one year. This was a great talk about balance and carving out time for yourself. On this episode Jen also talks about overcoming fears and not giving up. Jen’s story is so relatable because like so many of us, she is a busy wife, mother and career women trying to strike a balance and achieve her personal goals. Jen will inspire you to go for it!
On this episode Amy deals with some niggles and a cold start to her new Alaska adventure and Cale and Meghan get off to a great start in their training. Enjoy the show!
Evangelyn of Colorado and Jeremy of Missouri embark on the adventure of training for their first ultra in 2022. We hope you'll follow their journey!
Sally McRae ( aka yellowrunner) is a professional ultra runner who has run some of the worlds greatest trail races such as the Western States 100, Ultra trail (da moan blanc) du Mont Blanc and the Badwater 135, 2021 women’s champion. Sally is also a wife and mother of two, coach, motivational speaker, and writer. Sally started running long distances after college and discovered trail running in 2010. She fell in love with the trail community and opportunities the races brought to explore the world. Her competitiveness and speed made her a standout in the trail community. Sally is passionate about inspiring others around her to live their best life.
Have you ever met someone you feel like you could talk to forever? That is how we felt chatting it up with Salley McRae. She is a beautiful person inside and out. On this episode Sally shares parts of her life that shaped her into the grateful, optimistic, happy person she chooses to be. She also talks about how she manages her busy career and parenting and of course, mom guilt. Find out where the name Yellowrunner came from and what Sally is up to these days. This one was special; we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
https://www.sallymcrae.com/
IG- @yellowrunner
Lene is being coached for her first ultra this coming April of 2022 from Norway and Caitlin is training for her first from Texas and Colorado. They are a few weeks in and have a chance to talk to their coach Ellie Greenwood on today's episode!
Joel Stetler is a husband and father of 3 and teaches 3rd grade in California. Joel is also fighting stage 4 fibromyxoid sarcoma, a rare cancer that is yet to have a cure. Last year he ran 37 miles for his 37th birthday to raise money for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation, founded by Gabriel Grunewald to inspire people to share stories of being brave through their own struggles while also helping to find better and more effective treatments for rare cancer. Joel was also a runner-up in the Brooks Runfulness Project, this led to he and is wife, Amanda co-founding the Running Buddies Project, which works to award VIP race day experiences to runners with life threatening illnesses.
This one will move you! Joel is an amazing person with an outlook on life that is incredible. He has made a choice to find hope and joy amid an awful diagnosis. On this episode we talk about his cancer diagnosis, the misdiagnosed hematoma and more. We dive into what a support team means and having objectivity during everything. Joel talks about his 37-mile run as well as other runs and the struggles he has faced. All of this has led creating the Running Buddies Project. Joel has a lot of enthusiasm when he talks about. I find myself thinking often of this conversation. There are so many valuable lessons in this one.
IG - hey_mr_stetler
IG - runningbuddiesproject
Hillary’s career as an endurance athlete has not been straightforward. Through injury, setbacks and unexpected challenges, Hillary’s had to re-think what she considers impossible. Early in her career, Hillary earned the nickname “Hillygoat” when she proved her ability to run fast on steep, technical mountain terrain – a style of running known as Skyrunning. Since then, she has raced all over the world, racking up wins and course records, establishing herself as one of the best mountain ultra-runners in the world. In 2017 she had a life-threatening accident, where she fell 150 feet off of a ridgeline during a Sky race in Tromsø, Norway. She was told she would never run again. After several years of rehab and recovery, Hillary made a full recovery and returned to elite level racing, racing some of her longest and most challenging events post-accident. She maintains the belief that ‘your best athletic days are ahead of you, if you’re willing to work hard for what you love.
Hillary also studies and teaches science, using her master’s degree in neuroscience and physiology and structural biology. She is also a trail running coach, and a gravel cyclist.
This one gave us all the feels! Positive; genuine; passionate; expressive are just a few words that describe Hillary Allen. On this episode we discuss Hillary’s book and how it has impacted her life. There is so much wisdom in her writing and when she speaks. Hillary also tells us what life has been like traveling and living in her custom van over the last several months. And so much more! This was a good one with lots of inspiration, we know you will love it.
https://hillaryallen.com/
IG: hillygoat_climbs
Steve has been running since he was in high school. After burning out and taking a 20-year hiatus he picked it back up when his children (now 30 & 26) got involved in middle school cross country which led him to HS cross country coaching for 5 years. Some injuries moved Steve off the pavement and towards the trails. Currently Steve is a real estate broker / auctioneer and the VP of the Indiana Trail Runners Association but has always made time to hit the trails and race. With a few hundred races under his belt Steve has some big accomplishments in his running career; 23 marathons with a Boston qualifier; 15 ultra marathons; 2012 Trail Runner Magazine’s Trophy series winner just to name a few. Last year during a marathon trail race Steve fell and detached his right Achilles, had surgery in November and has been rehabbing since.
Have you ever asked yourself what would I do if I could no longer run? That is what our guest, Steve Baber was faced with. Hear Steve talk about the highs and lows of not being able to run and rehabbing an injury for over a year. Steve talks about how embracing the trail running community gave him hope as he worked towards recovery. Steve also talks about what it is like to age in the sport of ultra-running. Steve has some good advice to share. We loved how candid and open he was. We think this talk will resonate with so many people.
Running is what drives me. I crave it. I’ve followed some paths in life that have led me away from my passion, but when I finally returned to what always made me happy, I appreciated it so much more. Sabrina is a professional mountain Ultra-Runner and RRCA Certified Coach. Growing up in Washington State Sabrina’s parents fostered an unbridled competitive spirit in both her and her five siblings. Sabrina eventually found a love of running which morphed into a passion for trail running. After being forced to drop at mile 87 of the 2015 Leadville Trail 100 her competitive nature kicked in. She vowed to never drop a race again and become one of the best ultra-runners in the world. In 2016 she returned to Leadville with a vengeance and finished 4th. Since then, Sabrina has won some of the most difficult 100 milers, in 2018 she won the Hardrock 100, in 2019 she won HURT 100. In July of 2021 Sabrina won the Hardrock 100 again and shaved over 3 hours off her 2018 time. Ultrarunner magazine named Sabrina as 8th best American female in 2018 and in 2019 she was ranked 5th. Currently she has finished first female in the last 11 ultras she competed in.
Absolutely loved this conversation with Sabrina. She is one of the most confident, focused, driven runners we have talked to. There is so much more to Sabrina. On this episode she tells us about the things and people that helped shape her into the athlete she has become. We dive into her one and only DNF and how significant that one event became to her running future. We talk about goals and success and everything that comes along with it. We are big fans of Sabrina and think you will be too!
https://sabrinastanley.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sabrinaleannstanley
https://www.facebook.com/sabrina.stanley.18
https://twitter.com/sabrinastanley
It wasn't planned but Katie and Bailey trained as teammates for 5 months and ended up racing together. Hear how it went on todays episode!
Jenn and Randi had completely different experiences for their first ultra in Virginia. Listen to their reflections on today's show!
Miranda wasn't sure how her body would holdup and Melissa had a unique experience on the trails but they both made it happen! Listen to the details of their first ultra!
Dave and Mariah report back to their coach, Amanda Basham after their first ultra ever. Enjoy the show!
Muriel Bartelme Kreske grew up in Michigan, has a husband named Bryan, is an Executive Creative Director at an advertising agency in Minneapolis, and has more energy than any other person named Muriel in the history of the world. Part of that is fueled by the Grande Blonde roast from Starbucks she drinks every morning. Part of that is because she has to keep up with a rambunctious 9-year-old son, Griffin. And part of that is because she just has that kind of personality. That energy fueled her to losing 100 pounds in 2018, a transformation that included being drawn to moving fast in the form of walking. She’s relatively new to trail running and just finished her first Ultra in May of this year at the Smith Rock 50K, and recently finished the Headlands 50-Miler in August. She also points out she’s a huge University Michigan fan and tends to mix up many common sayings.
Give yourself some grace; something Muriel reminds herself of often. On this podcast you will meet Muriel Bartelme Kreske and hear her inspiring, uplifting story. She talks about the team she put in place to help her successfully lose 100 lbs. How moving her body quickly went from walking fast to running ultra marathons. Muriel talks about her first ultra-attempt which resulted in a DNF. How that one DNF was so hard to overcome but ended up being a blessing in disguise. Muriel is a lively, positive, happy person who is still learning and growing in her journey. We have no doubt you will love her story and be rooting for her.
IG- @my365fun
Listen to the applications of runners all over applying for the Season 11 of Becoming Ultra!
Before Catra Corbett aka Dirt Diva was an ultrarunner, she was a drug addict. The drugs led her to dropping out of school , developing an eating disorder, damaging relationships and eventually in jail. Catra hit her rock bottom and decided she was going to turn her life around. In 1996, two years after being clean and sober, she started lifting weights and walking. One day she just started running and never stopped. Catra has completed more than one-hundred 100-mile races, the Moab 240 multiple times, Bigfoot 200 and Badwater 135 and holds the fastest known time for the 425-mile-long John Muir Trail. Through Catra’s desire to help people by sharing her story she wrote a detailed bestselling book about her life, struggles and triumphs called Reborn on the Run; My Journey from Addiction to Ultramarathons.
Authentic! That is the best word to describe Catra. We could have talked to Catra for hours, she has a lot of life experience and wisdom to share. On this episode Catra talks about her many running adventures and most recent experience at the Bigfoot 200. The ultra-running world is lucky to have such a selfless runner out there. This is a woman who really cares about the community and lifting people up. We also discuss Catra’s book and being vulnerable. Of course, we had to talk about the one and only Truman. Catra is someone that has a lot to offer and is finding new ways to help people who struggle with addiction. We are big supporters and can’t wait to see what she does. I hope you enjoy this talk as much as we did.
https://catracorbett.com/
IG: @dirtdiva333
Runners from all over the world apply to be chosen for the Season 11 of Becoming Ultra project. Enjoy hearing their stories and see which runners were selected by the coaches!
Randi finished up her training with almost no issues and Jenn shares her solo Grand Canyon run and the changes she has seen in herself over the training cycle. Now all we do is wait for a great race. Enjoy the show!
Found in the archives. Katie and Bailey talk about their expectations for their efforts before their first 50k!
Dave has been spending lots of time on the bike to let his body recover from some injury and Mariah has been nailing all of her training. Today we talk about what they are expecting during the race and field questions from their coach, Amanda Basham!
Thanks for joining us as we wrap up calls for race week before Miranda and Melissa get to test themselves in Virginia for their first ultra. The work is in the bank. Now it's time to see what they have! Enjoy!
Canon’s story may sound very typical at first, married and has two kids, 9 & 7. Grew up active in a small country town, played all sports as a youngster but focused on soccer in high school and went on to play in college. Stayed active, until like many people fell victim to the typical office job / marriage / new dad lifestyle and got out of shape. As a result of stress; poor diet; lack of sleep; too much alcohol, health issues started. Canon was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Motivated by the desire to be strong for his family and in case a major surgery was needed Canon took control of his health and fitness. Now at 41 he is in the best shape of his life. Canon does trail running; CrossFit; ruck hikes; mountain biking and completed the David Goggins 4x4x48 mile challenge.
What a treat to get to know Canon. Some people are going to have a great attitude no matter what and Canon is one of those people. We really appreciated him sharing his personal story with us. We learned more about what it is like living with the autoimmune condition, Ulcerative Colitis. We also get into some other not so pleasant stuff when it comes to feet issues and when nature calls on the trails. We found ourselves laughing and sharing maybe a little too much LOL. It was a fun episode but also one that could really help someone struggling with a similar health issue. We think you will feel inspired and hopeful after listening to Canon.
Mike Spiller joins host Scott to answer the audio questions of the eight runners of Season 10 a week before race day. If you are racing in Virginia this might be a good listen for you too!
We had the pleasure of chatting with the RD's of the partner race for Season 11. If you have not explored the western slope of Colorado you are in for a treat. They share everything you need to know before coming out. The course, pre race, the festival, and lots more! Enjoy!
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Jason Fitzgerald is the host of the Strength Running Podcast (one of the top 3 running podcasts in the US of all time) and the founder of Strength Running, an award-winning running blog with hundreds of thousands of monthly readers. A 2:39 marathoner and USATF-certified coach, he’s coached thousands of endurance athletes to faster finishing times and fewer injuries with his results-oriented coaching philosophy.
He’s the winner of the 2011 Morraine Hills Half Marathon, 2012 Maryland Warrior Dash, and the 2013 Potomac River Run Marathon. During his collegiate career, he was a member of the 2002 National Championship-qualifying cross-country team and a top ten finisher in the steeplechase at the 2006 New England Championships.
Jason speaks at industry conferences and for major brands like Anheuser-Busch and the Inter-American Development Bank. He also frequently delivers presentations and coaches at fitness retreats and running camps throughout the United States. His work has been featured in the Washington Post, Runner’s World, Health Magazine, Lifehacker, The Huffington Post, and other major media.
He lives in Denver, Colorado where you can find him trail running in the nearby Flatirons, cheating on running with his road bike, or at the playground with his wife and three children.
“Have fun with the process of training”. Wise words from Jason Fitzgerald. This is one of our most informative and fun podcasts. Jason shares some key training tips and so much more, you may be surprised by some of them. Jason also shares his running history and how his coaching career started. Sometimes one comment can change the trajectory of your life. This is a good one to have in your training toolbelt. We know you will enjoy it as much as we did.
https://strengthrunning.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/StrengthRunning
IG - @JasonFitz1
Join Coach Scott Jones, Ellie Greenwood, and Hillary Allen as they talk about the new season for Becoming Ultra! New and aspiring ultra runners can apply to be coached for their first ultra in Fruita, Colorado for the Desert RATS Race and Festival. It's going to be an epic season so get ready to sign up here!
Miranda has had a setback and has some decisions to make regarding her race and Melissa has set some new volume records for herself. Their energy was great and coach Ellie shares a crazy story about racing and bees! Enjoy.
We could not be more pumped to see all of the runners from this season pushing so strong so late in the training. Dave's knee is still giving him issues but seem to be on the mend. Mariah has been putting in some big efforts and feeling great. Listen to see how they got here!
With less than 3 weeks to their first ultra Jenn and Randi have taken every opportunity to make sure their training is on point, and it's paying off!
Katie and Bailey are both plugging away and keeping healthy. Unfortunately, Katie's area is on fire and it's been a tough go emotionally lately. We hope you enjoy the show and give some love to the people losing so much.
Scott Jones is a husband, father of two boys, 10 & 7, and adventurer. Scott is the founder and coach of Athlete on Fire. He has a master’s degree in exercise science and a coaching style as described by a current client that supports you being your best, helps you believe, and holds you accountable in ways that are fun, relaxed, and down to earth. Scott and his wife Lauren bring runners together twice a year for incredible Trail Camp experiences. Scott is also the host and producer of The Becoming Ultra Podcast, currently in season 10 and started the ever-growing Becoming Ultra Community. Scott believes the biggest challenges and most epic adventures are not reserved for a special class of human. He believes every person is special and can go for it when they truly believe they can.
On today’s podcast we chatted it up with everyone’s friend, Scott Jones. Scott shares his most special ultra experience, 62 miles to honor his late Father on his 62nd birthday. Scott also goes way back to how Becoming Ultra started and the turning point in his career. Talking to Scott is like talking to an old friend and there is always laughter. We think you will enjoy getting to know him a little better.
www.athleteonfire.com
https://www.facebook.com/becomingultraproject/
https://becomingultra.com/
Whitney grew up in Anchorage Alaska and then moved to Texas in middle school. She was always very athletic but never pursued sports in school. After getting pregnant her senior year of high school and having her daughter, Reese the Summer after she graduated she went on to start college that same month, when Reese was just 3 weeks old. Whitney credits that event for changing her life for the better and lighting a fire under her butt. Suddenly she was motivated and took life by the horns. After graduating with honors she started to jog as a hobby and then on to races. After struggling with infertility and miscarriages Whitney decided she need a distraction and began to train for a marathon. A goal that had always scared her. Ironically, about 4 weeks before her first marathon she was pregnant. She was set to run the marathon but ended up with a stress fracture in her foot. After a few more setbacks Whitney was carrying a healthy baby girl, gave birth to Lucy and within a year was pregnant again. After delivering a healthy baby boy she discovered the running community of Instagram and set her sights on qualifying for the Boston Marathon, which she did qualify for. In 2019 she and her family moved to Boulder, CO and her love of trail running began. As one of the season 8.5 participants she began training for her first ultra marathon. Now back in Texas Whitney is working on getting faster and qualifying for Boston again.
We loved catching up with Whitney from Becoming Ultra Season 8.5 and hearing her account of that epic 50k in a snow and ice storm. Whitney has a don’t overthink it just do it attitude when it comes to hard things. On this episode she shares the events that helped shape her and make her the determined, focused person she is today. Whitney is back at it and reaching for some big goals (no doubt she will crush them). She has an incredible work ethic, we loved hearing how she manages her family, work and running. Listening to Whitney will leave you feeling like you can manage anything and go for those goals.
Melissa is plugging right along with her training and even got to run with a previous season local in Rhode Island. The ramp up to Virginia is looking promising. Miranda hit a health scare and is figuring out where she is to be on the safe side of things. We preview the Season 11 race in a short bit! Enjoy the show.
Katie and Bailey try their hand at some different types of running in the last couple weeks. Running the beach for long miles verse her usual mountains was tougher than expected for Bailey and running 21 miles on pavement beat up Katie a bit. We talk through all of this and what to expect in the coming weeks as well! Enjoy the show.
Randi and Jenn find a way to fit in a beer mile with their hectic life and training schedules and it sounds like they got all they could handle! Randi had never had a full beer before! Their training is coming right along and with only 5 weeks left they are gearing up nicely for their first 50k in Virginia.
Lucja Leonard loves running, but hasn't always! A Dutch-born, Aussie raised, British woman living in the USA with her husband & fellow ultra runner, Dion Leonard, and their 2 fur-kids Gobi & Lara life is anything but straight forward. Overweight, unfit and unhappy Lucja turned her well-being and overall happiness around when she took up running in 2004 to try and lose some weight off her 216 pound, and growing, body. Never much for sports growing up she was surprised to discover that she enjoyed the thrill of running and after running her first marathon in 2010 she started to wonder what more her body was capable of. In 2013 she ran her first ultra marathon as part of the Kalahari Extreme Marathon, a 250km race over 6 stages/7days through the Kalahari desert in South Africa where you have to carry all your kit and food to survive the entire week! From here she was unstoppable having run a multitude of ultras around the world, the tougher and higher the DNF rate the more excited she gets about giving it a go. Lucja's experience now includes epic races such as Leadville 100, Ultra Trail Mont Blanc 106 miles, Oman by UTMB, Marathon Des Sables and Transgrancanaria 125km to name just a few. This year she takes on her biggest challenge to date by attempting to run the Triple Crown of 200 milers, Bigfoot 200, Tahoe 200 & Moab 240 over only a 9 week period in total! Ultra running has not just shaped Lucja's mind and body but it has changed both her and Dion's lives. Dion was running a 250k/155mile multi stage race across the Gobi desert in China in 2016 when a stray dog started following him. She would run nearly 80 miles with him and Dion and Lucja turned their lives upside down in the process of adopting her from China to the UK where they were living at the time. You can read more about their true & inspiring story in the NY Times bestselling book 'Finding Gobi' which is also being made into a Hollywood film.
Lucja lives her life fearless! The bigger the challenge the better. She went from overweight and unhappy to fit and having incredible adventures. On this podcast Lucja talks about her very first epic ultra and subsequent struggles. She also opens up about insecurities and how she has overcome them through positive self-talk. Lucja tells us about her biggest challenge to date, the Triple Crown of 200 milers and raising money for the Pink Ribbon Foundation that supports breast cancer patients, which is a charity close to her heart. We know you will walk away from this one as inspired as we were. “Believe in yourself as others believe in you”.
You can find out more about Lucja and follow her journey @runningdutchie on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Breast Cancer Fundraiser
'Finding Gobi' available at www.findinggobi.com or your favorite spots to buy books, and this amazing book is being made into a Hollywood film.
Dave and Mariah are still plugging along even through the hazyness of a couple tough beer miles. Dave deals with a slight knee set back and Mariah keeps pluggin away. The next few weeks should be challenging but the set up for a great race day is worth the work. Enjoy.
Randi and Jenn come to share their shenanigans with their first ever beer mile along with some of their concerns for getting ready for the big day coming up. It's a great listen today with a couple dedicated runners!
Amanda Follmar was one of the lucky runners to be featured during Season 8.5 of the Becoming Ultra Project, the group who ended their season with the November 2020 epic snowstorm 50K in Scott’s backyard. She has since completed one more 50K at the Smith Rock Ascent, in May 2021. Amanda was born and raised in a small rural community in Oklahoma. She started running her freshman year of high school in 1998 and has continued to lace up her running shoes through all stages of her life. Currently, you will find her in the role of the Chief Everything Officer for the Follmar family party of 8 (this includes two lovable labradors). Amanda and her husband Keith have four super cool kids, who range in age from 13 - twins who are 6. She is also an overtired elementary school volunteer. Amanda and her family live in the South Bay Area town of Saratoga, California.
We had a great time catching up with our friend Amanda Follmar. Amanda is a rock star on the trails and off. Mother of 4, wife and volunteer but that doesn’t stop her from running and training for 50k’s. Amanda has mastered balance and getting things done. In this episode Amanda talks about her experience with Becoming Ultra season 8.5 and that backyard snowy Ultra as well as her recent awesome finish at the Smith Rock Ascent. She also gives some great tips on managing time for yourself when you are being pulled in many other directions. We love Amanda’s can-do attitude and mental strength; she is always very humble and kind. We are excited to see what Amanda takes on next.
Kate Coward is a 41-year-old wife, mother, athlete, coach, and business owner. Kate is known for her mental positivity and ability to preserver through the most extreme conditions. She retired from her career as a CFO and is the founder of Full Potential Coaching, a tailored coaching business for endurance level athletes. Kate’s athletic accomplishments include the Arrowhead 135 at 8 weeks pregnant; as well as the Arrowhead 135 skiing and bike ultra races; Antarctica Marathon; 7 Continents Club, ran a marathon on each of the 7 continents; Day across MN, 240-mile gravel bike race; and probably the most extreme the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 Bike race where she took 1st place female.
Kate has some awesome adventures to share. They all seem to take place in extreme weather and sometimes with moose encounters. She is a multi-sport athlete who loves adventure and seeing how far she can push herself. In this podcast Kate shares some mental tricks she uses to push through the pain and get it done. Kate also shares what it was like leaving the corporate world and starting her own business. We were inspired by Kate’s physical and mental strength.
IG: kate_coward_athlete
https://www.fullpotentialperformancecoaching.com/
While Hillary runs in France Scott catches up with Bailey and Katie! They keep it light and talk about their first ever attempt at a beer mile. Let's just say they learned a lot. Enjoy the show!
Miranda and Melissa catch us up on all of their training adventures and misadventures. Long runs and getting lost and figuring out how to take care of business, yep, on these runs. Listen to the journey of two soon to be ultra runners and their amazing coach on the show today!
Zac’s passion for endurance sports and helping people started with his own fitness transformation. After struggling with obesity, he went on a quest to feel better and get healthier. What began as a means to lose weight had quickly morphed into an aspiration he pursued vigorously for the last decade. After barely being able to complete one mile, he now competes in ultra-marathons all over the world. During this transformation Zac fell in love with the potential of the human body so much that he left his corporate career to pursue a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. Now, as an educator and advocate for healthy living, he is a top trainer with iFit’s interactive home fitness, mentors at a statewide addiction recovery program, coaches online and gives training advice via his social media.
Zac has a heart of gold and it really comes through in our talk with him. We discuss his true first ultra experience, the good, bad and the ugly. Zac also discusses his struggle with food addiction and how he has learned to cope. Zac shares a very special ultra memory that includes his father. We were truly moved during this podcast. In September Zac will be running the UTHC 125k race in honor of his late brother. We will be following along and cheering him on. He will be joining us again to discuss the journey. Zac works closely with Addicts II Athletes and has a passion for helping people who struggle with addiction. If you would like to reach out to Zac his information is below.
IG: zac_marion
Strava: zac_marion
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zac.marion.5
Mariah keeps running into bears and Dave is playing the mental games it takes to get the training in but they are both progressing perfectly! We also talk about the 5k retest and more. Enjoy the show!
Bob Becker is the race director of the Keys 100 and has many adventures he shares with us on the show today. His input on longevity is inspiring as he is proving age is definitely just a number. We hope you enjoy as much as we did!
Lucy Bartholomew is an ultrarunner from Australia. She started ultrarunning at only 15 years old and isn’t afraid to pave her own path. Now 25, she's one of the top racers in the world with wins and top performances at some of the sport's most important events. In 2018 Lucy placed 1st for women and created a new course record at Ultra Trail Australia, placed 3rd for women at Western States, and completed many many other races throughout the year. Recently, Lucy set an FKT on the Larapinta Trail - a 138 mile trail in central Australia. Her race accomplishments are incredible, but Lucy is trailblazing off the race scene too! She hosts training camps and has a plant-based cookbook called “Sustain Your Ability”! Lucy has the following quote on her website and I love it: “At the end of this time in my life I don't believe I will remember the wins and the loses but more the people I have met, the messages I have received that say "you have inspired me", "you're a great role model". For me, if sharing my journey and staying true to myself gets one person out of bed in the morning and challenges themselves then every step has been worth it.”
We didn’t think it was possible to like Lucy Bartholomew more! After spending some time chatting with her, we realized how very special she is. On this episode Lucy shares with us what life is like on lockdown in Australia and how she is spending her time. We discuss her first ultra marathon at 15 years old, setting the FKT on the Larapinta Trail (comical hallucinations), her cookbook, Sustain Your Ability, Trail Camp, positive body image and so much more. We could have talked for hours! We walked away from this one feeling happy and inspired in many ways. Hopefully, you will too! Here is a wise quote from Lucy. “Comparison is the thief of all joy”.
To learn more about Lucy, visit the following:
Website: lucybartholomew.com
IG: @lucy_bartholomew
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucybartholomew17
What an awesome episode. Bailey and Katie cam with awesome questions about the motivation to stay on it in training. Coach Hillary had some awesome feedback and it all ending with such a positive energy we all wanted to go for a run! Enjoy the show!
Not only is the mileage adding up for these two runners, they are balancing their busy lives and seem to be nailing it. Even it they are pretty worn out! Melissa gets to meet Season 8.5 and 9 runners at a race in Vermont. Miranda's kids have her working double time to get it all in! Coach Greenwood has them ready to keep rolling! Enjoy the show.
Marge is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native raised in the Penn Hills. She went from a shy, chubby young woman to being the champion of four major 100-mile races and broke course records across the country, including the Leadville Trail 100, Mohican Trail, Kettle Moraine and Umstead Trail 100. As well as many other races and athletic accomplishments over the last forty-one years. Marge is also a fourteen-time finisher of the Leadville 100, four-time big buckle achiever, holds the record for most finishes by a woman and was women’s champion in 1985. This year Marge will be the oldest female to complete the Leadville 100. Marge is also the co-author of Leadville Trail 100: History of the Leadville Trail 100 Mile Running Race.
What a treat this was for us, Marge is full of spunk, positivity, and fun. She is truly living her best life! On this episode Marge takes us back to her first ultra marathon, how things have changed in ultra running and much more. We discuss what training is like as she prepares for the Leadville Trail 100 in August (she will be the oldest woman at 71 to complete it) as well as all her current running adventures. Marge also discusses her book and why it was so important for her to write it. We are in awe of Marge and her energy. This interview left us feeling so happy and incredibly inspired. I see a running adventure with Marge in our future.
To purchase a copy of Marge’s book, Leadville Trail 100: History of the Leadville Trail 100 mile Running Race go to Amazon.com.
Here is the thing about ultra running. There are so many people out there doing things you never hear about. Karen is one of those people. She literally just finished the Desert Rats Kokopelli 150-mile race from Grand Junction, CO to Moab, Utah. This was her third time doing it. Karen has been running for over 30 years. What started as short runs eventually turned into triathlons, then ironman and eventually to Ultras. Ultra running is where Karen found her passion. She has conquered many ultras including the Leadville 100. Karen currently resides in the mountains of NM with her husband, 3 dogs and 9 chickens.
Karen is one of those positive people you gravitate towards, she never stopped smiling through our entire conversation. On this episode Karen talks about the struggles of her very first ultra and her need to keep pushing herself. Karen also gets us up to speed on her latest adventures, which are pretty cool. Karen is a true inspiration and we think you will love this conversation. Check out Karen’s race report from her first 100 miler and a picture from her latest adventure, the Desert Rats Kokopelli 150-mile race.
A journal entry from Karen:
31 hours 25 seconds. Hello Friends! I promised to send a race report. It was an adventure! Andy and I arrived in Ohio Friday afternoon. We checked in at our hotel and drove to the start/finish line to pick up race info and drop off bags which included extra shoes, socks, etc... We went back to our room, with two of our dogs, (Frost and Newton) made dinner and climbed into bed early. 3:45am Saturday my alarm goes off. I eat, get dressed, grab my backpack and head to the start line. 5am race starts. I turn on my headlamp, kiss Andy and start into the woods. About 45 minutes into the race, the sun comes up and it's going to be a beautiful HOT day. Mile 8 is here. There is a beautiful waterfall and a hand over hand climb to arrive at a steep hill and back on trails. I see Andy at mile 12. I feel great. I have met a nice young experienced ultra runner. He gives me some great tips on this race. We continue running. A few water crossings and a lot more hill climbing and I am already at mile 31. I get to see Andy again. I realize I am WAY AHEAD of schedule, but still feel great. Keep on trucking... Next time I see Andy will be at mile 51. I get there in 12 hours 13 minutes. I know this is too fast. Rookie mistake. It is now pushing 90 degrees. I have already ate 4 peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches, 3 granola bars, 2 clif bars, shot blox, pretzels and drank lots of Heed. Approx. 9:30pm. Mile 65 is here. The sun is setting and Andy joins me for the last 35 miles. I was starting to feel a little nauseated, but I got a boost from having Andy with me. My feet are starting to hurt as we shuffle through the dark woods. We arrive at mile 73. We see a few local runners from Indy. I stopped to check out my foot issues. I take off my shoes and my feet are totally covered in blisters. OUCH!!! I change socks, apply Vaseline, and stick lambswool between my toes. I am grateful to be feeling better than the guy sitting next to me. He has started shaking and hallucinating. This is common in an event like this. I later hear he had to DNF. (Did not Finish). We continue. When we arrive at mile 80, it is 4:09am. I am moving VERY SLOW. I probably won't make it to the next checkpoint in time. My feet feel like I am running on sandpaper. I have puked, cried, and felt awful for dragging Andy into this crazy event. I sit for a few minutes, drink some soup and decide to continue. Mile 85 is here. Only 15 more miles. OH NO.... 15 more??? Mile 88.5. I am shot! We barely made the cut off. I seriously think I can't go any further. The aid station volunteer encourages me to go to the next aid station. It is only 2.7 miles downhill. OK. I start moving. Andy changes his shoes. She told him not to let me quit. I think he is motivated to get me to the finish. Two more checkpoints. I call my parents for encouragement. I can't remember exactly what they said. It was encouraging! We make it to mile 91 and press forward. Mile 96.29 is the last checkpoint. We are late. They told us they would give us a free ride or we could unofficially continue. The race is actually 101.9 miles. We have about 5.7 miles to the finish line. Andy won't let me think twice. "We are going". It is a long 5.7 miles. He is pushing me uphills and dragging me downhills. I keep moving forward in a state of pure exhaustion. I just keep moving. 5 miles, 4,3,2...1 mile to go. It's getting super hot again. We climb out of the woods. I still can't see the finish. Andy grabs my hand. I follow him around the road. People are starting to realize we are finishing. They can't believe anybody would still be out there. I hear some cheers. There are no officials at the finish line. It is an hour past the the 30 hour limit. We walk hand and hand (maybe he is dragging me) to the finish. We hugged, I cried, people clapped. I went the distance. I learned a lot and I'll be back! Only 38% of people who started this race, finished. Official or not, We made it! Thanks Andy!!!
Mariah and Dave keep pushing and they are both learning how much of this effort is going to be mental. Mariah takes a tumble. Coach Basham is back to racing. Enjoy!
Bill Beitler was one of the featured runners on Season 9 of Becoming Ultra. An endlessly curious child of the ‘60s, Bill took a 40-year break from his endurance athletics career to raise an amazing family and pursue a community banking career that lead to two successful stints as CEO at small midwestern banks. A competitive swimmer in his youth who specialized in the 200 individual medley before retiring at age 15, Bill took up running in a committed way at age 55 and successfully finished the Smith Rock Ascent 50k, his first ultramarathon at age 57 as a part of Becoming Ultra. Bill and his wife Terry are the “people” for two fantastic dogs, Toby and Josie, and currently call Cumberland, RI home.
We had a lot of fun interviewing one of our favorite people, who we are fortunate to call our friend. Bill is one of the most positive and supportive people to ever be a part of Becoming Ultra. In this episode Bill breaks down his first ultra experience as part of Becoming Ultra Season 9. We get into the benefits of a supportive community and friendships that form along the way. We also talk about trail camp and the impact it can have on you. We think you will love Bill as much as we do. Included is a piece Bill wrote about trail camp. Enjoy!
Desert Highlights Trail Camp – 2021
I was fortunate enough to take part in the first-ever Desert Highlights Trail Camp. This was, hands down, one of the most epic experiences of my life! Right from the start, as we stood at the base of Garfield Mountain and looked at the peak we were about to summit, I knew I was in for an adventure. Over the next three days, that adventure unfolded in ways that far exceeded my expectations and took me places I never would have thought possible. Scott and Lauren used their exceptional knowledge of the Western Slope to pick out challenging and breathtaking trails, and our runs (and scrambles and climbs and hikes) took me over 38 miles of the most stunning country I’ve ever experienced. Oh, and I conquered 7,500+ feet of vertical gain in the process! These were legitimate efforts, pushing me in ways that brought real growth, both physical and mental, and Scott and Lauren were there every step of the way, teaching us great warmup techniques, trekking pole usage, trail mastery and more. Better still, they were supportive coaches, pushing us to excel and believing in us through every single mile.
And Trail Camp was so very much more! Great accommodations, the awesome Western towns of Palisade and Fruita, amazing meals and spectacular vineyards and wine were all made better by my fellow campers. I’ve seldom been around such a positive, motivated and down-to-earth group of people, and we formed an unbelievable bond over these three short days! I will never forget our bike tour of the vineyards with a cool local distillery thrown in for good measure and our final night’s dinner and hot-tub session. We all agreed we couldn’t ever remember laughing so well and so long!
As you can see, Trail Camp was many things, but at its heart it was about wonderful people taking the time to enjoy each other and the magnificent natural world around us. It was about living life to the fullest!
Jen and Randi are learning something new every week. Whether it be about pushing through mental barriers and knowing when to call it a day or simply better ways to NOT fall on the trail, they are figuring it out. Enjoy the show!
We love hearing from you all and this was a great question from one of our listeners. What do you do when you can't get out to trails very often? You are nervous about that big mountain run but can't run bigs mountains. Don't worry, it's pretty common and we have some great answers for you!
Bryan has been a runner most of his life but has suffered some major setbacks that would sideline most of us for good. He has not given up on his love of running and has accomplished some epic things, Tahoe200, Air force marathon, Marine corp. marathon. Chicago marathon 3 x’s, Big Foot 200, Moab 240, Deliriouswest 200 just to name a few. Bryan is also a husband and father, retired from the military with 30 years of service and currently the owner and CEO of Polaris Laboratories.
What a great conversation we had with Bryan. Bryan has a passion for inspiring others and it really comes through. In this podcast Bryan shares his struggles with some substantial injuries and how he overcame them. He takes us on some of his great trail running adventures and gives some solid advice on how to manage the family, work, life balance. We left this one feeling like there are some big adventures ahead of us and we can tackle them. We hope you feel the same! Here is a quote from Bryan I think we can all relate to.
“I never feel I really know a place until I experience it on foot”
Coach Hillary catches up with Bailey and Katie as they finish up their 5k trials early on in the training. They also talk about the accountability in training and the upcoming effforts!
Miranda tries out some new gear after years of road running. Melissa deal with a little achilles, low leg issue (tightness). Listen in to see how their coach Ellie guides them through some new training concepts!
Dave asks a great question about how to know how hard to push. Mariah is dealing with some stomach issues on the longer runs. Coach Basham helps them through it all even with her own epic runs coming up! They both let us know how their 5k trial went too. Enjoy the show!
Ian has been racing around the world in all styles of event since 2005 and coaching since 2010, having run over 200 ultras and marathons (PR: 2:21) in every type of weather and on all terrains. He's won over 50 multi-day races/road marathons/trail ultras or adventure races with experience of running in many mountain ranges, including the Himalayas, Andes, Rockies and European Alps. He also holds the fastest time in a trail 100-mile race by a Brit (12h44m), the record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (69h49m), has won the USATF 100-mile trail championship twice and is a four-time Leadville Trail 100 Champion. Ultra-Running Magazine has voted him as high as 2nd in its annual Ultra Runner of the Year rankings and 4th= in Ultra Runner of the Decade.
What a treat it was for us to be able to interview our running coach. Ian shares stories about his many adventures including coming to the US (hello, visa process) and more importantly his first ultra. He is truly one of the most optimistic and positive people we have ever met. If you need a little push to do something epic this is the episode for you. We really enjoyed this chat with Ian and hope you do as well.
To learn more about Ian, visit the following:
https://www.instagram.com/sharmanian/
https://twitter.com/sharmanian
http://sharmanian.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sharmanultracoaching
Jennifer and Randi both complete their 5k trial and are following the training really well! Randi had a shoulder injury scare early in the training but seems to be doing well now! Jennifer had a challenging interval set on the treadmill for a new format and they both had little trail falls recently. All in all, a great start to Season 10 for these awesome women!
Matt Fitzgerald is an endurance sports author, coach, and nutritionist. His many books include The Comeback Quotient, 80/20 Running, and The Endurance Diet and How Bad Do You Want It. Matt’s writings have also appeared in numerous magazines, including Outside and Runner’s World, and on popular websites such as podiumrunner.com and nbcnews.com. He is a cofounder of 80/20 Endurance and the creator of the Diet Quality Score smartphone app. A lifelong endurance athlete, he speaks frequently at events throughout the United States and internationally.
We are excited to have Matt share is first humbling ultra-experience with us. In this podcast Matt gets real on the challenges of being a lifelong road runner and switching to trails. Matt also opens up about his struggles since getting COVID-19 and what running is like for him now. We loved learning more about Matt and left this one more optimistic and inspired.
To learn more about Matt, visit the following:
IG: fitzgerald.matt
Twitter: @ mattfitwriter
Websites: mattfitzgerald.org, 8020endurance.com