Episodes
Eojin Kim is a Doctoral Student at Harvard University and a runner. When he gets his mind into something he goes all in, and when his mother was diagnosed with cancer her doctor recommended "intermittent fasting" as part of her treatment. Wanting to support his mom and help her understand the task at hand Eojin took a deep dive into that world. Inspired by his Coach Mike McKnight, Eojin set upon the task of finding out how far he could go on no calories, and decided to give it a try at the...
Published 02/13/24
Hunter Leininger, a young adventurer, shares his experiences and mindset of living life to the fullest. From growing up with adventure racing to building robot costumes and props, Hunter has always pursued his dreams at a young age. He started a business in high school and has embraced a positive mindset that allows him to overcome challenges and fear of failure. Hunter recently ran the Florida Trail, pushing himself outside his comfort zone and appreciating his home state in a unique way....
Published 02/09/24
Lindsay Walter, a runner with alopecia, shares her experience of running in a six-day race and how running helped her gain confidence and self-acceptance. She discusses the mental preparation required for such a challenging race and the difficulties she faced during the event. Lindsay also reflects on her journey with alopecia and how running empowered her to embrace her true self. She highlights the importance of kindness and empathy in society and the need to teach these values to future...
Published 02/06/24
Hans Troyer, a former college cross country and track runner, shares his journey into ultra running. He discusses his transition from shorter distances to longer races and the challenges he faced along the way. Hans also talks about his training approach, including the importance of threshold work and progressive long runs. He shares his experience with nutrition and the learning curve he went through. Finally, he talks about how he discovered the Bandera 100K race and his plans for the...
Published 02/02/24
Jennifer Russo, co-founder of the Empower Ultra series and the first woman to run 300 miles in a backyard ultra, shares her journey in ultra running and race directing. She discusses the rewards of race directing and the incredible moments at the finish line. Jennifer also talks about her experience in backyard ultras and provides training tips for those interested in the format. She highlights the challenges of the race and the importance of food and aid station strategy. In this...
Published 01/30/24
In this conversation, Ryan and Karl discuss Karl's recent running season, his mindset as a competitive runner, and his goal of completing 100 100-mile races. They also touch on unconventional fueling strategies and the mental aspect of running long distances. Karl reflects on the changes in his performance as he gets older and contemplates the possibility of retirement after his 100th 100-mile race. In this part of the conversation, Karl Meltzer discusses the future of Speedgoat, the creation...
Published 01/26/24
Kaylee Frederick, an 19-year-old ultra runner, shares her incredible journey of running ultras at a young age. Despite the challenges and doubts, Kaylee pushed herself to complete 31 ultras in a year, including the prestigious Badwater race. She discusses her motivations for running, the support and concerns from her parents, and the lessons she has learned from pushing through pain. Kaylee also highlights the importance of responsible training for teenagers and the sense of community she has...
Published 01/23/24
Amy Haas, a strength and running coach, shares her journey from team sports to running and her decision to run a half marathon in every state. She emphasizes the importance of strength training for runners and provides tips for getting started. Amy also discusses the growth of her Instagram account and the partnerships she has formed with companies like Nike. In this conversation, Amy Haas shares her experiences as a runner and influencer on Instagram. She talks about the challenges of...
Published 01/19/24
Will Sprouse shares his journey of completing 100 mile races and his unique approach to fueling with beer during races. He discusses the importance of setting goals and the satisfaction of crossing the finish line. Will also opens up about his experience of having a stroke and the challenges he faced during his recovery. Despite the obstacles, Will's determination and persistence allowed him to continue running and achieving his goals. In this conversation, ultra runner William Sprouse shares...
Published 01/16/24
In this conversation, Christina Couper shares her journey from equestrian to ultra runner. She discusses the parallels between horse riding and running, including the lessons learned from horses such as recovery and problem-solving. Christina also highlights the importance of perspective and gratitude in both running and life. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the fascinating world of farriers and horseshoeing. In this conversation, Christina Couper discusses her experience...
Published 01/12/24
Chad Lasater shares his experience of participating in the World 24-Hour Championship in Taiwan. He discusses the challenges of traveling long distances for a race and the impact of jet lag on performance. Chad also talks about the difficulties of adapting to different food and accommodations in a foreign country. He highlights the importance of bringing your own race nutrition and the support he received from his teammate Bob Hearn. Chad reflects on the growth of ultra running and the unique...
Published 01/09/24
In this conversation, Ryan Ploeckelman interviews Taggart VanEtten, a world record holder in ultra running, about his engagement and his training methods. Taggart shares his proposal story and offers marriage advice. They discuss the importance of speed work and mixing up workouts to improve performance. Taggart introduces a 16-week training plan for running a faster 50K, emphasizing the use of intervals and easy runs. They also discuss the role of rest intervals and recovery in building...
Published 01/05/24
The conversation highlights the most inspiring runners of 2023 in the ultra running community as picked by Henry Howard for runspirited.com. The runners showcased in this episode have overcome various challenges, achieved impressive performances, and served as ambassadors for the sport. The chapters cover topics such as remarkable performances, personal transformations, advocacy for social causes, and contributions to the sport. The conversation also touches on the UTMB controversy and the...
Published 01/02/24
The episode starts with a Christmas party atmosphere, with the hosts and guests enjoying old fashions. They discuss the recent tornado in Clarksville and the community's response to the disaster. The conversation then shifts to Christmas gift-giving, with each participant sharing their wins and fails in finding the perfect gift for their partners. Finally, Becca talks about her year of running and her plans for 2024. In this part of the conversation, the hosts and guest discuss Bob Hearn's...
Published 12/22/23
In this conversation, Charlotte Corriher shares her journey from running marathons in costumes to becoming an ultramarathon runner. She talks about her experience living on a boat and how it influenced her running. Charlotte discusses the sense of community in the ultra running world and the support she receives from fellow runners. She also highlights her favorite races, including the Charleston 100 and the Yeti races. In this conversation, Charlotte Corriher shares her experiences and...
Published 12/19/23
Janice O'Grady, an ultrarunner since the 1980s, discusses the evolution of the sport and her experiences. She shares stories of the small ultra-running community in the 80s and the camaraderie among runners. Janice recommends old school races and emphasizes the importance of training and competitiveness. She also talks about setting world records in the 75-79 age group and her approach to longevity in ultrarunning. Janice reflects on her recent world record-setting run at Tunnel Hill and the...
Published 12/15/23
Wally Hesseltine, an 80-year-old ultra runner, discusses his running journey and achievements. He recently set the 80-year-old 100-mile record at Tunnel Hill. Wally shares his experience and mindset during the race, as well as his motivation for setting records at his age. He talks about his lifelong passion for running and the joy he finds in participating in races every month. Wally also offers advice for new ultra runners and emphasizes the importance of keeping records and being prepared....
Published 12/12/23
Brian Boyle shares his journey as a father of a child with a critical form of congenital heart disease. He discusses the challenges and emotions of discovering his son's health issues and the impact it had on his family. Brian also highlights the healing power of running and how it has helped him cope with the difficulties of his son's condition. He emphasizes the importance of cherishing every day and finding inspiration in his son's strength and resilience. Brian's story showcases the...
Published 12/08/23
Andrew Buck Michael is an ultra runner, TV Meteorologist, and host of the fantastic podcast "Weathering the Run". We have a great conversation about how he got into ultra running, what drew him to study the Weather, and even take a behind the scenes look at what it takes to bring Central Ohio their daily forecast. Check out the "Weathering the Run" Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/6dZSjiBEEJy5U7go0Wuxiy This episode is brought to you by Dan Perron, Adam, Dean, Joe Kern, and all of our...
Published 12/05/23
Get to know a rising star in the Eastern US trail scene Madalyn Nones. From her start in Kickboxing, to hilarious first Marathon story, Madalyn's story is one full of laughs, trying new things, and finding something you really enjoy. She even breaks down her recent victory at one of the best 100 milers in the Southeast, The Pinhoti 100 in Alabama. This episode is brought to you by Jenn Houghton, Michael Shiels, Sally Thompson, Chitra Ranganathan, all of our Patreon supporters and...
Published 12/01/23
Justin Duncklee had a run of bad luck. After taking some antibiotics, he nearly died after a one in a million reaction. After recovering from that he would start running, only to find out that his bodies reaction to the antibiotics also destroyed one of his hips, and at the age of 30 he had to get a hip replacement. Not sure he would ever be able to run again he slowly started ramping up his miles, and found a goal that at one point seemed impossible, a 50k trail race. This episode is brought...
Published 11/28/23
Charlie Lawrence just set a new World Record for the 50 mile distance at the Tunnel Hill race in Illinois. Running a mind blowing 4:48:21, and he never doubted that he could do it. Growing up the son of two athletes Charlie was a cocky kid who in Elementary School was faster than every kid on the Middle School Cross Country team. In Middle School he ran on the High School Varsity team, and eventually would run in College and earn All Big Ten Honors running for the University of Minnesota. A...
Published 11/24/23
Hunt Brumby is a perfect example of why you should never judge a book by it's cover. A loved member of the trail running community, he is now facing his toughest challenge yet, cancer. With a positive attitude, and the lessons he learned from the running community he is ready to fight. But he needs your help. John Hardin, Brian Gajus, Becca Jones and David Compton all join in on this episode as well. You can support Hunt a couple of ways. You can take part in the virtual "Run for Hunt"...
Published 11/21/23
When Lauren Jones ran the No Business 100 in 2022 she was feeling fantastic, until a wrong step in the middle of the race caused an injury that had Lauren unsure if she would ever be able to run ultras again. That injury lead to a year of uncertainty, depression, and then a glimmer of hope that would have Lauren back on the trails. Not phased by the course that nearly took the sport away from her, Lauren lined up at the No Business 100 again this year, and found redemption in the hills of...
Published 11/17/23
Reid Burrows and I have a very open chat about mental illness and trail running. Having both battled it through our lives we get real about living with it and ways we have found to make it better. We also talk about making sure we have balance in life and how to make sure we don't allow our whole identity to be defined by our hobbies. I want to thank Reid for being so open during this chat, and the numerous laughs we share along the way. This episode is brought to you by Travis Loncar, Joseph...
Published 11/14/23