Most Pleasant Exhaustion

We can't seem to get enough of John Kelly's FKT attempt on the Appalachian Trail, and we shared a few final thoughts about it before he finishes in the next couple of weeks. We also discussed Faith Kipyegon's upcoming attempt to break 4:00 for the mile, and we offered our predictions for the Western States Endurance Run this weekend. Of course, with the Peachtree Road Race coming up in Atlanta, we talked a bit about that, too.

This week, we talked about the new standards released by the Boston Athletic Association that will add time to a runner's BQ if they ran on a downhill course. We also caught up with John Kelly's Appalachian Trail run, the latest from the NCAA Track and Field Championship, and the new of the cancellation of the final Grand Slam Track event of the year.

Summer is an exciting time to be a fan of distance running, and there are so many things happening right now! Michelle and Allison got together this week and talked about everything from the Peachtree Road Race Expo to John Kelly's progress on the Appalachian Trail, with a bit of professional track and marathon-ing in between. And Allison shared newly released information on the location of the World 50K Championship!

This week, we were joined by up-and-coming ultrarunner Hans Troyer. Hans recently earned a vaunted Golden Ticket by finishing second at the Canyons 100K, thereby giving him entry into this month's Western States Endurance Run. Hans is a native of Georgia--like us!--and we got to talk to him about the highs and lows that he has experienced in his short but eventful ultrarunning career to this point.

This week, we spent some time talking about John Kelly, the ultra runner and triathlete who is aiming to take down Tara Dower's new AT record. We also discussed the recent non-DQ of a runner at the Black Canyon 100K--a race that Michelle ran!--and the controversy that has resulted. In between, we discussed the changes to the Grand Slam Track format ahead of their third meet this weekend, and we talked about the Bolder Boulder 10K!

The Adidas Atlanta City Games is a unique track meet, and Allison got to have a front row seat! This week, she told us all about the performances that stood out to her and the athletes that she got to interview as part of the event. Before that, we got an update on whether there's going to be a 2025 World 50K Championship, and we talked a bit about the first real running shoe purchase George has ever made for his sons.

This week, we caught up on the latest happenings, both in our lives and in the endurance world! We discussed the last St. George Ironman event, college graduations, Michelle's recent trip to Denver and her new bike, and our experience watching and thoughts on the Cocodona 250.

This week, we discussed a wide variety of topics, including George's recent trip to Tahiti, our initial impressions of the Puma Fast-R 3, and a few more words on Faith Kipyegon's attempt to break 4:00 in the mile. We spent most of our time talking about the various records that were set at the London Marathon, this week's Cocodona 250, and the recent news from Ironman about their move back to Kona for a combined men's and women's World Championship in 2026.

This week, Michelle and Allison caught up on a wide variety of things--everything from Western States qualifying to Faith Kipyegon's upcoming attempt to be the first woman to break four minutes for the mile. They also discussed Michelle's first impressions of the new Puma supershoe and Allison's recent 5K PR!

This week, we discussed two recent races: the Boston Marathon on 4-21-25 and the Mad City 50K on 4-12-25. We started with Boston, offering our thoughts and analysis on a record-breaking day. We then heard from Allison about her stellar performance at the Mad City 50K, where she finished fourth and likely secured her spot on the US World 50K Championship team.

This week, we dived back into a few topics that inspired our listeners to send comments in the last few weeks. Why is there so much pollen?" we recently asked. We now have the answer. "How much should we talk about our training at work?" Some folks gave us their takes. We also talked about a few topics--like sodium bicarbonate and ketone supplements--that friends and training partners have recently discussed with us in workouts. In addition, we talked about a recent study of how social media may negatively impact your training, and we offered our thoughts on the first Grand Slam track meet.

This week, we spent a lot of time discussing the 10,000 meters--whether it was The Ten from last weekend or the upcoming Save the 10,000 effort from Kara and Des--but we also found time to discuss our favorite April Fools jokes and our picks for the Final Four.

This week, Allison, George, and Michelle discussed George's resolution to go without caffeine. Have there been side effects or withdrawals? Is it a net benefit to his life and his training? We discussed all of those things. Of course, we began by catching up with one another, especially since Allison is in here peak week and we're moving into outdoor track season! We found ourselves discussing the Austin running scene, Bandit clothing, the Atlanta Run Club, and even how we talk about running with our co-workers.

This week, Allison, Michelle, and George discussed the brilliant performance of Matthew Richtman and this year's Los Angeles Marathon, where he ran the seventh-fastest time that any American man has ever run in the marathon. After that, we discussed the most recent edition of Barkley Marathon, including how the race unfolded and why George is not a fan.

This week, we talked about George's race at the Marin Ultra Challenge 50-Miler. The conversation was split into two pieces: one before the race and one after the race. In the first part, we discussed his training and his mindset going into the race, and in the second part, we got all the details on how it actually went. At the end of the podcast, Allison and Michelle discussed a little bit about Fastest Known Times (or FKTs) and what distinguishes an FKT from a really good run.

This year, the USATF Half-Marathon Championship took place as part of the Atlanta Marathon and Half-Marathon. Allison, George, and Michelle all took part in varying capacities, and they got together after the weekend to talk about the pro races, the conditions, the course, and the event as a whole.

This week, Michelle and Allison got together to discuss a variety of recent news inside the world of track and field, including the recent disqualification of Raj Pannu for wearing illegal shoes at the US 100-Mile Championship, the US Indoor Track and Field Championship, and the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track. More than anything, though, they discussed their excitement over the US Half-Marathon Championship taking place on our home course here in Atlanta!

Last week, we heard about the last few few things Michelle had to do to get ready for the Black Canyon 100K. This week, we heard all about the race! And to help tell the story of Michelle's accomplishment, she brought along her sole crew member, Eric, and the pacer that they gained in the hotel lobby, Hilary! It took a boatload of determination to get Michelle across the finish line--plus some silent disco headphones--and we got all the details.

This week, we got to hear about Michelle's final preparations before she ran the Black Canyon 100K in Arizona on February 8. We'll hear about what she has packed, how she plans to pace herself, the shoes she's going to wear, and what her mindset is heading into the race. Tune in for Part Two next week!

When Tara Dower last joined us on the Most Pleasant Exhaustion Podcast (Episode 293), she was on her way to scout some parts of the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Since then, she set the record for the fastest known time on the Trail, she became a professional runner, and she moved to Colorado. This week, we got to talk to her about her whirlwind last six months, what it's like to be recognized in the airport, and all of the upcoming races on her schedule.

Have you heard of Heart Rate Variability, or HRV, and wondered what it is? Have you seen it on your watch or in your training log and not known what it means or how it can be used? We have the podcast for you! This week, we discussed what it is, how to interpret it, and how to use it, and what to do if you want it to change.

This week, we considered a recent Wall Street Journal article that described the increasing number of Gen Z runners who are taking on the marathon. We had a slightly different take on the phenomenon than the WSJ! We also talked about the new Puma Project 3, and we offered our ideas on whether the revived Marathon Project will be successful.

On the day that most Americans abandon their New Years resolutions, the whole crew got together to talk about how we are doing on our resolutions so far. We also talked about how we're getting along in the cold weather, and we reviewed the new race from the Atlanta Track Club, the Polar Opposite Peachtree!

This week, the Most Pleasant Exhaustion crew got together to talk about how 2024 went--including the information from their Spotify Wrapped and Strava Year in Review!--and what exciting things we have planned for 2025.

What's it like to race 240 miles? (No, not a typo.) That's what Thomas Odom did in October, and he came on the podcast to tell us all about it. The gear, the crew, the challenges, and the fueling . . . he shared it all.

This week, Allison was back to tell us all about her experience at the 100K World Championship race in Bengaluru, India! We heard about the course, the team dynamics, the crew setup, and the race itself. Allison was able to finish 3rd on Team USA by taking 12th overall and 3rd master. She won her age group to boot!) That was good enough to help the American women finish as the third team.

This week, George shared his experience with the Valencia Marathon! We talked about his shoes, his nutrition, and his trip overall, and we learned about the difficulties he faced along the way.

Looking for the perfect gift for the endurance athlete in your life? We have suggestions! This week, Erik, George, and Michelle offered their suggestions for holiday gift-giving for 2024. We spent the entire year eyeing new releases and trying various things, and we offer our unfiltered thoughts on the budget items, reasonable items, and reach items that would put a smile on any endurance athlete's face!

This week, Allison Mercer--a part of the extended MPE family!--came on the podcast to talk about her upcoming race at the 100K World Championship on December 7! George also has a race coming up--the Valencia Marathon on December 1--so we talked a bit about that, too! Travel plans, goals, preparation, nerves . . . we considered it all.

Our aim was to preview the New York City Marathon this weekend, but we ended up talking about a variety of things including the food sensitivity test that George recently took.

Ruth Chepngetich broke the women's marathon world record by nearly two minutes at the Chicago Marathon. In this installment of the podcast, we talked all about how she did it, where she came from, and what it's like to be a distance running fan when such mind-blowing performances seem to be happening more and more often. We also spent a small amount of time talking about George's run at the Flagstaff Marathon last weekend and the new offering from the Atlanta Track Club: the Polar Peachtree!

This week, after hearing a bit about Erik's experience at the Doggettville 12-Hour, we discussed the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene on the Blue Ridge Relay course in western North Carolina.

We turned our attention to three big stories this week: Tara Dower's new FKT on the Appalachian Trail, the controversy over Camille Herron's Wikipedia edits, and the two press releases from the Boston Athletic Association regarding entry into the Boston Marathon. We had a lot to say about each of them, including hearing Michelle's first-hand account from the finish line of Tara's run!

This weekend, friend of the podcast Tara Dower (from Episode 293) is going to be finishing the Appalachian Trail in what is likely to be a Fastest Known Time! Michelle will be there to watch the end of Tara's run, but before we sent her off, we talked a bit about where we are, what our fall plans look like, and how we're doing on our resolutions some of our resolutions . . . from 2023.

The weekend after Labor Day means it's time for our favorite race: the Blue Ridge Relay! Last weekend, Erik, George, and four other guys took on the Blue Ridge Relay for the seventh time. Hear about how it went, what we wore, and the challenges we faced along the way.

Have you ever wanted to run fifteen miles on trails at altitude with a donkey? Well, we haven't either, but this week, we talked to two people who did just that! Megan Ressler and Amy Krupka joined us to tell us about their experience with Millie and Charleston--their donkeys--at the Leadville Boom Days Pack Burro Race. We talked about managing the animal and the challenges they faced. And of course, we made a lot of jokes.

This week, we looked back at Sifan Hassan's historic TRIPLE at the Olympics, climaxing with the Olympic Record in the marathon. We also talked about the men's marathon, and we considered how the Americans performed. We wrapped up the podcast with a quick review of the record-setting day at the Leadville 100.

Two years ago, in Episode 227, we interviewed Ken Sevensky, the race director for the Blue Ridge Relay. This week, we brought Ken back to hear about his preparations for the 2024 race. Ken told us about how the race has overcome obstacles over the years and grown into the event that it is today, and he gave us a glimpse of all that goes into pulling off a 200-mile relay across two states with 187 teams and over 300 volunteers.

The three of us have been consumed by the Olympics over the last two weeks, so we took a few minutes together to talk about them today. Even though the Games aren't yet over, we had fun talking about the things we have seen and what we've been thinking over the last little while.

For the second week in a row, we talked to a 2024 Race Across America finisher! This week, it was Katie Aguilar, who raced as part of Four the Record, a four-woman team. Her husband, Carlos, was on the crew, and he also joined us. Katie and Carlos told us about what it was like to take on such an ambitious goal, the changes that Katie had to make to her training (with Carlos's support!), and the various highs and lows they faced when racing from California to New Jersey.

This week, we talked to a couple of folks who just successfully finished Race Across America: Brian Hetherington and Alyssa Godesky! Brian raced as part of a four-person team called Team One Life, and they raised money for a charity called Special Love. Alyssa, herself an accomplished professional triathlete and ultrarunner, coached Brian and served as the crew chief during the race. We talked about training, fueling, logistics, and some of the unexpected difficulties they faced on their way from California to New Jersey.

There is so much going on in the world of endurance sports right now! We spent a lot of time this week talking about our experiences in the 2024 Peachtree Road Race, plus the first week of the Tour de France, the Olympic Track Trials, and an incredibly fast day at the Western States Endurance Run.

This week, we previewed the 2024 Men's Tour de France with our crack analysts Justin Dugan and Justin Schmidt! As they have done the last few years, Justin and Justin joined us to talk about the course, discuss the contenders, and of course, make a few predictions.

On June 9th, George got to run the one race he's always wanted to run: the Comrades Marathon in South Africa! He trained with this race specifically in mind for nearly a year, including a lot of strength and mobility work, but he ran into some training issues with only a month to go. Nonetheless, he was able to finish the race with a silver medal, and he told us all about the experience this week.

This week, we talked about the controversy that is brewing around Spring Energy's gel, Awesome Sauce. We also recapped the Bowerman Mile, and we talked about George's final preparations before he heads off to South Africa for the Comrades Marathon next Monday!

Episode 294--Comrades Training Update and the Upcoming Olympic Marathon Showdown! by Most Pleasant Exhaustion

In April, Tara Dower won the overall title at the Umstead 100, and this week, she came on the podcast to tell us about it! Even though Tara is fairly new to ultrarunning, she has found a great deal of success, and she tells us what she has learned in her short career, what it's like to be sponsored by Altra, how the Umstead race unfolded, and what's next!

This week, we talked all about our experience at the Tobacco Road Relay over the weekend. TRR is an event that Erik and George helped win in 2022 in its inaugural year, and this year, they were back to give it another go on a three-person team with their friend Lee. The course had changed a great deal, though, and the race director--Ken Sevensky, the race director of the Blue Ridge Relay--put together a great event. We talk all about our running, our fueling, and of course, our gear, as we made our way as a three-person team over the 75-mile course in central North Carolina.

This week, we visited our friend and sponsor Elemental Altitude to do some sweat testing! Both Michelle and George spent an hour on the treadmill to see how much fluid they would lose and how salty their sweat was. The results met our expectations in some ways, but in other ways, we were surprised by what we found.

This week, we talked to Doug Olsen. Doug recently finished the brutal Mount Mitchell Heartbreaker 50-mile race, which traverses three massive climbs and includes 12,000 feet of gain and loss over the course. Along the way, he summited Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States. Doug talked to us about his training, the challenges he faced along the way, his gear, and his [surprising] nutrition.

This week, we discussed George's recent run at a new trail race, the Cove 50K. We also talked about the amazing performances at The Ten, a time-trial-style race in California where eight men ran under 27:00, Nico Young set a new collegiate record, and a woman (Tigise Gebreselama) ran under 30:00 for the first time on American soil.