Off The Couch

Olivia Amber grew up in rural Wisconsin; headed off to Maine (where she became an all-American XC skier); found her way into the tech world of San Francisco; then started getting into ultra running. Now, Olivia is a Salomon athlete who is also juggling a career in tech. We talk about all of the above, plus coffee; sleeping / not sleeping; her current & future interests in running; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Last Weekend: the Broken Arrow 52k (0:00)Skiing, Running, & Roller Skis (2:16)Why Colby College? (16:58)Geology (19:28)Longest run before college? (21:19)Running during college (25:32)Internships & Whiteboards (28:03)“Strategic Research Leader” (36:22)Work / Life balance (38:00)A hot take on not sleeping (40:27)Coffee (42:13)Current & future interests in running (49:18)RELATED LINKS:This Week's Gear GiveawayGear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We recently talked to Anton about a number of things, including his recent return to racing; his ongoing exploration of different ways to move through the mountains; we get his completely unfiltered take on Murakami's What I Talk about When I Talk about Running — and that turned out to be such an interesting part of the conversation that we agreed we ought to re-read that book and then later this fall, come back to record another conversation about it. So we invite you to join us in reading / re-reading Murakami's book and then you'll be all set for our upcoming conversation about it.TOPICS & TIMES:Leadville (1:31)“Psychotic Runner” (5:14)What were you into as a kid? (14:58)Injuries (17:56)Climbing, bike touring, & skiing (18:57)Influences (23:53)Murakami (31:17)More Leadville & a life-changing bike trip (36:34)Studying philosophy (50:32) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We talk to Tasha Wodak about her performance in last month's Olympic games; the twists and turns of her running career; mental preparation and the mantras that inspire her; a critical insight to remember during life's hardest moments; running playlists; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Jonathan is bad at pronouncing things (1:34)Tasha's on-the-ground report on last month's Olympics (3:16)Expectations going into the games (9:52)The mental game of running & Tasha's mantras (13:59)Sports psychology - underlying principles (19:11)Super shoes (25:58)What caused Tasha to quit running (35:41)What caused Tasha to resume running (42:13)Running with gratitude, joy, & love (51:37)Tasha's Running Playlist (55:35) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our guest today is an ultra running legend. But beyond his impressive endurance exploits, Dean is an incredibly thoughtful and generous person who just so happens to love running. It was a real honor and a true pleasure to talk to Dean about running, his life-long interest in reading, his approach to writing, and what he is currently passionate about outside of the world of running.TOPICS & TIMES:Depressing jet lag facts (1:53)Your trip to Australia (5:17)“A different sort of torture” (12:02)Longevity & Ultras (14:34)Reading (23:00)Writing (26:52)Ultramarathon Man vs. A Runner's High (31:42)Classics (50:32)RELATED LINKS: Buy Dean's book, Ultramarathon ManBuy Dean's book, A Runner's HighConnect with Dean See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today we're kicking off a new series on Off The Couch, and Sanjay Rawal joins us to talk primarily about track and field at the Olympics, but we also discuss the Leadville 100, as well as the longest foot race in the world, the 3,100-mile Self Transcendence race in New York.TOPICS & TIMES:Sanjay's big night (2:37)Sifan Hassan's 1500m, 5000m, & 10,000m (4:57)Athing Mu's 800m American record (12:21)400m hurdles — men's & women's (16:30)Are decathletes underappreciated? (25:18)Overall state of track & field? (31:42)2021 Leadville 100 (37:51)Self Transcendence 3100 Run (44:31)RELATED LINKS:Camping in Gunnison & Crested ButteMountain Town Economics, Pt 3Mountain Town Economics, Pt 2Mountain Town Economics, Pt 1 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Annie Hughes is 23 years old and is quickly becoming quite a force in the world of ultra running. So we talked with Annie about her preparation for the Leadville 100 and the race itself; waiting tables; potentially running for president (which is related to waiting tables); her plans to run the Moab 240 this October, and what she's most excited about beyond this October.TOPICS & TIMES:Congratulations! (4:25)Preparation for the race (9:33)Race recap & thoughts on ‘home court advantage' (9:10)Other ultra experiences (12:09)Annie's running background (14:59)Approach to training (19:21)Thoughts on the upcoming Moab 240 (22:34)Annie's off-days (25:48)More on Moab (33:56)What else are you excited about in the ultra world? (37:01)RELATED LINKS:Camping in Gunnison & Crested ButteMountain Town Economics, Pt 1Mountain Town Economics, Pt 2 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We talk to Dakota Jones about how motivation evolves, different chapters of life, and what led to the launch of the Footprints Running Camp.TOPICS & TIMES:Breaking bones (3:27)Footprints Running Camp (6:53)‘What you should do' vs ‘What you want to do' (21:00)Dakota's different chapters of life (26:19)What ignited your environmental passion (34:11)What are you currently studying? (36:10)What does the next year look like? (40:09)Fundraiser for the next Footprints (46:01)RELATED LINKS:Camping in Gunnison & Crested Butte See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ian Sharman is back on the podcast (check out ep. 12 for more with Ian) and we sat down with him in Blister HQ, along with our good friend and Ian's favorite pacer of all-time, Dana Kracaw.We talk about how Ian and Dana met; what makes a good pacer; when & when not to DNF; Tanya Harding; deer costumes; trolling; all-mountain roller skates; and yes, murder. This one is a lot of fun, so if you dislike fun, please skip it. Otherwise, enjoy!TOPICS & TIMES:Introductions & Instagram trolling (2:18)Preparing for another Leadville 100 (11:21)Difference between a “hike” and a “run” (16:00)Heart rate monitoring (26:02)The art of pacing (30:01)Ian & Dana's proudest running accomplishments (36:12)Hacking Wikipedia pages (44:45)Tanya Harding & deer costumes (50:48)To DNF or Not to DNF (55:14)Coaching & race selection (1:09:26)Ian's strategy for this year's Leadville 100 (1:17:56)More trolling, Boston, Leadville, & costumes (1:24:00)RELATED LINKS:Off The Couch ep. 12: Ian SharmanCamping in Gunnison & Crested Butte See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sanjay Rawal is back on the podcast to discuss his latest film project about the American runner, Patti Catalano Dillon; how being coached by Patti has caused him to completely overhaul how he trains; and why we all might benefit by remembering to “run easy.”TOPICS & TIMES:The Reception of the film, Gather (1:44)Sanjays' own running & latest project (8:37)Training & the signs of a "happy" runner (16:39)Running easy (36:27)RELATED LINKS:Filmmaker, Sanjay Rawal, on the World's Longest Race (Ep.2)Sanjay Rawal on Running Dumb, Training Slow, & Finding Joy through Exertion (Ep.33)Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Rights, & the Film, Gather (Blister Podcast Ep.131)Camping in Gunnison & Crested Butte See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In part 2 of our conversation with one of the top ultrarunners in the world, we discuss Michele's book, Ultra, that comes out today; his motivation heading into the Moab 240 last year (which he won); the “art of the pull”; death; purpose; and Michele makes an announcement about a big upcoming project.TOPICS & TIMES:Today's release of his book, “Ultra" (2:50)Running the Atacama & Gobi deserts (5:14)Motivation going into the Moab 240 (10:50)Pulling vs Pushing (17:26)DNFs (26:16)Death (29:41)Purpose (37:33)How Dean Karnazes' book saved his life (45:36)The backstory of his book, Ultra (57:43)Michele announces an upcoming project (1:09:12)RELATED LINKS:Part 1 of our conversationOrder Michele's bookCamping in Gunnison & Crested Butte See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How does a kid from a little town in Italy go from working in his family's floral business to being a top fashion model in Miami to being one of the top ultrarunners in the world? Michele Graglia has done all of that, but he isn't just about winning long-distance races and setting world records (though he's won the Moab 240, Yukon Arctic Ultra, Badwater 135, & more). He is most passionate about human potential, helping us redefine what is possible, and motivating each and every one of us to do the same. TOPICS & TIMES:Why Michele's book, Ultra, is a “big” book, but a fast read (2:55)“Better” works of philosophy (8:11)Growing up in Italy, education, & the family business (11:00)Fast track to becoming a model (18:35)Oxymoron of modeling: discipline & partying (22:02)Weight, Form, & Nutrition: modeling vs. ultrarunning (26:41)Virtue of discipline vs. virtue of remaining open (34:48)Diet: how open are you after years of experience? (41:48)Eating Meat: how, why, & when? (48:14)Shift from coaching running to practicing yoga (54:23)Ultrarunning, Yoga, Vedic philosophy, & “getting to the fabric of your soul” (56:08)RELATED LINKSHow to Pre-Order Michele's book, Ultra See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you want to understand one of the most important developments currently taking place in the outdoor industry, then this conversation is for you. Jenny Bruso is the founder of Unlikely Hikers, and what she has started is a movement that is growing fast, and for good reason. See why.TOPICS & TIMES:Life, presently (1:32)Navigating social media & the digital world (3:54)The mission of Unlikely Hikers (15:32)Main takeaways so far from Unlikely Hikers? (27:41)Plus-size apparel & gear (31:35)Getting real about “average” size (39:25)Proving to gear makers that there's a market (43:36)Jenny’s Unlikely Hikers podcast (52:06) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We’re talking again with one of the most influential product designers in the outdoor industry, Jean-Luc Diard. He was formerly the CEO of Salomon and played a major role in the development of Salomon’s running shoes (and the first shaped skis), he co-founded HOKA One One, and he is now the VP of innovation for the Deckers Group and the head of Deckers X Lab. Yesterday, we spoke with Jean-Luc about the design philosophy of Deckers X Lab, and why they are rethinking everything from the standard flip flop to the casual sneaker to the suspension systems of very high-end, performance shoes.TOPICS & TIMES:The Deckers X Lab philosophy & lineup (2:26)Minimalist vs Maximalist shoes (8:53)KO-Z Slipper series (31:06)Suspension & Arch Support (36:53)K-ST series 35 (44:55)X-SCAPE series (49:24)Running-Shoe Quivers (53:29)RELATED LINKS:Ep.73: Jean-Luc Diard on the Process of Innovation See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Neli Vasquez Rowland is the co-founder and president of A Safe Haven, which is a Chicago-based nonprofit whose goal is to end homelessness. So we talk to Neli about A Safe Haven’s comprehensive approach; how and why their model could be adopted by other cities around the world; their Run to End Homelessness; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Running in Chicago (0:53)What is A Safe Haven (5:14)What led you to start A Safe Haven? (6:30)A Safe Haven’s approach (15:00)Neli’s book, HEALING (18:04)Who qualifies for the program? (19:58)A Safe Haven’s housing options (28:48) How does this compare to other programs? (29:40)Providing jobs to break the cycle (33:38)What could other cities be doing better? (38:25)Expanding A Safe Haven to other locations (52:50)What policies or laws most need to be changed? (1:01:05)A Run to End Homelessness (1:08:58)RELATED LINKS:A Safe HavenRun to End HomelessnessNeli’s book: Healing: Real Stories Told By People Who Have Overcome The Homeless And Opioid Epidemics See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Daryl Murphy about his Miles For Justice project; why he’s been running 5k or more every single day for over 300 days; his running background; his ideas about the future of Miles For Justice; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:What is Miles For Justice? (1:41)What started your 5k-a-day streak? (4:13)Daryl’s background, getting into running (5:36)Did you have running heroes? (25:21)The process of fundraising (28:06)Books (35:48)Acapella poem / rap (43:02)Interest in writing? (44:29)The 5k Streak: what’s easiest & what’s hardest about it? (46:20)The future of Miles For Justice (52:08)Running goals this year? (56:37)Expanding on the "idea" of Miles For Justice (1:01:42)RELATED LINKS:Watch Daryl’s VideoDonate to Miles For Justice See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brendan Leonard and I talk to TheGingerRunner, Ethan Newberry, about life before GingerRunner; what led Ethan to start GR and how it has evolved; anxiety and mental health; his partnership with Kim Teshima Newberry; and of course, shoe reviews.TOPICS & TIMES:On being interviewed (2:29)Life before GingerRunner (4:55)Acting Auditions (16:57)Ethan’s process of content creation (24:47)The Barkley Banana (31:58)Ethan’s partnership with Kim (37:23)Branding / the origins of the GingerRunner name (45:09)“Making It” (57:00)Anxiety & Mental Health (1:06:10)“What shoe should I run in?” (1:15:20) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today we’ve got some race recaps for you; our initial impressions of Saucony’s Switchback2 (which features the BOA system); and we discuss the arrival of the first carbon-plated trail shoe, The North Face's Flight Vectiv.TOPICS & TIMES:Race Recap: Moab Red Hot (2:05)Race Recap: Black Canyon Ultras (8:52)Review: Saucony Switchback2 (15:03)Carbon-plated trail shoes have arrived (24:26) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My Off The Couch co-host Brendan Leonard has a new book coming out, so I talked to Brendan about zen koans, piñatas, other running books, kids, alternate titles for the book, and why Jonathan thinks that you should read this book whether you hate running, or love it.TOPICS & TIMESBest Table of Contents Ever? (2:00)Who is the book for? (4:23)Alternate titles (11:09)Running books & Born to Run (17:18)From Zero to Try (29:38)How do books work? (36:52)The importance of piñatas (41:43)Running & Love & Your Kids (44:45)When / Where to get the book (48:03)RELATED LINKS:SEMI-RAD.COMBOOKSHOP.ORG See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Mike Foote, who on 12.31.20, headed out with fellow The North Face athlete, Rob Krar, to attempt an FKT of the Rim to Rim to Rim “alt” route of the Grand Canyon. So Brendan and I caught up with Mike to get his version of events, and we discuss a number of interesting and important topics that show just how terrific and thoughtful of a person Mike is (in case you didn’t know that already).TOPICS & TIMESMike’s attempt to photograph Rob Krar’s butt (2:30)Racing, training, & race directing in 2020 (12:19)Races planned for 2021 (17:27)Getting in to race directing + Mike’s previous jobs (25:45)Books & reading habits (39:29)Ted Lasso! (52:16)Mental Health, exercise, & sports psychology (53:57)RELATED LINKSTHE VIDEO: R2R2R ALT ROUTE See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brendan Leonard & Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Ed Roberson, the creator of The Procrastinator’s Punishment 50k; the host of the excellent Mountain & Prairie podcast; and the author of a fantastic Books Recommendation series. So we talked to Ed about all of the above, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Ed’s podcast, Mountain & Prairie (1:52)The Procrastinator’s Punishment 50k (9:09)Ed’s Scary DNF (30:22)ED’s Gross DNF (36:41)Triathalon community vs the Ultra community (39:31)Ed’s bi-monthly book recommendations (44:40)RELATED LINKS:Ed’s Mountain & Prairie PodcastSignup for Ed’s Book Recommendation Emails See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zoë Rom is a runner / scrambler / climber; reader; writer; and host of the DNF Podcast. And we talk about all of this plus her interest in continuing to deepen and enrich running culture; the very specific way to win her heart; getting cut from the cross country team in high school; winning her first ultra with the help of Oreos & Fireball; her FKT on Capitol Peak; what she’s reading, watching, and listening to; and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Fruit, books, & growing up in Arkansas (2:29)Getting cut from the XC team (6:40)Oreos, Fireball, & Winning her 1st Ultra (12:55)Moving to Boulder, CO (22:38)Climbers or Runners: who are more cerebral? (26:55)Writing about Running (30:13)Mountain Running (34:11)How to win Zoe’s heart (35:51)Zoe’s FKT on Capitol Peak (37:47)DNF Podcast (44:32)What Zoe’s reading, watching, & listening to (49:47)RELATED LINKSSurvivor Endurance phone case Our experience with the Survivor Endurance See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brendan Leonard and I talk with Peter Bromka, a runner that grew up in Portland, ran at Tufts University in Boston, started trail running around San Francisco, and now, is back in Portland where he runs for the Bowerman Track Club Elite Program. But in addition to training hard and running fast, Peter is focused on writing about running itself. And in this conversation, you’ll hear more about how he is currently pursuing both.TOPICS & TIMES:Confession of being an OTC impostor (4:26)How Brendan and Peter met (10:05)Running / Not Running / Running (13:32)Falling short (25:35)Peter’s “The Bubble of a Dream” (32:34)Getting better at running without getting faster? (38:45)Thoughts on the book, Win At All Costs (42:31)Compensation & professional running (49:18)Going forward: writing & running (55:24)See Peter’s work: peterbromka.com (1:00:30)RELATED LINKSSurvivor Endurance phone case Our experience with the Survivor Endurance See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Most of you are familiar with the BOA fit system, but do you know what BOA is up to today? Or maybe you’ve thought, What’s wrong with regular shoe laces? We went to the BOA Performance Fit Lab to learn more; hear why they see a big opportunity in trail running shoes; and see how they are working with companies to optimize products.TOPICS & TIMES:BOA’s background & the Performance Fit Lab (2:29)Dan Feeney & Kate Harrison’s backgrounds (6:20)BOA vs traditional shoe laces (8:20)3rd-Party Testing (14:28)BOA’s biggest categories & emerging categories (16:15)Trail running benefits of BOA (21:50)Lateral Stability & BOA (23:50)Working with companies for optimization (25:55)Different foot shapes & BOA (28:37)Data collecting with athletes (30:10)Current BOA products to try on (32:55) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our guest today is Matt Hart, author of the book, Win at All Costs: Inside Nike Running and its Culture of Deception, which is an important book that everyone interested in competitive athletics should read.We talk to Matt about how he got interested in and involved with this story; whether we should just make all performance-enhancing drugs legal in all sports; who is most to blame for PED use in sports; what Nike’s response to the book has been; Alberto Salazar’s upcoming trial; and more. This is a great conversation that raises a lot of important topics, and after you listen to this conversation, you should read Win at All Costs.TOPICS & TIMES:Matt’s background (3:45)The Nike Oregon Project (18:42)Legal vs. illegal drugs (23:16)Drugs in sports: who is most to blame? (31:54)Fact-checking the book (1:06)Nike’s response to the book? (1:15:45)Alberto Salazar’s upcoming trial (1:18:51) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you are interested in product design and the process of innovation, then you need to listen to this conversation. Jean-Luc Diard started as an intern at Salomon, developed the first shaped ski, became the CEO at Salomon, played a major role in the development of Salomon’s running shoes, moved on to found Hoka One One, and is currently the VP of Innovation for the Deckers Group, where he currently heads up the Deckers X Lab.This conversation explores the process of bringing about real innovation, how to make it happen, what to do, and what to avoid. It is not to be missed.TOPICS & TIMESWhat is the Deckers X Lab? (3:18)What is the Deckers Group? (4:25)Jean-Luc’s background (5:50)Why outdoor brands used to be narrowly focused (10:08)From intern to CEO of Salomon (14:40)Designing Salomon’s first ski (17:45)Getting Salomon into running shoes (24:23)Tangent: what happened to inline skating? (31:56)Starting Something New: Hoka One One (34:58)Adoption - and Resistance - to Innovation (48:39)From Hoka to the Deckers X Lab (52:29)‘Not-My-Invention Syndrome’ & the Process of Innovation (58:45)Putting huge balloon heels on shoes (1:14:28)What is Deckers X Lab up to today? (1:23:05) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Billy Yang is (among other things) a runner, filmmaker (Billy Yang Films), podcast host (Billy Yang Podcast), and someone who has been chronicling the sport of running in a fashion that is often beautiful, and always inspiring.In this conversation, Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Billy about everything from cigarette brands to the need for more compassionate critical thinking in our world.TOPICS & TIMES:Smoking / not smoking (1:52)Filmmaking & influences (8:23)Different mediums (16:54)Immigration (22:08)Finishing projects (34:10)LA & moving? (43:25)NFL and the NBA (51:02)Podcasting & media (57:07)Hopes for the coming year (59:09)RELATED LINKS:YouTube: Billy Yang FilmsBilly Yang Podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today we’re putting our Off The Couch co-host, Brendan Leonard (semi-rad.com) in the interviewee seat to hear about his recent FKT; his review of his FKT route and whether you should do it; movies; his current running program; gas station donuts; how well he deals with deadlines; some of his current and upcoming projects, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Brendan’s new FKT (7:27)Interlude: movie talk (9:42)Brendan’s review of his FKT (12:16)Gas station donuts (17:18)Are you a heart rate monitor? (19:12)Running as a couple (29:02)The deadline dungeon (33:31) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Six months ago, professional skier, Cody Townsend, hated running. Now he loves it. So what happened?? And will his current training program really get him ready to ski tour up and down some of the gnarliest peaks in North America for his ongoing Fifty Project? If you have ever found yourself in the “I hate running” camp, you should listen to this episode.WATCH THE CONVERSATION ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Kaytlyn Gerbin about her work as a bioengineer, the Rainier Infinity Loop; running ultras vs mountaineering; why scientists make good ultra runners; cheating on snowboarding; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESKaytlyn tries to remember the name of her dissertation (2:21)Describe the Rainier Infinity Loop? (6:35)Choosing projects / running ultra vs mountaineering (10:30)How much do you tailor training for specific events? (14:03)Is your brain on or off while exercising (15:57)Why scientists make great ultra runners (19:59)Rock climbing vs. ultra running (21:23)What was your introduction to running? (26:11)Growing up in Wisconsin (32:30)Imposter syndrome & start line at Western States (35:09)Snowboarding / cheating on snowboarding (37:50)Ultra runner couples & pacing your partner (51:42)The rest of 2020? (57:41) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Last Saturday, Blister reviewer & accomplished ultrarunner, Maddie Hart, ran the Emma Coburn Elk Run 5k with Blister founder & very unaccomplished runner, Jonathan Ellsworth, and they recorded the experience. Hilarity (and embarrassment) ensued, but it was all for a great cause: Living Journeys. Check it out.TOPICS & TIMES:Running attire (5:50)Maddie’s FKT attempt(10:33)5k Update: how’s Jonathan feeling? (13:21)Converting miles to kilometers (17:52)Listening to music while running (21:15)Maddie’s FKT training (23:32)Finishing! (26:39)Closing thoughts (30:06) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Coree Woltering is definitely one of the most interesting ultrarunners out there, so Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talked to Coree about the one time when a catcall actually worked; why the running world needs to stop overlooking midwestern athletes; Quick Trip burgers and how to remove ticks and deal with bird-sized mosquitoes; and the injury and the miracle that happened while he was setting a new FKT on the Ice Age Trail.TOPICS & TIMESQuick Trip Burgers & FKTs (5:32)Catcalls, skydiving & a white minivan (12:31)Start of Trail Running and Biology (29:17)Ice Age FKT, Ticks, Mosquitos (40:30)The injury & the miracle (51:27) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ryan Hall is a two-time Olympian, holds the U.S. record in the half marathon, and is the only American to run a sub-2:05:00 marathon. But these days, Ryan has cut back quite a bit on his running, and is currently far more focused on lifting — and his transformation from a ~130 lb. worldclass runner to ~180 lb. bodybuilder is wild.But that’s not the only wild thing Ryan’s got going on — he just completed his first ultramarathon, The North Face Grand Traverse here in Crested Butte — and he did it in the most ‘Off The Couch’ way possible.So I sat down with Ryan in Blister HQ to talk about his first ultra; some of the incredible highs and some painful lows in his running career; weight and performance and his own struggles as a professional runner to find the right balance; the importance of finding proper perspective; and his current work as a running coach where others can benefit from what he’s learned over the years.Check out runfreetraining.com to learn more about working with Ryan.TOPICS & TIMES:Welcome to Crested Butte! (3:31)Running after retirement? (10:10)Performing ‘off the couch’ (17:13)Developing a proper perspective (23:54)Coaching (26:47)Weight & disordered eating (29:33)Ryan’s podcast, book, & documentary (1:01:47)On aging / getting older (1:16:08)On setting goals & excellence (1:16:11) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ever feel like you aren’t — or couldn’t ever possibly be — a “real” runner? Most of us have, which is why most of us need to meet Kelly Roberts. Kelly is good at making us feel fine about the fact that we sometimes hate running. And she’s equally good at helping us continue to run — or walk, or bike, or just keep moving. So we talk to Kelly about her moving (and hilarious) entrance into running; her Badass Lady Gang; angel ghosts; and more.TOPICSLife currently in Brooklyn (8:05)Best motivating tips / tricks (18:24)Kelly’s origin story & getting into running (21:44)Kelly’s first half marathon (30:08)From first half to first full marathon (39:23)Badass Lady Gang (46:27)Coaching (52:08)Current personal goals? (101:50) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We talk to 3-time Olympian, Simi Hamilton, about XC skiing and running; competition & competitive drive; his recent win of the Audi Power of 4; and Jonathan Ellsworth tries to instigate a battle between Simi and a previous Off The Couch guest. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we take a look at the trends in running shoes for 2020. Jonathan Ellsworth is joined by Maddie Hart and Gordon Gianniny to talk about knit uppers on trail shoes (??), massive heels, marketing copy, and we even design our own ‘Blister Pro’ shoe. Then we wrap up by talking about a few current events and get Maddie and Gordon’s upcoming plans.TOPICS & TIMES:Current Running Shoe Trends (2:40)Brand Marketing (8:36)Carbon? (17:00)The Blister Maddie Pro (18:03))Minimalist Shoes (25:05)Heavier Shoes? (29:00)Massive Heels (31:50)Some Current Events & Trends (36:44) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What do Taco Bell, the Harlem Globetrotters, a twisted femur, & Rocky Balboa have in common? They’ve all played a role in the journey of Camille Herron to become a world champion runner and a multiple world record holder — and Camille still has some very big plans. So Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk with Camille about all of the above, including her unusual path to trail running, and what her sites are set on next.TOPICS & TIMES:Taco Bell update (3:16)Early basketball aspirations (5:16)Track & cross country background (12:21)Marathons & the Olympic Trials (15:27)Getting into Ultras, breaking world records (17:43)Next Up: Trail Running (22:25)Telling Nike to Just Do It (23:53)Winning the 2017 Comrades Marathon (28:19)The advantage of a twisted femur (36:01)How Camille trains (41:15)Sponsorships & Gender Equality (49:04)Rocky Balboa & the IAU 24-Hr World Championship (55:59)Camille’s upcoming plans & goals (1:02:56) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Noah Brautigam just won the Speedgoat 50K — a very tough race that includes nearly 12,000 feet of total climbing and takes place mostly above 9,200 feet on a rocky, rooty, steep course.A few days after winning, Noah sat down with us in Blister HQ to provide a very fresh and very fun recap of the race, and describe what tweaks were made to allow the event to happen in these times of COVID. We also discuss his background and a surprising discovery that has him feeling great, performing at a high level, and recovering really well.This is a fun conversation with a thoughtful and self-deprecating guy, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Martinus Evans is the founder of 300poundsandrunning.com, the founder of the Slow AF Run Club, a marathon runner, a DJ, the host of the 300 Pounds And Running podcast, and more. And this week, Brendan Leonard and I talk to Martinus about modern media, being a Black runner in 2020, DJ-ing, motivation, Detroit pizza vs. Chicago pizza, the Slow AF Run Club Martinus started, and more.TOPICS & TIMES:Getting into Running (5:52)1st marathon (11:50)Music (19:14)Masters Thesis & Media Today (24:37)Police & being a Black runner (34:33)Slow AF Run Club (49:18)Pizza & Carrot Cake (56:57)What’s Next? (1:03:00) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Amelia Boone about being a world champion obstacle racer; transitioning into trail running & racing; mental health & eating disorders; ElliptiGos, mtn lions, & more.TOPICS & TIMES Mtn Lions, Bears, Snakes, & Sharks (2:24)Amelia’s background (7:24)Intro to Tough Mudder (10:35)Competing & Practicing Law (18:03)Getting into Ultras (24:16)The pressure of competition (29:58)Results vs. Process (35:31)Biggest sacrifices you’ve made? (39:21)Mental Health & Eating Disorders (41:56)ElliptiGos & FKTs (53:20) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Addie Bracy is an accomplished runner who thinks hard about the psychology of sports performance. So we talk to Addie about her background and how it led her to the study of sports performance psychology; the book she is now writing on the topic; and OUTrun, the organization she founded with her partner, Corey Conner, to empower and connect LGBTQ+ individuals within the running community and to create an environment that is encouraging, supportive, and inclusive to all.TOPICS & TIMES Addie’s intro to running (3:43)Highlights from college racing (9:41)Life after U of North Carolina (10:50)Coaching & Getting into Ultras (14:25)Addie’s book on sports psychology (22:12)Competition & Culture: trail running vs road running (29:02)What is the mission of OUTrun? (39:14)The importance of doing what you love (51:00) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Skid Row Running Club is “an unusual running club that uses the power of running to improve the lives of those who are at risk of homelessness and addiction” in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles, California. And this week we talk to the club founder, Judge Craig Mitchell, about why he started the club; his background as a runner, highschool teacher; the duty of police officers to protect and serve; the need for minimum sentencing reform; and much more.TOPICS & TIMES The judge’s running background (2:40)The Midnight Mission & the running club (5:37)What / where is Skid Row? (7:54)Who are the club members? (11:29)The club’s international marathons (12:58)Stories of specific members (18:10)Police & the duty to Protect & to Serve (27:30)Mandatory minimum sentencing reform (33:03)The importance of jury duty service (37:24)Best ways to support the running club? (39:26)Do you have a dream race for the club (42:04) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Abby and Cordis Hall are both very good runners who both run for Adidas TERREX and who both recently set FKTs for the Cottonwood Marble Loop in Death Valley. And Abby and Cordis are soon going to both be going after another FKT, this time, on the rather gnarly Pfiffner Traverse.So we discuss all of that, plus the benefits and challenges that arise when your partner is also a competitive runner. And we also talk about a current rule that is in place specifically for women’s FKTs that deserves to be re-considered.TOPICS & TIMESSomething about observability? (3:10)Setting dual FKTs for the Cottonwood Marble Loop (7:33)FKT rule that ought to be reconsidered? (12:17)Their running backgrounds & approaches (14:18)Relationship Dynamics & Couple Goals (35:47)Upcoming FKT attempt of the Pfiffner Traverse (47:43)Running plans after that? (1:00:21)Cooking recipes & advice for lazy people (1:04:21) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our guest this week is Shaun Martin, who we’ve talked about before on this podcast in our conversations with Sanjay Rawal, since Shaun appeared in Sanjay’s film, 3100: Run and Become. But this time we’re talking to the man himself, and Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Shaun about his background, heritage, coaching philosophy, and a whole lot more.TOPICS & TIMESShaun’s background (2:23)Shaun’s father’s upbringing as a Navajo native (4:09)How relatable is your father’s experience to your own? (10:55)Getting into competitive running (16:47)Running in college (21:13)Pursuing a career in education & coaching (22:48)Shaun’s coaching techniques & philosophies (33:31)Getting into ultras / starting the Canyon De Chelly Ultra (38:44)Sharing running with your kids (54:01)Your ultra running career (57:12) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Faith E. Briggs is a filmmaker and a runner, and this week, Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Faith about her latest film, This Land; growing up and running track & cross country and transitioning into long distance running & trail running; and our current / not-merely-current circumstances here in America.TOPICS & TIMESFaith’s film, This Land (2:52)Boarding school & the ‘nonchalance of wealth’ (10:22)College & running track (15:02)Getting into documentary filmmaking? (23:36)When did you consider yourself a distance runner? (26:42)Getting into trail running (32:26)Inspiration & Influence for your writing and films (38:24)Our current situation (46:31) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A few weeks ago Brendan Leonard and I talked to the legend himself, Buzz Burrell. In the first part of our conversation, we talk about Buzz’s background, including his first ever long-distance run; starting the first organic farm in Colorado; the time he delivered a baby; inventing the hydration pack; and more. And then we discuss Buzz’s role in establishing the concept of the Fastest Known Time; creativity and FKTs, the process of approving FKT submissions, and some of the trends he’s seeing in the world of FKTs.TOPICS & TIMES:Buzz’s first long distance run (1:45)Starting the 1st organic farm in Colorado (11:20)Delivering a baby? (13:06)Going to Asia, biking in Tibet (16:56)Mountain Running (26:31)Running the John Muir Trail (36:36)Inventing the hydration pack (47:06)Giving yourself a promotion (48:36)Establishing ‘Fastest Known Time’ (52:36)Creativity & FKTs (58:25)The process of approving a FKT submission (1:02:24)Trends in FKT submissions (1:07:06) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Saturday, August 25th, 2019, Zach set a new world record for the fastest time that a human being has run 100 miles. He did it on a track in Wisconsin in 11:19:13. And once he hit the 100-mile mark, Zach preceded to just keep on running, and he then set another world record: longest distance run in 12 hours (he went 104.8 miles).These are two mindblowing feats, and you can listen to our conversation with Zach about this on episode 15 of Off The Couch.Fast forward to May 16, 2020, and Zach just set another 100-mile world record: fastest 100 miles ever run on a treadmill.So we spoke to the 34 year old runner just a couple days after his most recent feat to discuss when he first got the idea to attempt this; the biggest differences between running 100 miles on a treadmill vs a track; and his preparation, strategy, and goals for this event.We also have a great discussion about Mike McKnight’s Zero-Calorie 100.And if you’d like to hear more of Zach talking about issues related to peak performance, you should check out his own podcast, Human Performance Outliers.TOPICS & TIMES:When did you first get this idea? (4:03)100 miles on a treadmill vs. track? (6:50)What was your strategy for pace? (12:42)What were your goals? (15:09)Putting on a media event during the run (17:14)Lowest moment during the effort? (19:36)What was the hardest mental aspect? (24:00)Food & fluids consumed (27:10)Advising Mike McKnight on his ‘Zero-Calorie 100’ (34:50)Current Interest: Exogenous Ketones (51:13)Other plans for 2020? (56:28) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is it humanly possible to run 100 miles without consuming a single calorie? Would it be possible to run 100 miles in under 24 hours without consuming a single calorie? On May 8th, Mike McKnight set out to find out, and Mike, who is the record holder of the Triple Crown of 200’s, not only accomplished this extraordinary feat, he did it in 18 hours and 37 minutes.So we talked to Mike about why and when he first thought this was possible; how he prepared and trained for the feat; intermittent fasting and his ketogenic diet; some of the criticism he’s received for even attempting this; and what else he thinks might be possible.TOPICS & TIMES:What is the history of ‘Zero Calorie’ runs? (1:55)When & why did you decide to do this? (4:08)Mike’s ketogenic diet (6:00)Pros & Cons of Intermittent Fasting & Carnivore Diet (12:05)Science behind the preparation (14:14)What criticism about ketogenic diets do you hear? (16:58)What was your biggest concern before starting? (28:52)The route itself (32:13)What did you consume during the run? (34:50)Hardest moment of the day? (36:44)What other human “limits” do you want to test? (44:24)What did you do when you finished? (45:24) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We talk to Georgia Porter, co-owner and personal trainer at The Physio Shop in Flagstaff, Arizona, about her dislike of running as a kid; her grandma who was running ultras back before running ultras was a thing; how to incorporate apple fritters and beer into your training regimen; competing at the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials; her belief in combining strength training and endurance training; and why all runners would benefit from learning to love strength training.TOPICS & TIMES:Workouts & trivia? (1:54)Georgia’s family of runners (3:45)Georgia’s ultrarunning grandma (8:35)Running at Western Colorado University (10:15)Turning point: going off course during a race (12:45)Rediscovering joy (17:35)Georgia’s approach to training for longer distances (24:13)From paramedic to personal trainer (29:10)How do you blend endurance & strength training? (34:40)What are your running goals? (44:45)How to sprint the last 5k of a marathon (52:00) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hillary Gerardi won the 2018 Skyrunner Extra World Series Circuit, and yet, she still doesn’t necessarily think of herself as a runner. So Brendan Leonard and I discuss this with Hillary, and, turns out, her hesitation makes a lot of sense once you understand her background and what it is that she enjoys most about being in the mountains.Hillary was born in Vermont, but has lived in France since 2010, and currently lives in Chamonix, where she works at the Research Center for Alpine Ecosystems, so of course, we discuss all of that, too.TOPICS & TIMES:The hesitation to call yourself a “runner” (2:10)Hiking & backpacking in New England (5:03)The Hut Traverse in the White Mountains (9:45)Getting into trail running & moving to France (14:14)Skiing & backcountry accidents (19:40)Winning prosciutto (25:42)Hilary’s work with CREA Mont Blanc (29:16)What did you study in college? (33:47)Balancing work & running (37:30)Getting into “Skyrunning” (41:55)Trail Running vs. Mountain Scrambling (51:40)Having fun vs. wanting to win (1:07:19) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rickey Gates is a professional runner, a writer, a photographer — and someone who has a whole lot going on. His new book, Cross Country, a 3700-Mile Run to Explore Unseen America, just came out, and it documents Rickey’s 2017 odyssey of running from South Carolina to San Francisco and the people and places he interacted with along the way. We also discuss his Every Single Street project, Hut Run Hut and Bus Run Bus group trips he organizes every year, the current project he’s working on called 50 Classic Trails, and that still doesn’t cover everything that Rickey is up to. Rickey is a very good runner, but an even more interesting person. (Watch the trailer "Cross Country")TOPICS & TIMES:Rickey’s new book, Cross Country (2:35)How & how not to travel (6:00)Bridging political divisions (10:00)The kindness of strangers (14:52)From XC racing to long-distance running (20:15)The Every Single Street Project (31:05)Media Bias, Partisanship, & Becoming More Divided (35:05)Rickey’s group trips: Hut Run Hut & Bus Run Bus (47:09)Rickey’s upcoming film: Transamericana (52:16)Rickey’s current project: 50 Classic Trails (53:55)Favorite Books, Music, & Movies? (57:33) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Late last week, Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talked with @Jenny and Scott Jurek. This probably wasn’t the conversation that you ought to have when you get to talk with a running icon like Scott Jurek and someone who is as accomplished and interesting as Jenny, but, whatever. We had fun, and you will, too. Among other things, we talk about Scott’s very first race; Jenny’s transition from climbing to running; Scott’s love of cooking; Jenny’s ambition to set the Slowest Known Time on the Pacific Crest Trail; and the process of co-writing their wonderful book, North.TOPICS & TIMES:Scott’s very first race (2:00)Jenny’s transition from climbing to running (7:52)Sharing a cubicle with Krissy Moehl (9:22)How Scott & Jenny met (10:15)Scott’s love of cooking (15:50)Best veggie burgers? (28:25)Thoughts on processed vegetarian food? (35:00)What’s your current relationship to running? (43:50)Goal: Slowest Known Time on the PCT (52:14)Co-writing their book, North (54:42) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.