Off The Couch

Does running have the power to transform the prison system? According to the data, it might, and it definitely has the power to ignite personal transformation, as you will see in the remarkable new documentary, 26.2 TO LIFE.Our guest today is Christine Yoo, the director and producer of 26.2 TO LIFE, which tells the story of incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison who are members of the 1000 Mile Club, the prison's long distance running club. They train all year for the San Quentin Marathon — a 105 lap, 26.2 mile race that takes place in the San Quentin yard.The film was shot over the course of three years with unprecedented access to the prison, and for the reasons we discuss in this conversation, I urge everyone to see this film.TOPICS & TIMES:Background: Russian Spies & Korean Rom Coms (2:38)The Cinematic Nature of Running (11:30)Filming at San Quentin Prison (14:02)Prison Life (23:38)Prisons as Businesses (29:06)Running & Prison Reform (32:34)Other Prison Running Clubs (45:40)Where To Watch (53:10)Music of The Film (55:39)RELATED LINKS:sanquentinmarathon.comBecome a BLISTER+ MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30Blister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rocky Mountain Grand Slam: it involves summiting 122 peaks and 318,000 feet of elevation gain (the equivalent of summiting Everest 11 times from sea level). And Vuori & Athletic Brewing athlete, Jason Hardrath, recently set a new FKT by completing it in under 40 days. So I caught up with Jason to break down his most recent accomplishment, and to discuss the blurring of the lines between running, scrambling, and soloing.TOPICS & TIMES:Rocky Mountain Grand Slam (2:02)Planning (7:03)Calculating Risks (10:57)Blending Disciplines (23:19)Crux's of The RMGS (27:58)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ MemberOff The Couch #110: What Makes Jason Hardrath TickCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30Blister PodcastHappy Hour Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently at the Tahoe 200, Michele Graglia found himself in first place with an hour lead. Then he decided to stop running. So why did the former winner of the Moab 240 and Badwater 135 stop? And why, shortly thereafter, did he announce that he would be walking away from racing? Blister founder, Jonathan Ellsworth, explores these questions and more with Michele.TOPICS & TIMES:What happened at Tahoe? (6:04)Pushing vs Pulling (13:24)Authenticity & Joy (29:16)Mindset Going Into Tahoe 200 (35:17)Reaction from Sponsors (41:56)What's Next? (55:45)Other Updates & Upheavals (59:59)RELATED LINKS:Become a BLISTER+ MemberOff the Couch #102: Michele on Success & StruggleOff The Couch #87: Michele on Going ‘Ultra' (Pt 1)Off The Couch #88: Michele on Going ‘Ultra' (Pt 2)Michele Graglia's book, Ultra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 50th running of the Western States 100 took place over the weekend and delivered on all of the excitement and drama we've come to expect from US ultrarunning's biggest stage. Snowy conditions in the high country weren't enough to stymy blistering times, including a new women's course record that's already being hailed as the greatest single run in our sport's history. To recap the race, Matt Mitchell is joined by Matt Seidel, who also spent the day bouncing around the course from sunup to sundown. They talk about Matt Mitchell's experience crewing and pacing Leah Yingling to a 9th-place finish; what it was like to be in the middle of the elite women's field; trying to wrap their minds around Courtney Dauwalter's performance; and a whole lot more.TOPICS & TIMES:The Matts Do Western States (2:09)Pacing Leah Yingling to F9 (3:14)Why This Race Rules (6:33)Course Conditions (9:27)Forest Hill, the Place to Be (13:05)Tom Evans' Race Tactics (20:36)Anthony Costales, Hell Yea! (23:46)Courtney Dauwalter's Course Record (25:41)How Coverage of the Race Has Evolved (30:53)Matt's Golden Ticket Ambitions (40:44)How He Wound Up in a Banana Costume (46:48)Highlights & Shoutouts (49:13)RELATED LINKS:Western States 2023 Live StreamBecome a Blister MemberBLISTER+2024 Blister Summit InfoCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First run in 1905, the Dipsea is the oldest trail race in the US. Its course takes runners from Mill Valley, CA to Stinson Beach, 7.4 miles separated by 700 stairs, shortcuts, thickets of poison oak, technical singletrack, and stretches of trail with nicknames like “Suicide,” “Cardiac,” and “Insult.” The race's unique handicap format gives certain runners head starts based on age, gender, and prior performances, meaning that logging the fastest time on the course doesn't always ensure a victory. Unless you're Paddy O'Leary this year. The North Face athlete took home both trophies at the 112th Dipsea a little over a week ago, so Matt Mitchell sat down with him to talk about the race's storied history; some of the eccentricities that make it so singular; and the various films that have been inspired by it. We also breakdown the Broken Arrow Skryace, which wrapped up its weekend of races on Sunday, and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMES:Broken Arrow Recap (2:07)Fun Storylines Coming Out of the Weekend (8:53)Eleanor Scholz's Lupine Shadow Lamp Trophies (11:53)The Dipsea (14:14)Shortcuts, Handicaps, & Film Recs (20:52)Western States Pacing Duties (31:19)RELATED LINKS:Eleanor's artMt. Marathon From The Shadow Of A MountainSurvival RunDipsea, The Greatest RaceBecome a Blister MemberBLISTER+2024 Blister Summit InfoCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The North Face athlete Olivia Amber is just about to roll into her second summer of 2023. Earlier this year, she set out on a 3-month road trip through South America, running and climbing (and occasionally fly fishing) from Santiago, Chile all the way down to Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the continent. Now that she's been back home for a bit, we sat down to talk about her southern hemisphere summer, including the FKT she set on the 40-mile Huemul Circuit outside of El Chalten, Argentina, her overall win at the Ultra Fiord 30k, and a whole lot more. Then, we launch into a back-and-forth discussion about fastpacking best practices and gear tips just in time for summer in the States.TOPICS & TIMES:Road Tripping Through Chile (1:48)Trail Running in South America (4:50)Chilean Fjords (8:24)Olivia's Huemul Circuit FKT (12:35)Fastpacking 101 (21:24)Why & When to Use Poles (27:11)Fastpacking Pack Recommendations (32:45)Calorie Corner (37:10)Navigation Tips & Tricks (46:53)Choosing Adventure Partners (51:29)RELATED LINKS:Olivia's Huemul Circuit FKT trip reportPalanteBecome a Blister MemberBLISTER+2024 Blister Summit InfoCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leah Yingling returns to the show to discuss her partnership with Lululemon and their FURTHER initiative, a first-of-its-kind ultramarathon specifically for women; the brand's efforts to close the sex and gender data gap in sports medicine that historically underrepresents female athletes; Lululemon's new women-specific road-to-trail shoe, the Blissfeel Trail; how she's preparing for this year's snowy Western States 100; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMES:Leah's Lululemon Partnership & the Blissfeel Trail (1:41)Attending the Launch Event in Vancouver (6:51)Her Biomedical Engineer Background (9:12)What is the FURTHER Initiative? (12:00)6-Day Ultramarathon & World Record Attempts (16:41)Western States 100 Prep (18:28)Bring On the Snow! (21:52)Summer Racing Storylines (24:55)RELATED LINKS:Lululemon's Trail Team Lululemon's FURTHER Initiative Become a Blister MemberBLISTER+2024 Blister Summit InfoCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even in a 250-mile race, falling 10 hours behind the leaders is an almost insurmountable gap. Almost. After some electrolyte issues threatened to derail Salomon athlete Mike McKnight's third attempt at the Cocodona 250 this year, he found himself confronted with a choice: pull the plug and take a DNF just 70 miles in, or put his head down and try and work his way back up the field. What ensued is already being hailed as one of the greatest comebacks in ultrarunning history. So, Matt Mitchell asked Mike to take him through how he rescued his race, took the win, and set a new Cocodona 250 course record in the process. TOPICS & TIMES:Cocodona 250, Round 3 (2:00)Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation (6:05)Electrolyte Mishaps (7:34)Blueprint for 200 Mile Races (11:30)Mike's Mental Preparation (25:13)Race Recovery & Nutrition (28:43)Raw Milk (35:49)The Rise of 200+ Mile Events (40:07)Gear Corner (44:20)Western States & What's Next? (45:15)RELATED LINKS:Testing Limits: Mike McKnight on Running 100 Miles, 0 Calories (Ep.51)Become a Blister MemberBLISTER+2024 Blister Summit InfoCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's probably fitting that Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton met at the summit of a Colorado 14er, one of the 58 such peaks in the state that have gone on to help forge their relationship. Though neither considers themselves trail runners, the duo routinely puts up times on popular alpine routes that outpace those of the pros. Andrew has held the supported FKT for climbing all of Colorado's 14ers since 2015, and last year, Andrea set the supported FKT on Nolan's 14, becoming the first woman to complete the roughly 100-mile route in less than 2 days. As the high country continues to thaw, Matt Mitchell sat down with Andrea and Andrew to talk about their summer goals; the partnership they've formed by doing hard stuff in the mountains together; lapping the Manitou Incline for 24 hours straight; and much more. TOPICS & TIMES:Forming an Endurance Power Couple (2:17)Andrew's Adventure Racing Background (5:41)Their FKT Progression (7:37)Why They Don't Consider Themselves Runners (11:09)Dissecting Andrea's Nolan's 14 FKT (14:18)Winter Training for Mountain Season (44:52)Tips for Faster Hiking (54:20)RELATED LINKS:Nolan's 14 - Andrea Sansone FKT 2022Become a Blister MemberBLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Ostaszewski has run the Cocodona 250 all three years of its existence, each go-around shrinking the amount of time it's taken for her to get from where the race starts just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, to where it ends 250 miles north in the town of Flagstaff. Sarah's latest attempt on the grueling point-to-point course was her fastest yet; she finished in just over three days, good for 1st place and 4th overall. The daunting prospect of returning to something the scale of Cocodona 250, a race that includes 40,000 ft. of cumulative elevation change, vast temperature swings, and a 125-hour cutoff that leaves little room for sleep, all but guarantees that the number of repeat finishers stays quite small. So, Matt Mitchell talked to Sarah about why she keeps coming back for more; why multi-day events are so alluring; what makes the changing landscapes of the Mountain West so intoxicating; her ice cream intake; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMES:Recovery After Running 250 Miles (2:21)Moving to US Trail Towns (5:42)Sarah's Ultra Entry Point (7:54)Favorite Trails in the PNW (9:52)Discovering the Cocodona 250 (11:34)Time On Feet (14:32)Arizona's Changing Landscapes (17:17)Crew Tough Love (22:55)Cocodona 250's Rapid Growth (23:44)Why She Keeps Coming Back (28:25)Sarah's Sleep Strategy (34:58)Thoughts on Nutrition (41:24)The Allure of Multi-Day Races (45:38)Preparing for the Ouray 100 (52:21)RELATED LINKS:Become a Blister MemberBLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the most part, competitive trail running in the US is perceived to bias heavily toward the West Coast, with many of its marquee races and popular training hubs lying left of the Mississippi. This imbalance has stoked a gentle sense of rivalry in trail runners who call the East Coast home, an underdog mentality that many — including this week's guest, New York native and athlete for The North Face, Sarah Keyes — have turned into fuel. Sarah recently punched her ticket to Innsbruck, Austria to represent the US as part of their Long Distance team at this year's World Mountain Championships, a spot she earned with a podium finish at the Lake Sonoma 50 in Northern California. We talk about what it's like living and training in the Adirondacks year-round; East Coast vs. West Coast trail running scenes; the upcoming World Mountain Running Championships in Innsbruck, Austria; the latest hits (and misses) in her kitchen; and much more. TOPICS & TIMES:Sarah's Background & the Adirondacks (1:53)East Coast vs. West Coast Trail Scenes (14:14)Race Directing and Weed Whacking (19:48)ITRA (27:05)Making the US Long Distance Team (35:07) Joining The North Face (38:25)Pastry Making (41:50)International Racing (44:11) RELATED LINKS:Become a Blister MemberBLISTER+CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last time Jason Hardrath was on Off The Couch he teased a future project that involved a trip down to Mexico, a volcano, and a whole lot of running and climbing, but aside from those hints, gave no major clues as to what exactly he had cooked up. Well, during his spring break from teaching earlier this year, Jason, together with his buddy Nathan Longhurst and a lean film crew, set out to complete what is affectionately known as an “infinity loop” on Mexico's Pico de Orizaba (18,491′), the tallest volcano in North America. Without spoiling anything, Jason's project predictably turned into quite the sufferfest, so Matt Mitchell sat down with him to hear all about it in anticipation of the upcoming film that documents the attempt. TOPICS & TIMES:Pico de Orizaba & HAPE (2:41)History of the “Infinity Loop” Format (40:18)Previous Attempts (19:42)How Health Issues Almost Derailed the Project (24:06)Traveling in Mexico (35:05)The Legend of Nathan Longhurst (40:18)RELATED LINKS:Jason Hardrath on FKTs & What Makes Him Tick (Ep.110)Jason Hardrath on Deer Collisions, Convoluted Bliss, & Keeping the Dream Alive (Ep.149)Journey to 100Blister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Speedland recently released their much anticipated third commission, a hyper-performance trail shoe intended for ultra-length distances, which they call the GS:TAM. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with co-founders Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon to catch up on all that's transpired since their first appearance on the show back in February of 2022; how they came to adopt a commission-based model for their company; the ins-and-outs of building an athlete team; what informed the design of the GS:TAM; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMES:What's New? (2:31)SL:PDX Reception (3:50)Speedland's “Commission” Model (6:16)Building an Athlete Team (9:50)Collaborating with FreeTrail (14:44)Corporate Team (16:03)GS:TAM Deep-Dive (16:58)Availability (25:11)Small Brand Surprises (29:12)The Future of Speedland (31:15)Cameron Hanes Commission & Criticism (34:50)Cocodona 250 & Race Sponsorship (37:19)RELATED LINKS:On the Creation of a “Hyper-Performance” Trail Shoe Company: Speedland (Ep.107)SpeedlandBlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Preston Cates popped up on most peoples' radars with his unexpected 6th place finish at the 2021 Canyons 100k as a 23 year-old, he had a pretty simple motivation driving his young trail running career: to never have to pay for shoes again. Since then, the Boulder, CO native has racked up podium finishes left and right, landed a pro contract to run for Nike (shoes included), and recently punched his ticket to represent the US at the World Mountain Running Championships in Austria later this year. Matt Mitchell sat down with Preston a week after his 3rd place finish at the 2023 Lake Sonoma 50 to chat about his development as an athlete; walking on to a D1 program at the University of Arkansas; training vs. spending time outside; what he grabs at a gas station during a mid-run bonk; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESFlagstaff by way of Boulder, Gunnison, Arkansas, and Austria (2:17)Preston's wrestling career (4:43)How he fell into running (6:56)Being an extravert (12:08)Moving to Austria in the middle of COVID (15:22)Canyons 2021, dance parties, & Camelbaks (20:05)How doing different sports can keep you healthy (31:06)Nike contract & transitioning to running full-time (36:16)Social media (42:23)His Nike teammate, Drew Holmen (45:35)Making the U.S Team at Lake Sonoma 50 (46:54)What else he has lined up this year (55:47)Gas station snacks (57:33)RELATED LINKSBlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“So, how did you get into trail running?” is an evergreen question, one that's likely to field a variety of interesting and original responses regardless of who you ask. Underlying its premise, though, rests one of the sport's major shortcomings, at least on the elite level. Up until recently, there existed few (if any) direct paths for new runners or athletes crossing over from different disciplines to pursue trail running professionally. Recognizing the critical role that development programs play in helping a formerly recreational sport mature, Salomon Athlete Andy Wacker launched The Trail Team earlier this year for expressly that purpose — to provide mentorship, skill development, and media exposure to 6 aspiring pro trail runners in the US. Matt Mitchell spoke to Andy and two Trail Team members, Lauren Gregory and Sam Hendry, about the organization's backstory, before expanding into a roundtable discussion centered on what Lauren and Sam hope to get out of their time on the team, their professional goals, and more.TOPICS & TIMESWhat is The Trail Team? (2:59)Challenges of transitioning from track / XC to the trails (7:00)Mountain running (10:12)Lauren's experience on the US Junior Mountain Running Team (12:46)Sam's Nordic ski background (15:44)How The Trail Team is structured (17:20)Navigating social media as a pro athlete (24:50)The importance of keeping the team independent (26:45)Specializing in sub ultra distances (32:10)How Lauren & Sam ended up on the team (34:06)Balancing D1 athletics with trail running (37:27)How Andy sees the team growing over the next few years (43:56)Long-term goals (51:15)RELATED LINKSThe Trail TeamBlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As far as superlatives go, there's little hand wringing about Salomon Athlete Courtney Dauwalter's standing as one of the best ultrarunners in the world, period. In a sport known for its fickleness, she's been outright untouchable on the trails for the past two years, riding a 15-race win streak that dates back all the way to 2021 and includes dominant victories on stages such as UTMB (where she set a new female course record in 2021) and Hardrock 100. Matt Mitchell recently sat down with Courtney to try and get a sense for how she conceives of running as something that can be taken lightly but practiced seriously. Along the way, they also map the interior of her pain cave, the mental space she occupies when things get dark deep in a race; discuss what does and does not belong on top of nachos; talk bowhunting; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESCourtney's background (3:14)How Nordic skiing translates to trail running (8:04)What guides her training philosophy (12:13)Skiing at the University of Denver (13:17)14er first date (16:04)Moving to Leadville, CO (22:17)Training for Transgrancanaria this winter (23:10)Transitioning to running full-time (24:51)The pain cave (28:26)Running by feel instead of numbers (31:40)Nachos & balloon hunting (38:29)Doubling up at Western States & Hardrock 100 (42:50)RELATED LINKSBlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corrine Malcolm is a true trail multi-hyphenate. In addition to running professionally for adidas TERREX and recently launching her own coaching business, Corrine also covers the sport as a writer, editor, race broadcaster, and podcast host. Matt Mitchell recently sat down with her for a grab bag conversation on topics like the relationship between writing and editing; what makes for a good interview; the pros and cons of the way mainstream media outlets cover trail running; the Barkley Marathons; fitness trends; and much more. TOPICS & TIMESPlaying catch-up (3:27)New role & science writing (4:37)“Tough Enough” (7:26)Writing vs. editing (13:17)What makes for a good interview? (17:43)The PTRA & the future of trail running (25:53)Barkley Marathons: any press is good press? (38:08)The Norwegian Method (44:56)Trail running's next hotspot (46:13)RELATED LINKSFoothills EndurancePro Trail Runners Association “Tough Enough”Lazarus Lake NYT Profile Blister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recycling old running shoes is hard, really hard. The concoction of glues, plastics, fabrics, and foams that go into making each pair can each require their own form of disposal, a drawn out sorting process that's often as inefficient as it is unrealistic. As a result, every year millions of pairs of retired shoes end up in the dump, where many eventually spill out into the sea only to wash ashore on coastlines thousands of miles away. As a proud Alaskan, artist, filmmaker, and trail runner, Max Romey knows the repercussions of this problem first hand. Currents make the state's wild beaches a popular landing spot for ocean debris, leading to pollution Max cleverly captures through watercolor in his new film for Nnormal, “No Lost Shoes.” Matt Mitchell recently sat down with him to talk through some of the major sustainability issues facing the footwear industry; how Nnormal is attempting to upend that process; musings on imperfection in art; parenthood; and a whole lot more.TOPICS & TIMESWatercolor (2:25)Leaning into imperfection in art & life (7:27)Run-sketch-run (9:22)Landscape painting in Alaska (16:58)How Max got into adventure filmmaking (20:52)The cinematics of filming an ultra (27:04)Nnormal and “No Lost Shoes” (30:31)Channeling anger into action (40:24)Nnormal's sustainability goals (43:41)Thoughts on parenthood & the future (48:45)Upcoming projects (52:00)RELATED LINKS“No Lost Shoes”Nnormal TomirNnormal Kjerag Nnormal's No Trace Program Blister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Scura and Dylan Ladds have been making movies together since they were both teenagers. What began as a childhood friendship quickly evolved into a creative partnership, culminating in Dooster, the award winning production company they started several years ago. Much of the duo's work focuses on storytelling in the outdoor community, offering an often candid lens that frames one of their latest projects, a short entitled, “Urban Oasis: A Love Letter to San Francisco.” Ryan has called the film his passion project, one that “...was always put in the back of the line,” so we sat down with him to learn more about how it all finally came together; the role city parks play in making trail running more accessible; the challenges and benefits of creative collaboration; and much more. TOPICS & TIMESTeaching adventure filmmaking (4:14)“What is ‘Dooster'?” (11:16)How Ryan balances relationships that are both personal & professional (14:28)Trail running in San Francisco (18:15)Paddy O'Leary, “Coming Home,” and the creative process (23:08)“Urban Oasis” (33:33)Thoughts on the importance of publics parks & open spaces (46:25)Upcoming projects (50:18)RELATED LINKS"Urban Oasis: A Love Letter to San Francisco"Blister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Black Canyon 100k in Arizona is one of the most competitive ultras in the US. As the penultimate Hoka Golden Ticket Race promising automatic entry into this year's Western States 100 to the top two female and male finishers, its elite field runs deep, meaning finishing times are often blisteringly fast. The men's course record, set all the way back in 2016, was considered among the stoutest in the sport, that is until Anthony Costales, clad in his college singlet and sun hat, dropped it by a dizzying 19 minutes just a few weeks ago. So, we caught up with Anthony to recap his race; learn how he changed his preparation after finishing 5th at the BC100k last year; chat about how he's approaching Western States; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESThe ultra learning curve (3:35)‘Which is harder to recover from, a road marathon or a trail race?' (4:29)Taper tantrums! (7:08)Thoughts on having a coach vs. being self-coached (7:51)Chico State, a pipeline to the trails? (9:35)Balancing running with his job as a PE teacher (16:05)Transitioning to the trails after college (17:56)The ups and downs of increasing distance (22:01)Black Canyon 100k race recap (24:17)Aid station lemon pound cake (27:30)Racing for the love of competition (29:59)Preparing for Western States '23 (36:22)What he learned from his debut 100-miler (39:44)Race livestreams & drone footage galore (41:27)RELATED LINKSBlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trail running's evolution from recreational to professional sport has not been without its own share of setbacks, and as often is the case, athletes are the ones most immediately affected by them. Facing the lack of a collective voice to confront these challenges, Nike Athlete Francesco Puppi co-founded the Pro Trail Runners Association (PTRA) in 2022 to enable an international body of elite trail runners to share concerns about the sport's present and future. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with Francesco to learn more about the association's specific areas of focus, including anti-doping, athlete rights, and environmental protection; why forming a union was necessary at this point in trail running's level of professionalization; what the US can learn from Europe when it comes to further developing the sport; and much more. TOPICS & TIMESHow Euros develop as runners (4:50)Where Francesco gets his passion for running (7:19)Top training resources (11:52)His background in physics (13:14)2022 recap (14:18)Trail running in the US vs. the EU (18:38)Breaking down the current pro trail running landscape (28:36)Co-founding the Pro Trail Runners Association (30:24)Where do we go from here? (43:16)Matt Carpenter & the “Legend of Pikes Peak” (47:13)How to support the PTRA (48:49)RELATED LINKSLearn more about the PTRABlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newly christened The North Face Athlete, Rod Farvard, returns to the show to talk about the brand's unique Athlete Development Program, an initiative launched earlier this month to provide 17 young athletes from a multitude of outdoor sports with resources to accelerate their careers and serve as activists in the outdoor space. Rod and I talk about the critical role such programs play in continuing to professionalize the sport of trail running; how he intends to use his platform to help decrease our environmental impact while enjoying trails and wilderness spaces; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESDoi Inthanon: a series of unfortunate events (3:41)Getting Rhabdo (7:49)“What's your longest ride on Zwift?” (14:43)TNF's Athlete Development Program (16:12)Mentorship with The North Face (20:41)Meeting the ADP team (25:04)Is running inherently selfish? (29:20)6-month program goals (33:29)3rd time's a charm at Western States '23 (35:13)UTMB & TDS (38:12)RELATED LINKSBlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ultra-distance trail running is a sport ripe for storytelling, something that filmmaker Jeff Pelletier recognized when he first began chronicling his adventures back in 2018. Since then, his background in video production, married with his passion for exploring the world by trail, has produced dozens of compulsively watchable POV-style films of his experiences at events like UTMB, the 205-mile Tor des Géants, and most recently, a 7-day stage race in the country of Georgia. We talked to Jeff about the added challenges of filming himself during grueling ultramarathons; how YouTube is helping to grow the sport of trail running; bucket-list fastpacking trips; and more. TOPICS & TIMESTrail running in Vancouver, BC (4:59)Jeff's background in video production (9:05)How YouTube helps grow trail running (10:27)Storytelling through races & Tor des Géants (17:45)‘Racing Georgia' (26:46)Travel tips (35:28)Fastpacking in the US & Europe (36:36)Choosing to film himself vs. someone else (44:26)Jeff's relationship with Salomon (47:24)Thoughts on the S/LAB Genesis (50:50)Goals for 2023 (54:35)RELATED LINKSJeff's YouTube ChannelBlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running injuries are often talked about in hushed tones, as if mere mention could speak one into existence. While undoubtedly the suckiest part of the sport, they're also perhaps the most inevitable, so learning how to approach them mentally can make time away from running an opportunity for growth. Saucony Athlete Katie Asmuth spent much of 2022 nursing a broken foot, yet despite being sidelined, she discovered new ways to connect with the greater trail running community. Now healthy and in the process of building back up for a big 2023, we caught up with Katie to talk about how she dealt with her injury; the strength of being a mother to 2 boys gives her deep into ultras; the major family vibes of the Western States 100; race coverage; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESKatie's background (2:42)Living & training in Mammoth Lakes, CA (10:45)Her career as a nurse practitioner (13:45)Nabbing a Golden Ticket in 2021 (15:40)Why trail running is NOT therapy (19:35)SWAP & the one and only David Roche (22:17)Saucony's small but mighty trail team (25:21)Running with a tampon in her nose (28:13)Western States 2021 & 2022 (30:46)Injury & life advice (42:43)Diving into trail running media (48:44)Things Katie's excited about in 2023 (49:54)RELATED LINKSBlister + Spot InsuranceBlister Summit 2023Become a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

La Sportiva Athlete John Kelly has speculated that one of his weaknesses is that perhaps he's uncomfortable being comfortable, and one look at his resume sure suggests as much. After trying his hand at triathlon for a few years, a stint that included a few trips to Kona, John found his way into ultrarunning and quickly began to prod at the limits of an already extreme sport. Since then, he's become only the 15th person to finish the infamous Barkley Marathons (as well as the last to do so) and he holds several FKTs over 200 miles in length. So we sat down with John to learn more about the mindset required to run for several days straight; living and running in the UK; how he recently rebuilt his speed to run a sub-2:30 marathon; who's winning the Super Bowl; and much more. TOPICS & TIMESFrom triathlon to trail running (3:00)The story behind his nickname, “Random Forest Runner” (6:19)The 2017 Barkley Marathons (8:50)Does John still have the legendary orange hat from the race? (13:07)UK trail running culture (19:13)Training for “shorter, faster stuff” (40:53)Plans for 2023 & a potential long trail FKT (45:00)RELATED LINKSBlister + Spot InsuranceBlister Summit 2023Become a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recently talked to Salomon Athlete, Jeff Stern, about racing as an elite while simultaneously covering the trail running landscape in his role as the assistant editor of Ultra Running Magazine, a still independently owned publication that has served as “the voice of the sport” since 1981. Jeff hopped on the show shortly after they announced their UltraRunners of the Year for 2022, so we spent some time talking about the history of the award, this year's winners, and a whole lot else — including, how he came to trail running after years of racing bikes competitively; his profile writing process; the 111th running of the famed Dipsea Race; and more. TOPICS & TIMESHow the SF Giants helped Jeff get into running (2:47)A Dipsea deep dive (6:11)His background as a cyclist (10:33)Making the jump to ultrarunning (15:00)2022 goals (18:42)The JFK 50 / Quad Dipsea double (22:16)Ultra Running Magazine and profiling athletes (30:57)Adam Peterman & Courtney Dauwalter (40:32)History of the UltraRunners of The Year Award (46:31)Jeff's 2023 goals (53:37)RELATED LINKS:Jeff's work at Ultra Running MagazineBlister + Spot InsuranceBlister Summit 2023Become a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The high desert of Northern Arizona has been a hotbed for trail running for decades. The combination of altitude, changing topography, and year-round trail access the region affords helps to harden the legs and fortify the lungs. It's perhaps no coincidence then that since moving to Flagstaff in early 2021, adidas TERREX pro, Abby Hall, has been tearing up the international racing scene. So, we sat down with her to talk about some of the changes she's made to fuel this success in a winding conversation that also includes a recount of a potential UFO encounter, musings on writing and creativity, an ode to the Eastern Sierra, and much more. TOPICS & TIMESMoving to Flagstaff, AZ (2:50)“The Big Ditch” (7:48)Running full-time (8:25)How to set priorities (10:25)What actual goes down at athlete training camps (20:27)Musings on writing (22:33)Adventures from last year (27:41)JMT UFO encounter? (34:46)Her Transvulcania victory and Lowest to Highest (45:42)RELATED LINKS:Blister + Spot InsuranceBlister Summit 2023Become a Blister MemberCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a newly minted thirty-year-old, Dani Moreno has already been racing trails professionally for the better part of a decade. Over the last couple of years, she's solidified her status as one of the world's best sub-ultra distance trail runners, a position she's reached through patience, consistency, and an intuitive knowledge of exactly the right time to give it some gas. This approach continued to pay dividends in 2022; Dani finished in podium position at both the Mont Blanc Marathon and OCC, two marquee international races historically swept by euros. As the calendar ticked over into 2023, we sat down with her to recap a few memorable performances from the previous year; discuss how she mended her broken relationship with running after graduating from college; offer some beta on spearfishing, of all things; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESDani's background (2:07)Advice she'd give to aspiring college athletes (8:56)Motorcycles & spearfishing (15:01)How she mended her relationship with running (18:23)Why trail runners shouldn't fear the track (24:52)Dani's 2022 racing season & stepping up in distance (30:36)“What are your long-term goals?” (41:17)RELATED LINKS:Blister + Spot InsuranceBlister Summit 2023Become a Blister MemberThis Week's Gear GiveawayCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barney “Scout” Mann has been called “the dean of America's long-distance trails” and is one of the rare individuals to have conquered the Triple Crown of thru-hiking, successfully completing the 8,000 combined miles of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. Each spring for the past fifteen years he and his wife Sandy have hosted hikers starting out on the PCT (more than 7,000 to date) at their San Diego home, providing them with a final hot meal and a bit of encouragement before they begin their trek from Mexico to Canada. So, we sat down with Barney to chat about his deep connections to the PCT and the community it creates; "Journeys North," the memoir he wrote about his own 2007 thru-hike; the future of thru-hiking in America; and much more.TOPICS & TIMES:Trail names (2:02)Scout 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 (12:10)Career as a “kind” lawyer (16:05)Mastering the art of storytelling (19:28)"Journeys North" (20:30)His 2007 PCT thru-hike (24:13)Vulnerability on the trail (32:43) The endurance mindset (42:02)The future of the PCT & being a trail advocate (47:10) RELATED LINKS:Journeys NorthBarney's website Blister Summit 2023Become a Blister MemberBlister + Spot InsuranceCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For On athlete, Jeff Colt, the chase for a coveted spot into Western States had been a multi-year saga fraught with close calls and near misses, that is until a near-perfectly executed run at the Black Canyon 100k in February earned him a Golden Ticket and automatic entry onto one of ultrarunning's biggest stages. We pick up Jeff's story there and hear all about his journey leading up to Western States, a play-by-play of his 11th-place finish, and the complexities of looking back at that experience now. Along the way, we also get into topics like the Wilderness Act, the Beat Generation, books currently on our nightstands, and much more. TOPICS & TIMESGary Snyder and the Beat Generation (1:46)Working & running in the White Mountains hut system (5:49)Hardrock 100 & the Wilderness Act (12:47)Jeff's journey to Western States (17:23)Pandemic silver linings (27:04)Reflections on his performance at Western States (33:54)His interests outside of running (42:30)“What books are currently on your nightstand?” (44:57)Representing the US at the Trail World Champs in Thailand (49:09)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS CRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running injuries seem inevitable; almost everyone has a story about being sidelined at some point in their career, either from an acute issue or from general overuse. While no one is completely immune to the stress the sport places on our bodies, there's plenty we can do to make ourselves more resilient to it. It's common knowledge that adopting a strength training routine is one of them, but knowing exactly where to begin can be difficult if you don't have a ton of experience in the gym. So, we spoke to Dr. Anh Bui, a physical therapist, certified strength coach, and USATF certified running coach, about some guiding principles for those looking to get started; how strength training can reinforce proper running form; why everyone should have a basic foam roller; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESAnh's running background (2:58)Catching the injury bug early in her career (8:38)Her journey to becoming a physical therapist (11:47)What is “proper running form”? (16:22)The importance of arm swing (19:08)Mythbusting running cadence (24:56)It's all in the hips (and core)! (26:36)Supination, pronation, & functional feet (28:19)The case for having multiple pairs of running shoes (33:53)How strength training will help your running (34:40)Home gym setups (41:11)Breaking the chronic injury cycle (44:13)Recovery techniques and tools (45:50)RELATED LINKSRun ResilientlyCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ultrarunning is often admired for the strength of its community, a quality that unites runners with a sense of belonging. However, we can always do more to ensure that this feeling of acceptance extends to everyone, regardless of how they identify. As one of our sport's most vocal advocates for queer inclusivity and representation, Altra Athlete Ryan Montgomery is working to do just that. So, we sat down with him to talk about Out Trails, an initiative he started to help build safe spaces for LGBTQ+ runners. Along the way, we also discuss what trail runners, brands, and organizations, can do to support the queer community on every level; why adding a non-binary category to races is so important; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESHow Ryan got into ultrarunning (2:31)Expedition Bolivia (6:10)Turning pro (8:15)How running has helped inform his identity (11:42)Ways to organically add diversity to the ultra running community (15:23)How can races become more inclusive? (20:08)Out Trails (25:26)The value of LGBTQ+ group runs & retreats (30:22)Running: a year-in-review (34:31)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We first had Jason Hardrath on the show back in March, before the release of his film, “Journey to 100.” Since then, Jason's spent much of the summer on tour, hosting screenings in cities across the country. But that hasn't stopped him from continuing to set some pretty mind-blowing FKTs while he's at it. So, we caught up with the King of FKTs to hear about the reception to his film, his series of vision quests in the Sierra, getting hit by a deer at 40 mph, what adventure he's dreaming up next, and more. TOPICS & TIMESRecapping “Journey to 100” (4:04)Highlights from the film tour (8:55)Why memories made in the mountains are stronger (10:19)COVID & a mid-ride deer collision (14:15)Convoluted Bliss, Norman's 13, & CA 14ers FKTs (21:23)Tips for navigating in the backcountry (48:01)Gear talk (53:27)Infinity loops & volcanoes (56:01)RELATED LINKS:Convoluted Bliss VideoRainbow Cirque VideoJason Hardrath on FKTs & What Makes Him Tick (OTC Ep.110)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After placing 4th at the 60th annual JFK 50 Mile, the oldest ultramarathon in the US, Matt Seidel is taking a break. The 26-year-old former D1 runner has finished in the top 6 at every trail race he's entered this year, a successful rookie campaign that's included multiple wins and put the rest of the sport on notice. As the 2022 season comes to a close, we caught up with Matt to talk about what he's learned from his first year racing as an elite; why more and more road and track athletes are transitioning to the trails; who he wants to model his career after; World Cup predictions; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESMatt's post-ultra turkey trot (2:06)How he got into trail running (3:50)Inside a D1 college track & field program (9:42)Who he looks up to in the trail world (12:28)Taking bits and pieces from different training styles (16:17)What's on tap for 2023? (17:30)Range: keeping things fresh by mixing it up (22:42)The JFK 50 Mile (27:13)Hardening the mind during a race (42:00)“Are you a runner or a real person?” (47:27)Mental vs. physical training (51:56)Taking up residence in the pain cave (54:52)Golden tickets & World Cup predictions (56:49)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe DeMoor is about as Colorado as they come; he's from Buena Vista, ran collegiately for the Buffalos at CU Boulder, lives in Carbondale, and works on Aspen Snowmass's trail crew in the summer and grooms ski runs there in the winter. As a professional mountain runner for La Sportiva, he's had a breakout year of racing thus far, with several wins under his belt. Redlining up mountains is in Joe's blood, so we sat down with him to talk about growing up on Colorado trails; the ins and outs of sub-ultra-distance racing; graveyard shifts; pain caves; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESGrowing up in CO (3:02)Running with the Buffaloes (5:49)Transitioning to the trails (11:21)Tourism management, what's that? (14:45)Trail crews & graveyard shifts (15:46)How Joe prepares for a race (18:46)Does having a super physical job help or hurt his training? (21:40)Recovery hacks (24:12)Following in his brother's footsteps (27:20)Year-in-review (29:22)Racing Vertical Kilometers (35:31)Skyrunning World Champs (41:09)Making his international racing debut in Italy (43:33)Thailand travelog (45:00)FKTs (48:00)Skimo season (53:00)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a few months in the field, Off The Couch's reporter-at-large, Leah Yingling, returns to the show to catch us up on how she rounded out her summer season after a top-10 finish at the Western States 100 back in June. We talk about her experience taking in the scene at UTMB this year, and why it's an event worth going to regardless of whether or not you're racing, before recapping her run for Team USA at the inaugural World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand a couple of weeks ago. Along the way, we also chat about racing on short notice; travel stories from Chiang Mai; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESTaking a break after Western States (1:58)Life bases! (6:09)Notes on Jim Walmsley's run at UTMB (16:18)Kilian Jornet's legendary year on the trails (18:38)World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (20:39)Thailand travelog (31:10)What's next? (48:32)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Backpacker's Pantry has been family-owned and operated for over 70 years, a legacy that's as important to the brand's identity as the gourmet adventure meals they make. While that's not set to change anytime soon, they recently welcomed a new leader to take the company into its exciting next chapter. As CEO, Duane Primozich will prioritize Backpacker's Pantry's role as environmental stewards, a commitment to sustainability that goes above and beyond. We recently sat down with Duane and Backpacker's Pantry owner and Head Chef, Soraya Smith, to hear all about the company's history; where it's headed; climate change's adverse effects on the food industry; what Backpacker's Pantry is doing to reverse them; and much more.TOPICS & TIMESSoraya's background (3:03)How Backpacker's Pantry got its start (4:53)Their line of products (7:26)Recipe creation (10:24)The CEO next door (12:53)The “next chapter” (19:12)Environmental stewardship (23:47)Duane's background in climate activism (26:06)Chef Soraya's culinary influences (28:35)The freeze-drying process (33:05)Gourmet meals on trail, on the river, in the ski lodge (33:54)Climate change's effects on the food industry (36:05)Looking ahead (42:11)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since her first appearance on Off The Couch back in 2021, Olivia Amber has switched things up. In addition to joining The North Face's athlete team as a mountain-ultra runner, Olivia also recently decided to step away from the corporate grind for a bit to double down on investing in herself. So, we caught up with her to recap her summer spent epic-ing in the Sierra and, more generally, to find out how she's adjusting to training full time. Along the way, we go back and forth about the importance of managing ego in the mountains; all-time Halloween costumes, and much more. TOPICS & TIMESInvesting in her “human capital” (2:12)Taming your ego & mental training (12:20)Epic-ing in the Sierra (17:50)Risk management in the mountains (21:50)Blurring the lines between running and climbing (27:06)How personal joy can affect race performance (33:07)Irish bogs & beer (37:22)Mt. Marathon (40:23)Wizard sticks! (45:31)The Euro trail scene (50:44)All-time Halloween costumes (52:49)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canyon Woodward has found success on a few different types of trails over the last few years. In addition to an impressive top-50 finish at the Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc in August, he served as the campaign manager for Maine State Senator Chloe Maxmin's victorious House & Senate runs in 2018 and 2020, which put him on a demanding campaign trail through rural America rivaling that of any ultra. So we sat down with this seasoned political strategist, passionate climate activist, trail runner, and published author to hear about how his new film, Rural Runners, captures where all of these different interests intersect; why the key to both trail running and politics is mostly about just showing up; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESCanyon's background (2:01)Convincing Harvard to divest from fossil fuels (5:14)Life on the campaign trail with Senator Maxmin (7:09)Practical steps for political involvement (11:16)Dirt Road Revival (14:44)His multi talented brother, Forest (19:21)Rural Runners (20:23)Finding success at the 100-mile distance (23:18)UTMB (26:55)His writing process (33:03)Canyon's list of must-read authors (34:37)Upcoming races (35:23)“Would you ever consider running for office?” (37:01)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As an adventure photographer and videographer, Ted Hesser spends most of his professional life behind the lens, shooting some of the world's top mountain athletes for major outdoor brands and publications. His eye for capturing dramatic scenes in the high alpine and willingness to immerse himself in extreme conditions to do so has garnered him success in an otherwise precarious industry. But success isn't always synonymous with happiness. Ted's latest project, a short film called Chains of Habit (released by Mountain Hardwear last month), focuses on his lifelong battle with depression in an effort to destigmatize conversations around mental health. So, we spoke to Ted about the story behind his film; the role trail running plays in keeping him aloft; steps to take if you're struggling; and much more.TOPICS & TIMESTed's background (3:34)When he first picked up a camera (9:02)The realities of #vanlife (13:01)Photography tips for beginners (15:22)Chains of Habit (21:19)Training for the WURL (25:56)How depression hits him (29:19)The double meaning behind Chains of Habit (40:00)Running, psychedelics, & depression (41:56)“Taking mental anguish and putting it into a form of your own choosing” (47:14)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Kilgore is living the dream. In addition to his role as On Running's Sports Innovation Manager, David also runs professionally for On himself. As an athlete privy to several sides of the trail running industry, his perspective offers unique insights into the future of the sport as it continues to rapidly professionalize. So, we sat down with David a few days after he made his race directing debut — yet another hat he now proudly wears — to hear how he climbed the ranks at On; how he helped build their trail running team; the business of athlete sponsorships; the simplicity of hard work; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESDavid's race directing debut (4:18)Representing East Coast trail running (6:47)NYC's ultrarunning scene (8:30)David's background as a D1 runner (10:22)Falling out of love with the sport after college (16:48)Filmmaking & photography (19:44)On Running (20:47)Climbing the ranks at On (29:16)The ins and outs of building a pro trail team (32:19)On's latest shoes (40:05)Recapping UTMB (42:17)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running is often praised for its simplicity, but what it requires from the body can be quite complex. As October rolls around, many of us will feel the stress from all those hard summer miles take the form of unexpected aches and pains, which sometimes demand more involved treatment than just some extra time spent on the foam roller. So, we sat down with Claire Bernard Miller, PT, to learn about how her style of physical therapy thinks of the body holistically; why every runner should work on strengthening their feet; pelvic floors, and why having a healthy one can help prevent common overuse injuries; and much more. TOPICS & TIMESClaire's background in PT (6:10)What's PT school actually like? (9:06)Starting her own business during the pandemic (10:31)Working with high-level athletes (13:11)Who to see first: doctor or PT? (13:42)How her own injury history directs her practice (17:20)What is your pelvic floor & why is it important? (21:48)How to strengthen your pelvic floor (25:02)Running & pregnancy (31:54)Building strong feet (35:31)Gait Happens (37:52)Busting myths about supination & pronation (40:49)MoBo Board & ToePro (43:08)Shoes with wide toe boxes: friend or foe? (44:37)When to stay away from zero-drop shoes (47:06)How to find Claire (48:33)RELATED LINKSClaire's practiceClaire's Youtube channelCHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Specialty-running stores are seldom just places to buy shoes; as community hubs, they serve as places where runners of all skill levels can gather to learn, connect, and train. In this way, they're essential to the sport, key landmarks in its growing future. However, the demographics these small businesses cater to often fail people of color. So, we spoke to Victor Diaz, owner of Renegade Running, a run-specialty store rooted in Oakland, CA, to learn about how he's creating a space that's engaged with the diverse culture it's a part of; the ways we can go about improving BIPOC representation in running; allyship; and much more. TOPICS & TIMESThe importance of specialty-running stores (1:45)Oakland, CA's running culture (3:00)Victor's background in public education (10:42)How Renegade approaches merchandising (17:07)Representation in running (25:13)Practical ways to make the sport more inclusive (36:18)The future of Renegade Running (40:01)What does “Renegade” mean? (45:50)How to support the store & its mission (48:32)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As an accomplished endurance athlete who has let ultrarunning, mountaineering, marathon swimming, and more take her around the world, Jennifer Strong McConachie has cultivated a life philosophy informed by principles that have brought her success in competition. Lucky for us, she's also pretty savvy with paper and pen, so we sat down to talk about her new book, Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win At Life, a collection of stories that encapsulate what she's learned from running long, climbing high, and swimming deep. In the process, we also explore the connection between writing and running, reading Dostoevsky, the rise of swimrun events, and much more.TOPICS & TIMES: Jennifer's background (1:29)Drawing on her father for inspiration (11:56)The value of being a multiport athlete (14:11)Huck Finn & rafting the Mississippi (22:08)The rise of swimrun events (24:08)Specialization vs. generalization (32:51)What's at the core of endurance sports? (36:03)A writer's life (38:13)The connection between writing and endurance (43:25)Reading Dostoevsky (44:51)Jennifer's next project & where to find her book (47:55)RELATED LINKS:Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win At LifeCHECK OUT OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite its fast rise from a quirky pastime to budding professional sport, ultrarunning is anything but new; people have been running (or walking) long distances competitively for centuries. Fueled by beer, and usually motivated by a wager or two, these early pioneers helped establish a long tradition of human-powered endurance that persists today. So, we sat down with ultrarunning historian, Davy Crockett, to trace the development of the 100-mile foot race through time, from its roots in the UK to its modern incarnation in the US. Along the way, we also bust some myths about the Western States 100, chat about race nutrition in the 1800s, and debate the greatest ultrarunner of all time. TOPICS & TIMESDavy's background (1:36)Falling in love with the 100-mile distance (6:58)Recovery strategies (10:53)How the sport has changed in the last 20 years (12:37)Ultrarunning History Podcast (15:29)“Where did ultrarunning actually start?” (20:28)Tracing the sport through the 19th century (28:16)1800s gear talk (34:39)Whiskey, drugs, and gambling (36:28)The first 100-mile mountain race (39:05)The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (41:20)How to get into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame (44:52)G.O.A.T. debate (46:51)“Stranger Things” (53:15)RELATED LINKSDavy's website CHECK OUT OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If Rod Farvard had grown to be a few inches taller, we might be watching him contend for a rebound on the basketball court instead of toeing the line at some of ultrarunning's biggest races. After his hoop dreams fell short, Rod found trail running by way of triathlon, two sports that rewarded his ability to flatly outwork his competition in spades. So, we sat down with Rod exactly a week removed from finishing 5th American at this year's Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc to talk about how he handles such a high training volume; his first time racing on an international stage; how having a full-time job helps fuel his running; and much more. TOPICS & TIMES:How Rod's recovering from UTMB (1:30)Hoop dreams (5:22)How cycling translates to ultrarunning (15:55)The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (17:49)Training in Santa Barbara & Mammoth Lakes (21:39)What's on Rod's UTMB playlist (30:43)European vs. American trail running culture (34:30)UTMB travel tales (37:50)Nailing race day nutrition (39:44)Running: both a “hobby” and a passion (42:44)John Muir Trail FKT (47:13)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ask ultrarunner and race director Todd Aydelotte for a bit of New York City history and he'll probably tell you to lace up your running shoes. After injury derailed his marathon training a few years back, Todd traded a competitive approach to the sport for a uniquely historical one. Through months of research, he began piecing together ultra-length routes that visited important locations in the lives of historical figures, including Edgar Allen Poe, Teddy Roosevelt, and Walt Whitman. So, we sat down with Todd to hear all about what running has taught him about our past; how he picks his subjects; NYC after dark; and a whole lot more — including, the semi-legal 28-mile road race he created to reenact the 70's cult film, “The Warriors.”TOPICS & TIMESWhat is “historical ultrarunning”? (1:38)Chasing after Edgar Allen Poe (6:53)How Todd chooses his topics (14:32)The NYC Black History 50 (17:52)How to use history to hack your running (24:39)The Warriors UltraRun (25:24)Using crime heat maps to stay safe in cities (31:51)NYC after dark (34:18)Getting picked up by the New York Times (42:25)The story of a truly demonic run (48:35)RELATED LINKSThe Warriors UltraRun New York Times article CHECK OUT OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTSBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas podcast Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Established in 1955, the Sierra Peaks Section List includes 247 of the most prominent peaks scattered throughout California's Sierra Nevada Range. Reaching every summit is a lifetime's work for most, and up until recently, no one had completed the list within a calendar year. Far more complex than a thru-hike, the SPS List is an undertaking that requires a mix of skills and probably a fair amount of chance. So, we sat down with Travis Soares, who finished tagging all 247 peaks in a record 117 days earlier this month, to find out how much luck had to do with it. In the process, we talk about how the idea for the project came together; how things went, including close calls with the Mineral King Marmot and coming across wreckage from a plane crash; his relationship with his climbing partner for most of the project (and previous SPS List FKT-holder), Nathan Longhurst; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMES:What is the Sierra Peaks Section List? (2:22)Travis' background (7:04)Logistics & planning (9:00)His relationship with Nathan Longhurst (14:10)Settling into the project (17:29)Raising money for the Bishop Paiute Food Sovereignty Program (20:03)The Palisade Traverse & the Mineral King Marmot (22:39)‘Crux' of the trip (24:40)Backcountry traffic (29:55)His gear setup (33:55)Dodging fire season (35:02)“What have you learned about yourself from this project?” (36:06)What's next? (42:17)RELATED LINKS:Travis and Nathan's SPS 2022 Website Donate to the Bishop Paiute Food Sovereignty Program OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas podcast Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

With summer in full stride, Matt Mitchell and Drew Kelly sat down to take stock of how their mountain running seasons have played out thus far, including the ways Drew sees his skiing translate to the trails; our tendency to bite off more than we can chew; and gear picks for a big day out in the alpine. We also discuss some of the early stumbling blocks we ran into when we started trail running; extol the virtues of vert; and Matt makes the case for why you should be eating “Ramen Bombs” in the backcountry (and only the backcountry). TOPICS & TIMES:Drew's background (1:30)Skiing vs. running (5:01)Thoughts on skimo (7:44)Vert is real (11:51)Is trail running actually a minimalist sport? (13:42)Running seasonally vs. year round (26:05)Gear picks for a big day out in the mountains (28:05)How trail running hooked us (31:00)Filmmaking & music (34:26)100 milers & eating contests (39:29)Some good (and some bad) nutrition tips (42:02)Frozen burritos and “Ramen Bombs” (47:08)Upcoming projects (51:20)OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS:Blister PodcastGEAR:30 podcastBikes & Big Ideas podcast Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relying on a bunch of college kids to crew you through the Western States 100 might sound misguided, but for trail and ultra runner, Alex Nichols, it's an important part of team building. After being named the head coach of Colorado College's cross country program last year, Alex has made a habit of inviting some of his athletes out to support his own racing endeavors. So, we talked to Alex about the intersection between coaching full-time at his alma mater and running trails professionally. Along the way, we detour into his ongoing four-year streak of summiting Pikes Peak every month; John Steinbeck; the joys of beekeeping; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMES:Running 100 miles on a 1.1 mile loop (1:41)Western States 100 (6:04)Alex's Background (11:22)Colorado College's block schedule (15:27)Two English majors talking (17:03)Alex's collegiate running career (19:30)“Indulgence: 1000 Miles Under the Colorado Sky” (21:11)The professionalization of trail running (27:02)Self-coaching (30:46)Alex's Pikes Peak streak (35:27)Coaching cross country at Colorado College (39:43) Beekeeping (47:40)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTSBlister PodcastGEAR:30 podcastBikes & Big Ideas podcast Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

You've probably encountered the adage that running is 90 percent mental, yet despite this feeling (and how true it may be), most runners dedicate the majority of their training to making sure they're physically fit. But the brain fatigues too, so we talked with running coach and licensed clinical social worker, Danielle Snyder, about the importance of mindset training and the connection between mental well-being and physical performance. TOPICS & TIMES:Women Who FKT update (1:38)Hardrock 100 pacing (6:13)Danielle's background (8:30)Combining social work with athletics (10:27)Why athletes are an underserved population (11:40)Founding Inner Drive Wellness (12:42)Mindset training (14:55)Ultrarunning & mental health (16:25)Mental toughness vs. psychological flexibility (18:47)What a healthy relationship with running looks like (20:40)Why we shouldn't run to destress (22:36)Processing injury (25:13)Thoughts on social media (27:06)Has Covid changed how we talk about mental health? (30:16)Rewarding failure (33:31)Taper tantrums & post-race blues (39:42)OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTSBlister PodcastGEAR:30 podcastBikes & Big Ideas podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.