Summary

In this episode, Mark and Arthur interview Don Reichelt, a mountain ultra trail runner and current USATF 100 mile national champion from Colorado. Don shares his journey into ultra-running and how he went from being a triathlete to tackling ultra-marathons. He discusses his training routine, emphasizing the importance of going slow and incorporating strength training. Don also shares his mental strategies for overcoming challenges during races and avoiding the comparison trap. He talks about his nutrition approach and the importance of individual experimentation. Lastly, Don shares his recovery methods, including mobility work, saunas, and ice plunges. In this conversation, Don discusses various topics related to running and training. He shares his insights on replicating the mindset of a threshold run, balancing data tracking and training, the importance of tracking sleep, his future plans in the sport, reflections on the past 10 years, his interview series called Tiny Bench Big Questions, and the rivalry between Iowa and Nebraska in terms of corn and football.

Takeaways

• Go slow and incorporate strength training in your training routine.
• Develop mental strategies to overcome challenges during races.
• Experiment with nutrition to find what works best for your body.
• Focus on personal growth and avoid comparing yourself to others.
• Prioritize recovery through mobility work, saunas, and ice plunges. Find ways to replicate the mindset of a threshold run without overexerting your body.
• Balance data tracking by defining success before a run and focusing on simple metrics.
• Track your sleep as it directly correlates to your performance and overall well-being.
• Focus on the joy and purpose of running rather than solely pursuing competitive goals.
• Connect with others in the running community and engage in meaningful conversations.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Guest Introduction

03:04
How Don Got Into Ultra-Running

07:37
Training and Recovery Methods

12:42
Mindset and Mental Strategies

19:38
Avoiding Comparison and Focusing on Personal Growth

29:55
Nutrition and Recovery

38:49
Replicating the Mindset of a Threshold Run

40:16
Balancing Data Tracking and Training

44:08
The Importance of Tracking Sleep

46:34
Future Plans in the Sport

50:48
Reflections on the Past 10 Years

57:38
Don's Interview Series: Tiny Bench Big Questions

01:01:06
Iowa vs. Nebraska: Better Corn and Football

01:01:24
Where to Find Don