On this week’s episode, we chat with Alex Staten and Stefanie Flippin. Alex is a trail and ultra runner from Fayetteville, Arkansas, a Diné and Mexican woman, and this year’s Gu Energy Labs and Rising Hearts athlete in the Western States Endurance Run. If you followed along with Golden Hour at Western States, you followed Alex’s journey from Olympic Valley to Placer High, where she missed the cut off on the track by 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Her day was one of rising above countless challenges and willing her body to the finish line, for reasons far beyond herself. Stef Flippin is a professional trail and ultra runner for Gu Energy labs and lululemon, physician, coach, and podcast host. She had the privilege of being a coach and holistic mentor for GU’s and Rising Hearts’ diversity runners at this year’s edition of Western States. Stef and Alex formed a lasting bond over the last year as a result of Alex’s journey to Western States. We hear about Alex’s history in ultrarunning, Alex and Stef’s coaching relationship, her WSER build, her involvement with Trail Sisters in Arkansas, the partnership between Rising Hearts and Gu Energy Labs, and ultimately, how Alex’s day at Western States played out.

A special thanks to Osprey for their support.

What we talked about:

2:35- Alex’s introduction to trail running

7:45- Stefanie’s relationship with Gu and passion for coaching

11:10- What was different for Alex for Western States versus her first 100 miler

15:35- Stefanie’s experience tailoring Alex’s training for Western States

20:00- What Alex’s training block looked like going into Western States

27:30- Being involved with the Trail Sisters organnization

34:50- Alex recapping her race start to finish

51:30- Alex’s crew during the race

55:00- When cutoffs came into play

1:06:30- Stefanie’s view of Alex’s finish

1:12:30- Running with Purpose

1:14:35- What’s next for Alex

The Trail Network Podcast is edited and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sandyboy Productions Podcast Network⁠⁠