Everyday Ultra

Creating a race schedule is one of the most fun processes of being an ultrarunner! But sometimes, it can be easy to create a race schedule that doesn't truly align with our biggest interests, goals, or fulfillment in mind.

When it comes to runners who are achieving big goals and being mentally tough in ultrarunning, the Ostaszewski sisters are two runners that always come to mind.

And in this episode, we chat with Sarah and Melissa Ostaszewski to share their insights on how they’re able to do both of those things when it comes to their training and racing.

Sarah and Melissa Ostaszewski are runners based out of Flagstaff, Arizona who are known for their love for challenge, impressive race results, and mental toughness.

Sarah has podium finishes at Cocodona 250, Javelina Jundred 100k, Mogollon Monster 100 mile and top 10 finishes at Javelina Jundred 100 miler and Run Rabbit Run.

Melissa has podium finishes at Silverton Alpine Marathon, Sinister Night Runs 18K, Copper Corridor 50K, Across the Years 24 hours, and has top 10 finishes at Javelina Jundred 100k and at Siuslaw Dunes 50K.

And in this episode, the Ostaszewski sisters give a breakdown into how they approach their training and goal setting when it comes to races, how they handle adversity and difficulty during their ultras, and what they do to dominate their races while also maximizing their enjoyment along the way.

Huge thank you to Sarah and Melissa for coming on the show!

Check out Zach Bitter’s pre-made training plans: https://zachbitter.com/training-plans

Check out Zach Bitter’s coaching options: https://zachbitter.com/coaching

Follow Melissa on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/28550791

Follow Melissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaostaszewski/

Follow Sarah on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/25202636?oq=sarah%20

Follow Melissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahostaszewski/

Follow Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/

200 mile races are getting all of the rage in the US. But before Cocadona and the Triple Crown of 200s in the US, there is a mammoth of a 200 mile race that exists in the European mountains: the Tour de Geants.

The Tour is an epic race consisting of X MILES and X feet of elevation gain. And is known as one of the most brutal, challenging, and dangerous races in the world. And in this episode, we chat with an amazing athlete who completed the challenge: Peter Ward!

Peter Ward is an ultra endurance athlete who has completed the Tour de Geants, Cocodona 250, and tons of other ultra endurance challenges. And in this episode, he breaks down the Tour de Geants, what it takes to complete it, how he prepared for it, and some crazy stories from the race.

He also covers his biggest advice when it comes to training and racing in 200 milers, and for anyone who is looking to take on the Tour.

Huge thank you to Peter for making this episode happen!

Check out Zach Bitter’s pre-made training plans: https://zachbitter.com/training-plans

Check out Zach Bitter’s coaching options: https://zachbitter.com/coaching

Check out Peter on IG: https://www.instagram.com/pjweezy/

Check out the Tour de Geants: https://www.torxtrail.com/en/content/tor-des-g%C3%A9ants%C2%AE

Check out Joe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/

We all want to feel accepted and welcome in the ultrarunning community, no matter what we identify as. And we all can play a part in making that a reality for everyone, especially for the queer community.

In this episode, we speak with Altra Athlete Ryan Montgomery, who is a queer ultrarunner and is a huge advocate for queer inclusivity. On top of that, Ryan is also a highly accomplished athlete, securing the Golden Ticket at Javelina Jundred in 2021, completing it in 13:33.

Ryan is on a mission to build incredible communities and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ runners by hosting retreats and community events with OUT TRAILS. Most recently, Ryan held a retreat in the Mt. St Helens area for the queer trail running community which was a massive hit.

Ryan had a challenging 2022 as he dealt with plantar fasciitis and got into a scary car accident that sidelined him for a bit. But, he’s currently on the mend and back to running, looking for his next big goal ahead.

In this episode, Ryan discusses how we can all play a part in creating inclusivity for the queer community, how he was able to bounce back from injuries, and how he’s been able to be such a multi-faced athlete when it comes to succeeding in different types of ultras.

Huge thank you to Ryan for this episode!

Follow Ryan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ultra.ryan/?hl=en

Ryan’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ultra.ryan

For the Long Run Podcast Interview with Ryan: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/227-ryan-montgomery-creating-community-for-lgbtq-athletes/id1453616436?i=1000576567306

Want to get exclusive access to early release episodes, ad-free episodes, and a live Q&A with me each month? Join the Everyday Ultra Patreon: patreon.com/everydayultra

Nicole Bitter is a professional ultramarathon runner for Altra who has one of the most decorated running resumes in the sport to date. At one point she ran the fastest 100-mile time in North America on Trail, she’s placed top 10 at Western States multiple times, won flagship races like Javelina Jundred and Black Canyon, and the list goes on.

So, it’s safe to say that when it comes to performing at a very high level in ultrarunning, Nicole is one of the go-to persons to listen to!

But what is even more fascinating about her career is how she’s been able to develop such a sustainable career and how she continues to enjoy running just as much as when she first got into the sport. And in this episode, she breaks down how that’s helped her become so successful and to create such a sustainable career.

In this episode, Nicole breaks down the mindset shifts she’s made throughout her career that helped her to perform better at races (and how to enjoy them more), how she balances a full-time job on top of being a professional athlete, and what she’s learned along the years of her career that has helped her to continue to show up on the podium.

Huge thank you to Nicole for making this episode happen and good luck to her as she heads into UTCT this weekend!

Check out Zach Bitter’s pre-made training plans: https://zachbitter.com/training-plans

Check out Zach Bitter’s coaching options: https://zachbitter.com/coaching

Subscribe to the Everyday Ultra Patreon for early access to episodes, ad-free episodes, live Q&A sessions, and more: https://www.patreon.com/everydayultra

Follow Nicole on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nkbitter/?hl=en

Preventing injury is one of the most important skills when it comes to ultra running. Because being healthy is a prerequisite for any running-related goal that you want to make progress on.

Plus, when you stay uninjured, you’re also able to increase your running performance in the most optimal way. Meaning, you have a much better chance of improving as a runner and hitting all of the goals you set out for yourself.

And in this amazing episode, Brodie Sharpe of Run Smarter joins us as a second-time guest to share how to reduce your risk of injury and increase your running performance.

Brodie Sharpe is a licensed physiotherapist with many years of experience helping runners recover from injuries, and helping them prevent injury going forward. He is also the author of “Run Smarter: Evidence-based Guidance and Expert Opinions to Help You Survive & Thrive as a Runner” and is the host of the top-ranked podcast, Run Smarter.

When it comes to running smarter, healthier, and more optimally, Brodie is the go-to guy to listen to. Backing all of his advice up with research, empirical data, and experience working with runners, his tips are tried and true.

In this episode, Brodie helps to break down:

-The biggest keys to increasing running performance

-The biggest myths when it comes to injuries that you should stop listening to

Huge shoutout to Brodie for making this happen!

Check out Zach Bitter’s pre-made training plans: https://zachbitter.com/training-plans

Check out Zach Bitter’s coaching options: https://zachbitter.com/coaching

Listen to the Run Smarter Podcast: https://playpodca.st/runsmarter

Get Brodie’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Smarter-Evidence-based-Guidance-Opinions/dp/0645520705/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9S9S3RKMSJIK&keywords=run+smarter&qid=1664928865&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjk2IiwicXNhIjoiMC45NiIsInFzcCI6IjAuOTkifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=%2Caps%2C533&sr=8-1

Brodie’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrv7drXTqeZRaJahLXeOqOQ

Book a FREE 20-minute injury chat with Brodie: https://calendly.com/runsmarter/injurychat

Brodie’s Website: https://runsmarter.online/

Abby Hall is a professional trail runner for adidas TERREX based out of Flagstaff, Arizona. And she is quickly becoming known as one of the best ultra runners in the sport!

With impressive results like winning Transvulcania, landing on the podium at CCC twice, a second place finish at Canyons 100k, and so many more, Abby is racking up an impressive career that is inspiring others to chase their own dreams.

And a big part of Abby’s success not only comes down to how she approaches training from a physical perspective; but also, from a mental perspective; as she’s learned to use failure as a springboard to propel her career to new heights, mastered the skill of risk taking in an ultra, and knows how to keep her emotional cup full going into races.

In this episode, Abby helps to break that all down coming off of an incredible 2022 race season for her, most recently by winning the Transvulcania ultra. And she gives a look into how she approaches her mindset to allow her to keep improving in her running career. Plus, she gives us a look into her Transvulcania win.

Huge thank you to Abby for making this happen!

Follow Abby on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abby.k.hall/?hl=en

Abby’s blog: https://www.abbyandcordis.com/

Follow Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/

People always ask me what my favorite podcasts are. And there’s always one that comes right to mind: The Singletrack Podcast. Covering all of the best athletes, hottest topics, and gripping race analysis on some of the most marquee events, Singletrack has grown to one of the biggest podcasts in the sport of trail running.

And today, we have on the man behind the brand, Finn Melanson.

Finn Melanson is the host of the Singletrack Podcast and runs all of the content behind the Singletrack brand. He currently manages Singletrack as his full-time career and is super passionate about adding valuable insights to the trail running community. He has an extensive background in endurance, as he’s thru-hiked the AT, competed in many ultras, and continues to run and race to this day.

But what really makes Finn an amazing guest to listen to  is his philosophy, approach, and mindset when it comes to running. Especially when it comes to finding the best way to mold running into your lifestyle.

In this episode, Finn breaks down how he started Singletrack, how you can structure your running in a way that best fits your true path in life, how he went full-time managing Singletrack, and what his biggest trends he sees ahead for the sport of running.

This was truly one of my favorite episodes as it’s super cool to interview a fellow (and one of my favorite) podcasters in the space.

Huge thank you to Finn for making this happen!

Check out the Singletrack Podcast: https://tr.ee/6Am96sKONA

Follow Singletrack on IG: https://www.instagram.com/runsingletrack/?hl=en

Singletrack newsletter: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/finnmelanson

Check out the Singletrack job board: https://jobs.runsingletrack.com/

Singletrack YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbb251iYPK4WlDmIc7GvMgg?sub_confirmation=1

This year, I competed in the famous Javelina Jundred 100-miler here in my home state of Arizona and ended up finishing in 10th place male with a time of 16:36, a massive PR for me at the 100-mile distance. And it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life!

Given the race's competitive field, brutally hot weather and no shade, and looped format with some sneaky climbs, this race is definitely a tough one to crack. So, I also wanted to share my race day strategy in hopes that it could help you tackle your next ultra, whether its Javelina or another similar ultra.

In this episode I break down the following:

-My goals for the race

Thank you to everyone for your support along the way to this huge goal of mine! You are all amazing!

When it comes to nailing down the important details of your ultra training, Patrick Reagan is one of the best of the best to take advice from. Not only is he one of the top ultra runners in the sport, but he is also an experienced coach who has helped tons of runners achieve their biggest goals. And in this episode, he breaks down absolutely valuable tips when it comes to preparing for your next ultra.

Patrick Reagan is a professional runner for HOKA and GU hailing from Savannah, GA. He was the 2019 USATF 100 Mile Trail National Champion, 2017 USATF Ted Corbitt Ultrarunner of the year, and is the 3x champion at the legendary Javelina Jundred, where he also holds the course record.

He is also a running coach who has helped athletes podium at the USTAF 100 Mile Road National Championships, Yeti 100, and Javelina Jundred races. And he runs a team of coaches under his Patrick Reagan Running brand. Plus, he is the host of the Podcast, Tortoise and the Hare.

In this episode, Patrick breaks down his biggest tips when it comes to maintaining an optimal pace during your ultras, how to approach nutrition in training and in your races, and how he’s approaching his 4th Javelina Jundred race coming up.

Huge thank you to Patrick for being on the show!

Check out Patrick’s coaching services: https://patrickreaganrunning.com/coaching

Follow Patrick on IG: https://www.instagram.com/patrickreaganrunning/

Check out Patrick’s Podcast: https://tr.ee/1eiCxky49y

Check out HOKA: https://www.hoka.com/en/us/

Check out GU: https://guenergy.com