In this episode of the Dirt and Vert podcast, David and Matt sit down with Lauren Beihoffer, a former research scientist turned ultra running coach. Lauren shares her inspiring journey from being a non-runner to a passionate endurance athlete, detailing her experiences with various races, the challenges she faced, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation delves into the importance of nutrition, the balance between strength training and running, and the unique experiences of coaching others in the ultra running community. Lauren also recounts her adventure on the reality show 'Naked and Afraid,' highlighting the challenges of survival and the perspective it gave her on comfort and resilience. The episode concludes with a discussion on the reasons why we run and the joy it brings to our lives.

Chapters

00:00 From Research to Running: Lauren's Journey

04:28 The First 50K Experience: Trials and Triumphs

09:28 Learning the Ropes: Nutrition and Hydration in Ultra Running

15:23 Facing the Elements: The Hardest Race

20:26 Fueling Strategies: Finding What Works

30:28 Lessons Learned: The Continuous Journey of an Ultra Runner

40:58 Lessons from Early Races

45:38 Listening to Your Body

51:18 Balancing Performance and Longevity

57:20 The Ebb and Flow of Training

01:01:27 The Journey into Coaching

01:10:04 Why I Run

01:11:47 Experiences on Naked and Afraid