Melanie Harsha, an experienced hiker who has completed the Appalachian Trail (AT), Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and Continental Divide Trail (CDT), joins the podcast. She shares her journey and insights into long-distance hiking. Melanie discusses her introduction to hiking, her decision to through-hike the AT, and the physical and mental preparation required for such endeavors. She compares the difficulty and characteristics of the AT, PCT, and CDT. Melanie also talks about wildlife encounters and the evolution of her gear throughout her hiking experiences. Garrett Frederick shares his experience thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and the Appalachian Trail (AT), as well as his transition into ultra running. She discusses the importance of strength training and stretching while on the trail and how it contributed to his success. Melanie also talks about her trail name, Peanut, and how she got involved with Hoka. She shares her journey from academia to thru-hiking and how she ended up working for Hoka. She also discusses his personal experience with different shoe brands and the lessons she learned from thru-hiking and ultra running. Melanie also emphasizes the importance of supporting runners at aid stations, and shares advice for those interested in thru-hiking or ultra running.

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