Mike Thompson, a multi-disciplinary athlete, shares his journey in various sports, including soccer, triathlon, and trail running. He discusses his experiences in road running, weightlifting, and mountain biking. Mike highlights the importance of cross-training and the benefits it brings to his performance. He also talks about the shift in dynamics between road running and trail running, emphasizing the sense of awe and connection with nature that trail running provides. Mike shares his experiences in the Leadville Trail Marathon and the joy of being part of the trail running community. In this part of the conversation, Mike and Steven discuss their experiences with long-distance races, including ultra marathons and the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. They also talk about the High Rocks competition and the importance of strength training for overall fitness. Mike shares his journey to becoming a coach and the impact he has had on changing people's lives. Steven expresses his gratitude for Mike's coaching and the positive results he has seen in his own fitness. In this final part of the conversation, Steven and Mike discuss the importance of progression and not comparing oneself to others. They emphasize the need for long-term progress and consistency in fitness and training. They also discuss the significance of recovery, including sleep and nutrition, as well as the benefits of tracking sleep. Mike shares his favorite strength training exercise for runners, the split squat, and explains its benefits for balance, mobility, and injury prevention. They also touch on the importance of building a strong base and gradually increasing intensity in training. The conversation concludes with some rapid-fire questions and Mike's upcoming race plans.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mike Thompson

04:30 Mike's Athletic Background: Soccer, Triathlon, and More

08:03 The Benefits of Cross-Training

19:58 Discovering Trail Running

23:35 The Shift in Dynamics: Road Running vs. Trail Running

26:22 The Leadville Trail Marathon and Trail Running Community

31:20 Conquering the Leadville 100

37:14 High Rocks: The Ultimate Fitness Challenge

40:08 The Power of Strength Training for Runners

45:08 Coaching: Changing Lives One Step at a Time

51:06 The Importance of Progression and Avoiding Comparison

56:37 The Benefits of the Split Squat for Runners

01:02:40 Building a Strong Base and Gradually Increasing Intensity

01:06:17 Rapid-Fire Questions and Race Plans

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