Welcome back to Buckle Up, everyone! Today I am incredibly excited to share a conversation that gets right to the heart of why we challenge ourselves on the trails.

My guest today is Jake Jackson, and we sat down to talk about everything from the deep philosophies of life to the daily grit of training. Jake’s journey into the endurance world is nothing short of incredible. Back in 2011, by his own admission, he found himself a bit overweight, smoking to get by, and realized it was time for a massive shift. He and his wife decided to make a change and joined a gym. For Jake, the treadmill stood out as a safe place to start—and as we always say in this sport, the rest is history.

Since those first steps on the treadmill, Jake has truly done it all. He has represented the US National Team in the grueling 24-hour discipline and tackled some of the toughest, most technical mountain races out there. But he’s not done pushing his limits. Right now, Jake is turning his focus toward the 200-plus mile distance, working to figure out the complex nuances and put those massive puzzle pieces together. And trust me, when he finalizes that puzzle, watch out!

I had a blast catching up with Jake, and I know you’re going to get a ton out of his story and insights. Before we dive into the episode, it would mean the absolute world to me if you’d take a quick second to leave a comment, hit that like button, and subscribe to the show wherever you're listening or watching. Your support keeps this podcast moving forward.

So, buckle up, and happy running, friends!