Off The Couch

Brendan Leonard and I recently talked to Meghan Hicks, who is one hell of a trail runner in her own right, in addition to being the managing editor of iRunFar, a website that, among other things, produces some of the best race coverage out there — or as Meghan so eloquently puts it, they cover and capture “everything from the puke fests to the transcendental moments” that make up this sport of trail running.

Meghan is also just a real joy to talk to, even if, she made Brendan and me work really hard to get her to talk about her accomplishments. But try we did, and along the way, Meghan painted for us a very interesting picture of her life and background; how iRunFar.com came to be; what motivates her to run; her unusual but wonderful combination of self-deprecation and overflowing optimism; her lowest lows lows and highest highs as a runner; what she thinks is the most misunderstood thing about ultra races; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Growing up in Minnesota, discovering trail running (3:57)
• Bonking during her first 100 mile race (15:15)
• A “transcendental” moment during the Marathon des Sables (18:20)
• Identifying as a journalist vs. identifying as a runner (21:16)
• Running 100 ultras? (26:55)
• How to get better at running without getting faster (28:07)
• What do most people misunderstand about ultrarunning? (30:09)
• Meghan’s early aspirations in writing (33:13)
• Growing iRunFar from a blog to a business (41:12)
• Meghan’s lowest low in a race (52:08)
• Pizza (57:00)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BLISTER reviewer & contributing editor, Maddie Hart, just won the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Mile Run, making her the youngest person — male or female — to ever win the event.

So we talked to Maddie about the race; her strategy; how she felt throughout it; what gear she used and how it performed; whether running the demanding 60k Infinite Trails race in Europe was good or bad prep for the Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Miler; her pacers; and her achievement.

TOPICS & TIMES

• Recovering Post-Race (2:02)
• Why did you decide to run this race? (4:45)
• Race Day Recap: obstacles, emotions, and the finish (6:23)
• The eating trick that helped Maddie during the race (11:23)
• People’s reaction to her age (13:52)
• Was her 60k Infinite Trails race good or bad preparation? (16:43)
• Gear: what worked, and what didn’t (19:18)
• Biggest lesson learned from the race (23:24)
• What her pacers did right (25:47)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a common narrative in the running world about people who are struggling in life, then they are saved by running. But what happens when you’ve been an endurance athlete for over twenty years, and you then find yourself in search of some answers? We talk to Duncan Callahan — 2-time winner of the Leadville 100 and a number of other ultras — about his story, things he’d do different, and what he’s still hoping to learn.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Duncan’s background in endurance sports (3:23)
• Ultrarunning at an early age (6:55)
• Duncan's first Leadville 100 (13:45)
• Winning the 2008 Leadville 100 — i.e., the ‘Gunnison’ 100 (18:15)
• Burning out (21:49)
• What would he have done differently? (25:20)
• On identifying as a “runner” (30:34)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clare Gallagher just won the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Race, and she did so in spectacular fashion. And normally, that is all the introduction we’d need here, since winning Western States is a very big deal. But there happens to be a whole lot more to this particular story. 

Because right before this race, Clare accepted an invitation from Tommy Caldwell to go on an expedition to the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge to raise awareness of and opposition to plans to give oil and gas companies the right to drill in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge.

But backpacking and mountaineering around the wild landscape of Alaska is not how professional runners typically spend time right before their biggest race of the year.

So in addition to diving into the details of her epic Western States win, we discuss with Clare why she was willing to go to Alaska; why she runs; and how wins at Western States — or her 2016 win of the Leadville 100, or her FKT of the Zion Traverse last year — all work to create a larger platform to talk about the things that matter most to her.

TAKE ACTION

Text 40649 now or CLICK HERE to submit a comment to your representative asking them to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by voting to pass The Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act. 

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Recovering from a huge effort at Western States (3:00)
• Race Recap: day of the race & the first 80 miles (8:06)
• On the intense last 6 miles of the race (10:05)
• Mile 93 — 2017 vs. 2019 (13:16)
• Clare’s expedition to Alaska prior to the race (18:48)
• Winning, Losing, & Competitiveness (29:14)
• Clare’s background (34:40)
• Her future (49:46)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Jurek, one of the greatest trail runners of all time, called his attempt to break Jennifer Pharr Davis’ FKT (Fastest Known Time) for hiking the Appalachian Trail the hardest thing he’d ever done. And yet, hiking and thru-hiking often isn’t given the credit it deserves either as a monumental test of endurance, or as a more accessible / less intimidating activity to get more people outdoors.

So we talk to former National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Jennifer Pharr Davis, about the differences and divides between hiking culture & trail running culture; why — and how — she works to break down barriers and get more people outside; the increasing importance of connecting with nature; lessons from her book, The Pursuit of Endurance, and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Jennifer’s unconventional book tour (5:05)
• “Hiking” vs “Trail Running” culture (7:50)
• Inclusivity & diversity in the outdoors / outdoor industry (16:09)
• How hiking can help individuals & communities (22:50)
• Jen’s favorite story from The Pursuit of Endurance (27:30)
• Harnessing the power of failure (33:53)
• What does it mean to “befriend adversity”? (37:35)
• Inner drive vs contentment (39:44)
• The increasing importance of connecting with nature (44:14)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While participation in trail running and ultra trail races is increasing, it has tended to draw an older crowd. But things are changing. Younger runners are getting into the sport, and they aren’t following all the old conventions.

So we discuss the current and future state of trail running and ultra trail running with two young and rising trail runners — Maddie Hart and Gordon Gianniny. We also talk about how they got into trail running and longer-distance racing as teenagers; their take on the idea that a lot of people get into ultras later in life as a way to cope with inner demons or certain life crises; how they see trail running changing; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Getting into running & ultras as teenagers (2:55)
• How do you see trail running changing? (19:47)
• Inner demons & ultras (24:00)
• How do you see the future of competitive trail running? (30:50)
• On Maddie & Gordon’s upcoming relay-style trail ultramarathon (36:03)
• Ultras as Eating Contests (41:55)
• Which races are on your bucket list? (49:32)
• Thoughts on ‘ultra’ ultras? (52:47)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This past weekend, our Off The Couch co-host, Brendan Leonard, ran the Bighorn Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run. So Jonathan Ellsworth talks with him about why he decided to run it; how he prepared; the highs and lows of the experience; dealing with the race’s signature mud; his advice for anyone thinking of running a 100; and then, the big question: whether or not he plans on running another 100 miler.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Recovering from the race (2:23)
• The story behind the Bighorn Trail Run (5:15)
• When & Why did you decide to do it? (10:41)
• Preparing for the Bighorn 100 (11:25)
• How mud changed the race (12:27)
• Resisting comfort at aid stations (16:00)
• Pushing through the 2nd half of the race (18:22)
• The patience of race pacers (23:12)
• The Finish (30:13)
• Wildlife encounters? (32:29)
• Hellbender 100 vs. Bighorn 100 (35:36)
• The Question: Will you do another 100? (36:57)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stevie Kremer is a world-class runner, but her life sure doesn’t include many of the stereotypes that description might conjure up. So we discuss her unusual training routine; sitcoms & life lessons; how she got into trail running and ski mountaineering; and juggling being a runner, mother, and educator.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Sitcoms and life lessons (2:12)
• Stevie’s background & early races (4:00)
• Hangovers & long-distance mountain races (8:00)
• Running at over 21,000 ft. elevation (18:30)
• Stevie’s (remarkably) precise daily routine (24:59)
• Ski mountaineering & running (34:23)
• Racing goals in exotic locations (38:50)
• The Salomon Eleven Running Experience (42:50)
• Running & real life (47:22)
• What do you listen to when trail running? (52:27)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brendan Leonard and I talk to Sarah Lavender Smith, who ran her first marathon back in 1995, and has gone on to complete eighty marathons and ultramarathons since.

Sarah is the author of the excellent book, The Trail Runner's Companion: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trail Running and Racing, from 5Ks to Ultras; she is a columnist for the magazines UltraRunning and Trail Runner, she also keeps an active blog at TheRunnersTrip.com; and she is the co-host of the UltraRunnerPodcast.

We talk to Sarah about what inspired her to start running; the problem of “mommy guilt”; the importance of being process oriented; running marathons with horses; her relationship with competitiveness; and how she gradually went from smoking and partying to running ultras.

Sarah has strung together a very interesting life and career, and she has a ton of insight to offer both newbies and seasoned veterans. So we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Connect with Sarah:

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook personal page

Facebook blog page

Blog: TheRunnersTrip.com

Coaching Website: sarahlavendersmith.com

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Sarah’s background & getting into running (3:13)
• How the ultramarathon scene has changed (23:47)
• On “mommy guilt” (27:35)
• Injuries and recovering from them (34:53)
• The primary reasons why people reach out for coaching (37:17)
• Staying motivated (39:22)
• What’s the most common advice she gives to runners? (46:22)
• Biggest mistakes made by newbie and by experienced runners (48:30)
• Hardrock = Burning Man? (54:00)
• Sarah’s most joyful moment running (56:52)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Brendan Leonard and I had a remarkable conversation with a remarkable person, and we urge every runner — and non-runner — to listen to it.

Filmmaker and runner, Sanjay Rawal (3100: Run and Become; Food Chains; Challenging Impossibility), joined us to talk about how running can be far more than just a fitness routine or a competitive outlet, it can be transformative, and make us better people.

An accomplished runner himself, Sanjay shares how burning out on competitive running, a fraught political climate, and a desire for self-discovery led him to veer off the 'straight-A's / med school' path that he was on at Berkeley, and instead go explore running as a form of meditation under the guidance of the spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy.

We then talk about Sanjay’s most recent film called, 3100: Run and Become, which centers on the longest certified race in the world, the Self-Transcendence 3100 — that’s right, this is a three thousand and one hundred mile long race that takes place in, of all places, Queens, New York, on a sidewalk. That surrounds a high school. So this three thousand 100 mile race takes place on a closed-loop course that’s about ½ a mile long.

Sanjay’s film goes into why in the world someone would create an event like this, and then why in the world anyone would actually run in an event like this? Who are these people, and what are they doing? The film then covers the Self-Transcendence 3100 race as an inroads to examine the connection between running and spiritualism in a number of diverse traditions and communities around the world, including the Navajo Nation of Arizona, the San Bushmen of Botswana, Africa, and a Buddhist monastic community in Japan where the practitioners aren’t exactly runners per se, but their long-distance rituals almost defy comprehension.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• The Pizza Marathon (3:29)
• Sanjay’s background and early relationship with running (8:14)
• What led Sanjay to go study with Sri Chinmoy (19:23)
• Sanjay’s evolution from “better” runner to “happier” runner (25:55)
• Sanjay’s film, '3100: Run and Become' (35:47)
• Can running really make someone a better person? (48:54)
• How do you get motivated to run when you don’t want to? (52:22)
• What’s the best question we haven’t asked you? (57:22)
• Sanjay’s next film project (1:00:49)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.