Off The Couch

We talk to Adam Hill about how dealing with anxiety disorder led him into Ironman competitions; his new book, Shifting Gears; and the process and mechanisms of personal transformation.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Anxiety & Alcohol (2:23)
• Anxiety & Sobriety (18:03)
• Getting into Ironmans (26:22)
• Overcoming hopelessness - (46:44)
• Shifting Gears (51:37)
• The support of Adam’s wife (56:05)
• YoYo Ma vs. Mstislav Rostropovich (1:07:25)

OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS

• Blister Podcast
• GEAR:30 podcast
• Bikes & Big Ideas podcast

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

Jason Hardrath holds more “Fastest Known Times” than anyone in the world. We talk to Jason about his upbringing; how a nearly fatal car accident introduced him to the world of FKTs; and his upcoming film, “Journey to 100,” which chronicles Jason’s attempt to climb the 100 tallest peaks in the state of Washington over 50 days; and more.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Have you always pushed yourself? (1:33)
• Risk, exertion, & becoming fully present (17:13)
• The car accident (25:23)
• Recovery, physical & mental (31:53)
• Identity & Purpose (42:17)
• When did you first learn about FKTs? (49:45)
• Where to watch Journey to 100? (1:00:00)

OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS

• Blister Podcast
• GEAR:30 podcast
• Bikes & Big Ideas podcast

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

CTS coach Jason Koop makes his return to Off The Couch following the release of the 2nd edition of his book, Training Essentials for Ultrarunning. We talk to Koop about why he updated his book; the increase in ultramarathon-specific research; myths around running economy; the art of pairing coaches with athletes; how to sift through all the bad science on social media; and his time with Timothy Olson on the PCT.  

TOPICS & TIMES

• Thoughts on his KoopCast (2:56)
• Koop’s book: why a 2nd edition? (6:02)
• Increase in ultramarathon research (19:40)
• Carbon Plates & Running Economy (23:17)
• Being a well-rounded coach (29:41)
• Which resources to trust? (40:30)
• How does racing affect your coaching? (46:24)
• Supporting Timothy Olson on the PCT (57:21)
• Where to find Koop’s book (1:06:28)

RELATED LINKS

• Our Weekly Gear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup
• Koop’s book, Training Essentials for Ultrarunning
• Koop’s Twitter List
• Running Economy Study

OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS

• Blister Podcast
• GEAR:30 podcast
• Bikes & Big Ideas podcast

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

Our running editor, Matt Mitchell, sat down with Salomon athlete Logan Williams to discuss his recent top 10 finish at the Black Canyon 100K. This top-10 finish happened after Logan ruptured his achilles last year at Black Canyon, so Logan talks about what returning to the scene of the crime meant for him; his relationship with injury; how he’s recovering from racing 62 miles through the desert; his thoughts on running as an artform, and a whole lot more.

TOPICS & TIMES

• Black Canyon: golden tickets, stacked fields (1:07)
• Processing injuries (5:14)
• Running as an art form (12:29)
• Training for Black Canyon (16:58)
• Fueling: physical & mental (20:27)
• Broken Arrow Triple Crown (29:12)
• Logan’s origin story (33:24)
• 2022 plans (40:32)
• Recovery (48:18)

RELATED LINKS

• Our Weekly Gear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup

OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS

• Blister Podcast
• GEAR:30 podcast
• Bikes & Big Ideas podcast

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

Why would two friends who’d been working at the highest levels of product design at Nike, Under Armour, and Puma — and in some of the biggest product categories (soccer, basketball, and running) — set out to create a hyper-specific, hyper-performance trail running shoe company? We talk to the co-founders of Speedland, Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon to get the answers; to learn about their paths to becoming directors of design and innovation at some of the biggest brands in the world; and to discuss the design elements of what a “hyper-performance” trail shoe looks like to them.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• What is Speedland? (2:10)
• Meeting at Nike Basketball (4:14)
• Kevin Fallon’s background (6:51)
• Dave Dombrow’s background (10:33)
• How did you get jobs at Nike, Under Armor? (13:46)
• Why is it so hard for brands to move into other product categories? (26:07)
• Starting Speedland (31:39)
• Trail shoe design (36:40)
• Incorporating dual BOA dials (46:27)
• Pricing (51:41)
• Removable carbon plate (55:45)
• 1st shoe: SL:PDX (57:38)
• Speedland’s ‘Give Back’ program (1:03:49)
• Optimizing for specific environments (1:05:20)
• Price & Hyper Performance (1:07:11)
• runspeedland.com (1:11:08)

RELATED LINKS

• Our Weekly Gear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup

OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS

• Blister Podcast
• GEAR:30 podcast
• Bikes & Big Ideas podcast

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

As a follow-up to our Winter Running and the Meaning of Life conversation (episode #103), today we’re talking about some very practical tips, tricks, and gear recommendations to help you get out and run in colder temps and snowier environments. 

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Layering (2:48)
• Thicker socks? (9:26)
• Some favorite cold weather gear (13:28)
• Gore-Tex running shoes? (15:43)
• Some favorite winter running shoes (22:44)
• How to fuel / hydrate in cold temps (26:27)

RELATED LINKS:

• Our Weekly Gear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup
• Mens Nordic Hats – Skida | Headwear & Accessories
• Pyrenees T19 Hooded Long Sleeve Shirt | PATH projects
• Outdoor Research Shuck Mitts

OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS

• Blister Podcast
• GEAR:30 podcast
• Bikes & Big Ideas podcast

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

We talk to Salomon’s Mike Ambrose about running shoe design; taking a shoe from concept to production; his life in running and the running industry; European vs. North American markets; & what’s next in running shoes.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• What does a Product Line Manager do? (2:00)
• How’d you get there? (6:25)
• Getting into running (19:41)
• Shoe design (24:29)
• Emerging research findings & shoe design (30:21)
• The Salomon Ultra Glide (34:54)
• European vs. North American trail market & culture (41:15)
• What’s next in shoe design? (45:27)
• A little life advice (49:26)

RELATED LINKS:

• Our Weekly Gear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup

OUR OTHER BLISTER PODCASTS

• Blister Podcast
• GEAR:30 podcast
• Bikes & Big Ideas podcast

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

Sabrina Little is an ultra runner, a writer, & philosophy professor, and has held the American record in the 200K and the 24-Hour American Record (she ran 152.03 miles in 24 hours.) So we talk about all of the above, and also toothpaste and Harry Potter.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Bookshelves & toothpaste (1:04)
• Sabrina’s 1st 100K (12:15)
• 24-hour record (17:30)
• Philosophy background (19:51)
• Running & school (27:08)
• Writing “The Examined Run” column (30:01)
• Running & Flourishing (33:14)
• Humanities today (41:22)
• Teaching (46:49)
• 2022 races and goals (55:07)
• Harry Potter (57:29)
• What’s next? (1:00:15)

RELATED LINKS:

• Blister Summit
• Getting Here: Gunnison & Crested Butte
• Gear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup

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

Yesterday, Jonathan Ellsworth sat down with Blister reviewer, Gordon Gianniny, and our new Running Editor, Matt Mitchell, to talk about winter running. But our conversation took a much bigger and broader turn.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• Introductions & winter running (2:42)
• Your worst winter-running stories? (5:42)
• Running year round (11:11)
• Running & mental health (26:18)
• Everything is an opportunity (32:27)
• Topics for another time (43:11)

RELATED LINKS:

• Blister Summit
• Getting Here: Gunnison & Crested Butte
• Gear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup

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

Michele Graglia has racked up a number of major victories in his career, including wins at the Badwater 135, Yukon Arctic Ultra, the Moab 240, and more. But in this conversation, we focus on some of Michele’s recent struggles, disappointments, and difficulties, and Michele talks about what he’s learned along the way — and what he’s still learning.

TOPICS & TIMES:

• The reception of Ultra (3:36)
• Badwater 135 (13:05)
• Tahoe Rim Trail 100 (26:41)
• Tor de Géants (31:10)
• The mind / spirit vs the physical (40:39)
• Personal toll of athletic pursuits (45:50)
• Pursuing excellence while being in a relationship (52:05)
• Detachment from "things" (59:26)

RELATED LINKS:

• Ep. 87 with Michele
• Ep. 88 with Michele
• Michele’s book, Ultra
• Blister Summit
• Getting Here: Gunnison & Crested Butte
• Gear Giveaway / Newsletter Signup

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