Today’s episode is a fun one. We’re hanging out with friend of the pod, ultra‑runner Michael Wardian. If you’ve been following along, you might remember we teamed up with Mike a while back to create an audio drama about his run at Badwater 135 — called “Inferno.” When we launched Running Buddies, he was all in, so it’s always great to reconnect. This time, we tagged along for a run through the streets of Arlington with one of the true legends in the running world.

Mike’s story is wild. He’s knocked out the Appalachian Trail, pulled off seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, and somehow balances all that with being a dad, an international ship broker, and a competitive athlete across different sports. Pickleball anyone?

We got into his training routine, what’s next on his fitness horizon, and even his plan to row across the Atlantic (yup, you heard that right). He opened up about his philosophy on running, what fuels his competitive drive, and how he stares down fear.

The big takeaway? Mike keeps coming back to consistency, setting goals, and chasing adventure. And for anyone just starting out, his advice is simple but powerful: make your commitments public — it keeps you accountable.

Follow Mike on Instgram @mikewardian

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On today's show we are thrilled to be running with Ragna Debats a champion who has won major races like the Marathon des Sables and UTMB CCC. We discuss Ragna's transition from the sport of equestrian to her celebrated running career and how her background may have provided a foundational mental fortitude for ultra-running. The discussion also touches on the increased popularity of running, Debats' personal challenges with performance pressure following major wins, and her future goals, including establishing a trail running school in Spain near Girona. 

To find out more information about Ragna's coaching and training centre, you can find her on Instagram @debatsragna

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On todays show, host Ari Fleeman talks to Nick Davis, the innovator behind a new fitness product called the Cinderuck. They discuss the Cinderuck, a backpack designed to incorporate a standard cinder block for rucking and hybrid workouts, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional rucking plates and specialized gear. 

Davis explains that the product originated from his experiences in the F3 workout community and the need for an easy-to-transport, low-cost weight solution, particularly for traveling. They also cover the current rucking industry landscape, the challenges of manufacturing and product development, and the Cinderuck's intended market. An interesting conversation with an innovator in the space. 

You can find Nick on Instagram @CINDERUCK

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On todays show, Soul Sisters co-hosts Justine and Kylie do battle in a unique competition combining mental and physical challenges. The hosts devise a game inspired by The New York Times mini-games, challenging each other with Wordle, a custom Crossword puzzle, Strands, and Connections, tallying up their completion times for each game. After the puzzle segment, the hosts compare their cumulative game times to their individual times for running one mile, aiming to determine a final winner based on the lowest total time for both the puzzles and the run. The sisters also discuss the hippocampus and the scientific evidence surrounding whether running can improve brain function!

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Its Halloween and we thought what better way to celebrate this amazing day than to rerelease one from the vault! 

Go for a run or go for a walk, but don’t do it alone on…Halloween!!! 

This week co-hosts Jamie Roberts and Robert Lendrum review the 1978 John Carpenter classic Halloween. While we both agree it's a classic, do we see it as a 5 footstep film?  Dr. Loomis doesn't respect parking laws. Michael Myers has problems with women. He also loves to play peekaboo.  
 

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It's Halloween - our favourite time of year -  and as a special treat we are running with Marnie Kunz, founder of the running website and newsletter Run Street. We catch up with Marnie as she's moving through Brooklyn's spooky, yet peaceful Greenwood Cemetery. Kunz discusses her journey as a runner, coach, and writer, detailing how she connects running with spooky history through initiatives like the Haunted NYC challenge. We talk about New York City's vibrant running culture, scenic running spots like the bridges, and finish off talking about an article she wrote chronicling the scariest places to run in America (18:32). 

Happy Halloween!

You can follow Marnie on Instagram @runstreet

Check out her website and newsletter: here

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In light of the time of year, we thought we would release one from the vault. 

Three scoops of murder victims courtesy of Michael Myers, Blumhouse Productions and the boys at Running Scared as we review the entire Halloween trilogy; Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021) and Halloween Ends (2022). Had the Halloween franchise gone off the rails and does Blumhouse get it back on? Does this hang together as a trilogy? Is it wise to put Michael Myers on a school bus? Do the rules of Requels bog down a movie - ie. bringing back the legacy cast? How closely was this trilogy meant to mirror the latest Star Wars films? Yes this pod is a bit longer than we usually go, but it's 3 movies!

Make sure to check out all the amazing new podcasts from Running Scared Media!

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It's Halloween and the Sole Sisters are back at it again except this time they have company! On today's show they welcome guest Sarah Raitter for the Halloween-themed "trick-or-treat mile" running event where participants must consume either a piece of candy (treat) or a shot of alcohol (trick) before each of the four laps. The hosts, and Sarah (an organizer of the event), talk through Kylie and Justine's experiences completing the mile, which involves drinking Fireball whiskey and caramel vodka. They discuss Sarah's running history, her motivation for running in honour of her brother, and the various themed "dizzy miles" (like the Peeps, Jello Shot, and Eggnog miles) that she and her partner organize to make running a social and fun activity. They finish up by performing rap roasts of each other, in the spirit of a tradition they once shared with Sarah's partner. It's fun, It's spooky, it's hilarious and it everything you want in a podcast!

Make sure to give Sarah a follow on Instagram @sarah.raitter

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On todays show we are running with Justin Andreas, a digital creator, runner, and ultra-marathoner stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska! From the moment we began the interview, Justin's positivity and forward thinking mentality shine through. We discuss the unique challenges of running in the Alaskan wilderness, his experiences and overcoming difficulties in races like the Big Horn 100, and his personal philosophy for ultra-running. 

Justin also shares his goals, such as running an ultra-marathon in every state, and his commitment to fostering positivity and community support among runners through his social media presence and his podcast, Golden Hour Adventures. If you're looking for a lift, you'll be instantly engaged and inspired by Justins mental approach and outlook on life. We were! 

Find Justin on Instagram @running_in_stache

Follow his podcast on Instagram @golden_hour_adventures_podcast available across all podcast platforms. 

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On today's episode of Running Buddies we are on the trail with track runner and coach Michael Darazi. We discuss Mike's goal to compete for the Lebanese national track team and get into the process of how it all came about. From joining a running club in Lebanon to competing in their national championships for cross country and track and field, Mike's passion shines through as he shares his future goal of achieving a top-seven finish to qualify for the World Championship. We also discuss his experiences as an American competing abroad, his motivation for running, the mentors that have helped guide him along the way, and we even get a great story from Mike's college career.

Follow Michael Darazi on Instagram @thedarazi

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