The Evolving Adventure

Trail runners are a crazy bunch.

And honestly…that’s a big part of Kåduka’s core..

Lil & Jason, the co-founders of Kåduka, met up with me to share their inspiration for building a  trail-running app that originally was to answer a very simple question: 

“Where should I run?”

But not just where.

Where can I run 10 miles with 2,000 ft of gain?

What are my options within a 45-minute drive?

What route fits the amount of time I actually have?

What’s the weather, wildfire, snow, or air quality doing out there?

Or… who else is running that race?

Kåduka is building a trail-running community where route discovery, race discovery, current trail and weather conditions, volunteering, run clubs, and connecting with other runners are all in the same place.

It sounds awesome.

And… yes, friends: you can even add your dog as a running companion to keep track of their miles. 

My favorite part is the story behind the name:

Kåduka means “crazy” in Chaorro, Jason’s family’s native language. 

Because telling non-runner “normal” people you ran 30 miles through the mountains tends to get the same response:

“What? That’s crazy! WHY would you do that?”

Whether you’re a meticulous adventure-planner or more of a “I’ll throw my shoes and vest in the truck and see what happens” this conversation is for you. 

Links

Kaduka

Kaduka Instagram

Homelands App

Homelands Instagram

Danny & Homelands - The Evolving Adventure Episode 194

Dark Divide

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lil and Jason of Kaduka

00:20 What is Kaduka and its purpose

03:05 The meaning behind the name Kaduka

05:07 The origin story of Kaduka and its community focus

08:26 Building a platform for trail community and ecosystem

10:28 Lessons from ultramarathons about perseverance

13:00 Why Kaduka is not just another running app

16:33 How Kaduka personalizes trail recommendations

19:53 Designing Kaduka with community and land in mind

23:46 The impact of land acknowledgment and partnerships

27:26 Celebrating all finishers and community spirit

30:26 Current status and future plans for Kaduka

36:27 Partnering with Danny Brigman and Homelands

38:58 The interconnectedness of land, community, and trail

43:36 Supporting and growing the trail community

47:46 The challenges and rewards of building Kaduka

52:07 Balancing full-time work and startup life

55:38 Encouraging community and curiosity in trail running

How to Support Kaduka

• Create a free account at Kaduka.app and sync your devices or upload your Strava history.
• Use the in-app feedback button. They promise you won't hurt their feelings.
• Run clubs and race directors: reach out and they'll get you on Kaduka.
• Event organizers, brands, and investors: send them an email.

What actually happens behind the scenes of a 200-mile mountain ultra?

Spoiler: It involves a lot of mud, a 5-year whirlwind, and driving to Walmart to cram 135 heavy watermelons into the back of a truck.

On this episode of The Evolving Adventure, we chat Kirsti from Sinister Sports in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. Kirsti went from being a high-speed 5K cross-country runner to jumping straight into a 320 km (200-mile) mountain adventure in Wales. She also did the most preparation anyone ever did to get hired by Sinister Sports.

In this conversation, we strip away the polished social media filters of endurance sports. Kirsti opens up about the chaos of race directing, her hilarious ongoing battle with race nutrition (yes, even veterans throw up in the bushes), and what it felt like to "DNF" her first attempt at a master's degree before getting back on the start line.

We also dive deep into her work with the Piikani Nation Buffalo Runners, exploring why it's time to retire the ego-driven mindset of "conquering" mountains and start running with gratitude, community, and respect for the land underfoot.

Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

• [00:00] The Day One Baptism by Fire: Hiding from Labor Day downpours in Crowsnest Pass and the wild research project that landed Kirsti her job at Sinister Sports[1].
• [05:15] From 5K Speed to Mountain Distance: Why leaving short-track speed behind revealed the true power of trail community and shared movement[2][3].
• [08:40] The Watermelon Logistics: What it really takes to host a mountain ultra (and why 135 watermelons almost broke the suspension)[5][6].
• [26:00] The 200-Mile Leap & The Fueling Mystery: Jumping from 130 km to 320 km at the Wild Horse 200, and why she still throws up on every 30K+ run[10].
• [28:00] Wiping Away the Ego: How to strip away expectations, ignore the internet noise, and rely on pure, unadulterated stubbornness to get from Point A to Point B[12].
• [30:45] Sports Psychology & The Mental Toolbelt: Using her degree from Laurentian, learning from academic rejections, and applying the "mountain method" to everyday life[17].
• [37:00] Running as Reciprocity: Lessons from the Piikani Nation Buffalo Runners, offering tobacco, and why we need to stop talking about "crushing" nature[20].
• [42:00] The Most Purple Flower: Why stopping mid-trail to appreciate the small details is the ultimate ultra-running superpower

Deanna Doane set a Florida Trail FKT, about 1,100 miles in under 20 days. Then she had no idea who she was.

What if you finally accomplished the thing you thought would change your life… and then had absolutely no idea who you were afterward?

Swamps. Heat. Loneliness. Sleep deprivation. All the fun stuff.

But here's the part that hooked me.

While she was doing it, Deanna was also living through an abusive relationship. She opens up about what that did to her mentally, how much of it she carried onto the Florida Trail, and how running became a place for peace and clarity, but not a replacement for actual therapy.

And then she finished. Except… life didn't magically become perfect.

She came home to what she describes as post-trail depression, an identity crisis, changing friendships, financial uncertainty, and the uncomfortable question: Who is Deanna outside of the Florida Trail?

So she started over.

She left her old life behind, started living and traveling out of her vehicle, built Wandering Runner, started coaching, created trail running camps and retreats, organized community runs, and gave back through volunteering and trail work.

And somewhere in all that chaos, she found something she hadn't expected: herself.

Not the FKT version.
Not the ultrarunner version.
Not the version somebody else expected her to be.

Just… Deanna.

Some of the best parts of this conversation have almost nothing to do with running. They're about leaving, healing, losing people who aren't in your corner, and realizing that starting over isn't failing.

That takes guts.

Whether your adventure is a 1,100-mile FKT, a cross-country move, leaving a relationship, or simply getting your damn life back… it doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

You don't have to wait until you're fearless. You just have to stop letting fear make every decision for you.

Check out the latest episode from the messy middle on The Evolving Adventure Podcast (@theevolvingadventure).

Follow Deanna: @wanderingrunnerco and find her Wandering Runner.

Whether you're into trail or ultrarunning... or not; starting over, or figuring out who the hell you're becoming next… this one's for you.

Please note: if this episode stirred something in you, support is available 24/7: 1-800-799-7233 (relationship abuse) or 988 (crisis and emotional support).

#FloridaTrail #FKT #Ultrarunning #TrailRunning #WomenWhoRun

Nick never said he would become a runner. Now he's training for Cocodona 250, a 250-mile ultramarathon through Arizona.

He played football.

He fought MMA.

Running was basically punishment.

And then his wife kept casually being an absolute lunatic and running 200-milers for fun.

So Nick figured… sure. Why not?

Fast-forward and this 40-year-old dad got into the Cocodona lottery without fully understanding how lotteries work. He figured if his name got called, he'd just hand the spot to his wife.

And somehow… he got picked. (So did she.)

But this isn't really a story about running.

It's about what happens when you realize you've spent years being a dad, husband, provider, athlete, employee, whatever everyone else needs you to be, and suddenly ask:

"Wait… who the hell am I?"

For Nick, the answer is starting to show up on the trails:

He's learning patience.

He's learning that he doesn't have to run like his wife.

He's learning what his own version of success looks like.

He's learning how to fail without quitting.

Case in point: the legendary scorpion faceplant. One bad ankle, one rock, one very fast trip down a desert trail hill. He got back up and kept moving. His son's review? Hilarious.

Nick is discovering that sometimes getting lost in the woods is EXACTLY how you start finding yourself again.

Also… somewhere along the way, a guy looked at him and said he looked like a Silverback on the trails.

And honestly?

The man now goes by @Silverback_Trail_Runner

This conversation goes way deeper than ultrarunning.

If you're a dad who's been putting everyone else first… if you've ever wondered where you went… or if you've ever looked at a completely ridiculous challenge and thought, "...well, I guess we're doing this."

You probably want to hear this one.

New episode of The Evolving Adventure Podcast is live. Link in bio.

And let us all know: what's something you swore you'd never do that you now kind of love?

#Cocodona250 #Ultrarunning #TrailRunning #RunningPodcast #DadLife

We also discuss the SAVAVALI.E. Run Club, Cocodona 250,

What happens when a 5th-generation Tucson local pitches his ultrarunning coach a self-supported, no-rules, 219-mile FKT across five Arizona mountain ranges and 33,600 feet of elevation. Her answer: "Say less. I'm in."

On this episode of The Evolving Adventure, we sit down with Christian (@cprunsfar) and his coach Lauren (@lauren_runswild) ahead of their self-designed FKT attempt around Tucson — five mountain summits, desert-to-alpine terrain, cactus bushwhacking (maybe with Lauren's machete), and a route that passes within 300 yards of Christian's front door... quite handy for a mile-175 pit stop for A/C and ice. 

Maybe even a quick nap?

No race directors.

No mandatory gear.

No start line with 298 other runners—just two people, a largely unmapped route, and roughly 100 hours of self-supported effort... on Lauren's first trip to Arizona!

We talk about planning an unsupported ultra from scratch, trusting a coach you've never met in person, and what it takes to attempt something nobody's mapped out for you.

Christian and Lauren begin the attempt November 17 in Tucson and will be documenting it live. Follow along on their Instagram accounts: @cprunsfar and @lauren_runswild

They would like to thank NeverSecond for their support of this adventure.

We also reference The Mammoth, a 200 mile adventure in California that Christian completed in 2025.

Injuries. Injuries. Injuries.No one likes them. They're a forced reset, a time when you may be unable to pursue those hobbies you love... and may find yourself pondering "Who am I?"In today's episode of The Evolving Adventure podcast we catch up with Taryn from episode 173, who had an unfortunate ankle injury that derailed her summer plans. We chat about what it's like to be injured, where to have fun with a knee scooter, maintaining mental sanity when your identity comes into question, and strategies for getting back to what you love.While this episode focuses on trail running, the lessons apply to any injury or change that disrupts your ability to do what you love. Listen to the first episode with Taryn here:

Thanks for listening friends, and boy... do we have a fun storytime for y'all today.

My new friend Randi had been trying to get into Cocodona for years.

Then, one January morning, a friend sent her a screenshot of something called Burrito League.

Fifteen minutes later she had her shoes on.

Several months, a pile of new friendships (like me!) and a ridiculously questionable number of repeated Strava segments later…Randi found herself standing at the start of the Bigfoot 200 wondering what, exactly, she had gotten herself into.

Spoiler: she finished. 😂

Like shortly before we recorded this episode. She'd just driven back to Arizona from the Bigfoot finish line!

Today's episode is a wonderfully unpolished tour through 200-mile running, community, finding your own limits, Burrito League absurdity, Ménière’s disease, free grassroots races like the PhoeftyK, accidental entrepreneurship, tie-dye chemistry, Ritz crackers for fuel, and the surprisingly motivational properties of an aid-station beer.

PBR, naturally.

Randi shares with us why she finally stopped waiting to get into Cocodona and chose a different 200-miler, what kept her moving when her brain repeatedly suggested that she could simply stop, and how adapting to the body she actually has changed what she believes is possible.

We also talk about the community that grew out of Burrito League, her first experiences with Destination Trail races (Arizona Monster 300, Bigfoot 200), the free Phoenix “Fifty K,” and the tie-dye side hustle that recetly started showing up all over the trail-running world.

Oh—and roughly a mile and half before completing her first 200-miler?

Randi stopped at a bar for a beer and a tequila shot. Bought for her by someone who recognized her from Day 1 of the adventure race.

Then Randi sprinted to the finish.

As one does. Because after 198.x miles... there's still a LITTLE gas left in the tank.

Underneath all the ridiculousness of this episode is one pretty wonderful idea:

There’s something special about getting really serious about really dumb things with good people.

Find her tie-dye creations on Instagram at @r.an.di.art

Thanks for listening today, friends!

So... what do Burrito League, ultrarunning, Indigenous land knowledge, app development and wildfire response have in common?

Apparently quite a lot!

Today we are joined by Danny Brigman from the Spokane Reservation for a conversation about what happens when you stop waiting for somebody else to build the thing you think should exist — and just start doing it yourself.

Danny shares how starting a Burrito League chapter on his reservation sparked a broader community movement, why seeing other Native ultrarunners changed what he believed was possible for himself, and how his connection to the land has shaped everything from racing to directing the Spokane Homelands 27K.

We also dig into Homelands, the app Danny has spent years building to help people understand whose lands they're traveling across and move beyond land acknowledgements toward actual knowledge, relationship and respect.

And, this has been a crazy zummer... after devastating wildfires affected communities across the region (Danny and I have both been evacuated from different locations for fire activity) our conversation turns toward something more profound: what community looks like when people genuinely need one another.

This episode is about land, belonging, imperfect action, authenticity and the powerful act of just showing up.

Follow @homelands.app on Instagram or Facebook, and visit homelandsapp.com to follow Danny's project.

Thanks for listening today, friends! Today we've got an inspirational episode with Jessica McBride on Motherhood, Belief & Becoming a Team Canada Ultrarunner.

The core question we explore-what happens when you stop letting other people decide who you’re allowed to become?

Jessica was once the kid whose gym teacher made fun of the way she ran.

Years later, after three kids, a huge identity shift, and one very important question later, she started running anyway. That question? Which things I believe about myself are actually someone else’s property? 

We all know that moderation is overrated, so naturally, her first race was a marathon.

Then came a 50-miler.

Which landed her on the podium.

Then a DNF that actually helped her understand what kind of runner she was.

Then baby #4, the very real fear that her best athletic years might already be behind her…

…and eventually, Team Canada. 🇨🇦

And in 2026, a Canadian record.

Jessica’s story is about running, but it’s really about identity, motherhood, ambition, self-belief, and the stories we inherit about what we’re supposedly capable of.

We talk about the price of chasing big goals, why success doesn’t magically erase self-doubt, the strange grief that can come after achieving the dream, and one question she asked that stopped me:

“What gym teacher am I becoming in my kids’ heads?”

For the woman who thinks she’s too old, too late, too busy, too much of a mom, or simply not built for the thing she wants?

Jessica has something to say to you. ❤️

🎧 Jessica McBride is episode 193 on The Evolving Adventure Podcast. Find us anywhere you find podcasts, and on YouTube.

Find Jessica at @thingsthatgoruninthenight and follow @dm.running.team.

And for real… if your first ever race is a marathon, I feel like we’re allowed to question your decision-making from the beginning... says the guy whose first trail race was DNFing a 100 miler.

#WomenWhoRun #WomensRunning #UltraRunning #RunningCommunity #WomenInSport

Thanks for listening today, friends!

So... I sat down to record a 20–30 minute episode about creating a dream life.

Fifty-two minutes later… apparently I had thoughts. 😂

This isn't a polished “five steps to manifest everything you want” episode. I am recording this while the housing feature is still being developed, income is being intermittent, and the American Southwest has yet to send me a move-in date.

But the dream is getting clearer.

In today's solo episode, I talk about:

✨ Why money and opportunities started showing up when I stopped trying to impress people and started being honest
🌵 The bright, spacious Southwest home—and very specific dream Tuesday—I am building toward
🏃 Why finishing 100 miles taught me to run my race instead of chasing someone else’s pace
🚙 What truck living taught me about the difference between freedom and constant mental load
🧠 The rituals, visualization, energy work, networking, and asking for help that keep me moving
😬 And the fears underneath it all: running out of money, getting stuck, losing the podcast, and never quite arriving

There are also dream-home amenities, impromptu tangents, and considerably more vulnerability than originally scheduled. You're welcome.

My dream life is not finished.

But it is becoming more specific—and I am learning that we do not have to arrive before we begin building it.

What does an ordinary Tuesday look like in your dream life?