Places to Run — Episode 1: Route 66 UltraRun
This one is a little different.
Places to Run started as an idea for a video series: travel somewhere worth running, learn the history, meet the people who make it special, find the food you have to try, and tell the story of that place through running.

I can’t make the full video version yet, so I decided not to wait.

This is the audio documentary version.

For Episode 1, we head to Seligman, Arizona, the starting point of the Route 66 UltraRun and one of the most important towns in the history of Historic Route 66. 

We talk about the race, what it takes to cover 140 miles of Route 66, the people and history behind Seligman, what runners should expect out there, and some of the places you absolutely need to eat along the way.

You’ll also hear from people who know this road and this race firsthand.

My hope is that this becomes a recurring series — a reason to go find cool places to run, interesting people to meet, and good food to eat afterward.
For now, this is where it starts. 
Places to Run: Route 66.

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Run Scared.

A special thanks to The Delgadillo Family and Nick Bautista

The Pep Talk

Sometimes you don’t need another training plan, race strategy, or piece of running advice. Sometimes you just need a pep talk.

After spending the last few weeks in a funk, Nick went out for a run and finally felt a little bit of that fire come back.

Not everything is fixed. The funk isn’t completely gone. But it doesn’t feel quite as powerful anymore.

This short, raw solo episode is about what happens when waiting to feel better isn’t enough—and the moment you realize that sometimes you have to participate in your own comeback. It’s about knowing the difference between recovering and retreating. Giving yourself grace without abandoning yourself.

Understanding that fighting doesn’t always mean doing something extraordinary. Sometimes fighting means getting out of bed. Sometimes it means answering the text. Sometimes it means putting your shoes on. Sometimes it means asking for help. And sometimes it simply means making sure you’re still here to fight another day.

Nick also takes a moment to thank everyone who reached out, sent messages, and made sure he was okay during the past few weeks. This one isn’t polished. It’s not supposed to be. It’s The Pep Talk.
For the flock.
Run Scared.
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Runners are great at tracking pace, heart rate, mileage, and exactly which gel destroyed their stomach at mile 30.But how well do we actually understand the body doing all that work?

In this solo episode, Nick breaks down four systems every runner should understand: how your muscles work together while running, the difference between sweat rate and sodium loss, why race fuel can cause gastrointestinal problems, and the minimum amount of strength training runners actually need.

We cover why your glutes probably aren’t “asleep,” why a bathroom-scale sweat test only tells you part of the story, which ingredients may contribute to stomach problems, and how to build a simple two-day strength routine without living in the gym.This isn’t about finding one perfect formula. It’s about understanding your body well enough to test, adjust, and stop guessing when the miles get ugly.Topics include:

• The muscles responsible for efficient running
• Glute and core strength versus “activation”
• Sweat rate versus sweat-sodium concentration
• How legitimate sweat testing works
• Why sodium doesn’t guarantee cramp prevention
• Common causes of gastrointestinal distress
• Glucose, fructose, sugar alcohols, fiber, and caffeine
• How to train your gut for race-day fueling
• A two-day strength plan for runners
• Calf, soleus, hip, and core exercises
• How to schedule strength work around running

This episode is educational and is not intended to diagnose injuries or replace individualized medical, nutrition, or rehabilitation advice.
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Some runs begin long before you ever press start.In this solo episode, I open up about something I don't think we talk about enough in endurance sports: mental health.

There are days when I know exactly what I need to do, but getting out the front door feels harder than running twenty miles. If you've ever questioned your motivation, struggled to train, or felt like everyone else has it figured out, this episode is for you.

This isn't about making excuses. It's about being honest.We talk about the invisible battles runners face, why discipline doesn't erase mental health struggles, and why showing up—even imperfectly—is sometimes the biggest victory of all.If you've been carrying something heavy lately, I hope this conversation reminds you that you're not running alone.

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If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available. In the U.S. and its territories, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat online at https://988lifeline.org/chat/. You don't have to go through it alone.

Every athlete eventually reaches a crossroads. For Peyton Allen, that moment meant walking away from baseball—the sport he grew up loving—to fully commit to running.

In this episode, Nick Meraz talks with Peyton about becoming a state champion, trusting the process, handling expectations, and why betting on yourself is often the hardest race you'll ever run.

This conversation goes beyond splits and finish times.

It's about identity, commitment, and choosing the path that challenges you the most.
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Some races end at the finish line. Others become stories that stay with us forever. This week on the Ostrich Running Podcast, Nick Meraz and Jarett Horton are joined by ultrarunner Blake Bender and filmmaker Ellen Bittner to discuss the making of the Sub-24 documentary and Blake's unforgettable journey through the Kodiak 100.

From training for a 100-mile race before ever finishing a marathon, to documenting every emotional moment behind the scenes, this conversation explores what it means to chase a goal that scares you—and what it takes to preserve those moments through film.

Whether you're an ultrarunner, filmmaker, or simply someone chasing something difficult, this episode is about more than running. It's about the stories we choose to tell. 🏃 Run Scared. 


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Two hundred and fifty years ago, running wasn't something you tracked on a GPS watch—it was survival. In this special solo episode, I take you through the forgotten history of running alongside America's story. From Indigenous endurance runners and Revolutionary War couriers to Lewis & Clark, the Oregon Trail, Theodore Roosevelt, the birth of ultrarunning, and the trails we still run today, we'll explore why running has always been part of the American spirit. Maybe every time we step onto a dirt trail, we're reconnecting with something much older than ourselves. This isn't a history lesson. It's a story about curiosity, exploration, endurance, and asking one question that has shaped America for centuries... "What's over the next ridge?" If you've ever felt that pull to leave the pavement and see what's beyond the horizon, this episode is for you.

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He didn't start running until he was 37 years old. Today, Gene Jochen has completed 109 marathons, 11 Ironman Championships, earned the Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal, and maintained a 10-year Boston Marathon streak.I

n this episode of The Ostrich Running Podcast, Gene shares the lessons that transformed his life through running. We discuss longevity, consistency, staying healthy as we age, overcoming self-doubt, and why your best running years may still be ahead of you.

Whether you're just getting started or chasing your next PR, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and inspiration.

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Burnout doesn't happen overnight.

It sneaks up on runners when every run becomes a workout, every workout becomes a measurement, and every measurement becomes a judgment.

This week Nick and Jarett talk about how to recognize burnout before it steals your love of running, answer listener questions about running 100 miles, and break down the mental framework Nick uses during races when things start falling apart.

The Next Aid Station Rule has helped save races, training cycles, and more than a few difficult moments in life.

If you've ever felt burned out, wondered if you could run 100 miles, or found yourself looking for an exit when things got hard, this episode is for you.

Run Scared.
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Damn Accident Injury Attorneys

We recorded an entire podcast and forgot to hit record.

After getting over our frustration, we sat down and did it again. Somehow the second version ended up being even better.

This week we're talking about the launch of the new X Country Reflective Performance Tee, where Ostrich Running is headed, why Nick has taken more time away from running recently, what that has done mentally and physically, Route 66 race plans, and the ongoing debate of lean runners versus stronger runners.

A candid conversation about running, business, fatherhood, fitness, and the miles nobody records.
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