Following a personal tragedy, Rusty Smith had to make a decision that nobody should have to. Should he continue with his goal of conquering his first 100 mile distance at The Long Haul 100, or was it simply not the right time given the circumstances? Rusty has quickly become a great friend of ours and this is a conversation we will never forget. Tune in to hear what finally got Rusty into ultras after nearly 40 years of running, why he decided to toe the line at Long Haul, and how he has used gratitude (#Maxs5) to spread joy in a dark time. Take the opportunity to do your own Max's 5 and be sure to follow Rusty on IG at @that_rusty_runner and we know he would be grateful if you shared your 5 with him. Enjoy the eipsode!

Jacob and Melody Bateman started the Trail To 100 Podcast to document their journey to run their first 100 miler in 2020. And now they use their experience and platform to pour back into the Ultra community with the mission to help others do the same. Take us on your long run to hear their stories, their advice, and how running their first 100 teetered between an absolute suffer fest and a 5 star resort experience. 😁 

You can follow Trail to 100 on Instagram at @Trailto100 and be sure to check out Melody's page at @thepinetreerunner where you can find her LinkTree to learn about her Coaching Program and "Run Without Fear," her self defense class for runners.  That's right...this ultra runner is also a blackbelt!  And don't waste time plugging into their show as they are doing amazing things and having amazing conversations.  Enjoy the episode!

Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys:

Website: www.theultrarunningguys.com

Race: The Hydra - April 22, 2023

Race: The Final Countdown - September 16, 2023

Patreon: www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguys

Following the passing of a good friend at the age of 15, Jake Rastas made a promise that his life would not be wasted. And he has kept that promise. After hanging up his college jersey as a D1 football player, Jake turned to ultras in 2022 as a way to keep his edge and find strength through adversity. And he is inspiring others to do the same. 

We are so impressed with his mindset, his determination, and his passion for using his running to combat the men's mental health epidemic. And we are pretty sure you will be too. So take us for your long run and hear Jake's full story of turning into an animal and hunting other runners on the trail. 🤣 Be sure to follow Jake on Instagram and check out his Movember support page HERE.  Enjoy the episode!

Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys:

Website: www.theultrarunningguys.com

Race: The Hydra - April 22, 2023

Race: The Final Countdown - September 16, 2023

Patreon: www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguys

Tara Dower is a thru-hiker turned ultra runner who has proven to be a dominant competitor since she came on the scene just over 18 months ago. With podiums in 11 of her 12 races to date, including a 2nd place finish at the mega-competitive Run Rabbit Run 100, 2023 is looking to be a promising year. Huge shoutout to our friend and listener Jay Pounds for putting Tara on our radar! Tara was kind enough to sit down with us and talk FKT's, her performances at Umstead 100 and Run Rabbit 100, dealing with anxiety on the trail, and more. Take us for your long run to catch all the value that Tara dropped and like, comment, and let us know what you thought. Enjoy the episode, and be sure to follow Tara on Instagram and her YouTube channel @taratreks for all kinds of great thru-hiking and ultra related content. 

Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys:

Website: www.theultrarunningguys.com

Race: The Hydra - April 22, 2023

Race: The Final Countdown - September 16, 2023

Patreon: www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguys

Canyon Woodward has been tearing up the Ultra scene with a top 50 finish at UTMB (7th American) and a 3rd place finish at the Bandera 100K this last weekend.  He's no joke.    But as good of a runner as he is, he's an even better human.  We sat and talked with him about his running adventures that included eating dirt, getting caught during a trailside bathroom stop by a pretty girl, and even breaking his hand during his successful SCAR FKT.   Take us on your long run tomorrow morning to find out why Canyon is so passionate about building community, and just how little we know about grizzly bears.  No, they don't inhabit NC or UT. 🤷‍♂️. And be sure to follow Canyon on Instagram and check out his book, Dirt Road Revival, HERE.  Enjoy the episode!

When it comes to people who have had massive positive impact on the sport of Ultra, Dean Karnazes makes the short list. We were honored to hang with the Ultraman Man himself to talk running, longevity, joy, and family, among other things. It was so much fun and true to form, he was pure value add! Be sure to follow him on Instagram, check out his website, and if you haven't already, pick up a copy of his book A Runner's High: My Life In Motion. You won't regret it. Send us a message after the episode and let us know your favorite part.  Enjoy!