Meet Josh Garcia and Mari Perez, a trail running couple from Albuquerque who started a business for trail runners. I wanted to learn who they are and what makes them tick. If you run in New Mexico, you may have meet Josh and Mari at a trail running event representing their business, Trail Gains. They make performance hydration products with natural ingredients specifically for trail runners. This episode isn't a deep dive into their products; it's a chance to meet them and learn their story. I recommend that you follow the link below to find their website and check out their products for yourself.

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I sat down with Bryon Powell, founder of iRunFar, at his home in Silverton the day before Hardrock. We didn't talk about the race or the world famous trail runners literally passing by his window, but about his story, choices he has made, and what wisdom he has gained from his relentless outward pursuits and his necessary retreats into quiet spaces.

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Are you familiar with Simon Gutierrez and his story?

Simon Gutierrez is a legend in New Mexico trail running and a member of the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. He grew up in New Mexico and started running in the 8th grade. Later we ran together on the same state championship winning high school cross-country team.

Tune into this episode to hear Simon's story. Get some of the wisdom he has to share, and learn what he is doing today. It turns out he has plans to run competitively again, and he is starting a coaching business that you may want to check out called Simon Says Run. Based on his experience as an elite, record setting road and trail runner, and his 30 years of experience as a physical therapist, he has a lot to offer in this new role.

For all podcast links, including links related to previous episodes, visit the Trail Love LinkTree at: https://linktr.ee/traillove

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Sofie Schunk grew up in Albuquerque, then moved on to play NCAA division one soccer at Marquette. After graduating, she discovered she had a talent for running fast on roads. After a series of attempts, she qualified for the 2024 Olympic Trials in the marathon. Since then, she has shifted her focus to trail running. She placed third in the 50k at Kodiak last year, qualifying her to run OCC in 2026. Meanwhile, she recently placed fifth at Canyons. She is an amazing human who has done all of this while working full time as an engineer and living with Type 1 diabetes. What's it like to manage living with diabetes as a professional athlete? And what inspires an up-and-coming road runner to switch her focus to the trails? Learn Sofie's story as we talk about all this and more. 

For all podcast links, including links related to previous episodes, visit the Trail Love LinkTree at: ⁠https://linktr.ee/traillove⁠

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Welcome to season two of Trail Love. Today I'm talking with two more great humans in the world of trail running, Travis and Amanda McWhorter. As photographers of many trail running events in New Mexico, they are doubtless warm and familiar faces to many trail runners in the state. In 2025, you may have also run into them as the official photographers at Hardrock. I am sure you're going to enjoy this conversation, which ranges from trail stories, mountain expeditions, and running with dogs to personal stories and Travis' hopes for his own run at Hardrock next year. Season two of Trail Love has lots of great episodes on the way, so please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast while you're here! 

For all podcast links, including links related to previous episodes, visit the Trail Love LinkTree at: ⁠https://linktr.ee/traillove⁠

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This week I had the privilege of talking with Howie Stern, an internationally recognized trail running photographer who lives in Silverton, Colorado. Howie has gained a reputation for going out and getting the gritty shots in his quest to capture the human essence of trail running. His photograph of Jasmin Paris finishing Barkley turned heads of trail runners and fans of endurance sports around the world. If there's a big race going down somewhere in the world, he's probably there with a view like no one else. I met him this summer at the Animas Forks aid station during the Hardrock 100 on a day he will never forget, as you'll understand by the end of the episode. In this episode, he talks about his life journey from his youth in California in which he almost became a heavy metal guitarist, through the twists and turns that led him to Silverton where he carved out a niche for himself in one of the highly competitive world of professional photography. In addition to photographing ultramarathons, Howie also runs them. He's a 10 time Hardrock finisher. As this podcast goes live he will be running in the 2025 Tor des Géants in the Aosta Valley of the Italian Alps, a truly epic endurance running event. I'm sure you will enjoy his very human story.

For all podcast links, including links related to previous episodes, visit the Trail Love LinkTree at: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/traillove⁠⁠

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You're going to love this conversation with Ken and Margaret Gordon, founders of New Mexico's most iconic grass roots trail running races, the Mt Taylor 50k. They share how the race almost never got started; about the year Jim Walmsley and Gordon Ainsley showed up; how the race developed with the love and support of a community; and stories that show why this race is beloved by people who come from all over the United States to run it every year. They also talk about their own trail running journeys and exploits, including their multiple Hardrock finishes, and share their thoughts about entrusting Mt. Taylor to new race directors, Jesse and Arlene Armijo, starting this year. Trail Love has lots of great episodes on the way, so please subscribe to the podcast while you're here! 

For all podcast links, including links related to previous episodes, visit the Trail Love LinkTree at: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/traillove⁠⁠

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The first time I met Adam Arguello we were on top of a mountain. Specifically, we had both run separately up to South Peak overlooking the city of Albuquerque. The second time, he was volunteering at packet pick-up and cheering on runners at the Mt Taylor 50k, one of New Mexico's most iconic trail races. It's fitting to have met Adam in each of these ways because he is an authentic member of the trail running community, a pure runner at heart who is at home on a mountain top and truly there for others on the ground behind the scenes. This summer I also had the privilege of seeing Adam finish his first Hardrock 100 with his partner by his side and his daughter, Adaline, in his arms. I hope you enjoy this conversation with this amazing human of trail running as much as I did.

For all podcast links, including links related to previous episodes, visit the Trail Love LinkTree at: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/traillove⁠⁠

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Blake Wood is the kind of guy you want to go out on a very long run with and just shoot the breeze. Blake can talk about winning Hardrock, finishing Barkley, competing at the highest levels as a master's athlete, coaching high school state champions, overcoming injury, and working with some of the most brilliant scientists in the world. And more than all that, he's a family man who, along with his wife, has raised three wonderful daughters who still want to hang out with him. It's Hardrock 100 season for 2025, and this is an episode you won't want to miss. 

For all podcast links, including links related to previous episodes, visit the Trail Love LinkTree at: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/traillove⁠⁠

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Blake's Los Alamos Labs Running Page
Jemez Mountain Trail Runs
Tales From Out There: The Barkley Marathons

I'm talking with Megan Eckert, of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Megan just set her second ultrarunning world record in the past year by running 603 miles in 6 days at a World Championship event in France. Our conversation includes what it's like physically and mentally to run for six days straight, comparing 6-day events and backyard ultras, trail running in New Mexico, her work as a teacher and coach, hints of a possible shot at Barkley in her future, and  her plans for the rest of this year. Megan is a down-to-earth, hyper-talented runner; the sort of person you'll enjoy getting to know; and likely you'll be hearing much more about her in the near future. Don't miss this one! 

For all podcast links, including links related to previous episodes, visit the Trail Love LinkTree at: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/traillove⁠⁠

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