Trivia with Lydia Episode Notes:

Intro/outro music used with permission from David Rosales.

Here’s more on The Tunnel race.

More on Yiannis Kouros’ incredible feats on Davy Crockett’s Ultrarunning History Podcast.

More on The Spine Race in the UK.

And more on The Dipsea Race in Northern California.

Here’s the NATHAN pack Lydia has fallen in love with.

And here’s the handheld she’s been using.

Here’s the Drankful hydration pack I’ve been trying out.

I was DFL at #hr100

Not the result I was hoping for, but I think I learned even more this way. Been trying to get here for about 10 years. pic.twitter.com/DFWkR6zhdk

— Terry Miller (@Terrysrunning) July 19, 2021

Intro/Outro music used with permission from David Rosales.

Alek Simpson was diagnosed with narcolepsy and cataplexy at 18 years old and has continued running ultramarathons and trail races. He’s on a combination of drugs to keep him “normal”, never gets hungry, has extreme light sensitivity, and has experienced sleep paralysis…but none of this is changing his love and passion for the trails and racing.

In this interview, I ask Alek about the disorders and how they affect his personal and running life. We talk about where he grew up, his upcoming races, and we talk about everything from falling porcupines to a new route from San Diego to Mexico that I didn’t know existed.  Alek is very candid about this mysterious disorder and hopes to bring some attention and light to it.

 

Gear Review with Ben Zuehlsdorf

Nathan Pinnacle 4L Hydration Vest ($175 | Affiliate link.)  And the women’s version right here.

Ben says: “A vest I actually don’t mind wearing. Doesn’t heat me up or chafe. Would be great for Hardrock.”

 

Hoka ONE ONE Clifton 8 ($130)

Ben says: “Excellent update to an already great shoe you can wear on the road or firetrail.”

 

Hoka ONE ONE Zinal ($160)

Ben says: “Great go-fast trail shoe that you can wear from the doorstep to the trail.”

 

We also spoke about SOAR Running. Here’s more on the new company from Europe.

 

Episode Notes:

More on the Baja Divide Trail

More on Diane VanDeren

Follow Alek on Twitter.

Intro/Outro music used courtesy of David Rosales.

Noah Brautigam is a Salomon sponsored trail and ultra runner who started life as a xc skier and instructor in Vermont who bounced to the West Coast and has spent the last few years in Salt Lake City. Now he and his wife are living the van life as they prepare for a big move to her native Sweden later this summer.

We talk about xc ski training, coaching, his recent 3rd plan at Canyons 100k, some drastic diet challenges, and the mindset Noah has going into races. This was a fun interview with a really neat guy. Keep an eye on him this summer then we’ll see what he’s up to in Europe later this year.

Canyons 100k: Anthony Costales (1st), Max King (2nd), Noah Brautigam (3rd.) Pic by me.

Gear Review with Ben Zuehlsdorf

TOPO Athletics Mtn Racer 2

Skecher Performance Go Run RAZR Trail

Salomon S-Lab Phantasm

Noah Brautigam Episode Notes:

Follow Noah on Instagram right here.

Intro/Outro music used courtesy of David Rosales.

Here’s the SUP race I’m doing in a few weeks.

Annie Hughes is a 23 year old runner living in Leadville Colorado who hasn’t finished off the podium in nearly two years. She likes big vert, technical terrain, and long hauls that push her abilities. Haven’t heard of her? Listen to this interview and keep an eye on Annie…she’s got big plans and all the components to make them come true.

Annie loves the mountains, she loves pushing herself, and we’ll really get to see what she’s got after a series of races this summer…Speedgoat, Mace’s Hideout 100 high up in Colorado, then Moab 240. Yowza, how’s that for variety?! Go Annie!

Annie Hughes Episode Notes:

Here’s Annie’s supported FKT info for the Collegiate Loop.

Follow Annie Hughes on Instagram right here.

Intro and outro music courtesy of David Rosales. (Here’s our interview with David.)

Lucas Simon Drake joins me to share his experience of running a 50 mile trail ultramarathon tripping on acid. Why did he do it? How did it go? Does he see it as a PED or did in hinder his performance?

Please, listen to this interview with an open mind. It’s pretty damn interesting.

If you’re going to try something like this, please do it on your own and don’t put the RDs at risk of liability and/or losing their permits.

The look of pure bliss: 150 micrograms of LSD during a 10k.

Lucas Simon Drake Episode Notes

Here’s his book on Amazon: Runner’s High or: Can LSD Make You Gay? How I Ran an Ultramarathon Tripping on a Psychedelic Drug: The Easy Guide to Doing What You Should Not

Here’s the reddit thread that caught my attention.

Intro and outro music by David Rosales.

Lucas Simon Drake on the Tongariro Alpine crossing in New Zealand. “Just like Norway but with better weather!”

Gear Review with Lydia

Tracksmith Offroad Packable Jacket and Shorts

rabbit Waffle line

Nicole Monette started running competitively in high school and moved to ultramarathons a few years ago. She won Yeti 100 in 2020 and then last month participated in the Hoka Carbon X2 event in Arizona. During that event, Nicole finished second.

She doesn’t race a lot, but instead Nicole focuses on and enjoys the rigors and structure of training. In this chat, we talk about her childhood, kids, her fierce competitiveness, and how she got wound up racing 100k in Arizona last month. How will that event be different than her next trail ultramarathon? In about every way possible.

We also talk about parenting active kids, keeping them motivated and engaged, and what it’s like having little kids with glasses. Lots to cover here!

Nicole Monette Episode Notes

Nicole’s next race is Canyons 100k.

Follow Nicole Monette on Instagram.

I talked about using Zenni Optical for my son’s and wife’s glasses.

Intro and outro music used with permission from David Rosales.

Austin Bogina is an Olympic Trials Qualifier in the Marathon, a member of the USA 50k team, and a Ph.D candidate in the field of sports management.

In this interview, we talk about growing up in small town Kansas, finding his legs in Colorado, and working his butt off to get where he is now.

(Austin is) just a farm boy from Kansas who made his dreams happen.Matt Daniels

Austin and I could have spoken for hours about his academic focus and how small groups of runners affect the overall running scene and about how money affects the sport. I’ll likely ask Austin to be on the show again to dig even deeper about how our sport is growing and how that growth will affect athletes from casual ultramarathon runners to sponsored athletes.

Austin Bogina (r), Matt Daniels (shirt) and Matt’s wedding.

Austin Bogina Episode Notes

Here’s our interview with Austin’s good friend Matt Daniels.

Follow Austin Bogina on Instagram or his (mothballed) blog.

Intro/Outro Music used with permission from David Rosales

Austin Bogina and family at Olympic Trials

Gear Chat with Ben

Two products Ben reviewed were the North Face Vectiv and the Naked Running Vest and we raved about the new waffle line from rabbit.

Austin Bogina on the slopes.

Sarah Biehl ran track and XC in both high school and college, ran an Olympics Trials Qualifying marathon, then set her eyes on her first ultramarathon. With guidance from friends in the ultra world, she ran an impressive 5th place, but most importantly, had a great time and smiled the entire time.

Sarah Biehl enjoying the cold water!

In this interview we talk about the importance of collegiate running and friends, the MUT atmosphere and scene, dogs, IPAs, and why in the hell she eats noodles for Thanksgiving. Sarah’s got a great attitude and outlook on the sport and her career and I’m anxious to see what she does next.

Sarah Biehl Episode Notes

Here’s an interview with Sarah Biehl and friend Michael Owen.

I mentioned the Escape From Tennessee race. Here’s the link. Hope to see some of you there!

Sarah is sponsored by the Columbus Running Company. Brick and mortar, check em out!

Full results from JFK50.

Intro music | David RosalesOutro music | AJ LeGrand

Follow Sarah Biehl on Social Media

Gear Chat with Ben Zuehlsdorf

Topo Ultraventure Pro . ($145 available on Amazon affiliate link.)

HOKA Mach 4 ($130) Spring 2021 release

Tracksmith Brighton Baselayer ($88)

Gore R5 GORE-TEX Infinium tights

Clint Welch grew up playing football and riding bareback rodeo in California’s Central Valley and Texas. He also ran with his mom occasionally through childhood, but that bug ultimately caught up with him and now he’s an accomplished ultramarathon runner with numerous hundred milers under his belt.

So how’d that transition happen? And what inspired him to start coaching a kids XC team? In this interview we talk about the vibe of the MUT scene, the importance of a supportive partner, the fun times at Born to Run events, and the heartbreak of DNFing at the biggest race of his life.

Clint Welch Episode Notes

Sac Valley Endurance

Metalachi

That skate rock in Tahoe – Gotta keep it on the DL, sorry.

Folsom Lake Ultra Trail

Yeti 100

The Born to Run Ultra is organized by Luis Escobar/AllWeDoIsRun.

Music (intro and outro) used with permission from David Rosales