This past Friday I turned 20 years old and now I am officially no longer a teenager. As such, I have been thinking deeply about the paths that we take in our lives. I recognize that my path, throughout my teenage years, led me to do and accomplish more than what is expected of the typical teenager. I have consistently subverted what is considered to be “normal” and that has led me to consider how to continue that practice into my 20s. One aspect of that practice, of living my individuality, that I know will be for certain is that the journey will not be easy, it never is. However, I have come to recognize that that challenge, inherent in our trails, is the key because it is the teacher. By enduring through adversity, engaging with it, and learning from it we emerge from the other side of the difficulty better for it. Join me in today’s episode as we explore the mathematical concept of fractals to illustrate the use of difficult situations as tools for personal betterment.

AUM,

Jarod Contreras

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Episode 166- Using Complexity to Better Yourself

Our mission is to help you be better daily through mind, body, and soul by learning together how to live our truest selves. So join me, Jarod Contreras a 19-year-old storyteller, as we work to be better. From mountain tops to canyon floors these are conversations on adventure, on health, on life, and on change. Change that is positive, lasting, and true. To make change listen in as everything from endurance and adventure sports to vegan living, yoga, and meditation are covered in these episodes through all forms of conversation and discussion. Following and living your truest trail must be your number one priority so let us all create a community centered around peace, presence, and perseverance.

Health

Alternative Health

Self-Help

Sexuality

Fitness & Nutrition

Update! The Touching the Trail Podcast will be taking a hiatus for the summer. I, the host Jarod Contreras, feel that I need to take this time to refocus and reevaluate where I’m at and where I’m headed. To give myself the space and the opportunity to figure some things out that I’ve been neglecting figuring out for quite awhile. Thank you all so much for listening and remember that this is not the end, Touching the Trail and I will return. I hope that you take the time as well to refocus, reevaluate and to always keep in mind the journey of bettering yourself. I will see you again when Touching the Trail returns. Muchas gracias.

AUM,

Jarod Contreras

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Touching the Trail: Update

“The bicycle gear, and the wheel, and everything it just increases your own power and makes you a superhero!”

-Ultra Romance

Ultra Romance is known by many names, Ronnie, Benedict, Poppi, etc., and this Instagram sensation, if that is even the right word, has captured the fascination of thousands through his depiction of the bicycle as lifestyle. A few years ago he captured my fascination and I have been following his human-powered, bikepacking adventures ever since. The ultra-endurance cyclist spends most of his time traveling the country, riding far. Today Ronnie, as he asked me to call him, and I sit down to pull back the curtain on the character, the myth, the persona that he presents on Instagram and delve into the philosophy he has built through all of the time that he has spent in the saddle, living simply. Consider this episode as part one of my discussion with Ronnie, as I have much more that I want to explore and discuss with this fascinating man.

AUM,

Jarod Contreras

Find Ultra Romance:
ronsbikes.com
Instagram: @ultraromance instagram.com/ultraromance/ 
Instagram: @ultraromance_mach2 instagram.com/ultraromance_mach2/

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Episode 181- Ultra Romance: Man & Myth

“You can really make huge strides just by sticking to the simple concept of consistency.”

-Steve House

This week’s episode is the complement to last week’s, as it tells the other half of the story behind Training for the New Alpinism and Uphill Athlete. Steve House was the climber who Scott Johnston, last week’s podcast guest, was coaching when they both decided to share with the world the training techniques that had been so beneficial for Steve. That idea eventually became Training for the New Alpinism, their new book Training for the Uphill Athlete, and their coaching company Uphill Athlete. Steve himself is an accomplished climber who built a name for himself through practicing alpinism, ascending mountains via the most aesthetic lines while leaving as little a trace as possible. While the idea of alpinism may sound simple, it is actually one of, if not the, hardest and most complex endeavors that a human being can attempt and Steve became one of the best in the world at it. He brought that experience in the mountains into his work with Scott to build a training framework that is both practical and beneficial. Today Steve and I delve into his story, the sport of alpinism, community, overcoming challenges, consistency, and how to train smart to achieve your goals. 

AUM,

Jarod Contreras

Find Steve:
stevehouse.net/
uphillathlete.com/

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Episode 180- Steve House: Training for the New Alpinism

“Every good training program needs to have qualities to it: continuity/consistency, progression, and modulation.”

-Scott Johnston

Scott Johnston is the co-author, along with alpinist Steve House, of the bestseller Training for the New Alpinism: A Manual for the Climber as Athlete (2014) and the recently released Training for the Uphill Athlete: A Manual for Mountain Runners and Ski Mountaineers (2019). Both Scott and Steve are the co-founders of the endurance and mountain sports coaching company Uphill Athlete, as well. I first heard about Scott and Steve by hearing about Training for the New Alpinism, which changed the training landscape for alpinism and endurance sports in general by applying tried and true training techniques from more conventional sports to endurance sports. With their new book, Training for the Uphill Athlete, they are continuing to shift the sports’ perspective on training for the better. Today Scott and I sit down to discuss his story, his experience with skiing and climbing, and how he became fascinated by training. We explore how he developed his own training framework, how he took that framework to successfully coach athletes like Steve House, and how he and Steve took that framework and provided it to the world with their books and coaching.

AUM,

Jarod Contreras

Find Scott:
uphillathlete.com/

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Episode 179- Scott Johnston: On Training

Each year in May, the Born to Run Ultramarathon Extravaganza draws people from the world over to a small valley, nestled amongst oak woodlands, on the Central Coast of California. After stepping onto that ranch, you enter an entirely different world, a world of passion and of community. Born to Run is a highlight of my year and is now much like a family reunion for me. This year was hallmarked by a juxtaposition between wild, chaotic moments, like wheelchair jousting, lucha libre wrestling, or moshing to Metalachi, and quiet, calm moments, like running 30 miles, making new friends, and simply hanging out. That dynamic shaped my Born to Run experience for the positive because it gave me a healthy mix of both sides of the spectrum. Today I tell the story of my Born to Run adventure, incorporating various voices from the event answering the simple question, “What is Born to Run to you?”

Gracias,

Jarod Contreras

Special Thanks:
Luis Escobar
Chris “Tarzan” Clemens
Tyler Clemens
Michelle Evans
Chris Harper
Fraser Koroluk
Kaori Peters
Scott Kufferath
Tracy Thomas

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Music: purple-planet.com/

Episode 166- Using Complexity to Better Yourself

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