What makes someone run 100 miles—and then sign up for another one?

In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie Pankey sits down with Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud and ultra endurance athlete, to explore the deeper “why” behind pushing physical and mental limits.

From Kansas dirt roads to 700-mile gravel races, Josh shares how endurance sports shape mindset, build community, and even influence how we design outdoor gear.

This is a conversation about more than miles—it’s about purpose, discomfort, and finding connection in the outdoors.

What We Cover

• The psychology of ultra endurance (why we push further)
• Trail running and mountain biking communities
• How outdoor culture creates connection and purpose
• Building a gear company from real-world trail experience
• Why discomfort might actually make life better
• The balance between passion and business in the outdoors

Why This Episode Matters
This conversation isn’t just about ultra athletes—it’s about all of us.

Whether your “ultra” is a 2-mile hike or a 50-mile trail run, there’s something in the outdoors that resets who we are.

Guest Info
Josh Sprague
Founder of Orange Mud
Ultra endurance athlete (100+ mile races, 700+ mile gravel events)

Call to Action
What’s the most challenging outdoor experience you’ve ever done?
Drop it in the comments 👇

Chapters
00:00 Intro – Who likes to get uncomfortable?
02:00 From Kansas dirt roads to mountain life
05:00 First ultra endurance experiences
10:00 Why pushing limits resets your mindset
15:00 The power of outdoor community
20:00 Turning passion into a business (Orange Mud)
25:00 Gear innovation through real use
30:00 Sierra questions (Tahoe Rim Trail, tacos & gear)
36:00 Final thoughts – Start small, go bigger