In this episode, Tyson Black shares his inspiring journey from childhood in small-town Tennessee to becoming an ultra runner and community supporter. We explore how sports, grief, and strong relationships shaped his life and his dedication to helping others through ultra running.

Tyson shares his transformative experience at Last Soul Ultra, the incredible logistics behind the event, and the profound lessons learned from crewing for ultra runners.

Discover how community, service, and character shape the ultra running world and how these principles can inspire your own journey.

In this episode, Brian and Keifer dive into the groundbreaking German backyard ultra event, The Last Soul Ultra. Exploring its innovative broadcast, intense competition, and what it means for the future of ultra running. They highlight the event's unique setup, the personalities involved, and the potential for a cultural shift in the sport.

"This event is a game changer for ultra running."

Be sure to subscribe on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Wolfie's World is thrilled to share this conversation with Herm, you'll know him by his IG handle Herm.runs and massive community profiles across the road and trail running communities.

After sharing a few miles with Herm at Desert Peaks 100K and experiencing his positive mental attitude and genuine enthusiasm for trail running; I knew I had to get him and have his share is message with the 95!

Herm shares his inspiring journey from avoiding running to becoming an ultra runner, emphasizing authenticity, community, and self-expression in the sport.

How To Run Big is a double entendre that you'll have to listen to see how it plays out, I promise you'll appreciate the title after listening.

Wolfie's World rolled out the red carpet for Badwater 135 Champion and new CR holder - Max Jolliffe! We're a huge fan of Max for everything he's done in competition and the stories he's told have inspired many in the 95.

The Badwater 135 is a historic race, its legacy dates back to 1977, the same year as Western States.

On this episode we go back to Max's beginning in trail and celebrate his 4 year journey from trail n00b to Badwater CR holder.

With a Badwater 135 film in the making; this is sure to be another big year for fans of Max.

In this 3 part episode Wolfie and Keifer recap Stunner 50K, dive into the deep-end of the ongoing doping conversation and we get raw and honest about burnout from the 95 perspective.

This episode builds with momentum; you don't want to miss the doping conversation and burnout topics!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Race Overview

355:31:49 Community Atmosphere at Arivipa Race

1172:11:49 Weather Challenges and Race Day Conditions

2019:25:09 Race Strategy and Pacing Insights

3355:31:49 Supporting First-Time Runners and Community Bonds

4994:25:10 Managing Fatigue and Effort in the Final Miles

6672:11:52 Reflections on Race Performance and Personal Goals

82999:58:38 The Doping Controversy and Its Impact on Ultrarunning

100055:32:03 Community Support and the Spirit of the Sport

116888:52:17 Concluding Thoughts and Takeaways

91777:45:22 Discussion on morality and nuance in doping

93916:38:42 Perceptions of athletes and moral judgments

95777:45:22 The clean sport debate and its limitations

98611:05:23 Community tribalism and social media influence

101277:45:23 The environment of ultrarunning and testing challenges

103388:52:06 Impact of controversy on the sport's reputation

107055:32:09 The importance of character and integrity

112499:58:52 The role of honesty and directness in rivalry

117611:05:39 Genetics, performance, and acceptance

120749:58:59 Lessons from other sports on doping protocols

124611:05:39 The culture of ultrarunning and its contradictions

127222:12:23 The desire for authentic rivalries and entertainment

132611:05:44 The importance of character over doping accusations

138666:39:08 Disruptors and personalities in ultrarunning

150055:32:54 Balancing family, training, and personal life

161027:46:14 Understanding the significance of race candles

170277:46:26 The minimal effective dose in training

179166:39:58 The perspective of ultrarunning as a small part of life

186500:00:00 The importance of acknowledging human imperfection

187666:40:00 Closing thoughts and future outlook

ultrarunning, trail running, race strategy, community, doping controversy, endurance sports, race recaps, mental toughness ultrarunning, doping, community, burnout, competition, authenticity, sport ethics, mental health, personal growth

WHAT DID WE JUST WITNESS AT WESTERN STATES?

I had to share my raw, emotional reactions and overreactions to Western States, analyzing race results, weather impact, athlete performances, and future implications for trail running.

Is Puppi the most insufferable trail runner?

Hans vs Puppi is the Jim vs Kilian rivalry we never got?

Did Jim's legacy just get erased?

Will a female run Sub-14?

What Ryan Montgomery just accomplished - in any other sport would raise legitimacy doubts?

Unpacking what I think are interesting topics and hot takes about the 2026 Western States 100:

Western States 2026: The Race for the Record

Why Jim Walmsley's Dominance Might End This Year

Jim Walmsley's race strategy and aid station efficiency could be pivotal.

Western States' course record has stood since 2019 despite advancements.

Weather conditions and crew optimization are key factors in record-breaking attempts.

Athletes like Killian Jornet, Hans Troyer and Hayden Hawks are motivated by legacy and career-defining wins.

Western States has the potential to reach a broader audience through compelling stories.

In this episode I sat down with Zach Bitter, a record-holding ultramarathon runner and podcast host of Human Performance Outliers, shares insights on training, race strategy, the evolving landscape of ultra running, and how to grow the sport through media and community engagement.

We dig into topical cooling, Zach has ran, won and set course records at Javelina Jundred 100 miler and brings his experience/wisdom to the conversation.

IMO Zach is largely under appreciated for his ambassadorship of ultra running as a professional runner. He has been a guest on Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, Nick Bare, Mark Bell and Bert Kreister podcast.

In this entertaining and spirited conversation, Ben Thomas shares his unique perspective on ultra running, content creation, and innovative race formats. We explore how the sport can evolve through better storytelling, broadcast strategies, and capturing the brutal essence of ultra races.

A must-listen for fans and newcomers alike, aiming to deepen understanding and excitement around ultrarunning. This episode dives into the future of trail running, exploring how prize money, media, athlete branding, and race formats can revolutionize the sport.

Ben discusses the importance of accessibility, storytelling, and stunt content to engage a broader audience and elevate the sport's profile.

In this episode, we explore the complexities of ultra running, sponsorship ethics, the centralization of power in the sport, and strategies to overcome training ruts. I shares my personal insights, industry debates, and future plans to enhance the community experience.

Wolfie's World Website - under construction

Coaching...coming soon? maybe.

Zach Bitter - Human Performance Outliers Podcast

Joe Corcione - Everyday Ultra Podcast

keywords

ultra running, sponsorship ethics, Western States, Hoka, training rut, sport centralization, motivation, community, coaching, spontaneity