Mari is on a roll and has some more firsts to share with everyone including a consecutive days in a row running. She also sticks to the theme of the week and interviews her coach Scott for the second half of the show. Hope you enjoy!
Sierra started running ultras in 2015 and has excelled in the 100-mile distance. On this podcast we talk her recent win at the USATF 24-hour national championship, what that means to her and what she hopes to gain from that experience. We also discuss a recent 100-mile race, the Bear 100. This is one of the best stories of mental toughness and resiliency we have ever heard. Sierra is incredibly disciplined; she puts in high mileage and balances her time to train and race. You will be inspired to get those miles in after hearing this one.
IG- @sdegroff
Amanda flips the script and interviews her coach Addie Bracy on today's episode. We talk about imposter syndrome in new runners and in general and it's a conversation most of us have had if even with ourselves. Other topics that came up were what is the biggest lesson from endurance efforts from a mental standpoint? How does running on trail verse road change the meditative benefits of running? We hope you enjoy!
Kris first met Steve in Texas a couple years ago while crewing at Bandera 100k. Steve has done some amazing things. He is one of the most supportive people she has ever met she has never known anyone who steps in as much as he does to help others achieve their big goals. While recently crewing and pacing a friend, Beth, for the Bear 100 in Utah, Steve shared his why. Kris was so moved by it she told him he needed to come on the podcast and share more.
We love a podcast guest that makes you feel inspired to do more giving. Steve is a 21-year retired Air Force veteran; he has been searching to find his purpose and live a life that is in line with his principals. Steve shares his journey after retiring that takes us through his Dad’s passing and becoming sober. He has immersed himself in the trail running community. Steve is making an impact through Band of Runners and bringing awareness to drug and alcohol addiction. Steve is a wonderful person who loves connecting people. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
Alexa has had some big changes since we last talked. She is still leading by example and empowering women to do big things.
We had another great conversation with Alexa. She is still busy but has found a way to shift her priorities and conquer big goals. Alexa shares her journey to running Bigfoot 200 and gives a full race recap. She merged her passion for mountain running with the need to raise awareness for gun violence. Alexa continues her mission to raise funds and awareness while setting her sights on Cocodona 250. When we talk to Alexa, we feel the support and enthusiasm for anything we want to accomplish. She truly is our Wonder Woman!
IG - @uphill_athlete
Most endurance athletes have heard about post race blues. In this short one I give 6 ways to plan for it should it happen so you are ready to move on mentally and physically from your epic adventures, races, and other efforts!
Coach Addie Bracy and Scott chat with Amanda to see how her last couple weeks of training have gone. She is dealing with work stress, don't we all, but Addie has some great tips for managing it all. We bring up the beer mile and have a little fun planning one. Amanda is training for her first ultra in Sedona next April!
Coach Ian Sharman and Scott talke with Brittany about early training and how she is handling it so far. We dive into how she recovers from multiple overnight shifts in a row and how her upcoming schedule can be managed. She plans on more social runs to find more accountability and local community. Enjoy the show!
Tara has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, she has found healing through trail running with her husky, Suki and hopes to show others that they can move their bodies even if they are diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Tara is on a mission to show people a diagnosis does not mean you have to stop doing what you love. She has taken charge of her health and wants to encourage others to do the same. We discuss what it means to have a diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and how to move through it. Tara is incredibly positive and driven to help people. This conversation left us feeling inspired.
While we were catching up on the second call for Noel for Season 14 we learned how her first time trial went, why she makes her boyfriend ride his bike next to her, and what is coming up in training! Coach Lindsay shares some of the life adjustments with her newly added twins. Enjoy the show!
Mari is ini the thick of it now. She got on the call and was excited to share her four first from the frist week of training. Running 5 days in a week, running 2 days in a row, running trails, and intervals. This project is meant to get athletes out of their comfort and pushing limits so hearing this on the second call was such a good reminder of how many people we could really inspire to try new things. We hope you enjoy!
Scott sits down with Travis Zmak to talk about his running story and how he got into the sport. We love to showcase everyday people training for big things. Travis is a working husband and father of three out of Idaho Falls. We talk about his first ultra, some challenges that have some up recently with his health and why he is ready to take on his first 50 miler! Enjoy the show.
We had Sabrina Stanley on the podcast two years ago. What stands out most is her confidence and drive. She has won some of the most difficult 100 milers including the Hurt 100 and Hardrock 100 twice. Ultrarunner magazine has named Sabrina one of the top ultra runner’s multiple times.
Another great conversation with one of our favorites. On this episode we talk about what the last two years have been like for Sabrina. The heartbreak of preparing for a big event and not being able to compete due to Covid followed by a tough DNF. We discuss the physical and mental work it takes to overcome setbacks; Sabrina is very open and honest about mental health. We appreciate this conversation and hope it helps others. Sabrina is a strong woman with a positive message for all of us trying to do hard things.
IG - @sabrinaleannstanley
Becoming Ultra coach Linday LaForce and Scott introduce Sheila Munch. Sheila is a mom of 4, wife, and nurse out of Grand Junction, Colorado. Not too long ago she decided it was time to take care of herself and see what was possible. On today's introduction we talk about her life and her goals and the fact that she will be training for her first ultra in Sedona with the rest of the Season 14 crew. It's another reminder that it's never too late to start with these crazy goals!
John Calabrese is embracing life! We had a great time chatting with him about racing, the trail running community, parenting, and caregiving. John is racing almost every weekend. He is a proud dance Dad and puts parenting at the top of his priority list. John also tells us about his special relationship with Donald, who is confined to a wheelchair but has taught everyone he meets so much about living. John’s energy and joy are contagious. You will be inspired by this one.
IG- @breezytrailhead
Mari is ready to train for her first ultra. With good work/life balance she is pumped to test her limits on trails and see what she is capable of doing! We hope you enjoy the episode!
Scott and Lindsay take some time to get to know one of the runner's of Season 14. Noel has found purpose in her work and inspiration from her sister. Now she gets to train for her first 50k! We hope you enjoy!
Addie and Scott get to meet Amanda who is just now starting her journey to run her first ultra. Amanda works at Trader Joe's and bartends and has some great reasons to take this challenge head on. We hope you enjoy!
Ian and Scott sit down with Season 14 runner, Brittany, to learn her story and get her rolling to training for her first Ultra. She resides in Oregon and works as a shift nurse in the Cardiac unit. We hope you enjoy!
Marshall Ulrich is 72 and isn't showing any signs of stopping. After a couple surgeries and seeing close friends deal with things like Alzheimers, Marshall can't help but do what he has always done, keep it moving. His endurance exploits are second to none from circumnagivating Death Valley to climbing the seven summits. This is one to share with anyone who wants to do epic things late in life or someone who just needs a reason to start! We hope you enjoy.
Taylor Spike (Tspike) is an ultra-endurance athlete, Husband, Father, and recovering addict. He is one of the few people to complete a 200-mile ultramarathon in less than 60 hours. He also holds the master’s course record for the Tahoe 200 clockwise and counterclockwise. Taylor has experienced extreme discomfort on the trails and in life. Taylor doesn’t make excuses; he is sober and accountable to himself. He embraces his family and the moments he shares with them.
Kris met Taylor and his dad, Greg at the Wy’east Wonder Ultra in June. She knew immediately she wanted to talk more. It was a short meeting but made an impact. On this episode Taylor talks openly about addiction and loss. We discuss what shapes us, inspires us, and drives us as trail runners and how we persevere through pain. It was a privilege to have this conversation. We hope it resonates with people who have similar struggles.
IG- @tspike2
IG- @live_recovery_strong
Scott, Ian, Addie, and Lindsay sit down to pick which runner they will work with to get to their first ultra. The Becoming Ultra Project brings new ultra runners along with training, podcasts, and community to the start line of their first ultra. This show is the first of Season 14 which will finish with runners in the Sedona desert in April 2024. Enjoy!
Today we catch up with some old friends, and some new ones, to talk about the TransRockies Race! TRR is a 6 day stage race across the Rocky Mountains that covers 120 total miles and 20,000 feet of elevation gain. Ina & Mike along with Jenn and Dave relive their experience during the week and talk about how as partners they successfully completed the event.
We are all familiar with the Leadville 100, Hisa has a great story about how she made her way to the iconic race. In 11 months, she went from running 2 miles to 100. We discuss her athletic background as well as training for a mountain race at altitude in the heat of Baton Rouge. We absolutely loved this conversation with Hisa. Her story is one that will make you feel inspired and happy. Taking a chance and not being afraid to fail can lead to some great things.
IG- @hisa.turner
Scott and Dylan have a great conversation that goes all over the place.
- What's on his radar now that he is a dad (product)
- What are some over talked about topics in the world of ultra running
- What it's like working with his spouse on FreeTrail and why it works well
- A fun brainstorm on new ideas in running biz
- The importance of volunteering, especially for elite/pro's
- How he manages his "violent" schedule
We hope you enjoyed the show!
Scott and Jason Fitzgerald catch up on all things running from group run etiquette to losing his voice cheering for one mile racers. We talk about why he has kept a running journal for decades and so much more in a fun conversation from the Strength Running founder.
Scott had a chance to interview Phil Parsons the day before he embarks on the 444 mile Natchez Trace effort.
The Natchez Trace is a 444-mile stretch of road that begins in Nashville and ends in Natchez, MS. To date, no one holds the record for the fastest known time (FKT), Natchez-trace-parkway-FKT completing the southbound journey on foot. This adventure is exactly what I am going to do this September — Suicide Awareness Month — to bring awareness to the issues of mental health and suicide among Veterans.
His story is one that is too commonly ended with a less positive outcome. We have to love on our veterans and share what is bringing them together! Running is often the answer, or a piece of it. Hope you enjoy the show!
On this episode of the Season 14 launch, Scott has the script flipped on him and is interviewed by client and friend, Cale Pearson.
They talk about:
- What kind of coaching style Scott has
- Heavy lifting day or HIIT workout preference
- Morning or evening training sessions?
- Importance of being present
- Who should apply for Season 14
Be sure to check out the episode with the RD of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
Lindsay LaForce joins Scott to talk about her background as a PT and coach over the years. She will be our newest coach on this Season 14.
Some of the things we covered:
- Why strength training is so important for injury prevention
- How she manages her time as a mom of 4 and athlete
- The types of runners she would love to see apply for the project
- Ideas on training through the winter
Be sure to check out the episode with the RD of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
Ian Sharman and his company Sharman Ultra have been partners with Becoming Ultra since the first season way back in 2015. His insights to the sport and coaching are always interesting and today we took some time to talk about a bunch of stuff to get you pumped for the new season.
Some of the things we covered:
- What is new, if anything, with the sport.
- How coaching is evolving
- The types of athletes he would love to see apply.
Be sure to check out the episode with the RD of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
Addie Bracy has had an awesome running career and life that started at an early age wanting to run with her dad. On today's show, we get to introduce the newest coach for Season 14 and learn a bunch along the way.
Some of the things we covered:
- How she got into running
- Why her major was track and cross country at UNC
- How she got into ultra running and learned so much the hard way
- Why she delved so deep into the psychology of sport
- Why durability is important
- Some mental red flags for runners to be aware of and who she is excited to see apply for Season 14!
Be sure to check out the episode with the RD of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
On this show, the official launch of Season 14, Scott hangs out with the Race Director of the Red Rocks of Sedona Trail Races, Erica.
We talk about:
- Why she started the races after moving there from California.
- What the trails for the course are like and why it's tougher than the vertical suggests
- Best places to stay in town for travelers
- Why it's a great place for first time ultra runners
- Why she added so many distances for one day of running
- Why the after party is going to be so fun!
Be sure to share this episode and the other Season 14 shows with someone who needs to run their first ultra!
Apply NOW!
Rachel Belmont is an adventure seeker; she has traveled the world conquering some of the most extreme foot races to raise money for running programs organized by Girls on the Run. Her career as an adolescent psychiatric nurse has inspired her to take action and to help young adults turn to a healthier outlet such as running.
Rachel discusses the path that led her to ultra running and some of the most extreme stage races. We also talk about her life changing experience at Badwater 135. Rachel discusses how she has found the perfect balance between her career and her desire for adventure.
IG- @_skyrnr_
We welcome back to the pod, our friend Andrea Casella Kooiman. Andrea is a person who asks herself why not me and has accomplished some amazing things. Over 150 marathon and ultra-marathons under her belt including Badwater 135 three times, and most recently the Barkley Marathons and Tahoe 200. Andrea has a passion to assist others in becoming their own superhero, she is one of the founders of WeRock, an after-school, intervention program for Middle and High School students focused on the endurance sport of running. We talked more about this on our last podcast that aired 11/29/22. Today we discuss Andrea’s most recent accomplishment, the Tahoe 200.
This is another great conversation with Andrea. This woman is all about inspiring others and pushing herself. On this podcast we talk about the successful virtual book club she started during COVID. We have included more details about it below.
Andrea takes us through her recent race, the Tahoe 200. 206.2 miles with 35,117 feet of climbing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Andrea finished in 97 hours 6 minutes and 41 seconds. She breaks it down mile by mile and shares all the details. We love the enthusiasm Andrea has for big races. Be sure to check out her Instagram for pictures and an awesome video to recap the race. Andrea closes with sharing her next races. We look forward to hearing all about it!
Katie Hernke is a mom, nurse, and writer who creates content for trail lovers. She is on a mission to get all her hiking friends to try backpacking and help educate those of us who want to do more backpacking.
Katie is passionate about all things trails, especially backpacking. We loved this conversation with Katie, it was like chatting with a good friend. She talks about how her running journey has evolved over the years and what led her to backpacking. She is full of knowledge and enthusiasm. Katie shares some great tips regarding planning and gear. You will be inspired to grab your friends and plan a trip after hearing this one!
Join Scott and his partner with Adventure Leadership Retreats, Cale Pearson. After spending time doing hards things and getting others to do and succeed at hard things, we wanted to bring an event that combined the skills we learn doing these things with leadership skills that can help in work, sport, and life. The inaugural leadership retreat is coming in Februaury of 2024 in beautiful Costa Rica. Learn more here.
On this episode Scott interviews his friend and client about the recently completed Tahoe 200. From running to manage weight to full on catching the ultra bug, Brent shares his story of the first thought to do a 200 to the training and ultimately the effort itself. We think most every day runners will enjoy this show! Thanks for listening!
Scott got to talk with his Aunt on the show today. And while she could probably spend a whole episode sharing travel adventures and recipes (she's an amazing cook) we decided that debunking myths around wound care in 2023 would be a much more helpful and practical subject. We talk about the differences in care over the last couple decades and give some tactics that can help you and your family take care of cuts, abrasions, and more. While this inofrmation is great for us runners who catch a toe every once in awhile it's really just good information for everyone.
My favorite parts:
- Her friend and the malfunctioning hiking pole
- Her laceration on the trail that cut the trip short
- The breakdown of best practices for new wounds
- The retelling of Scott's forearm gash on an island in Alaska
Enjoy the show!
Brittany Peterson is an amazing ultra-runner and even better human being. We first met her last year on the podcast. If you want to learn more about her running journey, check out that episode. On this podcast we are going to talk about other big changes in her life. Brittany has been dealing with hip issues and recently had surgery on both hips. She has experienced some major life changes while on a journey to self-discovery. Brittany is handling everything with a wonderful attitude and hope for the future. Let’s get caught up!
We first met Brittany on the podcast over a year ago. One of the things we love most about her is her amazing attitude. She has been faced with some challenges lately as she recovers from surgery on both hips. Brittany is candid about the recent challenges and changes in her life. She is choosing to embrace change and move forward with positivity.
IG- @runhappyb
Becoming Ultra is to share the stories of everyday people doing amazing things. Check out the new intro and voice talent to kick things off. Scott goes all the way back to 2015 to do a quick recap of every season since the projects inception. He shares where Season 14 is going to be and shares the new vision for Team BU 2.0.
Enjoy the show!
Join the team, we'd love to have you and need the help!
Check out retreats.
We have coaching spots open now too.
Delorean brought the family to Oregon to experience the state and the beauty together. Unfortunately, the kiddos and Mandy(wife) would have to "rescue" Delorean when things went south after mile 21. He put it all out there and learned a bunch in the process. We hope you enjoyed the talk. Also, we put together a fundraiser for the family, hope you can help!
Stacey ran her first ultra and like most of us, learned a lot about herself and what it takes to run these long distances. Isabel had a rough start but persevered with a great attitude and had a great day on the trails. They both hang out with their coach Hillary Allen to talk about the day on the trails near the epic Mt. Hood.
We are trying to help one of the runners of the community. If you have any way to help out, it would be amazing! Here is the fundraiser. Thanks!
Benny Braden is a retired EMT and rescue diver, Electrician, long distance hiker, founder and CEO of responsible stewardship, photographer, YouTuber, and PTS survivor. Benny is living his best life thanks to long distance back packing and God (quote from the Highline documentary).
Benny Braden is all about making a positive impact. We had a great conversation about trauma, mental health, and long-distance backpacking. Benny shares his insights on the importance of nature and healing. He is very candid about his struggles with PTS. We also discuss his FKT in the Smoky Mountains and other amazing hikes. Benny is passionate about educating people on how to practice responsible stewardship on the trails. He also shares some stories about the Highline Documentary. This is an important conversation that we were honored to be a part of.
Highline is available for download on Amazon Prime, ITunes and Google Play.
To learn more about responsible stewardship visit ResponsibleStewarship.org.
To learn more about the Reboot Recovery Program or donate visit rebootrecovery.com.
IG - @therealbennybraden
Jeffrey James Binney is living his best life. He is an adventure travel host with Trova Trips, trail runner, comedian, and public speaker. He is also the producer and director of the amazing documentary Once Is Enough. Jeffrey was our very first podcast guest two years ago, we could not think of a better person to celebrate 100 episodes with. So much has changed in the last two years so let’s get caught up!
To celebrate our 100th episode we brought back our very first guest and one of our most favorites, Jeffrey James Binney. You know you are going to have fun whenever he is around. This is an entertaining and inspiring conversation; we cover a lot of topics. Thank you for being a part of our 100th episode and supporting us along the way!
Check out Jeffrey's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyn34XHws1HeMzDKa8JLyTg
Coach Amanda Basham and her runners all catch up after the epic Oregon weekend where Kristi did the hardest physical thing to date she has ever done and Kelsey deals with some legit adversity on the course. We hope you'll find yourself doing hard things, inspired by their efforts!
Kris & Carly chronicaled the shenanigans behind planning an all-gals backpacking adventure with our friends Caitlin and Muriel. This one is fun and goofy but goes to show that ANYONE can get out there and do new things!
Congrats to Darin who went and ran his first ultra. Listen today about his experience on the beautiful course and the moment that almost ended his day. It's always amazing to see people do things they didn't think they were capable of just months ago. We hope you enjoy the show!
Our fabulous friend Bill is back on the pod to talk all about REDEMPTION. We hear about the race that didn't quite work out and the race that absolutely crushed expectations!
Scott and Delorean talk about the upcoming 50 miler. With so many things in life that could sidetrack Delorean he has stilled showed up. That is THE lesson. Show up for your family and your friends and do this for more than yourself. He has and it's so inspiring. Full time small biz owner and chef. Raising little girls. Coaching his girls softball team. Dealing with his wifes search for answers for her cancer. WOW. We can all do HARD things. Thanks Delorean for being a part of this all. Enjoy the show everyone else!
Six months. Ups and downs and travel and life and everything else that can happen in 6 months has happened. Training for an ultra takes lots of time and effort and discipline and on today's episode you get to here coach Hillary get the ladies ready for their first 50k and first 50 miler! We hope you enjoy!
As Kelsey and Kristi prep for their first 50 miler and 50k, coach Basham has answers ready. They have been training for the last 6 months for the big weekend and we can't wait to see how it all goes down on the trails in Oregon! Enjoy the show.
Lizzie Jones was arrested in 2018 while running down the street in the middle of the night high on drugs. Her Dad came to her rescue and helped get her admitted into rehab. After spending the first few months of her sobriety completely lost, trying various activities, it wasn’t until she found running that she found the confidence and strength that she never knew she had. She ran her first 100 miler six months into her running journey, completed two 100 milers and logged 3,000 miles last year. Lizzie has found peace within herself and a drive to explore her potential in the sport that has transformed her life.
Lizzie is living her best life; she has found the thing that fulfills her. Running ultras has helped her transform her life and bring her joy. This is an amazing story of strength. Lizzie talks about what led her to trail running and how the community has enriched her life. She also talks about her first 100 miler (it was her first ultra). Lizzie shares some skydiving and base-jumping adventures as well. We are so grateful Lizzie shared her story with us, you will be inspired.
IG - @lizzielizardjones
Darin has put the work in over the last 6 months and is ready to go and celebrate his training in his home state. We can't wait to see him finish what he started. On the call today coach Annie helps get him ready for the big day. Enjoy the show!
You can support the project here!
Listen to this last interview before runners take to running the 50 mile and 50k Wy'east Wonder around the spectacular Mt. Hood. Todd and Renee break down some details about the course and the area and add some race strategy for runners to consider for their big effort. We also talk about where access is for friends and family. We hope you enjoy!
You can support the Becoming Ultra project here!
Loretta Tobolske-Horn is an ultra-marathon addict and Ornery Mule Racing Endurance Coach. Loretta has some impressive finishes under her belt, first in the 2021 Alexander County 24-hour race; third female in the Six Days in the Dome 24-hour race in 2021; third place female in the Desert Solstice Elite 24-hour track event just to name a few.
We had a great conversation with Loretta. She didn’t start running ultras until later in life but that hasn’t stopped her from some amazing accomplishments. Loretta shares her journey to ultras and why she loves the 24 hour and track races. As a former special education teacher, we discuss inclusion and how that factors into her coaching style. Loretta will inspire you to keep training and challenging yourself.
Evangelyn Willdrot was a Becoming Ultra season 11 participant. Evangelyn wrestled with addiction and mental health issues in adolescence and young adulthood. Her search to heal her own trauma led her to specialize in treating trauma, eventually becoming a therapist. Evangelyn is also the mother to three young children.
Evangelyn is a true warrior. This conversation will resonate with so many of us who struggle. Evangelyn talks openly about trauma in her life and how she numbed the pain with alcohol and unhealthy habits. She made a choice to change her entire life and has not looked back. She also shares the ongoing struggles and how she manages them. We talk about hunting and how that has helped her find peace and confidence. Evangelyn also shares her ultra running journey and what spending time in nature has given back to her. We loved this conversation!
IG- @arrowsandultras
Emily Hawgood is a professional athlete for Adidas Terrex. She grew up in Zimbabwe, from the age of 5 she attended boarding school 2 and half hours from home and attended college in Idaho. She is currently living and training in California. She has had some impressive ultra-running finishes. 1st women at Ultra Trail Cape Town 100k in 2018 and 2nd place in 2019; 1st women at Idaho Mountain Trail Ultra in 2020; 7th place women at Western States in 2021; 6th woman at UTMB in 2022, just to name a few.
Emily is one of the sweetest guests we have had on our podcast. Her openness and smile pull you in. Emily tells us about growing up in Zimbabwe and how her experiences there have shaped her. We talk about attending college in Idaho, meeting her running coach, Paul Lind, and her love of the mountains. Emily also talks about her journey to Western States. Emily embraces the phrase be kind and give people time. This one will leave you feeling happy.
IG- @emilyhawgood
Coach Amanda Basham and Scott hang with Kristi and Kelsey a month out from their race. With only one more call before race day the excitement is gaining. Kristi asks about trail etiquette and Kelsey gets out on the course to check it out a bit. Basham was killing a couple feet of bread and some gouda so yeah, it was an awesome call. Hope you enjoy it!
Coach Hillary Allen and Scott sit down with Stacey and Isabel with exactly one month left until they run their race. They both have some slight pain but it doesnt seem serious for either. Isabel's poor dog got skunked but she had a great plan to take care of it! We hope you enjoy the show!
Coach Annie Hughes and Scott hang out with Jasmine and Darin as they are officially less than a month away from the race. Jasmine has to miss her first workout of the training which is wild. She also starts a great conversation on what her why is with running. Darin prints out the course info and goes over some of his notes. The "hug my wife" note had us laughing pretty good. Enjoy the show.
Wanna hang out? Come to one of our live retreats!
Delorean is still staying disciplined through all of the tough stuff life is throwing at him and his family. He is getting the long runs in which is huge but it's heating up in Georgia so that part is getting tougher. He shares the logistics around chemo and how it affects their schedule. He also shares the cold capping they do to keep her hair. It's a pretty involved process and they decided it was worth it to keep their little girls' world as normal as possible. He also shares the newest recipe for the charity cooking. You should definitely donate this go round.
https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/2023NYC/DeloreanOstrom
Hey, it only took 8 years but we finally decided to bring on our second coach. On this podcast we talk to Lindsay LaForce, PT, DPT about her career as an endurance athlete and PT in the endurance world. We get to know her personally and professionally. We took so long to bring on our second coach and it was well worth the wait. The goal was to find someone who had tons of experience with in person coaching, has a passion for running, and had a little different background than Scott. Enjoy the show and if you are looking to be coached, her rates are as low as they will ever be until June 11th! Learn more about our coaching here.
Annie came back to talk to Scott one on one to share her story from the Canyons 100. Hypernatremia is a serious condition and she succumbed to some serious symptoms on the course. We talk about the experience in hopes to educate other athletes about how to know when you may be at risk. Annie is such a tough human and we were pumped to have her share the story. Thanks for listening.
We are very excited to have Harvey Lewis joining us on the podcast. He is an ultra-running legend! Harvey spends his days as a teacher in Ohio and appears to be one of the nicest people in ultra-running. Harvey is a 5-time member of the USA National 24-hour team. Harvey has competed in well-known events all over the world such as Badwater, Barkley Marathons, Marathon des Sables, Bid Dog Backyard Ultra and many more.
Harvey is living his best life; he is full of enthusiasm and joy. We talk about living and training in Cincinnati and running to and from work. Harvey talks about being competitive for more than 25 years and self-care. We also talk about some of Harvey’s biggest races including the Barkley Marathons and Badwater. Harvey is a wonderful role model and is a true example of when you put good out there good comes back to you.
IG- @harveylewisultrarunner
http://www.runquesttravel.com/home/
ON today's show Jasmine and Darin share their weeklky volume and long efforts over the apast couple weeks with their coach, Annie Hughes. Becoming Ultra follows runners doing their longest and biggest efforts. We hope you enjoy!
Today Scott hangs out with Marcus Smith of InnerFight from across the globe in Dubai. Marcus owns a training facility as well as online coaching and podcasts that reach athletes all over. On the show they talk about endurance adventures, training concepts, and the business of it all. Marcus talks about his upcoming SteelMan effort in Italy. We talk about age and ability not being a limiting factor anymore. It was a great conversation. We hope you enjoy.
Check out Inner Fight and all they do!
Follow Marcus
Katie Zornes is on an ultra-journey to become healthier, both mentally and physically. She has struggled with depression her entire life and struggled with weight most of her life. After a mental crumble in 2021 she has slowly crawled out of that dark space by having the courage to do one hard thing at a time and document her journey on her website and Instagram.
This one is sure to inspire you! Katie takes us through her mental and physical struggles and how she is taking hold of those hard moments and moving forward. Katie discusses how she believed the key to happiness was weight loss and how that impacted her mental health. We talk about doing 22 hard things in 2022 and what is on the list for 2023. Katie is a beautiful person who is using her voice and actions to inspire others.
Instagram @tri_ing_to_live
Website: katiezornes.com
We had the chance to talk to Luke Tuttle of Ultra Running Destinations. He uses the site to review trails and events all over the world. On this episode we got to talk about some of the amazing locales and adventures Luke has been on and we get to learn more about his story. If you like running and travel, you'll love this episode.. Thanks for listening!
Devon Yanko is an accomplished ultra-runner with some impressive wins including most recently, Javelina 100. She is also ranked #6 female ultrarunner of the year by Ultrarunning magazine. There is much more to know about Devon.
We had a lot of fun talking to Devon. We talked about the challenges she faces since being diagnosed with Lupas. She shares how self-care has changed and how she finds balance. We discuss her recent Javelina win and what is next. We also talk about her labor of love, Women of Distance Podcast. We loved everything about this conversation!
IG - @fastfoodie
Today Scott and Delorean got to catch up a bit. It is obvious how much this family is going through so reminding Delorean that perfection is NOT the goal seemed to be a big part of today's call. That, and youth sports! We know so many of you are going through tough stuff and Delorean and his family are just more proof of what is possible and why it's so important to keep pushing to get stronger for yourself and your loved ones. We hope you enjoy the show!
Hillary is back to coach up Stacey and Isabel. Isabel ditched the socks on a long run recently. Stacey is enjoying the Oregon trails. Both women look to events to get some longer efforts in and prep for the upcoming race! Enjoy the show!
Lindsey McElroy Ulrich lives for adventures, trails, and mountains. She is not only a fierce trail runner but also a 10-year stroke survivor and busy mom. She went from barely being able to walk to crushing down barriers and living her best life. She lives her life full of gratitude for every day.
Most people can’t imagine running the distances Lindsey has. The fact that she became an ultra-runner after having a stroke and losing her ability to walk is even more remarkable. On this podcast Lindsey shares her remarkable story from a place of gratitude. She has had some amazing adventures from the Marathon Des Sables to nine days on the PCT. She knows no limits and her motto is never give up on yourself. You will rethink what is possible for you after listening to her story.
IG - @lindsruns
With only 2 months before the Wy'east Wonder race in Oregon, Coach Amanda Basham catches up with her athletes. We follow the journey of ultra runners and shares their coaching calls with the world!
Annie catches up with Jasmine and Darin and the fact that there is no big news is great news! Both runners are seeing huge improvement with their fitness which is amazing. We talk about a recent Instagram post Annie shared about running being the olnly sport she ever excelled at and loved. Pretty cool. Enjoy the show.
Fresh off her Boston Marathon finish our own Carly shares her experience. She has dreamed of qualifying for and running Boston since her early marathon days. This is a fun episode you don’t want to miss!
If running is good for anything, helping us deal with real life stuff that isn't fun or easy might be the the most important thing we gain from it all. Delorean and Mandy head to Texas to look for better treatment options. T/he running took a back seat but it had to. Delorean will just get back at it the next week. The optimism and love in this family is awesome to see. We also share a fundraiser for the rare cancer where Delorean will teach us all how to cook his signature dish. You can learn more here. Hope you enjoy!
Monica Soileau with the help of her amazing crew recently finished the Badger Mountain Challenge 100 Miler. This race has over 17,000 feet of elevation gain. Of the 127 registered, 65 finished. We love to feature our fellow Team BU people when they accomplish hard things. Monica couldn’t share her story without her incredible crew being a part of it. When people pull together to help someone accomplish their goals everyone wins. This is a fun one!
Isabel and Stacey have been pushing their training and it is all paying off. A long uphill goal of not walking was met by Isabel and she notices some positives of running with other people. Stacey tests her legs with lots of vert on her long run this week! Enjoy the show and following along!
Kristi and Kelsey are continuing to put the work in for their big goals. Kristi is on her feet a bunch dancing for a production of Spamalot so Coach Basham pulls back her volume a bit to match. Kelsey has a brutal long run and they refocus on the fueling. Enjoy the show!
Coach Annie Hughes is fresh off her win in the desert around Moab as she helps get Jasmine and Darin closer and closer to their goals of the 50k and 50 miler this coming June. Jasmine ran her first sanctioned 50k in Oregon and shares her experience running the Pacific Northwest for the first time. Darin feels the training take hold as he runs a PR for the 5k. Things are looking great for this crew!
John Kelly is a husband, father of four, ultra-runner, and explorer. He has a PhD in electrical engineering and is the tech co-founder at Envelop Risk Analytics. He is also part of an elite group of people to have finished the Barkley Marathons. One of only 17 people to have finished and one of three people to finish more than once.
In this conversation we discuss what it takes to succeed at the Barkley Marathons, how the BM has evolved for John over the years, training and preparing for it, and why Laz has made changes over the years. We also talk about John’s amazing Hard Rock finish. John also shares how he balances family, training, and his career. He has an incredible mental toughness and positive mindset and looks forward to hard challenges. This one is sure to inspire you to do that hard thing.
IG- @randomforestrunner
Join Scott and Ian Sharman as they talk about all things running, coaching, training, and more. Ian owns Sharman Ultra, a long time partner of Becoming Ultra. They get to talking about the business of online coaching and where they see it going in the near future. They talk about some races that don't get enough love and bounce around the running world to share some of their experiences. Enjoy the show!
Lauren Jones is the founder of Life’s 2 Short Fitness. She has a passion to educate, encourage, and empower women through her many retreats. Lauren is one of the most positive and encouraging women we have ever met. We have had the pleasure of sharing trail miles with her and experiencing it firsthand. She has her own story of struggles to share. We discuss that and the power of staying positive and never giving up on your goals. Lauren believes you don’t know your limits until you push past them. This conversation is full of inspiration. Hopefully you will be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone and have an amazing adventure.
IG - @lifes2shortfitness
www.lifes2shortfitness.com
Running is rarely ever the main thing when it comes to ultra running and the people who toe the line. Delorean is a great example of keeping himself strong and ready to be there for his awesome family. We hope you enjoy their story and finds ways to support them all.
As we continue to follow Darin and jasmin as they prep for their first 50k and 50 miler we talk mindset on long uphill efforts, mentality in going to run a 50k around people when training is usually solo, and what to do when unruly customers try to ruin your day! Enjoy the show!
Jeff Browning (aka Bronco Billy) is a veteran ultra-runner and endurance coach. He has competed in some of the world’s most difficult ultra-mountain races over the past two decades, amassing nearly 200 ultra-marathon finishes and 39 career ultra-wins. Of those, 27 were in the 100-mile plus distance, placing him second in the world for the most 100-mile wins in history. He holds multiple course records, including Moab 240 and The double record for the fastest combined times of Western States 100 and Hardrock 100 (a mere 19 days apart). He was ranked No. 3 in Ultrarunning Magazine’s North American Ultrarunner of the Decade (2010-2019) and has been ranked seven times in the Top Ten of Ultrarunning Magazine’s North American Ultrarunner of the Year – the first and only man over 50 to make the list. He lives and trains in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife and three children.
We really enjoyed this conversation with Jeff. This guy has been doing Ultras for a long time and is full of knowledge and wisdom. We covered so many topics on this one. Jeff talks about how embracing the process of training has kept him motivated. He also talks about nutrition and how that has made the biggest impact on his performance. We also talk about balancing family, career, training, and coaching. We even got into a fun discussion about music. Jeff’s words of encouragement are some of our favorite. We know you will enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
IG- @gobroncobilly
Coaching - www.gobroncobilly.com
Dave & Jenn Goins are no strangers to ultra-marathons. They were Becoming Ultras first married couple selected as part of season 10 and they have not stopped taking on challenges. In February they ran their first ultra-together, Black Canyon 100K. On this podcast they talk about the highs and lows and how they got each other through it. We love to see couples supporting each other.
We are almost at the halfway point for season 13 and the runners are getting it done and learning along the way. Learning how to get training in when travel is imminent and learning what running on trails feels like after a long winter. Hillary was traveling too and shares a little about her time in Spain. Enjoy the show!
Kristi and Kelsey had some good questions for coach Basham. Their training is right on schedule for the big day in June. Becoming Ultra is all about following the journey of ultra runners!
Coach Annie Hughes catches up with Jasmine and Darin as they prepare for the 50k and 50 mile run in Oregon. Darin ran into his first snake of the season in Arizona and Jasmine gets ready for a 50k in Oregon soon. Becoming Ultra follows the journey of ultra runners!
Riley Brady is a 27-year-old trail runner and bicycle mechanic, who recently moved to Boulder, Colorado. They are spending the next few months focusing on running but eventually hopes to move into the frame building side of the bike world. Outside of running and work Riley loves goofing around with friends and internet cat videos.
Riley is living their best life! We had a great time chatting with them. Their positive energy is contagious. We covered so many topics on this one. Riley discusses their Javelina 100 race that earned a Golden Ticket as well as being name one of the top ranked ultra-runners by Ultra Runner Magazine. We also discussed being a non-binary athlete and inclusion in ultra-running. Riley shares some DNF experiences and how they view them. This was one of our favorite conversations. I hope you listen with an open mind and open heart.
IG - @rye.outside
Melissa McGaughey has always been passionate about health, fitness, and nutrition. However, in today's society there is so much conflicting information, fad diets and trends to follow that we become overwhelmed. This can lead to unhealthy habits and leave us under fueled when we are trying so hard to live a healthy life. Through years of experimenting with the latest and greatest trends, fad diets and attempting to live a healthy life, she found herself unbalanced and unhealthy. Having a baby inspired her to follow her passion for health and fitness, so she could learn to decipher the conflicting information about nutrition and fitness, truly nourish her body, and be a good role model for her daughter. Melissa studied to be an integrative health and nutrition coach at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC, where she became a Certified Health Coach. Further expanding her nutrition and fitness knowledge by becoming a Master’s Sports Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer at the National Association of Sports Nutrition in San Diego, where she became proficient in exercise metabolism, body composition testing, metabolic evaluation, pre and post workout fueling and nutrition for recovery. she also discovered a love for reformer Pilates and completed the training to become a Pilates instructor. Hours of reading, research, and certification through the Self Talk Institute, taught her that your mindset and internal self-talk play a vital role in whether you're successful in achieving your goals. Melissa is also an avid runner and advocate for being outdoors.
This is a subject we have been wanting to talk about for a while. This is a great conversation about nutrition, fitness, and aging. Melissa has so much knowledge, we could have talked to her for hours. We discuss macro training; intermittent fasting; whole foods; protein and the unique needs all of us have. We also talk about mindset and internal self-talk and much more. Melissa is a wonderful advocate for a healthy life and wants to share that with everyone.
IG - @melissa_eduralife
www.enduralife.com
Darin has a scheduling snafu for the last team call so Coach Annie Hughes hopped on a call and sent us the recording to catch up on Darin and his progress in training. Enjoy the episode!
We had the chance to sit down with RD's Scott and Ellen on this episode. They share stories from runners of their Wisconsin backyard event and we talk about where grit comes from, Ellen shares some of her crazy hallucinations from a recent winter race. We love talking to small homegrown race directors and think you'll enjoy the chat!
Isabel and Stacey take some classic advice from their coach Hillary on this most recent episode! Stacey juggles parenting and dark mornings and Kelsey keeps plugging along in the early training for the Oregon Ultra this coming June!
In 1998 at 17 years old Harold Jr. Allen’s young life was forever changed. He was arrested for a crime he did not commit and served 10 years in prison. Initially filled with anger and despair, he eventually resigned himself to serving his time and making the most of it. After his release he gradually slipped into destructive behaviors until 2014 when he was recruited to run a local 5k, he loved it and within a few months was training for a marathon. Harold has been running 100 milers for the last five years. Seven years ago, Harold created Buckle Up a fitness / running group that provides a positive and encouraging environment designed to help others discover what they can achieve. Harold turned tragedy into triumph!
Buckle Up everyone! Harold has remarkable story to tell. Harold talks about the lessons he learned in prison and how he learned to believe in himself. We talk about his path to running and eventually to 100 milers. Harold has found a way to inspire his community with Buckle Up, we talk about what this gives back to him. We covered so much in this hour of talking. Harold is someone who turned tragedy into triumph. He follows the best advise he was ever given, love life and love people.
IG - @haroldallen19811
If only every week and every run would feel perfect everyone would do this stuff. The truth is, it rarely goes as smoothly as you would like. This last week is a perfect example. Delorean and Chelsea both have been dealing with some issues but we gameplan how to get back on a roll. We hope you can relate and enjoy the show!
Beth and Rebecca are both very driven and have finished some extremely challenging events. They have also experienced DNF’s. On this podcast we take a deep dive into the emotions that go along with a DNF. This is not always an easy topic for people, we appreciate their candor. Our hope is that if you experience a DNF you will remember some of the wisdom shared on this podcast and move forward ready to tackle another goal.
On this epsiode we talked about the early volume with the runners, how to deal with Texas winters, when to fuel on your longer runs, and coach Basham talks about her New Zealand racing experience. Kristi and Kelsey have had a great start to the season 13 training. Enjoy the show. Looking for adventure? Check out our retreats.
Brian Murray is an accomplished real estate investor and author who loves trail running and is an amateur endurance athlete. He was on Season 9 of Becoming Ultra and has completed 16 marathons and three ultramarathons. His biggest brush with fame was when he got to be Carly Heard’s teammate on Becoming Ultra. Brian recently returned from a trek to Everest Base Camp and is currently training for the Black Canyon 100K in February. He lives in Alpharetta, Georgia with his wife, son, and two dogs.
It was so fun catching up with our Becoming Ultra teammate who was Carly’s partner for season 9. Brian is not just inspiring because of his accomplishments but because of how he lives his life. Brian shares with us what led him to getting fit later in life, how he maintains good habits, and why it is important to step out of your comfort zone. We also talk about his latest adventure at Everest and how much he gained from the experience. There is some great insight on this podcast. We know you will love this one as much as we do.
IG- @crushingitbrian
