Brandon Woods | Winter Ultra Runner

In this episode, the hosts welcome guest Brandon Wood, an experienced winter ultra runner. They start with a van update from Robbie before diving into Brandon's running journey and his love for winter ultras. Brandon shares his experience running the Susitna 100 and White Mountains 100, highlighting the challenging conditions and the camaraderie among runners. He also discusses the required gear for these races, including creative ways to meet the calorie requirement. The hosts and Brandon reminisce about their race experiences and the stunning scenery they encountered. They also touch on the mental challenges of long distances between aid stations. Brandon discusses his experiences with long-distance winter races, including the challenges of running in extreme cold temperatures and the importance of efficient checkpoint management. He also shares his training methods, gear preferences, and his role as the race director for the Resurrection Pass races. Brandon's homemade sled and his blog about building it have gained recognition in the running community. He recommends Jen Novobilsky, who completed a thousand-mile stage race across the UK, as a guest for the podcast.   Keywordswinter ultras, running, gear, camaraderie, challenges, aid stations, winter races, extreme cold, checkpoint management, training methods, gear preferences, race director, homemade sled, blog, guest recommendation Takeaways Winter ultras, such as the Susitna 100 and White Mountains 100, present unique challenges due to the harsh conditions and remote locations. The camaraderie among runners is a crucial aspect of these races, providing support and motivation. The required gear for winter ultras includes sleeping bags, bivys, and calorie reserves, leading to creative solutions to meet the calorie requirement. The distance between aid stations, often around 20 miles, can be mentally challenging for runners. The stunning scenery and natural phenomena, such as the Northern Lights, add to the allure of winter ultras. Running long-distance winter races requires mental fortitude and efficient checkpoint management. Training with a sled and running with like-minded friends can make the experience more enjoyable. Gear choices, such as shoes and packs, play a crucial role in winter races. Brandon's homemade sled and blog about building it have been helpful resources for others. Jen Novobilsky, who completed a thousand-mile stage race across the UK, would be a great guest for the podcast. Titles The Beauty of Scenic Winter Ultra Courses Conquering the Challenges of Winter Ultras Conquering the Challenges of Winter Races Building a Homemade Sled: Brandon's DIY Project Sound Bites "Any goals to go down to the lower 48 and do like arrowhead or any of those?" "I feel like you have a pretty good resume to back up your application." "You couldn't even see any evidence of a trail." "The 20 mile, that's a mind play." "Make sure you get the food you need, get your water refilled, all that kind of stuff." "Having to endure the mentalness between aid stations was tough." Chapters 00:00Introduction and Van Update 04:16Guest Introduction 07:17Brandon's Running Journey 10:13Winter Ultras and the Appeal of Cold Weather Running 13:11Goals and Applications for Winter Races 15:05Memorable Experiences in Winter Racing 18:57Differences Between Susitna 100 and White Mountains 100 21:38Creative Solutions for Meeting Calorie Requirements 23:26Scenic Beauty and Natural Phenomena in Winter Ultras 23:59Mental Challenges of Long Distances Between Aid Stations 24:07Challenges of Winter Races 26:03Efficient Checkpoint Management 29:37Gear Choices for Winter Races 34:25Building a Homemade Sled 46:15Guest Recommendation: Jen Novobilsky