Chasing Records Through the Burn Scar with Aaron Kubala

Aaron Kubala returns to the HappyCast after winning the Tahoe 200 and setting a new course record in 48 hours and 9 minutes. Aaron takes Andrew and Stephanie inside his preparation for the race, including unconventional training in Austin, weeks spent sleeping in a hypoxic tent, and the ambitious plan that originally had his crew targeting a 45-hour finish. He also explains how Tahoe fits into his larger pursuit of the 200-mile Triple Crown record as he prepares to take on Bigfoot and Moab.The race itself delivered everything a 200-miler could: a competitive field, battered quads, Tahoe lung, thorns buried in Aaron’s feet, and an infamous burn-scar section capable of bringing even elite runners to a crawl. Aaron recounts moving through the field, staying focused for nearly two straight days, and managing a frightening episode of blood in his urine without losing sight of the finish. He also shares what it was like racing in memory of his mother, who passed away from metastatic breast cancer only a few months before Tahoe.The conversation eventually wanders in true HappyCast fashion, with updates on Stephanie’s upcoming back-to-back 100-milers, Andrew’s abrupt move to Colorado, and the questionable decisions that led him to drive through the night before his first day at a new job. The group closes with a discussion about the financial realities of professional ultrarunning, the complicated relationship between athletes and sponsors, and whether Andrew’s increasingly expensive race bets qualify him as an official patron of the sport.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon.Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]