Episode 74: A Conversation with Ultrarunner, FKT Holder, Photographer, Author, and Coach Eli Burakian

In this week’s episode, we’re bringing on a very special guest and friend of the pod. Eli Burakian is an ultrarunner, coach, guidebook author, mountain photographer, dad, race director, and all-around adventurer whose love of the sport and passion for helping other people make him one of the most interesting people we know. We chat through Eli’s most recent ultrarunning achievement: completing the Grand Slam in 2024, a series of four 100-mile ultras in a period of 14 weeks. Eli also shares stories from the many FKT (fastest known time) adventures he has completed, including a multi-day trek across the entire country of Iceland and from the southern to northern borders of New Hampshire. We learn about the fueling, recovery, and training tactics he has brought to these extraordinary undertakings, the mindset tools he employs when the going gets tough, and how he wants to bring his knowledge into the coaching space. Finally, we chat about Eli’s upcoming trail running retreat in the White Mountains and how you can get involved. This is a jam-packed, can’t-miss episode — check it out! View extended show notes for this episode here. To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].