From “Not a Runner” to Finishing Ultramarathons | Alex Hermanson, AKA "Herm" episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 20, 2026 · 1H 6M

From “Not a Runner” to Finishing Ultramarathons | Alex Hermanson, AKA "Herm"

from Everyday Ultra · host Joe Corcione

I’m joined by Alex Hermanson (aka Herm) — content creator, community builder, and self-proclaimed “big dude who runs.”Herm has built a following of thousands of runners by keeping things real, relatable, and honest — proving that you don’t need to be like a stereotypical runner to chase big goals.We talk about his journey from struggling to run a few miles… to finishing two 50-mile ultramarathons, including Antelope Canyon 50M and the legendary JFK 50 .This conversation goes way deeper than just training.We dive into mindset, identity, long-term progression, and why falling in love with the process matters more than chasing finish lines.In this episode, we talk about:Why ultra running doesn’t need to be “hardcore” to be meaningfulHow Herm approaches massive long-term goals like Cocodona 250 without overwhelming himselfThe danger of rushing distances too fast — and how patience builds longevityWhy training wins often feel better than race dayHow to handle the mental lows during long ultrasThe simple question that can pull you out of dark moments mid-raceFueling lessons from 50-mile races (including loads of Mountain Dew)Why consistency beats intensity every timeAnd how remembering where you started changes everythingIf you’ve ever felt like you don’t “fit the mold” of a runner…If you’ve struggled with pressure, comparison, or feeling behind…Or if you just want to build toward big goals without burning out — this episode is for you.🎙️ Follow Alex HermanssonAll links are in the show notes.And as always — keep showing up, trust the process, and endure better.SHOW LINKS:Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠desertpeakultra.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Book a free call here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!Follow Joe on IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com/GORUN to give it a try today.Try Mount to Coast shoes, designed specifically for ultramarathons, and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA by ⁠⁠⁠going to the link here⁠⁠⁠.Try HYPERLYTE Liquid Performance running nutrition and get 15% off your order when you use code EVERYDAYULTRA at www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.comTry CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultraTry PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠playonrelief.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.comTry Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.comFollow Herm on IG: https://www.instagram.com/herm.runs/Follow Herm on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hermrunsFollow Herm on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hermruns

I’m joined by Alex Hermanson (aka Herm) — content creator, community builder, and self-proclaimed “big dude who runs.”Herm has built a following of thousands of runners by keeping things real, relatable, and honest — proving that you don’t need to be like a stereotypical runner to chase big goals.We talk about his journey from struggling to run a few miles… to finishing two 50-mile ultramarathons, including Antelope Canyon 50M and the legendary JFK 50 .This conversation goes way deeper than just training.We dive into mindset, identity, long-term progression, and why falling in love with the process matters more than chasing finish lines.In this episode, we talk about:Why ultra running doesn’t need to be “hardcore” to be meaningfulHow Herm approaches massive long-term goals like Cocodona 250 without overwhelming himselfThe danger of rushing distances too fast — and how patience builds longevityWhy training wins often feel better than race dayHow to handle the mental lows during long ultrasThe simple question that can pull you out of dark moments mid-raceFueling lessons from 50-mile races (including loads of Mountain Dew)Why consistency beats intensity every timeAnd how remembering where you started changes everythingIf you’ve ever felt like you don’t “fit the mold” of a runner…If you’ve struggled with pressure, comparison, or feeling behind…Or if you just want to build toward big goals without burning out — this episode is for you.🎙️ Follow Alex HermanssonAll links are in the show notes.And as always — keep showing up, trust the process, and endure better.SHOW LINKS:Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠desertpeakultra.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Book a free call here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!Follow Joe on IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com/GORUN to give it a try today.Try Mount to Coast shoes, designed specifically for ultramarathons, and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA by ⁠⁠⁠going to the link here⁠⁠⁠.Try HYPERLYTE Liquid Performance running nutrition and get 15% off your order when you use code EVERYDAYULTRA at www.hyperlyteliquidperformance.comTry CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultraTry PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠playonrelief.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Try Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.comTry Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.comFollow Herm on IG: https://www.instagram.com/herm.runs/Follow Herm on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hermrunsFollow Herm on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hermruns

NOW PLAYING

From “Not a Runner” to Finishing Ultramarathons | Alex Hermanson, AKA "Herm"

0:00 1:06:27

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

WTF Conspiracy ? Operation: Disclosure Jolly West Welcome to Conspiracy Theory Or Not?, your deep dive into the world of secrets, shadows, and speculation. This podcast is dedicated to unraveling history's most controversial and mind-bending conspiracy theories, asking tough questions and exploring hidden truths. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, we take you on a journey through some of the most mysterious events and covert operations ever revealed.In this episode, we explore the dark and mysterious world of MK-Ultra—a top-secret CIA program that ran from the 1950s to the early 1970s. The program's purpose? To develop mind control techniques for use in espionage. But as we will uncover, the methods employed often crossed ethical boundaries, involving everything from drugs to hypnosis and, in many cases, torturous experimentation.We’ll investigate the history and controversial practices behind MK-Ultra, shining a light on its disturbing experiments, key figures, and pivotal events. Drawing from two essential books, "The Sea Explicit Running In Slow Motion with Sidney & Tamra Smith You Hear Good Things podcast network Comedian Sidney Smith and his wife Tamra — a sharp-witted educator with a soft spot for flowers — team up to navigate life, goals, and culture at their own hilarious, at times, in-depth pace. They call it “running in slow motion,” and that pretty much sums up the vibe. This isn’t a marriage podcast (their union ranks a generous 5 out of 10, after all), but it is a refreshingly honest, smart, and funny take on relationships, ambition, and everyday chaos. From real talk to pop culture and unexpected interviews, it’s a joyride of relatable moments and laugh-out-loud observations. Explicit What You Thought ? What You Thought Podcast What You Thought? - The Funniest Podcast on the planet is a weekly show that combines comedy and debate centered around everyday topics (and sometimes nothing)Follow Us On Instagram: What You Thought Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/whatyouthoughtpod/ Explicit The FIRE Podcast - Fueling Innovation Resiliency & Excellence Hosted by Severen Henderson Severen Henderson Welcome to The Fire Podcast, hosted by Severen Henderson, a proud firefighter for a major metropolitan city. F.I.R.E. in this podcast stands for Fueling Innovation, Resilience, and Excellence. The Fire Podcast is a show about everything! From life’s significant challenges to everyday conversations, we tackle every issue head-on. No problem gets solved without first having a conversation, and that’s what we do here. So, join us on this media platform, engage in meaningful discussions, and ignite change through powerful dialogue. Check out The Fire Podcast and be part of the conversation! Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Everyday Ultra?

This episode is 1 hour and 6 minutes long.

When was this Everyday Ultra episode published?

This episode was published on January 20, 2026.

What is this episode about?

I’m joined by Alex Hermanson (aka Herm) — content creator, community builder, and self-proclaimed “big dude who runs.”Herm has built a following of thousands of runners by keeping things real, relatable, and honest — proving that you don’t need to...

Can I download this Everyday Ultra episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!