Michał Tarnowski - Scrum Master by day, Trail Runner by night 🚀🏔️

This week Dennis chats with Michał Tarnowski — Scrum Master, meetup host, and trail runner — about his leap from road races to night ultratrail. Michał breaks down how he cut over 2 hours from the same course in two years: a 46.5 km mountain race (≈2,500 m+), run entirely after sunset with just a headlamp, one aid station, and plenty of grit. What we cover Race story: starting at dusk, climbing brutal gradients (up to ~46%), and why downhills are his superpower. Training that worked: lab testing → fix weak spots (aerobic base + lactate tolerance), lots of Zone 2, structured intervals, and adding a coach. Results: VO₂max up (≈53 → 57 in ~8 months), weekly volume ~60–70 km, faster easy pace at the same HR. Gear & fueling: trail shoes with a rock plate, 2L fluids, electrolytes, ~50g+ carbs/hour, headlamp; poles—pros/cons. Recovery lesson: gentle spin… then surprising benefit from short, fast repeats to flush the legs. Mindset: using focus on technical descents as moving meditation; balancing training with work & life. What’s next: Kraków’s city trail race and a ~58 km mountain event later this season. Follow Michał on Instagram and tag us with your trail questions! 🎧 If you enjoyed this, rate & follow Try to Thrive to catch the next episode.