For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running

Shad Mika has been running ultras for over twenty years. He went from two hundred and forty pounds and a divorce to a duathlon, to Leadville, to Hard Rock — and he's still going. He DNF'd his first two hundred mile attempts before he finally figured ou...

This one is a little different. Jon hosted a live panel in Boulder with three people who between them have worked with Olympic athletes, NBA teams, professional runners, and tens of thousands of recreational athletes. The topic was fueling, strength tr...

Lindsey Dwyer started running before she could remember choosing it. Her mom ran while pregnant with her, and Lindsey was in a stroller on the course not long after. By seventh grade she'd quietly trained for and finished a half marathon without tellin...

Tommie Runz is a runner, a dad, and someone who spent years building one of the most authentic presences in running before he ever needed it to pay the bills. He qualified for Boston, ran the six majors, and has now set his sights on Western States — o...

Mark Dowdle is a backyard ultra competitor who found running after college football and lacrosse, not because he loved the sport, but because he needed somewhere to put everything he was carrying. What started as 3:30 a.m. runs to eliminate excuses has...

Maria Chevalier has run a marathon in 48 states, finished the Boston Marathon 17 times, and a few weeks ago ran it twice in the same day, starting at 3 a.m. in reverse from Boston to Hopkinton, resting for a few hours, and then lining up with everyone ...

Dan Green is a trail athlete for Salomon who grew up running in West Virginia, spent years working at a running shop, and recently finished Cocodona 250 — a race he'd wanted to do for years before finally deciding to stop waiting. In this conversation,...

Dr. Teddy Bross is a practicing family medicine physician at Highpoint Direct Care where he focuses on the treatment of athletes and active adults in Colorado and select surrounding states. He is an avid mountain ultra trail athlete, husband and father...

Joe Corcione is an ultrarunner, coach, and host of the Everyday Ultra Podcast, where he helps runners of all levels improve not just physically, but mentally. His path into the sport didn’t follow a traditional trajectory. He found running during a per...

After transitioning from oncology physical therapy to full-time running, Rachel Entrekin discovered her true calling was not in conquering traditional hundred-mile races, but in pushing the boundaries of human endurance across multiple days and hundreds of miles.Rachel has been running since 2009, gradually making her way up from road 10ks to multi-day trail races. While born and raised in the southeast US, she currently resides in Colorado, where there is exactly zero humidity. This episode was recorded in person in February 2026.Jon chats with Rachel about:her running journey from college marathons to ultramarathonsthe transition from physical therapy to professional running career200-mile race strategy and mental approach at Cocodonasports nutrition partnership with Precision Fuel and Hydrationphilosophy on process versus outcome-focused racing goalsStay connected:Follow Rachel:https://www.instagram.com/rachel__entrekin/Rachel’s Blog:https://blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAPvkdJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacg8Fo31S7ggaU3zfdCDjsLlJYiyLYgJY33CdsPkrAAlbSiiguTikjxlNsSkg_aem_MZqdK3OHod6Qgy6-yC4ZEAVagabond Trails TMB tour: https://www.vagabond-trails.com/tmb-rachel-entrekin?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAPvke5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaf4YWwaHMYnTW0Zrm-N4lN1TD0jl_dTVUiwIYFT_rYsVNAp8pgqd23CSj_bPw_aem_jYSHI0G1B9zMyz_Qz9VL7AThis is episode is supported by:Skej My favorite tool to help schedule meetings. Check out skej.com/longrunlabs for a very special offer!Precision Fuel & Hydration⁠ - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at ⁠www.precisionhydration.com⁠.Boulderthon: Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.AmazFit Check out the T-Rex 3 and a selection of GPS watches at https://us.amazfit.com/discount/FTLR2026 and use code “FTLR2026” for 10% off.

Brendan Morgan is an ultrarunner who found running in 2023 by doing something most people avoid. He started because he hated it. Since then, he’s gone all in. From completing a 4x4x48 just months after starting to running across Pennsylvania, Brendan h...

Stevie Lyn Smith is a registered dietitian, board certified in sports nutrition, endurance athlete, and one of the most trusted voices when it comes to practical, realistic fueling advice for runners. As a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics...

From immigrating to the U.S. at 12 years old to representing Cape Verde at the Olympics, Ruben Sança’s story is one of consistency, patience, and staying in it long after most people step away. Ruben Sança is a Cape Verdean Olympian and elite distance ...

From hitting rock bottom to building a life of recovery through running: Meet John Shep. John is a Canadian ultrarunner, teacher, and host of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast. He’s also the creator of “Outrun the Darkness,” a project centered arou...

From questioning what’s considered “normal” in professional sport to speaking up about what actually needs to change: Meet Grayson Murphy, a professional runner bringing clarity to conversations around pregnancy, contracts, and what real support for at...

From a finance pro who decided to chase what scared him, to a trail runner who's pushed the boundaries to 200 miles: Meet Dom Bubri, who discovered that the most extraordinary transformations happen when you stop thinking and just start running. Dom is...

Nutrition expert Alex Larson reveals how one simple timing shift in daily eating can dramatically transform sleep quality, recovery, and performance for endurance athletes — but most runners are doing the exact opposite of what actually works. Alex Lar...

The formula for elite running performance lies in the consistent application of stress and recovery - repeatable things that you can sustain over time. Cliff Pittman serves as the Coaching Development Director for CTS, where he leads the Ultrarunning a...

When pro ultrarunner Hayden Hawks faces challenging conditions on the trails, he doesn't just endure them—he transforms them into opportunities for growth, proving that sometimes the hardest moments forge the strongest athletes. Hayden Hawks has been a...

Legendary ultra-marathoner Pam Reed has a simple solution for people who feel tired: stop sitting and start moving. Pam Reed is an accomplished ultra-runner who has been competing since 1992. She is a hyperactive person who strives to get every moment ...

After transitioning from oncology physical therapy to full-time running, Rachel Entrekin discovered her true calling was not in conquering traditional hundred-mile races, but in pushing the boundaries of human endurance across multiple days and hundred...

There's a common misconception in ultra running that it's all about toughness, but Shea Aquilano believes gentleness is more important. Shea currently resides in Boulder, CO and focuses on ultra-distance trail events. At 24, she is a 2x US Mountain Run...

From suppressing emotions as a military veteran to finding freedom on Colorado trails, here’s how Jonathan Mejia discovered that running isn't just exercise, it's therapy in motion. He came to Colorado after film school when the stars aligned and he co...

From residency training to ultramarathons - discover how Dr. Lauren Puretz balances life as a gynecologic surgeon with competing at the highest levels of trail running, including her breakthrough performance at UTMB and the mindset shifts that fuel bot...

At 20,000 feet, running feels like moving through molasses… but Erin Ton has found that climbing Colorado's highest peaks in stilettos actually makes her a more thoughtful athlete. Erin was born and raised in Colorado. After graduating from Cornell Uni...

What if I told you that the most brutally honest performance metric you'll ever face isn't on your smartphone, can't be faked by AI, and strips away every excuse you've ever made about what you're truly capable of? It’s called running. Nicholas Thompso...

Whether you just won the NCAA title or you just sucked in that race… the sun comes up tomorrow, and we're going back to work in the morning. Emma Coburn is a middle-distance runner who specializes in the 3000-meters steeplechase. She’s a world champion...

Success in running often comes from hitting rock bottom. This was the case for Terence Gerchberg, who transformed his gambling addiction into a mission to help others find their footing, one mile at a time. In the words of Terence, “Running changed and...

If you're taking three-hour naps after long runs or showing up to marathons with just three gels, this episode will change how you think about fueling. Stevie Lyn Smith is a Registered Dietitian and avid endurance athlete. As a Board Certified Speciali...

From a hesitant podcaster to coaching 200+ athletes in two years, Joe Corcione reveals why indecision kills more dreams than lack of knowledge, and how one simple rule changed everything. Joe Corcione is an Ultrarunning Coach, Ultrarunner, Host of The ...

What do you get when you cross a full-time international ship broker, a world-class endurance athlete, and a dad who's planning to row across the Atlantic? You get Mike Wardian. Today we're diving into how he manages to excel at everything while never ...

What if I told you that 93% of people can travel anywhere in the world with minimal to no jet lag - and it has nothing to do with melatonin or light therapy? Andrew is the Founder of FlyKitt, a breakthrough travel protocol built for high performers fro...

From a Colombian orphanage to professional trail running champion, Jenn Lichter's story proves that sometimes the hardest journeys lead to the most extraordinary destinations. Jenn Lichter is a 29-year-old professional trail runner who competes primari...

While most professional athletes choose between excellence and everything else, what happens when you refuse to pick just one lane? Ryan Montgomery’s impressive resume includes over 50-60 ultra marathons, with 17-18 of those being 100-mile events, demo...

From cheerleader to two-time Olympian - discover the 'secret sauce' that transformed an accidental runner into a world champion. Aisha Praught Leer is a two-time Olympian and holds seven national records for Jamaica, most notably as a gold medalist in ...

From faking knee pain to avoid running to coaching over 1,000 runners - Amanda Brooks knows exactly what it's like to be in the middle of the pack, because that's where most of us actually are. Amanda Brooks has been a running coach for over 13 years, ...

At 35, Sara Vaughn was just getting started—landing her first professional contract and proving that sometimes the best chapters come when you're brave enough to rewrite the story. Sara Vaughn is mom of 4, placed 6th in the NYC Marathon in 2024, is a t...

After 21 years as a professional runner, Sara Hall reveals the mental shift that saved her career when she was ready to quit in 2009 - and why she refuses to use the 'grandma emoji' at age 42. Sara Hall is a professional distance runner for ASICS. Her ...

If you don’t invest in your weaknesses now, they will haunt you down the road. This conversation originally aired on Episode 13 of Long Run Labs, my new podcast on the business of the outdoor industry. Alex is the Founder and CEO of Eternal. Before fou...

Sometimes the hardest race isn't 100 miles through the mountains - it's figuring out who you are when everything in your life changes. Amanda is a professional trail runner and endurance coach with a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State Univers...

Is it better to be well-lopsided or well-balanced? Randi Zuckerberg is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, media personality, and endurance athlete who embodies a "portfolio approach to life." Currently serving as a radio host, investor, entrepreneur, author...

What happens when a mining town of 40,000 people shrinks to just 2,700 overnight, and then reinvents itself as one of America's most authentic mountain destinations? Today we're talking with Adam Ducharme about Leadville's incredible transformation fro...

What if you accomplished everything you wanted, but still felt empty? Pierce Showe is in the business of extreme discipline — a language spoken by the world’s top performers. He spent the early part of his career as the right hand to Super Bowl champio...

What happens when you quit your corporate job, go all-in on entrepreneurship, and decide to run 40 miles through the Colorado mountains? Today we're diving into how major life changes and epic trail adventures go hand in hand. Having recently ran the G...

Most endurance athletes are making the same critical fueling mistake. Let’s learn how to avoid it so you can perform the best. Kelsey Bailey is the lead Performance Dietitian for Eternal, a company providing high performance, personalized healthcare to...

Don’t fall into the comparison trap as a runner! Annie Frisbie is a professional runner for Puma and Minnesota Distance Elite. She trains with her team in Minneapolis and lives with her boyfriend and two dogs. Jon chats with Annie about: • Annie’s Trai...

If you’ve ever considered running a global race series like UTMB, learn from the founders on why it’s so much more than a race. Jon sits down with Michel and Catherine Poletti, the founders of the UTMB race series. They share their journey of starting ...

What does it mean to TRULY be grateful for running and life? Reid Burrows grew up in the small town of Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick, Canada. His endurance background is in the sport of triathlon. Upon leaving the pursuit of triathlon and chasing ...

Let's break down what is so special about trail running and why more people need to experience it. Vivek Gowri is a Product Manager at NVIDIA, where he leads initiatives in gaming and AI hardware. When he’s not shaping the future of tech, he’s out on t...

Are you laying the right foundation for your nutritional health? Rachael (Reddy) Wade is a runner, mom of two, and founder of Rx Nutrition. She ran for the University of Alabama, earned gold medals at the Pan American Games and USA Championships, and n...