PODCAST · health
Running Virtually
by just plain Dave
Just Plain Dave is a middle of the pack runner and endurance athlete in Southern New England, sharing thoughts and observations about endurance sports and training while keeping up with regular life (work, family, and the real world). If I learn something interesting, I plan to share it with you.
Episodes
-
117 (rev.) it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood
Community, community, community. The most certain path to happiness is to give back to your community. Stories from volunteering at the Boston Marathon, and random serendipitous running meet-ups, and being a known presence in the neighborhood because walking Nova means I am out and about.
-
116. Winter trail challenge - Nova is top dog!
Forgive the wind noise in the first 4-minutes. This is the summary & recap of the RI Winter Trail Challenge, the BPC (Border Patrl Challenge). Very snowy winter. Nova completed 13 trails and was Top Dog,
-
115. A Fresh Start
Happy new year to my friends from Just Plain Dave. I have started experimenting with a new podcast recording app and I'm putting this out there to see how well it goes. We are celebrating one year with our with Nova dog in our family, plus a brief recap of the Rhode Island Trail challenge. We are...
-
114. Better to Give than Receive
Reflections on the benefits of volunteering and giving back to the community. Sharing from my recent experiences volunteering at the Anchor Down Ultramarathon & crewing & pacing a friend on a fund-raising run of the MidState Trail in Massachusetts.
-
113. VT100 Race Report
113. Race Report: Vermont 100 km race, completed July 19, 2025.
-
112. Curiosity
Trying to stay curious. Seeing the joy in a child experimenting by rolling a grape down a hill. Investigating "new" things with Nova the rescue dog. Grateful for this wonderful world in which we live with so many amazing critters.
-
110. The Easy Way Isn't the Path to Happiness
Meet Nova, my rescue dog. Having a new (young) pet is more work than not. But the joy of shared time on the trail is totally worth it. Happy New Year!
-
109. JFK 50 Race Recap
109. JFK 50-mile race recap A summary of my 50-mile ultramarathon that starts in Boonsboro and ends in Williamsport, Maryland. Join my friends Igor, Mac, Jordan, and Brian for a grand adventure. Two corrections: This is episode 109 (error in the intro) & Upon review, my heart rate was actually in...
-
108. The times, they are a changing'
Hello friends, it's been too long. Life is treating me very well. Just Plain Dave is back with a recap of my summer races including the: Narragansett Run Club 5K in Blackstone Boulevard; and the Ragnar Trail Relay at Mt. Ascutney (Vermont). A preview of up-coming events: pacing at the Grindstone...
-
107. Last Human Standing & Farewell Brown Dog
A brief recap of my 10-hour and 40-mile ultra race at the Last Human Standing event. A wacky interlude with a flying squirrel! And a final farewell to my trusted companion, Westminster Abbey a.k.a. Brown dog.
-
106. Boston Marathon Cheering & little brown bats
Recap of a perfect day to spectate at the Boston Marathon, a little too warm & dry for peak running performance. And I saw bats feeding at sunset on a warm spring evening. #runwithjoy #bostonmarathon
-
105. Border Patrol Challenge - Mission Accomplished
Recap of highlights of the 20 trail runs completed between December & March 2024. A great success and good fun as a team endeavor.
-
104. Canine Life Lessons - BPC update - RIP Bob Devlin
Learning important life lessons from my 14-year-old brown dog sidekick. Sharing an update on the Border Patrol Challenge, some fun snowy trails and some flood damaged challenging trails. And a brief memorial to a good friend Bob Devlin, who passed away this week. Bob was an positive influence on…
more -
103. Border Patrol Challenge & 'Just Hanging Out'
Thoughts on my winter trail running challenge: 20 routes along the CT & RI border and the benefits of being part of a team. Comments on the importance of unscheduled, unobligated time 'just hanging out (credit to The NYT Ezra Klein show with Champlain College professor Sheila Liming). And a bonus...
-
102. MCM -Marine Corps Marathon & 50Km race recap
A few brief thoughts in the week leading up to the MCM race weekend, my travels in Washington DC and a recap of the race. It was warm & humid, but I got the most out of my day. #marathon #runwiththemarines #theextramilepodcast
-
101. Fearless Kathrine Switzer - Tim Wakefield in Memoriam - Greenway Challenge Race Recap
I had the joyful opputunity to cheer and spectate at the Ronald McDonald House, women's 5K race in Providence. A highlight was seeing Kathrine Switzer, and her "Fearless 261" crew. Also I recommend a podcast about shared memories of Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield: The Memory Palace (by Nate DeMeo....
-
100. Spouting forth a fire hose of relentless positivity at the anchor down ultra 2023.
#ADU #AnchorDownUntra #trailrunning #Running #TrueNorthRacing
-
099. M2M Ultra - Positioning for Change - Being open to Connections
A brief recap of the Manchester to Monadnock, 50-mile ultra marathon. A discussion of how positioning oneself for changes in your environment, in work and life, and in Running is the way to give yourself the best chance for success. And an observation on making connections with those around us…
more -
098. TARC Spring Classic (50km) and Boston Marathon Spectating
Summary and highlights of my 50km trail race, the TARC (Trail Animals Running Club) Spring Classic. And observations from my spectating at the Boston Marathon. Saturday visit and dinner with friends on Boylston Street near the finish line, and my day of cheering at Mile-14 in Wellesley.
-
097. Ready for Boston / BPC / Looking for a Positivity Bias
Childlike enthusiasm for next week's Boston Marathon; a brief recap of the joy of the CT / RI Border Patrol Challenge; and hunting for sparks of joy and wonder ... must be the opposite of humanity's negativity bias.
-
096. Border Patrol Update & 5 Benefits of Going for a Walk
A summary of the 5-person trek around the 26M Pachaug-Nehantic Loop in eastern Connecticut. Plus a summary of an article by Charlotte Grysolle (NeuroStretch website), with lessons learned from the "Huberman Lab Podcast." Andrew Huberman, PhD, is a professor of neurobiology at the Stanford School…
more -
095. Spring Races & the Border Patrol Challenge (RI & CT)
Happy New Year! I'm happy to share my spring 2023 race plans and goal race, the Manchester-to-Monadnock ultra. I've signed up for customized coaching with Coach Chris Twiggs. And my winter trail running calendar is full with the RI / CT Border Patrol Challenge.
-
094. Merry Christmas and a Pilot Whale
Very interesting observations of a pilot whale carcass that was washed ashore on a Cape Cod beach. Plus some gratitude and observations around the Hanukkah and Christmas Holidays. Wishing you all good health, peace, and joy in the new year!
-
093. Trying something new on race day
Life update as I find my place after two months in Providence. A short recap of my 48-mile run at the HamsterWheel ultra in New Boston, NH. I broke the Rule: don't try new things on race day! Everything worked out well. Finish with a summary of some of brown dog's new k9 friends. There are lots…
more -
092. RI Trail Classic (race report)
Summary and recap of my goal race for the year. On October 22, 2022, I ran the Rhode Island Trail Classic on the Vin Gormley Trail in Burlingame State Park in Charlestown, RI. I completed 6 loops for a total of 45 miles. A perfect autumn day to spend in the woods.
-
091. Kipchoge's Berlin Marathon World Record & Won't you be my Neighbor
Perfect September Sunday for a social training run with friends. Lots of talk about the Berlin marathon and Eliud Kipchoge's 2:01:09 world record. And thoughts about the long time I've lived in my neighborhood.
-
090. Life Update & Bird-in-Hand half marathon
Life update: Life is good. Change is good. Plus a recap of the big The Extra Mile Podcast community gathering at the Bird-in-Hand half marathon in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
-
089. Real Life Update & Volunteering at the Anchor Down Ultra
I had the most energizing, excellent, exuberant, exhilarating time as a VOLUNTEER at the 2022 Anchor Down Ultra. And I provide a 5-minute update on my current life status. SPOILER: my life is in FLUX! Cover photo image: jp dave and pro-trail runner (and great guy) Patrick Caron.
-
088. Head for the Mountains
Summer escape to the lakes and mountains of Massachusetts, Vermont, and The Adirondacks in upstate New York. Recap of hikes on Mount Watatic, Baker Mountain and The Giant's Nubble.
-
087. Running with Friends
My injury is behind me. I share a recap and summary of three runs with friends (social runs) during the week of June 13, 2022. 'Gansett Brewery Wednesday Club Run, friends at my house Saturday morning, and a windy & rainy Sunday on Cape Cod to celebrate Fathers Day.
-
086. Flying Pig race weekend
Recap and quasi race report from the Flying Pig race weekend in Cincinnati. A most excellent gathering of friends to celebrate the Spring season and joys of 15,000 people working toward a common goal. Shout out to: Kevin G, Duane H, Chris R, Tim C, Shelly L, and Nate W. I ran a half marathon…
more -
085. Boston Marathon & Rumblestrip
I attended a pre-race panel discussion and learned about some other runners' perspectives. I also share a recap of my glorious day as a spectator at the Boston Marathon. And because I can't stop thinking about community, a discussion of the "Town Meeting" episode of another podcast called...
-
084. Just Plain Dave's Greatest Run Ever, from Dirt Church Radio
Community is important. As family and friends, we have so much more in common compared with our minor differences. That includes story-telling runners from the opposite side of globe. Audio file includes live read of "Just Plain Dave's Greatest Run Ever" with all credit to the Dirt Church Radio...
-
083. Limits of Perception & Dealing with Injury
Observations on a foggy morning, musing in the limits of my perception and brown dog's abilities are greater than mine. And ... I'm working through rest and recovery to help my injured left heel get better.
-
082. Five Lessons from Brown Dog
Idea credit to Brittany Hambleton (6 lessons we can learn from our dogs, Canadian Running: January 26, 2022). My spin on the "running lessons" I can learn from my trusty 4-legged companion. Plus a short summary of a TARC group run at Blue Hills, and an update to my race calendar. I'll be running...
-
081. 10 Years of Running - Practice with a Purpose
January 1, 2022, marks the 10th anniversary of restarting my running journey. Happy memory of the Eagle Brook Saloon 5km race in 2012. // Thoughts on why reading the news every day probably isn't worth my time. Is it curated knowledge-filled content? Or is it clickbait? // Practice with a…
more -
080. Swansea Village Park in the tropical rain
Join me for a muddy, soggy, rainy hike in Village Park. Brown Dog and I share our observations. Lots of tree fall and damage from recent storms, plus a pinch of geology. The icing on the proverbial cake is chatting with a neighbor on the way home.
-
079. Falmouth race report & Recognizing Delights
A summary of my experience running the 'Falmouth in the Fall' 7-mile road race in mid-November. And a my observations of a few little details in my day-to-day world that put a smile on my face and give me delight. Stopping to notice little delights is a great way to prime our minds for…
more -
078. Our Running Community
Thinking about the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual benefits of spending time in fellowship with friends. Time with friends and running in small groups (2-3 people) or larger gatherings (at a race) is very rejuvenating. I share some of my experiences and observations, but also…
more -
077. Bird-in-Hand Race Report
Recap and summary of the 9/11/2021 Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon. Joyful real life meetup with (previously) virtual friends.
-
076. Anchor Down Ultramarathon - race report
My recap of the August 13, 2021, Anchor Down Ultramarathon. My pre-race goal was to run 100 miles in 24 hours. My successful outcome was to run 100 kilometers (62 miles) in just under 14 hours. We had to take what the day would give us. It was an exceptionally hot and humid day. This recap…
more -
075. Animal Crossing
When I'm out for a run or walking the brown dog, if I pay attention and look carefully, I often see animals out and about. Deer, coyotes, humming birds and more.
-
074. Strawberries Raspberries and Blueberries, Oh My
Fruit and berries are nature's candy and near perfect snacks. Eating real foods is so much better than processed snacks. Plus a brief rant on the 365 availability of everything. Our society and culture has made "everything available every day with free next day shipping" feel normal. Do we really...
-
073. Social Runs - ‘Burn’ by Herman Pontzer - Marathon day medical risks
Working hard (& driving) to be a part of group runs; some key findings from the book, Burn, by anthropologist Herman Pontzer (click bait: “exercise does not link to weight loss . . . but exercise is REALLY good for you); and unexpected medical risks on marathon race day (risks to society, not the...
-
072. Maple Syrup - Asparagus - DNF
Spring has arrived in New England. We are along for the ride as nature cycles through a season of rebirth. I’ve had lots of time in nature. And that is a very good thing. I reflect on my DNF (did not finish) at the 2015 Providence Marathon. I learned more lessons from that failure than from many...
-
071. Injured - Consistency - Skeletal System training
Hiking at Swansea Village Park with my Brown Dog on a cold clear Spring day. I recently tweaked my back and am in recovery mode. The most important aspect of success in endurance sport (and life) is consistency in practice and training. I learned that most of our skeletal system training benefit…
more -
070. The miracles of ice & cheese - and Emil Zatopek 1952
A meandering conversation about 5 flavors of snow, the miracle that ice floats on water; and why does melted cheese taste 100-times better than just plain cheese? Chemistry in real life is interesting and cool. The last chapter is about Emil Zatopek, the Czechoslovakian Locomotive. He was one of...
-
069. COVID Test & Running in the dark & snow
Thank you for your time and attention. Just Plain Dave shares three chapters recorded across the month of January 2021: 1st his experience with the CV19 testing process; 2nd a sunset trail run that got a little spooky in Massasoit State Park, and 3rd a run that finished in a heavy snow squall. I…
more -
068. Random Act of Kindness (& 2018 Eilat Desert Marathon recap)
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas. First, a random interaction with my neighbor Edith, with “see you tomorrow” familiarity. Second, a random act of kindness on the Wapack Trail and the pleasant neurochemical boost from helping a stranger. Third, a flashback to November 2018 when international...
-
067. EDS - Every Damn Street Mission Accomplished
The EDS project took 36 days of consistent effort and big logistical challenges to try to map a route with minimal duplication. Lots of cul-de-sacs and private roads. I am very fortunate for my health and well-being so that I can attempt crazy challenges. /-/ This episode and my whole EDS Project...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Just Plain Dave is a middle of the pack runner and endurance athlete in Southern New England, sharing thoughts and observations about endurance sports and training while keeping up with regular life (work, family, and the real world). If I learn something interesting, I plan to share it with you.
HOSTED BY
just plain Dave
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Running Virtually have?
Running Virtually currently has 64 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Running Virtually about?
Just Plain Dave is a middle of the pack runner and endurance athlete in Southern New England, sharing thoughts and observations about endurance sports and training while keeping up with regular life (work, family, and the real world). If I learn something interesting, I plan to share it with you.
How often does Running Virtually release new episodes?
Running Virtually has 64 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Running Virtually?
You can listen to Running Virtually on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Running Virtually?
Running Virtually is created and hosted by just plain Dave.
URL copied to clipboard!