Choosing risk: when to push at two-thirds

Zach Bitter is one of the most experienced and dialed-in 100-mile athletes in the sport — and in this episode, he breaks down the training, fueling, pacing, and mindset strategies that have kept him performing at a high level for more than a decade.

This isn’t just a recap of big races. It’s a deep dive into the decisions, experiments, and principles that shape Zach’s approach to ultrarunning — and the lessons any runner can pull from someone who’s spent years testing what actually works.

Here’s what we dig into:

• How Zach approaches pacing 100 miles — and how to find your own sustainable rhythm

• The fueling strategy that helped him consistently take in nearly 96g of carbs per hour

• Why he shifted to a high-carbohydrate approach after years of doing things differently

• The value of running intuitively instead of being glued to data

• How he structures big training blocks to stay consistent long-term

• How he decides when to push, when to hold back, and how he manages risk on race day

• The project driving his motivation now: completing 10 sub–12-hour 100 milers

• What he’s learned about longevity and staying competitive over time

This episode offers a ton of insight into what really goes into improving, adapting, and staying in the sport for the long haul.

About Zach Bitter

Zach Bitter is one of the world’s top ultramarathon athletes, best known for breaking the 100-mile world record, running multiple sub–12-hour 100 milers, and holding the 12-hour world record.

With more than a decade of elite performances on the track, trail, and road, Zach combines deep experience with a highly analytical approach to training, fueling, and performance — making him one of the most respected voices in the sport today.

Huge thank you to Zach for coming on the show!

SHOW LINKS:

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Zach's Website: Zachbitter.com

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