The Significance of Running 100 Miles

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The speakers discuss the significance of running 100 miles compared to 26 miles and how it reveals more about oneself. They highlight the high representation of STEM professionals in ultramarathons and the various variables that runners must navigate. The chapter also discusses the skills that are likely to hold people back in endurance activities and emphasizes the self-reliance and toughness of those who engage in these activities.

Lazarus Lake is a renowned ultramarathon runner and designer. His most famous creation (along with his friend Raw Dog) is the Barkley Marathons, an absurdly difficult 100-mile race through the Tennessee wilderness that only 17 people have ever finished in its nearly 30-year existence.

Tyler and Laz discuss what running 100 miles tells you about yourself that running 26 miles does not, why so many STEM professionals do ultramarathons, which skill holds people back the most, why his entrance fee is no more or less than $1.60, the importance of the Barkley’s opaque application process, how much each race costs to mount, whether he sees a decline in stoicism and inner strength in America, what accounting taught him about running, which books influenced him the most, who's going to win the NBA title next year, how he’s coping with increasing fame, the competition he’s most focused on now, and more.

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Recorded June 29th, 2023.

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