Free Outside Voicing the Pain Cave with Chris Worden
Today on the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with the voice of Cocodona and one of the most passionate people in trail running media—Chris Worden. With over 150 races on UltraSignup and years of experience in both radio and accounting, Chris shares the wild journey from small-town sports broadcasting to being the emotional anchor of ultrarunning’s most epic live streams.
Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clword77/
We talk about what goes into calling a multi-day race like Cocodona, the behind-the-scenes chaos (including some live broadcast bloopers), how Aravaipa has become the gold standard in race coverage, and why accessibility and storytelling are fueling the sport’s explosion. Plus, Chris opens up about getting into Western States this year after six years of lottery heartbreak—and what it means.
If you’ve ever gotten sucked into the Cocodona livestream chat, dreamed of finishing your first ultra, or wondered how the heck someone commentates for 100 hours straight, this episode is for you.
And yes... I made Chris call my 2025 Cocodona finish before I’ve even toed the line. So, technically I’ve already won.
Support our sponsors Janji.com and GarageGrownGear.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Trail Running and Commentary
03:00 The Journey into Live Streaming and Broadcasting
06:07 Memorable Events and Personal Experiences in Commentary
08:50 The Evolution of Ultra Running and Accessibility
11:59 The Future of Ultra Running Events
14:52 Pre-Production and Storytelling in Broadcasting
21:03 The Impact of Broadcasting on the Community
24:14 Challenges and Learning Experiences in Commentary
27:54 Navigating Live Broadcasts and Viewer Engagement
30:14 The Evolution of Live Streaming in Ultra Running
33:10 Engagement Through Chat: The Double-Edged Sword
36:45 The Importance of Experience and Dedication
39:50 The Future of Ultra Running Coverage
47:38 Chris's Journey to Western States
56:14 The Emotional Connection of Trail Running
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