The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting 431 - Hybrid Training 3: Mixing Ultramarathon and Strength Training with James Pieratt
Sep 1, 2025
James Pieratt, founder of Runs Wild Hunt Conditioning and an ultramarathoner, shares insights from his incredible 802-mile run through California's indigenous sites. He discusses the synergy between ultrarunning and strength training, emphasizing how both enhance athletic performance. The conversation dives into the emotional trials of endurance athletes, the significance of training regimens, and the science behind optimal hybrid training. James also highlights the essential balance of strength and endurance for injury prevention and overall health.
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Retracing Native Messenger Routes
- James retraced Native American messenger routes across California, running between historic indigenous sites from San Diego to the Yurok village.
- The expedition covered 802.1 miles of an intended 1,018-mile tour and lasted 24 days and 6 hours.
Horses Rewrote Continental History
- Horseriding arrival transformed North American societies and ended the long era when long-distance runners were central to communication.
- Escaped Spanish horses reshaped continental power dynamics for centuries, enabling empires like the Comanche.
Studying Indigenous Running Traditions
- James studied traditional long-distance running cultures and analyzed photographs and rituals to infer pacing, gait, and diet habits of indigenous runners.
- He notes messengers sometimes carried desiccated bison heart for nutrition and ritual during runs.
