"The Dirt" Trailrunning Podcast

Are you preparing for your first 50 mile race? Are you stepping up from the 50k distance & wondering what it will take to tackle your biggest athletic challenge to date? In this episode, OMR coaches Loretta & Reese discuss the differences between training, racing, nutrition, & mindset when making the leap from 50k racing to 50 mile racing. Even the veterans will find some interesting view points in here.

Ultrarunning is clean-cut & black & white, right? Wrong. There's nuance, there's struggle, there's success & failure in every race - whether we hit our goals or not. In this episode, OMR coaches Loretta & Reese reconvene after a brief hiatus to discuss their failures in success, & success in failure with their recent races. This episode has it all - racing strategy, psychology, life lessons, & personal experience.

Kyle Braund joins OMR crew to talk about running his first Galena Sky Trail race. He crushed the 4 hour race with 28.59 miles to finish 2nd overall. Right behind Reese Slobodianuk who set a course record with 31.01 miles. It is fun to hear how he prepared, managed the course and his thoughts on the community.

Crewing an Ultramarathon! What is crew? Who are crew? When can you use crew? What should you consider for your crew? Today, OMR Coach Loretta schools coach Reese on the ins & outs of what it means to be crewed during an ultra. Get ready for a knowledge bomb that's hotter than a pair of chaffed thighs.

This week brings you another discussion between coaches Loretta & Reese about Galena Sky Race! Get a taste of what you'll encounter during this looped course & how you can prepare for the event! The coaches talk about training, fueling, course specifics, & even some entertaining stories from Coach Reese's experience at the race.

What does it take to run for a cause, prepare for a journey, & attempt the 1,200 mile Ice Age Trail? This week, coaches Loretta & Reese have an in-depth conversation with Sarah Krebs before she embarks on her IAT thru-run attempt. They discuss the critical components of Sarah's goal that include "why", "how", & "how long". There's value in Sarah's story for everyone to hear - you won't want to miss it!

This episode is in loving memory of James "Jim" Briscoe. August 15, 1959 - April 28, 2023 Our running family is very important to us. The OMR team gathered together after Earth Day Trail Races to recap the event. It meant a lot to us to be able to have Jim Briscoe on our show. We recorded the Wednesday after Earth Day. Jim eloquently talks about his love for the running community and shares wise words from his heart. We were all heartbroken when Jim left us here on Earth a couple days after the show. His wife Vivian is grateful we have his recorded words. She has listened to the show and wants it to be released. The show includes Michele Hartwig, Jeff Lenard, Jeff Goodmanson, Jim Briscoe, Nicki Wright, Sid Wegener, and Natalie Brunson sharing race stories. On the Ornery Mule Racing YouTube version of this show we play photos of Jim with all his friends and family. Our prayers go out to his spouse Vivian and all of Jim's family. Our 2024 Earth Day Trail Race will be dedicated to Jim. We are going to include one of his favorite sayings on the race shirt, and design the shirt in some of his favorite colors. We are doing this with the help of his wife Vivian who will be running the race.

Kettle Moraine 100, it's that time again! Get the inside edge about the course and what it takes to have a strong finish with OMR coaches Loretta & Reese. Not running Kettle? No worries, you'll find something to take away for your next race.

On today's episode coaches Loretta & Reese express the importance of hill training for race preparation. After a short intro, Coach Reese reflects about his mindset while managing a busy schedule, the pair explore how hills can be programmed to increase your chance of success. Whether your race is flat or hilly, you'll want to hear what they thing about hills can make you a stronger athlete.