Distance To Empty

In this episode, the hosts are joined by Francis Picard for a bonus intro guest. Francis recently completed the Badwater 135 race. They discuss Francis' experience at the race, including the challenging start, managing nutrition in the heat, and dealing with bees along the course. They also talk about the high and low points of the race and whether they would do it again. In the second part of the episode, they interview Connor, the first and only finisher of the Mighty Gallatin, a rugged 300+ mile stage race in Montana. Connor discusses his experience participating in the Mighty Gallatin, a stage run in Montana covering 281 miles over seven days. He shares the challenges of the course, including difficult navigation, rugged terrain, extreme elevations, and unpredictable weather. Connor also talks about the communal aspect of the event, where all the runners and volunteers shared a campground each night, creating a unique bond. He emphasizes the importance of preparation, refueling, and taking care of his feet each day. Connor's thru-hiking background and experience in ultra running helped him navigate the course and move efficiently. Connor shares his experience of finishing the Mighty Gallatin, a 200+ mile race in Montana. He describes the excitement and camaraderie among the participants and the emotional moment of crossing the finish line together. Connor also reflects on the mental challenges of the race and the importance of staying positive and shifting mindset during low moments. He discusses his future plans, including racing in France and pursuing fastest known times (FKTs). Connor highlights the beauty of the Montana wilderness and the need to make events like the Mighty Gallatin more accessible to others. He also shares his encounters with wildlife, including a close encounter with a black bear.

Megan Eckert, an ultra runner, shares her journey in the sport and her recent success at Six Days in the Dome. She started with a half marathon and fell in love with the distance, eventually transitioning to trail marathons and ultras. Megan found success in looped courses and backyard style races, enjoying the timed events and the community. She ran 526 miles at Six Days in the Dome, proving her ability to handle the distance. Megan emphasizes the importance of strength training and listening to her body for recovery. She approaches races with a gamification mindset and finds motivation in the support of her crew and the camaraderie of the running community. Megan Eckert discusses her experience in multi-day ultra races, including the challenges of changing her diet during a race and the importance of trusting her crew. She also talks about her approach to heat training and her interest in participating in 200-mile trail races. Megan shares her coaching experience and how she hopes to inspire her students to pursue running. She reflects on her lowest low in a race and her highest high, as well as her favorite food and gear for multi-day events. Megan concludes by stating that she is still searching for her distance to empty.

Charlie Catalano, an ultra runner with type 1 diabetes, shares his journey into the sport and his experience running the Tahoe 200. He discusses the challenges of managing his diabetes while training and racing, including monitoring his blood glucose levels and adjusting his insulin intake. Charlie emphasizes the importance of thriving (not just surviving!) with a chronic illness and finding support within the diabetic athlete community. He also highlights how he strategically used race cutoffs to his advantage, maximizing his care, sleep, and fueling during the race. Charlie shares his experience of participating in the Tahoe 200 race, a 200-mile ultra-endurance event. He discusses the importance of self-care and rest during the race, as well as the strategy of allowing oneself more time to rest in order to maximize performance. Charlie emphasizes the beauty of first-time experiences and the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a challenging race. He also reflects on the impact of ultra-running on his perspective on life, highlighting the belief that one can do hard things and the importance of commitment and perseverance. Charlie shares his future race plans and expresses gratitude for the support and inspiration he has received from the ultra-running community.

Melanie White shares her experience running the Tahoe 200 mile race, discussing the challenges she faced, including vomiting, breathing issues, and quad problems. She highlights the beauty of the course and the camaraderie among runners and volunteers. Melanie emphasizes the importance of sleep during the race and her ability to nap quickly. She also mentions the hot dog incident at the aid station and the pivotal moment when she was able to eat a Crunchwrap Supreme. Kevin Goldberg, her husband and pacer, provides additional insights and support throughout the conversation. In this conversation, Melanie reflects on her experience running the Tahoe 200 race. She discusses the challenges she faced, including quad issues and tough sections of the course. Melanie also shares her mindset during the race and her determination to finish despite the difficulties. She talks about the weather conditions, her favorite moments, and the support she received from her crew. Additionally, Melanie highlights the importance of having a strong 'why' and supporting organizations like Free to Run. The conversation concludes with a gear review and a fun segment of Let's Get Deep.

Jessica Wicks shares her journey from a non-runner to a 200-mile ultra runner, discussing her background, mental and physical challenges, and the unique experiences of being a back-of-the-pack runner. She also highlights the community, spiritual transformation, and the joy of meeting forever friends on the course. In this conversation, Jessica Wicks discusses her experiences with ultra-running, including insights into the unique challenges and rewards of participating in 200-mile races. She shares her thoughts on the spiritual and personal growth aspects of these races, as well as her upcoming race plans and training strategies.

Rachel Entrekin shares her journey into ultrarunning and her experience at the Cocodona 250 race. She talks about how she got into running and gradually progressed to longer distances. Rachel discusses her goals for the race, including enjoying the experience, finishing, and sleeping in a bed by Thursday evening. She also talks about the challenges she faced during the race, including nutrition issues and getting sick. Rachel highlights the importance of having a supportive crew and trusting their decisions. She also mentions the competitiveness of the women's field and hopes to see more women excel at this distance. Rachel reflects on her experience at Cocodona 250, highlighting the challenging climb up Mount Elden and the importance of knowing the course. She discusses the differences between timed track events and mountainous ultras, expressing a preference for the social aspect of timed events. Rachel also mentions her interest in attempting longer multi-day FKTs and the financial challenges of participating in destination trail events. She advises newcomers to rely on a supportive crew and emphasizes the significance of rest during the race. Rachel's highest high was the surprise visit from her run club friends, and her favorite gear was the sun shirt she wore throughout the race.

In this episode, the hosts and guest discuss the Tahoe 200 mile endurance run, providing a detailed course preview and sharing personal experiences from the race. They cover various sections of the course, including the start at Heavenly to Armstrong Pass, Armstrong to Housewife Hill, Heavenly to Spooner, Spooner Summit to Village Green, Brockway Summit to Tahoe City, and more. The conversation also delves into the challenges, highlights, and unique aspects of each section, as well as the overall experience of the race. Chad shares his experiences and memories from the Tahoe 200 race, discussing aid stations, weather conditions, trail sections, and the challenges of sleep deprivation. He also talks about his upcoming races and the significance of the Arizona Monster 300 and the Triple Crown of 200s.

Michael Koppy shares his journey into ultra running, from his high school running experiences to his transition into ultra triathlons and eventually 200-mile races. He discusses his approach to training, the transformative experience of running 200s, and his FKT achievements on long trails. The conversation also touches on age-related achievements and the future of his running goals. Michael Koppy, an experienced ultra runner, shares insights on defying age limitations, maintaining physical health, and efficient race strategies. He emphasizes the importance of movement, strength training, and efficient aid station protocols. His upcoming races and future goals reflect his relentless pursuit of new challenges and distances.

Shop Ketl Mountain Apparel here Jake Jackson discusses his experience running the Cocodona 250 race, including his training approach, sleep strategy, and challenges faced during the race. He talks about the mental and physical preparation required for a multi-day race and the importance of having a supportive crew. Jake also shares his memorable moments and surprises along the course, as well as the gear and nutrition adjustments he made for the race. Jake Jackson discusses his experience at the Cocodona 250 race and his decision to sign up for the race again in 2025. He reflects on the challenges he faced during the race and the lessons he learned. Jake talks about the importance of nutrition, sleep, and training for steep climbs. He also shares his thoughts on foot care and the water crossings during the race. Jake discusses his future goals, including making the US 24-hour national team, and offers advice for first-time 200-mile racers.

Brody Chisholm recently completed the 2024 Cocodona 250, finishing in 12th place. He learned about the race last year when he hiked the Arizona Trail and followed along with Cocodona. His family also participated in the Elden Crest 38 last year. Initially, his mom was going to be his crew chief, but his older brother and mom decided to run as well. They divided their family and friends into three crews. Brody had his dad as his crew chief and his little brother and cousin as his main pacers. He had a secret goal of beating the course record of 69 hours, but he ended up finishing in 75 hours. Despite that, he was happy with his performance and the support from his family. Brody Chisholm, a 17-year-old ultra-runner, shares his experience and insights from completing the Cocodona 250-mile race. He discusses the initial skepticism and split reactions from his crew members about his ambitious goal. Brody's motivation to push the limits of human endurance stems from his competitive nature and desire to be the best. He compares the competition in track and cross-country races, which last minutes, to the endurance races that last for days. Brody reflects on the mental and physical challenges he faced during the race and the importance of sleep and nutrition. He also shares his future plans and advice for young athletes interested in long-distance running. Brody Chisholm finished the 2024 CocoDona 250 in 12th place He had a secret goal of beating the course record of 69 hours His family participated in the race as well, with his mom and older brother running They divided their family and friends into three crews Brody had his dad as his crew chief and his little brother and cousin as his main pacers He used strategic planning to determine when and where to have pacers Through hiking experience helped him with mental toughness and overcoming lows He believes there will eventually be a super hybrid athlete who excels in both running and hiking Brody's performance impressed others in the race and received support and admiration Ambitious goals can elicit mixed reactions, but having a balance of skepticism and belief can indicate a good goal. Motivation to push the limits of human endurance can come from a combination of personal drive and upbringing. The competition in endurance races differs from track and cross-country races, but there are similarities in the mental and physical challenges. Sleep and nutrition play crucial roles in the success of ultra-runners. Young athletes interested in long-distance running should start with shorter races and gradually work their way up, while maintaining a focus on personal goals and enjoying the process.