Accept Defeat & Take A Seat: Harvey Lewis and Mark Dowdle Face Tennessee's Brutal Mid-State Mile
About this episode
Hosts David and Matt discuss mindset and strategy in ultra running with guests Harvey Lewis and Mark Dowdle.
This week on the Dirt & Vert Podcast, we are bringing you a heavy-hitting episode packed with prestige, mindset, and some serious backyard ultra strategy. Hosts David and Matt are joined by two of the absolute animals on the USA Backyard Ultra team: the legendary Harvey Lewis and the powerhouse Mark Dowdle. Fresh off their massive battle at the BPN Last Man Standing event, Harvey and Mark are joining forces—and going head-to-head—at Tennessee’s notorious Mid-State Mile in Franklin. They dive deep into why they are stepping out of their comfort zones to face 340 feet of grueling elevation gain per loop, how they handle the intense external pressure of media-heavy races, and the specific mental shifts required when the quitting mindset starts sounding reasonable. Mark shares his transition from college lacrosse to running after being inspired by a David Goggins podcast, while Harvey reflects on his incredible longevity in the sport, having run ultras longer than Mark has been alive. We deconstruct the unique format of Mid-State—where you have a strict 20 minutes to complete 340 feet of elevation gain and loss—and exchange veteran advice on managing body temperature in 90%…
People in this episode
Hosts: David, Matt
Guests: Harvey Lewis, Mark Dowdle
Topics covered
- backyard ultra
- mental strategy
- running
- elevation gain
- ultra endurance
- sports mindset
Keywords
- backyard ultra
- Harvey Lewis
- Mark Dowdle
- Mid-State Mile
- elevation gain
- running strategy
- mental toughness
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: USA Backyard Ultra
Books & works: David Goggins podcast
Places: Tennessee, Franklin
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