From Cattle Ranching to 100 Mile Races with "Beef Runner" Ryan Goodman

About this episode

Ryan Goodman discusses his journey from cattle ranching to running 100-mile races, sharing insights on training and the unique relationship between ranchers and trail runners.

Ryan Goodman grew up on a cattle ranch in Arkansas, studied beef cattle science at Oklahoma State University, and now manages WSU's beef cattle research program as Beef Cattle Operations Manager in Pullman, Washington, where he also teaches hands-on lab courses to the next generation of pre-veterinary students. Online, he goes by @BeefRunner. He also runs a lot of 100-mile races. In this conversation, Zoë and Brendan talk with Ryan about what six weeks of calving season: sleepless, high-stakes, completely indifferent to your training plan, taught him about finishing a hundred-miler, and why "one thing at a time" works as well in the Crazy Mountains of Montana as it does on a ranch at 2 a.m. They get into the complicated but more negotiable than you'd think relationship between ranchers and trail runners, the farm-versus-ranch distinction (I-35 is the line, roughly), why the heifers following you on BLM trail are curious not threatening, and Red Dirt music as the ultrarunning soundtrack you didn't know you needed. Also: cow tipping, the correct post-ultra meal, and whether Pullman counts as a town. This week's featured race is Mujeres and Marigolds, a women's only event with a 5k…

People in this episode

Hosts: Zoë, Brendan

Guest: Ryan Goodman

Topics covered

• cattle ranching
• ultrarunning
• training
• relationship between ranchers and trail runners
• calving season
• women's running events

Keywords

• Ryan Goodman
• cattle ranching
• 100-mile races
• training
• Mujeres and Marigolds
• Red Dirt music
• calving season
• trail running

Sponsors

TrailCon

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oklahoma State University, WSU

Books & works: Red Dirt music

Places: Pullman, Washington, Arkansas, Montana

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