The Ultra Running Guys

This episode is about you, the listener, and the rest of the Ultra Running Guys family. And the gratitude that we have for all you have given us, and for allowing us to join forces with you on this epic journey. Because of you, we have learned so much, met people and built friendships that we never would have otherwise, and somehow managed to eclipse 206,000 downloads over the life of the show. And for a couple of guys who were blown away when we hit 50 downloads, trying to figure out who in the world besides our wives and moms would actually take the time to listen, it feels like quite the accomplishment. But again, the credit is yours. And for that, we can’t say THANK YOU enough. And so, for our final show, we are going back to where it all started, bringing back the man who was the catalyst for our first Podcast, and has since become a lifelong friend. Join Steve Epifano as he helps us walk down memory lane and hopefully gracefully close out the Final episode of The Ultra Running Guys Podcast. We appreciate you and remember, when in doubt, Just Show Up.

Lisa McFadden is an amazingly accomplished runner with over 100 ultras completed, including twenty 100 milers. She is also one of only a handful of people on the planet to complete the Triple Crown of the Last Annual Tennessee Journey runs, put on by that evil genius and previous guest Lazarus Lake, which is comprised of the Vol State (314 miles which she has completed twice), The Last annual Heart of the South (340 miles), and culminating in The Last Annual Third Circle of Hell race which was an astonishing 371 miles. And if that wasn’t enough, she took on the 2024 Barkley Marathons with 3 weeks notice for entry and then toed the line at Western States where she missed the official time cutoff at a heartbreaking 98 miles into the race, but still continued on to finish the legendary course. Take us on your long run to hear our incredible conversation with Lisa and soak in all the value that she provides. Enjoy the episode!

Chris Rice got his start as an adventure racer and has since racked up more than 90 events on UltraSignup. We were lucky enough to shake hands with him recently at the Loopy Looper 100 miler where we witnessed his sub 24 hour finish , teaming up with prior guest Michael "Gagz" Gagliardi to tough out the last 3 hours of the race. And to hint at the grit this guy has, the Loopy Looper was just 10 days after his 4th Badwater 135 finish. He is now preparing for the 153 mile Spartathlon on September 28, and then The Arizona Monster 300 in April 0f 2025. So plug in to hear what makes him tick and how he is approaching a 300+ mile challenge. Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: The Final Countdown

REGISTRATION DISCOUNT! We wanted to tell you this first, in case you didn't read all the way to the bottom. If you want to register for the 2024 Rio Del Lago 100m or the 50k, you can get a 15% discount when you register using the code URGRIO and is good through Oct 25, 2024. About the race... the Rio Del Lago 100m starts at Folsom Lake Recreation Area in the Sierra-Nevada Foothills, and travels across woodlands, meadows, across bridges and creeks. The variety of the terrain is something that both veteran runners and those tackling their first 100 miler will enjoy. The course starts off relatively flat, and gets most of its elevation in the second half which tops out under 14,000 feet of gain/loss. The race takes place on November 2 and is the LAST qualifying race on the 2024 calendar to get your ticket for the 2025 Western States lottery for those finishing in the 30 hour cutoff. Joining us today to talk about her race is the RD, Julie Fingar, who is no stranger to the ultra running community, and has over 90 races on ultrasignup to her own credit. Race spotlight recommended by Doug Crumley Photo: Jesse Ellis Photography @letswanderphotography Rio Del Lago 100 Information Race website: http://www.rio100mile.com/ Registration: Rio Del Lago 100 IG: @norcalultras Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 14, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s

Rebecca Scott is a fighter! A quick scan of her UltraSignup will definitely show that she’s tough, with a podium finish in 12 of the 27 listed events, but what it won’t show you are the obstacles that she has had to overcome to get here. Because the truth is that life is not always fair, and adversity is not evenly distributed, but she is a glaring example that even in the face of overwhelming odds, we all have the power to persevere. And in her case, to share extra positivity with those around her. Her goal at every ultra is to bring a smile to someone in the race, Because, in her own words, “You have no idea what someone has struggled with, and if you can bring a little light to their darkness, you are doing well.” So plug into to hear her inspiring story, why her kids had to kick her out of the car at Mile 80 of the Rocky Raccoon 100, and what type of race she swears to never do again after a recent, hard fought DFL experience. And also, a huge congrats for just taking on the Speedgoat 50K! Hard fought and well deserved! Be sure to give her a follow on IG at @rscott_ocrmomma! Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 14, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s

Avery Matthews is one of the kindest human beings you will ever come across. She is also one of the toughest. We sat down with her shortly after her agonizing DNF at mile 99 of the Grindstone 100 and got a chance to see what makes her tick. To say it was inspiring would be a major understatement.Avery will just so happen to be hitting the course at the Rim To River 100 on the same day that this episode drops so give it a listen and then send her some love and encouragement. She can use it during her recovery before she also takes on the @dirty_wolf_racing Beast Of The East 100 in December. We just featured that race in Episode 92 so check it out if you haven't already.Be sure to connect with Avery at @thelowcountryrunner and let us know what your favorite takeaway is! Enjoy! Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hydra⁠⁠⁠⁠ - April 20, 2024 Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - TBD, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s

Joel Cervantes is one of the toughest people we have ever talked to. He works nightshift as a nurse for special needs kids, cross trains like a madman, ran his first 100 miles in his neighborhood to "prepare" for a 100 miler, and just tackled the MOAB 240 in October. On top of it all, he is an amazing, positive guy. Hit him up on IG at @hownowbrownjoel and send him some love. Enjoy the episode!

Will Frantz is a nutrition coach trained by Precision Nutrition and The Nutrition Coaching Instititute and is also an NASM Certified Personal Trainer. In this episode we dive into the nuts and bolts of endurqnce nutrition for both training and race day, and also discuss the topic over training vs. under recovering. Be sure to plug into Will's FB Group "Trail And Ultra Nutrition" and visit his website www.willfrantz.com Enjoy the episode!

To commemorate launching our first event as race directors, we thought it was only fitting to release an episode with one of the most iconic RD's in ultra running history! Chris Kostman is the legend behind The Badwater 135 and we had such a good time picking his brain about the race, ultra endurance, his personal experience as an athlete, and more. You don't want to miss this one. You can follow Chris and Badwater at @chriskostman and @badwaterhq and check out the Badwater website at www.badwater.com

Patrick Dunlap hit bottom in 2014, weighing in at 350 pounds. But following weight loss surgery in 2014, Patrick leaned into his disciplines, dropped 195 pounds, and soon found peace on his daily runs. Before long, he stumbled into the world of ultra running and used his "Do More" mentality to set his sights on conquering the 100 mile distance. We so enjoyed chatting with him about his successes and struggles, his journey with mindfulness, and even a big crash and burn during his first Pine Creek Challenge. Tune in and connect with Patrick as he prepares to take on the Pine Creek 50 miler on Sep 11, 2021. Enjoy the episode. And remember, you can always "Do More." #JustShowUp

Nate Christy crashed and burned while trying to tackle the Hell Hole 212 mile run in 2020. After recovering from the sting of that DNF, Nate returned this past June more determined than ever to conquer this Beast of a run. Hear first hand what he has learned, how he trained, and what it means to consistently Just Show Up. Be sure to follow Nate on Instagram at @train.n8.train. Enjoy the episode!

Not only does Kent Mullins have a much cooler accent than either of us, he is also the founder of Run4YourLife , an organization that centers around running to battle mental health issues. In this episode we dive into Kent's personal struggles, explore Run4YourLife and the impact it's making, and hear the aftermath of his recent first ultra effort...where he thought he may have broken his feet. 😁 Enjoy! Follow Kent and Run4YourLIfe on IG below! Kent: www.instagram.com/the_imperfect_athlete/ Run4Your Life: www.instagram.com/run.4yourlife/

Ray Berlanga has quickly become one of our favorite people on the planet. As the self proclaimed slowest ultra runner on the course, his approach to training, racing, and just having a good old time is refreshing. But don't let him fool you...Ray as completed five 100+ mile efforts and has a distance PR of 144 miles. Catch the entire episode on Saturday, 5/22 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Enjoy! And be sure to follow Ray on IG at https://www.instagram.com/ray_ray_runner/