In this episode, we meet Rhonda Bompensa-Zimmerman, a fan of the channel who posted on my Facebook profile after finishing the Sedona Canyons 125 in May. A chance meeting with a trail runner in October of last year introduced her to the idea of trail running, and Rhonda jumped into it head first, signing up for the Sedona Canyons 125 and then running a few smaller ultras in the winter and spring as training runs. In this inspiring conversation, Rhonda shares how trail running and the ultra community have helped her find her true self in the midst of life's struggles.

In this episode we meet Lorenzio Cota, a fan of the channel who I met in March during the Badger Mountain 50 miler, which was Lorenzio's first finish at this distance. Lorenzio's training involved using pre-set plans from his KOROS watch and from Training Peaks, highlighting the effectiveness of structured training even without using a personal coach.

In this episode, we meet Mike McGinnis. He's a channel member who shared in a comment that he had finished his first 50-miler just a few months ago, so I invited him on to be one of our first guests for this new Ultra Origins series. Mike began running at the age of 48, starting with a Disney half marathon. With guidance from his brother and a group of seasoned runners, he progressed to ultra marathons. Mike's recent 50-mile finish was a triumphant comeback after a previous DNF at the same event. Join us as Mike shares his training regimen, the challenges he faced, and the determination that fueled his journey from half marathons to the ultra distance.