Allison Mercer drops a one-month-in “ins and outs of 2026” list that should be printed and taped to every smartphone: ranting to your phone is out, solutions and actual dialogue are in. From the chaos of Burrito League to the hype of the Millrose Games, we bounce between weather-whiplash field reporting, race-culture grievances (selfie sticks, pacers, entitlement), and a very biased Black Canyon 100K preview with picks, storylines, and the important reminder that community is built by showing up, not shouting into the void.

Chapters

00:00 2026: A Year of Change and Observations

02:43 Ranting vs. Solutions: A New Approach

05:32 Weather Woes: A Running Perspective

07:23 Running Czar: Changes in the Race World

10:18 Behind the Scenes: Understanding Race Logistics

11:49 Personal Achievements: Racing Stories and Reflections

15:12 Bucket List Dreams: Olympic Aspirations

17:55 Community Engagement: The Burrito League Experience

21:44 Milrose Games: Indoor Track Insights

32:54 Racing Dynamics and Athlete Strategies

38:54 Emerging Talents and Competitive Landscape

43:52 Youth in Sports: Pressure and Performance

45:38 The Impact of Betting on Professional Sports

49:54 Trail Running: Anticipation for Black Canyon

58:00 Golden Ticket Races: Opportunities and Challenges

01:03:48 Women's Race Preview: Anticipation and Insights

01:06:31 Key Athletes to Watch: Molly Seidel and Tara Dower

01:09:37 Emerging Talents: Jade and Shai's Breakout Potential

01:14:11 Race Strategies and Turnarounds: Caitriona Jennings and Others

01:18:54 Marathoners Transitioning to Ultra: Des Linden's Debut

01:23:42 Strava Insights: The New Age of Training Analysis

01:26:42 Final Thoughts: Predictions and Weekend Highlights

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Ben Dhiman has one of the best names in the sport, and he actually earned it. We talk nicknames, alter egos, and the wild cat energy he taps into when racing, then rewind to the thru hiking years that shaped his brain, his grit, and his need to keep pushing the edge. From the AT and CDT to the Hayduke and a full-on Himalayan mission in Nepal, Ben explains why big adventures can be both glorious and miserable, and why thru hiking can “ruin you” in the best and worst ways.

Then we follow the pivot into trail running, pacing Hardrock almost by accident, showing up to races undertrained on hiking fitness and stubborn confidence, and eventually forcing the door down in Europe the old-school way, by racing hard and winning. We also get into family, balancing ambition with real life, his coaching philosophy, and why he treats winter as an off season where the work goes up and the pounding goes down.

Chapters

00:00 The Origins of the 'Demon' Nickname

05:34 Mental Clarity Through Hiking

08:25 The Impact of Thru-Hiking on Personal Growth

11:38 Transitioning to Trail Running

14:37 The Journey to Becoming a Competitive Runner

17:34 Navigating the World of Sponsorships

20:25 Racing in Europe vs. America

23:23 The Challenge of Proving Oneself

26:16 The Evolution of Thru-Hiking Experiences

30:49 Navigating the Wilderness: From Maps to Experience

33:18 The Call of the Himalayas: Planning the Adventure

35:06 Challenges in the Himalayas: Red Tape and Realities

37:58 Surviving the Elements: A Tale of Perseverance

41:43 The Role of Guides: Navigating Culture and Communication

43:24 Resupply Strategies: Making the Most of Local Resources

45:29 Reflections on Thru-Hiking: Contentment and Progression

49:35 Shifting Focus: From Thru-Hiking to Ultra Running

56:22 The Addictive Nature of Adventure: Community vs. Solitude

56:53 The Community of Thru-Hiking

01:00:28 Mental States in Long-Distance Hiking

01:05:57 The Dynamics of Team vs. Solo Hiking

01:12:37 Coaching and Evolving as an Athlete

01:19:05 Skiing as a Complement to Running

01:20:56 The Journey of Thru-Hiking and Ultra Running

01:21:28 Living Abroad and Competitive Spirit in Sports

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

I’ve struggled to record this episode. Lately, it’s been harder to run, harder to feel motivated, and harder to know what to do in a world that feels increasingly loud, divided, and unjust.

This episode is about words without action, the illusion of impact created by social media, and the lessons the trail has taught me about accountability, humility, and real work. Community isn’t built by the loudest voices. It’s built by the people who show up when no one is watching.

If you’re angry, frustrated, or unsure where to put that energy, this is my attempt to talk through it.

Chapters

00:00 The Challenge of Communication in a Noisy World

02:58 Words vs. Actions: The Need for Authenticity

06:06 The Importance of Community and Real Impact

08:56 Harnessing Emotions for Positive Change

11:51 The Role of Consistency in Achieving Goals

15:13 Navigating Authority and Accountability

17:43 The Slow Path to Progress and Real Change

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Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

In this episode, I sit down with Krista, winner of the Jeffrey Award for Most Tragic FKT, to talk about what might be the happiest tragic FKT of all time. We start with the infamous double Tahoe Rim Trail effort, an adventure that was never officially recognized, never really meant to be an FKT, and somehow still earned an award. From there, the conversation spirals in the best possible way.

We get into thru-hiking origins, trail names, COVID-era Appalachian Trail chaos, living in vehicles, selling bikes in Poland, walking across Europe, scary moments on trail, bear encounters, ultra running detours, and the strange emotional comedown that follows big goals. Krista is thoughtful, honest, funny, and self-aware in a way that makes this episode feel less like an interview and more like two people trying to understand why we keep choosing hard, inconvenient adventures.

We also accidentally pitch a thru-hiker assisted living facility, question the economics of adventure, and agree that sometimes the process matters more than the recognition. This is one of those conversations that reminds me why I love long trails, long runs, and talking to people who are willing to build unconventional lives around curiosity and movement.

Follow Krista on Instagra: https://www.instagram.com/kristafas/

Chapters

00:00 The Tragic FKT Award

01:54 The Tahoe Rim Trail Experience

03:50 Travel Adventures and Countries Visited

06:52 Biking vs. Hiking: A Personal Preference

09:52 The European Adventure: From Biking to Hiking

12:44 Challenges and Changes in Travel Plans

15:32 Scary Moments on the Trail

18:29 The Journey of Thru-Hiking

21:51 COVID-19 and the AT Experience

25:45 The PCT and CDT: A New Chapter

29:35 Post-Triple Crown Adventures

31:35 Transitioning to Ultra Running

32:56 The Journey into Ultra Running

35:02 The Draw to Challenging Adventures

37:12 Coping with Post-Trail Depression

39:00 Living the Adventure Lifestyle

42:01 Making Sacrifices for Adventure

45:01 Life Lessons from Thru-Hiking

50:33 Transformative Experiences in Nature

53:38 Wildlife Encounters and Their Impact

57:03 Innovative Ideas for the Future of Adventure

01:02:59 Introduction to Outdoor Adventures

01:03:28 Sponsorships and Support for the Show

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Today on the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by Coleman Cragun, the winner of the Jeffrey Derrick Lytle Award, which is an honor with a proud tradition and a clear meaning (none of that is true). Coleman is an up and coming trail talent with the most relaxed confidence imaginable, and a nickname that may or may not stick: The Kraken.

We get into Coleman’s origin story, including the moment he saw the Southern Utah University team running tempos, held the gap, and decided, “I can do this.” From there it became a yearlong grind: emailing the coach for qualifying times, self-coaching off podcasts, and then his mom stepping in to find him a coach in Cedar City. That coach was Hayden Hawks, which Coleman somehow did not realize was a big deal at the time. Hayden helped him hit the marks, showed up with a stopwatch, and even emailed proof to the coach. Coleman walked on ready to travel, compete, and immediately level up his goals.

Then we bounce into the trail side: why the mountains pulled him in, the summer of living on trails in places like the Sawtooths, chasing Strava crowns, and eventually committing fully to the sport. Coleman breaks down the biggest transition from college running to ultras (fitness matters, but nutrition, pacing, and durability decide everything), tells stories from racing and training in Thailand with Hayden (including a fall that cost him the win), and talks through the nerves and excitement of stepping up to the 100K at Black Canyon with golden ticket dreams.

We also cover what the grind actually looks like when you have a full-time job, a long commute, double runs, and no time to eat like a normal human. Plus, the most unhinged training environment imaginable: working at a fishing lodge in Alaska and running ten miles at 11 pm on a dock where 20 laps equals one mile, until one night he found bears at the turnaround and ended up sleeping in a boat in the rain.

It’s a fun one, and Coleman is the real deal. If you like stories about earning it the hard way, learning the trail game, and chasing big goals without taking yourself too seriously, you’ll like this episode.

Follow Coleman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleman_cragun/

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Comedic impressionist Dylisms is here. He has LOUDLY become one of the funniest voices in trail running by doing spot-on (and occasionally unhinged) impressions of the sport we all take way too seriously.

We get into how he makes viral running videos using nothing but his phone, his car, and pure chaos, why he waited to run an ultra before posting running content, and how trail running compares to climbing, skating, and just… exercising for a really long time. Along the way, he drops impressions of commentators, influencers, philosophers, cops, firefighters, and anyone else who’s wandered into the ultrarunning cinematic universe.

We also talk about award season absurdity, influencer culture, $200 shirts with holes in them, farting during ultras, and whether trail running is actually a sport or just very committed cardio. This one goes fully off the rails in the best way.

If you’ve ever thought “we might be taking this a little too seriously,” this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dylisms and Impressions

05:04 The Art of Voiceovers and Equipment Setup

07:56 Favorite Impressions and Character Exploration

10:51 Challenges in Impersonation and Method Acting

13:39 Transitioning from Climbing to Running Content

16:47 Community Reception and Content Creation Process

19:55 Humor in Running and Climbing Culture

22:46 Reflections on Storylines in Trail Running

24:43 Trail Running: A Selfish Pursuit

26:56 The Evolution of Running Culture

29:36 Moth Tech and Running Fashion

32:22 Impersonations and Humor in the Sport

36:51 The Seriousness of Ultra Running

40:56 Universal Basic Gel Allowance

41:45 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

I’m back with Allison Mercer, my correspondent on everything, and we start with the most important news of the week: I apparently lost another award, and I am not interested in being reminded about 2025 when we are already deep into 2026.

From there we get into World Cross Country Championships, which somehow had a full Florida theme including obstacle chaos, heat, and a crowd that sounded like 10,000 people yelling nonstop. We talk about what made the broadcast work, why team scoring makes the whole field matter, and why cross country in the Winter Olympics would be the best kind of mess.

Then we pivot to the trail world heating up early, with Olympians popping over to trails, Burrito League spreading like a virus, and the golden ticket chase being the kind of storyline we actually want more of. We end with ideas for how running media can get better fast: less six-month pre-race content, more post-race coverage, more crew perspective, and please, for the love of everything, mic people up.

If you want the sport to be more fun, more human, and more watchable, this is the blueprint. Or at least a rant disguised as a blueprint.

Chapters

00:00 The Award Dilemma and New Beginnings

08:02 World Cross Country Championships: A Florida Experience

11:03 The Evolution of Cross Country Broadcasting

14:10 The Future of Cross Country in the Olympics

17:00 Trail Running: New Faces and Fresh Perspectives

20:11 The Shift from Road to Trail Running

23:37 The Burrito League Phenomenon

26:26 Molly Seidel's Transition to Ultra Running

29:38 The Importance of Community in Running

32:26 Future Trends in Endurance Sports

36:48 Exciting Developments in Running Events

38:21 Training for the 100K Championship Team

39:59 Planning for Success in Ultra Running

42:05 Exploring Potential in Ultra Running

44:32 The Future of Trail Running Events

48:10 Humanizing Athletes in the Sport

53:11 Innovative Coverage in Trail Running

54:14 The Roach Approach and Its Impact

58:06 Post-Race Coverage and Athlete Reflections

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Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

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Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

The Free Outside Show is back for the new year, and I’m joined by our correspondent on everything, Allison Mercer. We’re doing the exact opposite of the usual “five months from now” preview content that other podcasts are doing, and instead talking about what’s actually happening this weekend: Bandera (with Molly Seidel), Houston Marathon for the OTQ watch, and why you should care about World Cross Country in Tallahassee (yes, it’s watchable on Peacock, yes, team tactics make it way more fun than you think, and yes, there are statue alligators on the course).

From there, we get into the real chaos: Burrito League expansion, why it works as an “anyone can play” running challenge, and how these community-wide games can be more accessible than the typical big-race ecosystem. Then we go full rant mode on year-end lists, award season fatigue, media bias, and why FKT stories often get misunderstood or flattened by outlets that do not actually live in that world. We also touch on sponsorship transparency, influencer economics, West Coast bias, and why the sport would be better off funding real coverage of barrier-breaking performances instead of paying for interchangeable promo codes. New year, same old us. Racing is back, and we have thoughts.

Chapters

00:00 Racing Resumes: Exciting Events Ahead

05:30 The Thrill of Cross Country Championships

08:38 Understanding Cross Country Scoring and Team Dynamics

10:46 The Burrito League: A Unique Running Challenge

13:42 The Influence of Social Media on Running Culture

16:43 The Bias in Trail Running Media and Awards

19:49 The Importance of FKTs in the Running Community

22:40 The East vs. West Coast Debate in Trail Running

25:48 The Shift in Sponsorships and Influencer Culture

28:43 The Future of Trail Running Events and Coverage

31:44 World Championships and the Impact of Air Quality

35:34 Looking Ahead: Goals for 2026

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#RunningMedia #trailrunning #ultrarunning #runningpodcast #WorldCrossCountry #crosscountryrunning #BurritoLeague #fkt #runningcommunity #sportsmedia

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Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

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