My Appalachian Trail record film, Rewritten, is finally out in the world. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of the documentary and share part of the six-hour interview process that helped shape the final film. You’ll hear some of the deeper reflections, uncomfortable moments, absurd jokes, and stories that did not make the final cut.

I also talk about a huge moment in the fastest known time world. Nick Fowler has broken the overall Pacific Crest Trail record, making the fastest known time on the PCT self-supported once again.

This episode also includes a more difficult update about ultrarunning legend Jeff Browning following his heart attack. Jeff has been an incredibly generous and positive part of the ultrarunning community for decades. I share a clip from one of our previous conversations that captures his energy, perspective, love for his family, and willingness to support everyone in the sport.

Finally, I recap running nine “9 to 5Ks” in honor of Dolly Parton and what I learned about her generosity and legacy along the way.

Rewritten follows my return to the Appalachian Trail nine years after my original thru-hike to chase the self-supported overall record. You can now watch the full documentary for free on the Free Outside YouTube channel.

For years, there was one goal I wasn't sure I was good enough to accomplish: breaking the self-supported Appalachian Trail record.

I planned to try in 2020. It never happened. And for the next five years, the goal sat there.

In this episode, I talk about why we're so afraid to say our biggest goals out loud, why I finally decided I would rather fail than never find out, and what happened when I went all-in on the Appalachian Trail in 2025.

I also share a preview of Rewritten, the new film about the record and the much longer journey that led back to the AT.

Rewritten premieres in Bozeman August 27 and on the Free Outside YouTube channel August 28.

If you enjoy the film, share it with someone who has a goal they've been afraid to chase.

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What does an Appalachian Trail record attempt look like from the perspective of the person watching from home?

Check out the substack on eating an entire Costco Pizza: https://freeoutside.substack.com/p/what-a-costco-pizza-taught-me-about?

Allison Powell shares the untold story behind Jeff Garmire’s 45-day self-supported Appalachian Trail FKT, including planning resupply stops, managing logistics, decoding sleep-deprived messages, two left shoes, a discarded food box, lost battery banks, panic attacks, and the secret proposal waiting at Springer Mountain.

Jeff and Allison also discuss producing Rewritten, their new Appalachian Trail documentary premiering free on YouTube August 28, and why this record deserves more attention. Meanwhile, Jeff attempts a different kind of endurance challenge by eating an entire Costco pizza during the episode.

A funny and honest conversation about thru-hiking, ultrarunning, relationships, resilience, Fastest Known Times, and everything that happens behind the scenes of a 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail record.

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Derrick Lytle has spent the year filming some of the best ultrarunners in the world at Western States, Hardrock, Speedgoat, Black Canyon, and beyond. After watching elite athletes train, race, recover, and work with their coaches, what does he think actually separates them from everyone else?

We talk about why consistency and race-specific training matter more than expensive supplements and recovery gadgets, what happens inside elite training camps, the dangers of comparing your training on Strava, and why there may be no shortcut to becoming a better runner.

Derrick also shares what he has learned while preparing for his first 100-miler at Wasatch, his thoughts on AI replacing human creativity and coaching, and his answers to some of ultrarunning Reddit’s strangest questions.

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Running culture is changing fast. Athletes now share every workout, fans follow races year-round, money and attention are concentrated around a handful of major events, and ultrarunning is being forced to confront doping, peptides and what “clean sport” actually means.

Ultrarunner, coach and podcast host Zach Bitter joins Jeff Garmire to discuss whether money is ruining trail running, the rise of athlete content, Josh Kerr calling his shot at the mile world record and why real fandom has finally arrived in ultrarunning.

They also explore the growing difficulty of entering Western States and Hardrock, what multi-day runners are doing differently, sleep strategies in backyard ultras, why runners start 100-milers too fast and what modern ultrarunning can learn from the wild history of pedestrianism.

Finally, Zach offers a nuanced look at PEDs, BPC-157, therapeutic use exemptions and whether races may eventually need separate competitive and participation categories. He also shares an update on his return to running after a blood clot and the possibility of another 100-mile race.

Support our Sponsors: Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffeeGarage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8abSubscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.comSupport this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutsideBuy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSFEmail me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.comWatch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outsideWebsite: www.Freeoutside.comInstagram: thefreeoutsidefacebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Mac, the creator of Halfway Anywhere and the annual PCT Thru-Hiker Survey, joins the show to talk about hiking Corsica’s GR20, how the Pacific Crest Trail has changed, and whether modern thru-hiking has lost some of its mystery.

We compare our experiences on the GR20, including huts, snow, intense heat, crowded trails, French hiking culture and the unexpected luxury of buying sandwiches in the mountains. Then we dig into the evolution of the PCT, from paper maps and hitchhiking to FarOut comments, scheduled rides, heavier gear and thru-hikes that now average around $10,000 to $11,000.

Mac also shares how Halfway Anywhere became his full-time work, what more than a decade of PCT survey data reveals about backpacking gear, why experienced adventurers have to work harder to find the unknown, and what he is planning next in Japan.

Before the interview, I recap running an 18:52 5K in Crocs and explain why the weird goals nobody else understands can sometimes be the most meaningful.

Learn more from Mac at Halfway Anywhere: https://www.halfwayanywhere.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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One year after standing on Katahdin wondering if I even had a chance, I finally sat down to break down exactly how I trained for the Appalachian Trail self-supported FKT.

In this episode, I go through the numbers, the workouts, the training camps, and the philosophy that helped me prepare for 45 straight days on the trail. It's less about one magic workout and more about building durability, confidence, and giving yourself a chance.

After that, I'm doing something a little different.

I'm playing the newest episode of Free Inside, the new podcast Allison and I started together. We talk about strange ultrarunning stories, Rube Waddell, mysterious Oakville Blobs, relay races, the Teton Crest Trail, hallucinations, and plenty of other random things that somehow make sense to us.

🎬 Appalachian Trail Film will premiere on August 27th in Bozeman!

➡️ https://partiful.com/e/FwwSWZwK7q3KoZsS3tFK?

Youtube Channel for the August 28th Premiere

https://youtube.com/@freeoutside?si=pMVoBdiYC05XsLKj

📖 Training Article / Substack

➡️ http://freeoutside.substack.com/

🎙️ Free Inside

➡️ https://open.spotify.com/show/033Pwij3Why0tydLeZPnMz?si=7498b342f9b7450c

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

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I met Mike Kratzer at the Zugspitze 100 after organizers turned our 100-mile race into a 100K just hours before the start. Somewhere between sharing a helmet that I never ended up using, surviving the German heat, and talking after the race, I realized Mike had something that draws people in.

In this episode we talk about why positivity isn't fake, why you don't need a dramatic life event to make a change, how social media creates pressure that often comes from ourselves, and why the best adventures usually start by simply heading in the right direction instead of finding the perfect path.

We also dive into:

Why Mike quit drinking without hitting "rock bottom"

Building authentic community through running

The evolution of trail running media

Speed Project stories

Why comparison steals joy

The psychology of trail conversations

Choosing the life you actually want instead of the one people expect

Whether you're a runner or not, this conversation is really about permission: permission to change, permission to be yourself, and permission to chase the things that matter to you.

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

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

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

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure