The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Ultra stands as one of the East Coast's most formidable trail challenges, and in our latest episode, we get an unfiltered look at what makes this Pennsylvania race so legendary. Guests Nikki Niemeyer and William Walmsley take us through their recent battle with this 70-mile trail featuring 11,000 feet of elevation gain across relentlessly rocky terrain.

Both Nikki and Will arrived with solid training and race plans, only to face the perfect storm of 90% humidity and technical terrain that humbled them from the early miles. Will began cramping just five miles in despite conservative pacing, while Nikki found herself contemplating dropping at mile 19 before pushing through to finish. Their raw stories demonstrate what ultrarunning is truly about—adapting when things go sideways and finding strength when your body wants to quit.

When a child battles cancer, they need more than just medicine – they need moments of joy, strength, and normalcy. That's exactly what Project Outrun delivers through their innovative approach to supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families.

In this deeply moving conversation, Courtney Salyer, Director of Operations for Project Outrun, shares how this Ohio-based nonprofit transforms the lives of children fighting cancer across all 50 states. What began eight years ago with founder Andy Shepperd creating custom Nike shoes for one young cancer patient has blossomed into a nationwide movement that has provided thousands of personalized kicks to kids in hundreds of hospital systems.

The organization's brilliance lies in its "sport to heal" metaphor – rather than being defined as patients, children become "Outrun athletes" who receive not just custom shoes, but complete swag bags with medals, t-shirts proclaiming "I'm not sick, but my shoes are," and personalized paper finish lines where they can set and celebrate their own goals. The emotional highlight? Seeing kids break through those finish lines to celebrate achievements both medical and personal – from completing treatment to simply finishing second grade.

Courtney's own journey from Spanish teacher to nonprofit leader, illustrates how taking a leap of faith can lead to profoundly meaningful work. Her passion shines through as she details Project Outrun's signature event – the Faster Everyday Festival and 5K – where participants get a 4:01 head start (symbolizing the less than 4% of cancer funding that goes to pediatric research) before local elite runner Aiman Scullion gives chase.

Far more than just a race, this festival creates a celebratory space where Outrun families, supporters, and community members connect through carnival games, food, music, and shared purpose. It perfectly encapsulates what makes Project Outrun special – the understanding that helping kids with cancer means strengthening entire families and communities.

Visit projectoutrun.org to donate, register for their June 21st festival in Cuyahoga Falls, or learn how to create your own fundraiser campaign. Because when it comes to helping kids outrun cancer, we all have a role to play.

The journey of an ultrarunner is rarely a straight line from start to finish. Sometimes, the path takes unexpected turns – as Mike Weinsheimer discovered when facing snowfall and freezing temperatures at the Canyons 100K in California.

But what happens when the race you've trained for slips away? For Mike, the answer was simple yet bold: pivot. Within days, he secured a spot in the iconic Miwok 100K, transforming disappointment into opportunity. Trading snow and freezing rain for sunshine and spectacular coastal views, Mike found himself traversing the beautiful trails of Marin County, from Stinson Beach through redwood forests along Bolinas Ridge.

Mike's resilience and adaptability serve as inspiration for runners at all levels. Whether you're contemplating your first ultra or your fiftieth, there's something powerful to learn from someone who can turn a DNF into a triumph just seven days later.

When trail runner and Hobby Jogger podcast host Casey returned from the Canyons 50K with a surprisingly fast recovery, he knew exactly what made the difference: strength training. That's why we invited strength coach Michael Meeker, owner of Big Tree Fitness in Akron, to explain the transformative impact resistance training can have for endurance athletes.

As runners, many of us have been conditioned to believe that simply logging more miles is the path to improvement. Mike challenges this notion by explaining how a well-rounded strength program supports everything from running economy to injury prevention. "If you want to be good at anything, the whole entire body is connected together," he explains. "If you want to run with great posture on trails, you should have a strong upper body, strong back, strong shoulders." This comprehensive approach helps maintain form when fatigue sets in during long efforts.

Ready to transform your running through strength training? Start with bodyweight exercises to build a foundation, focus on technique before adding weight, and remember that consistency trumps intensity. Your recovery time will shorten, your endurance will improve, and you might just find yourself crossing finish lines with a smile rather than a grimace.

What happens when gymnastic prowess meets mountain trails? Professional HOKA athlete Jess Brazeau takes us on her remarkable journey from the gymnastics mat to conquering technical downhills.

Whether you're fascinated by athletic crossover skills, mountain racing strategy, or the cutting edge of endurance nutrition, this episode delivers valuable insights from someone performing at the highest levels while maintaining remarkable humility about her achievements.

Ready to elevate your trail running knowledge? Listen now and discover what makes elite athletes like Jess tick.

When two premium carbon-plated trail shoes battle for supremacy, which one truly deserves your hard-earned dollars? We dive deep into the $220 Adidas Terex Agravic Speed Ultra and $275 Hoka Tecton X3 to discover their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases.

The Adidas delivers a responsive, race-ready feel that mimics road super shoes but raises stability concerns. Meanwhile, the Tecton X3 provides confidence-inspiring stability on technical terrain but disappoints with its durability relative to its premium price point.

We tackle the questions that matter most to trail runners: Do these shoes justify their $200+ price tags? Which one performs better for different distances and terrain types? How do factors like foot strike pattern and fit preferences influence performance? And most importantly, will either shoe actually make you faster on the trails?

Whether you're considering these specific models or simply trying to navigate the increasingly expensive world of premium trail shoes, this episode provides the honest insights you need. Subscribe, share your own experiences with these shoes, and let us know which trail shoes you'd like us to review next!

In this captivating conversation, seven-time Emmy-nominated sound engineer Brian Parker returns to share his LA Marathon journey, complete with all the triumphs and challenges that followed.

Brian takes us through his training, including how California wildfires disrupted crucial long runs and how he encountered "the wall" at mile 16 during preparation. "I had a hard time walking in a straight line and my brain did not feel good," he reveals, describing that moment of glycogen depletion that every marathoner fears. His candid discussion of fueling mistakes offers invaluable wisdom for anyone attempting long-distance running!

Beyond the running talk, we explore Brian's work as supervising sound editor on the hit medical show "The Pitt" and dive into the subtle artistry behind creating realistic soundscapes that viewers often don't consciously notice.

Whether you're training for your first marathon, curious about sound design in television, or just enjoy authentic conversations with passionate people, this episode delivers with humor, insight, and entertaining detours.

What happens when you blend elite-level racing with coaching dozens of athletes? Rachel Tomajczyk knows a thing or two about this balancing act. Fresh off her victory at the Ventura Half Marathon, Rachel joins us to discuss her first road race in nearly four years while sharing how she maintains her competitive edge on the trails.

The conversation takes us deep into the world of professional trail running as Rachel reveals her ambitious plans for this years Golden Trail Series, with races spanning from China to Austria.

As a coach with Wild Strides (co-founded with fellow elite runners Grayson Murphy and Courtney Coppinger), Rachel brings valuable perspective to athlete development. She treasures the deep connections formed with long-term athletes, viewing coaching as a collaborative partnership rather than a directive relationship.