For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running
For The Long Run explores the motivations and stories behind runners of all levels, from Olympians to ultramarathoners and entrepreneurs. Host Jonathan Levitt interviews guests about how running has shaped their lives and built community. The podcast aims to unite the running world through shared experiences and conversations.
Episodes
What Newer Runners Get Right That Veterans Forget with Daniel Berk
Daniel Berk was 32 years old, about 50 pounds overweight, and hadn't sprinted since college when he posted a tweet saying he was going to become a runner. He didn't know what he was doing. His first 5K took 50 minutes. He described himself as a blubber...
Des Linden on Building a Media Business After Boston
Quick note before you press play. This conversation with Des Linden first aired on Long Run Labs, my podcast about the business of endurance and the outdoor industry. Des is one of the most thoughtful people in running when it comes to how athletes can...
The Mental Shift That Took Her From Hating Running to Racing Triathlons
Kelsey Walla is a CPA by day and a triathlete, runner, and community builder by everything else. She grew up hating running, never touched a weight until college, and didn't get on a bike until she found one at a garage sale for twenty bucks. Then she ...
Molly Seidel on Her Western States Debut & the Ego Death of Being a Rookie
Molly Seidel was running well at Western States. In the top ten for the first fifty-ish miles, racing where she knew she belonged. Then by mile sixty-two she was ready to quit, in pain, angry at herself, with thirty-eight miles left and nothing to race...
Hildee Weiss on Becoming a Runner at 46 and Embracing the Inner Athlete
Hildee Weiss is a wife, mother of five, grandmother, freelance writer, and runner. She started running at age 46 with a hand injury, a trainer named Jeff who believed in her before she believed in herself, and a head full of reasons why she couldn't do...
Shad Mika on What Two Decades of Ultras Actually Teaches You
Shad Mika has been running ultras for over twenty years. He went from two hundred and forty pounds and a divorce to a duathlon, to Leadville, to Hardrock — and he's still going. He DNF'd his first two hundred mile attempts before he finally figured out...
What Elite Athletes Actually Eat — A Live Panel with Charlie Sweeney, Dr. Marc Bubbs, and Jason Fitzgerald
This one is a little different. Jon hosted a live panel in Boulder with three people who between them have worked with Olympic athletes, NBA teams, professional runners, and tens of thousands of recreational athletes. The topic was fueling, strength tr...
Andy Blow on Fueling Smarter, Building a Brand Athletes Trust, and High Carb Fueling
Quick note before you press play. This conversation with Andy Blow first aired on Long Run Labs, Jon's podcast about the business of endurance and the outdoor industry. Andy is the co-founder of Precision Fuel and Hydration and one of the most thoughtf...
Lindsey Dwyer: The Runner Who Always Chose Longer (And Never Checks Her Watch)
Lindsey Dwyer started running before she could remember choosing it. Her mom ran while pregnant with her, and Lindsey was in a stroller on the course not long after. By seventh grade she'd quietly trained for and finished a half marathon without tellin...
Zach Miller on Punching His Golden Ticket, Training Curiosity, and Racing Western States
Zach Miller is one of the most recognizable names in trail and ultra running — a nine-year North Face athlete, self-coached competitor, and someone who has lived everywhere from a cruise ship to an off-grid cabin to a bus. He's been competing at the hi...
Tommie Runz on Western States, Running as a Black Man on Trail, and Trusting the Long Game
Tommie Runz is a runner, a dad, and someone who spent years building one of the most authentic presences in running before he ever needed it to pay the bills. He qualified for Boston, ran the six majors, and has now set his sights on Western States — o...
Mark Dowdle on Backyard Ultras, Keeping Promises to Yourself, and What Hour 60 Reveals
Mark Dowdle is a backyard ultra competitor who found running after college football and lacrosse, not because he loved the sport, but because he needed somewhere to put everything he was carrying. What started as 3:30 a.m. runs to eliminate excuses has...
Maria Chevalier on 48 Marathon States, Running Double Boston, and Doing Hard Things Anyway
Maria Chevalier has run a marathon in 48 states, finished the Boston Marathon 17 times, and a few weeks ago ran it twice in the same day, starting at 3 a.m. in reverse from Boston to Hopkinton, resting for a few hours, and then lining up with everyone ...
Dan Green Has Run 250 Miles. He Still Just Calls Himself a Guy Who Loves Running.
Dan Green is a trail athlete for Salomon who grew up running in West Virginia, spent years working at a running shop, and recently finished Cocodona 250 — a race he'd wanted to do for years before finally deciding to stop waiting. In this conversation,...
Dr. Teddy Bross on Future of Athlete Healthcare, Running, and Recovery
Dr. Teddy Bross is a practicing family medicine physician at Highpoint Direct Care where he focuses on the treatment of athletes and active adults in Colorado and select surrounding states. He is an avid mountain ultra trail athlete, husband and father...
Building a Life Around the Process and Choosing Hard Things with Joe Corcione
Joe Corcione is an ultrarunner, coach, and host of the Everyday Ultra Podcast, where he helps runners of all levels improve not just physically, but mentally. His path into the sport didn’t follow a traditional trajectory. He found running during a per...
What Happens When You Choose the Hard Thing with Brendan Morgan
Brendan Morgan is an ultrarunner who found running in 2023 by doing something most people avoid. He started because he hated it. Since then, he’s gone all in. From completing a 4x4x48 just months after starting to running across Pennsylvania, Brendan h...
The Truth About Fueling for Runners with Stevie Lyn Smith
Stevie Lyn Smith is a registered dietitian, board certified in sports nutrition, endurance athlete, and one of the most trusted voices when it comes to practical, realistic fueling advice for runners. As a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics...
The Long Game: From the 2012 Olympics to LA 2028 While Working Full-Time with Ruben Sança
From immigrating to the U.S. at 12 years old to representing Cape Verde at the Olympics, Ruben Sança’s story is one of consistency, patience, and staying in it long after most people step away. Ruben Sança is a Cape Verdean Olympian and elite distance ...
Outrun the Darkness: Running, Recovery, and Doing Something Bigger Than Yourself with John Shep
From hitting rock bottom to building a life of recovery through running: Meet John Shep. John is a Canadian ultrarunner, teacher, and host of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast. He’s also the creator of “Outrun the Darkness,” a project centered arou...
Getting Sponsored While Pregnant: What’s Changing in Pro Running with Grayson Murphy
From questioning what’s considered “normal” in professional sport to speaking up about what actually needs to change: Meet Grayson Murphy, a professional runner bringing clarity to conversations around pregnancy, contracts, and what real support for at...
Run Your First 200 Mile Race: Tips for Consistency, Accountability, and Running Toward What Scares You
From a finance pro who decided to chase what scared him, to a trail runner who's pushed the boundaries to 200 miles: Meet Dom Bubri, who discovered that the most extraordinary transformations happen when you stop thinking and just start running. Dom is...
How to Stop Evening Food Binges and Choose the Right Supplements to Improve Your Running
Nutrition expert Alex Larson reveals how one simple timing shift in daily eating can dramatically transform sleep quality, recovery, and performance for endurance athletes — but most runners are doing the exact opposite of what actually works. Alex Lar...
The 90% Rule for Sustainable Running Success: Use this Performance Formula
The formula for elite running performance lies in the consistent application of stress and recovery - repeatable things that you can sustain over time. Cliff Pittman serves as the Coaching Development Director for CTS, where he leads the Ultrarunning a...
Hayden Hawks’ Guide to Mental Toughness and Peak Performance in the Mountains
When pro ultrarunner Hayden Hawks faces challenging conditions on the trails, he doesn't just endure them—he transforms them into opportunities for growth, proving that sometimes the hardest moments forge the strongest athletes. Hayden Hawks has been a...
Pam Reed's Secrets to Conquering 100+ Ultra Marathons in Extreme Conditions
Legendary ultra-marathoner Pam Reed has a simple solution for people who feel tired: stop sitting and start moving. Pam Reed is an accomplished ultra-runner who has been competing since 1992. She is a hyperactive person who strives to get every moment ...
Rachel Entrekin on Grit and Breaking the 200-Mile Barrier
After transitioning from oncology physical therapy to full-time running, Rachel Entrekin discovered her true calling was not in conquering traditional hundred-mile races, but in pushing the boundaries of human endurance across multiple days and hundred...
Shea Aquilano's Journey from Imposter Syndrome to Nike Athlete
There's a common misconception in ultra running that it's all about toughness, but Shea Aquilano believes gentleness is more important. Shea currently resides in Boulder, CO and focuses on ultra-distance trail events. At 24, she is a 2x US Mountain Run...
How Running Saved a Veteran’s Life: Finding Purpose in Ultras
From suppressing emotions as a military veteran to finding freedom on Colorado trails, here’s how Jonathan Mejia discovered that running isn't just exercise, it's therapy in motion. He came to Colorado after film school when the stars aligned and he co...
Ultra Running Success Over Age 40: Lauren Puretz’s High-Achieving Approach
From residency training to ultramarathons - discover how Dr. Lauren Puretz balances life as a gynecologic surgeon with competing at the highest levels of trail running, including her breakthrough performance at UTMB and the mindset shifts that fuel bot...
Erin Ton is on a Quest for Mountain Speed Records
At 20,000 feet, running feels like moving through molasses… but Erin Ton has found that climbing Colorado's highest peaks in stilettos actually makes her a more thoughtful athlete. Erin was born and raised in Colorado. After graduating from Cornell Uni...
Nick Thompson on How to Measure Running Progress
What if I told you that the most brutally honest performance metric you'll ever face isn't on your smartphone, can't be faked by AI, and strips away every excuse you've ever made about what you're truly capable of? It’s called running. Nicholas Thompso...
Emma Coburn’s No-BS Advice for Showing Up When Motivation Is Gone
Whether you just won the NCAA title or you just sucked in that race… the sun comes up tomorrow, and we're going back to work in the morning. Emma Coburn is a middle-distance runner who specializes in the 3000-meters steeplechase. She’s a world champion...
From Gambling Addiction to Ultra Marathons: How Running Saved Terence Gerchberg
Success in running often comes from hitting rock bottom. This was the case for Terence Gerchberg, who transformed his gambling addiction into a mission to help others find their footing, one mile at a time. In the words of Terence, “Running changed and...
Don’t Fall for Sports Nutrition Myths: Stevie Lyn Smith on How to ACTUALLY Fuel for Your Next Race
If you're taking three-hour naps after long runs or showing up to marathons with just three gels, this episode will change how you think about fueling. Stevie Lyn Smith is a Registered Dietitian and avid endurance athlete. As a Board Certified Speciali...
Joe Corcione’s Exact Formula for Mental Toughness and Overcoming Limitations
From a hesitant podcaster to coaching 200+ athletes in two years, Joe Corcione reveals why indecision kills more dreams than lack of knowledge, and how one simple rule changed everything. Joe Corcione is an Ultrarunning Coach, Ultrarunner, Host of The ...
How Mike Wardian Runs the World While Running a Business
What do you get when you cross a full-time international ship broker, a world-class endurance athlete, and a dad who's planning to row across the Atlantic? You get Mike Wardian. Today we're diving into how he manages to excel at everything while never ...
The Science Behind Travel Performance and Health Optimization with FlyKitt Founder, Andrew Herr
What if I told you that 93% of people can travel anywhere in the world with minimal to no jet lag - and it has nothing to do with melatonin or light therapy? Andrew is the Founder of FlyKitt, a breakthrough travel protocol built for high performers fro...
How Jenn Lichter Became a Trail Running Powerhouse
From a Colombian orphanage to professional trail running champion, Jenn Lichter's story proves that sometimes the hardest journeys lead to the most extraordinary destinations. Jenn Lichter is a 29-year-old professional trail runner who competes primari...
Ryan Montgomery on Unlocking a Mind, Body, and Environmental Connection Through Professional Running
While most professional athletes choose between excellence and everything else, what happens when you refuse to pick just one lane? Ryan Montgomery’s impressive resume includes over 50-60 ultra marathons, with 17-18 of those being 100-mile events, demo...
Aisha Praught Leer’s Three Key Elements of Creating a High-Performing Team
From cheerleader to two-time Olympian - discover the 'secret sauce' that transformed an accidental runner into a world champion. Aisha Praught Leer is a two-time Olympian and holds seven national records for Jamaica, most notably as a gold medalist in ...
Amanda Brooks on Coaching the Middle Pack: Turning Running Punishment into Purpose
From faking knee pain to avoid running to coaching over 1,000 runners - Amanda Brooks knows exactly what it's like to be in the middle of the pack, because that's where most of us actually are. Amanda Brooks has been a running coach for over 13 years, ...
Sara Vaughn on Boulder Living, Marathon PRs, and Running for Something Bigger
At 35, Sara Vaughn was just getting started—landing her first professional contract and proving that sometimes the best chapters come when you're brave enough to rewrite the story. Sara Vaughn is mom of 4, placed 6th in the NYC Marathon in 2024, is a t...
Sara Hall on Longevity, Mindset, and Finding Joy in the Process
After 21 years as a professional runner, Sara Hall reveals the mental shift that saved her career when she was ready to quit in 2009 - and why she refuses to use the 'grandma emoji' at age 42. Sara Hall is a professional distance runner for ASICS. Her ...
Eternal CEO Alex Mather on Longevity and the Future of Athlete Care
If you don’t invest in your weaknesses now, they will haunt you down the road. This conversation originally aired on Episode 13 of Long Run Labs, my new podcast on the business of the outdoor industry. Alex is the Founder and CEO of Eternal. Before fou...
Amanda Basham on Balancing Elite Running with a Real Life
Sometimes the hardest race isn't 100 miles through the mountains - it's figuring out who you are when everything in your life changes. Amanda is a professional trail runner and endurance coach with a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State Univers...
Randi Zuckerberg's Journey to Main Character Energy: From Silicon Valley Sidekick to 250-Mile Finisher
Is it better to be well-lopsided or well-balanced? Randi Zuckerberg is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, media personality, and endurance athlete who embodies a "portfolio approach to life." Currently serving as a radio host, investor, entrepreneur, author...
Your Leadville Tourism Guide with Adam Ducharme
What happens when a mining town of 40,000 people shrinks to just 2,700 overnight, and then reinvents itself as one of America's most authentic mountain destinations? Today we're talking with Adam Ducharme about Leadville's incredible transformation fro...
Treadmill to Leadville: Pierce Showe on Breaking Records and Breaking Barriers
What if you accomplished everything you wanted, but still felt empty? Pierce Showe is in the business of extreme discipline — a language spoken by the world’s top performers. He spent the early part of his career as the right hand to Super Bowl champio...
Grand Traverse Race Recap and Career Updates with Emily Holland
What happens when you quit your corporate job, go all-in on entrepreneurship, and decide to run 40 miles through the Colorado mountains? Today we're diving into how major life changes and epic trail adventures go hand in hand. Having recently ran the G...
Your Guide to Performance Nutrition and Blocking Out the Noise with Kelsey Bailey
Most endurance athletes are making the same critical fueling mistake. Let’s learn how to avoid it so you can perform the best. Kelsey Bailey is the lead Performance Dietitian for Eternal, a company providing high performance, personalized healthcare to...
Use This Mentality to Get Through Injury: Annie Frisbie on How to Achieve Your Running Goals
Don’t fall into the comparison trap as a runner! Annie Frisbie is a professional runner for Puma and Minnesota Distance Elite. She trains with her team in Minneapolis and lives with her boyfriend and two dogs. Jon chats with Annie about: • Annie’s Trai...
More Than a Race: UTMB Founders Michel and Catherine Poletti Discuss the Trail Running Boom
If you’ve ever considered running a global race series like UTMB, learn from the founders on why it’s so much more than a race. Jon sits down with Michel and Catherine Poletti, the founders of the UTMB race series. They share their journey of starting ...
How Reid Burrows Prioritizes Mental Health as a Professional Trail Runner
What does it mean to TRULY be grateful for running and life? Reid Burrows grew up in the small town of Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick, Canada. His endurance background is in the sport of triathlon. Upon leaving the pursuit of triathlon and chasing ...
Nature is for Everyone - Breaking Trail Running Stereotypes with Vivek Gowri
Let's break down what is so special about trail running and why more people need to experience it. Vivek Gowri is a Product Manager at NVIDIA, where he leads initiatives in gaming and AI hardware. When he’s not shaping the future of tech, he’s out on t...
Laying the Foundation for Your Nutritional Health with Dietitian, Rachael Wade
Are you laying the right foundation for your nutritional health? Rachael (Reddy) Wade is a runner, mom of two, and founder of Rx Nutrition. She ran for the University of Alabama, earned gold medals at the Pan American Games and USA Championships, and n...
Driving Decision-Making for Your Outdoor Trips with GOES Founder, Viktor Makarskyy
Are you actually prepared for your next outdoor adventure? Viktor Makarskyy is the Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of GOES Health where he is responsible for the product and engineering of their outdoor health platform. He is an avid runne...
Scott Jurek on The Future of Ultras and Solutions to New Challenges
No matter where you’re at in your running journey, there’s a path for all of us. Scott Jurek has been named one of the greatest runners of all time, claiming victories in nearly all of ultrarunning’s elite trail and road events. More than just a champi...
Optimize Your Mental Performance with Kristen Schindler
Having doubts as a runner? Here’s how to reframe them. Kristen Schindler is a mental performance consultant and endurance coach who helps athletes untangle their relationship with sport, self, and setbacks. She is currently completing her Master’s in A...
How to be a Change Maker with Race Director, Libby Jones
Want change in the way your races are organized? Then speak up about it! Libby Jones is the owner and race director for The Active Joe, a race production company out of Dallas, Texas that focuses on the "average joes" out there getting active. She has ...
Young, Fit, and Ready for the Pain Cave at Western States 100: Hans Troyer’s Journey
When your motto is “young and fit,” what does it look like to train for Western States? Hans Troyer is a 25 year old pro ultrarunner who set the course record at the Bandera 100k in 2024 and who finished second at the 2025 Canyons 100k, earning him a G...
Crewing and Pacing 101 for Western States and Other Ultras with Amelia Boone & Alex Hildebrandt
This is a double-header episode hearing from two experienced pacers and crew members: Amelia Boone and Alex Hildebrandt. Both have experience successfully crewing and pacing elite athletes. This episode was recorded in 2023, but is full of evergreen co...
Training, Fueling, and Preparing for Western States with Adam Peterman
Get an inside look at what it’s like to run Western States! Adam Peterman is a professional trail runner living in Missoula, Montana who ran for the University of Colorado. Listen to hear about: Adam’s love-hate relationship with the Mags run in Boulde...
Running By Feel Over Data: Riley Brady’s Journey to Western States, Nike, and Beyond
We’re only a couple of weeks from the Western States Endurance Run, so we caught up with a pro for an inside look at strategizing for it! Riley Brady is a professional ultra trail runner for Nike Trail living and training in Boulder, CO. Jon chatted wi...
Colleen Quigley is Building a New Kind of Olympic Development Team
Athletes are more than their sport, so Colleen’s working to bring a holistic approach to team running. Colleen Quigley is an American middle-distance runner, Olympian, entrepreneur, mentor, National Champion, and lover of women's sports. From her high ...
How to Enjoy the Whole Process of Long Distance Running with Makena Morley
There are a million and one ways to train for running. But the best way? To Makena, it’s whatever gives you the most fun. Makena Morley is a long distance runner living in Bozeman, MT and running for ASICS. She graduated from University of Colorado in ...
Q+A with Caitlyn Miller: Run Recovery, Business, and Race Day Prep (Live Recording at Fleet Feet in Boulder)
We love in-person events. If you missed this one at Fleet Feet in Boulder in April 2025, you can catch up with this recording! Caitlyn Miller is a 26 year old business owner and marathon runner. Caitlyn’s business, Expntl Athletics, specializes in acti...
Defying the Odds, One Marathon at a Time with Annie Kalter
What does it mean to show up with joy even in the midst of the hardest seasons? Annie Kalter is a 15-time Boston Marathoner, a mom, a school culture professional, and a woman with an extraordinary story of resilience. After surviving a heart attack tha...
Make Time for Triathlons and Ultramarathons Even with a Packed Life: Pro Runner Allison Baca
Hoping to make time for your goals even when you have a million obligations to manage? Allison Baca is a professional trail runner for HOKA. She juggles parenting a 3-year-old and working full time in finance while squeezing in training to compete in b...
A Shame-Free Look at Eating Disorders, Recovery, and Mental Health in Runners
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses eating disorders. Athletes face a lot of mental and physical pressure around fueling, so we need to break taboos. Kate Ringwood is a licensed therapist that specializes in eating disorders in athletes. Kate's per...
Blending Faith and Fitness after Sudden Cardiac Arrest with Dom Fusco
This runner took a scary setback and turned it into a message of hope. Dom Fusco is a health and wellness creator, coach, endurance athlete, and community builder based in Austin, Texas. After surviving a sudden cardiac arrest in 2023, Dom made it his ...
Designing the World’s First and Smartest Running Shoe: Avelo’s Founder Royi Metser
Royi Metser is the founder and CEO of Avelo, the company behind the world's first smart running shoe. Running changed Royi’s life in 2021 after a blood test was the kick in the butt he needed to make a change. Three days later he signed up for his firs...
How to Build Your Confidence and Self-Compassion for Running with Certified Mental Performance Consultant Neal Palles
Want to build your mental strength and confidence before your next race? Neal Palles is an ultrarunning coach and a psychotherapist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant. Through his private practice, Colorado Psychotherapy and Sport Performance,...
The Ultimate Guide to the Boston Marathon with George Woodward
Boston is coming up next week, and to celebrate, we have a special bonus episode with you to give you the complete guide to the Boston Marathon experience with George Woodward. George Woodward is a father, data scientist, runner, and certified coach wh...
The Realities of Balancing Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, and Running with Jenny Jurek
Family life in an athletic family can be a balancing act. Jenny Jurek is an avid runner and adventure seeker sharing her passion of the outdoors with her two young children and husband, Scott Jurek. After twenty years designing sustainable outdoor appa...
How Caitlyn Miller Went from Math Teacher to Runner and Owner of Expntl Athletics
What does it take to build a passion-based activewear line? Caitlyn Miller is a 26 year old business owner and marathon runner. Caitlyn’s business, Expntl Athletics, specializes in activewear for distance runners. Listen to hear about: How social media...
Lessons from Pro Golfer Scott Stallings on Training for the Boston Marathon
Golfing might help your running more than you’d think. Scott Stallings is a 3x PGA Tour winner who earned the reputation as "The Fittest on Tour" due to his fitness-first lifestyle. In April, Scott will be participating in the 2025 Boston Marathon - hi...
How an Elite Runner Manages Imposter Syndrome and Finds Joy in Training with Adam Vadeboncoeur
Elite athletes deal with many of the same challenges that recreational runners do. Adam Vadeboncoeur’s been running for over 20 years but is now finding his stride in his mid 30’s. Over the past few years, he’s gained his first Team USA spot for 50km W...
This Marathon’s Not Just a Race, But a Premier Experience: The Marathon Project with Ben Rosario
The Marathon Project is back and bigger than ever. Ben Rosario spent two years as a member of the Hansons Brooks Distance Project, was the special events director for the GO! Saint Louis Marathon, founded the Northern Arizona Elite professional team, a...
Cutting through the Noise in Sports Nutrition with Your Diet Sucks Hosts Kylee Van Horn and Zoë Rom
In a world of diet culture, nutrition for running can feel complex and exhausting– but it shouldn’t be. Zoë Rom is a writer and journalist based in Carbondale, CO. Kylee Van Horn is the founder of sports nutrition business Flynutrition, which helps run...
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