Like A Bigfoot

(Cover Photo by Randy Ericksen) This week on the show we are reconnecting with public speaker, coach, ultra runner, and creator of Right to Shine Jayson Sime. We last spoke with Jayson on Episode #85 about Brendan Leonard's fantastic short film "How to Run 100 Miles", one of the best ultra running films out there and the story of Jayson and Brendan's very first 100 miler. This time we are chatting about his second 100 mile attempt at the Black Hills 100. I think you can discern from this episode's title that the race didn't quite go as planned, resulting in a DNF after 82.5 tough miles. In this episode, Jayson shares the lessons he learned from that experience as it applies to both ultra running and everyday life. We also chat about how to rebound from, process, and grow from a DNF. As a public speaker, author and coach Jayson uses his optimism and his energy to help people reach for their full potential. Please check out his website www.righttoshine.com for more info and some awesome personal growth

This week we are chatting with ultra runner Erica Rackley fresh off of running 100 miles through the mountains! For the past few months Erica has put in hours and hours of work training for her first 100 miler and a few weeks ago she crossed the finish line of the High Lonesome 100 out here in Colorado. In this episode, we chat all about what led her to toeing the start line of such an epic event, the adventures (and misadventures) she had throughout the race, and her thoughts and reflections throughout the days following. Erica chats openly about how she felt about her performance in the race. It's an interesting dynamic- how do you navigate feeling like you accomplished something huge while also feeling like you didn't perform as well as you expected. Erica does a great job explaining her perspective and I really found it interesting to discuss. If you are ever. visiting Summit County, Colorado, Erica is in charge of organizing the trail running trips for the Colorado Adventure Guides. Be sure to chec

This week we are sitting down and chatting with Emily Wanless, an ultrarunner who has been putting up awesome times in races all over the midwest! Emily lives in South Dakota and after discovering a passion for running ridiculously long distances, she dived head first into the ultrarunning scene. From crewing, pacing and being an exemplar aid station worker to racing and winning races herself, she has fully gone "all in" on long distance running. In this episode we chat about a smorgasbord of running and adventure topics: a recent adventure up a 14er, what led her into ultrarunning, her recent victory at the Kettle Moraine 100k, and her expectations for the upcoming CCC in France (one of the premiere ultra races in the world). Besides her CCC training, the main topic of discussion this week is the Midwestern Ultrarunning scene. As an Iowan born and raised, I am seriously getting interested in exploring the midwestern country on foot and wanted to get Emily's recommendations on some awesome races out in t

This week we are chatting with someone who has used his discovery of passion in running and endurance sports to transform his life. Gene Day was never an athlete growing up. Years of alcoholism and a sedentary lifestyle left him in a spot of depression, anxiety and dissatisfaction. But life isn't defined by where you were. It is not about being stuck in a moment in time, unable to break the chains of your present situation. Life is an open book, the pages in front of you are blank, waiting for you to tell the story. Gene picked up the pencil and started telling a different story. Eleven and a half years of intentional action, consistency and celebrating gradual successes along the way and here he is prepping for his hardest race yet, the Volcanic 50k around Mt. St. Helens. In this episode, Gene shares his story. How he used consistent incremental gains to become first a runner and then a marathoner and now an ultrarunner and how he embraced the mindset of "to be good at something you have to be willi

This week I'm very excited to bring you a conversation with leadership coach and owner of Elev8 Educ8 Rejuven8 Tyler Johnson. This year I get the opportunity to teach a 12 week leadership course to middle school students at my school. I'm really excited for this opportunity because I feel like it plays right into my strengths and has the potential to be a really fun, effective class. I wanted to sit down with Tyler because, after years and years of being a leader and absorbing lessons from some of the best pro athletes out there, he is now taking his wisdom and spreading it to the next generation. Back in college Tyler grew into a leadership role as a defensive back for the University of Northern Iowa Panthers football team. His passion for sports led him to work in the offices of pro baseball for the White Sox to the Positive Coaching Alliance and then to forming his own leadership program. All that being said, Tyler is an outstanding person to nurture and grow young leaders. He's extremely positive,

This week we are bringing you tales from my fellow Desert RATS racers and crew members for our final podcast about this year's Kokopelli Stage Race! I was lucky enough to share my time in the desert with these absolutely incredible people and I am honored to be able to share their experiences with all of you. In this episode, runners Kayla Howell, Morgan Hall, Laurie Miller, and Theresa Zordan unfold all the highs and lows from their own desert journeys as we try to really pinpoint what the race so special. Meanwhile, Gemini Adventures race director and race liaison Reid Delman and Kyla Claudell discuss what made this year's event unique, what they get out of putting it on, and the adventures they have had through the 16 years of Desert RATS. Hope you guys enjoy this episode as much as I did!! To everyone involved in the race this year- thank you, thank you, thank you!! My time in the desert meant more than I can possibly express (even with nearly 4 hours of podcast about it ha ha ha!!) Also if you're i

Desert RATS. It's the race that I've completely been enamored by over the last two years. The race that has taught me so much. Why would any sane person want to run 140ish miles through the desert in June?? To push beyond self doubt to discover what your actually capable of? To process life events, tragedies, joys? To experience the solitary nature of the desert? To explore areas unknown and discover “what’s around that corner?” To enjoy a community of likeminded people and be reminded of the goodness of humanity? To simply camp, get messy, bathe in rivers, smell of campfire smoke and body odor and avoid any semblance of the everyday? For me, it is all of that and more. Why we come to Desert RATS and what the experience teaches us is difficult to put down on words. Only to say it’s special and you change. It’s not just one factor that affects you. It’s the people you experience it with, the places you see, the hardships you overcome and the moments in time when you are alone in the wilds, with

This week we are welcoming back physical therapist, lifelong endurance athlete, and one of my personal endurance sport inspirations, my cousin Susan Nowell! In this episode Susan shares how she has recovered from an injury to take on an Ironman. We also explore the idea of having our best races when we are relaxed and have little expectations. Susan has had quite the adventurous life and has lived in some amazing endurance places: Utah, San Francisco, Italy and Hawaii. Throughout the show, we explore her experiences in endurance sports in all of those different cultures. Hope you guys enjoy the show!! We'll be back next week with our Desert RATS stage race report! Can't wait! More from Susan: Stage race article she wrote for Trail Runner Magazine: http://trailrunnermag.com/destinations/international/9-destination-stage-races-to-add-to-your-bucket-list.html Last time she was on the podcast: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/like-a-bigfoot-episode-7-susan-nowell More Like a Bigfoot: Subscrib

This week's guest is ultrarunner, race director and fellow "dude from Iowa who moved to Colorado" Don Reichelt. Over the last few years Don has really pushed his limits in the ultrarunning world. Through his experiences in various 100 mile races, he learned, developed and adapted into the fantastic (and fast!!) runner he is today. All in preparation for his biggest challenge yet- Big's Backyard Ultra- a sadistic race in Tennessee that has redefined the phrase "battle of wills". In this event, runners must complete a 4.1 mile loop every hour until their is only one person left standing (or limping, or stumbling). It's truly a battle of self as every person but one chooses to pull their self out as hours turn into days. It's a race for a person trying to find their limits, which is exactly what Don is trying to do. In this episode we chat about his journey. How and why he took in Leadman as a relatively inexperienced ultrarunner, what led him to his third place finish at last year's brutally hot Badw

We are a few days out from stepping up to the start line of round 2 of the Desert RATS Kokopelli 150 Stage Race, Phil Pinti is in town getting ready to go, so I wanted to sit down with him and give you guys a glimpse into our pre-race mindsets!! In this episode, Phil and I chat about the idea of rituals and what going back to the desert means to us. We also give you an idea of our expectations for this year's quest, what we learned from last year, and what we did to train and prepare. Along the way we touch on all sorts of random topics, including City Slickers (always a favorite talking point on this show), soundtracks that fit with the desert, best Macho Man promos, and more. Hope you guys enjoy! I'll link the GPS tracker when it's available at the Like a Bigfoot Facebook or Twitter Page so you can follow our journey over the next week. We'll be back in a few weeks with our race report! FOLLOW ALONG WITH DESERT RATS: Gemini Adventures Website: https://geminiadventures.com/desert-rats/ MORE FROM PHI

This week we are welcoming fellow podcast host, running enthusiast and all around awesome dude Denny Krahe to the show! Denny is the host of the excellent running podcast "Diz Runs Radio" and through his journey has learned all sorts of lessons about the sport, both through being an athlete and talking to a wide range of runners. At this point, his show has over 735 episodes which is incredible and also makes Denny an unbelievably well informed runner. In fact, he may be the person who has spent the most time chatting about running I've ever met! (Over 735 hours of recorded run chats is impressive!) In this episode we get to flip the script on him and hear his story. How he went from a non-runner athletic trainer for his college track team to a casual runner to a marathoner who said he would never do an ultra to his first three 50ks! We also chat about his thoughts on Nike's Breaking2 project, what he's learned from the podcast, and how his journey using the Maffetone Method has made him a faster, stro

In a trip unlike any that has come before, twin brothers Casey and Ryan prone paddled 18' boards from the coast of Alaska all the way down to Mexico. It is an endurance feat that is nearly impossible to imagine. Day in day out, 2,200 brutal miles of paddling, with no support for months and months. In their pursuit of adventure they braved the ferocity of Mother Nature- freezing cold temps, powerful gusts of wind and board-breaking waves. Eventually facing down great white sharks and the ever present brotherly rivalry, the Higginbotham boys accomplished the inconceivable journey of a lifetime. We've featured many adventures, both big and small, on this podcast. The "By Hand Project" has got to be the most grand in its scale and unthinkable in its scope. Ryan and Casey's accomplishment pushes the boundaries of what is possible and teaches us to expand our own possibilities by intentionally seeking out our own grand quests. Their's is an epic adventure story in all sense of the word. I truly hope you

This week we are talking with lifelong athlete, ex-Navy, powerlifter, and all around awesome dude Dave Ruppert! Dave is extremely dedicated to his health and exemplifies the power of consistency. He has also led an incredible life through his time in the Navy which led him into body building and powerlifting. In this episode, we chat about the time he played semi-pro football, his journey into powerlifting, his various injuries, why he has an awesome home gym and how he continues to show up to his health day after day. Dave is really inspiring to me and I'm lucky to be able to call him a friend, a coworker, and a lifting buddy. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy! MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT: Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2 Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likeabigfoot/

This week we are welcoming back my favorite person in the world, my lovely wife Lindsey Ward. On this week's show, Lindsey and I discuss a wide variety of topics some related to running and exercise and some not. We chat summer training plans, my mindset and preparation for my second year of the Desert RATS stage race, how self care affects our lives, and the mountain goat kids trail running series. Hope you guys enjoy the show as much as I did! As parents of three kiddos under five, it's always a blessing to be able to sit down and actually have a conversation! MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT: Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2 Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likeabigfoot/

Travis Macy is an endurance athlete, adventurer, mountain hunter, coach and the author of the excellent book "The Ultra Mindset." When it comes to taking on incredibly difficult events in the mountains, there's only a small few with the experiences Travis has. He's competed in a variety of endurance events all over the globe and in 2013, he set a record for the Leadman, the iconic series in which racers compete in all Leadville ultra-endurance races over the course of one summer. Whether it's running, biking, paddling, snowshoeing, ski-mountaineering, or orienteering, Travis has done it all. He's also an incredible coach who uses his excellent philosophies to guide all sorts of athletes to success. Using his many adventures, Travis is able to express his stoic mindset better than almost anyone I have ever met. "The Ultra Mindset" is exists and is authentically created by anyone who is willing to push their limits, both physically and mentally. On this episode we chat about this mentality. How does

In 2017, John Kelly became only the 15th finisher of the Barkley Marathon, an epic race through the rugged mountains of Tennessee. He battled through pain, exhaustion, sleep deprivation and three years of preparation in order to achieve one of the biggest accomplishments in ultra running. It was an incredible accomplishment that only someone with a solid physical foundation and mental stoicism can endure. An incredible athlete who has fallen in love with mountain running, over time John has discovered a lot about his limits, his motivations, and his fortitude. He's also developed what is an outstanding mindset as it pertains to WHY we pursue adventure and how to walk that fine line between pushing your limits and putting yourself to unnecessary risks (which he writes about on his fantastic blog post "Look How Tough I Am"). In this episode we chat about that fine line. When should you push to the limit (which...funnily enough when I typed that phrase into a thesaurus the first suggestion that popped up w

For the past 26 years, legendary race director Rick Nealis has put all he has into the iconic Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C, a race that is widely known as one of the absolute best marathons in the United States. One that is an unforgettable experience as it guides the runner on a tour past the monuments and history of the Capitol, ending at a finish line full of Marines. This year Rick and his staff are adding something extra special as they dive into the ultrarunning scene and put on the inaugural MCM 50k! For both the ultra and road racing community, the MCM expanding to ultra distances is going to be paradigm shifting and, in my eyes, will have an extremely positive effect as it will allow more and more people their first ultra experience. In turn this will infuse new racers with all the positivity and life lessons that come along with tackling difficult challenges. In this episode I brought on my friend, former marine, and 5 time MCM finisher Phil Pinti to explore all aspects of this new e

Our last mountain biking podcast took us to the South Pole. This time we're heading up North to one of the most iconic races on the planet, the Iditarod! 1,000 miles through some of the most pristine, awe-inducing wilderness in the whole entire world, the Iditarod takes competitors, be it dogsled teams, runners, or bikers, across Alaska from Anchorage all the way to Nome. Through this journey, competitors must traverse mountain ranges, frozen rivers, and even sea ice as they battle some of the harshest elements imaginable. Today's guest Steve Cannon is an ultra endurance adventurer from the great state of Iowa. He's taken on pretty hefty goals in the past, running completely around Lake Michigan, running across Iowa, and rock climbing some tough Colorado routes, but his current finish at the Iditarod takes all of his experiences to the next level! In this episode we really dig into Steve's concept of adventure- how it fuels him, the lessons he's learned about himself by overcoming obstacles, and how he'

This week we are chatting with one of my favorite people in the whole entire world, Adam Crews! Adam became one of my closest friends in high school. Many days were spent playing football and getting into shenanigans together. Recently, he began working out and running, focusing on reclaiming his health. In this episode he talks about the why and the how of his fitness journey. He also happens to be an incredible high school Agriculture teacher with an abundance of really awesome knowledge of the outdoors. As a fellow teacher, I wanted to dig into some of the lessons, stories, and misadventures of his teaching career. Including what has to be the worst first day of teaching EVER....don't want to spoil anything, but it involves a cow, a fence, and his poor knee. I can't be more proud to call this guy a friend and am honored to share this conversation! I hope you are as inspired by Crews as I have been from knowing him over the last 18 years! Enjoy! MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT: Subscribe and Review on iTunes:

Andrew Zeck lives in California and is the CTO and Founder of the delivery app Saucey. He's also an old high school football teammate of mine who is has discovered of a love of endurance racing. And he's pretty damn fast too!! In this episode we discuss his recent preparation for his first Ironman Triathlon and all the peaks and valleys along the way. We also delve into his endurance racing journey- his experiences in big open water swims, building his speed for the LA Marathon, and, my favorite part, the lessons he learned through his first solo multi-day bike adventure up the coast. I really enjoyed reconnecting with Zeck and hope you guys love the conversation as much as I did! His story of the self confidence the built by taking on the unknown is insanely important and is a lesson I hope all of us can experience at some point of our lives. Get 'em!! MORE FROM ANDREW ZECK: His Saucey App: https://www.saucey.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dewhacker/ Forbes Article: https://www.forbes.co