The video version of episode 8, where we talk about the rugged splendor of Hellgate!

Its Hellgate week! And Sam is joined by two Hellgate veterans, Carl Bligan and Mike McMonagle.

Discussion ranges around memories, lessons and experiences from Hellgate and other races as well has the magnetic draw of this East Coast 100k now in It's 22nd year.

You can feel that the stoke is already high and we are all excited to close the 2024 racing season out with a bang!

Remember to subscribe, leave a review and of course follow us and our guests on the socials!

Enjoy!

Sam catches up with 3 of our East Coast racers from last weekend's thrilling JFK 50 Mile.

In this hour and a half you'll hear stories, jokes, mishaps and successes. Our guests share about how the race went for each of them, what it was like to have front row seat to a history making performance, what happens when you don't eat in an ultra and end with a reminder on why it's so important to run with love for ourselves and others.

Hope you enjoy

In part 2 of our JFK Preview Chris and Sam talk about notable scratches from the race and what kind of conditions the runners can expect on Saturday and the implications for how that could impact the race dynamics, strategy and gear decisions.

Sam offers some tips from his own experiences in running the race, especially how to set body position on the AT to protect your ankles and hamstrings and set-up you up for success later in the race. We talk about why the flatness of the canal path at JFK can be tricky for trail runners and offer some tips to rise to that challenge.

In the end we revise our picks and wish you all well out there!

Remember to subscribe, review, comment and share the podcast and Instagram with people that love this sort of thing!

Wow! What an incredible person Holly Benner is!

Holly and Sam sit down in this part "Getting to Know You" part JFK strategy session that tracks Holly's movement through sport bringing her to this current moment. We speak about Metta Performance, her coaching/consulting business with Co-Founder Michael Seiler. Holly illuminates us on her coaching philosophy that focuses on conversation and listening within our trades, be that on the trails or in the board room! Their company, Metta Performance, takes its name from a Pali word, meaning "loving-kindness." Holly puts this front and center in contrast to the popular image of the tortured athlete battling their demons. It's a view so many of us struggle with. She offers this alternative in a way that feels calming, like a hug from someone who really cares about you fully. It's there, even in her words.

We move from there into her approach for JFK and it's clear Holly has done her homework and is ready to rock!

Make sure to follow Holly's race this weekend as well as on her instagram @holly.a.benner and Strava.

If you find her approach as intriguing as I did, please check out her professional website mettaperformance.com

We welcome elite ultra trail runner and entrepreneur Ryan Clifford to the pod! In take 2 with Ryan we talk starting a small business race strategy nuts and bolts and get to know what happens 20 years later if you break 7 minutes in the mile at age 7! Seriously? Sheesh...

This guy does it differently, making his own projects and problems to solve.

Questions that may go unanswered... Is there anything this guy won't tackle? Will anyone be able to conquer his escape rooms? Will Cody have to carry Ryan to their Grand Opening?

Make sure to follow Ryan Clifford and find out...

Josh joins Chris and Sam for a preview of the JFK 50 Miler elite fields. We talk about the course, race, strategies and take some jabs at Josh's age. Things go sideways early when Josh arrives on set but stick with us! We get to it all eventually...

Josh is a Bear Right! Trail Team member competing in the 50+ division and has an impressive ultra-trail career, including 2 USATF Age Group National Champs!

We talk about the competitive field and offer our predictions and hot takes. We may be a little East Coast Biased but someone has to be right?

Enjoy, and leave a comment if it's positive. Share us around and help us grow!

Sam and Chris chat with Local Favorite, Local Legend and all around East Coast Trail Boss Andrew Simpson. We discuss his start in the sport, why he loves JFK so much and his own personal training and racing style, that doesn't fit the traditional mold. You can find Andrew on Instagram and Strava as well as at races up and down the East Coast!

Make sure to cheer him on virtually OR in person at JFK!