Run Mountain Peaks

This week I talked through the essentials in my training and coaching philosophy for mountain running and ultra running. I think there is so much information out there, quick hacks, new research, supplements, etc. that it is hard to know what to focus on and what is worth it. But I truly believe that endurance training fundamentals along with unwavering consistency is where all the gains are actua...

This week I sat down with Conor Brown. He is a hiker and trail runner that has accomplished some pretty mind blowing feats over the past few years. He was the finisher at the inaugural Mt. Ascutney Vertical Backyard Ultra, hiking over 200 miles and 108k ft of climbing in a single push over four days. He set records for most summits in 24 hours on his home mountains North Ucanoonuc and South Uncano...

This week I give my New Hampshire spring trail & mountain running playbook. Dirt, rocks and roots are here, you just gotta go find them. Spring shoulder season in the White Mountains is full of postholes, rapidly changing trail conditions and other surprises. I usually take this time to check out a handful of other mountain gems in the region, of which there are many. Some of these are very po...

This week I'm diving into a recent time trial effort I did on my local peak. I ran the same 1 mile route (510ft of climbing) twice in the span of five days. The first effort was at a 7:37min/mi pace, but during the second effort, I was able to knock off almost 30 seconds and run a 7:08min/mi pace (4:50min/mi grade adjusted pace).  Obviously, I didn’t gain a ton of fitness in those five days, s...

This week I sat down with Ryan Fournier. He is a friend and a road & trail crusher. He started road running a handful of years ago and after thru hiking the AT in 2024, has thrown down some amazing efforts. Everything from short road to long trail. Big range. 50 miles in 6hr 58m, Sub 16min 5k, 6:39 Pemi loop, Boott Spur throwdown, etc. He was slated to PR the half marathon this March but unfor...

Lots of topics this week. I talk about some of my time spent living and getting outdoors in Maine. My annual trip to Moosehead Lake and how cool of a region it is up there. The view from under Mt. Kineo rock face being undefeated. I talked through and ranked each of the extreme activities I have done: white water rafting, parasailing, zip lining, sky diving. Some quick Hundred Mile Wilderness talk...

This week I tell the story of my first place finish at the 2024 Kilkenny Ridge Race. A great effort for me and had a few learning lessons for next time. Potentially looking at running that race again this year. Then I talked about Marathon Sports buying Six03 trail races and the $100,000 of prize money they are putting on New Hampshire trail races. Gave my quick thoughts on the Lincoln Woods trail...

This week I got to interview John Hirsch. John raced triathlons as a pro for over 20 years. He collected four Top 10 Pro Ironman finishes and competed at the notorious Kona Ironman World Championships. He had a ton of cool stories and great insights into triathlon and endurance training. Outside of triathlons he competed in trail races, grabbing three wins at the Spartan Ultra Beast Masters World...

This week I go through my entire gear kit for winter trail running and hiking. Literally took everything out of my bins and went through it. Not so much a brand talk but more of what items I bring with me and all my tips and tricks I've learned over them years to make them useful and efficient. Everyone has thier own system and kit that works them but hopefully you can take away at least one t...

This week I ranked the NH 48 4,000 footers from my least favorite to my top pick. There is only one hike I actually dislike. Lots of tough decisions had to be made. I will not second guess my decisions.  Then did a preview for the upcoming Last Skier Standing race by White Mountain Ski Company that starts next weekend. That race usually goes for days and lots of heavy hitters on the entrants list....

This week I talk through my hierarchy of ultrarunning recovery tips. If you are increasing your training for the new year, you should also be increasing your focus on recovery. None of the top four items have to do with “recovery” products or supplements. I go through some deer hunting FAQs I get asked a lot to try and educate all public land recreation users. I messed up my one grid fact from las...

This week I sat down with my own mother who is quite the accomplished hiker. She is a Grid finisher, and has completed several hiking lists in New England including the 100 Highest, 67 4000 Footers, 52 With a View, Terrifying 25, and is in the middle of a Single Season Winter 48. We discussed all of these accomplishments and the trails and peaks associated with them. She gave some tips about thing...

This week I talk about my 2024 Hellbender 100 mile 9th place finish. The most pain I’ve ever been in running and the most I have ever learned from an ultra. The trails down there rock. Then I go thru the results from the first New England ultramarathon of the year, formerly the GAC Fat Ass 50k, now the TARC Yeti Trail Trot 50k. Finish off ranking my top three fruit. I didn’t mean to do bananas dir...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 17This week I talk through my 2026 and long term running goals. Aim high, work hard and take the road less traveled. The man in the arena. Discuss not making Aravaipa's Northeast Racing Team. And then a Stranger Things update. Im only through Season 4, please dont spoil. (Is Season 5 ending good though?).00:00 Intro04:20 My long term runnning goals11:10 202...

This week I talked about my Christmas being essentially canceled and then my spontaneous trip to the ER on Christmas Eve. Winter conditions rock right now and you should get on the trails while they are good. I go through my biggest training lessons learned from 2025. It was a great year for me but it did not all go how I planned and instead I adjusted and looking at it as building a bigger base f...

This week I go through each of the 48 new FKTs in the White Mountain National Forest that were established in 2025 and discuss some of the best and most competitive times. The trails in the northeast are gnarly and the racing scene is getting more and more competitive each year. You have to be fast, tough and good on steep, technical terrain to go after these times. 00:00 Intro04:52 Dirritisema FK...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 14 Discuss Ryan and I getting dominated by snow on the Osceolas (12/13 trip report). Recapped TARC winter fells 8, 32, and 40 mile results. Talked about my first winter Presi traverse 5 years ago and how I thought the Adams five peaks was actually Adams, Jefferson, Clay, Washington and the rest of Presi Traverse was going to be a piece of cake (wrong). Cutting...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 13 Recapped my first hundred miler in 2023. Talked about the training leading up to it and stories from the race. Some thoughts about what to expect going into your first hundred miler and how good holding that buckle feels at the end. Did a trip report from Cannon Mountain (12/6). Previewed the Kraft vs. Annie's mac n' cheese taste test I will be condu...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 12 00:00 Intro 2:40 Mt. Ascutney Backyard ultra reaction 34:00 JFK 50 miler results 38:35 Training talk 49:20 Thanksgiving food is average 53:15 Moosilauke trip report 55:50 Deer season struggles INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/YOUTUBEhttps://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaksRUN COACHINGhttps://www.runmountainpeaks.com/ #TrailRunning #Mount...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 11 00:00 Intro 4:45 Winter footwear for trail running 25:00 Road and trail training shoes 29:15 Winter Strava segments 38:30 Winter FKTs 41:40 Surprise 43:00 Winter cross training 48:30 Motivation minute 53:00 Ku Fu Panda recap + tea talk INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/YOUTUBEhttps://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaksRUN COACHINGhttps://www...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 10 00:00 Intro 5:00 Endurance training and training thru sickness 17:30 Avoiding sickness during race week 20:15 Risk in the mountains during cold season 25:40 Missing hiker/tent on Mt. Madison 29:30 Rehabbing knee injuries 36:00 Maximizing speed workouts 43:20 Ascutney Backyard last man standing race preview 51:15 Motivation minute 54:30 Victory vs the fruit f...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 9 00:00 Intro 2:00 History of the Jigger Johnson races & Is this the hardest ultra in the US? 12:00 Why did they make the course easier? 17:20 Section by section course breakdown 44:00 Winning the inaugural JJ 50 miler 54:00 This race changed my life? 56:30 Every year race results 70:10 Outro INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/YOUTUBEhttps...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 8 00:00 Intro 1:45 Big Pharma got me/30x your money 6:30 Hamsterwheel 100 Recap 23:15 How to be a good pacer 44:00 Javelina 100 obliteration 46:30 20 hikers rescued off Mt. Washington 55:40 Blackout 10k/5k results 60:15 Outro INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/YOUTUBEhttps://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaksRUN COACHINGhttps://www.runmountainp...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 7 00:00 Intro 3:15 Bear Talk 24:45 My First Ultramarathon 39:20 Hypothetical Moose Scenario 45:15 Zone 1 & Zone 2 Training 57:30 Big's Backyard Ultra World Record 60:30 My Week of Training 66:00 Deer Season Update 71:55 Outro INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/YOUTUBEhttps://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaksRUN COACHINGhttps://www.runm...

Run Mountain Peaks Podcast – Episode 6 00:00 Intro 3:45 Insta & AI is nuts 6:15 Midstate massive the first ultramarathon I signed up for and how I met other ultrarunners 15:45 Ankle rolls and how to train around them 31:00 Strava vs. Garmin 36:00 Courtney Dauwalter marathon debut & motivation 44:45 Bigs Backyard Ultra 48:30 Van life & biking with a group 53:15 Deer season update 57:30...