Free Outside

When you hear this, I will have started the Appalachian Trail Self Supported FKT attempt. Track it here: https://corsa.run/live/freeoutside/ Also, consider donating to the Trevor Project as I try to raise money and make a difference during this record attempt: https://give.thetrevorproject.org/JeffAT In this episode, I sit down (virtually) with the Dictator of FKTs, Allison Mercer, for a last-minu...

I’m joined by the legend himself—John Kelly—just about a month after his Appalachian Trail FKT attempt. We go deep. Like "0.1 miles felt like a day" kind of deep. Consider donating to support the trevor project as I attempt this record https://give.thetrevorproject.org/JeffAT John opens up about the logistics, the emotional toll, the storm-soaked first week, and the injury that brought a nearly su...

What the Heck Is an FKT? (And Why I'm Living in the Woods for 45 Days) Live from a very cabin-y cabin in Montana, I bring you an episode for everyone wondering, what even is an Appalachian Trail FKT? I’m joined by the queen of Fastest Known Times herself, Allison Mercer, to break it all down. We cover the wild world of FKTs—from how they started, to the different styles (unsupported, self-supp...

Circle of Hell Run (COHR), Chef Boyardee, and Sweat Salt Wisdom with Bryce Brooks I’m joined by the undisputed king of dry-heat suffering, Bryce Brooks. He’s now a three-time champion of the infamous Circle of Hell Run—a 3-hour looped sufferfest in Phoenix held during the hottest part of the hottest day of the year. We dig into exactly how to win a heat race with 200 pounds of ice, salt pills by t...

For this Appalachian Trail FKT, I realized I have to become one with the thru-hiker. That means mud baths, tarp life, eating with my hands, and yes—training while also working a remote job from the literal woods. This episode is a stitched-together recap of my second big training camp, where I logged over 300 miles and 80,000 feet of vert in the hardest terrain the AT has to offer. I kick things o...

In this solo episode of the Free Outside Show, I dive into something I’ve been thinking about (and living through) for a while—the difference between pro runners and influencers in the trail running world. Who actually drives the sport forward? Who sells the shoes? And where do we go from here? I break down how pros validate performance and products, while influencers excel at storytelling and get...

I’m recording this one live from a hotel room in New Hampshire that sounds like a prison cell and smells like ambition. I’m in the middle of my second training camp for the Appalachian Trail FKT, and things are getting real—mud to the thighs, toe infections, and 11,000-foot gain days kind of real. In this episode, I dive into what a training camp actually looks like when you’re prepping for 40+ da...

In this episode of The Free Outside Show, I’m diving into something that might sound silly at first—being a fan. Whether it’s the NFL, NBA playoffs, Western States, or obsessively refreshing the live tracker at Cocodona, I argue that being a fan matters. It builds community, creates connection, and honestly, just makes life more fun. So this is a passionate, slightly ranty defense of why you shoul...

I’m alive in Bangor, Maine — a sentence that somehow feels like the opening line of a novel. In this episode of the Free Outside Show, I walk you through my chaotic arrival to the start of my Appalachian Trail FKT training camp, including a 1 a.m. walk from the airport (no Ubers in Bangor, apparently) and my deep dive into specificity. I’m testing everything: my exact 7,000-calorie-per-day nutriti...

Today on The Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by the legendary Cam Hanes—bowhunter, ultrarunner, lifter of heavy things, and yes, friend of Joe Rogan. We dive into everything from Courtney Dauwalter’s mountain mindset to how Disneyland became a tactical hunting joke with a laser pointer (thanks, Joe). Cam shares his thoughts on the growing influencer side of trail running, Western States carnage,...

This week on the Free Outside Podcast, I'm joined by repeat guest and newly crowned Lavaredo 120K podium finisher Alyssa Clark. We talk all things Lavaredo—what makes this epic European race special (aside from the 11 PM start and absurd elevation gain), how she ran within striking distance of Courtney Dauwalter, and how pink hair and frogs helped her stay grounded mid-race. But that’s just th...

Western States 100 needed an awards show—so we made one. I’m joined by Allison Mercer for the first-ever Westees, a highly serious, extremely prestigious, and entirely made-up award show for the 2025 Western States 100. We hand out awards like: BDE : Big Dad Energy Michigan "Bluff" Award (for premature blowups Scuba Steve Award I’m Not Back, I’m Better Award The Cougar of the Field The Z...

Western States may be the most iconic race in ultrarunning—but it also comes with carnage, heartbreak, and a pile of DNS and DNF drama. In this episode, I’m joined by the always-entertaining Allison Mercer (of FastestKnownTime.com) to break down the storylines, the runners who didn’t make it to the start line, and wild ideas to spice up the sport (spoiler: mile-seeding starts for elites?). We also...

I just ran the Bighorn 100—no pacers, no headphones, and absolutely no planning. In this episode, I share the full breakdown of how I tackled Wyoming’s classic 100-miler while juggling life stress, sleep deprivation, and a recent pacing stint on the Pacific Crest Trail. From garbage bag drop bags to a ramen-fueled revival at mile 48, this race was anything but conventional. I talk about the wildfl...

In this brutally honest solo episode, I unpack what’s been the most stressful month of my life—losing my apartment, unresolved medical issues, financial pressure, and trying to prep for a 100-miler I haven’t even packed for. Oh yeah, and I’m attempting a self-supported Appalachian Trail FKT in less than a month. No big deal. But it’s not all chaos. I reflect on the finite nature of miles, what &qu...

On this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by coach, ultra runner, and creator Justin Andreas—aka Running in Stash. We talk about his wild transformation from jacked military bodybuilder to golden hour 100-miler finisher and trail coach. We dive deep into his life in Alaska, where training includes moose dodging, sub-zero treadmill marathons, and running in negative 49 degrees… in a s...

In this solo episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I dive into a topic that every endurance athlete eventually wrestles with: What’s your why? I unpack what it really means to chase big goals in the era of social media, external validation, and highlight reels. From the pressure of performance posts to the value of community and joy in the moment, this is an unfiltered look at what keeps us coming...

Kate Pallardy joins the Free Outside Podcast to talk about longevity in ultrarunning, balancing motherhood with elite racing, and how her mindset has evolved over the years. From 100-mile podiums to navigating the chaos of parenting and training, Kate shares how she’s learned to stay present, resilient, and grounded—even when everything feels out of control. We dive into: -The reality of training...

In this solo episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I share my full game plan for 2025—including how I’m building from Cocodona 250 to the Appalachian Trail self-supported FKT attempt this August. I break down how I’m training, recovering, testing gear, and optimizing logistics for what could be a once-in-a-lifetime record shot. We cover: -How Cocodona fits into my 2025 plan -Why I’m racing Bighorn...

In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by Allison Powell, who turned her Cocodona 250 into a full-blown cinematic universe—with costumes, movie soundtracks, and a race plan inspired by Galaxy Quest, Dune, Game of Thrones, Mad Max, Star Wars, and Doctor Who. But when hail, hypothermia, and mud rivers entered the plot, the script changed fast. We dive into Allison’s brilliant and br...

Welcome to Trail TMZ, the spicy trail running news breakdown you didn’t know you needed. I’m Jeff Garmire, and this week I dive into the carnage at Western States—Jim Walmsley and Hayden Hawks are out, and so is the “Unbreakable 2” film project (yes, really). I give my unfiltered take on why that matters, how storytelling in our sport is being fumbled, and why it’s time for trail films to embrace...

I sit down with Coree Woltering—pro athlete for Merrell, Janji, and Smartwool—for a raw and hilarious conversation about his redemption at the Cocodona 250. From being the very first person to drop out of the inaugural race to finishing it five years later, Coree shares the highs, lows, and muddy middle miles of his journey. We talk about impromptu race entries (Venmoed Southern States 200), wild...

Today’s episode starts off with something I might just turn into a regular segment: Trail TMZ. We dig into the controversy surrounding William Goodge's run across Australia and the data that has people wondering—from heart rate anomalies to 55 mph GPS spikes. Then we take a brief detour into the Camille Herron Wikipedia saga and my lingering sadness that she never came on the show. But the real hi...

I sit down with Kevin Russ—board game designer, iPhone photography legend, thru hiker, and freshly minted Cocodona 250 finisher. We dive into Kevin’s wild journey from shooting landscapes with just his phone to creating successful board games, and now, tackling 200+ mile races. He opens up about the physical and mental toll of Cocodona, the moments that tested him most, and the role his crew playe...

Today we have one of the most inspiring runners I know—Jennie Chisholm. She’s a mom of four boys, a Triple Crowner, and a two-time Cocodona 250 finisher. But she didn’t find ultrarunning the usual way. She stumbled into it—literally—on a whim while thru-hiking the Arizona Trail. She tells the incredible story of how her family went from watching Cocodona as curious hikers to toeing the start line...