Gotta Run Podcast

Join us on the Gotta Run Podcast for our final episode of the year as we look back on an incredible journey filled with memorable moments and inspiring feats. We dive into the excitement of achieving a long-anticipated Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the new Snakes and Ladders of Dufferin County that Norm wanted to create and achieve for some time. Listen in as we reminisce about our past year, featur...

Welcome to the Gotta Run Podcast, where today's episode dives into the incredible journey of Julie Hamalecki, a 44-year-old ultra runner from Toronto. Julie recently achieved monumental success at the Tunnel Hill 100 miler, breaking the Canadian women's 100 mile record with a remarkable time of 13 hours and 32 minutes. She also set a new record for the 12-hour distance in the same race. Under the...

Welcome back for another episode of the Gotta Run Podcast. We were thrilled to collaborate with Adam Lee, the dynamic host of the Community Trail Running Podcast, for a 2 for 1 episode! We chat with Adam about his journey from Ontario to the BC Coast and his recent relocation to Canada's hot spot for trail running; Crowsnest Pass. He details his passion for running and how it led to his podcasting...

Join us on the Gotta Run Podcast as we delve into the extraordinary world of ultra-endurance running with Andrea Marcato, a five-time consecutive winner of the Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race. Discover the mental and physical challenges of this grueling event, where runners circle a single city block in Queens, New York, for up to 52 days, covering a distance equivalent to running from Vancouve...

Join us in this exciting episode of the Gotta Run Podcast as we dive deep into the world of trail running with Jordan Brett, a 32-year-old runner from Vancouver, British Columbia. Originally hailing from the UK, Jordan shares his journey from his early days in team sports to becoming the first male finisher at the Javelina 100K. Jordan takes us through his transformative running experiences, from...

Join us on the GottaRunPodcast as we dive into the inspiring journey of Leo Vitelli, an ultra runner, personal trainer, and run coach based in Toronto. Once a professional gamer, Leo shares how he transformed his life dramatically in his mid-20s, swapping game controllers for running shoes. Discover how Leo's relentless determination and mental toughness, honed during his gaming days, paved the wa...

In this episode of the Gotta Run Podcast, hosts Jodi and Norm welcome Canadian runner Michal Kapral, an ultramarathon juggler with an impressive list of world records including juggling 3 objects in the half marathon with a time of 1:20:40 in 2014.  His claim to fame is the record for the fastest marathon while juggling three objects in a staggering time of 2:50:12 at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterf...

Welcome back to the Gotta Run Podcast! Join hosts Jodi and Norm as they dive into an extraordinary episode featuring Susan Lowe-Wylde, a 63-year-old ultra-runner who has had an incredible year. Susan shares her journey from her early days in orienteering to her recent ultra-running accomplishments, including her experiences this year at the Yakima Skyline Rim 50K, Meet the Minotaur Sky Race, Fat D...

Join your hosts Jodi and Norman as they dive into an exhilarating race recap of the Lost Soul Ultra in Lethbridge, Alberta. Norman shares his firsthand experience running the challenging 100K race, detailing the highs and lows, unexpected falls, and the unique scenery. Discover how Norman trained for this Western States qualifier, the importance of a dedicated crew, and the strategies that helped...

We're back with part two of Gareth Jones' amazing journey. If you haven't listened to the first episode, we strongly recommend you do because it reveals his incredible backstory and what has led him to take on the adventures in ultra running.  In this episode, we dive into Gareth's experience running the Swiss Alps 100, a race known for its stunning scenery and challenging terrain. Gareth shares w...

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Gotta Run Podcast! In this episode, we chat with Gareth Jones, a Welsh ultra runner whose story is nothing short of extraordinary. Gareth shares his harrowing past, from battling drug addiction to facing attempted murder charges to finding redemption through running. Discover how sitting in a jail cell led him to transform his life and embrace the world...

In this episode, your hosts Norm and Jodi are joined by Devin Featherstone, an accomplished ultra runner from Calgary, Alberta.  Devin shares his journey in the ultra running world, from his first race at the Canadian Death Race to his multiple podium finishes at the Lost Soul Ultra. He also provides invaluable tips for those preparing for Lost Soul, covering everything from gear choices to course...

Welcome back to the GottaRun Podcast! In this episode, we dive into the world of ultra running with Brad Kernohan from Pickering, Ontario. Brad takes us through his recent adventures, including the grueling Tahoe 200 and his experience at the Canyons 100K. Despite facing challenges at his first 100 miler Haliburton 100, Brad's determination and mental grit have driven him to conquer greater distan...

In this episode, Ana Barroso from Asturias, Spain, now living in the UK, shares her inspiring story of transitioning from road running to ultra running. Listen as she recounts her recent completion of her first 50K in Andorra, the challenges she faced, and the humour and determination that kept her going through her social media. Ana also discusses her role as an ASICS UK Frontrunner and her excit...

Welcome to this exciting episode of the Gotta Run Podcast! We dive into the world of ultra running with Canadian ultra runner Madeline Wighardt, aka Maddie. In this episode, Maddie recounts her experiences at the the Leadville Trail 100 fighting for third, and her recent experience at Western States 100, where she earned a coveted silver buckle by finishing under 24 hours.  Whether you're an ultra...

Join Norm and Jodi in the latest episode of the Gotta Run Podcast! Fresh from their experience emceeing at the Meet the Minotaur SkyRace event in Crowsnest Pass Alberta.  They share their exciting journey through Canada's only SkyRunning race in the SkyRunning Series. From breathtaking views at the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, they recount their attempts at the 10K Minitaur Canada's hardest...

In this episode, we're thrilled to feature Ontario's own Chantal Demers, whom we have fondly declared as the "Queen of FKTs".  Chantal has held an astonishing 37 Fastest Known Times (FKTs) since 2015 and recently captured the Oak Ridge's 271 kilometre self-supported FKT in an impressive three days, seven hours, and 21 minutes. Chantal shares her journey from basketball and triathlons to her transi...

Join us on this episode of the Gotta Run Podcast as we dive into the world of SkyRunning with Jackson Cole, the reigning champion of the Minotaur SkyRace, North America's only event, in Blairmore, Alberta, Canada. Originally from New Zealand, Jackson shares his journey from collegiate track and field in Colorado to becoming a La Sportiva sponsored athlete conquering some of the most challenging Sk...

In this episode, Norman and Jodi chat with Esther Fellhofer, a 34 year old ultra runner from Austria. Esther shares her inspiring story of being a non-athlete for most of her life to becoming a trail-running champion who has conquered some of the toughest races in Europe. Esther talks about her transition to trail running after moving to the mountainous region of Tyrol, her impressive wins in race...

Hey, everyone! We're back with another exciting episode of the Gotta Run Podcast. It's been a busy two weeks in the world of Gotta Run Racing, and we're thrilled to bring you all the action from the Sulphur Springs Trail Race, Canada's oldest ultra, which was vying for a Western States 100 qualifier. We kicked things off with a recap of our Lost Treasure Trail Race in Mansfield, which went off wit...

Norm and Jodi are Gladiators! That's right, we recently completed the 62K course at Ultra Trail Vipava Valley in beautiful Slovenia which is themed around an epic battle that took place in this region over 1600 years ago. In this episode we chat about how we chose this particular race and our experience from race kit pickup to crossing the finish line. It all started with Gladiators leading us out...

We are off to Slovenia soon to race the Ultra Trail Vipava Valley UTVV for short on April 27. It will be our first time there and it came on our radar after our chat with Canadian Galen Reynolds in Episode 81 who lives and trains near the capital, Ljubljana. Since we know very little about this part of the world or these trails we figured why not ask someone who has run the course, so we reached o...

Returning to the podcast is Ihor Verys.  Based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Ihor is the first Ukranian-Canadian finisher and ultimate winner of the 2024 The Barkley Marathons! Ihor has been very busy since we last spoke to him after his Fat Dog 120 win in 2022 including runner up at Big’s Backyard World Championship running over 715k last year and a win at Hurt 100 this year. We touch on a few...

The Sulphur Springs Trail Race is a 20K loop course, in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area just outside of Hamilton, Ontario that has been running for more than 30 years, making it the oldest running Ultra Marathon in Canada!  Distances offered include 10k up to 100 miles.  This year, the race seeks to become Ontario’s first Western States 100 qualifier - which would be a huge accomplishment - so...

Jonathan Albon is a 34 year old multi-discipline athlete originally from the UK, now living in Norway. Jon has left his mark on many sports including Obstacle Course Racing where he recently took home the largest prize in OCR history by crossing the line first in Saudi Arabia; completing 100 kilometres in 8 hours with 20 obstacles per 10K lap!  He has some equally impressive results in trail and u...