Like a Bigfoot

This week we are bringing Don Reichelt back on the show to talk all about his experience running in this year's edition of Big's Backyard Ultra. Big's has quickly risen to the top of iconic ultra races in the United States. The format is simple- every hour runners must complete a 4.16 mile loop, the next hour they must complete it again....then again....then again....at any point a person can quit...

A goal of mine has always been to encourage people to take on an adventure, whether that's signing up for an ultra marathon, climbing a mountain, or simply stepping outside their comfort zone. More specifically I always joke that the secret intent of the podcast is to get people to sign up for their first 50k, the ultra distance that I believe is the perfect intro to adventure. Well I'm happy to s...

This week we welcome back Josh Milich and Brian Tjersland after their 500 mile journey in support of Mission 22 a community with the goal of putting a stop to the high amount of veteran suicides that unfortunately happen every single day. By running from the Massachussetts National Cemetary all the way down to Arlington National Cemetary, these two raised money and awareness in every single city a...

This week we welcome American Idol finalist, first time marathoner and future ultra marathoner Clark Beckham to the show!! I recently met Clark at the finish of the Marine Corps Marathon. Sitting there in my own state of pure exhaustion, I was re-energized by the brief synopsis of Clark's marathon journey- 6 months earlier he was 30 pounds heavier listening to David Goggins' book "Can't Hurt Me" w...

Imagine spending two whole days physically, mentally and emotionally pushing yourself to your absolute limits. Traveling over 80 miles full of insanely difficult physical challenges while carrying a heavy ruck all under the critical eye of a cadre member whose job it is to get the absolute best out of you and make you resist, with every part of your soul, the urge to quit. GORUCK Selection is know...

This week is the most delicious episode of the podcast yet!! We are sitting down with Chef Corso from Monty Boca to talk all about how to cook delicious food in the wilderness. Chef Corso is an avid hiker and backpacker based out of Seattle who is challenging the way we think about cooking food for various adventures. Most of us usually throw some oats in a bag or slap together some peanut butter...

I'm super excited to have ultra runner, adventurer, and all around awesome person Kayla Howell back on the show this week! When I think of someone who loves the outdoors and is up for any adventure life brings her way, I think of Kayla. She's competed in all sorts of different endurance events all over the country and always steps up to any challenge with a tremendous attitude. In this episode we...

This week Phil Pinti and I are sitting down and chatting about our experience running the Inaugural Marine Corps Marathon 50k through the streets of Washington DC. The day was my very first big time road race and Phil's 6th MCM. It was a rainy, action packed, and incredibly moving event. I would highly recommend everyone to add this one to your bucket list, road runners and ultra runners alike. It...

This week we welcome back ultrarunner, filmmaker and host of the excellent "Training for Ultra" podcast Rob Steger. Rob is fresh off of completing the Triple Crown of 200s, a race series that consists of all three of Destination Trail's gigantic 200 mile adventures. In the past three months he has ventured over miles and miles, battled extreme obstacles and experienced an adventure of a lifetime a...

This week we are chatting with Juddson Vance fresh off of finishing the Centennials, Colorado's 100 tallest mountains!! Juddson has spent many weekends over the last few years chipping away at his big adventure, driving and camping all around the state and climbing not only the 14ers but also some of the most rugged and remote 13ers. This is a quest that many strive for and few complete, so it's a...

This week I'm very excited to sit down and chat with former Iowa Hawkeye and Philadelphia Eagle offensive Lineman Julian Vandervelde! Julian has had quite the athletic journey. Finding success at a young age in the little league world series through becoming a four year football starter at the University of Iowa to becoming a 5th round draft pick in the NFL to throwing heavy stuff while wearing a...

This week we welcome Danny "Oreo" a world traveler from Germany fresh of of completing her hike of the Pacific Crest Trail! Over the 2,653 miles from Mexico to Canada Danny experienced all the ups and downs that the trail brings. Forming beautiful friendships and pushing her own boundaries, she battled everything from the dry heat (and hills!) of the desert to postholing through insanely deep snow...

On this week's episode we are chatting all about the epic Tahoe 200 mile endurance race with my friend Thomas Mullins! I was recently asked to think about a person I look up to and have great respect for. Instantly my answer was Thomas. This is a guy who shows up, gets the work done, is incredibly driven to accomplish great things all while never forgetting the real important part of life, how we...

In this episode we are reconnecting with our friend Phil Pinti as he prepares for two big races- the Yeti 100 (his first 100 miler) and the inaugural Marine Corps Marathon 50k (which I'm flying out to run with him). Phil is a few weeks ago from the Yeti 100, a hugely popular race in Virginia. We chat about how he's preparing, his expectations going into the race, and what strategies he is going to...

This week we are celebrating three years of the Like a Bigfoot Podcast!! In September 2016 I was a stay at home dad with two of my kiddos, a 2 year old and a newborn. I knew I needed some sort of creative outlet to work on each and every week (and an excuse to chat with grownups!), I had a handful of friends who had some incredible stories, and as a huge podcast fan I had always wanted to start on...

This week we are chatting with the awesome North Carolina Ultrarunner Jacky Hunt-Broersma after her recent adventure taking on the TransRockies Stage Race. In 2001 a cancerous tumor was discovered on a nerve in Jacky's foot. One week later she had her leg amputated. A decade and a half later she decided to become a trail runner. Now she's paving the way for other amputees to get out onto the trail...

This week on the show we are bringing you two, count them, TWO guests!! We're back with our 4th edition of "Bigfoot Sightings", the episodes where we catch up briefly with a few of our favorite people from previous shows. First, we have the awesome Calvin Johannsen fresh off of his 2nd successful summit of the iconic Mt. Rainier. In this episode he shares the story of his new adventure. The import...

(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...

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,...

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...

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...

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 s...

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 unf...

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 disco...

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...