Run The Riot Podcast

Sometimes an ultramarathon is about much more than the finish line. In this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, I sit down with ultrarunner Matt Lamos to talk about how running became the catalyst for rebuilding his life after a difficult season, why suffering on the trail teaches lessons that carry into everyday life, and how his daughter inspired him to create a nonprofit that's changing lives....

In this Midweek Motivation, we explore the importance of knowing when to back off in your training. Sometimes, the challenge isn't about pushing harder, but about listening to your body and making smart decisions. Key takeaways: * Recognize when to rest: Pushing through pain can lead to injury. * Consistency over time builds fitness: One missed workout won't derail your progress. * Modify your pla...

As temperatures rise and summer training settles in, many runners find themselves asking the same question: "Why am I so much slower than I was a few months ago?" In this Midweek Motivation episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, ultrarunner and ultrarunning coach David Theriot shares an important reminder for every runner grinding through the heat and humidity: the work you're doing now is building...

Big goals are heavy. In this Midweek Motivation episode, David Theriot shares what training for the Bigfoot 200 is really feeling like about 75 days out from race day. The miles are increasing, life is still moving fast, and the challenge is becoming more than just physical. This episode is an honest look at balancing ultramarathon training with work, family, coaching, recovery, faith, and everyda...

In this episode, David Theriot shares insights on pushing through the middle of challenges, using the analogy of running a race to motivate listeners to stay consistent and disciplined in their pursuits. http://www.theriot.run

This week the mileage is going up. More running. More lifting. A midweek double. Early mornings when it would be easier to stay in bed. And if I’m being honest… it’s inconvenient. That’s the part most people don’t talk about. We all like the idea of big goals—running your first ultra, pushing further than you ever have, proving something to yourself. But what those goals actually require? That’s w...

That voice will show up. “Just give up.” In this episode, David shares a real, honest moment from a sleepless night filled with worry—and the familiar whisper that tries to convince us to quit. Whether it’s in the middle of a long run or a difficult season of life, the battle is often not physical—it’s mental. Drawing on years of ultrarunning experience, this episode breaks down: Why that voice so...

In this episode, David shares insights from his recent 50K race, emphasizing the importance of showing up regardless of conditions, testing yourself, and building discipline over perfection. He discusses how consistency in training and life leads to long-term growth and success. Keywords: motivation, consistency, training, discipline, life lessons, running, mindset, growth, showing up, long-term s...

In this episode of Run the Riot, David sits down with Ryane Broussard, a driven runner, mom of four, and woman of faith who chased one goal for nearly two decades: qualifying for the Boston Marathon. But Ryane’s path wasn’t a straight line. After a sudden back injury left her unable to feel or control her left leg, doctors told her she’d need to find a new hobby and stop running. Ryane refused to...

Relentless Forward Progress isn’t just an ultrarunning principle — it’s a blueprint for the Christian life. In this Midweek Motivation episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, David shares how the mindset that carries you through mile 80 of a 100-miler is the same mindset that builds spiritual endurance. When the body is tired and doubt creeps in, runners keep moving forward. When faith feels dry and...

In this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, David sits down with ultrarunner Melanie Mathews for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about grit, setbacks, and what it really takes to stay in the game of ultrarunning. Melanie’s running story starts long before ultra racing. Growing up on a Nebraska farm, she learned hard work, discipline, and toughness early—qualities that later carried her from...

In this episode of the Run the Riot podcast, David Theriot discusses the common trap of waiting until one feels ready to take action. He emphasizes that readiness is often a feeling that can delay progress, and instead encourages listeners to take action to build momentum. Through personal anecdotes and examples from ultra running, he illustrates how starting small can lead to significant changes...

In this episode of Run the Riot, David sits down with Katie Gunvalson, an ultrarunner known less for traditional races and more for her relentless pursuit of Fastest Known Time (FKT) efforts. Katie shares her journey from road marathons to multi-day ultrarunning challenges that test not just fitness, but resilience, problem-solving, and mental toughness. Katie opens up about repeatedly falling sho...

On this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, ultrarunner and coach David Theriot sits down with Chris Avery, an ultrarunner on a mission that sounds impossible at first glance: running an ultra marathon every day for an entire year while circumnavigating the perimeter of the United States. What makes Chris’s story so compelling isn’t just the miles — it’s how it all started. No running background....

In this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, we discuss the concept of the 'pain cave' in ultra running, inspired by a conversation with Philip Klinkner. We emphasize the importance of mental preparation and creating a supportive environment before facing challenging races. We share insights on how to mentally prepare for tough moments, using mantras, motivational quotes, and past successes to bui...

In this episode, we catch up with ultrarunner Phillip Klinkner, a blue-collar beast who’s chasing big goals, grinding out tough training blocks, and trusting the process as he heads into a huge year of ultra racing. From battling brutal foot issues at Hennepin 100, to a breakout 17:10 performance at the Dreadmill 100, to planning an all-out push for 200 miles at Last Dot Standing — Phil is on a mi...

The Skill Every Ultrarunner Needs in the New Year The start of a new year brings motivation, fresh goals, and big plans—but for ultrarunners, that energy can be a double-edged sword. In this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, we talk about one of the most important (and overlooked) skills in ultrarunning: training patience. This isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing the right things at the rig...

Life doesn’t always give us a choice in what happens — but it does give us a choice in how we respond. In this Midweek Motivation, we talk about what it really means to choose joy, even when life feels heavy. Not pretending things are easy. Not ignoring pain. But choosing gratitude, perspective, and faith in the middle of hard circumstances. This message is a reminder that joy isn’t a feeling rese...

Jeff “Bronco Billy” Browning returns to the Run the Riot podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on staying competitive in ultrarunning for decades, not just seasons. From rebuilding after tendonitis to preparing for Cocodona 250 and another run at Western States, Jeff shares practical insight every ultrarunner and ultrarunning coach can learn from. This episode covers what it really takes to mana...

This week on the Run the Riot Podcast, we’re hanging out with ultrarunner Mason Phillips — and what a story this guy brings to the trail! From growing up in California to working remote trail systems in Alaska, Mason’s path to ultrarunning is as rugged and adventurous as the mountains he trains in. At just 26, he’s already crushed a 100-miler at Rio Del Lago and took on the monster that is the Moa...

This week, we’re talking about something most of us don’t slow down long enough to consider — identity. Not the surface-level kind. The deep, heart-level “who am I, really?” kind. A moment at a men’s retreat opened my eyes to how quickly we define ourselves (and others) by what we do. Someone called me “the ultra guy,” and while that’s part of my story, it’s not who I am. That pushed me into some...

Chad Bruce is back on the podcast, and this time he’s fresh off the Mammoth 200 — 200+ miles through the high country of the Eastern Sierras. From long stretches of soul-sucking gravel to alpine climbs and a thunderstorm finish that tested every ounce of grit, Chad takes us inside what it really takes to finish a race like this at age 52. We talk about how his training has shifted with age, what g...

Welcome back, friends! After a busy season, it’s time for a reset. Today isn’t about perfection — it’s about taking the next step. What we talk about: When life gets full and priorities shift Why stopping for a season doesn’t mean failure Recap: a powerful men’s retreat and lessons on identity Family updates (Jennifer’s knee surgery + travel softball chaos) Why the Heartland 100 got pushed — and w...

In this episode of Run the Riot, we reconnect with Peter Defty, a pioneering force behind the fat-adapted movement in endurance sports. Peter is the man behind Vespa and OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism), and today, he shares powerful insights into how ultrarunners can unlock performance, recover faster, and sustain longevity by training their bodies to burn fat as a primary fuel source. We dive into...

In this episode of Run the Riot, ultrarunner Andrea Moore shares how a post-Boston road runner became a desert-loving, mountain-climbing 200-miler—finding joy, grit, and community along the way. We talk about the fire-shortened Oregon 200 experience, redemption arcs at Moab 240 and Tahoe 200, and what it really takes—physically, logistically, mentally—to string together Cocodona 250, Monster 300,...