The Evolving Adventurer

Thanks for listening today, friends! It's almost the summer solstice, and with summer in North America comes the risk of wildfires. Summer recreation is also here: camping, hiking, paddling, biking, running on the trails away from urban noise. This episode is based on my experiences in North America: I'm sure there are comparable resources for listeners in Europe, Australia, South America,...

Cocodona ! It's an adventure, a journey, a transformative experience for not just those who attempt the 250 miles from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona, but for all who are helping crew, pace and put on the event. Today's episode focuses on lessons learned from observing the 2025 Cocodona race. Being behind-the-scenes, watching the livestream cameras, talking to runners at the finis...

Thank you for listening today, friends! We're back, this time with an episode detailing my running journey. It hasn't been linear, and has involved nearly a dozen uses of the phrase "you'll never run again." The journey has taught me patience, courage, determination and perseverance to reach my goals. I've struggled to finish a one-kilometer run, watched the entire PE class move on to the next act...

Recovery from participating in endurance activities is imperative for those who desire longevity in their career, passion and/or hobby. But what is it, and how do we go about it? Recover can be defined as the exercises, modalities and therapies that are used to reduce soreness, promote healing, reduce the risk of injury, and increase range of motion. Put another way: it's what we do to repair, reb...

Thank you for listening, friend! Today I'm talking about my experience training for a 100 miler, Javelina Jundred , while working a physically demanding job. A coach help me achieve my goal of completing the 100 miler, in what was my third attempt at the distance. That supportive coaching catalyzed my decision to also pursue ultramarathon coaching through the UESCA certification process. My ch...

After a brief pause for station identification, we're back! It's been awhile since the last episode due to some life changes. Today's episode details my experience running the Moab Red Hot Ultra , the 55k race, produced by Mad Moose Events . It's a fun course in a gorgeous location--truly, one of my favorite places to explore in North America. I go through my race experience, the terrain, and deci...

Hello! Thanks for listening, and welcome back. Today's episode is one that's a lot more in-depth than the title suggests. I chat about why it's good to learn new skills... which can also be construed as why it is good to suck at something new. The episode is inspired by my acquisition of a 360 camera--the Insta360 X4--and the adventures of trying to document my outdoor adventures. It&#...

Hot Springs is today's topic, friends! I love going to soak in hot springs, preferably when it's just myself and a small group enjoying their ambiance. Today's episode details some of the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of taking a trip to a hot springs. From absorbing trace minerals to reconnecting with a sense of peace and tranquility, hot springs can truly rejuvenate the sou...

Courage can be defined as taking any action that involves facing a fear. An example would be asking someone out on a date despite facing the fear of rejection. Today's episode focuses on how to build courage. I share some tips from personal experience as well as from sources such as Kripalu and BetterUp . Thank you for listening! Connect with me on Instagram or via cactusmoose@protonmail.com w...

Motivation! Motivation:the internal state that drives persons to engage in goal-directed behavior. What are some tips and strategies for accessing the internal force that guides behaviors? How can we stay motivated? Listen to today's episode to find out more. Connect with me by email at cactusmoose@protonmail.com or on Instagram

Thanks for listening to this solo episode today! Grief can be a complicated experience: even finding a definition can be challenging. Grief is the sense of loss that develops from a loved one or something close to our heart being gone from our life. Today's episode discusses grief, and strategies to be aware of if you're experiencing grief, or someone you care about comes to you for support. I go...

Thank you for joining another episode of The Evolving Adventure(r) podcast!  Today's guest is  Sophie Rouge , recording with me from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sophie is an ultrarunner, musician and vegan who has completed several 100 mile races in the past 4 years. Her first ultra was completing  Rim to Rim to Rim  (R3) of the Grand Canyon after a friend invited her along.  Sophie shares some of he...

It's a treat today to chat with ultra runner and acupuncturist Talia Chevassus ! Talia talks about her adventures as a run coach, how her interest in running developed over the past few years, and about future goals. She's rearranged her schedule and life to fit her outdoor passion, while balancing acupuncture clients, yoga and making the majority of her food from scratch. Our discussion also cove...

Resilience... what is it, and, more importantly, how can we build it? Resilience is often thought of as the ability to bounce back, or return to a previous "normal" point after a challenging, stressful situation. Generally, the stressor takes the form of an external stressor related to work, relationships, family, health or finances. Resilience can also be how one adapts to life's stressors... and...

Ashley is an ultrarunner with an incredible track record of outdoor adventures in the Sierras . Moving from marathon training to lose weight for college credit to winning ultramarathons after starting on dirt to better exercise her dog off-leash, Ashley is a badass on trails.  We talk about some of the opportunities she has living in the Great Basin with access to the Sierra in less than an hour,...

Hello friends, and thank you for listening today! We've got a fun episode with Coach Sarah as we discuss our experiences at the Dead Horse Ultra 50 mile race in Moab, Utah on November 16. It was a fun to chat about our learnings, challenges and successes at the race, and to provide information and advice to anyone considering a fall race in the beautiful slickrock around Arches and Canyonlands Nat...

Emily Keddie is the first guest on the Evolving Adventurer initiative! Emily is a mountain athlete based in Bend, Oregon with a bold goal of 2 million vertical feet covered, by foot, in 2024. Our conversation is wide-ranging, as always, starting with how to adjust and find balance between the many facets of life other than the pursuit of that goal. We discuss Emily’s body adjustments, preparation...

Thank you for listening! Today's episode is a neat twist where my coach, Sarah , interviews me about my experience running the 100 miler at Javelina Jundred on October 26-27, 2024, in Fountain Hills, Arizona. We cover a variety of topics including the format of the race, how I felt leading up to it, what clothing and gear I wore, what worked and didn't, and some key takeaways. It was the hottest J...

Thank you for listening today, friends! It's been hot out here in the desert as I acclimatize for Javelina Jundred in just a couple more weeks. The inspiration for this episode came from an experience last week: bats were raiding the hummingbird feeder! I've rarely seen bats, or a bat, in my life: definitely less times than I can count on one hand. It was a neat experience, and I explored the deep...

Thank you for listening today, friends! I've had some setbacks the past couple of weeks, and I thought it would be worthwhile to share what I've done to process and move past their occurrence. It can be a challenge when things don't go how you anticipated, but there can be magic on the other side of what's been blocked.

Thank you for listening today friends! There are a few updates to share as it's been awhile since I recorded. I had a profound shamanic journey involving a cougar and a red-tailed hawk, both of which had wisdom to share with me. The wisdom is deep, and I feel compelled to share a new interpretation, how it relates to my life, and some questions to ponder for yourself as we move through of jour...

Today we're talking about gratitude... what is it, how does it work, and how can your life change once you start being grateful for what you're co-creating?

It’s almost spring! I thought it appropriate and relevant to talk about transitions and share some wisdom for navigating them as we shift into the season of new growth and possibilities.

Courage Determination Bravery

Did Not Finish (DNF) a race doesn’t define who you are. Today I'm reading an article I wrote about my DNF experience at the Coldwater Rumble by Aravaipa Running in Estrella Regional Park on January 20.