The Human Potential Running Series Podcast

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. In Episode 81, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix dives into a fascinating, cautionary tale from the frontline of local trail racing: The Rise of the AI Race Director. John breaks down a recent interaction with a new event organizer whose entire race presence, from a highly priced entry structure down to every single line of marketing copy,...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. Episode 80 is Part 3 of a 3 part series on The State of Ultrarunning. In the conclusion of this three-part series, HPRS owner and race director John LaCroix delivers his most raw and data-backed "State of the Sport Address" to date. Using 21 years of longitudinal data from Colorado and beyond, John pulls back the curtain on the "Ghost Rac...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. Episode 79 is Part 2 of a 3 part series on The State of Ultrarunning. In this part, John and guests Gordon Harvey, Mike Gamp, and Megan Storms tackle the increasingly complex world of land management, legal liability, and the "tragedy of the commons" currently facing ultrarunning. John pulls back the curtain on how some race directors are...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. Episode 78, is the first installment of a special three-part series, where HPRS Race Director John Lacroix sits down with guests Gordon Harvey, Mike Gampp, and Megan Storms to pull back the curtain on the current state of the ultrarunning industry. Part 1 focuses on the friction between "old school" trail culture and the high-gloss world...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. In Episode 77, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix offers insights into the story that was The Franklin Mountains Trail Runs for HPRS. Hear the story of how HPRS came to own the Franklin Mountains Trail Runs, the trials and tribulations we endured over the 5-years hosting the event in El Paso, and what led to the decision to sell the race to...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. In Episode 76, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix welcomes special guest Izzy Davis, a Colorado native now living in Kellogg, Idaho. Izzy ran the Sangre de Cristo 100 Mile as her first trail race, first ultra, and first hundred miler. With no crew and no pacer, she won outright in 29 hours, 23 minutes. This conversation starts with the race...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. In Episode 75, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix welcomes special guest Camille Herron. For the first time, Camille has an opportunity to speak her whole truth about the Wikipedia and World 24-Hour Championship "scandals" that have left a negative mark on her reputation uninterupted and unedited. Together, John and Camille explore her neuro...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. In Episode 74, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix discusses ultramarathon running hero Camille Herron. John starts by highlighting the mission, vision, and ethos of HPRS; how we've created a safe space for all adventurers to explore, themselves and the outdoors, within a supportive community where belonging is valued. Then he reviews the "Wi...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series Podcast. In Episode 73, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix sits down with Andrew Buck Michael , a meteorologist from Ohio and host of the Weathering the Run podcast. Together, they explore the strange and beautiful relationship between weather, running, and resilience; and how much of our training happens in conditions we can't control. Andrew shares...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. In Episode 72, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix discusses the power of civil discourse, the importance of empathy, and the enduring impact of national events on our community. John reflects on the legacy of September 11th, the recent tragedy involving Charlie Kirk, and the value of open-minded conversation, even with those we may disagree...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 71, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and co-hosts Thomas Stott and Megan Storms reveal an exciting project spearheaded by Tommy. In this episode, we crack open a big idea: the future Human Potential documentary. Not a highlight reel. Not a brag piece. But a raw, honest exploration of what it really means to show up on trails, i...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 70, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and co-hosts Thomas Stott and Megan Storms dive into thermoregulation at endurance events; how to keep your core temperature in the sweet spot, whether you're racing in searing heat or bone-chilling cold. After a quick host check-in (including congrats to Stormy for receiving the Amazing Nur...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 69, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and co-hosts Thomas Stott and Megan Storms discuss the word of doom, "Injuries." Injuries are never on the training plan, but every runner eventually faces them. What matters most is how you respond in the first few minutes, the first few days, and the weeks that follow. In this episode, we...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 68, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and co-hosts Thomas Stott and Megan Storms each give their top five trail running tips for new runners, which also happen to be great reminders for seasoned veterans as well. From mental aspects to sage training advice, gear recommendations, and nutrition guidance, each host shares their tip...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. In this deeply personal Episode 67, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix shares a story he's never told publicly, until now. After a lifetime of masking and adapting to neurotypical expectations, John opens up about his recent diagnoses of ADHD (Combined Type) and Autism (Level 1). This isn't just a story about neurodivergence; it's a reckonin...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 66, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix discusses change and transitions. Change can be terrifying to the point that some people avoid it. It can also be necessary to grow. Transition is a word that can better describe change in a positive light. In this episode, John discusses aspects of the ultrarunning community that need to ch...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 65, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and co-host Thomas Stott discuss a wide range of thoughts about race preparation strategies. Together, they take us on a journey from beginner training plans to using races as training. They tackle ego versus mindset, how one can be destructive on your journey and the other the base of your...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 64, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix welcomes special guest co-host Derek Talbott from The Shifted Hunter. In this episode, John and Derek combine their two shows to discuss recent concerns about public land. In this robust conversation, they discuss the growing threats to public land access and why hunters, runners, and outdoo...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 63, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix welcomes special guest co-host Christopher Mellott. In this episode, John and Chris define what a mantra is. They provide various examples of the multitude of mantras that exist in the world. Then they turn to a conversation on how mantras can be turned into action, helping you achieve your...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 62, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix welcomes special guest co-host Christopher Mellott. In this episode, they discuss Care, Concern, and Accountability, and balancing all three when runners cheat or if a race participant or volunteer behaves negatively. They also discuss why rules matter and the distinction between the spirit...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 61, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and co-host Thomas Stott give updates on the Silverheels Trail Runs Permitting process before diving into a conversation about chasing an experience (the journey) rather than a destination. They discuss how people tend to become good at helping others meet their needs along the way and how t...

In this special edition of the HPRS Podcast, Race Director John Lacroix discusses the framework of community within ultramarathon running from 20 years ago, the two pockets that currently divide the sport, and how the behaviors of a small subset of runners within the community threaten to tear what remains of the community apart. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 60, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix brings us full circle on how our federal land management partners' current issues could negatively impact trail and ultra events. During the discussion, John highlights the timeline from June 2023 to the Present in discussing how we arrived at this moment and the real-life ramifications of b...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 59, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and co-hosts Thomas Stott and Megan Storms, dive into Belongingness Theory. In this episode, the trio explores what it means to belong. Deeper than that, we discuss the importance of belonging and the many ways in which HPRS promotes and supports belonging within our series. Also discussed i...

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 58, HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and co-host Thomas Stott welcome our newest co-host, Megan Storms, to the program. In this episode, we get to know Megan, her life in general, her journey into trail and ultra, and her journey to HPRS. We discuss why she believes in the HPRS community. Then, the three dive into talking about...