The Ostrich Running Podcast

In this solo episode, Nick goes deep into the mental side of running — the part no training plan really prepares you for. He breaks down why the hardest part of any run is simply showing up, how identity shifts from “I run” to “I am a runner,” and the three voices every runner carries with them on the road or trail: the Quitter, the Negotiator, and the Champion. Nick also opens up about his own st...

Episode 36 — John Calabrese: Navy Grit, 100 Miles of Pain, Addiction, Redemption & the Taco Bell 50K This week on The Ostrich Running Podcast, Nick sits down with John Calabrese — a 100-mile ultrarunner, Navy vet, father, and survivor who has battled alcoholism, heartbreak, and rock-bottom moments most people never come back from. John shares how running went from an escape in childhood… to a...

This week, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving the runner way — by diving into the wildest ultra performances of 2025, spotlighting athletes rewriting what’s possible, and uncovering the surprisingly hilarious history behind the American Turkey Trot tradition. We break down massive new records from Will Murray, Lin Chen, Caitriona Jennings, Hans Troyer, Sarah Perry, Phil Gore, and more — with context,...

Episode 34 — Manika Gamble Manika Gamble is an ultra runner, world traveler, and adventure-driven athlete who refuses to let setbacks define her. From completing her first ultra in Namibia with blistered feet, to battling and recovering from rhabdomyolysis, to chasing one of the most prestigious achievements in endurance — the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning — her story is one of courage, curiosity, an...

Episode 33 — ft. Ruairí Moynihan (Trail GangstAZ)” The freestyle king of the desert joins Nick to talk rhythm, resilience, and the art of turning pain into poetry. This week on The Ostrich Running Podcast, Nick sits down with Ruairí Moynihan — ultra runner, coach, and the lyrical powerhouse known as Trail GangstAZ. He’s the artist behind the Ostrich Running anthem, a member of the Aravaipa Running...

Episode 32 – The Stories That Changed Me In this solo episode, I reflect on what I’ve learned after 30+ conversations with ultra runners who have redefined what endurance means. 🎧 Act 1: The Common Threads What do all 100-milers have in common? From addiction recovery to chasing clarity — these runners aren’t just logging miles, they’re rewriting their lives. 🎧 Act 2: Interviews That Changed Me...

What’s harder than running 100 miles? Donating a kidney — and then toeing the line anyway. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mannie Zubia — a husband, father, veteran, and ultra runner — whose story stretches far beyond the finish line. We talk about what it means to show up for others and still chase your own wild dreams. Mannie shares how his kidney donation didn’t slow him down — it ga...

In this special two-part episode, Nick returns to the 100-mile distance for redemption. One year after his DNF at mile 62, he toes the line at the Kodiak 100 — stronger, wiser, and ready to face the distance that broke him. This second part Nick and Jarett talk about the lessons learned out there on the course. What it took to actually finish this race and what changed for Nick and Jarett after th...

In this special two-part episode, Nick returns to the 100-mile distance for redemption. One year after his DNF at mile 62, he toes the line at the Kodiak 100 — stronger, wiser, and ready to face the distance that broke him. This first part captures the anticipation before the race, the emotional weight of unfinished business, and the first brutal 66 miles of his journey — including on-course momen...

Welcome back to the Ostrich Running Podcast! Episode 28 is something special — our very first collaborative episode. We teamed up with Kobie from Ordinary Voices Podcast to dive deep into what drives us as runners, creators, and people chasing growth. This episode is about more than miles. We talk about: 👟 The spark behind starting Ostrich Running — the podcast, the brand, and the vision for the...

Racing Against Time isn’t just the title of Jeffrey Weiss’s new book—it’s a roadmap for every runner who’s ever stared down burnout, grief, or the question: Is this all there is? In this deeply personal conversation, Jeffrey sits down with Nick to talk about how Ironman, ultramarathons, and facing loss reshaped his entire life. They explore what it means to suffer on purpose, the surprising transf...

In this emotionally raw and ridiculously funny episode, Nick and Jarett unpack the emotional rollercoaster of running — from the quiet rewiring of your brain to the full-blown freakouts on the trail. Nick shares how running reshapes how we manage anger, stress, and even sadness, while Jarett… well, tries to figure out why anyone would choose this madness. This episode blends the serious side of me...

Would you run a mile for free pizza for life? What about a billion dollars… or to legally ban pineapple on pizza? In this hilarious episode of the Ostrich Running Podcast, Nick and Jarett play “Would the Juice Run for That?”—a game that tests if anything could make Jarett, a self-proclaimed run-hater, actually lace up and hit the trail. From Japan trips to stock portfolios to Morgan Freeman narrat...

In this episode of the Ostrich Running Podcast, Nick and Jarett tackle the weird pride runners have — and that constant urge to convert everyone else into running. Is it inspiration? Is it bragging? Or is running secretly a cult? We kick things off from our hotel room at Podcast Movement, breaking down why runners love to talk about their miles, injuries, and finish lines like they’re badges of ho...

The One With Majors On The Mind What happens when the code stops compiling—but it’s not your job, it’s your life? In this episode, Nick sits down with Derrick Song, a software engineer turned ultra runner, to talk about what happens when burnout forces you off the grid and onto the trail. Derrick opens up about the cultural pressures of being Asian-American in the tech world, the unexpected therap...

Ultrarunning isn’t just a test of endurance—it’s a test of survival. In this episode, Nick dives into the harrowing true stories from the dark side of ultrarunning: the 2021 Gansu ultramarathon disaster in China where 21 runners lost their lives, the recent passing of Elaine Stypula at the Hardrock 100, and the bizarre and brutal injuries runners have faced—including going blind mid-race. This epi...

In this episode of the Ostrich Running Podcast, host Nick Meraz interviews Bri Santos, a remarkable mother of seven and ultra runner. Bri shares her journey of balancing motherhood with her passion for running, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she faces along the way. From starting her running journey during the pandemic to overcoming health issues, Bri emphasizes the importance of self-ca...

The One WIth A History Lesson Why run 100 miles? Why invent races so hard they chew people up? Today on the Ostrich Running Podcast, Nick and Jarett dig deep into the surprising, messy, and weirdly inspiring history of ultramarathons. From ancient hunters in the African savanna overheating antelope for dinner to Victorian gamblers betting on men to walk 500 miles without sleep, this is the story o...

This week on The Ostrich Running Podcast, we sit down with Wes Cornett—a retired U.S. Air Force Special Warfare operator turned ultrarunner, writer, and storyteller who is running with a diagnosis of early-onset Lewy Body Dementia. Wes doesn’t sugarcoat anything. We talk about the real stuff: depression, sobriety, what it’s like to get lost on trail and concussed, finishing a 100-miler after two D...

In this raw and revealing episode, we flip the script. Jarett interviews Nick Meraz , the founder of Ostrich Running—ultrarunner, veteran, and creator of a brand that’s become a home for the broken, the slow, the weirdos, and the wild ones. We talk about where the brand really came from (spoiler: it wasn’t a business plan), what Run Scared really means, and why Ostrich Running is bigger than merch...

The One With Olympic Trial Dreams Pt 1 Xavier Smith is one of the fastest runners you've never heard of—because in the world of elite track and field, if you’re not already a star, you’re on your own. In this episode, we go deep into what it’s like chasing Olympic Trials while balancing fatherhood, physical and mental obstacles, and a system that doesn’t reward even the best. This is for the grind...

Nick and Jarett unpack eight wild (and maybe terrifying) ways artificial intelligence is about to crash the aid station. Will algorithm-built shoes, real-time pacing bots, and carbon-score race calendars save our legs—or ruin the soul of ultra-running? No guest, just unfiltered debate, occasional tech meltdowns, and plenty of laughter for your next long run.

The One Where He Runs For Those Who Cant Ice-cream miles, surprise ultra wins, and a 75-kilometre mountain-to-mountain fundraiser—Isaac “The Green Runner” Leighninger joins Nick to unpack the joy-first mindset that turns pain into purpose. From jumping cars to praying on start lines, Isaac explains how faith, fun, and community fuel his fight against pediatric brain cancer and his own battles with...

🎧 Episode 14: The One Where No One Cares Anymore In this episode, Nick and Jarett sit down to explore a quiet truth behind endurance running—what happens when no one claps anymore? We talk about the drive for external validation, the shift in family dynamics after your tenth ultra, and the deeper reasons some runners keep signing up for longer, harder, more painful efforts. Is it self-growth? Is...

The One Where We Walk Before We Run In this episode, we sit down with Tyson Black—a laid-back, hard-working trail runner from Southeast Tennessee who just last year decided to stop making excuses and start walking. Fast forward a few months, and he’s knocking out 50Ks and 50 milers with oatmeal creme pies in hand (and sometimes on his face). We talk about what it’s like to go from walking to ultra...