Trail to 100

"If you're going to do an ultra, you're going to make it work" Mike Mcknight, also known as the Low Carb Runner, believes in committing to a race and then doing whatever you need to do to make it happen. In this episode, Mike shares his beginning days as an ultra-runner and his coaching tips, along with some fun stories! A bit about Mike: -Was almost paralyzed and then got into...

What do your friends and family think of YOU as an ultra-runner? Do they think you are crazy? Maybe they don't understand why you are doing what you are doing...Do they support you? Or do they stay out of it?? Get an outsider's perspective on ultra-running during this interview with JACOB'S PARENTS! They describe what it's like being parents of an ultra- runner, and also tell t...

Jacob and Melody share their experiences running Deadhorse 2021. Life updates: Melody is doing medical massage in Ogden UT (contact her here to make an appointment: www.melodybateman.biz) Jacob started a flooring business. Contact him through our Instagram page @trailto100 to get a quote. Main Takeaways: -If you don't feel like running...Just force yourself to put on your running shoes and ru...

Andrea Christensen joins the podcast to share how a single mother found healing and strength through ultra running in the mountains. Here is a bit about Andrea Christensen. 1. When did you first start ultra running?  2017 2. How did you become interested in ultra running?  I had been a road runner for 20 years, had a friend bring me along on a trail run, and I was immediately hooked. 3. Why do you...

Josh Bryant shares his story about running the Wastach 100 for the first time this year. He had a goal to finish in under 20 hours! Unfortunately, Josh did not reach his ‘A’ goal…or even his ‘B’ goal! BUT, he got his ‘C’ goal of finishing the race which makes him an elite athlete in our eyes!  Josh said he just didn’t feel quite right during this race which often happens to runners! Sometimes it’s...

Melody and Jacob share their experience running the Dugway Trail and Ultra Run on Oct 2. 2021. The main take away from this race: CROSS TRAIN!    What Jacob has recently learned:  -Do more cross training (he is doing insanity workouts and going to kick boxing classes)  -Do speed work (because we've been doing A LOT of long slow runs...So now we are adding in speed work to get faster!)  -Do ra...

"I am nothing...I realized how bad I wanted it...I want this so bad...So I started moving faster...I climbed that hill...I didn't stop once...Then I got to the top of the hill." These are some of the words spoken by Sherrie Shepherd as she came to the end of her first 100 mile race this year. Her story is inspiring as well as educational. In this episode, Sherrie shares the most spi...

Panic Attack: a sudden feeling of acute and disabling anxiety, sometimes so severe that one might believes they are about to die. Melody experienced her first panic attack this year in a tent after a series of stressful circumstances. Unfortunately, her training was affected by all the stressors in her life and she has taken a few steps back in her training (well, atleast physcailly...She has grow...

Jimmy Thomas, the finisher of five 100 mile races, and the race director of Tooele Trail Racing talks about how the trails of Tooele County Utah changed him from hating running to calling it "fun"! He shares how it is possible for a father of five children to still get out there and be an Ultra Runner. Jimmy shares how he overcame physical ailments, balancing family life, and lack of exp...

Volunteering at an Ultra race can be a once in a lifetime experience, especially one of the oldest/toughest ones in the USA! Jacob and Melody share their experience of staying up all night helping runners through one of the toughest 100 mile races in the country, The Wasatch 100! Don't miss the humbling and emotional experiences they encountered as they helped runners achieve their goals.

Not Your Grandma's Marathon is a brand new marathon created by Radical Races. It is in the conversion of being THE hardest Marathon in Utah. Melody interviews her husband Jacob about running a trail marathon through the mountains with 8,600 feet of vertical gain! He details how he endured the climbing and reviews this beautiful endurance run! https://radicalraces.com/ - Check out their websit...

Josh Bryant joins us as the first official guest of the podcast! As an experienced ultra runner himself, he gives the details of what his early days of ultra running were like. He talks about his training plans, how he overcame DNF's and ultimately became the the man who ran across the whole state of Utah! You won't want to this episode as we learn how Josh became and Ultra Runner!

J & M describe the aftermath of what it is like to recover from your first 100 mile race. They detail how they finally were able to return to normal and get back to the nitty gritty of everyday running again. Jacob updates us on his newest running discovery and Melody shares her runner coach knowledge with everyone. Details of what is going to happen with their podcast moving forward is revele...

Jacob and Melody are interviewed by Steph Shoell on the Notable Peeps Podcast. She goes into a deep dive of the mental and physical toll of what it is like to run 100 miles for the fist time! In this episode, Steph interviews us about our 100 mile race. There are a lot of details in here that we left out in our last episode. She was able to get stuff out of us by asking us questions that we would...

Jacob and Melody complete their 100 mile journey by running 100 miles for the first time! This a can't miss episode where J & M recount their experience of being a first time 100 mile finisher. Tun in to hear about the highs and lows as well as everything in between!

Jacob and Melody finish up their final peak weeks before they taper for their 100 mile race. They have encountered many obstacles in the past few weeks and they share their experiences of how others and God has helped them through long training runs in their final weeks of training.

Jacob and Melody are just 5 weeks away from their first 100 mile race. They decide to test out their 50 mile loop. Unfortunately heat exhaustion sets in on Jacob and they cut the race short at 45.5 miles. Jacob and Melody share their experience with the course. They go into details on the their concerns and things they need to change as the 100 mile day is coming soon!

Jacob And Melody scout out the top of Ben Lomond Mountain as they map their course out for their first 100 mile run. They discuss how Melody was able to overcome altitude sickness, their new favorite running food, and how they have been able to stay fresh during a grueling 100 mile ultra training plan. 

J&M debate the pros and cons of running with loved ones. They get into the nitty gritty details of the highs and lows and the arguments/disagreements that regularly happen between a married couple during an ultra-run. The pros and cons of running together are debated in this heated episode!

The 100 mile race has been cancelled but Jacob and Melody have officially decided to create and put on their own 100 mile course this upcoming September! J&M discuss the details of their decision to start pursuing their dream of running 100 miles on their own. Melody shares how a change in pace and mindset has helped her push farther. Lastly don't miss Jacob share how he deals with the ch...

J&M receive word of the cancellation of their 100 mile race in August. They discuss how ethical it is to not refund money for these races. They then move on to weighing the pros and cons for different options ahead in order to keep moving forward  to reach their goal of running 100 mile, which might even mean running a 100 mile course on their own...

J & M make their first appearance on another podcast. They appear on "Parking Thought" to reflect on why they have decided to podcast their experience of running 100 miles. Join them as they swap running stories with the host (Jacob) of Parking Thought as they talk about running with deer, changing weather, and running next to dogs with chickens in their mouths. Make sure you check o...

Melody encounters a hurt hip and Jacob deals with not one but two ankles that are giving him pain. They give the details of a grueling 15 mile run with hurting bodies. Melody explains how prayer is just as essential as proper running shoes in order to push through a long run. J&M learn to get creative this week and talk about running on an "anti-gravity" machine while also scraping a...

Melody has leveled up, finding a new reservoir of inner strength she didn't think she had as she conquered a 26 mile mountain blizzard run! Not that this is a competition, but she also conquered Jacob who was sensing his first breakdown from a worn out body and stress from all the insanity in the world. Tune in to hear how Jacob overcame his desire to lay in bed and fight through a 24 mile ru...

Already 1/3 of the way through training Jacob and Melody hit a crucial period in their 100 mile training where the two have to decide whether to listen to their bodies or listen to each other. Join them as they recall the argument they went through on their 50 mile race and what it taught them. Don't miss their breakthrough discoveries as new training tactics are implemented this week.