We Are Superman

We're heading into the winter months, so here is my best advice to achieve and enjoy getting lazy and out-of-shape before the spring. ;) Bill Stahl silly_billy@msn.com Facebook Bill Stahl Instagram @stahlor This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billstahl8.substack.com

Many of you know my long history of injuries and surgeries.  More than 20 years ago, I had worked with a Feldenkreis practitioner who had noticed that I have a strong tendency to rotate onto the outsides of my feet (which unfortunately is still my tendency today), and favor my left knee due to the four surgeries I’d had to repair its ruptured quad tendon.  Therefore, on the supposition that some o...

As motivational coach and author, and frequent WASP contributor Gary Stotler describes, Halloween was often the beginning for him of two months of losing focus on his goals due to holiday eating and parties, family gatherings, and more.  We discuss ways to be true to yourself during this time of year and maintain the discipline it takes so you will not find yourself self-loathing for falling short...

Get ready to get fired up with Shawn Anderson.  Shawn is a top-rated motivational speaker and bestselling author, who has twice bicycled across America, and walked across Spain, Portugal, Ireland, England, Italy, France, and Japan.  I love that he has gotten the mayors of more than 500 U.S. cities to issue proclamations each year to recognize November 1 as Extra Mile Day, a day recognizing the cap...

The high school cross country team I help coach completed its season this past week at Regionals, and while none of the runners qualified for the State meet, there was a tremendous amount of progress.  Most of all, I enjoyed the opportunity to help provide these kids a positive experience, and that they did was evident at the end of the season.  I've had many experiences like this in 35 years...

As you know, when I’m not running in the Leadville Trail 100, I work at the Winfield aid station at mile 50.  That’s where I had a very brief encounter with plant-based endurance runner Robbie Balenger, who was completing his summer-long Colorado Crush.  Robbie had previously run the Leadville Marathon as well as the Silver Rush 50-mile.  I’ve had runners who don’t run ultras gasp, wow, he did all...

It's so easy for us to take on too much in our lives and get overwhelmed.  How much of this is due to us thinking "If I don't do this, no one else will," taking on tasks that simply aren't essential anyway?  How can we delegate instead those tasks in our homes or jobs that don't have to be done perfectly or you don't like to do so that we are not doing everything...

I spent 22 years in the computer industry, made good money, but I found fulfillment earning less while owning my own youth sports business, teaching kids sportsmanship, teamwork, and giving them a healthy outlet, as well as in coaching running.  I find there is a lot more gratification in showing kids that their hard work can lead to positive results and lessons that will last them a lifetime, as...

I’m excited to return with some ultrarunning royalty, record-setting Zach Bitter.  Zach dealt with the pandemic by lowering the record for 100 miles on a treadmill by 23 minutes to a mind-blowing 12:09:15.  Yes, on a treadmill.  In his house.  I remember well when David Clark ran 77 miles in 12 hours on a treadmill, so Zach bested that by, oh, 21 miles or so.  Prior to this, in 2019, Zach smashed...

I hope you’ve had a chance to listen to Cole Chlouber and Adrian Macdonald on the last two episodes discussing the Leadville Trail 100.  Like Adrian, Annie Hughes was a relatively unknown rookie winner of this year’s race.  At age 23, many might have dismissed her as one of those cute stories of a youngster taking on too steep a challenge.  When I began running ultras many moons ago, it was the re...

The United Nations recently issued a new stamp honoring Mother Teresa with the quote from her, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”  Please join me in this discussion of how small impacts we make can collectively add up to big changes in the world.  And please tell me how small things you've done are creating impacts that can collectively lead to a...

I’m excited to welcome Adrian Macdonald to the Hive.  The leaves are now turning in Leadville, but a few weeks ago, Adrian won the Leadville Trail 100.  Some of you might be legitimately asking, “Who is Adrian Macdonald?”  At Winfield, 50 miles into the race, he was dueling for the lead with Hoka athlete Tyler Andrews, who appeared on WASP episode #129 in May, and Tyler said to me, “Who is this gu...

It was truly an honor to host the American Heroes Run.  I was awed by all of the runners and other supporters who came out to honor first responders, our military veterans and servicepeople, the lives lost on 9/11/01, and David Clark, and also endured brutal heat during the races.  I am so inspired by many of the stories of those who ran, as I hope you are as well.  Even if you didn't partici...

It’s always a can’t-miss episode when you have Cole Chlouber in the Hive, and I always appreciate Cole making time for me.  Cole and I recount the recent Leadville Trail 100, including his own race on his bike, as well as the entire race series, what the Leadville series has coming up yet this year and beyond.  You’ll hear an update on Ken and Merilee.  And Cole will also get you fired up in Ken-l...

I have never, ever completed a run, no matter how difficult it was to get out the door, and said afterward, "I wish I hadn't done that."  I guarantee that.  No matter how I felt, how bad the weather was, etc., I have always been glad afterward that I got in that run.  As I explain, there is always a value - or several of them - to every run I've completed, and usually you don&a...

Today I’m bringing into the Hive Rich Greene, someone who went through his own personal transformation when he got the news from his doctor that his unhealthy lifestyle, which included smoking 2½ packs of cigarettes a day, was getting him perilously close to having a major stroke.  That was his wakeup moment to clean out his fridge and replace his food with healthier options.  He also returned to...

Why not do something epic in your life?  Whether it is taking on a new challenge in your life, something you might have thought was unattainable, starting a new business, or even a whole new athletic endeavor, why not try something new and exciting, and... EPIC? You can register for the American Heroes Run at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=85175 Bill Stahl silly_billy@msn.com Facebook B...

I thought it would be fun hearing from Simone about her adventures this summer running the Salomon Golden Trail series in Europe, as well as the travails of spending two weeks quarantined upon her return with no human contact in a small hotel room in Melbourne - at her own $3000 expense! Simone appeared with David back in episode #93 in September, 2019 she has a quite remarkable story.  Once a dep...

Recapping the always intriguing, always eventful Leadville Trail 100 run.  I volunteered at the Winfield (50-mile) aid station and got to see and co-mingle with many of the runners, staff, and volunteers of this iconic race. You can register for the American Heroes Run at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=85175 Bill Stahl silly_billy@msn.com Facebook Bill Stahl Instagram @stahlor This is a...

Gary had gotten lost in the wilderness, so to speak, following his last Leadville Trail 100 run finish, not having the passion to followup with further ultramarathons.  But getting on a mountain bike and completing the Leadville Stage Race, and then winning a coin for the actual 100-mile mountain bike trail race set the stage for him to Dig Deeper, as they say in Leadville, and find satisfaction i...

David often talked with me about rising from the ashes while running ultramarathons.  He called this The Switch.  I read from his book Broken Open about his finding The Switch while running the Leadville Trail 100 where he was perilously-close to getting cutoff at mile 60 to making a miraculous turnaround and finishing.  An inspiring and worthwhile lesson for us all in every aspect of our lives. F...

I had actually been trying to get Colin Lyons on for some time to talk about athlete’s mental performance training, so it’s fortuitous to get him right at the time that they’re calling these the Mental Health Olympics following Simone Biles’ well-documented travails with the so-called twisties.  Colin was a middling high school and collegiate runner but has found his niche in helping athletes deve...

Athletes' mental health has been in the news a lot lately following the competition withdrawals of world number one-ranked tennis player Naomi Osaka and gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles.  Old friend of the WASP Gary Stotler and I discuss the issues and, most importantly, ways to help. Gary Stotler garystotler.com Facebook Gary Stotler Instagram @coachgarystotler Find his latest book, "Succes...

Impressive running improvements can come from building mileage.  What are the reasons and the best ways to do so?  A staple of runners seeking to get better and extend their limits is long runs.  Here is my advice for doing these as well as how to get these long enough to meet your goals. You can register for the American Heroes Run at https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=85175 Bill Stahl sil...

I had a great chat with Mandy Podlesny, who is a keto coach.  Mandy suffered a freakish knee injury that sent her life spiraling downward for more than a decade.  She had surgeries, tried all sorts of meds, went through the whole frustrating healthcare system mill that some of us have become all too familiar with.  And none of it worked.  Been there, done that, too.  She was miserable and found he...