For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running

Sometimes the hardest race isn't 100 miles through the mountains - it's figuring out who you are when everything in your life changes.

Amanda is a professional trail runner and endurance coach with a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University. She has coached endurance athletes for 10 years in everything from 5k - 200 miles. She is an Oregonian originally and now lives and trains in Colorado. 

Amanda ran collegiately for a couple years and then got into road marathons. It wasn’t until 2014 that she discovered trail running after an...

Is it better to be well-lopsided or well-balanced?

Randi Zuckerberg is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, media personality, and endurance athlete who embodies a "portfolio approach to life." Currently serving as a radio host, investor, entrepreneur, author, and mother, Randi has built a diverse career spanning technology, media, and athletics.

Jon chats with Randi about:

Managing the pain cave

Breaking age/gender stereotypes

Applying business thinking to race planning and problem-solving

Preparing to run Cocodona 250 again and other...

What happens when a mining town of 40,000 people shrinks to just 2,700 overnight, and then reinvents itself as one of America's most authentic mountain destinations? Today we're talking with Adam Ducharme about Leadville's incredible transformation from boom-and-bust mining to endurance sports mecca.

Adam Ducharme’s tourism journey started early; he was born in the Silver Lake Motel on Cape Cod and was helping check in guests and change sheets before he could tie his shoes. Now based in Leadville, Colorado, the highest incorporated city in America, Adam brings that lifelong passion for people and places to...

What if you accomplished everything you wanted, but still felt empty?

Pierce Showe is in the business of extreme discipline — a language spoken by the world’s top performers. He spent the early part of his career as the right hand to Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford before stepping fully into his calling as a faith-driven endurance athlete and coach.

He’s completed multiple 100- and 200-mile ultramarathons, an Ironman, and an Ultraman — pushing human limits with grit, purpose, and an unshakable faith in God. Most recently, Pierce broke the Guinness World Record f...

What happens when you quit your corporate job, go all-in on entrepreneurship, and decide to run 40 miles through the Colorado mountains? Today we're diving into how major life changes and epic trail adventures go hand in hand.

Having recently ran the Grand Traverse race with Emily, we dive into the details of the race experience, as well as other exciting life/career updates since Emily was last on the podcast in January.

Jon chats with Emily about:

Most endurance athletes are making the same critical fueling mistake. Let’s learn how to avoid it so you can perform the best.

Kelsey Bailey is the lead Performance Dietitian for Eternal, a company providing high performance, personalized healthcare to athletes. She spent 8 years with Special Operations and is also a consulting Performance Dietitian within the tactical space of military, fire, and police. Her areas of specialty include understanding the unique demands of today’s world on the body to keep people healthy, thriving and performing throughout their life. She also has a vested inte...

Don’t fall into the comparison trap as a runner!

Annie Frisbie is a professional runner for Puma and Minnesota Distance Elite. She trains with her team in Minneapolis and lives with her boyfriend and two dogs. 

Jon chats with Annie about:

• Annie’s Training Mindset for Success

• What Makes a Good Running Shoe?

• Race Fueling & Nutrition Strategy

• How to Get Back on Your Feet After an Injury

• Evaluating the Current Running Scene

Stay connected:

If you’ve ever considered running a global race series like UTMB, learn from the founders on why it’s so much more than a race.

Jon sits down with Michel and Catherine Poletti, the founders of the UTMB race series. They share their journey of starting and growing UTMB, along with essential business insights for organizing races. You won’t want to miss the philosophy that has been the foundation of their success.

Jon chats with Michel and Catherine about:

Early Challenges and Growth of UTMB

E...

What does it mean to TRULY be grateful for running and life?

Reid Burrows grew up in the small town of Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick, Canada. His endurance background is in the sport of triathlon. Upon leaving the pursuit of triathlon and chasing the Olympic dream, he fell in love with the trails and haven’t looked back since. In February of 2022, Reid quit his full-time job to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time professional trail runner. By the end of 2022, he was picked up by Merrell with his first professional contract. Reid cu...

Let's break down what is so special about trail running and why more people need to experience it.

Vivek Gowri is a Product Manager at NVIDIA, where he leads initiatives in gaming and AI hardware. When he’s not shaping the future of tech, he’s out on the trails as a dedicated runner and advocate for diversity in the outdoor space. He brings a thoughtful perspective to the intersection of technology, endurance sports, and inclusion — bridging innovation with impact on and off the trail.

Jon chats with Vivek about...

Are you laying the right foundation for your nutritional health?

Rachael (Reddy) Wade is a runner, mom of two, and founder of Rx Nutrition. She ran for the University of Alabama, earned gold medals at the Pan American Games and USA Championships, and now helps others fuel for performance and life. As a registered dietitian with a doctoral degree in Public Health, Rachael specializes in sports nutrition, women’s health, and disordered eating. Whether she’s chasing her kids, counseling clients, or training for her next competition, Rachael is all about the long run — litera...

Are you actually prepared for your next outdoor adventure?

Viktor Makarskyy is the Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of GOES Health where he is responsible for the product and engineering of their outdoor health platform. He is an avid runner living based in Los Angeles, where he’s currently training for a hilly marathon later this year in Japan. He checks the GOES app daily for real-time outdoor risks to help plan his runs, and GOES has helped him personally with everything from muscle cramps to impact injuries while running on trails. 

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No matter where you’re at in your running journey, there’s a path for all of us.

Scott Jurek has been named one of the greatest runners of all time, claiming victories in nearly all of ultrarunning’s elite trail and road events. More than just a champion, Scott is a true student and ambassador of the sport, known to stay at finish lines cheering until the last runner crosses. When not racing, he donates his time to many non profit organizations and is an avid volunteer in the areas of environmental conservation, fitnes...

Having doubts as a runner? Here’s how to reframe them.

Kristen Schindler is a mental performance consultant and endurance coach who helps athletes untangle their relationship with sport, self, and setbacks. She is currently completing her Master’s in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of Western States and working toward CMPC certification. Kristen’s work is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Performance Coaching, Narrative Theory, and Cognitive-Behavioral principles with a belief that who we are in sport mirrors who we are in life. Drawing on over two decades of experience as bot...

Want change in the way your races are organized? Then speak up about it!

Libby Jones is the owner and race director for The Active Joe, a race production company out of Dallas, Texas that focuses on the "average joes" out there getting active. She has directed running races for 17 years and currently produces trail and road running events 6 race days a year for The Active Joe. The company has a focus on affordable racing while providing opportunities to get active in a safe and inviting way for communities previously underrepresented in running.

When your motto is “young and fit,” what does it look like to train for Western States?

Hans Troyer is a 25 year old pro ultrarunner who set the course record at the Bandera 100k in 2024 and who finished second at the 2025 Canyons 100k, earning him a Golden Ticket to the Western States 100.

Listen to hear about:

This is a double-header episode hearing from two experienced pacers and crew members: Amelia Boone and Alex Hildebrandt. Both have experience successfully crewing and pacing elite athletes.

This episode was recorded in 2023, but is full of evergreen content!

In this episode we talk about:

-tips for assembling your perfect crew team, starting understanding your crew needs: logistics help, gear and nutrition, cheerleading, pacing, and more

-advice for crew members and things to discuss with your athlete, including logistics and crewing by bike 

-dealing w...

Get an inside look at what it’s like to run Western States!

Adam Peterman is a professional trail runner living in Missoula, Montana who ran for the University of Colorado.

Listen to hear about:

We’re only a couple of weeks from the Western States Endurance Run, so we caught up with a pro for an inside look at strategizing for it!

Riley Brady is a professional ultra trail runner for Nike Trail living and training in Boulder, CO.

Jon chatted with them about:

Athletes are more than their sport, so Colleen’s working to bring a holistic approach to team running.

Colleen Quigley is an American middle-distance runner, Olympian, entrepreneur, mentor, National Champion, and lover of women's sports.

From her high school days on the cross country and track teams, to her collegiate career and Florida State, and all throughout her professional career running for brands like lululemon, Nike, WHOOP, ROKA, and more, community has always been a top priority. 

Colleen aims to bring that value of community to life with a new professional track team cal...

There are a million and one ways to train for running. But the best way? To Makena, it’s whatever gives you the most fun.

Makena Morley is a long distance runner living in Bozeman, MT and running for ASICS. She graduated from University of Colorado in 2020 and now coaches via RunDoyen.

Listen to hear about:

We love in-person events. If you missed this one at Fleet Feet in Boulder in April 2025, you can catch up with this recording!

Caitlyn Miller is a 26 year old business owner and marathon runner. Caitlyn’s business, Expntl Athletics, specializes in activewear for distance runners.

She joined Jon live at Fleet Feet for this live discussion and audience Q+A.

Listen to hear about:

What does it mean to show up with joy even in the midst of the hardest seasons?

Annie Kalter is a 15-time Boston Marathoner, a mom, a school culture professional, and a woman with an extraordinary story of resilience. After surviving a heart attack that required her to be revived four times, Annie defied the odds to complete her 15th Boston Marathon just five months later.

Listen to hear about:

Annie’s entry into running and how she unexpectedly discovered the marathon was her distance

Building a 15-year Boston streak and wh...

Hoping to make time for your goals even when you have a million obligations to manage?

Allison Baca is a professional trail runner for HOKA. She juggles parenting a 3-year-old and working full time in finance while squeezing in training to compete in big mountain races.

Listen to hear about:

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses eating disorders. 

Athletes face a lot of mental and physical pressure around fueling, so we need to break taboos.

Kate Ringwood is a licensed therapist that specializes in eating disorders in athletes. Kate's personal experience navigating her own recovery while competing in cross country and track influenced her passion in helping others.

Listen to hear about:

This runner took a scary setback and turned it into a message of hope.

Dom Fusco is a health and wellness creator, coach, endurance athlete, and community builder based in Austin, Texas.

After surviving a sudden cardiac arrest in 2023, Dom made it his mission to help others strengthen their bodies, sharpen their minds, and deepen their faith to live healthier, stronger, and more purposeful lives.

Listen to hear about:

Royi Metser is the founder and CEO of Avelo, the company behind the world's first smart running shoe.

Running changed Royi’s life in 2021 after a blood test was the kick in the butt he needed to make a change. Three days later he signed up for his first marathon.

It was through his personal mission to improve at running that he decided to build a product to measure force and form and use the data to help runners improve performance and reduce risk of injury.

Want to build your mental strength and confidence before your next race?

Neal Palles is an ultrarunning coach and a psychotherapist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

Through his private practice, Colorado Psychotherapy and Sport Performance, he works with athletes who are struggling with anxiety, depression, or a performance related issue to help them focus on what matters.

Listen to hear about:

Boston is coming up next week, and to celebrate, we have a special bonus episode with you to give you the complete guide to the Boston Marathon experience with George Woodward.

George Woodward is a father, data scientist, runner, and certified coach who came to running and racing late in life. Boston 2025 will be Marathon number 21 and Boston number nine. 

He runs with the Somerville Road Runners in USATF events and runs for fun with November Project and the Heartbreakers. Running has allowed him to meet many fantastic people and has added richness to his l...

Family life in an athletic family can be a balancing act.

Jenny Jurek is an avid runner and adventure seeker sharing her passion of the outdoors with her two young children and husband, Scott Jurek.

After twenty years designing sustainable outdoor apparel, she recently launched her own business, “Always Up”, which offers performance products that empower parents to stay active during pregnancy and beyond.

Listen to hear about:

What does it take to build a passion-based activewear line?

Caitlyn Miller is a 26 year old business owner and marathon runner. Caitlyn’s business, Expntl Athletics, specializes in activewear for distance runners. 

Listen to hear about:

Stay conn...

Golfing might help your running more than you’d think.

Scott Stallings is a 3x PGA Tour winner who earned the reputation as "The Fittest on Tour" due to his fitness-first lifestyle.

In April, Scott will be participating in the 2025 Boston Marathon - his first-ever Marathon - while raising funds for and supporting Golf Fights Cancer, a non-profit organization that raises funds for cancer-related organizations and families living with the disease.

Listen to hear about:

Elite athletes deal with many of the same challenges that recreational runners do.

Adam Vadeboncoeur’s been running for over 20 years but is now finding his stride in his mid 30’s. Over the past few years, he’s gained his first Team USA spot for 50km World Championships, a 100k road national title, and a sub 2:18 marathon.

Listen to hear about:

Stay c...

The Marathon Project is back and bigger than ever.

Ben Rosario spent two years as a member of the Hansons Brooks Distance Project, was the special events director for the GO! Saint Louis Marathon, founded the Northern Arizona Elite professional team, and co-founded a specialty running store--Big River Running Company.

Now, Ben’s the CEO of The Marathon Project, an annual event in Chandler, Arizona that features an amateur and a professional marathon in one weekend.

Listen to hear about:

In a world of diet culture, nutrition for running can feel complex and exhausting– but it shouldn’t be.

Zoë Rom is a writer and journalist based in Carbondale, CO. Kylee Van Horn is the founder of sports nutrition business Flynutrition, which helps runners, triathletes, cyclists, and skiers to learn not only the ‘why’ but the ‘how’ behind fueling for performance.

Together, Zoë and Kylee host the podcast Your Diet Sucks.

Listen to hear about:

Fueling your sports can be a lot simpler than you may think.

Aaron Gouw and Gabe Multer co-founded Carbs Fuel, an emerging brand in the endurance sports nutrition space.

Carbs Fuel believes that fueling shouldn’t be reserved to the affluent minority. Their flagship product is their Original 50g Energy Gel.

Listen to hear about:

This chat with a coach will have you reworking your running goals to be even more impactful.

Tucker Grose is an endurance athlete and coach who enjoys competing over a variety of distances and surfaces.

In 2024 alone, he completed events from 800m on the track to 100k on the trails.

Tucker’s helped over 100 athletes incorporate running into their lives in a sustainable and health focused way.

Listen to hear about:

Managing your own running while also coaching others

Using curiosity as a driver toward goals

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Runners tend to overcomplicate nutrition, so let’s talk about both mindset and science.

Claire Shorenstein (MS, RD, CSSD) is a board-certified Sports Dietitian working with teenage and adult athletes from the recreational to elite level. 

Her virtual private practice, Eat for Endurance, helps busy, active people learn how to fuel themselves for health and performance while navigating the challenges of everyday life.

Claire’s a longtime distance runner herself and hosts The Eat for Endurance Podcast.

Listen to hear about:

Claire’s mental shifts from overachieving to process-oriented

Di...

Want a realistic look at how parents can spend meaningful time with their kids while also working toward running goals?

Adam Merry is a professional dad and former pro runner living in Belfast, Maine. He loves the process of self-discovery and improvement through training and race trail and ultra marathons.

Listen to hear about:

For The Long Run’s podcast consultant is here to pull back the veil on everything from production to brand partnerships!

Emily Holland is the co-founder of Wild Poppy Creative Consulting, working with creators and small business owners to maximize their impact on the world. She’s worked with Jon for 3 years now and she joins the pod to break down everything For The Long Run in a real way. 

She's a trail runner, rock climber, beginner skier, and overall outdoor enthusiast based in Boulder with her partner and weird...