Check out my interview with Rob on Training For Ultras Podcast .
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Rylee McDermott at Man Bun Run Podcast. Click on the link to go to the interview on iTunes.
In this episode of the Intelligent Racer Podcast we talk about my coaching approach and philosophy, how I personally balances the demands of being an ultra runner with family and work obligations and I share a little on my adventure in the Owyhee Canyonlands in southeast Oregon.
I just had the opportunity to sit down to talk with Intelligent Racer Podcast. We cover my history in sport and running, my tips for longevity in the sport, and I share some highlights from the 2016 season and offer up some valuable running and recovery tips. Giddyup!
In May of 2016, Jesse Haynes and I attempted to run 172 miles in four days following GPS waypoints of the new off-piste Oregon Desert Trail through the Owyhee Canyonlands in southeastern Oregon. It got real on day 3. Check out the photo essay on Patagonia's The Cleanest Line.
So excited to share Matt Trappe’s film The Double about my attempt this summer to break Nick Clark’s Western States 100 and Hardrock 100 combined times. A challenge that 17 years of ultra running experience led me to. Here’s a glimpse into that adventure…giddyup!
I’m what you’d call a night owl. I like to stay up late. I always chalked it up to being a creative person and it always seemed that my creative juices starting flowing after 9pm — seeing midnight 1am, 2am — many, many nights when I was working on a design deadline, squeezing in a night run, or catching up on training techniques. Even during big training blocks, my head still never hit the pillow before midnight. So, I rolled with this until I hit my 40s. I noticed I wasn’t bouncing back like I used to. I didn’t seem to be as alert, so I increasingly turned to caffeine. It worked for a time. Then, a few years ago, during a particular busy design week coupled with a high volume running week, I found the day’s third cappuccino gave me heart palpitations. I’d never experienced those before and it freaked me out.
I started to dig into the importance of sleep and going to bed earlier. The earlier bedtime and less caffeine got rid of the palpitations. And, as I dug into the sleep subject I learned more about our natural circadian rhythms of night and day and how our internal system can get confused when artificial light is introduced too late into the evening. I quit staring at a screen after 9pm (well, at least most of the time). I turned the lights low and set aside time to read before bed. I went to bed before midnight. I had more patience with my kids. I seemed to be a better dad, husband and runner for it.
Here’s the thing — sleep is essential for support of our neurological performance, endocrine balance, immune system function, and musculoskeletal growth and repair. Sleep encourages the release of human growth hormone (HGH), an key component in cellular regeneration. Solid sleep enhances memory performance and creative problem solving, helps you focus on the positive and the Big One for athletes — boost your athletic performance, including speed, accuracy, mood and overall energy. An important aspect for all of us trying to train consistently: Less chance of getting sick and injured! Yep, your immune system is most active during sleep. No matter what, it’s clear. Athletes need to get a solid night of shut-eye.
Another recent podcast interview on The Double and Optimized Fat Metabolism. We had a good face to face interview at Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City.
Free State 100K. Photo by Mile 90 Photography.
Jesse Haynes and I attempted to run through the Owyhee Canyonlands in 4 days in early May. Goal was to run the last 170 miles of the new Oregon Desert Trail (ODT) — an off-trail set of GPS waypoints through Eastern Oregon’s vast high desert — we made it 142 miles. Check out the short story and photo essay at Patagonia’s TheCleanestLine.com. Giddyup.
Jesse and I hope to outrun the storm on day 3 in the Owyhee Canyonlands. Photo by Jonathan Byers.
