Off The Couch

Trail running’s evolution from recreational to professional sport has not been without its own share of setbacks, and as often is the case, athletes are the ones most immediately affected by them. Facing the lack of a collective voice to confront these challenges, Nike Athlete Francesco Puppi co-founded the Pro Trail Runners Association (PTRA) in 2022 to enable an international body of elite trail runners to share concerns about the sport’s present and future. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with Francesco to learn more about the association’s specific areas of focus, including anti-doping, athlete rights, and environmental protection; why forming a union was necessary at this point in trail running’s level of professionalization; what the US can learn from Europe when it comes to further developing the sport; and much more. TOPICS & TIMESHow Euros develop as runners (4:50)Where Francesco gets his passion for running (7:19)Top training resources (11:52)His background in physics (13:14)2022 recap (14:18)Trail r

Newly christened The North Face Athlete, Rod Farvard, returns to the show to talk about the brand’s unique Athlete Development Program, an initiative launched earlier this month to provide 17 young athletes from a multitude of outdoor sports with resources to accelerate their careers and serve as activists in the outdoor space. Rod and I talk about the critical role such programs play in continuing to professionalize the sport of trail running; how he intends to use his platform to help decrease our environmental impact while enjoying trails and wilderness spaces; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESDoi Inthanon: a series of unfortunate events (3:41)Getting Rhabdo (7:49)“What’s your longest ride on Zwift?” (14:43)TNF’s Athlete Development Program (16:12)Mentorship with The North Face (20:41)Meeting the ADP team (25:04)Is running inherently selfish? (29:20)6-month program goals (33:29)3rd time’s a charm at Western States ’23 (35:13)UTMB & TDS (38:12)RELATED LINKSBlister + Spot InsuranceBecome a Blister

Ultra-distance trail running is a sport ripe for storytelling, something that filmmaker Jeff Pelletier recognized when he first began chronicling his adventures back in 2018. Since then, his background in video production, married with his passion for exploring the world by trail, has produced dozens of compulsively watchable POV-style films of his experiences at events like UTMB, the 205-mile Tor des Géants, and most recently, a 7-day stage race in the country of Georgia. We talked to Jeff about the added challenges of filming himself during grueling ultramarathons; how YouTube is helping to grow the sport of trail running; bucket-list fastpacking trips; and more. TOPICS & TIMESTrail running in Vancouver, BC (4:59)Jeff’s background in video production (9:05)How YouTube helps grow trail running (10:27)Storytelling through races & Tor des Géants (17:45)‘Racing Georgia’ (26:46)Travel tips (35:28)Fastpacking in the US & Europe (36:36)Choosing to film himself vs. someone else (44:26)Jeff’s relationshi

Running injuries are often talked about in hushed tones, as if mere mention could speak one into existence. While undoubtedly the suckiest part of the sport, they’re also perhaps the most inevitable, so learning how to approach them mentally can make time away from running an opportunity for growth. Saucony Athlete Katie Asmuth spent much of 2022 nursing a broken foot, yet despite being sidelined, she discovered new ways to connect with the greater trail running community. Now healthy and in the process of building back up for a big 2023, we caught up with Katie to talk about how she dealt with her injury; the strength of being a mother to 2 boys gives her deep into ultras; the major family vibes of the Western States 100; race coverage; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESKatie’s background (2:42)Living & training in Mammoth Lakes, CA (10:45)Her career as a nurse practitioner (13:45)Nabbing a Golden Ticket in 2021 (15:40)Why trail running is NOT therapy (19:35)SWAP & the one and only David R

La Sportiva Athlete John Kelly has speculated that one of his weaknesses is that perhaps he’s uncomfortable being comfortable, and one look at his resume sure suggests as much. After trying his hand at triathlon for a few years, a stint that included a few trips to Kona, John found his way into ultrarunning and quickly began to prod at the limits of an already extreme sport. Since then, he’s become only the 15th person to finish the infamous Barkley Marathons (as well as the last to do so) and he holds several FKTs over 200 miles in length. So we sat down with John to learn more about the mindset required to run for several days straight; living and running in the UK; how he recently rebuilt his speed to run a sub-2:30 marathon; who’s winning the Super Bowl; and much more.  TOPICS & TIMESFrom triathlon to trail running (3:00)The story behind his nickname, “Random Forest Runner” (6:19)The 2017 Barkley Marathons (8:50)Does John still have the legendary orange hat from the race? (13:07)UK trail running

We recently talked to Salomon Athlete, Jeff Stern, about racing as an elite while simultaneously covering the trail running landscape in his role as the assistant editor of Ultra Running Magazine, a still independently owned publication that has served as “the voice of the sport” since 1981. Jeff hopped on the show shortly after they announced their UltraRunners of the Year for 2022, so we spent some time talking about the history of the award, this year’s winners, and a whole lot else — including, how he came to trail running after years of racing bikes competitively; his profile writing process; the 111th running of the famed Dipsea Race; and more. TOPICS & TIMESHow the SF Giants helped Jeff get into running (2:47)A Dipsea deep dive (6:11)His background as a cyclist (10:33)Making the jump to ultrarunning (15:00)2022 goals (18:42)The JFK 50 / Quad Dipsea double (22:16)Ultra Running Magazine and profiling athletes (30:57)Adam Peterman & Courtney Dauwalter (40:32)History of the UltraRunners of The Year

The high desert of Northern Arizona has been a hotbed for trail running for decades. The combination of altitude, changing topography, and year-round trail access the region affords helps to harden the legs and fortify the lungs. It’s perhaps no coincidence then that since moving to Flagstaff in early 2021, adidas TERREX pro, Abby Hall, has been tearing up the international racing scene. So, we sat down with her to talk about some of the changes she’s made to fuel this success in a winding conversation that also includes a recount of a potential UFO encounter, musings on writing and creativity, an ode to the Eastern Sierra, and much more. TOPICS & TIMESMoving to Flagstaff, AZ (2:50)“The Big Ditch” (7:48)Running full-time (8:25)How to set priorities (10:25)What actual goes down at athlete training camps (20:27)Musings on writing (22:33)Adventures from last year (27:41)JMT UFO encounter? (34:46)Her Transvulcania victory and Lowest to Highest (45:42)RELATED LINKS:Blister + Spot InsuranceBlister Summit 2

As a newly minted thirty-year-old, Dani Moreno has already been racing trails professionally for the better part of a decade. Over the last couple of years, she’s solidified her status as one of the world’s best sub-ultra distance trail runners, a position she’s reached through patience, consistency, and an intuitive knowledge of exactly the right time to give it some gas. This approach continued to pay dividends in 2022; Dani finished in podium position at both the Mont Blanc Marathon and OCC, two marquee international races historically swept by euros. As the calendar ticked over into 2023, we sat down with her to recap a few memorable performances from the previous year; discuss how she mended her broken relationship with running after graduating from college; offer some beta on spearfishing, of all things; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESDani’s background (2:07)Advice she’d give to aspiring college athletes (8:56)Motorcycles & spearfishing (15:01)How she mended her relationship with running (1

Barney “Scout” Mann has been called “the dean of America’s long-distance trails” and is one of the rare individuals to have conquered the Triple Crown of thru-hiking, successfully completing the 8,000 combined miles of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. Each spring for the past fifteen years he and his wife Sandy have hosted hikers starting out on the PCT (more than 7,000 to date) at their San Diego home, providing them with a final hot meal and a bit of encouragement before they begin their trek from Mexico to Canada. So, we sat down with Barney to chat about his deep connections to the PCT and the community it creates; "Journeys North," the memoir he wrote about his own 2007 thru-hike; the future of thru-hiking in America; and much more.TOPICS & TIMES:Trail names (2:02)Scout 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 (12:10)Career as a “kind” lawyer (16:05)Mastering the art of storytelling (19:28)"Journeys North" (20:30)His 2007 PCT thru-hike (24:13)Vulnerability on the trail (32:43) The enduran

For On athlete, Jeff Colt, the chase for a coveted spot into Western States had been a multi-year saga fraught with close calls and near misses, that is until a near-perfectly executed run at the Black Canyon 100k in February earned him a Golden Ticket and automatic entry onto one of ultrarunning’s biggest stages. We pick up Jeff’s story there and hear all about his journey leading up to Western States, a play-by-play of his 11th-place finish, and the complexities of looking back at that experience now. Along the way, we also get into topics like the Wilderness Act, the Beat Generation, books currently on our nightstands, and much more. TOPICS & TIMESGary Snyder and the Beat Generation (1:46)Working & running in the White Mountains hut system (5:49)Hardrock 100 & the Wilderness Act (12:47)Jeff’s journey to Western States (17:23)Pandemic silver linings (27:04)Reflections on his performance at Western States (33:54)His interests outside of running (42:30)“What books are currently on your nights

Running injuries seem inevitable; almost everyone has a story about being sidelined at some point in their career, either from an acute issue or from general overuse. While no one is completely immune to the stress the sport places on our bodies, there’s plenty we can do to make ourselves more resilient to it. It’s common knowledge that adopting a strength training routine is one of them, but knowing exactly where to begin can be difficult if you don’t have a ton of experience in the gym. So, we spoke to Dr. Anh Bui, a physical therapist, certified strength coach, and USATF certified running coach, about some guiding principles for those looking to get started; how strength training can reinforce proper running form; why everyone should have a basic foam roller; and a whole lot more.  TOPICS & TIMESAnh’s running background (2:58)Catching the injury bug early in her career (8:38)Her journey to becoming a physical therapist (11:47)What is “proper running form”? (16:22)The importance of arm swing (19:08

Ultrarunning is often admired for the strength of its community, a quality that unites runners with a sense of belonging. However, we can always do more to ensure that this feeling of acceptance extends to everyone, regardless of how they identify. As one of our sport’s most vocal advocates for queer inclusivity and representation, Altra Athlete Ryan Montgomery is working to do just that. So, we sat down with him to talk about Out Trails, an initiative he started to help build safe spaces for LGBTQ+ runners. Along the way, we also discuss what trail runners, brands, and organizations, can do to support the queer community on every level; why adding a non-binary category to races is so important; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESHow Ryan got into ultrarunning (2:31)Expedition Bolivia (6:10)Turning pro (8:15)How running has helped inform his identity (11:42)Ways to organically add diversity to the ultra running community (15:23)How can races become more inclusive? (20:08)Out Trails (25:26)The value of LG

We first had Jason Hardrath on the show back in March, before the release of his film, “Journey to 100.” Since then, Jason’s spent much of the summer on tour, hosting screenings in cities across the country. But that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to set some pretty mind-blowing FKTs while he’s at it. So, we caught up with the King of FKTs to hear about the reception to his film, his series of vision quests in the Sierra, getting hit by a deer at 40 mph, what adventure he’s dreaming up next, and more. TOPICS & TIMESRecapping “Journey to 100” (4:04)Highlights from the film tour (8:55)Why memories made in the mountains are stronger (10:19)COVID & a mid-ride deer collision (14:15)Convoluted Bliss, Norman’s 13, & CA 14ers FKTs (21:23)Tips for navigating in the backcountry (48:01)Gear talk (53:27)Infinity loops & volcanoes (56:01)RELATED LINKS:Convoluted Bliss VideoRainbow Cirque VideoJason Hardrath on FKTs & What Makes Him Tick (OTC Ep.110)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister P

After placing 4th at the 60th annual JFK 50 Mile, the oldest ultramarathon in the US, Matt Seidel is taking a break. The 26-year-old former D1 runner has finished in the top 6 at every trail race he’s entered this year, a successful rookie campaign that’s included multiple wins and put the rest of the sport on notice. As the 2022 season comes to a close, we caught up with Matt to talk about what he’s learned from his first year racing as an elite; why more and more road and track athletes are transitioning to the trails; who he wants to model his career after; World Cup predictions; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESMatt’s post-ultra turkey trot (2:06)How he got into trail running (3:50)Inside a D1 college track & field program (9:42)Who he looks up to in the trail world (12:28)Taking bits and pieces from different training styles (16:17)What’s on tap for 2023? (17:30)Range: keeping things fresh by mixing it up (22:42)The JFK 50 Mile (27:13)Hardening the mind during a race (42:00)“Are you a runner o

Joe DeMoor is about as Colorado as they come; he’s from Buena Vista, ran collegiately for the Buffalos at CU Boulder, lives in Carbondale, and works on Aspen Snowmass’s trail crew in the summer and grooms ski runs there in the winter. As a professional mountain runner for La Sportiva, he’s had a breakout year of racing thus far, with several wins under his belt. Redlining up mountains is in Joe’s blood, so we sat down with him to talk about growing up on Colorado trails; the ins and outs of sub-ultra-distance racing; graveyard shifts; pain caves; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESGrowing up in CO (3:02)Running with the Buffaloes (5:49)Transitioning to the trails (11:21)Tourism management, what’s that? (14:45)Trail crews & graveyard shifts (15:46)How Joe prepares for a race (18:46)Does having a super physical job help or hurt his training? (21:40)Recovery hacks (24:12)Following in his brother’s footsteps (27:20)Year-in-review (29:22)Racing Vertical Kilometers (35:31)Skyrunning World Champs (41:09)Mak

After a few months in the field, Off The Couch’s reporter-at-large, Leah Yingling, returns to the show to catch us up on how she rounded out her summer season after a top-10 finish at the Western States 100 back in June. We talk about her experience taking in the scene at UTMB this year, and why it’s an event worth going to regardless of whether or not you’re racing, before recapping her run for Team USA at the inaugural World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand a couple of weeks ago. Along the way, we also chat about racing on short notice; travel stories from Chiang Mai; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESTaking a break after Western States (1:58)Life bases! (6:09)Notes on Jim Walmsley’s run at UTMB (16:18)Kilian Jornet’s legendary year on the trails (18:38)World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (20:39)Thailand travelog (31:10)What’s next? (48:32)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRAFTEDBlister PodcastGEAR:30Bikes & Big Ideas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor

Backpacker’s Pantry has been family-owned and operated for over 70 years, a legacy that’s as important to the brand’s identity as the gourmet adventure meals they make. While that’s not set to change anytime soon, they recently welcomed a new leader to take the company into its exciting next chapter. As CEO, Duane Primozich will prioritize Backpacker’s Pantry’s role as environmental stewards, a commitment to sustainability that goes above and beyond. We recently sat down with Duane and Backpacker’s Pantry owner and Head Chef, Soraya Smith, to hear all about the company’s history; where it’s headed; climate change’s adverse effects on the food industry; what Backpacker’s Pantry is doing to reverse them; and much more.TOPICS & TIMESSoraya’s background (3:03)How Backpacker’s Pantry got its start (4:53)Their line of products (7:26)Recipe creation (10:24)The CEO next door (12:53)The “next chapter” (19:12)Environmental stewardship (23:47)Duane’s background in climate activism (26:06)Chef Soraya’s culinary influ

Since her first appearance on Off The Couch back in 2021, Olivia Amber has switched things up. In addition to joining The North Face’s athlete team as a mountain-ultra runner, Olivia also recently decided to step away from the corporate grind for a bit to double down on investing in herself. So, we caught up with her to recap her summer spent epic-ing in the Sierra and, more generally, to find out how she’s adjusting to training full time. Along the way, we go back and forth about the importance of managing ego in the mountains; all-time Halloween costumes, and much more. TOPICS & TIMESInvesting in her “human capital” (2:12)Taming your ego & mental training (12:20)Epic-ing in the Sierra (17:50)Risk management in the mountains (21:50)Blurring the lines between running and climbing (27:06)How personal joy can affect race performance (33:07)Irish bogs & beer (37:22)Mt. Marathon (40:23)Wizard sticks! (45:31)The Euro trail scene (50:44)All-time Halloween costumes (52:49)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTSCRA

Canyon Woodward has found success on a few different types of trails over the last few years. In addition to an impressive top-50 finish at the Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc in August, he served as the campaign manager for Maine State Senator Chloe Maxmin’s victorious House & Senate runs in 2018 and 2020, which put him on a demanding campaign trail through rural America rivaling that of any ultra. So we sat down with this seasoned political strategist, passionate climate activist, trail runner, and published author to hear about how his new film, Rural Runners, captures where all of these different interests intersect; why the key to both trail running and politics is mostly about just showing up; and a whole lot more. TOPICS & TIMESCanyon’s background (2:01)Convincing Harvard to divest from fossil fuels (5:14)Life on the campaign trail with Senator Maxmin (7:09)Practical steps for political involvement (11:16)Dirt Road Revival (14:44)His multi talented brother, Forest (19:21)Rural Runners (20:23)Finding

As an adventure photographer and videographer, Ted Hesser spends most of his professional life behind the lens, shooting some of the world’s top mountain athletes for major outdoor brands and publications. His eye for capturing dramatic scenes in the high alpine and willingness to immerse himself in extreme conditions to do so has garnered him success in an otherwise precarious industry. But success isn’t always synonymous with happiness. Ted’s latest project, a short film called Chains of Habit (released by Mountain Hardwear last month), focuses on his lifelong battle with depression in an effort to destigmatize conversations around mental health. So, we spoke to Ted about the story behind his film; the role trail running plays in keeping him aloft; steps to take if you’re struggling; and much more.TOPICS & TIMESTed’s background (3:34)When he first picked up a camera (9:02)The realities of #vanlife (13:01)Photography tips for beginners (15:22)Chains of Habit (21:19)Training for the WURL (25:56)How d