Run The Riot Podcast

What happens when the toughest decision you've ever made isn't to keep going, but to stop? Croix Sather has spent much of his life doing things most people wouldn't even consider attempting. After surviving a devastating accident at 14 years old that left him in a coma for four days, Croix eventually went from working construction to becoming a motivational speaker and endurance athlete. And he wasn't even a runner when he decided to run across America! In 2011, Croix completed 100 marathons in 100 days, speaking to audiences along the way about overcoming adversity and creating a life worth living. A year later, he set a record for a solo, self-contained crossing of Death Valley, pushing his own supplies through extreme desert heat. That record lasted just four days. Fourteen years later, at age 55, Croix returned to Death Valley to reclaim the record. But this time, the story took a very different turn. In this episode of Run the Riot, Croix shares the frightening moments when extreme heat began taking its toll, how his friends helped him recognize the danger, and why walking away ultimately changed the direction of his life. We also talk about my recent experience at Bigfoot 200, where knee problems forced me to make a similar decision about continuing. Sometimes the discipline that makes us successful in ultrarunning can also make it difficult to recognize when enough is enough. In this episode, we discuss: - Growing up in a blue-collar family and surviving a life-changing accident at 14. - Going from a non-runner to running 100 marathons in 100 days. - How legendary endurance athlete Stu Mittleman helped Croix prepare. - The physical and mental struggle of running across America. - Why the people Croix met along the way became his greatest motivation. - His original Death Valley crossing, including an unsuccessful first attempt. - Breaking a long-standing endurance record, only to lose it four days later. - Returning to Death Valley at 55 and facing potentially life-threatening heat illness. - The difficult relationship between perseverance, identity, and knowing when to stop. - Finding meaning in disappointment and changing your dreams without abandoning your purpose. One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that success doesn't always look like crossing the finish line. Sometimes it's making a difficult decision that allows you to keep pursuing meaningful things in the future. Croix's message is simple: Don't Let Your Dream Die. And as you'll hear in this conversation, sometimes that means being willing to change what the dream looks like. Connect with Croix Sather - Website: https://www.croixsather.com/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CROIXsather - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/croixsather/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/croix Learn more about his *Do Impossible Things Journal* through his website. Connect with Run the Riot If you're working toward your first ultramarathon or your farthest distance yet, I'd love to help you get there. Run the Riot Coaching: https://runtheriot.com/ Keep showing up, keep doing the work, and keep mining your potential!

Sponsored by Mount to Coast

Thanks to Mount to Coast for supporting the Run the Riot Podcast!

I've been putting plenty of miles into their R1 road shoe and T1 trail shoe, and I've been genuinely impressed with their comfort and durability. These shoes are built specifically for endurance runners and designed to hold up over the long haul.

If you're looking for a great pair of road or trail running shoes, check out Mount to Coast!

Use code RIOT10 to save 10% on your order.

https://mounttocoast.com

What if one of the most important parts of your ultramarathon training isn't another long run, hill workout, or strength session?

What if it's training your mind?

In this episode of Run the Riot, I sit down with ultrarunner, clinical hypnotherapist, mindset coach, and NLP practitioner Holly Grahn, founder of Hypno Gold.

Holly recently completed her first 200-mile race at the Divide 200, and we dig into what it took to prepare for that kind of challenge—not only physically, but mentally.

Holly shares how she used visualization, mental rehearsal, positive reframing, gratitude, and self-hypnosis before the race so that when things got difficult, her mind was already trained to look for a way forward.

And things definitely got difficult.

We talk about sore feet, massive climbs, long stretches between aid stations, pouring rain, hallucinating a monkey wearing sunglasses, catching her boyfriend Rob around mile 100, and ultimately finishing their first 200 miler together.

But this conversation goes much deeper than racing.

Holly explains how the beliefs we carry about ourselves can affect the way we train, race, work, and live. We talk about self-doubt, fear, anxiety, feeling like we're "not good enough," and why simply telling yourself to be positive isn't always enough.

Holly also explains what hypnotherapy actually is—and what it isn't—and how she works with athletes and other high performers to identify thought patterns that may be holding them back.

We talk about:

• Holly's journey from a shy kid who struggled with self-esteem to ultrarunner and hypnotherapist
• Her early ultramarathons and the lessons she learned the hard way
• Preparing physically and mentally for the Divide 200
• Why mental training should happen before race day
• Visualization and mental rehearsal for difficult race situations
• Turning negative thoughts into useful beliefs
• Looking for evidence that supports the person you want to become
• Talking to yourself like you would talk to a friend
• Gratitude as a tool when an ultra gets difficult
• Breaking huge challenges into the next aid station—or even the next step
• Learning from DNFs rather than allowing them to define you
• Why identity affects behavior
• What hypnotherapy actually feels like
• The difference between stage hypnosis and clinical hypnotherapy
• Self-doubt, anxiety, fear, sleep, procrastination, and self-sabotage
• The Hypno Gold app Holly created for athletes and high performers
• Why there may be much more inside you than you've discovered yet

One practical takeaway from Holly that I really liked: write down a negative belief you're carrying, rewrite it into something that moves you toward your goal, and then start looking for actual evidence that supports the new belief.

Training the body matters.

But when you've been moving for days, you're exhausted, your feet hurt, and everything inside you is telling you to stop, your mind becomes part of the equipment you're carrying.

### Connect with Holly Grahn

**Hypno Gold:**
https://www.hypnogold.com/

**Hypno Gold App:**
https://hypnogold.passion.io/

**Instagram:**
@hypno_gold_app

**Facebook:**
Hypno Gold

**Schedule a session with Holly:**
https://schedulewithhypnoholly.as.me/

**Email:**
info@hypnogold.com

Holly's Hypno Gold app includes sessions covering areas such as performance, mindset, sleep, anxiety, procrastination, self-sabotage, emotional healing, and personal growth. She created it to make hypnotherapy more accessible for athletes and high performers.

### Run the Riot

If you're working toward your first or furthest ultramarathon and want someone in your corner helping you build the training, strategy, and confidence to get there, learn more about Run the Riot Coaching:

https://runtheriot.run/

Mine Your Potential.

Patrick Yalon’s story is one of the wildest comeback stories we’ve had on Run the Riot.

In July 2024, Patrick went surfing at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. A freak accident drove his head into a sandbar, leaving him face-down in the water and completely unable to move.

His friend John eventually found him, pulled him from the water, and began CPR.

Patrick survived, but the road ahead looked completely different. His legs weren’t moving. He underwent a major spinal fusion surgery, spent weeks in rehabilitation, and was told that walking again would take a tremendous amount of work.

But Patrick had something sitting in the back of his mind:

The Moab 240.

It became what he calls his “North Star.”

His mantra became:

“If I can stand, I can start.”

Incredibly, just months after the accident, Patrick showed up at the starting line of Moab 240. Still recovering, still dealing with pain, and nowhere near fully rebuilt physically, he made it 144 miles before finally deciding that continuing could cause serious damage.

For most people, that would have been more than enough.

For Patrick, there was still unfinished business.

He returned the following year—15 months to the day after his accident—and faced brutal rain, mud, lightning, damaged feet, exhaustion, and everything else a 240-mile race can throw at you.

This time, he finished.

And there was an incredible full-circle moment waiting for him: John—the same friend who had pulled Patrick from the water and helped save his life—joined him for the final 40 miles to the finish.

In this conversation, Patrick and I talk about much more than ultrarunning. We talk about gratitude, faith, resilience, recovery, purpose, suffering, and what happens when life forces you to discover what you're actually made of.

Patrick also shares the book he has written about his experience, his continued recovery, and why he now thinks of the years since his accident as his “second life.”

In this episode:

•

How Patrick went from rugby and surfing to ultrarunning

•

Why he jumped from shorter ultras straight toward Moab 240

•

The surfing accident that nearly took his life

•

Realizing he was paralyzed while face-down in the ocean

•

The friend who found him and performed CPR

•

Spinal fusion surgery and learning to move again

•

The tiny movement of his big toe that changed his mindset

•

Why “If I can stand, I can start” became his mantra

•

Showing up for Moab only months after his accident

•

Making it 144 miles during that first attempt

•

Why he knew he needed to go back

•

Rebuilding himself physically and mentally in Thailand

•

Returning to Moab 15 months after the accident

•

Surviving brutal storms, rain, mud, and lightning

•

The emotional moment when he yelled, “I’m still here”

•

Finishing the final 40 miles with the man who saved his life

•

Gratitude as a tool for getting through suffering

•

His upcoming Tahoe 200

•

The book he has written about his story

•

What it means to make the most of a “second life”

Follow Patrick

Instagram: @bodiezepha415

You can also find Patrick Yalon on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Run the Riot

If you're working toward your first ultramarathon—or your farthest one yet—make sure you're subscribed to Run the Riot for more conversations about ultrarunning, mindset, training, and doing hard things.

Episode Sponsor — Mount to Coast

I’ve been putting miles into the Mount to Coast R1 road shoe and T1 trail shoe and have been impressed with their comfort and durability for endurance training.

Use code RIOT10 to save 10% on your order.

What happens when you stop chasing finish lines and start chasing experiences?

In this episode of Run the Riot, I sit down with Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud, for a conversation about ultrarunning, adventure racing, hydration, fueling, gear, strength, and why our relationship with endurance sports can change over time.

Josh started Orange Mud after getting frustrated with the hydration options available to endurance athletes. His philosophy was simple: innovation from frustration. If he couldn't find the gear he wanted to use, he'd build it himself.

That same willingness to experiment has followed Josh through hundreds of endurance events, including ultramarathons, adventure races, triathlons, mountain bike races, gravel events, and multi-day adventures.

We get into some practical stuff every ultrarunner can use. Josh shares why he developed a habit of drinking every 15 minutes, how he measures exactly how much fluid he's getting from a hydration bladder, why he tests different flavors of the same nutrition product, and why he'll intentionally train with warm fluids before a hot race.

We also talk about training your gut for ultra racing. Josh has learned the hard way that race day isn't the time to suddenly start eating everything that looks good at an aid station. If you plan to eat quesadillas, pizza, pickles, or other real food during your ultramarathon, you'd better find out during training how your stomach handles it.

Of course, Josh also tells one of my favorite fueling stories I've heard in a while: carrying a Meat Lovers pizza around during an adventure race and eventually using it to fuel a charge up and over a mountain.

But my favorite part of our conversation may be what happens when we move beyond training and racing.

After years of chasing bigger distances and checking races off his list, Josh has found himself wanting something different.

He wants to experience the adventure.

We talk about the pressure of Strava, skipping time with friends because the training plan says you need to do intervals, stopping to look for arrowheads, and learning that not every run needs to produce an impressive number.

Josh even tells the story of running right beside the Queen Mary during a race without ever noticing the enormous ship.

There's probably a lesson in there for all of us.

Don't get so focused on the finish line that you miss where you are.

We also talk about Josh's simple challenge of completing at least 500 push-ups every week. What started as a small goal has now lasted more than a year, and Josh believes the added strength has made a noticeable difference in his running, cycling, paddling, and overall health.

And somewhere along the way, we manage to talk about copperheads, Taco Bell, gas-station food, pickles, a 100-mile bike ride that was supposed to be 30 miles, and an incredible experience Josh had with his late golden retriever, Lady, during a 720-mile bike race.

It's a fun conversation with a guy who understands that sometimes the best adventures are the ones that don't go according to plan.

In This Episode

• How Josh started Orange Mud
• Innovation from frustration
• Adventure racing and ultrarunning
• Drinking every 15 minutes during endurance events
• Measuring your hydration rate
• Sodium and electrolytes for long races
• Training your gut for race-day nutrition
• Liquid calories versus real food
• Pizza as adventure-race fuel
• Why pickles can be so good during an ultra
• Josh's favorite trail race
• His incredible experience with Lady during a 720-mile bike race
• Competing versus experiencing
• The Strava trap
• Staying adventurous as we get older
• Josh's 500-pushup-per-week streak
• Why ultrarunners need strength training

Connect with Josh

Orange Mud:
https://www.orangemud.com/

Run the Riot Coaching

Have a big ultrarunning goal but aren't sure how to put all the pieces together?

I coach runners preparing for their first or furthest ultramarathon with individualized training, accountability, race strategy, and guidance along the way.

Learn more:
http://www.theriot.run/coaching

Thanks to Mount to Coast for supporting the Run the Riot Podcast.

I've been training in the R1 road shoe and T1 trail shoe and have been impressed with their comfort and durability over the miles.

Use code RIOT10 to save 10% on your order.

If you enjoyed the conversation, follow the podcast and share this episode with another runner who needs to hear it.

#runtheriot #ultrarunning #ultrarunner #trailrunning #trailrunner

What does it take to keep moving when everything inside you wants to quit?

This week I sit down with Jon Sheldon, Marine Corps veteran, leadership coach, and founder of BelleauWood Coaching. Although Jon doesn't coach ultrarunners, the principles he teaches apply directly to running, business, leadership, and life.

We dive into the mental side of performance:

• Why you have to count the cost before chasing big goals.
• How to build resilience before adversity arrives.
• The difference between motivation and discipline.
• Creating decision filters for high-pressure situations.
• Why elite performers simplify their thinking when things get hard.
• Lessons from military leadership that translate directly to ultrarunning.

Whether you're training for your first marathon, your first 100 miler, or simply trying to become more disciplined in everyday life, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom.

Episode Highlights

• The hidden cost behind every meaningful goal
• Why mindset matters more than motivation
• Building discipline that lasts
• How Marines prepare for difficult situations
• The "Intent • Inspect • Initiate" framework
• Decision filters for difficult moments
• Why gratitude can become a performance tool
• Training your mind before race day

Presented by Mount to Coast

This episode is brought to you by Mount to Coast.

I've been putting their shoes through hundreds of training miles and have been genuinely impressed with both the R1 Road Shoe and the T1 Trail Shoe. They're comfortable right out of the box, incredibly durable, and built specifically for endurance runners.

Save 10% with code: RIOT10

Check them out:

• https://mounttocoast.com
• Discount Code: RIOT10

Connect with Jon Sheldon

Website: https://belleauwood.coach

Instagram: @belleauwood_coaching

Connect with Run the Riot

Website: https://www.theriot.run

Coaching: https://www.theriot.run/coaching-services

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@runtheriot

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtheriot

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runtheriot

Sometimes an ultramarathon is about much more than the finish line.

In this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, I sit down with ultrarunner Matt Lamos to talk about how running became the catalyst for rebuilding his life after a difficult season, why suffering on the trail teaches lessons that carry into everyday life, and how his daughter inspired him to create a nonprofit that's changing lives.

Matt shares how he went from never wanting to run a marathon to chasing 100-mile races, backyard ultras, and mountain adventures. Along the way he discovered that the hardest miles often reveal the strongest parts of who we are.

One of the most inspiring parts of our conversation centers around Down With Running, a nonprofit created to help individuals with special needs pursue physical goals that many people assume are impossible.

Whether you're training for your first ultramarathon, preparing for your next 100-miler, or simply looking for encouragement to keep moving forward in life, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and inspiration.

In This Episode

• Matt's unexpected path into ultrarunning
• How 75 Hard introduced him to endurance sports
• Lessons learned from his first 50K and first 100-mile race
• Why every ultrarunner needs a powerful "why"
• What backyard ultras teach about perseverance
• Running through suffering—and choosing to continue
• How ultrarunning translates into everyday life
• The inspiration behind Down With Running
• Parenting a daughter with Down syndrome
• Creating opportunities for athletes with special needs
• Why community matters more than finishing times
• Matt's upcoming Superior 100 and future fundraising adventures

One Quote That Stuck With Me

"You always have more left in the tank than you think."

That simple idea comes up throughout this conversation. Running has a way of proving that our limits are often farther away than we imagine.

Connect with Matt

Website:
https://www.downwithrunning.com

Instagram:

• https://www.instagram.com/mlamos
• https://www.instagram.com/downwithrunning

Facebook:

• Down With Running
• Matt Lamos

Learn More About Run the Riot Coaching

If you're training for your first ultramarathon or chasing a new personal best, I'd love to help.

Coaching:
https://www.theriot.run/coaching

Website:
https://www.theriot.run

Listen & Subscribe

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another runner who could use the reminder that big goals are built one step at a time.

In this Midweek Motivation, we explore the importance of knowing when to back off in your training. Sometimes, the challenge isn't about pushing harder, but about listening to your body and making smart decisions. Key takeaways: * Recognize when to rest: Pushing through pain can lead to injury. * Consistency over time builds fitness: One missed workout won't derail your progress. * Modify your plan: Adapting your training can still lead to success. * Wisdom in training: Sometimes, backing off today allows for better performance tomorrow. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:28 The challenge of knowing when to back off 01:22 Listening to your body 03:05 The importance of consistency 05:03 Adapting your training plan 07:25 The balance of pushing and resting 10:46 The wisdom of long-term goals 12:14 Making decisions based on wisdom What's your biggest challenge with balancing training and rest? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for weekly motivation and insights on running and training! #MidweekMotivation #RunningTips #ListenToYourBody

As temperatures rise and summer training settles in, many runners find themselves asking the same question:

"Why am I so much slower than I was a few months ago?"

In this Midweek Motivation episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, ultrarunner and ultrarunning coach David Theriot shares an important reminder for every runner grinding through the heat and humidity: the work you're doing now is building the fitness you'll rely on later.

With Western States just around the corner and many runners preparing for fall marathons, trail races, 50Ks, 100 milers, and 200-mile ultra racing adventures, it's easy to focus on race-day performances and finish-line celebrations. What we don't see are the countless training miles, early mornings, difficult workouts, and uncomfortable summer runs that make those moments possible.

David explores why summer training often feels discouraging, why pace can be a misleading metric during hot-weather running, and how endurance fitness is built beneath the surface long before the results become visible.

In This Episode

• Why heat and humidity slow every runner down
• The difference between effort and pace during summer training
• How ultrarunning fitness develops over time
• Why consistency beats intensity
• The "summer deposit" mindset for endurance athletes
• Lessons from Western States and elite ultra racing
• Building earned confidence through the training process
• How today's choices create tomorrow's race-day success

One of the biggest mistakes runners make is expecting immediate results. Endurance sports don't work that way. The long run you complete today may not reveal its value until mile 18 of your marathon, mile 75 of your 100-miler, or deep into your next ultrarunning adventure.

Every run is a deposit.

Every early morning matters.

Every hot, uncomfortable mile is helping build the runner you'll become.

Whether you're training for your first race, chasing a personal best, preparing for a 100-mile finish, or tackling your next ultra racing challenge, this episode is a reminder to trust the process and keep showing up.

The fitness you're building today may not be visible yet—but it's there.

Work with Run the Riot Coaching

Looking for guidance on your next race, ultrarunning goal, or endurance challenge?

David Theriot provides personalized coaching for runners of all experience levels, from first-time trail runners to experienced ultrarunners preparing for ultras.

Learn more about coaching here:

http://www.theriot.run/coaching

Listen, Watch, and Connect

Website:
http://www.theriot.run

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@runtheriot

Big goals are heavy.

In this Midweek Motivation episode, David Theriot shares what training for the Bigfoot 200 is really feeling like about 75 days out from race day. The miles are increasing, life is still moving fast, and the challenge is becoming more than just physical.

This episode is an honest look at balancing ultramarathon training with work, family, coaching, recovery, faith, and everyday responsibilities. David talks about squeezing runs into crowded schedules, getting miles in before sunrise during softball tournaments, and learning that discipline often matters more than motivation.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed chasing a big goal, this episode will remind you that growth often happens when life is heavy and you choose not to put the goal down.

Topics include:

• Bigfoot 200 training
• Discipline vs motivation
• Balancing life and running
• Mental toughness
• Consistency and sacrifice
• Ultramarathon mindset
• Why big goals carry weight

Key quote from the episode:
“Sometimes pursuing a goal means doing inconvenient things in inconvenient places at inconvenient times.”

Thanks for listening to the Run the Riot Podcast.
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave a review to help more runners find the show.

In this episode, David Theriot shares insights on pushing through the middle of challenges, using the analogy of running a race to motivate listeners to stay consistent and disciplined in their pursuits.

http://www.theriot.run

This week the mileage is going up.

More running. More lifting. A midweek double. Early mornings when it would be easier to stay in bed.

And if I’m being honest… it’s inconvenient.

That’s the part most people don’t talk about.

We all like the idea of big goals—running your first ultra, pushing further than you ever have, proving something to yourself. But what those goals actually require? That’s where most people hesitate.

In this episode, I break down what it really looks like to train when life is already full—and why waiting for the “right time” is usually what keeps people stuck.

If you’ve been thinking about going after something big but aren’t sure how it fits into your life… this one is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why inconvenience—not ability—is what holds most runners back
• The difference between “fitting training in” vs building life around a goal
• How to stay consistent when your schedule is already full
• Why big goals require uncomfortable adjustments
• A mindset shift that changes how you approach hard days

Key Takeaways

• Big goals demand intentional structure—not leftover time
• Your life won’t clear space for your training—you have to create it
• Discipline shows up when it’s inconvenient
• Growth is built through repeated, consistent effort
• The work you don’t feel like doing is often the most important

Faith Focus:
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” — Luke 16:10

Faithfulness in the small, unseen moments builds the foundation for bigger things.

Coaching: If you’re ready to:

• Run your first or furthest ultra
• Stop guessing and follow a real plan
• Stay consistent when training gets hard

Check out coaching:
https://www.theriot.run/coaching-services/

Connect: Website: https://www.theriot.run

Share: Know someone waiting for the “right time” to start?

Send this to them.

Closing Thought:
The goal doesn’t adjust to your comfort.

You adjust to the goal.

Take one more step.

That voice will show up.

“Just give up.”

In this episode, David shares a real, honest moment from a sleepless night filled with worry—and the familiar whisper that tries to convince us to quit.

Whether it’s in the middle of a long run or a difficult season of life, the battle is often not physical—it’s mental.

Drawing on years of ultrarunning experience, this episode breaks down:

• Why that voice sounds so reasonable
• How it shows up in both running and life
• What happens when we start agreeing with it
• And how to push forward even when you don’t feel strong

Anchored by a quote from Babe Ruth:

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”

This is a reminder that you don’t have to eliminate the voice—you just have to stop listening to it.

Key Takeaways

• The urge to quit usually starts as a quiet, reasonable thought
• Mental endurance matters more than physical strength
• You don’t need motivation to keep going—you need a decision
• Strength often shows up after you take the next step
• Refusing to quit builds resilience in running and life

Quotes from this Episode

• “The race is not against the distance. It’s against that voice.”
• “You don’t win by feeling strong. You win by deciding not to quit.”
• “Don’t agree with the voice.”
• “Take one more step.”

Resources & Links

Website: https://www.theriot.run Coaching: https://www.theriot.run/coaching-services/

If this encouraged you, share it with a friend, training partner, or someone going through a tough season.

Final Thought

You don’t need to have it all figured out today.

Just don’t agree with the voice.

Take one more step.

In this episode, David shares insights from his recent 50K race, emphasizing the importance of showing up regardless of conditions, testing yourself, and building discipline over perfection. He discusses how consistency in training and life leads to long-term growth and success.

Keywords: motivation, consistency, training, discipline, life lessons, running, mindset, growth, showing up, long-term success

Key topics:

• The mindset of showing up regardless of conditions
• Training as a deposit, not just a race
• Identity not tied to performance
• The long-term perspective in growth and success
• Discipline and consistency in life and running
• Not every race is about winning; some are deposits in your growth
• Your identity is not defined by your performance
• Showing up when you don't feel like it builds discipline
• Long-term success is built on consistent effort, not perfect days
• You don't need the perfect run to make progress

In this episode of Run the Riot, David sits down with Ryane Broussard, a driven runner, mom of four, and woman of faith who chased one goal for nearly two decades: qualifying for the Boston Marathon.

But Ryane’s path wasn’t a straight line.

After a sudden back injury left her unable to feel or control her left leg, doctors told her she’d need to find a new hobby and stop running. Ryane refused to accept that as the final word. What followed was years of rehab, identity rebuilding, and learning what perseverance really looks like—until she finally put it all together on race day and earned her Boston qualifier.

This conversation is packed with practical lessons for any ultrarunner (or anyone training for marathons, ultrarunning, or ultra racing) who’s faced setbacks, self-doubt, or the weight of a long-term goal.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

•

• Ryane’s start in sports (including lacrosse) and how competition shaped her mindset
• Moving from Texas to South Louisiana and finding a running community
• The back injury that changed everything (and the hard season that followed)
• Doctors said “no more running”—how Ryane approached recovery anyway
• Identity shifts: when running becomes who you are (and how to reset it)
• The Boston qualifier chase: flu, self-sabotage, vomiting at mile 19, and trying again
• The power of words, self-talk, and what you “partner with” mentally
• Why community matters: pacers, training partners, and people who believe with you
• How she fits training into real life: faith, marriage, kids, work, then running

Key Moments

• Starting point: sports background + love of achievement
• Back injury + surgery: the moment everything changed
• Rehab reality: relearning basic movement and rebuilding confidence
• The Boston goal: 30 marathons, setbacks, and alignment on race day
• The win: qualifying—and keeping it in the right place

Practical Takeaways for Runners

• Race-day alignment matters: sleep, health, weather, and fueling can make or break the day
• Mindset is trainable: negative self-talk can sabotage fitness you’ve already earned
• Fueling is personal: don’t introduce “new” habits (like NSAIDs) without understanding the cost
• Build a support system: a coach, a pacer, and training partners can carry you when your brain gets loud
• Keep running in its place: what you do isn’t who you are—especially when setbacks hit

Races Mentioned in the Episode

• Louisiana Summer Nights 50K/ultra effort
• Zydeco Marathon
• Stennis Marathon
• Boston Marathon qualifying standards shift

https://www.theriot.run/ryaneb/

Relentless Forward Progress isn’t just an ultrarunning principle — it’s a blueprint for the Christian life.

In this Midweek Motivation episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, David shares how the mindset that carries you through mile 80 of a 100-miler is the same mindset that builds spiritual endurance. When the body is tired and doubt creeps in, runners keep moving forward. When faith feels dry and life feels heavy, believers do the same.

This episode explores:

•

Ultramarathon mindset and mental toughness

•

Endurance training and spiritual growth

•

Staying consistent in your walk with Christ

•

Overcoming doubt, drift, and discouragement

•

Faithfulness over feelings

Whether you're training for your first ultra, chasing a 100-mile finish, or learning how to stay steady in your faith, this message will challenge and encourage you to keep stepping — even when it’s not pretty.

The original song “Relentless” plays after the episode.

#ultrarunning #christianmotivation #midweekmotivation #mentalstrength #endurance #faithandfitness

In this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, David sits down with ultrarunner Melanie Mathews for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about grit, setbacks, and what it really takes to stay in the game of ultrarunning.

Melanie’s running story starts long before ultra racing. Growing up on a Nebraska farm, she learned hard work, discipline, and toughness early—qualities that later carried her from road races to trail running and into ultra racing. She shares how she transitioned from marathons like the Little Rock Marathon to rugged mountain events, her early mistakes in trail racing, and why the ultrarunning community hooked her for good.

The conversation goes deeper as Melanie opens up about DNFs, injury, grief, and seasons when running was taken away entirely. From her first 100-mile attempts to finishing the Love It 100, Melanie reflects on mental toughness, stubborn determination, and the lessons that only ultra racing can teach. She also talks about hormone health, depression, and the identity struggle many ultrarunners face when they can’t train or race the way they want to.

Now heavily involved in volunteering and running aid stations, Melanie shares why giving back to the trail community matters so much—and how being on both sides of the race has shaped her perspective as an ultrarunner.

This episode is packed with perspective for anyone chasing big goals in ultrarunning, navigating setbacks, or simply trying to stay grateful for the miles they get to run.

More at http://www.theriot.run/melaniem

In this episode of the Run the Riot podcast, David Theriot discusses the common trap of waiting until one feels ready to take action. He emphasizes that readiness is often a feeling that can delay progress, and instead encourages listeners to take action to build momentum. Through personal anecdotes and examples from ultra running, he illustrates how starting small can lead to significant changes and growth. The episode serves as a motivational call to action, urging listeners to stop waiting and start moving towards their goals.

In this episode of Run the Riot, David sits down with Katie Gunvalson, an ultrarunner known less for traditional races and more for her relentless pursuit of Fastest Known Time (FKT) efforts. Katie shares her journey from road marathons to multi-day ultrarunning challenges that test not just fitness, but resilience, problem-solving, and mental toughness.

Katie opens up about repeatedly falling short on major FKT attempts — including the Pacific Crest Trail and the Arizona Trail — and how those setbacks nearly convinced her to quit. Instead, she chose to keep showing up, learning, and refining her approach. That persistence paid off with a breakthrough performance on the Oregon Coast Trail, followed by a gritty, emotional FKT on the Ouachita Trail, where she battled exhaustion, poor visibility, fueling issues, and long nights alone in the woods.

Throughout the conversation, Katie explains why FKTs appeal to her more than ultra racing, how thru-hiking skills have made her a stronger ultrarunner, and why embracing discomfort is essential for growth. This episode is a powerful reminder that success in ultrarunning — and in life — often comes only after repeated failure.

Whether you’re an aspiring ultrarunner, an ultra racing veteran, or someone struggling to stay resilient after setbacks, Katie’s story will resonate deeply.

Key Topics Covered:

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Transitioning from road running to ultrarunning

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Why FKTs demand a different skill set than ultra racing

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Learning to manage failure and repeated setbacks

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Mental strategies for multi-day ultrarunning

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Fueling, sleep deprivation, and problem-solving on long efforts

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Why not giving up ultimately leads to breakthroughs

Show notes: http://www.theriot.run/katieg

On this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, ultrarunner and coach David Theriot sits down with Chris Avery, an ultrarunner on a mission that sounds impossible at first glance: running an ultra marathon every day for an entire year while circumnavigating the perimeter of the United States.

What makes Chris’s story so compelling isn’t just the miles — it’s how it all started. No running background. No love for the sport. Just a willingness to say yes to a single mile a day. That simple act of consistency sparked a transformation that now has Chris running 17+ miles daily, building toward 30+ miles a day for 365 consecutive days.

This conversation dives deep into:

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How a no-training marathon changed Chris’s life

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Why consistency beats motivation every time

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Running as a tool for spiritual growth and identity

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Balancing ultra training, faith, family, and business

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Why starting small is the key to long-term success

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How suffering strips away ego and reveals purpose

For ultrarunners, trail runners, and anyone chasing growth — physically, mentally, or spiritually — this episode is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to take the next step.

Whether you’re an experienced ultrarunner, a new runner wondering where to start, or someone looking for clarity in life, this episode will challenge and encourage you to keep moving forward.

Chris Avery is an ultrarunner, men’s coach, husband, and father of two. After years of avoiding running, he committed to running one mile a day, slowly increasing distance every 90 days. Four years later, he’s running over 120 miles per week and preparing to run the perimeter of the United States — approximately 30 miles per day for a full calendar year.

Chris uses running as a vehicle to help men pursue purpose, discipline, faith, and resilience through physical challenge and accountability.

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Website: https://www.chrisrunsamerica.com

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.avery.9083/

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Instagram (Coaching): https://www.instagram.com/chrisaverycoaching/

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Instagram (Run Across America): https://www.instagram.com/chrisrunsamerica

If this conversation stirred something in you and you’re ready to take your running — or your life — to the next level, check out Run the Riot Coaching.

Whether you’re training for your first ultra, chasing a PR, or just trying to build consistency, personalized coaching can make all the difference.

👉 Learn more at: http://www.theriot.run/coaching

About Chris AveryFollow Chris AveryCoaching with Run the Riot

In this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, we discuss the concept of the 'pain cave' in ultra running, inspired by a conversation with Philip Klinkner. We emphasize the importance of mental preparation and creating a supportive environment before facing challenging races. We share insights on how to mentally prepare for tough moments, using mantras, motivational quotes, and past successes to build resilience. We encourage listeners to prepare their 'pain cave' in advance, highlighting the significance of mental training alongside physical training.