Weathering The Run

Alejandro Corral is jumping into the sport of ultrarunning because he is continuing to try to better himself and set an example for his young kids. Alejandro just finished Run Rabbit Run, which is a very challenging mountainous 50 mile race. He has a growing family and he is finding the balance between training and bring a father. Great chat with Alejandro and I have a feeling this was the first of many challenging races for him.

Ann Trason has won Western States 100 miler 14 times! She also set 20 world records. Honored to chat with her in this latest episode of Weathering The Run to hear stories about the craziest weather she has run through and also what she has been up to lately... Spoiler alert: she is still getting buckles! Connect with her on Instagramto follow her journey.

This week on Weathering the Run, I’m joined by professional ultrarunner, thru-hiker, author and podcast host Jeff Garmire.

Jeff and I talk about his incredible adventures on the trails, the role weather can play in big endurance efforts, and the experiences that have shaped him as an ultrarunner and adventurer. We also dig into the mindset required to take on ambitious challenges and what keeps Jeff coming back for more miles outside.

Jeff is also the host of Free Outside, a podcast covering trail running, ultrarunning, thru-hiking, backpacking and outdoor adventure.

🎧 Listen to Free Outside: Free Outside on Apple Podcasts

Learn more about Jeff and his adventures on his website Free Outside or follow him onInstagram.

In this episode of Weathering The Run, I sit down with Ivi, Chris, and James Stangle of RunFluent Events to talk about the incredible amount of work that goes into growing the trail-running scene in both Florida and Ohio.

RunFluent has evolved from an online coaching business into a family-owned operation that puts on trail and ultra-running events across two states. But as we discuss in this episode, their impact goes well beyond race day.

We talk about the work that goes into building, maintaining, and improving trails, creating memorable race experiences, supporting runners, and helping introduce more people to trail and ultra running. The amount of time, energy, and sweat that goes into keeping these trails accessible and enjoyable is phenomenal, and a lot of that work happens long before runners ever arrive at the starting line.

We also talk about the differences between the trail-running communities in Florida and Ohio, some of the challenges that come with creating races in very different environments, and why investing in the trails and the people who use them is so important to the future of the sport.

RunFluent currently organizes trail and ultra events in both Florida and Ohio, with a focus on creating more than just races, but experiences that bring runners together and strengthen the trail-running community.

Connect with RunFluent

🌐 RunFluent Events: https://www.runfluentevents.com/

📘 RunFluent on Facebook: RunFluent Events on Facebook

About RunFluent

RunFluent is a family-owned business founded by Chris and Ivi Stangle. What began as an online coaching business has grown to include coaching clients across the country, trail-running events in Florida and Ohio, and race timing services. Their stated mission is to help grow trail and ultra running while maintaining the integrity of the running community.

Todd Hintz is a physical therapist and he loves helping others stay moving. He shares some knowledge and wisdom with us, like how running is not bad for your knees, based on a huge study. Todd also has run a few ultras and is interested in trying to see how far he can run, but also loves running for the joy of it without the restraints of a specific training schedule.

Kevin Goldberg loves to push the limits of how far he can run. He has run several 200+ mile races and we dive into the differences of going that distance. We also talk about some of the crazy weather he has endured with these multi-day events. We had a great chat about the sport of ultra running and finding joy in doing hard things.

Check out his Distance to Empty podcast or follow him in Instagram.

This time the tables are turned. My kids asked me, Andrew Buck Michael, a lot of the questions I ask the guests and we had a lot of fun. Summer then had a handful of really insightful questions she came up with at the end about previous guests and what stuck with me from the 88 previous guests. Good stuff!

In this episode of Weathering the Run, we sit down with Andrew Wojciak, mountain ultrarunner, endurance coach, and founder of Run Mountain Peaks. Andrew shares his journey from picking up running during the pandemic to becoming a competitive mountain athlete, along with the lessons he's learned about training, resilience, and tackling some of the toughest terrain in the White Mountains. We also dive into his adventures, race experiences, and what continues to fuel his passion for the mountains. Follow Andrew on Instagram @runmountainpeaks for training insights, mountain adventures, and ultrarunning content.

In this episode of Weathering the Run, I sit down with Dr. Ben, the Medical Director for the Columbus Marathon and Cap City Half Marathon. We talk about the critical role of medical planning and runner safety at large race events, along with what it takes to care for thousands of athletes on race day. Dr. Ben also shares memorable weather stories from his extensive hiking adventures, offering fascinating insights into the power and unpredictability of the outdoors. Whether you're a runner, hiker, or weather enthusiast, this conversation has something for you.

In this episode of Weathering The Run, I talk with Daniel Virtue about his ambitious goal of completing a 100-mile race in all 50 states before turning 50. We discuss the challenges of ultrarunning, lessons learned on the trail, and what keeps him motivated as he chases this incredible accomplishment.Follow along the journey on Daniel's YouTube, Blog, and Strava.

Michael Owen is an legend with Ohio runners. He has a long history of running on the trails after he got his first taste of it, back in college. He then started SEOTR, Southeast Ohio Trail Runners, which is an event group that now helps to host 10 races across the state. His races range from one mile to 100. And if you want to go farther, then he is the race director for OBU, Ohio's Backyard Ultra, that can go for more than 200 miles! We chat about how there is a stigma thinking that Ohio is flat, but Michael hosts some very challenging hilly races that Ohio has to offer. His races also have a very family vibe and it keeps runners coming back year after year. Great chat with Michael and I hope you enjoy it!

Shane and Nathan Cox are a father-son duo that are a force to be reckoned with. Shane was a great running mentor to his son Nathan while Nathan was younger. Nate then went on to run collegiately with Shawnee State. The other thing you will notice with them at races is that they give 100% effort from start to finish. I have known them for a while and it was great to sit down and chat with both of them about what they get out of the sport.

I have logged hundreds of miles with Joe Osborne and it was great to have him come on the podcast to share some of his stories and background. He opened up about his mental health and how running helps. We also discussed plans for races on the horizon for us.

Ron Ross has done something only 38 people have done: finishing 100 100-mile races (or longer).

He has a wealth of knowledge and I hope you enjoy this episode!

This episode features Cameron Balser, an endurance athlete redefining what’s possible in long-distance running.

Cameron recently completed an incredible 11,000+ mile self-supported run around the perimeter of the United States, averaging close to 40 miles per day for nearly 10 months . But for him, that was just the beginning.

By the time this episode drops, Cameron is already underway on his next challenge: a transcontinental run from California to New York, where he’s aiming to break the record by averaging an astonishing 75 miles per day, targeting a 40-day finish.

This conversation dives into what fuels that kind of effort, how he approached nearly a year on the road, and what it takes mentally to step back up to an even bigger starting line.

In this episode:

•

What it’s really like to run around the entire United States

•

Lessons from months of fully self-supported running

•

The strategy behind a 75-mile-per-day cross-country effort

•

The mental shift from finishing one massive goal to chasing another

•

Why this run is about more than just records

Follow Cameron’s journey:

•

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

•

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

•

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/32195374

Support the mission:

•

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-cams-coasttocoast-record-attempt

Cameron’s runs are about more than distance. They’re about pushing limits, building connection, and showing what’s possible when you fully commit to something bigger than yourself.

This episode features longtime friend, Mike Bettes from The Weather Channel. Andrew and Mike go back about 20 years, so this conversation feels more like catching up than a traditional interview.

Mike brings a unique perspective shaped by years spent in the elements. From covering historic snowstorms to reporting from the heart of hurricanes, Mike shares what it’s like to experience extreme weather up close and how that mindset overlaps with endurance sports.

They also dive into Mike’s background in triathlons, how training compares across disciplines, and the mental toughness required to push through both races and real-world weather extremes.

In this episode:

•

Mike’s journey into triathlons and endurance sports

•

Covering major weather events in extreme conditions

•

The physical and mental crossover between racing and storm chasing

•

Stories from the field and behind the camera

Follow Mike Bettes:

•

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

•

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mikebettes

•

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

John loves a good challenge. He has done well over 100 ultras and he loves races that are not easy. He has a lot of energy and you can feel that in this episode. Enjoy!

Follow John on Instrgram: @BreezyTrailhead.

Brian Baker moved to Colorado and was interested in moving faster in the mountains to do more 14ers in one day. So he got into running and has a lot of great lessons and stories to share. He is a very detailed person and this was a lot of fun to pick his brain. Enjoy the episode and follow his adventures on Strava.

Rob King grew up in Ohio and now is traveling around the country and world. He took a break from running after school, but is now racing back onto the scene at a blistering pace. He recent ran Tunnel Hill 100 miler in 12 hours and 19 minutes! He will be one of the elite runners at Black Canyon 100k this coming weekend.

He grew up in Washington Court House, Ohio, but joined us from the state of Washington for this episode.

Follow Rob on Instagram: @RobKingRuns

In this special episode we sit down with four incredible explorers of Columbus, Doug Owsley, Catherine Salin Derrow, Dave Parsons, and Ken Varian, to talk about their journeys running (almost) every street in Columbus using the CityStrides app.

Over the past few years Doug, Catherine, and Dave have each completed 100% of the streets in Columbus all meticulously tracked through CityStrides. Ken Varian is hot on their heels to claim that same achievement!

Follow our guests on Instagram:

📸 Doug Owsley

📸 Catherine Salin Derrow

📸 Dave Parsons

📸 Ken Varian