If you want to improve upon a previous ultramarathon, you have to look critically at yourself and your training. In today's episode, that's exactly what I did, putting together a plan for a stronger, faster 2020.

Trail Talk by Rock Creek Runner

Want Ultra Success? Focus on Your Weaknesses

Last year I lost my grandmother, one of the people I admired most. Over the years she taught me a lot about how to live life - much of which is key to being successful in the sport of ultrarunning. Here are the five key lessons she taught me about life, running, and happiness.

Everything I Know About Ultrarunning I Learned from my 98-Year-Old Grandmother

"Why do you run ultramarathons?" During last year's Hellbender 100, my answer to that common question completely changed.

A Different Approach to the "Why" Question (and Lessons Learned from the 2019 Hellbender 100)

Trail Talk is back... with an update episode mostly about me - where I've been, why I quit the podcast, and the season of life I've been going through for the past year. But... it's also about you, and what you can expect in this coming season of Trail Talk.

The Seasons of Life (and a New Season of Trail Talk)

Training for a big race is hard, not just on you, but on your family and friends. Today I sit down with my wife Katie to talk about how better to work with your partner leading up to and on race day.

Training and Relationships: A Candid Conversation with my Wife

Let me tell you a little story about the recent South Mountains 50K...

Adapting: The Key to Ultra Success

We're runners, we love to run. So what happens when we suddenly don't find that joy in logging miles anymore? In today's episode, I share my story of getting lost, and how I've embraced the season of being lost.

Embracing the Seasons

Welcome to the new and improved Trail Talk. Here's a quick intro.

The New Trail Talk

From my experience, there are three stages to every ultramarathon, one of which is why so many runners don't finish. Here's what to expect.

The 3 Stages of an Ultramarathon (And Why an Ultra Might Not Be For You) -- How to Run an Ultra, Part 4

They say that running an ultramarathon is 90% mental, so what does it actually take? To me, the mental game starts before you even sign up for the race. Here are my tips for staying mentally focused and strong throughout training and race day, so you can toe the starting line with confidence. (This is part 3 of a multi-part How to Run Your First Ultramarathon series.)

Training the Mind: The Mental Side of Training for and Running an Ultramarathon

Want to run an ultramarathon? Here's what to expect when you start training, and the main differences between training for a marathon and training for an ultra. This is part two of the How to Run and Ultramarathon series. Check out part one in the last episode!

Ultrmarathon Training: What it Really Looks Like (How to Run an Ultra, Part 2)

Want to run an ultramarathon? It starts with selecting the right race for your goals, inspirations, and abilities. In part one of this four part How to Run and Ultramarathon series, we'll explore the types of races out there, and how to make sure you choose the right one for you.

How to Run an Ultramarathon Part 1: Choosing Your Race

Where have I been and what happened to Trail Talk? Here's your answer. Plus, a new mini-series starting next week! Woo!

New Series, Updates, and What I've Been Up To

Most plans for endurance events include training or practice races of a shorter distance ahead of your main goal race. In my opinion, these are the most important runs on your schedule. But how do you attack a race... that isn't a goal race? That's what we cover in today's episode of Trail Talk.

How to Run a "Training" Race

I have no time to run. Or at least that's the excuse I tried to pull on my wife the other day. In today's episode I share her response, and what it means for us as runners. Plus, results from the RCR Pack survey.

No Time to Run (Plus, Who You Are)

Bite sized trail and ultra running advice, training tips, and trail stories for runners of all abilities. Come away from every episode with practical advice you can start using immediately.