After a battle with cancer---beginning at the age of 23---Steve Gaul found comfort "at the bottom of a whiskey bottle." But then he traded one addiction for another. Today on Endurance Planet, the Canadian ultrarunner tells us about how his outlook has changed since he became addicted running.

Ever heard an introduction to a talk that was longer than the talk itself? It usually happens when the the emcee can’t quite come up with the right adjectives to sufficiently explain the speaker’s accomplishments. That could easily happen with today’s podcast. But suffice it to say our guest has run across the Sahara---more than 4,500 miles in six countries in 111 days. He’s run across America, and he’ll soon tackle a new challenge. He’s Charlie Engle.

On this week's Endurance Planet Hour we go in search of answers to the questions, "Why do we do this? Will it help us live longer? Is it good for us?" Guests include: 24-year-old Nick Budzyn---who is running for seventeen consecutive hours on a treadmill today, and Coach Ryan Ross---who has pushed his limits and found a balance.

You may know her as Jody Kelly from the Amazing Race. Others know her as Jody Kelly the local triathlete. But neither description would have fit just four years ago. That's when the 72-year-old from Texas made a commitment to herself to get off the couch and get in shape. And she’s done it with style. Today on Endurance Planet, we hear from Jody Kelly about the amazing changes she’s made in her life. "My Story" is a new weekly segment on Endurance Planet, done in conjunction with our friends at USA Triathlon. My Story profiles a remarkable multi-sport age-grouper.

Marathon & Beyond Monday is our weekly opportunity to hear an editor’s choice from Marathon & Beyond Magazine. This week is Eileen P. Duggan’s story “The Marathon from Hell.” The 1904 St. Louis Olympics were scabbed onto the World's Fair, a recipe for disaster that only the hot August marathon could top.