Webinar: Racing at High Altitude

Want to learn the best way to train for a race at high altitude? What steps to take when you arrive? Pitfalls to avoid? Join Endurance Planet’s Kevin Patrick and Assistant Professor Scott Drum of Western State College of Colorado and the Gunnison Endurance Project for this FREE webinar sponsored by AltoLab Portable Altitude Simulator. Drum will discuss changes that take place in the body at high altitude, ways to tease the body in preparation for the event, nutritional options, and more. This is an opportunity to interact with the hosts and ask questions in an informal environment.

The Road to Western States 2010: Dr. Marty Hoffman

The Western States Endurance Run is one of the oldest ultra trail events in the world and certainly one of the most challenging. But the 100-miler scheduled for June 26th is also, essentially, a research lab. Dr. Marty Hoffman is the medical director for Western States. He’s a multiple-time finisher who has completed studies on endurance sports and its effects on the human body. Today on Endurance Planet, Marty tackles questions such as: “Aren’t you doing permanent damage to your body running 100 miles?”

The Endurance Planet Hour

If you’re a trailrunner or ultrarunner you know that Gordy Ainsleigh is a legend. Back in 1974—as the story goes—Ainsleigh’s horse came up lame prior to the 100-mile Western States trail ride. So Gordy did it on foot. Now the Western States 100 is the premier ultra trail-run and draws some of the best athletes in the world. Gordy joins us for the first half of the Endurance Planet Hour. Later in the hour we hear from Scott Drum—the man behind the Gunnison Endurance Project—a post-collegiate ultrarunning team at Western State College of Colorado. Drum talks about the project, the benefits that come from living an active life, and he talks about a webinar he’ll be hosting on Endurance Planet next week on how to race at high altitude even you live low. The webinar is sponsored by our friends at AltoLab Portable Altitude Simulator.

My Story: Dr. John C. Taylor

My Story is an audio profile of an age-group triathlete with an interesting or inspirational story to tell. And Dr. John C. Taylor’s story certainly fits the bill. The Georgia man has been competing in triathlons for 28 years and has no intention of stopping now. What’s even more inspiring is that he didn’t begin doing triathlons until he was 60. Prior to beginning my interview with the active 88-year-old, I asked him, “Do you go by John or Dr. Taylor?” He responded, “Oh, I didn’t get my doctorate until I turned 75…you can call me John.” Today on Endurance Planet we hear from Taylor about his multisport lifestyle.

Marathon & Beyond Monday: Hitting “The Wall”

“It felt like an elephant had jumped out of a tree onto my shoulders.” That’s how Dick Beardsley described hitting “The Wall” at the second marathon of his career. Most of us know what Beardsley spoke of but author and runner Sara Latta says that if you understand the scientific reasons behind “The Wall,” you should be able to avoid it. This week’s Marathon & Beyond Monday is a story from Latta. We hope it helps you avoid tree-dwelling elephants.

The Week in Multisport

It’s time again for a Week in Multisport edition of Endurance Planet with Barry Siff of Daily Triathlon. Each week Barry joins us from his perch in Boulder, Colorado to bring us the latest news from the world of triathlon, duathlon, and adventure racing. This week Barry discusses Ironman Singapore, plus he gives us a preview of California 70.3 and this year’s first ITU World Cup race.

The Road to Western States 2010: Amy Palmeiro-Winters

Today we’re beginning a series of podcasts profiling participants in this year’s Western States 100. We’re calling it “The Road to Western States 2010.” Western States is one of the oldest ultra trail events in the world and one of the most challenging. It starts in Squaw Valley, California, and ends in Auburn, California. The trail ascends from the Squaw Valley floor to Emigrant Pass, a climb of 2,550 vertical feet in the first 4½ miles. From the pass, following the original trails used by the gold and silver miners of the 1850’s, runners travel west, climbing another 15,540 feet and descending 22,970 feet before reaching Auburn. Most of the trail passes through remote and rugged territory, accessible only to hikers, horses and helicopters.

Amy Palmeiro-Winters will be one of the athletes participating in the June 26th event. The mother of two, lost her left leg below the knee following a 1994 motorcycle accident but has gone on to compete at the elite level in triathlons, marathons, and now ultramarathons.

The Endurance Planet Hour

People have been butchering Matt Chrabot’s last name for years. He’s been called everything from “Shar-bow” to “Crabpot.” But after his win at the Miami International Triathlon, Chrabot (pronounced shär-bòt) will be a recognizable name to professional triathletes everywhere. Today on the Endurance Planet Hour, we talk to the 26-year-old up-and-comer. We also hear from our latest “Trail Nerd of the Month”, Beth Simpson-Hall, and we talk to Dr. Mark Klion of Bodyworks MD about your aches and pains.

Marathon and Beyond Monday—Going for the All-Geezer Team

This week’s Marathon & Beyond Monday is about one runner’s search for meaning in age-group road racing. Written by Thomas Hart, it’s entitled “Going for the All-Geezer Team.”

The Week in Multisport

Every Friday on Endurance Planet we check in with Barry Siff of Daily Triathlon to get the latest on the world of multisport: race results, upcoming events, and what’s happening behind the scenes. This week Barry discusses the outcome in Abu Dhabi, China, and Miami. Plus he gives us the latest on a mountain biking event that’s been going on for more than two weeks. Talk about endurance!

Three Beautiful Words: “I Did It!”

Before 6-year-old Peyton Moore went to bed last night, he colored in the last 3 year squares of his running chart, held it up and said, “I did it!” Today on Endurance Planet we hear from Peyton’s Dad, Noah Moore, about what exactly the father and son did together.

Jim Ryun—Then and Now

Use your imagination for a moment. An American high schooler enters a one-mile race featuring the reigning Olympic champion in the mile and the Olympic silver medalist in the mile. And the higher schooler wins.
That actually happened in 1965 when Jim Ryun beat Peter Snell. Forty-five years later, Jim Ryun is still making a mark in sports—this time as an independent representative on USA Triathlon’s board of directors. Today on Endurance Planet we speak with the former congressman and world’s best miler about his new venture, and lessons learned from sports that he still applies today.

The Endurance Planet Hour

This week on the Endurance Planet Hour we talk with ultra-swimmer Jamie Patrick who is planning to swim three lengths of Lake Tahoe—an event he calls The Tahoe Triple. We also learn about Braden’s Run which will benefit a 5-year-old Kansas boy who is in enduring a challenge on a whole other level. And we talk with Dan Cadriel from Team Endurance Planet which recently won the “old guys division” of a lengthy relay known as RAGNAR.

Marathon & Beyond Monday—The Champion of the Chip

It’s a common site these days. Runners tying “The Chip” into their shoelaces so electronic sensors on a race course can capture their split and finish times. But in April of 1996, The Chip was set to be used at the Boston Marathon for the first time—and it nearly found itself locked out. That’s the focus of this week’s Marathon & Beyond Monday.

The Week in Multisport

Each week we check in with Barry Siff of Daily Triathlon in Boulder, Colorado to find out what’s new in the world of multisport. This week Barry tells us about USA Triathlon’s Elite Development Race, he shares the outcome from Ironman New Zealand, and he looks ahead to Ironman China and a big-money race in Abu Dhabi.

A Different Kind of Addiction

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.

Charlie Engle on Running the Sahara

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.

The Endurance Planet Hour

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.

My Story: The Amazing Jody Kelly

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—The Marathon from Hell

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.

The Week in Multisport

Today on Endurance Planet we’re launching a new segment, “The Week in Multisport” with Barry Siff of Daily Triathlon. Among the items we’ll discuss today: The creation of a competitor to Triathlete Magazine called “Lava”, the reason Ironman Malaysia isn’t paying pro triathlete Hillary Biscay, and why elite triathlete Tim O’Donnell couldn’t care less what’s being written about the sport. Join us for “The Week in Multisport.”

In Pursuit of the Badwater Cup: An Interview with Jarom Thurston

When your goal is to complete a series of 135-mile races, things can and do go wrong. Veteran ultrarunner Jarom Thurston knows this. But he also believes that DNF stands for “did nothing fatal” as opposed to “did not finish.” Today on Endurance Planet Thurston tells us he’s not close to being finished.

Fire and Ice: A Race to Be Remembered

Every sport has a particular story that gets told and told again because what happened was so remarkable that no one wants to leave it in the past. It’s so good it becomes a fabric of the sport itself. In ultramarathoning, it’s the 1995 Western States 100 which produced the closest 1-2-3 finish in any 100-miler in history. It was a race that was held in weather conditions that were so oppressive—snow and 100-plus degree temperatures—it almost sounds impossible now. Today on Endurance Planet, we talk with the winner of that race—legendary ultramarathoner Tim Twietmeyer—who 15 years later can still remember it in vivid detail.

The Endurance Planet Hour

On this week’s Endurance Planet Hour we hear from a neuroscientist who is also an ultra-runner. He talks about the use of exercise as a treatment for depression and dementia. We also hear from a man you’ll find on Green Mountain every day—the incomparable Tony Krupicka.

A Different Kind of Unforgettable Marathon

Marathon & Beyond Monday is our weekly opportunity to hear an editor’s choice from Marathon & Beyond Magazine. This week it’s a story by Lisa Garrone entitled “A Different Kind of Unforgettable Marathon—What happens when an obsessive-compulsive marathon runner takes a turn behind the water table.” Thanks to San Diego-based broadcast journalist and runner, Heather Ford, who provides the narration for this piece.