Road Dog Podcast

"The Badger 100 is the biggest race we put on. It is the crown jewel of everything that I do, and I look forward to it every year.”

Scotty Kumer is an attorney, race director, podcast host of Ten Junk Miles, and quite possibly the most painstakingly average runner known to man. He is a co-founder of the Flatlander Ultrarunners in Chicagoland which has rapidly grown to over 1,100 members. In this episode, Luis chats with Scotty abou...

“Within their culture, it’s much more community based and integrated in sharing and kind of what I have is yours. This is how we survive. We are all one.”

Michael Miller is the owner and operator of the Copper Canyons Endurance Run In this episode, Michael chats with Luis about the Copper Canyons Endurance Run, Tarahumara people, the culture around the race, having a connection with nature and the lands, the particulars of the race...

“Enjoy it while you’re out there and embrace every moment on the course.”

Carrie Meng is the Assistant Race Director at the Western States 100. In this episode, Carrie chats with Luis about how she became involved with the Western States 100, the structure of Western States, all the media involved in the race, policy changes with regards to crew, how the lottery works, how you get your buckle, how to watch the event, and drop bags.

“The heat out there is just a different beast.”

Ted Knudsen is the owner of the San Francisco Running Company and passionate trail runner since 1995. Ted has completed the Western States Endurance Run four times and is involved with the WSER lottery and runner tracking for the race. In this episode, Ted chats with Luis about Born to Run, timing and tracking the Western States 100, stories from Western States, the biggest mistake ru...

“I was dead set on winning the 2006 race almost because I didn’t want to embarrass or disappoint Jurek.”

Jason Davis was the pacer for Brian Morrison at Western States 100. In this dual episode, Luis chats with Jason Davis & Brian Morrison about the Western States 100, Brian describes how a running shoe should fit, his run camps, how he got into running, how Scott Jurek trained him for the 2006 Western States endurance run, his ret...

“If I’m not good enough to get a golden ticket to get back into Western States, I’m probably not good enough to win the event. And for me, I want to win the event.”

Hayden Hawks is a professional ultra runner, coach, and family man with a long list of accomplishments. In this episode, Luis is joined by Michael Salsbury and they chat with Hayden about, how he found out about Western States 100, his goal and vision for running Wester...

“If you want to test your endurance, you go do the Ironman triathlon. But if you want to see the other side of your soul, run the Western States Endurance Run.”

Shannon Weil is an original co-founder of the Western States 100 and author of a new book entitledUltrarunning’s Buckle Fever. In this episode, Luis chats with Shannon about the beginnings of Western States 100 race, it’s humble start as the Tevis Cup, how they created the ...

“Live simple, be kind, run, keep your connection to the earth, and share.”

Michael Miller is the owner and operator of the Copper Canyons Endurance Run. In this episode, Michael chats with Luis about Micah True also known as Caballo Blanco, the meaning behind the Copper Canyons Run, the Tarahumara people, the culture around the race, having a connection with nature, particulars of the race, and how it can change your life.

Support ...

“Volunteering is a great way to get to know people, it’s a great way to get inspired. So, I would recommend it to anybody who wants to go to a race but they’re nervous because they don’t know people. Volunteering you know people instantly. You know them very very well.”

In this episode, Luis chats with Mara Klassen, Emily O’Rourke, Barb Sims, Jennifer Gray, Brenda Luce, Roland Hyatt, Joanie Andersen, Tom Taylor, and Bryan Gray abou...

“So the main purpose of this is not to draw attention to myself, but to draw attention to encourage people to get out and move.”

Ron du Preez is a 73-year young man who is planning to walk 50k/day in 50 states in 50 days, with its mission, “to energize and empower everyone, especially those over 65, to engage in physical fitness in a fun and friendly way to foster health and well-being.”

In...

In this special episode of the Road Dog Podcast, Luis chats with folks who are going to be involved with the Born to Run Ultramarathon Extravaganza. The Born to Run Ultra Marathon is a trail run and much, much more. Luis speaks with Rob DeCou, Crystal Morse, Ron du Preez, Tyler Tomasello, Julie Fernandez, Ted Knudsen, Zoey Linnea Chiasson, Hannah Cox, Michael and Kimberly Miller, and Emilie Bard. Hear about a s...

“If we can share best practices and ways to help change the sport and grow it and evolve into something different than the way it is right now then we can make bigger impact in terms of the ripples in the sport.”

Terry Chiplin is the founder of the US Trail Running Conference. In this episode, Terry chats with Luis about the south of France, the history of the US Trail Conference, details about the conference this year in Tennessee...

“I’m pacing myself. I got to keep consistent going up these hills and just keep my heart rate and breathing under control because once you get to far pass lactate threshold, it’s hard to come back from that.”

Justin Wirth, Salvador Wirth, and Emery Wirth are a running family from Minnesota. In this episode, the Wirth family chat with Luis about living in Minnesota, where they like to run, how they got into running, running the 9 Tr...

“I think 9 Trails is always kind of been this like, test for me to see where I am at.” 

Rod Farvard is a pro ultra trail runner for Hoka from the Santa Barbara area. In this episode, Rod chats with Luis about the Santa Barbara 9 Trails race, first competing in that race in 2019, how running against the best tested him, how it feels to be looked up to as a trail runner, placing 2^nd in the Western States 100, race strategy...

“Well if I do swap here or end up in the drink, then at least my core will remain warm and maybe I’ll survive a bit longer.”

Stephan Kesting is a Canadian firefighter, Jiu-Jitsu instructor, and an endurance canoer. In this episode Stephan chats with Luis about Jiu-Jitsu, the difference between a kayak and a canoe, A 42 day, a 1,000 mile solo journey across the Canadian Arctic and Subarctic by canoe, what gear he carri...

“If there are kids in high school that are showing an interest, or a passion, or want to try something, we absolutely do not want literacy barriers, financial barriers to be an issue. So, we want to be able to be there to assist and make sure they get those opportunities.”

Lindsey Haring & Celia Uribe are a partner and board member of PEAK. In this episode, Lindsey and Celia chat with Luis about San Luis Obispo, best places to hike...

“We know that you are trained as a journalist, you’re trained as a more documentary style photographer so whatever you see out there capture it.”

Taylor McKenzie Gerlach is a writer, photographer, runner, rock climber, and outdoor enthusiast based in Seattle, Washington. In this episode, Taylor chats with Luis about the outdoor industry in the Pacific Northwest, the details of the 9 Trails Race, her article on 9 Trails, her article...

“I don’t know if I’d do a 100 miler again. I don’t know.”

Carmen Mata is a distance runner and a financial investigator. In this episode, Carmen chats with Luis about her job, living with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, her experience at Born to Run, her ultramarathon support crew, and what to look out for if someone is laundering money.

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“You can actually just do whatever makes you feel the most joyful. You can. You have permission. You are going to feel so good.”

Alison Cebulla has a running business called Kind Warrior. Kind Warrior is dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability, compassion for all living beings, and the transformative power of healing personal and historical trauma. They advocate for a holistic approach to well-being, embracing interconn...