Voicing the Pain Cave with Chris Worden

Today on the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with the voice of Cocodona and one of the most passionate people in trail running media—Chris Worden. With over 150 races on UltraSignup and years of experience in both radio and accounting, Chris shares the wild journey from small-town sports broadcasting to being the emotional anchor of ultrarunning’s most epic live streams.

Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clword77/

We talk about what goes into calling a multi-day race like Cocodona, the behind-the-scenes chaos (including some live broadcast bloopers), how Aravaipa has become the gold standard in race coverage, and why accessibility and storytelling are fueling the sport’s explosion. Plus, Chris opens up about getting into Western States this year after six years of lottery heartbreak—and what it means.

If you’ve ever gotten sucked into the Cocodona livestream chat, dreamed of finishing your first ultra, or wondered how the heck someone commentates for 100 hours straight, this episode is for you.

And yes... I made Chris call my 2025 Cocodona finish before I’ve even toed the line. So, technically I’ve already won.

Support our sponsors Janji.com and GarageGrownGear.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Trail Running and Commentary

03:00 The Journey into Live Streaming and Broadcasting

06:07 Memorable Events and Personal Experiences in Commentary

08:50 The Evolution of Ultra Running and Accessibility

11:59 The Future of Ultra Running Events

14:52 Pre-Production and Storytelling in Broadcasting

21:03 The Impact of Broadcasting on the Community

24:14 Challenges and Learning Experiences in Commentary

27:54 Navigating Live Broadcasts and Viewer Engagement

30:14 The Evolution of Live Streaming in Ultra Running

33:10 Engagement Through Chat: The Double-Edged Sword

36:45 The Importance of Experience and Dedication

39:50 The Future of Ultra Running Coverage

47:38 Chris's Journey to Western States

56:14 The Emotional Connection of Trail Running

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