Gotta Run Podcast

Join us on the Gotta Run Podcast as we chat with Ryan Smook, an ultramarathon runner from Grand Prairie, Alberta, who shares his incredible journey of getting into the prestigious Western States Endurance Run. Ryan talks about his beginnings in the ultrarunning community, inspired by friends and facing the notorious Canadian Death Race.

Discover how Ryan tackled the grueling Sinister 7 and The Divide 200 and how he remarkably secur...

In this captivating episode of the Gotta Run Podcast, we dive into the unique story of Evan Birch, an ultra-runner from Calgary, Alberta, who embarked on an extraordinary journey with his dog, Nova. Together, they tackled the Orcas Island 100-Miler, an event that challenged both man and canine in ways never imagined.

Evan and Nova's adventure showcases the deep bond between a runner and their loyal companion as they navigate challe...

Welcome to another episode of the Gotta Run Podcast! This time, we dive into an inspiring conversation with Ken Slagter, a resilient ultra runner from Ontario, Canada.

Join us as Ken opens up about his remarkable journey to the Western States 100 Endurance Run. From the tough trials of missing out on lotteries to an unexpected health scare in 2023, Ken's love for the sport shines through.

Discover how Ken battled back to finally cl...

Join us as we delve into an exhilarating episode of the Gotta Run Podcast featuring the inspiring ultra runner from New Zealand, Sam Harvey. Fresh off his victory at the Tarawera 100 miler, Sam shares his race strategies, experiences, and future racing goals. 

Listen in as we chat about his other wins at Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko 100 in Australia and New Zealand's The Spectacle 50k  

This episode is packed with thrilling tales and ins...

Join us in this thrilling episode of the Gotta Racing Podcast, where we have an insightful discussion with Andrew Fairhurst, the co-director of the renowned Minotaur Sky Race in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta.

As Canadas only qualifier for the Skyrunner World Series, this unique event challenges athletes with 2,900 meters of elevation gain over a 33.5K course, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Canadian Rockies.

Andrew shares hi...

In this episode of the Gotta Run Podcast, we sit down with Kevin McDonald, a passionate race director from Canmore and the mind behind Five Peaks Alberta and TransRockies events. Houda shares his journey from volunteering at the Atlanta Olympics to becoming a key figure in the world of stage races.

Discover how Kevin’s love for community and adventure has led him to create events that inspire people from all walks of life. He refle...

Join us on an exhilarating episode of the Gotta Run Podcast as we dive into the world of ultra marathon race directing with Brian Gallant, the mastermind behind Sinister Sports. As one of Canada's premier race directors, Brian shares his journey from being an adventure racer to shaping some of the country's most renowned ultra events, including the Sinister Seven, Canadian Death Race, The Divide 200 and new for 2025 The SOO 200 mil...

Join us as we dive into the world of the Lost Soul Ultra, one of Canada's most challenging ultramarathons. In this episode, we revisit our enlightening conversation with Dean Johnson, the race director of the iconic race known for its grueling terrain and rich history.

Learn about the unique challenges and stories that revolve around this prairie race, and how it became a qualifier for the prestigious Western States 100. Dean share...

Join us in this engaging episode of the Gotta Run Podcast as we revisit a captivating discussion with John Lacroix, director of the renowned Human Potential Running Series, Colorado's largest ultra trail running series. John shares his unique insights into the world of ultra running, revealing the lesser-known realities of the sport and the intricacies of being a race director.

Discover why John believes ultra rankings are overrate...

Join us on the Gotta Run Podcast for our final episode of the year as we look back on an incredible journey filled with memorable moments and inspiring feats. We dive into the excitement of achieving a long-anticipated Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the new Snakes and Ladders of Dufferin County that Norm wanted to create and achieve for some time.

Listen in as we reminisce about our past year, featuring highlights such as the epic rac...

Welcome to the Gotta Run Podcast, where today's episode dives into the incredible journey of Julie Hamalecki, a 44-year-old ultra runner from Toronto. Julie recently achieved monumental success at the Tunnel Hill 100 miler, breaking the Canadian women's 100 mile record with a remarkable time of 13 hours and 32 minutes. She also set a new record for the 12-hour distance in the same race.

Under the guidance of her husband and coach A...

Welcome back for another episode of the Gotta Run Podcast. We were thrilled to collaborate with Adam Lee, the dynamic host of the Community Trail Running Podcast, for a 2 for 1 episode!

We chat with Adam about his journey from Ontario to the BC Coast and his recent relocation to Canada's hot spot for trail running; Crowsnest Pass. He details his passion for running and how it led to his podcasting endeavours.

We delve into his pers...

Join us on the Gotta Run Podcast as we delve into the extraordinary world of ultra-endurance running with Andrea Marcato, a five-time consecutive winner of the Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race.

Discover the mental and physical challenges of this grueling event, where runners circle a single city block in Queens, New York, for up to 52 days, covering a distance equivalent to running from Vancouver to New York then the New York Mar...

Join us in this exciting episode of the Gotta Run Podcast as we dive deep into the world of trail running with Jordan Brett, a 32-year-old runner from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Originally hailing from the UK, Jordan shares his journey from his early days in team sports to becoming the first male finisher at the Javelina 100K.

Jordan takes us through his transformative running experiences, from reading Scott Jurek's "Eat and Run"...

Join us on the GottaRunPodcast as we dive into the inspiring journey of Leo Vitelli, an ultra runner, personal trainer, and run coach based in Toronto. Once a professional gamer, Leo shares how he transformed his life dramatically in his mid-20s, swapping game controllers for running shoes. Discover how Leo's relentless determination and mental toughness, honed during his gaming days, paved the way for his success in ultra running.

In this episode of the Gotta Run Podcast, hosts Jodi and Norm welcome Canadian runner Michal Kapral, an ultramarathon juggler with an impressive list of world records including juggling 3 objects in the half marathon with a time of 1:20:40 in 2014.  His claim to fame is the record for the fastest marathon while juggling three objects in a staggering time of 2:50:12 at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM) in 2007.

He al...

Welcome back to the Gotta Run Podcast! Join hosts Jodi and Norm as they dive into an extraordinary episode featuring Susan Lowe-Wylde, a 63-year-old ultra-runner who has had an incredible year.

Susan shares her journey from her early days in orienteering to her recent ultra-running accomplishments, including her experiences this year at the Yakima Skyline Rim 50K, Meet the Minotaur Sky Race, Fat Dog 120, and Lost Soul 50K.

Susan's ...

Join your hosts Jodi and Norman as they dive into an exhilarating race recap of the Lost Soul Ultra in Lethbridge, Alberta. Norman shares his firsthand experience running the challenging 100K race, detailing the highs and lows, unexpected falls, and the unique scenery.

Discover how Norman trained for this Western States qualifier, the importance of a dedicated crew, and the strategies that helped him push through the heat. From the...

We're back with part two of Gareth Jones' amazing journey. If you haven't listened to the first episode, we strongly recommend you do because it reveals his incredible backstory and what has led him to take on the adventures in ultra running.  In this episode, we dive into Gareth's experience running the Swiss Alps 100, a race known for its stunning scenery and challenging terrain.

Gareth shares why he chose this particular race an...