I Don't Know Running
The I Don't Know Running podcast is about how we're all learning to run in some way or another. Whether you're just starting to run a mile or you've ran 100's of marathons and are now in the ultra world, this is for you. We all continue to learn and have something to share. So join us in the discussion and help us make everyone's running experience better. We will talk about our experiences, your experiences, gear, races, and much more.
Episodes
South Dakota, State #48, and a Finish Line Beer Scare
It took three years to finally get to South Dakota.
Between weather cancellations, injuries, health issues, deferrals, and travel problems, this race had already turned into a story long before the starting line.
Then race day actually happened.
And of course it came with bad food-truck decisions, confusing race logistics, camera issue...
We had a plan: two runners, two cameras, and 10 brutal miles on the legendary T-Rex trail.
Then reality showed up.
Between Lewis’s nagging knee, an Achilles that still isn’t quite right, and training that didn’t exactly go according to plan, the T-Rex 10 Miler suddenly seemed like a pretty bad idea.
So we did the only logical thing.
We signed up for the 4.2-mile race cal...
Where are runners actually supposed to run?
The sidewalk keeps you away from cars—but it’s uneven, cracked, and sometimes feels like it’s actively trying to trip you. The road is smoother—but now you’re sharing space with distracted drivers. Single-track trails are beautiful—but roots, rocks, and technical terrain bring their own risks. And multi-use paths seem like the per...
You train for months. You survive the race. You cross the finish line, grab your medal...and discover you're officially a FINSHER.
Yep. Missing the "I."
And somehow, that's only the beginning.
This week on the I Don't Know Running Podcast, we're diving into some of the funniest, strangest, and most unbelievable race-day mistakes we've seen.
We're talking about thousands of misspelled finisher medals, runners getting med...
Western States gets the attention, the massive lottery numbers, the elite fields, and the biggest spotlight in ultrarunning. But does that actually make it the greatest 100-mile race—or is Hardrock the more demanding, more exclusive, and more unforgettable challenge?
In this episode, we compare two of the most iconic races in the sport. We break down the entry process, lottery demand, field sizes, altit...
Marathon #180 is complete... and somehow it turned into one of the most memorable races yet.
After months of medical setbacks, almost no training, and serious doubts heading into Alaska, I was convinced this was going to be another difficult marathon. Instead, the Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage became a reminder that running isn't always about fitness or finishing times.
Sometimes it's about adapting.
The 2026 Western States 100 wasn't just another edition of America's most iconic ultramarathon—it completely rewrote the history books.
Jim Walmsley's legendary course record that many thought might stand for years? Gone.
Courtney Dauwalter's iconic women's record? Gone too.
Four men ran faster than the previous course record. Jennifer Lichter became the fastest woman in Western States his...
A hot race forecast sends a lot of runners into panic mode.
Suddenly they're running in sweatshirts, avoiding air conditioning, cutting back on water, and trying to cram heat training into the final two weeks before race day.
But does it actually work?
In this episode of the I Don't Know Running Podcast, we dive into one of the most misunderstood topics in endurance sports: heat training.
A high school relay team wins the state championship... or so everyone thought.
At the North Carolina High School State Championships, Mallard Creek's anchor runner crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead and raised his hand in celebration. Moments later, officials disqualified the team.
Not for a false start.
Not for an illegal handoff.
Not for leaving his lane.
For raising his ha...
When you sign up for a race, you expect a measured course, water stations, timing chips, and a finish line waiting for you.
But that's not always what happens.
In this episode of the I Don't Know Running Podcast, we dive into some of the biggest race disasters in running history—from marathons that were too short to count as Boston Qualifiers, to races that disappeared entirely after collecting e...
This week on the I Don't Know Running Podcast, we dive into the emotional roller coaster of the Bayshore Marathon through the stories of four very different runners.
One ran purely for fun.
One fought to keep a Boston Marathon qualifying streak alive.
One accidentally qualified thanks to an upcoming age-group change.
And one runner achieved what many marathoners spend years chasing: a sub...
Sometimes marathon running stops being about speed…
…and starts becoming something completely different.
Because somehow, over a MILLION people apply to run the London Marathon…
and some of the people who get in decide to run it:
in jeans
in full business suits
in wooden clogs
in four-inch heels
or dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine.
In this episode,...
The Cocodona 250 might be the most insane ultramarathon in America.
250 miles across Arizona.
Nearly 39,000 feet of climbing.
Multiple days with almost no sleep.
Hallucinations.
Desert heat.
Mountain cold.
And runners pushing themselves far beyond what most people think is possible.
In this episode, we break down:
the rise of Cocodona 250
Rachel Entrekin making history by wi...
For decades, the sub-2-hour marathon felt impossible.
At the 2026 London Marathon, that changed forever.
Sabastian Sawe became the first man to officially break two hours with a 1:59:30 world record… but somehow that wasn’t even the whole story. Yomif Kejelcha also went under two hours in the same race, while Jacob Kiplimo still ran faster than the previous world record and only finished t...
Sometimes a race gets canceled…
and no matter what the reason is,
someone’s going to be upset.
In this episode, we’re breaking down the Carmel Marathon cancellation—and the bigger question behind it.
Should races cancel early to protect runners…
or wait and risk making the wrong call?
Because the reality is:
there’s no perfect answer.
...
What happens when finishing isn’t guaranteed?
In this episode of the I Don’t Know Running Podcast, Mitch shares the story behind one of the hardest races of his life—the Jersey City Marathon.
On paper, it doesn’t stand out.
6 hours and 12 minutes. His slowest marathon ever.
But what led up to this race is what makes it different.
Over the last few years, Mitch h...
In 2019, it felt like women in sport had forced a turning point.
When Alysia Montaño, Kara Goucher, and Allyson Felix spoke publicly about pregnancy-related sponsorship penalties, major brands promised change.
Contracts changed. Protections were added. The sport moved forward… or did it?
In this episode, we unpack the “Pregnancy Penalty,” the recent controversy involving Emma ...
Sometimes the hardest part of a marathon…
isn’t the running.
It’s everything that happens around it.
After hearing about a bizarre finish at a marathon earlier this year—where the race leader was literally sent the wrong way just meters before the finish—we started digging into how often things like this actually happen.
And it turns out… it’s not r...
Why would an everyday runner cheat in a race?
Not elites.
Not professionals.
Just… normal people.
In this episode, we take a look at the strange and surprisingly relatable psychology behind cheating in running—from cutting courses and bib swapping to chasing Strava validation and Boston qualifiers.
This isn’t just about the stories.
It’s about the why.
What kind of runner are you… really?
In this episode, we’re breaking down the different types of running communities—from Marathon Maniacs chasing finish lines to social run crews meeting for coffee, to performance-focused track clubs grinding through workouts.
Because depending on who you run with…
running can feel like a competition, a community, or something in between.<...
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