How do you go from running your first 50 miler in 2022 to then running across Canada in 2024? On this episode we are joined by Ryan Keeping, who has run across Canada, which happens to be over 1000 miles longer than the States. He has also set the FKT for running around Iceland as well as multiple other extreme endurance events over the past couple of years.

Ryan is contagious. His energy and his mindset of always trying your best that his Dad taught him growing up will inspire you to step out of your comfort zone. We talk about his recent win at the Bootleg Boogie 100 miler and his upcoming plans for racing the Arizona 300.

Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.

Connect with Ryan Instagram: @ryan.keeping

Connect with us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@blueprint_to_ultra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Looking for a coach?

Work with Jeff: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jwultrarunning.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Work with Steve: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/

This week we welcome April Bailey onto the show. At the age of 48, April had the best running year of her life, setting personal bests in the mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, 50K, 50M, 100K and even the 100M. That 100 mile personal best, also just happened to give her the overall win for the Yeti 100 with a time of 15:42:00.

Join us as we talk about that incredible performance at Yeti, the importance of zone 2 training, nutrition and even her upcoming race at the Canebreak 200. Which, if you have been paying attention so far, will be her first 200 and we are looking forward to seeing how that race goes for her.

Special shoutout to her TUFF run club in Raleigh!

Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe.

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.

Connect with us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@blueprint_to_ultra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Looking for a coach?

Work with Jeff: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.jwultrarunning.com/⁠⁠⁠

Work with Steve: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/

John started running ultras in 2017 and in the past 8 years has run in over 150 ultra races, including 20 100 mile races! We talk about how how he balances his race calendar, remains motivated, and manages to stay injury-free, particularly focusing on the importance of strength training and PT exercises. John also talks about his passion for inclusion in running through his involvement with Ainsley's Angels, an organization that allows runners to push athletes in racing chairs, promoting an inclusive running community.

Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe.

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.

Connect with John on IG: @breezytrailhead

Connect with us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@blueprint_to_ultra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Looking for a coach?

Work with Jeff: ⁠⁠https://www.jwultrarunning.com/⁠⁠

Work with Steve: ⁠⁠https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/

We are excited to start 2026 with our guest Tim Tollefson to talk about a variety of topics ranging from training, nutrition, mental toughness and recovery strategies. And of course, we dive into the heart behind Mammoth trail fest as well as the first Mammoth 200. Tim has a heart for the ultra community that just rises to the top and his authenticity reminds us what this sport is really all about. Take some time to join our discussion either through YouTube or listening in through your favorite podcast platform. Links below for the audio versions.You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Mammoth InfoMammoth Trail Fest: https://www.mammothtrailfest.com/Mammoth 200: https://www.themammoth200.com/Guest SocialsTim TollefsonMammoth TrailfestMammoth 200Connect with us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@blueprint_to_ultra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Looking for a coach?

Work with Jeff: ⁠https://www.jwultrarunning.com/⁠

Work with Steve: ⁠https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/

In this episode, we are joined by our guest Liz Myers, who is an ultra running coach with Everyday Ultra, host of the Tribe of Runners podcast, and just an all around great runner. She has done it all in a short time, but that short on ramp speaks volumes of her love for the sport and desire to be the best she can be.

We talk about her first ultras and the challenges she had in them, along with giving some good advice on how to select the right crew for you. But, what sets this episode apart is the time we spend talking about injuries. We dive into her recent severe ankle injury, the recovery process, and what it takes to stay motivated during setbacks. If you have ever been injured and struggled to come back, this episode will help you see that it will be okay. Even though, in the middle of it all, it feels anything like that.

Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe.

Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.

Connect with Liz.Instagram for Liz: @itslizmyersYouTube: @itslizmyers Instagram for Tribe of Runners with all the links: @tribeofrunners

Connect with us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@blueprint_to_ultra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Looking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/

Mark Dowdle has an ultra running resume that is two sides of the same coin. After a few attempts at last person standing races, Mark took a year off of racing them and put in an unconventional year of training to get his mind and body right. He returned in 2024 to backyards and is on a 4 race win streak. The hightlight of which was just a few weeks ago, he won the Summit Backyard completing 68 yards covering 283.55 miles to win one of the coveted spots for Team USA at the World Championships next October at Big's Backyard. In the episode, we talk about what it takes and what is actually going on in his tent each loop. Does he really sleep that much? And what in the heck is he eating. If you are interested in running a last person standing race, we invite you to take some time and listen to his story. You are guaranteed to learn a few tips and tricks of what it takes.We'd love to hear your story too. Let us know your thoughts on the episode and even if you have or are targeting a backyard in the future. Make sure to like and subscribe, because, yeah, why not? Keep up with Mark on IG: @mark.dowdle

Connect with us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@blueprint_to_ultra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Luke has been only participating in ultras since 2023, heck his first marathon was in 2022. But despite being relatively new to the sport, Luke has achieved a ton of success, completing over 40 races since 2023, including five 100Ks, seven 100-milers, and even winning the Cowboy 200. In this episode, Luke shares his background, training regimen, and insights into what makes him so successful in ultra running. We also take a look at his upcoming A race in May of next year, the Cocodona 250. As someone who lives in Florida, we cover his plans for getting in some vert for that race and his goals for it.

Let us know what you think of the episode! And, make sure to subscribe or follow before closing this down.

Connect with Luke on IG: @soflo__runner

Connect with us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@blueprint_to_ultra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you have ever met Cal, then you are, by default, one of his friends. Cal goes out of his way to meet anyone and everyone, and as his granddad taught him. That could be your best friend walking by, so stop and say hi.On this episode of the Blueprint to Ultra podcast, we talk to Cal about his early experience at his first 50k and then what it takes to complete his first 100 miler, the Kodiak 100 in Big Bear. We don't shy away from the fact that training for an ultra is hard and there are mental and physical challenges that come from the pursuit of doing hard things. Cal talks about his personal motivation and the influence of his granddad, along with their mission to raise awareness for autoimmune diseases through Hills for HillCREST.We invite you to listen in and prepare to be inspired by Cal as we are.

Connect with Cal on IG: @_caltitude_

Hills for HillCREST: @hillsforhillcrest

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC14hee_evccl_0Gvc2W8LMA

Connect with us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@blueprint_to_ultra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠