Anthony and Zach are back for another episode of Endurance State of Mind, and this time it’s just the two hosts taking a deep dive into everything happening across the endurance sports world. From incredible ultramarathon performances and backyard ultras to cycling, marathon training, upcoming races, and updates from some of the athletes we’ve had on the podcast, there is a lot to talk about.

The guys start by breaking down Aimee Warnke’s incredible performance at the Bigfoot 200, where she battled deep into the race and ultimately moved into the lead around the 170-mile mark. After previously sharing Aimee’s story on Endurance State of Mind, seeing her return to Bigfoot and put together such an impressive performance makes this one of those endurance stories that is impossible not to follow.

They also talk about Last Soul Ultra, one of the backyard-style ultras that has Anthony and Zach seriously considering taking on a backyard ultra themselves. The conversation eventually turns to Mark Dowdle, his incredible backyard ultra performances, and the upcoming 2026 Big's Backyard World Team Championship. What makes backyard ultras so fascinating? How far can someone like Mark Dowdle actually go? And what happens when you put some of the best backyard ultra runners in the world together?

The conversation also covers Phil Gore and Project 168, Leadville 100, and some of the other major endurance events that have captured the attention of runners and fans recently. The guys talk about the growing popularity of following endurance sports from a distance, how social media and live race tracking have changed the way fans experience ultramarathons, and why it feels like there is always another incredible race happening somewhere.

Cycling gets some attention too, including updates on Grayson Taylor, his recent racing, and the crossover between running and cycling. Anthony and Zach also discuss the differences between the two sports and how racing experience, bike handling, training, and consistency can all play a role when a runner makes the jump into competitive cycling.

And, of course, there are plenty of Endurance State of Mind life updates. Anthony talks about his upcoming Berlin Marathon, the guys discuss the possibility of finding a local backyard ultra, and they look ahead to what's coming next for both the podcast and their own endurance goals.

Whether you're into ultramarathons, 200-mile races, backyard ultras, marathon training, trail running, cycling, endurance racing, or simply the stories behind the people who push themselves way past what seems possible, this episode has a little bit of everything.

In this episode:

• Aimee Warnke and the Bigfoot 200
• The incredible world of 200-mile ultramarathons
• Last Soul Ultra
• Mark Dowdle and backyard ultras
• Big's Backyard World Team Championship
• Phil Gore and Project 168
• Leadville 100
• Grayson Taylor and competitive cycling
• Running vs. cycling and the crossover between the two
• Anthony's Berlin Marathon preparation
• Backyard ultra plans and race hunting
• Updates from previous Endurance State of Mind guests
• What's happening next for Anthony, Zach, and the podcast

Endurance State of Mind is a podcast about the people, races, struggles, victories, and completely unreasonable decisions that make endurance sports so addictive. Join Anthony Herrington and Zach Vogt as they talk running, ultramarathons, cycling, marathon training, and everything in between.

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