This week on the Free Outside Podcast, I'm joined by repeat guest and newly crowned Lavaredo 120K podium finisher Alyssa Clark. We talk all things Lavaredo—what makes this epic European race special (aside from the 11 PM start and absurd elevation gain), how she ran within striking distance of Courtney Dauwalter, and how pink hair and frogs helped her stay grounded mid-race.

But that’s just the start.

Alyssa opens up about the team she’s built around her—nutritionist, mental coach, agent, husband, and even the cats. We go deep on how her mental game has evolved, why she talks to frogs mid-ultra, and how rewriting internal narratives (with the help of a herd of mental sheep) has changed everything.

We also dig into where the sport is heading—development pipelines, the blurry line between influencers and athletes, why agents matter, and how media obligations are shifting as trail running professionalizes.

If you’ve ever wanted to hear two runners talk about therapy, shoes, mentorship, contracts, and night running tunnel vision all in one episode, this is your jam.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Lava-Eido: A Unique Race Experience

02:50 Race Day Strategies: Preparing for a Night Start

05:48 The Influence of Competition: Running Against the Best

09:10 Race Planning: Balancing Goals and Performance

11:59 Building a Support Team: The Importance of Collaboration

14:53 Nutrition Strategies: Tailoring Fuel for Performance

17:46 Mental Resilience: Strategies for Self-Compassion

20:56 Embracing Identity: Overcoming Past Challenges

23:55 Mindfulness in Racing: Staying Present

26:46 Training for Mental Toughness: The Role of Discomfort

29:48 The Future of Ultra Running: Evolving Support Systems

32:14 The Mental Game in Ultra Running

34:01 Breaking Into the Sport: Challenges and Opportunities

36:19 The Importance of Mentorship and Development in Ultra Running

38:32 Respecting the Elders: Learning from Experience

40:04 Navigating the Influencer vs. Professional Athlete Landscape

44:35 The Role of Brands in Athlete Development

52:20 Building Confidence in Uphill Running

55:31 The Role of Agents in an Athlete's Career

58:08 Media Obligations and Athlete Performance

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🎒 Garage Grown Gear – The best place to discover small, ultralight, and innovative outdoor brands. From niche ultrarunning gear to thru-hiker favorites, they’ve curated the stuff that actually works (and isn’t made by some giant faceless corporation). Shop small, run far.

👕 Janji – Running apparel that performs on big climbs and looks good during your post-race meltdown. Their gear is built for adventures, designed with global inspiration, and supports clean water initiatives. Use code FREEOUTSIDE for 10% off your order and help support the podcast!

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

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Western States 100 needed an awards show—so we made one. I’m joined by Allison Mercer for the first-ever Westees, a highly serious, extremely prestigious, and entirely made-up award show for the 2025 Western States 100.

We hand out awards like:

BDE: Big Dad Energy

Michigan "Bluff" Award (for premature blowups

Scuba Steve Award

I’m Not Back, I’m Better Award

The Cougar of the Field

The Zach Miller Lookalike Award

...and of course,

Jeff of the Day

We also break down the biggest performances, the carnage, the drama, the livestream chaos, trail fashion disasters, questionable pacing decisions, and how Killian somehow still looks fresh after 100 miles.

If you like trail running, roasting, fashion critiques, or just hearing someone talk trash about professional runners while wearing Janji shorts—this episode is for you

Janji – The best running shorts in the game (and yes, I’m literally wearing them right now).

Use code freeoutside for a discount.

👉 janji.com

GarageGrownGear.com

CSinstant.coffee

Montana Meltdown – Our very own fixed-time race in Bozeman, Montana. 4, 12, and 24-hour options on a beautiful loop course.

👉 Sign up on UltraSignup – just search Montana Meltdown

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Westees Awards

06:08 The Women's Race Highlights

11:58 The Men's Race Highlights

21:45 Awards and Recognitions

28:55 Reflections on Performance and Training

30:25 Celebrating Chris Myers and Brooks' Impact

33:05 The Performance of Hoka and Unsponsored Athletes

39:24 Mo Money, Mo Problems: The Pressure of Sponsorships

42:53 The Rise of Women in Ultra Running

47:00 The Need for Better Storytelling in Ultra Running

51:58 Age is Just a Number: Inspiring Performances

54:58 Consistency and Experience: The Legacy of Jeff Browning

55:57 Hans and His Journey

01:00:00 Sponsorships and Their Impact

01:05:00 Awards and Recognition

01:10:03 FKTs and Trail Challenges

01:15:07 Reflections on the Appalachian Trail

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

Instagram: thefreeoutside

facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

Western States may be the most iconic race in ultrarunning—but it also comes with carnage, heartbreak, and a pile of DNS and DNF drama. In this episode, I’m joined by the always-entertaining Allison Mercer (of FastestKnownTime.com) to break down the storylines, the runners who didn’t make it to the start line, and wild ideas to spice up the sport (spoiler: mile-seeding starts for elites?).

We also dive into the FKT world—John Kelly’s latest madness, what’s changing in the scene, and why FKTs still matter. Plus, I give a quick life update because I’m moving out, living out of a storage unit, and heading out for an Appalachian Trail FKT attempt.

Big thanks to our sponsors:

🩳 Janji – Great sun hoodies, shorts, and gear. Use code freeoutside for a discount (let me know what you get!).

☕ CS Instant Coffee – Freeze-dried and trail ready.

🎒 Garage Grown Gear – Your one-stop shop for small-business adventure supplies.

Share the episode, leave a review, and help support the chaos. Stay elite, my friends.

Chapters

00:00 In Memoriam: The Unbreakable List

02:05 The Impact of Social Media on Performance

04:58 The Women's Field: Intriguing Storylines

07:46 The Men's Field: A New Dynamic

10:48 The Role of Coaches and Competitors

13:54 Heat Training and Its Influence

16:54 Predictions for the Race

19:53 The Unsung Heroes of Coverage

22:41 Final Thoughts and Predictions

33:32 The Rising Stars of Trail Running

34:47 Analyzing the Men's Field Dynamics

37:13 Des Linden: The Most Valuable Pacer

40:26 Women Transitioning from Road to Trail

42:28 The Importance of Recovery in Ultra Running

48:50 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes

53:02 John Kelly's FKT Attempt: A Community Effort

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com

Instagram: thefreeoutside

facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside