The Free Outside Show is back for the new year, and I’m joined by our correspondent on everything, Allison Mercer. We’re doing the exact opposite of the usual “five months from now” preview content that other podcasts are doing, and instead talking about what’s actually happening this weekend: Bandera (with Molly Seidel), Houston Marathon for the OTQ watch, and why you should care about World Cross Country in Tallahassee (yes, it’s watchable on Peacock, yes, team tactics make it way more fun than you think, and yes, there are statue alligators on the course).

From there, we get into the real chaos: Burrito League expansion, why it works as an “anyone can play” running challenge, and how these community-wide games can be more accessible than the typical big-race ecosystem. Then we go full rant mode on year-end lists, award season fatigue, media bias, and why FKT stories often get misunderstood or flattened by outlets that do not actually live in that world. We also touch on sponsorship transparency, influencer economics, West Coast bias, and why the sport would be better off funding real coverage of barrier-breaking performances instead of paying for interchangeable promo codes. New year, same old us. Racing is back, and we have thoughts.

Chapters

00:00 Racing Resumes: Exciting Events Ahead

05:30 The Thrill of Cross Country Championships

08:38 Understanding Cross Country Scoring and Team Dynamics

10:46 The Burrito League: A Unique Running Challenge

13:42 The Influence of Social Media on Running Culture

16:43 The Bias in Trail Running Media and Awards

19:49 The Importance of FKTs in the Running Community

22:40 The East vs. West Coast Debate in Trail Running

25:48 The Shift in Sponsorships and Influencer Culture

28:43 The Future of Trail Running Events and Coverage

31:44 World Championships and the Impact of Air Quality

35:34 Looking Ahead: Goals for 2026

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#RunningMedia #trailrunning #ultrarunning #runningpodcast #WorldCrossCountry #crosscountryrunning #BurritoLeague #fkt #runningcommunity #sportsmedia

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Endurance sports give me structure when life feels chaotic. Miles are measurable. Effort makes sense. Pain feels productive. For a while, that clarity can feel like purpose.

In this episode, I zoom out on the uncomfortable truth that endurance sports have limits. The miles don’t fix self-worth, resolve identity, or heal everything we try to bury under training. I talk about what happens when the goal stops working, not because of injury or burnout, but because motivation quietly expires. Through stories from the Calendar Year Triple Crown, the Great Western Loop, and learning to slow down, this is an honest look at why I chase big goals and how I’m trying to keep doing hard things for the right reasons.

Sponsors: Sawyer, Janji, Garage Grown Gear, CS Instant Coffee.

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Chapters

00:00 The Journey into Endurance Sports

02:58 Understanding Motivation and Its Limits

12:01 The Role of Endurance Sports in Self-Discovery

18:43 Finding Meaning Beyond Goals

26:12 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Future Directions

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I didn’t expect to win FKT of the Year for the Appalachian Trail, but here we are.

This video is not about splits, miles per day, or how fast the record was. It’s about the decade-long path that led to it. From leaving college in 2011 and discovering thru-hiking, to years of chasing adventure while trying to fit into a traditional career, to hitting some of the lowest points of my life, including suicidal depression, and finding my way back through the outdoors.

The Appalachian Trail has been a thread running through my entire adult life. The structure of long days, defined goals, resupply points, and moving forward one step at a time makes sense to my brain in a way the outside world often doesn’t. Trails gave me a place to belong when I didn’t feel like I fit anywhere else.

I also talk honestly about 2020, canceled plans, working at a grocery store, feeling like a failure, and how nothing about this journey was overnight. Just chipping away, year after year, at something I loved, even when it felt impossible.

We also raised over $43,000 for the Trevor Project during this FKT. That mattered more to me than any award. It was proof that people care, that kindness is real, and that we all belong, even when things feel loud, divided, or overwhelming.

This is a reflection on why the doing matters more than the accomplishment, why praise is hard for me to sit with, and why I believe if you truly love something, you’re willing to keep showing up for it, regardless of the outcome.

Thank you to everyone who supported this journey, donated, followed along, and showed kindness.

Sponsors and supporters:

Sawyer

Janji

Garage Grown Gear

CS Coffee

ReadyWise

Mount to coast

As always, we can all be our own version of elite.

Stay elite, my friends.

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

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The conversation revolves around the Jeffrey Awards, celebrating achievements in ultra running, including new race directors, controversies, tragic FKTs, and the Walker of the Year award. The hosts discuss various nominees and their stories, highlighting the challenges and triumphs within the ultra running community. In this engaging conversation, Jeff Garmire and Derrick Lytle explore various themes in ultra running, including speed debates, the merits of double versus single track, and the significance of awards in the community.

The Jeffrey Awards – Categories & Nominees

Most Obvious New Race Director

Joe Corcione

Tim Tollefson

Dylan Bowman (added a 100K, Big Alta)

Carl Laniak (took over Barkley Marathons)

Finn Melanson (Antelope Island Buffalo Run)

We Should Be Your Publicist Award

Grand Slam Track

Candice Burt

2025 IAU 50K World Championships (canceled two weeks out)

Black Canyon 100K (cheating scandal)

Most Tragic FKT

Becca Bergstrom – multiple PCT attempts, quick failures

John Kelly – quit the AT a few hundred miles from the end

Kristian Morgan – approximately his 128th AT attempt

Eric Hallsten – quit Washington after averaging ~70 MPD

Krista Hallsten – fastest supported double TRT, not recognized, therefore “doesn’t count”

Walker of the Year

A.J. Waller (Cocodona 250)

Matt Johnson (Texas 1000)

Troy Croxdale (“Punisher”)

Madison Blagden (“Peg Leg”)

Andrea Moore (six 200+ mile races)

Lyla Harrod (Appalachian Trail FKT)

Finally It Happened Award

Kilian Jornet uses unlimited resources for an unmatchable FKT

François D’Haene loses an FKT (Nolan’s 14 to David Hedges)

Ryan Montgomery finally earns a Golden Ticket after global race hopping

Salt Lake City gets a Western States winner

Fastest Camera Operator

Jacob Banta

Drew Darby

Derrick Lyttle

Jeff Pelletier

Matt Shapiro

Forgot It Happened Award

Seth Ruhling course record at Black Canyon

Chipotle Showdown

David Roche ran Western States (kind of)

Unbreakable movie attempt

Gorge 100K Worlds qualifier

Courtney Dauwalter DNF at Cocodona

Double Track vs Singletrack Award

Double Track

Singletrack

Who Is That Award

Will Murray

Sarah Perry (395 miles)

Caitriona Jennings (Tunnel Hill, 100-mile world record)

Most Destroyed Trail

Any trail an e-bike touches

Arizona Trail

Owner of Zona (King of Arizona)

Candice Burt – Arizona Monster

Jamil Coury – Aravaipa

Abby Hall – Western States

Jim Walmsley

Sadie Curry – AZT FKT

Courtney Dauwalter vs Jim Walmsley Award

East Coaster of the Year

Dan Green (Cocodona)

Canyon Woodward (Golden Ticket)

David Sinclair

Tori Constantine (“Chewy”, Long Trail FKT)

Xander Keiter

Andrew Drummond (White Mountain Direttissima)

Weird Moment of the Year

David Roche giving up his Golden Ticket

Candice Burt doxxing someone on livestream

Kilian Jornet crowd sourcing his next FKT

Most Air Time Award

Chris Warden

Leah Yingling

A.J. Waller

Corrine Malcolm

Joe Corcione

Hypocritical Hero Award

Michelino Sunseri pardoned

Ruth Chepngetich doping ban one year after world record

Hayden Hawks Ultra Runner of the Year Award

Caleb Olson

Hans Troyer

Jeff Mogavero

Tara Dower

Katie Schide

Abby Hall

Megan Eckert (six-day world record, 603 miles)

Bezos Most Expensive Breakup Award

Katie Schide leaving TNF

Jeff Browning leaving Altra

Trend of the Year

Icy kiddie pools

Lying about Zone 2 pace

Moving across the country

Livestream everything

Running a marathon again

Influencer of the Year

David Poach

Nick Bare

David Goggins

Cam Hanes

Jeff Pelletier

Mike Wardian

Max Jolliffe

Most Pointless Miles

Jamil Coury

Kevin Russ

Matt Johnson

Andy Glaze

Derrick Lytle Award

Jeff of the Year (Audience Nominated)

Jeff Mogavero

Jeff Galloway

Jeff Garmire

Katie Schide

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Jeff Colt is back, calling in from Carbondale with a mission to help rehabilitate the name “Jeff” one mountain town conversation at a time. We start with winter training reality in ski country, how to keep momentum when the days are short, the “subsistence” weeks that quietly save your season, and the eternal debate of pants, tights, and looking cool versus staying warm. From there it turns into a bigger conversation about identity, planning, uncertainty, and why the simplest answer sometimes is “we just have Jeff,” so we might as well make it a good one.

Then we head straight into the good stuff, the White Mountains and the Mahoosuc Traverse, where “running” becomes scrambling, crawling, and three points of contact through the Mahoosuc Notch. Jeff breaks down the history and the legends (including Chris Getz and the steak stop), why style matters as much as speed in FKTs, and how different eras and ethics shape what we celebrate. We close with one of the most fun tangents of the whole Month of Jeff, what it is really like working in the AMC huts, from responsibility in dangerous weather to full-on blanket-folding skits, including Harry Potter and Frozen, all in service of three sacred rules: fold the blankets, pack out the trash, and tip the hut crew.

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Chapters

00:00 The Jeff Identity Crisis

06:19 Winter Training in Mountain Towns

09:18 Exploring the Mahusik Range

12:37 The Legacy of Chris Getz

15:27 Navigating the Mahusik Notch

18:29 Style and FKT Philosophy

22:00 The Challenge of Self-Supported FKTs

24:56 Planning and Uncertainty in Adventure

27:57 The Evolution of Trail Running Style

42:22 Exploring Style in Trail Running

44:16 The Debate on Supported vs. Unsupported

47:43 The Evolution of Trail Running

50:54 Killian Jornet: The Pinnacle of Trail Running

54:43 Authenticity in Trail Running

58:30 The Role of Creativity in Trail Running

01:03:31 Life Lessons from Working in the Huts

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This week on the Free Outside Podcast, I am joined by Jeff Eklund, an “ordinary Jeff” calling in from North Carolina who quickly proves he is anything but ordinary. We kick things off with a Jeff quiz show where every answer is a different Jeff, and it immediately derails into the best kind of chaos.

Jeff shares his winding path into running, including randomly ripping a 3:16 at Chicago in his 40s, qualifying for Boston (and skipping it because life happened), then stepping away before coming back strong after knee replacements. He talks about what it felt like to start running again, why he refuses to accept “don’t run” as a life sentence, and his current mission to break two hours in the half marathon while stalking the competition on Strava like a proper veteran.

Then we shift into the second life arc, Jeff and his wife selling basically everything during COVID, moving into a 27-foot Airstream, and traveling to 47 states. We talk minimalism, Facebook Marketplace hustle, getting “pulled around” the country by life, and the underrated places that surprised him most, from Rhode Island to Arizona to the hidden gems of Nebraska.

Somewhere in the middle, Jeff goes full historian and takes us deep into his obsession with Theodore Roosevelt (the strenuous life, Rough Riders lore, the teddy bear origin story, and meeting a TR impersonator in North Dakota that turns into a legit hike). We also get a side quest on Fred Harvey restaurants, Harvey Girls, and old-school American road culture, plus a list of roadside oddities that feels like a hallucination timeline from mile 20 of a marathon.

We wrap with a quick masterclass in sales (relationships, listening, and handling rejection), lessons Jeff wishes he knew when he was younger, and a perfect cherry on top story about Brooks customer service, a surprise signed Scott Jurek book, and the greatest accidental Instagram mix-up of all time.

If you like running, reinvention, road trips, American history tangents, and a guest who can turn one question into six stories, this one is for you.

Chapters

00:00 The Jeff Quiz Show Begins

04:52 Jeff Eklund's Journey into Running

07:49 Overcoming Challenges and Finding Motivation

10:50 The Impact of Family on Running

13:45 Rediscovering the Love for Running

16:42 Transitioning to Life in an Airstream

19:28 Selling Everything and Embracing Minimalism

22:23 Exploring the Open Road and Human Connection

24:56 Theodore Roosevelt: A Personal Connection

26:29 Meeting the Impersonator: A Unique Encounter

28:47 The Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt

30:23 The Teddy Bear Origin Story

31:40 The Strenuous Life Philosophy

33:40 Fred Harvey and the Railroad Era

37:24 The Harvey Girls: Pioneers of the West

39:07 Underrated States: Personal Reflections

41:34 Hidden Gems in the Midwest

45:20 Exploring Unique Destinations

48:13 The Art of Selling

50:29 Reflections on Youth and Education

55:10 Customer Service and Personal Connections

01:00:18 Celebrating Ordinary Heroes

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

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I brought the cowboy hat out for this one, because Month of Jeff needed full giddy up vibes. Jeff “Bronco Billy” Browning is back, and we go everywhere: Cocodona’s weird and wonderful rise into a spectator cult phenomenon, the tiny weather window that makes that race possible, and what it feels like when you are having one of those perfect days in a hundred.

Jeff talks about his best races ever (including a scorching San Diego 100 and a 19:33 at Wasatch), and what actually made them click, training blocks, timing, and yes, a little luck. We also get nerdy and practical with an underrated, overrated, properly rated game, covering trail super shoes (carbon on trail, and why the foam matters more), heat training, speedwork for ultra runners (hello zone 3), and why you have to practice race nutrition in training if you want race day to feel automatic.

Then we time travel to the early 2000s when ultra gear was basically a fishing vest era, handheld bottles ruled, poles were not a thing, and race nutrition was gels, S-caps, and hope. Jeff shares how mentorship and group long runs shaped the scene back then, and why adventure running and storytelling still matter more than a stat on a results page.

We also get into the realities of long efforts and sleep deprivation, including why Jeff would choose self-supported if he goes long again (less complaining, more problem solving). And yes, there are animal stories, including some genuinely terrifying mountain lion encounters, plus the lightning strike moment at Hardrock that led to one of the most ultrarunning reasons ever to change your earrings.

To close it out, Jeff breaks down how he made hundreds work while raising a family, with a simple framework: flexible training, non-negotiable family time, and getting creative with when long runs happen. We finish with what is next, some training races, Cocodona, a Western States swing, and the itch to do more adventure style projects.

Sponsors: Janji, Garage Grown Gear, CS Coffee

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:48 Cocodona 250: Growth and Popularity

08:38 Memorable Races and Personal Bests

11:51 The Mental and Physical Toll of Long Distances

14:44 Self-Supported vs. Supported Racing

17:48 The Shift in Running Focus: Adventure vs. Competition

20:55 The Importance of Storytelling in Running

23:51 Training Insights: Speedwork and Nutrition

28:29 Preparing for Race Day: The Importance of Training Camps

30:00 Evolution of Gear: Trends from the Early 2000s

33:09 Nutrition and Hydration: Lessons from the Past

35:46 The Social Aspect of Ultra Running: Mentorship and Community

39:43 From Hobby to Career: The Journey of an Ultra Runner

42:36 Race Directing: The Challenges and Rewards

45:42 Wildlife Encounters: Stories from the Trail

55:18 Balancing Family Life and Ultra Running

56:10 Balancing Work and Family Life

59:00 Creating Quality Family Time

01:02:58 Navigating Technology and Family Connections

01:03:50 The Story Behind the Earrings

01:10:13 Future Plans and Upcoming Races

01:18:39 Introduction and Community Connection

01:22:40 The Importance of Supportive Relationships

01:26:49 Fostering a Positive Community

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The Month of Jeff keeps rolling, and today we are giving the thru-hiking world some love. I tracked down a Jeff who just finished the Appalachian Trail in 2025, Jeff Coull, the guy behind the coullbean.com blog.

Jeffreys Nomination Form: https://forms.gle/FiW9ZKNpiXoWb8MJ8

Follow Jeff on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coullbean/

Jeff wanted to hike the AT for almost a decade, but in 2024 it stopped being a “someday” goal and became a “need to.” We talk about the scariest part of committing to a long trail, the conversation with his girlfriend Robin, and how doing something huge does not have to come from tragedy or running away from your life.

We get into the details that make a thru hike real: early mistakes (starting too fast, an ankle ligament barking, a sleeping pad that died for two straight weeks), figuring out resupplies when you are basically learning in public, and the constant debate between pop tarts and protein. There is also a strong case made for frozen burritos thawing on the outside of your pack, plus the harsh reality of FarOut water comments when Maine is dry.

Jeff carried a “Robin Rock” most of the trail, hid it in plant photos to see if she would notice, and accidentally created a recurring side quest by leaving it behind and coordinating a rescue mission. He also carried a sealed ICE letter from Robin all the way to Katahdin and only opened it on top, which is where the emotions finally caught up.

We also talk about trail friendships, why it is so easy to connect with people out there, and how Jeff’s view of the “trail family” idea changed once he got confident enough to make his own plan. Then there is the moment in Tennessee when a “power hiking song” conversation turned into an unexpected hour of Freebird on repeat, and a big lesson about forgiveness and leaving old baggage behind.

To wrap it up, we hit quick hitters: favorite trail town, best meal, best trail name he heard, what the whole thing cost, and the lesson that kept coming back over and over, be gentle with yourself.

Sponsors: Janji, Garage Grown Gear, CS Coffee.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: Aspirations and Realizations

05:22 Navigating Relationships: Conversations with Loved Ones

08:25 Symbolic Connections: The Robin Rock

11:25 The Learning Curve: First Experiences on the Trail

14:13 Dreams and Goals: The Call of the AT

17:28 Life Changes: Quitting the Job for Adventure

20:21 Challenges of Thru-Hiking: The Reality vs. Expectations

23:29 Building Confidence: Finding Your Own Path

26:17 Nutrition on the Trail: The Food Dilemma

29:21 The Importance of Gut Health: Eating Fresh on the Trail

30:53 Trail Nutrition: Creative Food Choices

34:24 Adversity on the Trail: Overcoming Challenges

39:13 Building Connections: The Social Aspect of Hiking

45:32 Moments of Transformation: Personal Growth on the Trail

58:41 The Challenge of Water Scarcity

01:01:15 Emotional Reflections on Completing the Trail

01:03:27 Slowing Down to Savor the Experience

01:06:21 The Emotional Climax at Katahdin

01:12:18 Trail Towns and Memorable Meals

01:15:27 Lessons Learned and Future Adventures

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