Lanny Ultra joins Robbie and Justin to walk through how he found his way into ultra running, what it takes to keep training honest while raising a family, and how race strategy is as much a mental discipline as a physical one. The conversation wanders the trails — literally — through cactus encounters and snake scares, a race cancellation that forced a hard safety call, and the community Lanny has built through Run Dad Run. The three close by looking at where ultra running is heading and what the next wave of the sport might look like.

• Lanny Ultra's journey into ultra running
• Balancing family life and training
• Wild trail stories: cacti and snakes
• Race cancellations and safety decisions
• Community building through Run Dad Run
• Insights into race strategies and mental toughness
• The evolution of ultra running and future trends

Community Building How Run Dad Run turned a shared identity — runners who are also parents — into a durable, supportive community, and why that kind of belonging keeps people in the sport longer than any training plan does.

Race Strategy Mentality Approaching a race as a series of decisions rather than a single effort: pacing, problem-solving on the move, and the mental toughness required when the day stops going to plan.

"You like y you didn't fall into a cactus. You dove into that thing."

"I got a freaking thorn in my neck. It'd been there for three hours."

"You gotta do back to backs."

ultra running · trail stories · race strategies · community · family · endurance sports

Robbie joins Justin to break down his run at the DC Peaks 55K — a race through the Utah mountains at the peak of fall color. They walk through his day mile by mile, what worked and what didn't in his pack and kit, and where the wheels nearly came off. Along the way they get into fueling strategy, the specific challenge of running dry on a hot exposed climb, and why the trail community is the reason either of them keeps signing up. Justin shares his own race experiences for comparison, and both talk about what's next: Bighorn and maybe DC Peaks 100.

Robbie's experience at DC Peaks 55K race

Race nutrition and gear tips from Robbie

Justin's trail running and race experiences

The importance of community in ultrarunning

Training insights and race strategy discussions

Race day challenges including dehydration and terrain

The role of gear and apparel in ultrarunning

Future race plans including Bighorn and DC Peaks 100

Join us as we dive into Catherine Tilford's ultrarunning journey, from her trail roots to her first 100 miler at Run Rabbit Run. Discover her training insights, race day experiences, and lessons learned along the way. Join us as we recount an epic ultra race filled with extreme weather, technical terrain, and moments of resilience. Catherine Tilford shares her journey, lessons learned, and the support that made finishing possible.

Catherine Tilford's trail running background Transition from road to ultra distances Race day preparation and mental strategies Fueling mistakes and lessons learned Race experience at Run Rabbit Run and Dead Horse 50K Volunteering and race community involvement Weather challenges in ultra running Mental resilience and perseverance Technical terrain navigation and safety Race support and team dynamics Lessons learned from race day adversity

Preparation for extreme weather is crucial for race success Mental toughness can carry you through the toughest conditions Support from crew and pacers is vital for finishing strong Adapting to terrain and weather can turn challenges into opportunities Immediate care for injuries and issues prevents race-ending problems

sound bites

"Fuel early and often to avoid hitting the wall" "It was pouring rain and windy." "The lightning was just lighting up the sky."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Catherine Tilford's Ultramarathon Journey 00:01 Introduction to the race and weather conditions 02:08 Trail Running Roots and Transition to Road Racing 03:57 First Ultra Experience and Lessons Learned 04:15 First aid station and food highlights 08:00 Race Day Morning and Pre-Race Preparation 10:00 Slick mud and technical terrain challenges 11:59 Lottery System and Race Entry Challenges 14:59 Training and Preparation for 100 Mile Races 15:04 Unexpected weather changes and hallucinations 19:55 Race Day Challenges: Fueling and Hydration Mistakes 20:10 Support from crew and race support team 25:10 Climbing Mount Warner and race strategies 30:04 Race Experience: From Mountain Climbs to Night Running 30:10 Final stretch and emotional finish 35:02 Lessons learned and key takeaways from the race 39:56 Race Day Weather and Unexpected Challenges 49:55 Lessons Learned and Advice for Aspiring Ultramarathoners