Lots of topics this week. I talk about some of my time spent living and getting outdoors in Maine. My annual trip to Moosehead Lake and how cool of a region it is up there. The view from under Mt. Kineo rock face being undefeated. I talked through and ranked each of the extreme activities I have done: white water rafting, parasailing, zip lining, sky diving. Some quick Hundred Mile Wilderness talk. Tracking my sleep and how I am trying to improve my sleep and recovery. I give out my top 3 favorite chips of all time. And end with some motivation.INSTAGRAM

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YOUTUBE

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FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE

https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/run-coaching

#TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

This week I tell the story of my first place finish at the 2024 Kilkenny Ridge Race. A great effort for me and had a few learning lessons for next time. Potentially looking at running that race again this year. Then I talked about Marathon Sports buying Six03 trail races and the $100,000 of prize money they are putting on New Hampshire trail races. Gave my quick thoughts on the Lincoln Woods trail closure for most of 2026 as well as my Black Canyons 100k reaction. What a lineup at that race. And finally we have another virtual race this month from BURCS, the Satan’s Sidewalk 66.66K / 66.66 Hour Virtual Races. Do you believe in bad juju? I try to steer clear.0:00 Intro4:30 Training leading into the race and the tick/antibiotics stuff15:45 First half of the effort27:45 Second half of the effort 39:45 Post race 44:00 Marathon Sports buy Six03 Trail Races50:15 Lincoln Woods trail closure for 202652:30 Olympics recap59:15 Black Canyons 100k reaction63:45 BURCS Satan's Sidewalk 66.66K / 66.66 Hour Virtual Races

INSTAGRAM

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YOUTUBE

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FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE

https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/run-coaching

#TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

This week I got to interview John Hirsch. John raced triathlons as a pro for over 20 years. He collected four Top 10 Pro Ironman finishes and competed at the notorious Kona Ironman World Championships. He had a ton of cool stories and great insights into triathlon and endurance training. Outside of triathlons he competed in trail races, grabbing three wins at the Spartan Ultra Beast Masters World Championships. Oh and he also still rips on trail, he was one of the only finishers at the @spartan Peak Snow Devil Snowshoe race from this January. A brutal winter race (snow shoes required) with cut offs that DNF most participants. He gave us the scoop into those races. Give it a listen.Before the interview, I gave my quick Last Skier Standing 2026 reaction. An epic throw down per usual. I ended the episode with some race results from the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30 Hour and 15 Mile, BURCS Treadmill Marathon & Frozen Folly Virtual 50k and the new Mount Monadnock Heartbreaker race. I was actually on course for this race getting some Monadnock summits in for myself so got to see some crushers first hand. Threw in a trail report for White Arrow and White Dot as well (very good conditions).HOW TO FIND JOHN:INSTAGRAM: @thedeerrunnerFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/john.hirsch.75STRONG LIKE BULL FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/stronglikebullcampsJOHN HIRSCH COACHING: https://www.stronglikebulltraining.com/coaching 0:00 Intro3:55 Last Skier Standing 2026 Reaction11:40 John Hirsch Interview1:47:23 TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30 Hour and 15 Mile Results1:49:15 BURCS Treadmill Marathon & Frozen Folly Virtual 50K Results1:52:55 Mount Monadnock Trail Report 2.14.261:54:05 Mount Monadnock Heartbreaker Race ResultsINSTAGRAM

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YOUTUBE

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FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE

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#TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

This week I go through my entire gear kit for winter trail running and hiking. Literally took everything out of my bins and went through it. Not so much a brand talk but more of what items I bring with me and all my tips and tricks I've learned over them years to make them useful and efficient. Everyone has thier own system and kit that works them but hopefully you can take away at least one thing to upgrade your kit. If you have any good tips I missed let me know. Threw in some tongue twisters at the end. Say red leather yellow leather five times fast.

NH HIKE SAFE INFORMATION & TEN ESSENTIALShttps://www.wildlife.nh.gov/get-outside/hiking-safety

0:00 Intro3:40 Training tip5:40 Gear bins for today7:30 Gear I bring on most runs10:20 Keeping your hand warm and glove layering 16:00 My favorite piece of gear17:50 Safety gear for every run - mountains or local runs20:20 How to keep your water liquid25:30 What packs I use in the winter29:00 Winter footwear and traction35:30 Winter clothing layers47:00 Extra gear I rarely use56:00 Tongue twisters59:30 Outro
INSTAGRAM

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YOUTUBE

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FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE

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#TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

This week I ranked the NH 48 4,000 footers from my least favorite to my top pick. There is only one hike I actually dislike. Lots of tough decisions had to be made. I will not second guess my decisions.

Then did a preview for the upcoming Last Skier Standing race by White Mountain Ski Company that starts next weekend. That race usually goes for days and lots of heavy hitters on the entrants list. Previewed the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30 Hour & 15 Mile races next week. Another frozen bonanza. Trailmixers Frozen Heart 900 CT also takes place next weekend. A free 15 hour self supported style ultra. All three of these races are in their seventh year which I thought was quite interesting. 7 years ago everyone had the same idea of starting these long distance, brutally cold ultra events? Hmm. Went through the Last NORIDC Skier standing results also by White Mountain Ski Company that took place this weekend. Smaller race, but looked like it was just as gnarly, especially with the sub 0 temps the past two days.

Lastly, I did a trip report from my run on Pierce & Eisenhower. Awesome day. Stunner views. Decent trail conditions.

0:00 Intro

6:40 Ground rules for 4k rankings

9:00 Starting with my least favorite, 30 through 20

23:21 20 through 10

37:00 Start of the Top 10

44:15 Number 3

45:45 Number 2

46:30 Number 1

49:30 Last Skier Standing Preview

60:10 Tarctic Frozen Yeti Preview

65:45 Frozen Heart 900

67:45 Last Nordic Skier Standing Results

71:10 1/31 Pierce and Eisenhower Trip Report

INSTAGRAM

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YOUTUBE

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FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDEhttps://www.runmountainpeaks.com/run-coaching#TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

This week I talk through my hierarchy of ultrarunning recovery tips. If you are increasing your training for the new year, you should also be increasing your focus on recovery. None of the top four items have to do with “recovery” products or supplements. I go through some deer hunting FAQs I get asked a lot to try and educate all public land recreation users. I messed up my one grid fact from last week's episode. Brutal. At least I owned up to it. Talked Patriots. Sledding. No Country for Old Men. Stay warm this weekend.

0:00 Intro

5:30 Peak Snow Devil Snowshoe Race

7:05 Sledding throwback

10:45 Grid fact mess up

13:30 Put it anywhere not in your pocket

22:00 Recovery topics

23:00 Sleep is your super power

26:30 Eating enough food (slash staying hydrated)

29:30 Managing your stress

32:15 Active recovery (blood flow)

33:30 “Recovery” products

36:00 Quick discipline talk

40:15 Patriots talk

43:15 Deer hunting FAQs

69:10 Outro

INSTAGRAM

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YOUTUBE

https://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaks

RUN COACHING

https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/

#TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

This week I sat down with my own mother who is quite the accomplished hiker. She is a Grid finisher, and has completed several hiking lists in New England including the 100 Highest, 67 4000 Footers, 52 With a View, Terrifying 25, and is in the middle of a Single Season Winter 48. We discussed all of these accomplishments and the trails and peaks associated with them. She gave some tips about things she has learned over the years and resources she still uses to plan her hikes today. We talked about a few under the radar hikes. And we went through her experience crewing me through a handful of my ultramarathon efforts over the years and some stories and lessons learned from those.I talked about my new microphone debacle and thinking my crappy laptop computer audio was the new professional mic for two straight hours and having a breakdown with Gemini trying to figure it out. No New England ultramarathon results from last weekend.

0:00 Intro

3:50 New microphone debacle

10:20 Andrea Wojciak Interview

10:50 Hiking background and list accomplishments

19:45 Future hiking goals

27:30 Winter hiking talk

34:10 Shout out Molly

34:45 Most popular Grid Finish peaks

38:00 Team North or Team South Hancock person?

40:00 Biggest single day hikes

47:30 Best NH 4k Hiking resources

56:45 More winter hiking talk

64:30 Crewing me in my first ultra

68:00 Crewing me for Jigger Johnson 100 mile

73:00 Crewing FKTs

75:00 Lodge2dodge FKT Mishap

81:30 Grid 2? And some hiking stats

INSTAGRAM

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YOUTUBE

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RUN COACHING

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#TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountains

This week I talk about my 2024 Hellbender 100 mile 9th place finish. The most pain I’ve ever been in running and the most I have ever learned from an ultra. The trails down there rock. Then I go thru the results from the first New England ultramarathon of the year, formerly the GAC Fat Ass 50k, now the TARC Yeti Trail Trot 50k. Finish off ranking my top three fruit. I didn’t mean to do bananas dirty like that.

0:00 Intro

3:45 Hellbender race and course info

10:48 Flying down and pre race stuff

21:55 Starting off

37:30 Hitting a wall / do I have to walk the last 40 miles in?

53:20 2024 Hellbender race results

58:05 TARC Yeti Trail Trot 50k Results

65:05 Top 3 favorite fruit

INSTAGRAM

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YOUTUBE

https://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaks

RUN COACHING

https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/

#TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest