Join our discussion with Pete Kostelnick, Trans-continental record holder, multiple Badwater finisher, Team USA representative at the IAU 24-hour world championships, and so much more. We dive into what it takes to run these multi-day and multi-week efforts, his recent car accident recovery, and fun stories from out on the trail (or road). Enjoy!

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What if your body could learn to run 50 miles a day and get stronger after week two? We kick off with our Boulder Skyline project updates, then sit down with transcontinental record holder Pete Kostelnik to explore the craft of going very far, very long. From the hot, dry logic of Badwater to the humid grind that slowly cooks you, Pete breaks down heat strategy, pacing, and why some environments quietly win the war.

Pete’s story arcs from a beer-fueled 40-miler to a 100 in the Ozarks, a chance encounter with Marshall Ulrich’s book, and ultimately the decision to run coast to coast. He explains how the first 7–14 days of a transcon feel like a revolt before the body adapts, recovery speeds up, and durability rises. We dive into the Alaska-to-Florida traverse: choosing a stroller that can be serviced on the road, swapping tires mid-run, scrounging calories in remote towns, and staying alive on narrow shoulders while phones glow behind windshields. The surprise isn’t the danger—it’s how kind people are when you meet them face to face.

We also talk about why Badwater keeps calling: the crew every ten minutes, the transformation from individual race to true team effort, and the austere beauty of Death Valley to the Sierra. Then everything turns: a high-speed crash shatters Pete’s pelvis. He rebuilds with patience, PT, and a new respect for load, hikes most of Cocodona, and returns to Leadville to close the loop—with a sub-25 buckle. Now it’s on to the World 24-Hour Championships, where miles stack into team medals and 160-plus becomes the target. The theme running through every segment is practical resilience: start by getting out the door, let consistency carry you, and solve small problems before they become big ones.

If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs a nudge to start, and leave a quick review so more runners can find the show.

Thanks for listening to Running With Problems. Follow us on Instagram @runningwithproblems. DM us there with questions in text or audio messages! Or email us at podcast@runningwithproblems.run.

Hosted by Jon Eisen (@mildly_athletic) and Miranda Williamson (@peaksandjustice). Edited by Jon Eisen. Theme music by Matt Beer.

Jon Eisen guest-hosts the Midpacker podcast with full-time host Troy Meadows discussing Troy's first DNF at the Dark Divide 100. Cross-posted on the Midpacker Podcast feed. Check out Troy's Midpacker Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

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Three volcanoes on the horizon. Volcanic ash underfoot. Twenty-six miles of wilderness with almost no help. We teamed up with Troy Meadows of the Mid-Packer Pod for a raw, unfiltered look at the Dark Divide 100—one finish in 39:20 and one DNF at mile 52, both packed with hard-won lessons you can actually use.

We start with the pre-race curveballs: a late briefing, self check-in, and a course built on dirt bike trails that trade tidy switchbacks for deep ruts and loose rock. The opening ridgeline delivers a dream panorama—St. Helens, Adams, and Rainier sliding in and out of haze—and a reminder to keep ego out of the first climb. Then the course bares its teeth. The wilderness segment stretches for 26 miles between full aid, heat rises, humidity clamps down, and the trickle you hoped to filter isn’t enough. A fragile stomach becomes a full spiral: rationed sips, dry heaves, dirt naps, and the slowest ten miles of the day. At Snagtooth, we talk triage—cold spring water, walking tamales, naps, and time math—and the moment you decide if you’re still committed to a 48-hour cutoff.

On the flip side, we break down the steady path to a buckle: conservative pacing, one short sleep that flips a switch, relentless forward progress through day-two sun, and a near-disaster when skipping the final aid station almost torpedoes the finish. Expect practical strategy, not platitudes: alternate textures and flavors for nutrition, carry extra sodium, take caffeine when you wake, soak layers at every real water source, and script decision points before you’re exhausted. We also get personal about pressure, relationships, and why the conversation you have at home can shape the one you have with yourself at mile 80.

If you love real talk about ultra strategy, heat management, and the mental game of back-half survival, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a mid-pack friend who needs it, and tell us: where’s your crux, and what’s your plan B? Subscribe, leave a review, and drop your biggest Dark Divide takeaway—we’ll feature our favorites next week.

Thanks for listening to Running With Problems. Follow us on Instagram @runningwithproblems. DM us there with questions in text or audio messages! Or email us at podcast@runningwithproblems.run.

Hosted by Jon Eisen (@mildly_athletic) and Miranda Williamson (@peaksandjustice). Edited by Jon Eisen. Theme music by Matt Beer.

Join our all-encompassing discussion with World Champion OCR Racer Amelia Boone. We discuss everything from writing, where to run in Cupertino, CA, experiences at Barkley, her High Lonesome 100 finish and resulting injury, recovery from eating disorders, and her feelings on not having children. It was a powerful, honest, and open discussion that Jon loves to showcase on the podcast. Hope y'all enjoy!

Check out Amelia's Substack.

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A world champion who won’t hide the mess—that’s why this conversation with Amelia Boone hits so hard. We start with the light stuff—Pikes Peak crowds, race-directing curveballs, and the kind of trail etiquette that makes you laugh later—and then move into the stories that define a life in motion. Amelia brings sharp insight on writing and why useful race reports still matter, the pivot from obstacle racing to ultras, and what happens when early success meets lessons your bones won’t let you ignore.

From High Lonesome’s “fall in front of the photographer” moment to finding out later it was a patella fracture, Amelia talks through risk management, fueling choices at altitude, and the unglamorous truth of hypothermia prevention: taped seams, gloves, and respecting the weather. We head into the fog of Barkley, where briars, cliffs, and veterans’ wisdom matter more than any GPS track. The mystique isn’t an accident—it’s the point—and the community around the campfire is as real as the miles.

The heart of the episode is honesty. Amelia shares why she spoke publicly about her eating disorder, what recovery looks like in daily practice, and how ultrarunning can become a healthier exchange—fueling for function, choosing presence over perfection, and refusing to let a calorie calculator run your life. We also talk about the layered grief of not having children, the space between binary labels, and how to build meaning through mentorship, community, and showing up for others. The takeaway is simple and hard: stop gripping so tight to outcomes, take care of your body, and savor the moments that last—like singing down a final descent with someone you love.

If this conversation moved you, follow, share with a friend, and leave a review. Tell us what lesson you’re taking to your next long run—we’re reading every word.

Thanks for listening to Running With Problems. Follow us on Instagram @runningwithproblems. DM us there with questions in text or audio messages! Or email us at podcast@runningwithproblems.run.

Hosted by Jon Eisen (@mildly_athletic) and Miranda Williamson (@peaksandjustice). Edited by Jon Eisen. Theme music by Matt Beer.