Off The Couch | Blister Outdoor Gear Review

Robbie Balenger on Testing Limits, Exploring Recovery Techniques, & Outrunning a Tesla (Ep. 121)

May 24, 2022 by Matt Mitchell

After discovering running in his 30’s, ultra-endurance athlete Robbie Balenger became obsessed with the power of human endurance and quickly found that he needed challenges far exceeding standard ultramarathons to test his limits. So, he started creating his own. Since then, Robbie has run across America, completed the “Colorado Crush,” and recently outran a Tesla. On Off The Couch, we had him on to unpack each of these efforts before asking him about the mental side of endurance, recovery techniques, his next challenge, and much more.

Most ultramarathons are enough to push people to their extremes, but ultra-endurance athlete Robbie Balenger isn

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Elan Lieber on the Miwok 100k, Coffee, and Running Fearlessly (Ep.120)

May 17, 2022 by Matt Mitchell

Rabbit elite Elan Lieber called his recent second place finish at the 2022 Miwok 100K, “the run of his life,” but not for reasons you might expect. Shortly before his 2nd place finish, Elan said goodbye to his grandfather for the final time. With a heavy heart, he showed up at Miwok with one goal in mind: to not race in fear. 9 hours later, cresting from an incredible performance, Elan crossed the finish line to the news that his grandfather had passed during the race. So we talked to Elan about the role running plays in overcoming loss, how to let go of fear, and much more.

Rabbit Elite Trail runner, Elan Lieber, called his recent second-place finis

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Brian Metzler on a Writer’s Life & the Art of Running Free (Ep.119)

May 10, 2022 by Matt Mitchell

Brian Metzler has been writing about running, in one form or another, for the better part of the last 25 years. His latest book, Trail Running Illustrated: The Art of Running Free (which he co-authored with Doug Mayer) is a genre-bending book with an interesting backstory, so on our Off The Couch Podcast, we talked to Brian about how it all came together; his writing (and running) career; and much more.

Brian Metzler has been writing about running, in one form or another, for the better part of the last 25 years. From his early day

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Corrine Malcolm on Suffering, the Tahoe Rim Trail, and Her Return to Racing (Ep.118)

May 3, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Between Corrine Malcolm’s many roles as a member of the media, it could be easy to overlook her as an elite runner in her own right. So on our Off the Couch Podcast we talk to Corrine about how she went from an olympic-level biathlete to running professionally for adidas Terrex; setting the supported FKT on the Tahoe Rim Trail; her return to racing; and much more.

If you’ve followed coverage of ultrarunning at all over the last few years, Corrine Malcolm is a name you’ve probably heard a lot. But betwee

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Pablo Vigil on the Early Days of Mountain Running & Lessons from 50 Years of Racing (Ep.117)

April 26, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Pablo Vigil has been called the greatest mountain runner in the world. In the 1980s he was nearly unbeatable, winning the famous Sierre-Zinal fo

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Stacked Fields, Golden Tickets, & Thoughts From the Lead Pack (Ep.116)

April 19, 2022 by Matt Mitchell

In this ‘Race Edition’ of Running Through the News, Salomon athlete, Leah Yingling (who’s already been on major podiums twice this year), joins us to discuss race results from the past few weeks and to preview the stacked fields at Madeira Island Ultra Trail and Canyons 100k.

The 2022 ultrarunning season is in full swing, and it’s already off to a super interesting — and

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Devon Yanko on the Umstead 100; Techno Music; & Doing What Excites You (Ep.115)

April 12, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

On Off The Couch, We caught up with Devon after her overall win and course record run at the Umstead 100, the first race of her “DY DIY Slam” project to run 5 100-mile races within the span of just a few months. We discuss that plus the performance-enhancing effects of techno music; the history of the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning; what led Devon to invent her own “DY DIY Slam”; and much more.

Devon Yanko’s resume speaks for itself. She’s had success at numerous signature races over

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Broken Arrow Skyrace, Prize Purses, & the Current Race Landscape (Ep.114)

April 5, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk to Brendan Madigan, race director of the Broken Arrow Skyrace, about the current state of races; prize purses

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Women Who FKT, with Marta Fisher (Ep.113)

March 29, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk to Marta Fisher about how her experience at Hardrock 100 led her to the creation of Women Who FKT; what the near-term goals of the grou

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Running Through the News (Mar 2022) (Ep.112)

March 22, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Blister running editor, Matt Mitchell, is joined by Blister reviewer, Gordon Gianniny, to disc

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Adam Hill on Anxiety, Addiction, Ironmans, & Personal Transformation (Ep.111)

March 15, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

On Blister's Off The Couch Podcast, We talk to Adam Hill about how dealing with anxiety disorder led him into Ironman competitions; his new book, Shifting Gears; and the process and mechanisms of personal transformation.

We talk to Adam Hill about how dealing with anxiety disorder led him into Ironman competitions; his new book, Shifting Gears; and the process and

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Jason Hardrath on FKTs & What Makes Him Tick (Ep.110)

March 11, 2022March 8, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Jason Hardrath holds more “Fastest Known Times” than anyone in the world. On our Off the Couch Podcast, we talk to him about his upbringing; how a nearly fatal car accident introduced him to the world of FKTs; and his upcoming film, “Journey to 100,” which chronicles Jason’s attempt to climb the 100 tallest peaks in the state of Washington over 50 days; and more.

Jason Hardrath holds more “Fastest Known Times” than anyone in the world. In this conversation, I talk

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Jason Koop on Recent Research, Training Myths, & Bad Science (Ep.109)

March 1, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

CTS coach Jason Koop makes his return to Off The Couch following the release of the 2nd edition of his book, Training Essent

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Logan Williams on the Black Canyon 100k; Recovery; & Running as an Art Form (Ep.108)

February 22, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

On the Off The Couch podcast, Our running editor, Matt Mitchell, sat down with Salomon athlete Logan Williams to discuss his recent top 10 finish at the Black Canyon 100K. This top-10 finish happened after Logan ruptured his achilles last year at Black Canyon, so Logan talks about what returning to the scene of the crime meant for him; his relationship with injury; how he’s recovering from racing 62 miles through the desert; his thoughts on running as an artform, and a whole lot more.

Our running editor, Matt Mitchell, sat down with Salomon athlete Logan Williams to discuss his recent top 10 finish at th

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On the Creation of a “Hyper-Performance” Trail Shoe Company: Speedland (Ep.107)

February 16, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Why would two friends who’d been working at the highest levels of product design at Nike, Under Armour, and Puma — and in

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Winter Running Gear, Tips, & Tricks (Ep.106)

February 8, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

As a follow-up to our Winter Running and the Meaning of Life conversation (Off The Couch podcast ep. #103), today we’re talking about some very practical tips, tricks, and gear recommendations to help you get out and run in colder temps and snowier environments.

As a follow up to our Winter Running and the Meaning of Life conversation (episode #103), today we’re talk

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Salomon’s Mike Ambrose on Shoe Design; Trail Culture(s); & How He Got to Where He Is (Ep.105)

February 1, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk to Salomon’s Mike Ambrose about running shoe design; taking a shoe from concept to production; his life in running

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Hoka Ultrarunner, Sabrina Little, on Teaching Philosophy; Running; & Writing about Both (Ep.104)

January 26, 2022January 26, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Sabrina Little is an ultra runner (she has held the American record in the 200K and the 24-hour American record), a writer, & philosophy professor. So on Off The Couch, we talk about all of the above, why she values all of the above, and also toothpaste and Harry Potter.

Sabrina Little is an ultra runner, a writer, & philosophy professor, and has held the American record in the 200K and the 24-Hour America

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Winter Running & The Meaning of Life (Ep.103)

January 18, 2022January 18, 2022 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Yesterday, Jonathan Ellsworth sat down with Blister reviewer, Gordon Gianniny, and our new Running Editor, Matt Mitchell, to talk about winter running. But our conversation took a much bigger and broader turn. Check out our latest Off The Couch podcast:

Yesterday, I sat down with Blister reviewer, Gordon Gianniny, and our new Running Editor, Matt Mitchell,

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Michele Graglia on Success & Struggle (Ep.102)

December 30, 2021 by Jonathan Ellsworth

Michele Graglia has racked up a number of major victories in his career, including wins at the Badwater 135, Yukon Ar

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