Off The Couch | Blister

Does running have the power to transform the prison system? According to the data, it might, and it definitely has the power to ignite personal transformation, as you will see in the remarkable new documentary, 26.2 TO LIFE. Our guest on Off The Couch today is Christine Yoo, the director and producer of 26.2 TO LIFE, which tells the story of incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison who are members of the 1000 Mile Club, the prison’s long distance running club. They train all year for the San Quentin Marathon — a 105 lap, 26.2 mile race that takes place in the San Quentin yard. The film was shot over the course of three years with unprecedented access to the prison, and for the reasons we discuss in this conversation, I urge everyone to see this film.

26.2 TO LIFE: Running, Prison Reform, & Personal Transformation (Ep.181)

September 19, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

We talk to Christine Yoo, the director & producer of the powerful new documentary, 26.2 TO LIFE, about the San Quentin State Prison marathon; running, prison reform, and personal transformation.

The “Rocky Mountain Grand Slam”: it involves summiting 122 peaks and 318,000 feet of elevation gain (the equivalent of summiting Everest 11 times from sea level). And Vuori & Athletic Brewing athlete, Jason Hardrath, recently set a new FKT by completing it in under 40 days. So on our latest Off The Couch podcast Jonathan Ellsworth catches up with Jason to break down his most recent accomplishment, and to discuss the blurring of the lines between running, scrambling, and soloing.

Jason Hardrath & The Rocky Mountain Grand Slam (Ep.180)

August 22, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

The Rocky Mountain Grand Slam involves summiting 122 peaks and 318,000 feet of elevation gain, and Jason Hardrath recently set a new FKT by completing it in under 40 days. So we caught up with Jason to break down his most recent accomplishment, and to discuss the blurring of the lines between running, scrambling, and soloing.

Recently at the Tahoe 200, Michele Graglia was running in first place with an hour lead. But then he decided to stop running. So why did the former winner of the Moab 240 and Badwater 135 stop? And why, shortly thereafter, did he announce that he would be walking away from racing? Jonathan Ellsworth explores these questions with Michele on our latest Off The Couch podcast.

Michele Graglia on the Tahoe 200, Walking Away from Racing, & Next Steps (Ep.179)

August 15, 2023 by Jonathan Ellsworth

At the Tahoe 200, Michele Graglia found himself in first place with an hour lead. Then he decided to stop running. So today we discuss why the former winner of the Moab 240 and Badwater 135 decided to do that; why, shortly thereafter, he announced he would be walking away from racing; and what’s next.

Olivia Amber on Endless Summers; Her Huemul Circuit FKT; & Fastpacking 101 (Ep.176)

June 13, 2023June 13, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

The North Face athlete Olivia Amber spent the first few months of 2023 road tripping through South America, running, climbing (and occasionally fly fishing) along the way. We caught up with her to hear all about it before launching into a discussion about summer fastpacking best practices, gear tips, and more.

Leah Yingling on Lululemon’s FURTHER Initiative, Their New Women-Specific Road-to-Trail Shoe, & Her Western States 100 Expectations (Ep.175)

June 6, 2023June 6, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

Leah Yingling returns to the show to discuss her new partnership with Lululemon and the brand’s FURTHER initiative, a first-of-its-kind ultramarathon for women intended to help close the sex and gender data gap in sports medicine that historically underrepresents female athletes.

Mike McKnight on His Record-Setting Cocodona 250 Comeback & Discovering His Potential (Ep.174)

May 30, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

Salomon athlete Mike McKnight’s comeback at this year’s Cocodona 250 was improbable, to put it mildly. After trailing the leaders by more than 30 miles, he rallied to not only win the race, but to do so in record-setting fashion. So, we sat down with Mike to recap his victory, talk about his approach to 200+ mile events, and more.

Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton on Tackling Colorado’s Most Coveted FKTs (Ep.173)

May 23, 2023May 23, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

Andrea Sansone and Andrew Hamilton hold some of Colorado’s signature FKTs, including Nolan’s 14 and the Colorado Fourteeners, respectively. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with the couple to talk about the partnership they’ve formed by doing hard stuff in the mountains together; the endurance mindset; Wim Hof; and much more.

Sarah Ostaszewski on Winning Round 3 at the Cocodona 250 (Ep.172)

May 16, 2023May 16, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

Sarah Ostaszewski has run the Cocodona 250 all three years of its existence and each time she’s gotten faster and faster. Her latest attempt on the grueling 250-mile course took her just over three days, good enough for the win and a fourth-place overall finish. We sat down with Sarah to talk about the allure of multi-day events; why she keeps coming back to the Cocodona 250; and more.

Sarah Keyes on Living & Training in the Adirondacks, US Long Distance Team Dreams, & Pastry (Mis)adventures (Ep.171)

May 9, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

In her first season running for The North Face, Sarah Keyes just secured a spot on the US Long Distance team ahead of next month’s World Mountain Running Championships. So, Matt Mitchell sat down with her to chat about how the opportunity came about; calling the Adirondacks home; East Coast vs. West Coast trail running scenes; pastries; and much more.

Jason Hardrath on Preparing for the Pico de Orizaba Infinity Loop (Ep.170)

May 4, 2023May 2, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

The King of FKT’s, Jason Hardrath, returns to our Off The Couch Podcast to discuss the buildup to his attempted “infinity loop” on Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba, the tallest volcano in North America.

Speedland Founders Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon On Their Latest Hyper-Performance Trail Shoe, the GS:TAM (Ep.169)

May 4, 2023April 25, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

We sat down with Speedland co-founders Dave Dombrow and Kevin Fallon to talk about their latest shoe commission, the GS:TAM; growing a boutique hyper-performance trail running brand; future projects; and much more.

Preston Cates on Aid Station Dance Parties, Gas Station Go-To’s, & Redefining His Limits (Ep.168)

May 4, 2023April 18, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

Nike Athlete Preston Cates just punched his ticket to represent the US at the World Mountain Running Championships in Austria at just 25 years old, so we sat down with him to talk about developing as a young athlete; never paying for shoes again; what he grabs at a gas station mid-run; and more.

Andy Wacker on Creating A Roadmap to Professional Trail Running (Ep.167)

May 4, 2023April 11, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

Earlier this year, Salomon Athlete Andy Wacker launched The Trail Team, an independent development program aimed at providing mentorship, skill development, and media exposure to 6 aspiring pro trail runners in the US. We spoke to him, as well as two of his Trail Team athletes, Lauren Gregory and Sam Hendry, about the organization’s backstory, their respective goals, and much more.

Ryan Scura on “Urban Oasis,” Trail Running in San Francisco, and the Importance of Green Spaces in Cities (Ep.163)

May 4, 2023March 14, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

Together, Ryan Scura and Dylan Ladds make up Dooster, the award winning production company the two childhood friends created to tell outdoor adventure stories through film. We recently sat down with Ryan to talk about one of their latest projects, “Urban Oasis: A Love Letter to San Francisco,” a short that explores trail running in one of California’s most densely populated cities.

Anthony Costales on Smashing Course Records, Chasing States, & Sharpening His Competitive Edge (Ep.162)

May 4, 2023March 7, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

Anthony Costales just dropped the longstanding course record at the Black Canyon 100k by a dizzying 19 minutes, securing a Golden Ticket to the Western States 100 in the process. We recently caught up with him to recap his race; dish about training; explore where he gets his competitive drive from; and more.

Jeff Pelletier on Adventure Filmmaking, Storytelling Through Trail Running, & ‘Racing Georgia’ (Ep.159)

May 4, 2023February 14, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

We recently sat down with adventure filmmaker, Jeff Pelletier, to talk about what makes ultra-distance trail running the perfect subject for visual storytelling; the challenges that filming POV-style videos add to running ultramarathons; his new series, ‘Racing Georgia’; and much more.

John Kelly on Barkley Marathons Lore, Being Uncomfortable Being Comfortable, & Rebuilding Speed (Ep.157)

May 4, 2023January 31, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

We recently sat down with La Sportiva Athlete John Kelly to talk about being only the 15th person to ever finish the infamous Barkley Marathons; the mindset required to run for several days straight; how he rebuilt his speed to run a sub-2:30 marathon; and much more.

Jeff Stern on the 2022 UltraRunners of the Year Awards, the Art of Profile Writing, & Covering the Sport as a Pro (Ep.156)

May 4, 2023January 24, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

We recently talked to Salomon Athlete, Jeff Stern, about racing as an elite while simultaneously covering the trail running landscape in his role as the assistant editor of Ultra Running Magazine, a still independently owned publication that has served as “the voice of the sport” since 1981.

Abby Hall on Desert Chronicles, UFO Encounters, & Going All In (Ep.155)

May 4, 2023January 17, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

We talked to adidas TERREX pro, Abby Hall, about how some of the major life changes she’s made since the last time she appeared on the show back in 2020 have helped fuel her recent success on the international racing scene; the role creativity plays in her life; UFO encounters; and much more.

Dani Moreno on Stepping Up In Distance, Spearfishing, & Planning for Podiums (Ep.154)

May 4, 2023January 10, 2023 by Matt Mitchell

As a newly minted thirty-year-old, Dani Moreno has already been racing trails professionally for the better part of a decade. Over the last couple of years, she’s solidified her status as one of the world’s best sub-ultra distance trail runners. We sat down with her just after the New Year to recap some memorable performances from 2022; dive into topics such as spearfishing, pain tolerance, and what to look for in a college track & field program; and much more.

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