By Davy CrockettBy 1880, “Old Sport” Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906), a fruit and nut peddler from Bridgeport, Connecticut, had established himself as an odd anomaly in the very popular spectator sport of six-day indoor races held in arenas in northeastern America. He had not yet won a race but would almost always stick it out to the end of the …

-Race Results: *Fort Ord 50 mile and 50K *Mountain Mist 50K *Arches Ultra *La Cuesta Ranch Trail Run *H9 Fierce Dragon *Arc of Attrition -FKTs: *Carol Morgan, Overall and Women’s Supported FKT on the Wainwrights 214 Winter Round -News: *Karel Sabbe is currently doing an FKT attempt on the Te-Araroa Trail in New Zealand *New 200 miler this year at t…

In this episode, Brian Passenti and Simon Guerard sit down with Dale Garland, the race director of the Hard Rock 100, to discuss the evolution of ultra running, the unique challenges faced by runners, and the importance of community and volunteerism in the sport. Dale shares his personal journey in ultra running, the origins of the Hard Rock 100, a…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast I speak to rising ultra star Sam Skinner! Sam shot to fame in 2023 when he took 2nd place at the Centurion Winter Downs 200. Since then he's steadily made a name for himself as one of the nicest guys in ultramarathon. But don't let that fool you....Sam is one determined cooki…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to long time podcast listener and friend of the show, Alice Kershaw! Alice could possibly be a bigger fan of the Spine Race than even I am, which is saying something obviously! Alice loves the race so much that she's ran nearly all of the (now) 4 races in the summer and the winter e…

-Race Results: HURT 100, Coldwater Rumble, Long Haul 100, Tsali Ultra 50K, Dark Anchor, and Swamp Stomper -FKTs: **Shaun Burke, male self-supported, Death Valley Rim-to-Rim-to Rim **Matthew Matta, male unsupported, Oahu Circumnavigation -News: **U.S. half marathon rcord but controversial finish **UR Mag’s top 3 ultrarunners of the world in 2024 **F…

In this conversation, Brian Passenti, Simon Guerard, and David Everson discuss their experiences and insights into the world of ultra running. They share personal updates, delve into their journeys into the sport, and reflect on the challenges and triumphs of training and racing. The discussion highlights the importance of community, the strategies…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast we speak to Tiaan Erwee who took 3rd place at this years Winter Spine Race. Tiaan had unfinished business at the winter edition of the race after suffering 2 DNFs. He then came back to smash the overall summer Spine record, knocking 7 hours off the previous course record! So …

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Welcome to the last episode of the podcast in residence at the Spine Race! In this episode we round up the week of racing and we get final thoughts from Allie Bailey and Phil Hayday-Brown. We talk to James Thurlow about Open Tracking and the growing sport of dot watching! The interviews will continue in th…

-Race Results: Bandera, Winter Spine Race, Avalon Benefit, No Hands 50K, Frozen Gnome 50K, Lost in Miami 18 hour, and The Guv’nor Frozen 50 -FKT: Yoseph Levin, Male Unsupported: Five Sisters Loop (NY) -News: UR Mag Top 10 Ultrarunners of the Year Zach Bitter leaves Altra -Tips, Tricks, and Thoughts (3Ts): Blister Prevention and Control Socials Stra…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Welcome back to the resident podcast for the 2025 Montane Winter Spine Races! In this episode we see the winners of the full Spine and Challenger North races. Lucy Gossage wins the women's race and Kim Collison makes it 4th time lucky to finish and simultaneously win the Montane Winter Spine Race! Nicky Sp…

By Davy CrockettIn part one, “Old Sport” Peter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906), of Bridgeport, Connecticut, a poor street vendor, and talented runner, wanted to become a professional pedestrian/ultrarunner. At age 42, he was viewed as very elderly, a strange anomaly on the track. It was said that it looked like he had been run through a threshing mach…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Welcome back to the resident podcast for the 2025 Montane Winter Spine Races! In this episode we speak to the women of the race! We have trail interviews with Lucy Gossage, Robyn Cassidy, Nicki Arthur, Sarah Perry and Laura Swanton Rouvelin. We talk to checkpoint staff about their observations on how the w…

This conversation explores the journey of Chris, a veteran who transitioned into ultra running after personal loss and military service. He discusses the impact of his father's illness on his running journey, the importance of community support for veterans, and the establishment of the Warrior Trail Foundation, which aims to help veterans through …

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Welcome back to the resident podcast for the 2025 Montane Winter Spine Races! In this episode we speak to the women's and men's podium for Challenger South and North. We talk to Nicki Spinks and Samantha Lissauer about Challenger North and Jon Shield gives us a lesson in gluing his Leki poles back together…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ This is not a traditional podcast episode but......this is the audio from the start line interviews during the extended Instagram LIVE. If you're a SPINE nerd you will appreciate this....if not then please don't come at me in the comments! Featured are Laura Swanton Rouvelin, Hannah Rickman, Allie Bailey, …

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Episode 2 dives into some of the contenders from the mens race and Jack and Damo interview each other? Next they will be arm wrestling! More episodes to come this week so stay tuned! URS由Samuel Hill

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ The Ultrarunning Sam Podcast becomes the resident podcast for the Spine Race 2025! Tune in for regular episodes throughout the week! This episode is an intro to the week and some thoughts on Challenger South. URS由Samuel Hill

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ I talk to Mike and Craig from the Running Show about what they have in store for us at this years show. We talk about what Mike has been up to since we last spoke. We talk about Craigs baptism of fire at the LA Marathon and when he will complete his first ultra! Was great to catch up with the team and hear…

-Announcements: Updated format (3Ts), Fires in LA, and Forget the PR 50K registration date -Race Results: Woodside Ramble (Winter), Charleston 100, Yankee Springs (Winter), and Across the Years -FKTs: Allison Powell = Uwharrie Trail Unsupported Female, Additional recent FKTs on familiar routes, 2024 FKTs of the Year -News: Keep Trail Running Weird …

In this engaging conversation, ultra running legend Marshall Ulrich shares his journey into the world of endurance sports, reflecting on the evolution of the ultra running community, gear, and the personal motivations that drive athletes. He discusses his experiences at iconic races, the impact of personal loss on his running career, and the growth…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ Myself and Robin are joined (briefly) by Kate to start the TURA 2024 awards podcast! We dive into the stats and reveal the winners. From best brand, most sustainable race to the big one........Trail runner of the year! Theres lots to unpack from the awards and we will be releasing the additional info from …

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Laura Swanton Rouvelin, who is returning to this years Spine Race. Laura has had mixed success at the Spine over the years, from a DNF due to back pain, to returning only to have the same back issues, but gutting out the rest of the race to finish. She then came back in the summe…

By Davy CrockettPeter Napoleon Campana (1836-1906), of Bridgeport, Connecticut, known as "Old Sport," was recognized as the most popular and entertaining “clown” of ultrarunning. It was said of him, "Campana kicks up his heels and creates a laugh every few minutes." He was one of the most prolific six-day runners during the pedestrian era of the sp…

In this episode, Brian, Simon, and Nora discuss their experiences in ultra running, focusing on recent races, personal challenges, and the importance of community support. Nora reflects on the Black Canyon 100K and Zion 100K, sharing insights on race preparation, recovery, and the highs and lows of endurance sports. The conversation emphasizes the …

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Tom Hoyle, AKA The Hiking Hairdresser on Instagram, to find out about the man who seems to be everywhere there's some Spine Race action to be had. From training weekends to the race media team, Tom is making a name for himself! We talk about his route into trail running, his care…

In this conversation, Remo shares his transformative journey from a life of addiction to becoming an accomplished ultra runner. He discusses the mental challenges of ultra running, the importance of community support, and his commitment to raising awareness for mental health issues among men in the ultra running community. Remo reflects on his rece…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Emma Stuart, AKA The Running Vet! We talk about her recent win at Centurion Winter Downs 200 and the aftermath of her spectacular performance where she not only led the entire race, but finished with an injury and still took first lady and second overall! We talk …

As the year comes to an end we look back at all the fun headlines and even some drama that we talked about over the last year. This recap episode was a lot of fun. Good to have a reminder about all the excitement that comes along with this crazy sport that we love. Hoping 2025 brings us a fun year of ultrarunning. We wish all our listeners, viewers…

It’s UNN’s one year anniversary party! We can’t believe that a whole year has passed since we started this thing. It’s been a lot of fun. After reflecting on the year we dive into race results from Hellgate, Desert Solstice, Mel Williams Memorial Seashore 50K, and the Hunter S. Thompson Fear & Loathing 50 mile / 50K. We talk about the success they …

In this episode, Emily Keddie shares her inspiring journey from hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to becoming an ultra runner. She discusses the challenges she faced, the importance of community in the sport, and her ambitious goal of achieving 2 million feet of elevation gain in a year. Emily reflects on her experiences with various races, the lesson…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to Rebecca Devereux about her journey to this years winter Spine Sprint, the first 46 miles of the Pennine Way. Rebecca is a member of the ever growing community and charity, Black Trail Runners. A group seeking to increase the inclusion, participation and representation of people o…

Tune in to hear our recap of the Western States and Hardrock lotteries along with notable runners who will be on the starting lines in 2025. We go over race results from McDowell Mountain Frenzy, Brazos Bend, Hitchcock Experience, The TN Mile, Ray Miller 50/50, and the Festivus 50 Miler. We talk about the female owned race company in Charleston, SC…

In this engaging conversation, Wayne Capacillo shares his journey from a military background to becoming an ultra runner. He discusses the mental and physical challenges of ultra running, the importance of family, and how parenting has shaped his perspective on life and fitness. Wayne reflects on his experiences in recent races, the balance between…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast I speak to returning guest Gavin Dale. Last week Gavin made a successful attempt to lower the BGR record down to 14 hours 57 minutes and 45 seconds! In this chat we talk about what he's been up to in the last year since we spoke and how this attempt at the record came to frui…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast I speak to US trail and ultra podcasting legend Finn Melanson from the Singletrack podcast. Finn has rapidly build a podcast in the USA that is the 'who's who' of trail and ultra. Singletrack is noted for being on the cutting edge of ultra running news with race previews, com…

Check out our first live episode with returning guest Chas Adams! It was fun to interact with our UNN fam while recording the show. We start off with Johnny’s shoe review of the Flux road shoes. Then we talk about the women’s and men’s records falling at JFK 50 miler, a race that’s steep with tradition. We go over results from Dinosaur Valley Endur…

In this episode, Ryan Van Duzer shares his journey through ultra running and adventure cycling, discussing his experiences at races like the Javelina 100 and the Tour Divide. He emphasizes the importance of community, the energy of race day, and the joy of biking. Ryan also reflects on the challenges of balancing biking and running, the significanc…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode we welcome back returning guest Mel Sykes. @mellywellywoo We last spoke when she won The Spine Challenger South in the summer of 2023, so we had some catching up to do! Mel was on a trajectory for success the last time we spoke, but something got in the way of her lofty plans, chiari malfor…

In this episode, Brian Passenti and Simon Guerard engage in a deep conversation with dietitian Alyssa Leib about the critical role of nutrition in endurance sports. They explore Alyssa's journey to becoming a dietitian, the importance of proper fueling for performance, and the science behind popular supplements like creatine and ketones. The discus…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode of the podcast I speak to Paul Booth, sports nutritionist. Paul has carved out a career working with elite ultramarathon runners at his testing facility at Leeds Beckett university and specialises in high carb fuelling and performance. In this episode we talk about the newest trend to sweep…

In this conversation, Kristopher shares his journey from a challenging personal life to discovering a passion for ultra running. He discusses the inception of Group Run Finder, an app designed to connect runners with group runs, and the challenges faced during its development, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kristopher also reflects on his…

Tune in to hear the inspiring story of Josh Sisson! Josh is a blind runner who has started running ultras this year and just completed his first 50 miler at Tunnel Hill. We also talk about Georgia Porter's impressive FKT on the AZ Trail. Then we dive into race results from Mt. Tam 50K, Looking Glass 100K, Dead Horse Ultra, and the Wild Hare Race. W…

Get in touch with Ultrarunning Sam here ⬅️ In this episode I speak to returning guest Charlotte Fisher. The last time we spoke, Charlotte had just won the @centurionrunning North Downs Way 100. But after a disappointing year of injuries and race cancellations, she decided that she needed to turn the negatives into a positive. She did this by planni…

In this episode, Cody Beratlis shares his inspiring journey from a football player to an ultra runner, detailing his experiences with recovery, coaching, and the challenges he faced while training for and completing his first 100-mile race. The conversation highlights the importance of mental resilience, nutrition, and the role of support systems i…

By Davy CrockettConnie Gardner, from Akron Ohio, is the 25th person inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame, joining the Hall in 2024. From 2002 to 2012, she was a national champion twelve times at 50 miles, 100 kilometers, 100 miles, and 24 hours. She has finished at least 180 ultras, with more than 80% of them on trails, with nearly …