Start Where You Are Running and Ultrarunning

Episode 14. The Race I Don't Like to Talk About

Erin Quinn has finished 14 ultramarathons — including the Moab 240 and Cocodona 250 — but race number 15 is the one she doesn't like to talk about. In this raw and deeply personal episode, Erin shares the full story of her DNF at the Tahoe 200: a 200-mile race around Lake Tahoe that she trained for despite recovering from a femoral stress fracture, battling severe altitude sickness starting at 7,600 feet, and running on little sleep after traveling across the country. From the first steps on the ski slopes of Heavenly, Nevada to a tearful phone call from a cheap motel room, Erin holds nothing back. This is the story of what it takes to toe the start line of a 200-mile race, what it feels like when everything falls apart, and how a DNF can still make you a better athlete — and a better coach. Whether you're an ultrarunner, an aspiring one, or you just know what it feels like to fall short of a big goal, this episode is for you. Start where you are — but make sure that you start. To inquire about Erin's 1:1 Ultrarunning Coaching email her at www.erinmaryquinn.com or on her website www.erinmaryquinn.com

Episode 13. The Underrated Advantage-- Working your Weaknesses

Episode 13: The Underrated Advantage — Working Your Weaknesses What if the thing you avoid most in training is exactly what will make you a stronger runner? In this episode of Start Where You Are: Running and Ultrarunning, host and professional ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn dives into one of the most overlooked aspects of endurance training: working your weaknesses. It's easy to default to what we're good at — but real growth happens outside the comfort zone. Erin shares her personal struggles and breakthroughs with heat training, speed work, hiking integration, strength training, and cross-training — and why each one made her a more resilient, well-rounded ultramarathon athlete. Whether you're training for your first 50K or your tenth 200-miler, this episode will challenge you to take an honest inventory of your weaknesses and turn them into your greatest competitive advantage. Topics covered: heat training · speed work · hiking · strength training · cross-training 🎙️ Coaching inquiries: erinmaryquinn@gmail.com | erinmaryquinn.com

Bonus Episode: Spicy Takes on Cocodona 250

**Spicy Takes on the Cocodona 250 | Bonus Episode In this bonus episode, host Erin Quinn digs into the historic 2025 Cocodona 250 — a 250-mile ultramarathon from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona — and she has a lot to say. Rachel Entrekin won overall with a new course record of 56 hours and 9 minutes, becoming the three-time Coco Queen and making headlines on ESPN, CBS News, and the BBC. Erin breaks down the women's and men's fields, how her pre-race predictions held up (two out of three ain't bad), and the wild stories that unfolded across 250 miles of desert, mountains, and rock. This episode covers: * Rachel Entrekin's record-breaking overall win and what it means for ultrarunning * Courtney Dauwalter, Mika Thewes, Heather Jackson, Meg Eckert, and the stacked women's field * DNFs from Cam Hanes, Manuela Valesca, and others — and Cam's raw podcast recap * The heartbreaking news of a runner's death mid-race * Navajo Nation runners Greg Secatero and Brandan Boxie making history * The Mingus Basketball Association, (MBA) courtesy of the Distance to Empty podcast * Six-time finishers Andy Glaze, Jeff Garmire, and more * Scott Jurek, bone broth, and a vegan-carnivore pacer duo * Ann Trason's moving tribute to Rachel's run A celebration of the grit, community, tragedy, and joy that makes ultrarunning unlike anything else. 🎧 Start Where You 'Are, But Start! To learn more about Erin's 1:1 Online Ultrarunning Coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com. If you want to send a comment or just say "hi," email her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com

Episode 11. Embrace the Suck

Episode 11: Embrace the Suck Ever have one of those runs where nothing goes right — and it never gets better? Coach Erin Quinn is here to tell you those are the runs that matter most. In this episode, Erin breaks down the bad run — what it actually is, why it's different from a hard workout, and why every ultrarunner needs to collect a few of them. From legs that feel like cement pillars to bargaining with yourself on mile three, Erin shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of running when your body just didn't get the memo. You'll learn why finishing a terrible run builds the mental toughness that carries you through the lowest miles of an ultramarathon — and why the suffer bus might just be your best training tool. In this episode: * What separates a bad run from a hard run * How bad runs build your "toughness groove" * Why getting it done — no matter how slow or ugly — counts double * Erin's own recent suffer fest (hint: she thought about calling 911) Whether you're training for your first 50K or your tenth 100-miler, this one's for you. Start where you are — but start. To learn more about Erin's 1:1 online run coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com To contact her with comments or questions or just to say "hi," you can email her at erinmaryquinn@gmaill.com Follow her on social media @erinquinnultraruncoach

Episode 10. The 5 C's of Ultrarunning

Episode 10: The 5 C's of Ultrarunning What does it really take to become an ultrarunner? In this finale of the Beginning Ultrarunning series, host and professional ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn breaks down the five big dial movers she calls "The 5 C's" — Consistency, Comparison, Curiosity, Coaching, and Commitment. Erin gets real about what ultrarunning actually looks like: the blisters, the chafing, the cow dung, and the moments your body screams at you to stop — and why it's still one of the most beautiful, raw, and rewarding experiences you can have. She shares her own journey from barely crawling across a 50K finish line to completing the grueling Moab 240, and the mindset shifts that made it all possible. Whether you're lacing up for your first ultra or looking to level up your training, this episode will remind you that the trail doesn't care about your pace — it just asks you to show up. In this episode: * Why consistency beats perfection every time * How comparison steals your potential before you even begin * The questions that will keep you curious and in love with the sport * Why hiring a coach was Erin's single biggest game-changer * What real commitment looks like, day in and day out Start where you are — but make sure that you start. You can learn more about Erin's 1:1 online run coaching at www.erinmaryquinn.com If you want to contact her directly she'd love to hear from you erinmaryquinn@gmail.com Follow her on Instagram or Facebook @erinquinnultraruncoach