Before Cocodona 250: Nerves, Training, and the PCT Mindset

Sage Canaday on Competition, Content, and the Future of Running

Sage Canaday has done a lot in running. A 2:16 marathoner, mountain running champion, Western States golden ticket winner, coach, YouTuber, and one of the few people who can jump into a conversation about track workouts, UTMB, 200 milers, social media, and sports nutrition without it feeling out of place. In this episode, we talk about Sage's "Any Surface. Any Distance." philosophy and how he went from chasing Olympic Trials standards to racing ultras and building one of the longest-running YouTube channels in endurance sports. We also dive into how running has changed over the last decade. The rise of influencers, AI coaching, optimization culture, sports nutrition trends, sponsorships, and the blurry line between being a professional athlete and a content creator. Along the way, Sage shares stories from Western States, his battle with a pulmonary embolism, losing his apartment in a fire, rebuilding his career, and why he still believes there are new challenges worth chasing at age 40. We cover: • Why 100 milers humble fast marathoners • Cocodona and the rise of 200-mile racing • Social media's impact on running culture • AI coaching and the future of training • Sports nutrition, bicarb, and optimization trends • Aging as an athlete • Clean sport and performance-enhancing drugs • Western States bear encounters • Why Sage still wants to keep trying new distances Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

The Mental Side of Ultrarunning | Lauren Jones on Failure, Hallucinations, and Hard Things

Lauren Jones. Lauren balances a demanding career as a pediatric nurse anesthetist, family life, and somehow still finds time to chase some of the hardest endurance goals imaginable. Multi-day races. Cocodona. Fixed time racing. Running over 150 miles in 24 hours. Team USA. Hallucinations. DNFs. Successes. Failures. We talk about balancing life with training, learning how to fail without letting it define you, why hard things can make other hard things easier, and how radical acceptance of failure can unlock growth. Lauren shares stories from Cocodona, fixed time racing, hallucinating deep into ultramarathons, running 154 miles in a day, and what keeps bringing her back to difficult challenges. We also talk about getting back into running after Cocodona, Memorial Day reflections, honoring sacrifice, and why maybe the point isn't perfection. Maybe the point is showing up anyway. Topics: • Cocodona 250 • Fixed time racing and Desert Solstice • Running 154 miles in 24 hours • Team USA experience • DNFs and learning from failure • Hallucinations and sleep deprivation • Balancing career, family, and training • Mental strategies for ultrarunning • Why we keep choosing hard things Thanks to Janji, Garage Grown Gear, Northeast Trail Adventures, and Montana Meltdown for supporting the show. Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Why Trail Running Can't Stop Fighting Itself: TLDR Dumpster Fire Observations

Trail TMZ is back. Host and award-winning correspondent Allison Mercer dive into one of the strangest weeks of trail running that we have seen in a while. From the Satisfy and Adidas backlash and influencer culture debates, to doping discussions around Cam Hanes, Sage Canaday and clean sport, plus the growing role of social media in shaping running culture. We also talk FKTs, Will Peterson's Appalachian Trail attempt, upcoming Pacific Crest Trail action, why controversy dominates attention online, and whether running is losing the things that made it special in the first place. Topics: • Satisfy backlash and brand culture • Influencer running and authenticity • Cam Hanes, Sage Canaday, and doping conversations • Why negativity dominates social media • FKT updates and upcoming attempts • Will Peterson's Appalachian Trail • The future of trail running culture Support our Sponsors: Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

40TH PLACE IN THE WORLD, The Midwest McGrady of Running

Patrick “Bubba The Midwest McGrady" Kavanagh joins the Free Outside Podcast after surviving Cocodona 250 with less than two hours of sleep, a lot of hallucinations, and peak Midwest politeness. We talk about passive aid station etiquette, the infamous Cocodona “fight,” hallucinating sepia-toned family photo albums in Sedona, the MBA basketball challenge at Mingus Mountain, why ultrarunning and pickup basketball are culturally identical, and whether Cocodona needs more wildlife, rivalries, and SlamBall. We also get into: Why Midwesterners make great ultrarunners How Cocodona completely changes your understanding of distance Racing horses in Arizona Why adult life desperately needs competition Why every ultrarunner eventually gives up athleticism for exercise AND A billion-dollar business idea involving upside down pizza One of the funniest episodes we’ve recorded. Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

The Good Wolf with Yassine Diboun

Yassine Diboun comes on to talk about imposter syndrome, ultra running, positivity, sobriety, community, and why none of us actually feel as confident as we pretend to. Yassine has been in the ultra running world for nearly 20 years, from the old-school blog era and handwritten race applications to modern 200 milers and social media comparison culture. We talk about how the sport has changed, why we still get nervous at races, and how you can be incredibly accomplished at one thing while still feeling like a beginner at another. We also dive into Yassine’s “good wolf vs bad wolf” mindset, how he practices positivity without pretending life is perfect, and why community might actually be the most important part of trail running. Along the way we cover: The early days of ultra running Cocodona 250 and Mammoth 200 Heat training and race anxiety Hallucinations and sleep deprivation Why comparison steals joy Sobriety and endurance sports Kids, trail running, and staying playful Why hard things should still be fun The mental side of ultra running Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure