Breaking Down the Presidential Traverse

Hardest Trails in the White Mountains

This week I ranked the toughest trails in the White Mountains. Not just the most technical, but the hardest trails to go fast on. I got a ton of input for this list which was awesome and did a little bit of research on trail stats as well. I gave a bunch of honorable mentions and then ranked the top 10. I did a Chocorua Mountain race preview and some of the history from one of the coolest races in the Whites. Awesome trails, tough terrain and super competitive. I also previewed the US mountain running championships at the Sunapee Scramble. Always cool to see the best in the US come to New Hampshire and race.Threw in some other race results and quick previews. YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaks TRAINING & NUTRITION INFO https://substack.com/@runmountainpeaks FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/run-coaching FOLLOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/ [https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks [https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@runmountainpeaks?hl=en X: https://x.com/runmtnpeaks #TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

Breaking Down the Presidential Traverse

This week, I deep dive into the iconic Presidential Traverse. 18 miles and 8,500ft of gnarly White Mountains terrain. I discuss the required peaks: Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Clay, Washington, Monroe, Eisenhower and Pierce. Yes on Clay, but no on Franklin? And Jackson was a president, but not that Jackson. I talk about the Presi FKTs and the blazing paces over those rocks. At the end, I brought back some non running related rankings. This time doing my top 3 favorite TV shows of all time. And I finish with a correction on the Wapack 21.5 miler results (my bad) and a few other race recaps. Give it a listen.YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaks TRAINING & NUTRITION INFO https://substack.com/@runmountainpeaks FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/run-coaching FOLLOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/ [https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks [https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@runmountainpeaks?hl=en X: https://x.com/runmtnpeaks #TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

Northeast Trail Adventures with Eli Burakian

This week I sat down with Eli Burakian. Eli wears just about every hat you can imagine in the Northeast trail scene. He’s an ultra runner, backpacker, professional photographer, author, and race director/co-founder of Northeast Trail Adventures. He just loves getting out on trails and being part of the Northeast community and it shows. We dive deep into his background managing the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, writing guidebooks for trails and mountains in the region, and getting started with ultramarathons and FKT. We also get into co-founding Northeast Trail Adventures and his vision for the future. We break down the huge success of Mt. Ascutney Vertical Backyard Ultra and the unique format that suits us Northeast vert stackers. Plus, we talk about his upcoming running & hiking retreat he’s hosting in Gorham, NH in just a couple of weeks. There are still open slots and he offered listeners a nice discount for anyone interested.  As always, I wrap up the episode with a breakdown of recent race results, local race previews, from around the New England ultra scene. Give it a listen. HOW TO FIND ELI & NORTHEAST TRAIL ADVENTURES: https://www.instagram.com/eliburakian/ https://www.instagram.com/northeasttrailadventures/ https://northeasttrailadventures.com/ Code "RMP100" for $100 off the June 5-8 running & hiking retreat in Gorham, NH. YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaks TRAINING & NUTRITION INFO https://substack.com/@runmountainpeaks FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/run-coaching FOLLOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/ [https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks [https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@runmountainpeaks?hl=en X: https://x.com/runmtnpeaks #TrailRunning #Northeast #WhiteMountainNationalForest

NH Trail Running Duo: Clark Plummer & Allie Leveille

This week we were joined by a true NH trail running power couple, Clark Plummer & Allie Leveille. Clark is a staple NH & White Mountains trail runner. He is a Grid Finisher and stacked over a million feet of vertical gain on foot three straight years in a row. One of the most enthusiastic people you will ever meet on the trail. I asked if he will ever lose the stoke and he immediately said H*ll no! Allie was a road runner who has taken to more trail and ultramarathon efforts the past couple years. She has 11 FKTs in the last year alone and the count is growing. Multiple ultra marathon wins already under her belt and is only getting better.We chat their background, some of their past efforts, their recent outings at White Lake Ultras, Clark proposing on Pierce, and more! Give it a listen.At the end, I recapped some recent races: Riverlands 100 final year, all the distances at White Lake Ultras, and a mini Big A 50k recap, and gave some Cocodona thoughts👀 HOW TO FIND CLARK & ALLIE https://www.instagram.com/allierunsnh?igsh=MWFwdmJpN2U4b2tiZQ==https://www.instagram.com/clark_alan15?igsh=bzRqYnRqZHNncXJ2 DISCOUNTS FROM ALLIEhttps://1stphorm.com/AllieRunsNHhttps://alnk.to/cHQUsGV YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaks TRAINING & NUTRITION INFO https://substack.com/@runmountainpeaks FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/run-coaching FOLLOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/ [https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks [https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@runmountainpeaks?hl=en X: https://x.com/runmtnpeaks #TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest

Efficient Gear and Movement in Technical Mountains

This week, I’m breaking down everything I think about when it comes to moving efficiently in the rugged Northeast mountains during summer. Shoes, gear, strategies & more. If you don't listen, it could be summed up simply as: don’t ever stop moving, bring the lightest gear (safely) possible & don’t fight the trails and its many obstacles, just keep moving forward relentlessly and as unphased as you can. First I go through shoe choice. I like a shoe with great grip, big lugs, light as possible, and cushion and stack height that vary by distance: low stack and minimal cush for short uphill, low stack and medium cush for short up down, medium stack to a lot of cush for ultra distance. Then, I go through all my gear and tricks to bring the essentials while staying lightweight. This is not a safety talk, this is an efficiency talk! Linking the NH hike safe 10 essentials in the episode!  I discuss a few debatable topics: * Pack vs belt * Poles vs. no poles * Running vs. hiking inclines.  Give it a listen and learn and maybe you can add something to your kit. Drop any good gear hacks in the comments. Always looking to upgrade my own kit. NH HIKE SAFETY INFORMATION:https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/get-outside/hiking-safety YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@runmountainpeaks TRAINING & NUTRITION INFO https://substack.com/@runmountainpeaks FREE ENDURANCE TRAINING GUIDE https://www.runmountainpeaks.com/run-coaching FOLLOW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/ [https://www.instagram.com/runmountainpeaks/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588592565447] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks [https://www.tiktok.com/@runmountainpeaks] Threads: https://www.threads.com/@runmountainpeaks?hl=en X: https://x.com/runmtnpeaks #TrailRunning #Mountains #WhiteMountainNationalForest