When to Pull the Plug on a Race

When to Pull the Plug on a Race

In endurance sports, we spend a lot of time talking about grit, toughness, and pushing through hard things. But what happens when the smartest decision is not starting the race at all? In this episode, I talk about when ultra runners should seriously consider pulling the plug before race day. We discuss injuries, training setbacks, burnout, life stress, the sunk-cost trap, and why a smart DNS is sometimes far better than forcing your way into a DNF. I also share some of my own recent experiences navigating injury, chasing a big goal, and learning how difficult it can be to stay objective when a race means a lot to you. Because sometimes the strongest decision an athlete can make is protecting their future instead of forcing one race. Interested in one-on-one ultra running coaching? Learn more and apply at https://www.theultranurse.com/coaching. Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theultranurse/ Thanks for listening.

Special Guest: Luke Guyton

Episode 16 of The UltraNurse Podcast is with special guest Luke Guyton. Luke is a former paramedic, firefighter, and police officer with over 10 years in emergency services who has since become a gym owner, trainer, professional gravel bike racer, and founder of the Do Hard Things Project — a nonprofit focused on men’s mental health. We talked about endurance sports, suffering, resilience, emergency services culture, health, nutrition, burnout, and the importance of community. We also got into gravel racing, altitude training, ultra running, and how hard things can shape people in really positive ways. I used to work with Luke years ago at Medic EMS, so it was great catching up and hearing more about what he’s building now. Really good conversation with a smart, driven guy who’s doing meaningful work. https://www.dohardthingsproject.org https://www.instagram.com/dohardthingsproject/ https://www.instagram.com/lukeguyton__/ https://www.instagram.com/bear_river_ultra/ Thanks for listening. Long miles. Long shifts. Real life.

Niko SteinbRUNNER

Episode 15 of The UltraNurse Podcast is with special guest Nico Steinbrunner. Nico is an incredible ultra runner, cardiac tech, and just finished his third Cocodona 250 finish after taking another hour off his PR. We also talk about him recently ripping the Boston Marathon, running 200 milers, learning through the sport, and a whole lot more. Really fun conversation with a super genuine dude who’s put in a ton of work in this sport. Thanks for listening. Long miles. Long shifts. Real life.

AI, Running Plans, and the Human Side of Coaching

AI is everywhere in running right now. Training plans, nutrition tracking, race research, gear comparisons, recovery advice… you can basically build an entire ultra running framework from your phone now. In this episode, I talk about where I think AI is actually useful for runners, where it completely falls apart, and how I personally use it for things like nutrition, gear research, race prep, and organizing training ideas. We also get into custom GPTs, uploading PDFs and race guides into AI, AI coaching platforms like Rana, and why I still think human coaching and real human connection matter more than ever. AI can be an incredible tool if you understand its limits. Thanks for listening. Long miles. Long shifts. Real life.

Recovery Is Training: Nutrition for Injured Runners

What should runners focus on when they can’t run the way they want to? A lot of athletes get injured, cut their mileage, and then let nutrition slide too. That can be a mistake. In this episode, I talk about why recovery takes energy, why calories still matter, the importance of protein and quality food, and how I’m approaching nutrition during my own injury right now. I also share how I’m tracking food, setting goals, trying to maintain fitness, and treating recovery like the training block it is. If you’re hurt right now—or coming back from something—this one should help. Thanks for listening. Long miles. Long shifts. Real life.