Jeff Colt is back, calling in from Carbondale with a mission to help rehabilitate the name “Jeff” one mountain town conversation at a time. We start with winter training reality in ski country, how to keep momentum when the days are short, the “subsistence” weeks that quietly save your season, and the eternal debate of pants, tights, and looking cool versus staying warm. From there it turns into a bigger conversation about identity, planning, uncertainty, and why the simplest answer sometimes is “we just have Jeff,” so we might as well make it a good one.

Then we head straight into the good stuff, the White Mountains and the Mahoosuc Traverse, where “running” becomes scrambling, crawling, and three points of contact through the Mahoosuc Notch. Jeff breaks down the history and the legends (including Chris Getz and the steak stop), why style matters as much as speed in FKTs, and how different eras and ethics shape what we celebrate. We close with one of the most fun tangents of the whole Month of Jeff, what it is really like working in the AMC huts, from responsibility in dangerous weather to full-on blanket-folding skits, including Harry Potter and Frozen, all in service of three sacred rules: fold the blankets, pack out the trash, and tip the hut crew.

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Chapters

00:00 The Jeff Identity Crisis

06:19 Winter Training in Mountain Towns

09:18 Exploring the Mahusik Range

12:37 The Legacy of Chris Getz

15:27 Navigating the Mahusik Notch

18:29 Style and FKT Philosophy

22:00 The Challenge of Self-Supported FKTs

24:56 Planning and Uncertainty in Adventure

27:57 The Evolution of Trail Running Style

42:22 Exploring Style in Trail Running

44:16 The Debate on Supported vs. Unsupported

47:43 The Evolution of Trail Running

50:54 Killian Jornet: The Pinnacle of Trail Running

54:43 Authenticity in Trail Running

58:30 The Role of Creativity in Trail Running

01:03:31 Life Lessons from Working in the Huts

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This week on the Free Outside Podcast, I am joined by Jeff Eklund, an “ordinary Jeff” calling in from North Carolina who quickly proves he is anything but ordinary. We kick things off with a Jeff quiz show where every answer is a different Jeff, and it immediately derails into the best kind of chaos.

Jeff shares his winding path into running, including randomly ripping a 3:16 at Chicago in his 40s, qualifying for Boston (and skipping it because life happened), then stepping away before coming back strong after knee replacements. He talks about what it felt like to start running again, why he refuses to accept “don’t run” as a life sentence, and his current mission to break two hours in the half marathon while stalking the competition on Strava like a proper veteran.

Then we shift into the second life arc, Jeff and his wife selling basically everything during COVID, moving into a 27-foot Airstream, and traveling to 47 states. We talk minimalism, Facebook Marketplace hustle, getting “pulled around” the country by life, and the underrated places that surprised him most, from Rhode Island to Arizona to the hidden gems of Nebraska.

Somewhere in the middle, Jeff goes full historian and takes us deep into his obsession with Theodore Roosevelt (the strenuous life, Rough Riders lore, the teddy bear origin story, and meeting a TR impersonator in North Dakota that turns into a legit hike). We also get a side quest on Fred Harvey restaurants, Harvey Girls, and old-school American road culture, plus a list of roadside oddities that feels like a hallucination timeline from mile 20 of a marathon.

We wrap with a quick masterclass in sales (relationships, listening, and handling rejection), lessons Jeff wishes he knew when he was younger, and a perfect cherry on top story about Brooks customer service, a surprise signed Scott Jurek book, and the greatest accidental Instagram mix-up of all time.

If you like running, reinvention, road trips, American history tangents, and a guest who can turn one question into six stories, this one is for you.

Chapters

00:00 The Jeff Quiz Show Begins

04:52 Jeff Eklund's Journey into Running

07:49 Overcoming Challenges and Finding Motivation

10:50 The Impact of Family on Running

13:45 Rediscovering the Love for Running

16:42 Transitioning to Life in an Airstream

19:28 Selling Everything and Embracing Minimalism

22:23 Exploring the Open Road and Human Connection

24:56 Theodore Roosevelt: A Personal Connection

26:29 Meeting the Impersonator: A Unique Encounter

28:47 The Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt

30:23 The Teddy Bear Origin Story

31:40 The Strenuous Life Philosophy

33:40 Fred Harvey and the Railroad Era

37:24 The Harvey Girls: Pioneers of the West

39:07 Underrated States: Personal Reflections

41:34 Hidden Gems in the Midwest

45:20 Exploring Unique Destinations

48:13 The Art of Selling

50:29 Reflections on Youth and Education

55:10 Customer Service and Personal Connections

01:00:18 Celebrating Ordinary Heroes

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I brought the cowboy hat out for this one, because Month of Jeff needed full giddy up vibes. Jeff “Bronco Billy” Browning is back, and we go everywhere: Cocodona’s weird and wonderful rise into a spectator cult phenomenon, the tiny weather window that makes that race possible, and what it feels like when you are having one of those perfect days in a hundred.

Jeff talks about his best races ever (including a scorching San Diego 100 and a 19:33 at Wasatch), and what actually made them click, training blocks, timing, and yes, a little luck. We also get nerdy and practical with an underrated, overrated, properly rated game, covering trail super shoes (carbon on trail, and why the foam matters more), heat training, speedwork for ultra runners (hello zone 3), and why you have to practice race nutrition in training if you want race day to feel automatic.

Then we time travel to the early 2000s when ultra gear was basically a fishing vest era, handheld bottles ruled, poles were not a thing, and race nutrition was gels, S-caps, and hope. Jeff shares how mentorship and group long runs shaped the scene back then, and why adventure running and storytelling still matter more than a stat on a results page.

We also get into the realities of long efforts and sleep deprivation, including why Jeff would choose self-supported if he goes long again (less complaining, more problem solving). And yes, there are animal stories, including some genuinely terrifying mountain lion encounters, plus the lightning strike moment at Hardrock that led to one of the most ultrarunning reasons ever to change your earrings.

To close it out, Jeff breaks down how he made hundreds work while raising a family, with a simple framework: flexible training, non-negotiable family time, and getting creative with when long runs happen. We finish with what is next, some training races, Cocodona, a Western States swing, and the itch to do more adventure style projects.

Sponsors: Janji, Garage Grown Gear, CS Coffee

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:48 Cocodona 250: Growth and Popularity

08:38 Memorable Races and Personal Bests

11:51 The Mental and Physical Toll of Long Distances

14:44 Self-Supported vs. Supported Racing

17:48 The Shift in Running Focus: Adventure vs. Competition

20:55 The Importance of Storytelling in Running

23:51 Training Insights: Speedwork and Nutrition

28:29 Preparing for Race Day: The Importance of Training Camps

30:00 Evolution of Gear: Trends from the Early 2000s

33:09 Nutrition and Hydration: Lessons from the Past

35:46 The Social Aspect of Ultra Running: Mentorship and Community

39:43 From Hobby to Career: The Journey of an Ultra Runner

42:36 Race Directing: The Challenges and Rewards

45:42 Wildlife Encounters: Stories from the Trail

55:18 Balancing Family Life and Ultra Running

56:10 Balancing Work and Family Life

59:00 Creating Quality Family Time

01:02:58 Navigating Technology and Family Connections

01:03:50 The Story Behind the Earrings

01:10:13 Future Plans and Upcoming Races

01:18:39 Introduction and Community Connection

01:22:40 The Importance of Supportive Relationships

01:26:49 Fostering a Positive Community

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The Month of Jeff keeps rolling, and today we are giving the thru-hiking world some love. I tracked down a Jeff who just finished the Appalachian Trail in 2025, Jeff Coull, the guy behind the coullbean.com blog.

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Jeff wanted to hike the AT for almost a decade, but in 2024 it stopped being a “someday” goal and became a “need to.” We talk about the scariest part of committing to a long trail, the conversation with his girlfriend Robin, and how doing something huge does not have to come from tragedy or running away from your life.

We get into the details that make a thru hike real: early mistakes (starting too fast, an ankle ligament barking, a sleeping pad that died for two straight weeks), figuring out resupplies when you are basically learning in public, and the constant debate between pop tarts and protein. There is also a strong case made for frozen burritos thawing on the outside of your pack, plus the harsh reality of FarOut water comments when Maine is dry.

Jeff carried a “Robin Rock” most of the trail, hid it in plant photos to see if she would notice, and accidentally created a recurring side quest by leaving it behind and coordinating a rescue mission. He also carried a sealed ICE letter from Robin all the way to Katahdin and only opened it on top, which is where the emotions finally caught up.

We also talk about trail friendships, why it is so easy to connect with people out there, and how Jeff’s view of the “trail family” idea changed once he got confident enough to make his own plan. Then there is the moment in Tennessee when a “power hiking song” conversation turned into an unexpected hour of Freebird on repeat, and a big lesson about forgiveness and leaving old baggage behind.

To wrap it up, we hit quick hitters: favorite trail town, best meal, best trail name he heard, what the whole thing cost, and the lesson that kept coming back over and over, be gentle with yourself.

Sponsors: Janji, Garage Grown Gear, CS Coffee.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: Aspirations and Realizations

05:22 Navigating Relationships: Conversations with Loved Ones

08:25 Symbolic Connections: The Robin Rock

11:25 The Learning Curve: First Experiences on the Trail

14:13 Dreams and Goals: The Call of the AT

17:28 Life Changes: Quitting the Job for Adventure

20:21 Challenges of Thru-Hiking: The Reality vs. Expectations

23:29 Building Confidence: Finding Your Own Path

26:17 Nutrition on the Trail: The Food Dilemma

29:21 The Importance of Gut Health: Eating Fresh on the Trail

30:53 Trail Nutrition: Creative Food Choices

34:24 Adversity on the Trail: Overcoming Challenges

39:13 Building Connections: The Social Aspect of Hiking

45:32 Moments of Transformation: Personal Growth on the Trail

58:41 The Challenge of Water Scarcity

01:01:15 Emotional Reflections on Completing the Trail

01:03:27 Slowing Down to Savor the Experience

01:06:21 The Emotional Climax at Katahdin

01:12:18 Trail Towns and Memorable Meals

01:15:27 Lessons Learned and Future Adventures

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I sit down with yet another Jeff, but this one took things to a different level. Over the course of October and November, he completed 122 laps of the Manitou Incline, nearly a mile and over 2,000 feet of gain per lap, turning one of the most brutal stair climbs in the country into a month-long experiment in mental resilience.

What started as training for a future unsupported FKT evolved into something much bigger. A Navy veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, he shares how his nervous system adapted to years in combat and why returning to everyday civilian life felt overwhelming. Loud environments, crowds, and constant inputs became difficult, while long, repetitive movement in nature helped turn the volume back down.

We talk about why hiking and rucking can work where therapy and medication do not for some veterans, how mundane suffering and repetition create space for processing trauma, and why unsupported FKTs and long efforts with weight may be a wide-open niche for athletes with military backgrounds. He explains how the incline project became a fundraiser and awareness campaign for Warrior Expeditions, a veteran-led nonprofit that helps veterans heal through long-distance hiking.

This conversation dives into combat stress, family life, fatherhood, endurance, mental health, and the simple power of left foot, right foot. It is a powerful reminder that the outdoors offers different things to different people, and sometimes the hardest, most boring path is the one that helps us heal the most.

Check out Warrier Expeditions: https://warriorexpeditions.org/

Follow Jeff Snyder: https://www.instagram.com/jsnydersoloadventures/

Chapters

00:00 The Manitou Incline Challenge

05:10 Mental Resilience Through Hiking

07:41 The Impact of Combat on Mental Health

10:07 Nature as a Healing Tool

13:01 The Role of Community in Recovery

15:36 Fundraising for Warrior Expeditions

17:58 Accidental Discoveries in Nature

20:35 Transitioning from Rucking to Hiking

23:15 The Importance of Mindset in Outdoor Challenges

25:23 Unexpected Changes in Combat Situations

28:01 Daily Life and the Incline Challenge

30:31 Supporting Veterans Through Outdoor Activities

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It is Month of Jeff, so its time to talk to another Jeff, Jeff Pelletier.

Jeff had a huge 2025. He paced and crewed at Cocodona, then took on Badwater 135 and followed it up with the inaugural Mammoth 200. We go deep on Badwater, why he was drawn to a race the core of the community has kind of fallen out of love with, and why he thinks it might be the hardest race in the world to crew. No aid stations, constant leapfrogging, the rulebook, the blinky lights, the penalties, and the reality of managing sleep, food, gas, and ice in Death Valley.

Then we shift to Mammoth 200. What the course was like in year one, why it is going to be a major 200 because of how runnable and crewable it is, and how finishing timing completely changed the race experience once the weather rolled in. Jeff also talks about altitude issues, his first time puking in a race, and how it felt to miss his Badwater goals but still finish and learn something important.

We also get into the filmmaker side, outsourcing rough cuts, what it is like trying to race and produce at the same time, the weirdest things he has done for a shot, and why telling the story can sometimes be the thing that keeps you moving forward. We wrap with what is next for Jeff, including Croatia, Spartathlon, Cape Town, and the always painful lottery season.

This episode of the Free Outside Podcast is brought to you by Janji, Garage Grown Gear, and CS Instant Coffee.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Badwater 135

07:11 The Challenge of Crewing at Badwater

09:57 Logistics and Rules of the Race

13:00 The Unique Terrain and Conditions

16:14 Heat Management Strategies

19:06 Hydration and Sodium Management

22:04 Final Thoughts and Reflections on the Experience

26:45 Testing Limits: Fluid and Electrolyte Management

28:49 Data Collection in Extreme Conditions

31:06 Balancing Filmmaking and Performance

33:41 Lessons from Badwater: Setting Realistic Goals

35:52 Transitioning to Mammoth: New Challenges Ahead

37:06 Experiencing Coca-Dona: A Unique Race

38:26 Mammoth's Inaugural Year: A Mixed Bag

43:45 Resetting Goals: From Badwater to Mammoth

48:01 The Unique Culture of Ultra Running

50:04 The Rise of 200-Mile Races

53:03 Storytelling in Ultra Running

53:39 The Editing Process of Race Films

56:50 Behind the Scenes of Filming Races

01:03:00 Gear Recommendations and Future Plans

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The Month of Jeff continues with another elite Jeff: Jeff Dengate, better known on the internet as @dengatorade. Jeff is the director of product testing and de facto runner in chief at Runner’s World, and one of the most experienced shoe and gear testers in the world. He walks me through how Runner’s World actually tests shoes with hundreds of wear testers, why some products never make it to a review, and how he personally ends up in well over 100 different pairs of shoes every year.

We get into what trust looks like in the age of AI, affiliate links, and endless gear noise, and why having a real human you can bump into at a race still matters. Jeff talks about the changing landscape at Runner’s World, the COVID running boom, how trail and ultra fit into the broader running world, and why the world marathon majors craze is exploding. We cover super shoes, sky high prices, why comfort still rules, why you probably do not need a 300 dollar racer to start running, and yes, we revisit my infamous Runner’s World Crocs 5K headline. We finish with his case for Jeff of the Year, including BQing three times in a year and rotating through more shoes than most runners log runs.

Follow Jeff Dengate: https://www.instagram.com/dengaterade

Show supported by Janji.com, Garagegrowngear.com, and CSinstant.coffee

Chapters

04:00 Introduction to Dengatorade and Running Background

06:54 Role at Runner's World and Product Testing

09:38 The Art of Product Reviews

12:26 Navigating AI in the Running Community

15:08 Revenue Streams and Content Creation at Runner's World

17:50 Understanding Runner's Needs and Popular Topics

20:43 Shoe Testing and Personal Experiences

23:25 Finding the Right Shoe for You

25:59 The Evolution of Running Gear and Nutrition

28:59 Excitement in Running and Gear Unboxing

31:42 Jeff's Unique Journey to the NBA

37:16 The Journey of a Sports Journalist

40:06 Impact of COVID-19 on Running Community

43:33 The Growth of Trail and Ultra Running

48:20 Trends in the Running Industry

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During the Month of Jeff I, sit down with a true Jeff of the Year contender, Jeff Mogavero. We cover a wild range of topics, from his fourth place curse at big races to winning Ultra Trail Cape Town, getting married, and somehow deciding Montana Cup might outrank all of it.

Follow Jeff Mogavero: https://www.instagram.com/jeffmogavero/

Jeff walks through his dirtbag origin story, hitchhiking around the West on almost no money, racing for gas and grocery money, surveying fish and frogs for seasonal biology jobs, and eventually moving to Missoula to see if he could actually make a run at professional trail running. We talk about his Appalachian Trail thru hike, how he ended up with the trail name “Burger King,” his barefoot college phase, and why he once bailed on a “Number One Dad” hat.

Then we get nerdy about performance. Jeff explains the science experiment heat chamber protocol he did for Western States, why he thinks heat training is overrated, and why cooling, ice bandanas, and sun protection are underrated superpowers. We dig into Montana Cup, the quiet training culture in Montana, and why adult cross country with a potluck might be the best event in running.

Of course, as our official Taylor Swift correspondent, Jeff breaks down the new album, the Taylor Swift treadmill workout, and how he ended up in the top 2 percent of her listeners while also growing 25 to 30 pounds of potatoes and going through 100 pounds of flour. We finish with his dramatic finish line collapses, his case for being Jeff of the Year, and why potatoes, leeks, and Swift might be the real performance trifecta.

If you like stories about hitchhiking, dirtbag seasons, science-backed heat preparation, tiny Montana races that mean everything, and a professional runner who is not afraid to be a little dramatic, this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jeff Mogavero

07:30 Racing Highlights and Personal Achievements

10:25 Journey to Becoming a Pro Runner

13:22 Living the Life of a Runner

16:24 Hitchhiking Adventures and Human Connections

19:25 Barefoot Jeff and Life Experiences

22:12 Heat Training Protocols and Strategies

28:20 Cooling Strategies for Racing

34:23 Philosophy on Training and Performance

41:35 The Importance of Training and Recovery

44:24 Taylor Swift: The Soundtrack to Training

52:21 The Role of a Good Coach

56:22 Trail Names and Their Stories

01:01:22 Dramatic Finishes and Personal Reflections

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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

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