In this episode, ultra-endurance athlete Lucja Leonard recounts her transformative experience running the Arizona Monster 300, a race that pushed her beyond her limits. She talks about her essential strategies for success in ultra-running, including the importance of sleep, hydration, nutrition, and terrain research. Lucja highlights how positive self-talk, mental resilience, and a supportive community played key roles in overcoming physical and emotional challenges. Her journey from a non-athlete to a seasoned ultra-runner offers inspiration and practical insights for anyone facing extreme endurance events. The episode also explores recovery as a vital skill, the inevitability of problem-solving, and how embracing discomfort fuels personal growth. Lucja’s story is a testament to the mindset and preparation required for ultra-endurance success.

Links to learn more about Lucja:

• Running Dutchie - coaching, speaking, etc
• Finding Gobi
• EP 706: Running Through Adversity to Find Joy - Episode with Lucja's husband, Dion and their dog, Gobi.

Episode Sponsors:

• Janji, Use code TRAILRUNNER for 10% off
• Peluva, 15% off with code TRAILRUNNER
• Liquid IV, get 20% off your first order with code TRAILRUNNER
• Wonderful Pistachios
• Oikos Triple Zero
• FREE! Trail Runner Nation's Trail Triage app

In this episode of Trail Runner Nation, we explore the gritty world of endurance sports with ultrarunner and guest Shannon Hogan, author of The Unforgiving Hours: the Grit, Resilience, and Perseverance at the Heart of Endurance Sports. The conversation weaves through incredible feats like the Boston Double—an underground marathon challenge—and the icy realm of cold water swimming, examining the physical and mental resilience these sports demand. Shannon shares powerful stories from her book, reminding us that endurance is less about podiums and more about perseverance, preparation, and inner drive. They highlight the deeply personal nature of endurance, the role of community support, and the importance of capturing these stories to honor the athletes who quietly push human limits. From ice swims to last-second finishes, this episode celebrates the toughness and inspiration found in every athlete’s journey.

Episode Sponsors:

• Janji, Use code TRAILRUNNER for 10% off
• Ketone IQ, Get 30% off your first subscription order
• Tifosi Optics 20% off with code TRN
• UCAN, click on the link to claim the exclusive offer and save 20% on your entire order with code TRN
• Oikos Triple Zero
• FREE! Trail Runner Nation's Trail Triage app

To really understand who we are as a running community—What drives us, what connects us, and why we keep pushing our limits, we have to look back. Long before ultras, Strava segments, or finish-line belt buckles, there was pedestrianism—a 19th-century spectacle where athletes raced for six days straight inside smoky arenas, cheered on by thousands.

Our resident ultrarunning historian, Davy Crockett, is back to introduce us to one of the most unforgettable figures from that era. Peter Napoleon Campana—better known as Old Sport. Davy just published another book, Old Sport Campana: Ultrarunning;s Most Popular and Amusing 19th Century Runner in his historical series that brings Campana’s story to life and helps us explore what it reveals about the roots of our sport—and why looking back just might help us better understand who we are today.

Links to check out:

• Grand Canyon History
• Ultrarunning History Podcast
• American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame

Episode Sponsors:

• Janji, Use code TRAILRUNNER for 10% off
• Peluva, 15% off with code TRAILRUNNER
• Shokz, Use code TRN10 for 10% off
• Wonderful Pistachios
• Oikos Triple Zero
• FREE! Trail Runner Nation's Trail Triage app