This week on Weathering The Run, we welcome Bob Becker—ultrarunner, race director, and all-around inspiration. Bob recently made history as the oldest official finisher of the Badwater 135, crossing the world's toughest ultramarathon at age 80, earning him a new age category and a place in Badwater lore.

Beyond his Badwater feat, Bob wears many hats:

-Race Director of iconic ultramarathons:

• The Keys 100 — a 100-mile point-to-point from Key Largo to Key West

• The Daytona 100 — a coastal 100-mile race along Florida’s ocean roads

-Holder of age-group and race records, such as 167.5 miles in a 48-hour fixed-time event

In our conversation, Bob shares:

-What it takes to finish Badwater at 80—including training strategies, mental grit, and his steadfast crew.

-His insights on organizing and directing challenging ultramarathons.

-Wisdom on what age—and experience—bring to running—and never letting go of the goal.

This is a great conversation with Hannah McCorkle. She helps lead Columbus’s Marathoner-in-Training (MIT) program at Fleet Feet, a program guiding over 700 runners toward half and full marathon goals. Hannah lives her life with the mantra of "Change Your Life, One Mile at a Time." She is also diving deeper with personal coaching for female athletes. She is helping them reach their full potential using philosophies that power her approach: building community, resilience, and smart consistency.

📲 Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: @runnerwithmoxie

• Learn more about MIT (Marathoner‑in‑Training): Marathoner-in-Training Program

In this episode of Weathering The Run, we chat with Sarah Biehl, a powerhouse trail and ultra runner originally from Ohio, but now residing in Colorado. After a stellar college running career, Sarah has made waves in ultras: capturing titles like the 2024 Gorge Waterfalls 50K champion and 6th female at The Canyons by UTMB. Her journey, from sprinting in high school to earning her stripes in the JFK 50 and beyond, is defined by resilience, smart racing, and gritty consistency.

📲 Connect with Sarah:

• Instagram: @biehlharas

• Strava: Sarah Biehl

In this episode of Weathering The Run, I sit down with rising Ohio ultra star Alec Cline, a runner who’s been on an absolute tear this year, including a podium finish (3rd place) at the notoriously brutal Georgia Death Race. I first crossed paths with Alec at the Ohio Backyard Ultra, but our interview got delayed… and in hindsight, I’m glad it did because nearly every race since then, Alec has won.

We dive into Alec’s training mindset, his rapid climb in the ultra scene, and his upcoming race calendar, including:

• 🏃‍♂️ Burning River 100 – July 26, 2025

• 🏞️ Bob's Big Timber Backyard Ultra – Aug 2, 2025

• ⛰️ Tuscazoar Endurance Race (100 miler) – Aug 30, 2025

• ⏱️ NEO24 (24-hour race, Oct 4, 2025) – Goal: 140+ miles

Alec shares three keys to his training success:

1. Make Wednesdays Hard – Midweek 20-milers to boost volume early

2. Insert Fun – “We get to do this”—find joy in the process

3. Consistency – Show up, even when you don’t feel like it

His grit and gratitude are contagious, and this conversation is a must-listen for anyone chasing big goals or needing a push through the daily grind.

🔗 Follow Alec’s journey:

Instagram: @alec_k_cline

Strava: Alec on Strava

🎧 Who You’ll Hear:

Larry O’Neill — Associate Professor and Oregon State Climatologist specializing in air–sea interactions and Pacific Northwest weather, offers an expert forecast for this year’s race.

Ashlyn Culbertson — A high school running coach, drawn #75 on the Western States Endurance Run waitlist, currently with just 19 runners ahead of her, shares her experience and hopes for joining the starting line.

Some topics:

-Insights on temperature, high country storms, and fire risk heading into the race.

-Historical drought, heatwaves, and how climate patterns are shifting.

-Social dynamics and emotions around being near the front of the waitlist.

-Running strategies for tough weather conditions and preparing mentally when you’re on the cusp.

-What the weather is likely to be during this year’s Western States.

-The lived experience of waitlisted runners and the emotional rollercoaster as race day nears.

Follow the guests:

Larry O’Neill on X (formerly Twitter): @laoneill25

Ash Culbertson on Strava): ⁠Ash's Strava

In this episode of Weathering The Run, we sit down with Paul Johnson—a former Naval officer turned ultrarunner who’s not only run across the United States but also set a world record by completing 100 miles in Antarctica in under 24 hours.

Paul shares how running became his outlet for managing anxiety and depression after his military service. We discuss his 2024 transcontinental run, where he covered over 3,000 miles in just over 51 days, raising more than $500,000 for Team Red, White & Blue, a nonprofit supporting veterans' mental and physical health.

Now based in California, Paul is embracing new challenges, including mountain running, and continues to advocate for mental health awareness.

Connect with Paul:

• Website: pauljohnson.run

• Instagram: @pauijohnson

• YouTube: Paul Johnson

Learn more about Team Red, White & Blue: teamrwb.org

Watch Paul's Antarctica 100-Mile World Record Run: YouTube Video

Tune in to hear Paul's inspiring journey and how he's using endurance sports to make a difference.

This year is the 45th running of the Columbus Marathon and it was great to catch up with the race director, Darris Blackford. He has run more than 200 marathons and other ultramarathons. I have been wanting to have Darris on since his wife, Star Blackford, was on Episode 3 of Weathering The Run. We chatted a lot about the ins and outs of race directing and then about his extensive experience of running through dangerously cold conditions along with running across Death Valley during Badwater. If you are interested in running the 45th Columbus Marathon, be sure to sign up before it sells out!

Matt Chilcote, or "Chilly", got into running just a few years ago, but has already completed several 100 mile races. He has also completed the Midwest Grand Slam of 100 milers. Running started as a way to keep him and his friend accountable, but it quickly escalated. He has some great stories to share about his experience running in some intense weather. Follow along Matt's journey, on ⁠his Strava⁠. He is also part of Team Heart and Sole, which helps provide inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities, their families and friends, to participate in endurance racing events across Ohio.