This week's episode is live from the LA Spartan Sprint at Castaic Lake last Saturday! I spoke with Ryan Kent, Veejay Jones, James Nair, Timmie Brann, Lauren Taksa, and Natalie Miano all about the race, the competition, and what their goals are for the 2018 season.
Elite Podium:
1st: Timmie Brann & Veejay Jones
2nd: Natalie Miano & Ryan Kent
3rd: Lauren Taksa & James Nair
This week, Green Beret Challenge Pro Team member Deborah "Debo" Arrieta joins me on the podcast to talk all about the Green Beret Challenge and their upcoming championship race next summer, and what she's been doing to prepare for the Spartan Ultra World Championship in Iceland next weekend.
We start by talking all about the Green Beret Challenge, from their race formats to what sets them apart from other OCRs. We also talk about their recently announced championship race happening next July.
We then talk about Spartan's new 24-hour championship race happening in Iceland next weekend. We talk about everything from the format to the rules, and Debo shares how she has been preparing for this race in particular, and what sort of cold weather gear she'll be bringing. We also discuss the age old debate of burpees versus mandatory completion, and the pros and cons of both.
Voting for Mud Run Guide's Best of OCR awards is now open, and Overcome and Run has been nominated for Best OCR podcast!! Voting ends on December 15th, so please be sure to head over there and vote!
This week, Yancy Camp athlete Beni Gifford joins me on the podcast to talk all about The Warrior Race in South Africa, Tough Mudder X, and why the mental game is so important to your race.
We start by talking all about the Warrior Race, from the format, to the obstacles, to why he considers it one of the most difficult races he's ever ran. He shares his experience and talks about his 5th place finish in the Black Ops race, what is what like to be the first international athlete to complete the course, and what the competition was like.
We also go into Tough Mudder X: Beni tells us about his experience at the debut event last July, and we discuss what the future of TMX will look like as it opens up to the general public in 2018.
Lastly, Beni talks about why he prefers short courses, which leads us into into a discussion about mental strategy and why it's so important to your race.
The book Beni referred to is The Science of Running.
After running World's Toughest Mudder myself, I was able to grab some live interviews at the Champions Brunch the Monday morning following the event.
I spoke with Wesley Kerr, Rea Kolbl, Deanna Blegg, Allison Tai, Ryan Atkins, Kris Mendoza and Austin Azar, and Will Dean himself. We talk about everything from the course, to the competition, to the highs and lows of the 24-hour race. I also kick off this episode by recapping a few of my own thoughts about my race.
Will Hicks gives a short recap of the WTM winners in his latest episode of the World's Toughest Podcast here.
Mud Run Guide has opened nominations for the Best of OCR Awards, and we would love it if you voted Overcome and Run for Best OCR podcast! You can submit your nominations here.
This week, I got the opportunity to head up to Thousand Oaks, California to check out DojoBoom, the new trampoline park that just opened last week and that's managed by Kevin Bull, a well-known competitor from American Ninja Warrior.
After a tour of the gym (and the chance to play around on the climbing wall and the Ninja rig), I sat down with Kevin to ask him about American Ninja Warrior and his run that launched him into national attention, his experience on two seasons of Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge, and all about DojoBoom.
I also documented my gym tour on Obstacle Racing Media's Instagram story, and I posted the whole video on our website!
With World's Toughest Mudder only nine days away, this week's episode(s) are dedicated to Tough Mudder's pinnacle 24-hour event. From discussing the top competition, to tips, to the mindset needed to complete the grueling 24 hours, I brought in five experienced World's Toughest Mudder competitors to share their thoughts about this event.
In Part two, I talk to Kris Mendoza, Will Hicks, and Amanda "Pinky" Neil.
Kris is an elite OCR athlete who placed 3rd at World's Toughest Mudder in 2016 with 100 miles. Kris and I discuss the upcoming WTM move, he talks about his switch from a two-person team to a relay team and we talk about the relay format overall. We also chat about the community on the course, variety in OCR, and Kris shares how WTM got him launched into OCR, his biggest challenge at WTM, and how it felt to hit 100 miles last year.
Will Hicks is a WTM veteran and expert, and the host of the World's Toughest Podcast. He's been following the Toughest competition closely leading up to World's Toughest Mudder, so we discuss the elite competition and his predictions for the top contenders. We also talk about the overall atmosphere of WTM, how to push past the dark moments out on the course, goals, and he shares some last-minute tips.
Amanda "Pinky" Neil is a 4-time WTM veteran and a well-known figure in the community (and the first one to provide us with her version of puzzle pieces this year). We talk about all sorts of tips, from shoes to wetsuits to pit stops, as well as talk about how she got started with WTM, and she reminisces on past years. We also talk about the contender category, how WTM has changed over the years, and teamwork on the course.
With World's Toughest Mudder only nine days away, this week's episode(s) are dedicated towards Tough Mudder's pinnacle 24-hour event. From discussing the top competition, to tips, to the mindset needed to complete the grueling 24 hours, I brought in five experienced World's Toughest Mudder competitors to share their thoughts about this event.
They had so much to share, I went and split the episode into two parts. Part one features two elite OCR athletes, Allison Tai and Evan Perperis.
Allison is an elite OCR athlete who is leading in Tough Mudder's competitive series, and was a runner-up at World's Toughest Mudder in 2014. I talk with Allison about her experience running the Tougher wave in Las Vegas last weekend (where she placed 4th), how Toughest has helped prepare for WTM, and how she trains and gets through this 24-hour event.
Evan is a frequent flier on our show: he is an experienced elite OCR athlete who created team Strength & Speed (they also have a podcast), is a part of the Conquer the Gauntlet Pro Team, and finished 8th last year at WTM with 90 miles. He also writes articles for Mud Run Guide, two of which we reference during his interview:
Five Ways Toughest Mudder Will Change World's Toughest Mudder
Inflated Expectations: What Toughest Mudders Need to Know About World's Toughest Mudder
Evan and I talk about what sets Toughest Mudder apart from other 8-hour races, we speculate on the future of WTM given the rise of other 24-hour events (and about other 24-hour events in general), and discuss knowing your limit.
It's a long one, but full of some great information!
Heather headed up to the Blue Mountains in Canada last weekend for the OCR World Championships, and got a ton of great content while she was there! This week's episode is a compilation of interviews from the weekend (in chronological order), including interviews with:
-Adrian Bijanada
-Vincent Larochelle
-Mark Batres
-Natalie Miano
-Lindsay Webster
-Josh Stryde
-Ryan Woods
-Hunter McIntyre
-Jonathan Albon
-the Mudstacle Machines
-Team Sweden
We also have photos from the 3k competition on our Facebook page, and we'll have a review out early next week!
This week, Spartan Pro athlete Rea Kolbl joins Heather on the podcast to talk all about Spartan, her training, and the United States Obstacle Course Racing Championships (USOCRC) that hosted their inaugural event in Texas last weekend.
Rea shares her experiences from being a Spartan Pro team member, talks about her training and how she maintains her elite level of competition (all while earning her PhD), and all about her experience at USOCRC: the obstacles, the terrain, the biggest challenges and the most fun parts of the course.
We also talk about looking ahead to the Spartan World Championship in Tahoe in a few weeks, and the other races on her bucket list. And lastly, Rea shares her biggest challenges currently in races, and what she's doing to overcome them.
Dan "Nitro" Clark joins us on the podcast this week to talk all about his race, Gladiator Rock'n Run, and his new book F*CK DYING.
Dan talks all about Gladiator Rock'n Run; its format, its history, and what sets his race apart from other OCRs. We then talk about his new book, F*CK DYING, and the lessons he learned from facing death and recovering after a heart attack. We talk about gratification versus gratitude, finding the wins, and what it takes to live a happier, more fulfilled life.
You can find more information on the Kickstarter campaign for F*CK DYING here.
Live from Huntington Beach, CA, Heather grabbed interviews from EPIC staff and elite athletes, and she gives her own thoughts on her first EPIC Series race. She interviewed Veronika Reinert, Bryan "TheGinger" Tremaine, Marc Montano, Robin Legat, and Hugo Frausto all about the unique race series that unites functional fitness with OCR.
We are partners with Icebug to get you a discount on your next pair! Use head over to Icebug.com and use code OVERCEOME12 to save 20%!
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
This week, Heather spoke with Sara Knight, an elite OCR athlete who placed second at last year's World's Toughest Mudder, 6th at the Spartan Race World Championships last year, and has run every Toughest Mudder race so far this year.
Sara talks all about Toughest Mudder: the differences between each one, what she liked and didn't like, and how she was able to stay healthy and at an elite level between each one.
Sara also talks about her experience with WTM, and her goals for this year. Together Heather and Sara discuss the other 24-hour races that are debuting, and Sara shares what motivates her to keep going in OCR and why she loves the sport.
We are partners with Icebug to get you a discount on your next pair! Use head over to Icebug.com and use code OVERCEOME12 to save 20%!
Evan Perperis sent us his book “Strength & Speed's Guide to Elite Obstacle Course Racing” to check out. We will read it and get back to you with some additional details. In the meantime, head on over to teamstrengthspeed.com and check out their new podcast or order the book.
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
In this episode I talk to running coach Dennis Welch. We talk about his background in running, how he got into OCR and how he got became a running coach. Dennis is the running coach behind the Endurance Project and helps OCR athletes achieve their running goals.
He talks about what realistic timeframes are for improvement and how or if you could expect to hit a podium. We go on to talk about what a running coach could do for you as an athlete and if 180 steps a minute while running is really as important as you might have heard.
We are partners with Icebug to get you a discount on your next pair! Use head over to Icebug.com and use code OVERCEOME12 to save 20%!
Evan Perperis sent us his book “Strength & Speed's Guide to Elite Obstacle Course Racing” to check out. We will read it and get back to you with some additional details. In the meantime, head on over to teamstrengthspeed.com and check out their new podcast or order the book.
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
Wesley Kerr joins Jay on the podcast to talk all about Toughest LA and most recently, Canada's Toughest Mudder in Whistler. They discuss the upcoming Tough Mudder X competition as well, and Wesley talks about how he fuels during those races, and how he trains. Wesley also shares why he sticks primarily to Tough Mudder.
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
This week we talk to Timmie Brann, owner and founder of RUT Camp and elite OCR athlete, with a number of Spartan podiums under her belt. She talks about how her career as a coach got her started with OCR, and how she adjusted her own training to hit the podium.
We talk about endurance races, interval training, and she shares advice for those looking to up their OCR game. Timmie also tells us all about RUT Camp: how it started, who it's for, and what it's all about.
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
Heather brings Conquer the Gauntlet Pro Team member Ashley Samples back on the show to talk all about her return to OCR and the podium after her time away while she was pregnant with her son. Ashley shares what it was like to be on the sidelines during that time, and the unique experience that it was. She talks about the challenges of returning to OCR after pregnancy, and the lessons she learned in that return.
They also talk about long courses versus short courses, and debate mandatory obstacle completion versus burpees. They discuss Conquer the Gauntlet, Ashley shares her upcoming race schedule, and we briefly touch on Dustin Radney's excellent photoshop skills.
We just partnered with Icebug to get you a discount on your next pair! Use head over to Icebug.com and use code OVERCEOME12 to save 20%!
Evan Perperis sent us his book “Strength & Speed's Guide to Elite Obstacle Course Racing” to check out. We will read it and get back to you with some additional details. In the meantime, head on over to teamstrengthspeed.com and check out their new podcast or order the book.
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
Last weekend Heather drove up to Monterey to cover the Golden State Classic, the second race in Spartan's U.S. Championship series. She interviewed winners Hobie Call, Nicole Mericle, as well as Hunter McIntyre, Amelia Boone, and many others. The athletes share their experience with the race, their thoughts on the competition, and what they're looking forward to in their next race.
We just partnered with Icebug to get you a discount on your next pair! Use head over to Icebug.com and use code OVERCEOME12 to save 20%!
Evan Perperis sent us his book “Strength & Speed's Guide to Elite Obstacle Course Racing” to check out. We will read it and get back to you with some additional details. In the meantime, head on over to teamstrengthspeed.com and check out their new podcast or order the book.
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
This week we brought Jacob Bosecker of BROCR to talk all about what's new with BROCR, and their upcoming plans for the year. Jacob talks about his past experience as a sprinter, and what it's like for a sprinter to train for and run an Ultra Beast. Jay and Jacob also talk all about what's new in OCR, and the benefits of short courses versus long courses.
In this episode of The Coach Pain Experience, Coach Pain and Jay discuss discipline: what it means in your life, how to be disciplined and the benefits it’ll have in your life.
Enjoy this weekly Wednesday motivation, and get out there and be disciplined.
We just partnered with Icebug to get you a discount on your next pair! Use head over to Icebug.com and use code OVERCEOME20 to save 20%!
Evan Perperis sent us his book “Strength & Speed's Guide to Elite Obstacle Course Racing” to check out. We will read it and get back to you with some additional details. In the meantime, head on over to teamstrengthspeed.com and check out their new podcast or order the book.
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
In this episode, we talk to Tim Sinnett, the man behind Race Sherpa and Race Sherpa Rises. You may have also seen him around the races helping Rose Wetzel and the other top elites. Tim is a wealth of knowledge about OCR and we were excited to dig into the sport with him.
We start by talking about USAOCR and some facts and myths about the race. We dig deep into the importance of short courses in OCR, and how the sport is simultaneously going in 2 directions at the same time. Tim breaks down for us the top competition this year and who to look for throughout the year.
We just partnered with Icebug to get you a discount on your next pair! Use head over to Icebug.com and use code OVERCEOME12 to save 20%!
Evan Perperis sent us his book “Strength & Speed's Guide to Elite Obstacle Course Racing” to check out. We will read it and get back to you with some additional details. In the meantime, head on over to teamstrengthspeed.com and check out their new podcast or order the book.
Make sure you are following everything we are doing by taking a look at our Instagram, Facebook and joining our mailing list!
This week we're talking to BONEFROG founder and CEO Brian Carney! We talk about the new BONEFROG Endurance challenge and the thoughts behind its creation and design, and the plans for its debut in New England this weekend. We also talk more about BONEFROG’s obstacles, course design and the addition of Norm Koch, and Brian shares his favorite BONEFROG courses. We also talk about future plans for BONEFROG, and Heather asks if we’ll see it out on the west coast any time soon.
Procrastination is the assassination of your motivation.
In this episode of The Coach Pain Experience, Coach Pain and Heather discuss procrastination: where it comes from, what it looks like, and how heavily it can impact you. Coach talks about finding your motivation and using it to push you to the level you want to be at, and then even further.
Be sure to follow along every Wednesday for the newest episodes of this series - they're short, to the point, and excellent for some midweek motivation!
Heather shares her thoughts on the Spartan Beast in Montana, and grabbed some live interviews while she was there. She spoke with Faye Stenning, Alyssa Hawley, Rea Kolbl, Austin Azar and Cole Schwartz about how their races went, and their thoughts on the course and the competition.
We spoke with elite OCR competitor and author of the book Nutrition for the OCR Athlete: Laying out the details and strategies to help remove the guess work from your diet.
He tells us about some must have supplements, and things we should be taking pre and post workout or race. He talks about ways to sort through the junk online and find out what is really good for you regarding supplements.
Josh also shares with us the reason behind why pro athletes can get away with eating more junk food than the rest of us, but still be competitive. He also talks about some best practices of how to maintain good pre-race nutrition while traveling.
What makes you so special?
In the latest episode of the Coach Pain Experience, Coach Pain and Heather discuss what that question really means, what indeed makes you special, and taking your unique qualities to impact the lives of others.
Be sure to follow along every Wednesday for the newest episodes of this series - they're short, to the point, and excellent for some midweek motivation!