I've been a fat drug addict alcoholic for most of my life. All of a sudden I had beaten my alcoholism, sought help for my drug addiction and I started to run. Running has saved my life. I have been tea total for 3 years. I run.
As an ultrarunner with an autoimmune disease, I do it because I know that my time is probably more limited than most. I want to get the most out of life and see what my body can take before I no longer have that luxury.
“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” -Socrates
Have you looked into going low carb and/or higher fat? Studies have shown it to help with metabolic health and autoimmune issues! Best of luck to you, friend, and prayers from me :)
All the debate here around the negative health implications of ultra running are interesting. I'm no expert but my take is two fold: 1) I'll take the quality of life and health risks associated with being very active vs the health impacts of a sedentary lifestyle any day. 2) Physical health is only one aspect. I find myself mentally healthier and happier the more I run/train/race. For me that type of benefit outweighs any unproven physical risks.
@Super Durden The health risks of ultra marathon running are far from unproven. People literally pee black sledge during the races. If we were talking about marathon running, I would agree with you. But ultra marathon running is on a completely different level.
Super Durden It’s a false dichotomy to weigh ultra running with a sedentary lifestyle, no one in their right mind would suggest doing nothing is better than someone running a 100 miles. I’ve ran my whole life - it never once crossed my mind to run more than 20 miles, ever. A hundred miles of running seems pretty novel, but it’s not the wisest thing to focus on long term. Long term ultra running is a solidified way to increase inflammation in the body.
why is it sedentary v ultra marathon type exercise? Those are two extremes. Ultra marathoners can do what they want. But the medical evidence is that it does do damage to your body. Running for 1 hour 3 to 4 times a week is probably healthier. But it's a free country.
It's also worth noting that potentially fatal health risks surrounded by things like distance running only make the headlines because they are incredibly rare. The reason we don't read "10,000 people dropped dead today aged 55 because of massive heart attacks caused by a lifetime of eating crap and zero activity" is because its so incredibly common it's sadly not even newsworthy. This means that the health risks associated with things like long distance running get a more intense amount of publicity.
Whenever I hear about ultra marathon runners I think about Terry Fox (Canadian hero for anyone who doesn’t know him). He ran a marathon every day for over 3000 miles in total. With 1 leg. And Cancer.
So what, Aidan! Twinkies and Coke kick ass! If life is about running around like a retard to support this psychotic drive to have ideal health... screw it... I'd rather just be dead. I'll take the Twinkies and Coke and enjoy my time here, while you sweat for nothing just to make it to 90, or older. Some reward. Being old is awful. Talk to old people.
@Daniel Giummule Calm down. I wasn't being completely serious. But please... never call me a liberal. That's the most offensive thing anyone could ever say to me. A liberal? Huh? Me? No way!
@@mickobrien3156 I'd imagine it's more about achievement my friend not everything is about health, running long distances isn't really the beneficial for your body
Lets not forget Zach went on a year later to break and hold the new 100 mile record on track. The man is superhuman, it's nice and humbling he considers himself "an average runner" but he is truly an animal!!!
Zach was my high school cross country coach for 2 years in 2014-2015 in Wisconsin. Great guy and absolutely an animal. He would always do our cross country workouts with us and then just keep going when we were gassed.
He is 100% right. I never ran as much as 20 miles. Most I ran was 8 miles, yet I could only run 5-6 miles on the track before wanting to quit. Having a trail is so much better mentally than a track. A track really plays games with your mind when you’re on a track, yet it’s easier to count down from the amount of rounds you need to do, which helps.
So let me understand. Ultra runners claim they are though mentally which allows them to run 100 k or wahtever but at the same time not able to run 10 miles on a track? So they not thought at all.
Distance running is the cheapest form of therapy. Running races you don't know you can complete and reaching a stage of you don't think you can go on grows you as a person. For me it helps me connect with people that have passed like my brother, I chat with him in my mind and he gets me to the finish
I carry a photo of my dead dad in my race vest when shit gets hard looking at that photo gets me moving cause I know he watching saying get to that finish line
Peter Griffin I haven’t run into that problem... could just be due to lack of conditioning? Ive always been on my feet for work or walking from point a to point b my feet have always been calloused
Peter Griffin it’s honestly a mind set man I started at 260 only able to run 2 miles one day I just ate the pain and pushed to 5 miles now I’m putting on at least 10 a day once you run a mile past that pain you’ll not feel it anymore and the power of pushing through that pain the feeling of satisfaction to to hurt from putting in so much work that your body knows your done trust me man pushing to that 7 or 8 th mile will be life changing for you stay hard brotha wishing you luck !
@M. R. From your experience? I challenge you to keep moving at a 7 to 13 min mile for 4 hours much less 12, 24 or 36 hours. with 36k of elevation change..no one claims "non stop" running. elites are running 50 miles in 5 hours 100 in under 14 at elevation...yeah, no big deal because they walked a little up a 10k foot tall mountain a couple times.....lol
I did the Marathon des Sables in 2019, it was the most grueling, painful, awful, uncomfortable experience I've ever had to go through. And and the end of the finish line I had the most amount of energy and exhilaration I've ever felt in my entire life, literally was high for days after coming home.
Just ran my 3rd marathon this past weekend! I’m addicted. I may not be very fast but I love it! Doing a second trail marathon in November. So excited- want to quit my job so I can run all day, but I can’t afford that unfortunately.
As a long distance runner, I feel that the folks I have run with, you have to have gone through some form of trauma and you use that fuel to do one of these runs. When I get asked this I always respond, if I can survive my traumatic childhood, running 50-200 mile races is no big deal. Does it hurt? Heck yeah but at least you know the race will end. Plus it gives you an insight into your character and who you are when you are stripped down.
I used to be a pretty good trail runner. I can say that there is almost no greater feeling than the feeling you have when you can run up a mountain or run 40 miles through the mountains and not feel tired. You start to feel like an animal, such as a deer. I still do it, but not as much as I used to....try it!
I love this thought. I'll add to this thought. There is nothing like running for several hours along a ridge of mountains overlooking fine scenery and taking it all in for 10-20-30+ miles and knowing that YOU obtained those views and that experience with your own two feet. Sure you could see the same sights in plane or helicopter or drone, is it the same really? I don't think so. You are right. You feel like an animal maybe and the natural world becomes exhilarating. It's literally an adventure that unless you have done it you don't know how ALIVE it makes you feel.
My wife was going for her 3rd attempt at Badwater 135 in Death Valley in July, then COVID hit and the race was cancelled. One year of training. What a let down. She's done about 170 miles in less than 3 days in Armenia and 178 miles in the Grand to Grand race over a 6 day stage race. It's insane what ultrarunners put their bodies through. And, apparently, many ultrarunners are recovering drug addicts who are looking for a new level to put their body through in terms of range of emotion. Imagine no sleep for 24-48 hours straight, constant running and eating. And in Death Valley it can get anywhere between 120 and 130 degrees.
recovering alcoholic here, this is very true. this is the safest way to get high. I'm just starting though with the running. Nevertheless, I will keep going.
I’m training for my first marathon and typically stick to flat roads when training, but he makes a good point about it localizing your muscles. I’ve gotta star trail running and get the muscles used to the incline/decline variations. Great interview
Its fucking retarded. We don't bat an eye at people who are 70 lbs. overweight. But we chastise a guy who is probably only 10-20 lbs lighter than what doctors consider to be healthy. He'll probably out live all those fat people but we judge him because he's different.
The fact that his looks come off as unhealthy( to some)is proof enough that our perception of health is twisted. This is the human being that can cover 100 miles/12 hours time greater than anyone in human history. Kardashian ~era thinking.
Best thing about ultrarunning Ive found is the people. I always find interesting people to talk to, who've often travelled from across the world to be there. They're more chatty occasions than short distances. When I did a 24 hour race on a 1 mile loop, I was chatting to people most of the way round. Of course with ultras on trails you can end up on your own for hours so good playlists are important
The greatest ultra marathon runner of all time Yiannis Kouros didnt do any long training runs. I think he trained under 20 miles for training. He doesnt see that it is about how good a runner you are. He sees it as how strong you are mentally. Maybe that is why he was so good.
Yiannis Kouros from Greece, was an ultra marathon runner that still holds multiple records (since the 80s) for 1,000 mile, 1,000 km and more. It's mind blowing.
I've never done ultra long distance but I agree, distance running sucks you in. It's addicting in a very weird way. I haven't ran competitively in 6 years but don't go more than a few days at most without running still
The difference in surface really does make a difference- after my first road marathon: couldn't walk for days. First trail marathon: I was completely fine because of the varied terrain, softer ground and slower pace.
There’s something about endurance.... I’m nowhere near this guy’s pace, but I can tell you there’s something mentally challenging yet so rewarding when you complete long distances. And a lot of people who’ve never run more than a few km’d don’t really get it - they can’t comprehend huge distances.
Thanks for sharing this! I've done 20 marathons so far (26.2 miles) but, no ultras. I look forward to doing my first. It's just for my middle aged ego!😅(mid 50s now). Happy trails, folks! 🙂👋🏽👨🏽⚕️🏞️🏃🏽♂️
20 marathons is incredible well done 👏🏼 I’ve just got back into running for the first time in 3 years (27 years old). 10k - 53:30 13.8k - 1:12 14.05k - 1:09 19.01k - 1:38 21.13k - 1:49 22.5k - 2:00 These are my distances and times starting from March and I try get a 5k in every Wednesday doing the long distance run every Friday. Do you have any tips for someone like myself who wants to get to a marathon followed by an ultra? I’m a total novice so any advice would be great 👍🏼 The 22.5k was the longest distance and time I’d ever ran and boy did my legs feel it after 😅
Having done 100 miles both on track and trails - he is so right about the difference! The mental piece is huge - on track you can (and should) distract yourself and become disconnected and go on auto-pilot, otherwise everything will hurt. On trails, you have to stay somewhat present and focused on footing otherwise you'll face plant - but it provides distraction from the pain and keeps you going. Personally, the monotony of track kills me, and I don't think I'll ever do that again...
It really is though. Had friends who were runners so I started to. First day I ren for 7 minutes and that was it. I felt shame how out of shape I was. Started running 2x a day. Before and after work. When I first made it to 2 hours but still felt like I could go on,that's when I had my first runners high. You are literarly high on life. Weird thing happens.
@@armin38822 I’m currently getting fit for the army, and I had my first runners high yesterday. I’ve only been running for 2 months. Used to do drugs in the past and it feels quite the same. I used to HATE running but now I’m addicted to it hahaha.
@@yora7261 I always say to people that the hardest part of running is the first month or even two. If you are able to constantly push trough that start you will eventually reach a point where you enjoy running more and more. I had to stop since my heels got messed up so I swithched more to gym workouts. And yes runners high is a real thing. I had the same expirence in the gym though. I was working,working,workikg but was always kinda ona the same level. Then one day I walk into the gym. After work,didn't get enough of sleep...I was lookin forward to a bad work out. But boy was I wrong. In 1 day I made a huge break trough and literarly increased the workout for the addtional 30-40 %. Felt high righ there...
I’m no ultra runner or even a great athlete. But like Joe said, it’s the accomplishment, for me. I did a few MS150 bike rides. And I’ll never forget the first one where I got injured on day 2, but pushed through the pain and finished. As soon as I got in the medical tent and got ice on my knee, I lost it and bawled uncontrollably. There’s nothing like a good cry!
I have run several 5-6+ hour trail runs, and one formal 36-mile trail ultramarathon. Only the elite run all of the courses. The middle-pack people like me walk (hike) all the uphills, and run only the flats and the downs. It is time on feet for most middle packers, not speed. It is never about speed. An average finish time of a 50-mile trail ultramarathon can be 14 minute miles.
3:53 so true, I used to get defeated by a quarter of a mile but then I joined the gym and worked out on my cardio. Then a quarter mile turned to half a mile, a mile 2, 3, 4, then 6, 7.5, 12.5 and my current p.r. is 20.5 miles non stop. When I was breaking my 12.5 mile p.r. at mile 16 I wanted to give up because my ankles we're killing me but then the pain went numb and I made it to 20 miles non stop. Now I want to train to run a marathon. 💯 I Want to be a pro boxer who wins running ironman marathons.
If you can run 20.5 nonstop then you could register for a 50k (30.1 mile) little babie ultramarathon and knock it out. Just pace yourself. It would be cool accomplishment for you.
As a runner I can confirm that most people pretend it’s unhealthy so they don’t have to face their laziness. If you’re running and consuming a sufficient amount of nutritious food to go along with your activity level, most people will benefit significantly from what running offers. That all said, visually this guy looks like he needs to consume more food.
@Joe Greene Well obviously hes not lacking key vitamins and minerals because if he was he wouldnt be able to train and win the way he does. He obviously has it all covered and very well too judging by his record. He runs a lot of miles, hes going to be lean no matter what diet hes on.
You really need to do some research. As a runner I go on 10 mile runs and do speed workouts DESPITE the negative health effects. I would run longer, and I would run faster, but I care more about longevity. Maybe to you, running long distances is worth losing 10 years on your life, for me, I love it, but not more than my life. It's very bad on your heart to push your body so hard. It's recommended to not go more than 5-6 miles, and around 15 miles a week, beyond that and you are harming your body.
By the way most educated runners (not you clearly), including this guy, are well aware of how bad ultra running is for their health. They do it in spite of the negative health effects. Watch enough interviews from these guys, and all of them admit it might be good for you mentally, but it's horrible for you physically in nearly every way possible.
Chris Kelley Sorry, I am calling BS on your recommended miles/miles a week. Credible peer reviewed and scientific sources please. Never heard of such a thing. thx
If you really want to up your game for race day or in general cross train by sprinting stairs, start with 30 min and then move on to an hour of up and down.. non stop. Watch what happens to your runs after that. Pretty incredible.
I read about the race he talks about at 08:10 in The Rise of Ultrarunners by Adharanand Finn. It was in the late 1800s that six-day race contests were held at huge indoor tracks in London or Madison Square Garden (in NY). 6 days because it was the longest you could walk or run without encroaching on the Sabbath. This reached it's peak with the Astley Belt contests in 1878 when Sir John Astley sponsored 5 international events. Crowds of over 30,000 came out to support at Madison Square Garden. Prize money was $10,000 for the winner ($250,000 in today's money) and the winner (O Leary) ran over 520 miles over the 6 days (this was at the London event). The current 6-day world record is 664 miles (1984, Yiannis Kouros)
I used to live in Silverton and watched people come back from running 100 miles - through the mountains - in one day for the Hardrock. It takes a special kind of person.
I am a solid runner, I did 5K for 18:50, 10K for 39:02, 21K for 84:45, best 42K for 3:23, worst 42K for 3:59. 42K hurts a lot and it is not something that I am good at, I say to my self I do not want to do it, but I always do it when I get a chance.
Thank you. I try to be active at least once a week, when I can beside work, family and social obligation I am active more. But that one time is very important to me. I do not have strict routine. I do things when I find time but try to be stady. How much activities you have? Do you do races?
@@mirnesnuhanovic9597 Your 5k and 10k times are very respectable. You should be capable of a sub 3 hour marathon judging by your 5k time but it hasnt transpired yet. This is something you need to work on, more mileage for next marathon.
@Rasher Thank you for the kind words. Maybe in the future I will try to do sub 3 hour marathon but for now my thoughts are on sub 20 min 5k, sub 90 min 21k and sub 40 min 10k. Marathon is a long race and very demanding, it takes more work than other races but I respect marathon runners very much. Hope you are doing good with your races! I wish you prosperity..
Across the Years 6-day foot race in Glendale, AZ, is a blast. 1 mile flat loop at the Dodgers/White Sox spring training facility. Great race. Check it out.
cejka30 ackkk. You can’t compare yourself you guys like this now. Use them as inspiration of what some people can achieve, sure; but comparing yourself at ‘beginner’ level is just going to dishearten you. I started a few years ago with run/walk cycles for 2-3k and last autumn did my first marathon. I still find ultra runners weird. 🤣
@@Kuriousape My question is if ultra runners run the way through, or mix it up(run and hike). Cos i do a straight 10k and feel like my heart is about to fall off my heart. So when i hear 200k, it baffles me.
Emeka Ezeagu Some do. Some just run it, but they run at a slower pace. I had a 10k time of just over 50 mins and 1/2 M of 1:59 but marathon was 4:51. I find it difficult to imagine anyone could maintain a nice fast 10k pace for 200 miles, or even 20.
I'm always thinking about doing something to really push myself. But never do it. It's always a "you should do it, you can, should do it", but something's missing. It's like gravity, your normal routine is holding you into position, and you need more than just "you should do it" to break free, to get off the ground. But that seems to be a hard thing to manifest, when your norm is on the opposite end. Still possible tho.
I’m pretty sure I heard of some people doing like a centa-marathon or some shit where they would run a marathon every day for 100 days. And I was proud of myself for running 7kms once a few weeks ago… It’s mind blowing how tough these people are
Great interview, Zach. It took two years for me to see it...I was watching some UFC results with Joe Rogan commentating, which led me to this. I’m sitting in Baraboo, your old stomping grounds, as I watch.
After about 27 miles you go to a different place in your mind, it’s a weird feeling. You don’t need to be the fittest or fastest to get to that place. It’s like free therapy.
I’m not an ultra runner, yet, but I am drawn to endurance sports. I guess being a dude with a smaller stature, I knew I wasn’t going to out-strength anyone. I think I’d rather be the unstoppable force over the immovable object.
Up until 100 years ago the human race suffered. We suffered in weather, in getting food, in hunting, etc. Our bodies are not designed for air conditioning and office chairs, and keyboards, and comfy lazy boys, and cars. When we go out and run an ultra marathon it takes our bodies back to where we have been the past million years. It's our comfort zone. Once you run one you will understand. There is something that happens that feels so wrong but so right. Your body and mind is back home.
Apparently , a trained human can outrun any animal over long distance because we adapted from needing endurance to hunt animals for hundreds of millenia.
Yes! When I was doing upper Yosemite falls I kept thinking, this suck, I want to stop and then the next day, I thought well maybe I'll do it some other day..
I started running a month ago. Just did a marathon, followed up with a half marathon in the morning. I want to do an ultra marathon within a year. I'm 26. I think it has been from chronic self-doubt, I now have a fire lit under me and want to achieve things. I have a masters degree but have always labelled myself as useless and worked minimum wage jobs where I get bullied.
"The Rarámuri or Tarahumara is a group of indigenous people of the Americas living in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. They are renowned for their long-distance running ability." 🙌🏾🤙🏾✌🏽great show.. go get lost on a walk or jog somewhere soon...
I see distance running like being tattooed, it hurts, you suffer and you're never gonna do it again until the next day when you plan your next one. Maybe it something to do with battling though the suffering and achieving your goals being so rewarding
all the people saying he looks unhealthy are afraid to admit that they are in fact the ones who are unhealthy. its hard to admit you have no will power and youve been making bad decisions. its also hard to get off the couch and change that.
I've been a fat drug addict alcoholic for most of my life. All of a sudden I had beaten my alcoholism, sought help for my drug addiction and I started to run. Running has saved my life. I have been tea total for 3 years. I run.
thats incredible. Keep it up!
Awesome 👏 running is life.
Nice. Do you do ultra marathons
Love this shit. Great job man
Keep running from that magic dust hitter. Gang
As an ultrarunner with an autoimmune disease, I do it because I know that my time is probably more limited than most. I want to get the most out of life and see what my body can take before I no longer have that luxury.
“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” -Socrates
Damn man I’m praying it all goes good for you brotha
I'll pray for you to have more time.
Have you looked into going low carb and/or higher fat? Studies have shown it to help with metabolic health and autoimmune issues! Best of luck to you, friend, and prayers from me :)
Wow. Good for you. God speed!
All the debate here around the negative health implications of ultra running are interesting. I'm no expert but my take is two fold: 1) I'll take the quality of life and health risks associated with being very active vs the health impacts of a sedentary lifestyle any day. 2) Physical health is only one aspect. I find myself mentally healthier and happier the more I run/train/race. For me that type of benefit outweighs any unproven physical risks.
Very well put
@Super Durden The health risks of ultra marathon running are far from unproven. People literally pee black sledge during the races. If we were talking about marathon running, I would agree with you. But ultra marathon running is on a completely different level.
Super Durden
It’s a false dichotomy to weigh ultra running with a sedentary lifestyle, no one in their right mind would suggest doing nothing is better than someone running a 100 miles. I’ve ran my whole life - it never once crossed my mind to run more than 20 miles, ever.
A hundred miles of running seems pretty novel, but it’s not the wisest thing to focus on long term. Long term ultra running is a solidified way to increase inflammation in the body.
why is it sedentary v ultra marathon type exercise? Those are two extremes. Ultra marathoners can do what they want. But the medical evidence is that it does do damage to your body. Running for 1 hour 3 to 4 times a week is probably healthier. But it's a free country.
It's also worth noting that potentially fatal health risks surrounded by things like distance running only make the headlines because they are incredibly rare. The reason we don't read "10,000 people dropped dead today aged 55 because of massive heart attacks caused by a lifetime of eating crap and zero activity" is because its so incredibly common it's sadly not even newsworthy. This means that the health risks associated with things like long distance running get a more intense amount of publicity.
At 70 I still run Ultras. Did my first in 1979, a 50 miler. It is a great community, with great people.
Whenever I hear about ultra marathon runners I think about Terry Fox (Canadian hero for anyone who doesn’t know him). He ran a marathon every day for over 3000 miles in total. With 1 leg. And Cancer.
What a legend
yes that guy was insane
WHAT 😭😭😭😭😭
From my hometown of Port Coquitlam! Terry was a beast
TIL about a great human. Thank you
He would have been one of those people in ancient times who runs with a scroll for a king or some other important person from one kingdom to another.
Casually outracing chariots yknow
Like he could be a dude named Pheidippides. Maybe he could run from Marathon to Athens then croak.
@@Slowhand871 Athens to Sparta and back first. Pretty much the Spartathlon route and back again.
@@Slowhand871 maybe we could base an event off of this tale
I'm pretty sure the kings personal letter boy would have rode horseback
All the people in the comments commenting on his health are probably washing their blood pressure meds down with a Twinkie and Diet Coke right now
So what, Aidan! Twinkies and Coke kick ass! If life is about running around like a retard to support this psychotic drive to have ideal health... screw it... I'd rather just be dead. I'll take the Twinkies and Coke and enjoy my time here, while you sweat for nothing just to make it to 90, or older. Some reward. Being old is awful. Talk to old people.
@@mickobrien3156 why judge him for doing what he loves to do. Not everyone is the same.
@Daniel Giummule Calm down. I wasn't being completely serious. But please... never call me a liberal. That's the most offensive thing anyone could ever say to me. A liberal? Huh? Me? No way!
Just ate a kitkat bitch
@@mickobrien3156 I'd imagine it's more about achievement my friend not everything is about health, running long distances isn't really the beneficial for your body
Lets not forget Zach went on a year later to break and hold the new 100 mile record on track. The man is superhuman, it's nice and humbling he considers himself "an average runner" but he is truly an animal!!!
Zach was my high school cross country coach for 2 years in 2014-2015 in Wisconsin. Great guy and absolutely an animal. He would always do our cross country workouts with us and then just keep going when we were gassed.
He is 100% right. I never ran as much as 20 miles. Most I ran was 8 miles, yet I could only run 5-6 miles on the track before wanting to quit. Having a trail is so much better mentally than a track. A track really plays games with your mind when you’re on a track, yet it’s easier to count down from the amount of rounds you need to do, which helps.
Imagine goggins when he ran the san diego 100 .. it's a circle. 118 miles that'll fuck with you
Oh hell yea. A track is so daunting because the barrier is right in front of you , but on a trail or street you keep seeing new things and pushing
@@RR-dj8rt that's my problem
So let me understand. Ultra runners claim they are though mentally which allows them to run 100 k or wahtever but at the same time not able to run 10 miles on a track? So they not thought at all.
Most i done was 12 miles in 1.48, luckily i had a beautiful 6.5km (4 mile) circuit through pristine wetlands made it alot easier.
Distance running is the cheapest form of therapy. Running races you don't know you can complete and reaching a stage of you don't think you can go on grows you as a person. For me it helps me connect with people that have passed like my brother, I chat with him in my mind and he gets me to the finish
@James Abbott Named my last run "Therapavement" on Strava. Totally agree. That's beautiful. Your bro's cheering you on towards that finish line!
I carry a photo of my dead dad in my race vest when shit gets hard looking at that photo gets me moving cause I know he watching saying get to that finish line
Long distance running does some AMAZING things but you have to do it to understand. The mindset is like being high
Alyssa Schultz bro running has changed my life... even doing 3-6 miles a day is amazing I love it
Been trying to go long distance but as soon as I hit 6 miles my feet are so blistered I can’t carry on, any tips?
Sean Mulholland same. Up to 8 miles now. Hope to do an ultra in the long term.
Peter Griffin I haven’t run into that problem... could just be due to lack of conditioning? Ive always been on my feet for work or walking from point a to point b my feet have always been calloused
Peter Griffin it’s honestly a mind set man I started at 260 only able to run 2 miles one day I just ate the pain and pushed to 5 miles now I’m putting on at least 10 a day once you run a mile past that pain you’ll not feel it anymore and the power of pushing through that pain the feeling of satisfaction to to hurt from putting in so much work that your body knows your done trust me man pushing to that 7 or 8 th mile will be life changing for you stay hard brotha wishing you luck !
"you gravitate to what you are good at, and then it peaks"
what a smart comment that almost passed me
"piques your interest" is what he said. Piques is different than peaks.
As an ultra runner, I can tell you it changes you...you never know how much you have in you until you run 12 to 24 hours.
Masochism
daniel nobel nah
Let's be honest. Ultra runners walk a lot of the race. Stop bullshitting like u run 12 hrs nonstop.
M. R. Some of the race is walked and run at a slow pace but most people aren’t going to run for 4 hours let alone 12
@M. R. From your experience? I challenge you to keep moving at a 7 to 13 min mile for 4 hours much less 12, 24 or 36 hours. with 36k of elevation change..no one claims "non stop" running. elites are running 50 miles in 5 hours 100 in under 14 at elevation...yeah, no big deal because they walked a little up a 10k foot tall mountain a couple times.....lol
I did the Marathon des Sables in 2019, it was the most grueling, painful, awful, uncomfortable experience I've ever had to go through. And and the end of the finish line I had the most amount of energy and exhilaration I've ever felt in my entire life, literally was high for days after coming home.
Damn
Love runners' high
Ive done some ultra long walks, unprepared haha.
The only effect it gave me was stinging legs so that I couldnt sleep.
Yep that’s the one race!
Just ran my 3rd marathon this past weekend! I’m addicted. I may not be very fast but I love it!
Doing a second trail marathon in November. So excited- want to quit my job so I can run all day, but I can’t afford that unfortunately.
Lol I’m feeling the same way
everyone is talking about negative comments but i don't see any
You have the most teenage-like account i ever seen. "Brain power" with a picture of Tyler Durden. Don't want to insult you, just mentioning.
@@gabrielalfaia8154 you caught me!
That’s because you’re an ass face.
Cool down, grandpa
As a long distance runner, I feel that the folks I have run with, you have to have gone through some form of trauma and you use that fuel to do one of these runs. When I get asked this I always respond, if I can survive my traumatic childhood, running 50-200 mile races is no big deal. Does it hurt? Heck yeah but at least you know the race will end. Plus it gives you an insight into your character and who you are when you are stripped down.
I relate to you man
Me too* beginner Runner.
Just thought it was me
They should include this in the olympics
Too long
Hell yeah.. And instead of that small Ironman, there should be one full.
yes right?
I think it's only a matter of time before they include 100k race. It's the next logical thing after marathon.
Great idea!
A mental strength to just keep going and going .. These people are incredible!
I used to be a pretty good trail runner. I can say that there is almost no greater feeling than the feeling you have when you can run up a mountain or run 40 miles through the mountains and not feel tired. You start to feel like an animal, such as a deer. I still do it, but not as much as I used to....try it!
I love this thought. I'll add to this thought. There is nothing like running for several hours along a ridge of mountains overlooking fine scenery and taking it all in for 10-20-30+ miles and knowing that YOU obtained those views and that experience with your own two feet. Sure you could see the same sights in plane or helicopter or drone, is it the same really? I don't think so. You are right. You feel like an animal maybe and the natural world becomes exhilarating. It's literally an adventure that unless you have done it you don't know how ALIVE it makes you feel.
What was your diet like?
My wife was going for her 3rd attempt at Badwater 135 in Death Valley in July, then COVID hit and the race was cancelled. One year of training. What a let down. She's done about 170 miles in less than 3 days in Armenia and 178 miles in the Grand to Grand race over a 6 day stage race. It's insane what ultrarunners put their bodies through. And, apparently, many ultrarunners are recovering drug addicts who are looking for a new level to put their body through in terms of range of emotion. Imagine no sleep for 24-48 hours straight, constant running and eating. And in Death Valley it can get anywhere between 120 and 130 degrees.
Bad water is hard core. That and the Barkley absolutely blow my mind
I can tell you from personal experience, that no, most ultramarathoners are not drug addicts, you just fucking made that up.
recovering alcoholic here, this is very true. this is the safest way to get high. I'm just starting though with the running. Nevertheless, I will keep going.
@@gregh2367how’s it going
I’m training for my first marathon and typically stick to flat roads when training, but he makes a good point about it localizing your muscles. I’ve gotta star trail running and get the muscles used to the incline/decline variations. Great interview
Zach Bitter is an incredible athlete and guy. Really fun to follow his races and keto advice.
Amazed by all the negative comments on his 'looks' . He is who he is.
Fit-shaming is the new fat-shaming.
Its fucking retarded. We don't bat an eye at people who are 70 lbs. overweight. But we chastise a guy who is probably only 10-20 lbs lighter than what doctors consider to be healthy. He'll probably out live all those fat people but we judge him because he's different.
@@ardruma Fat shaming isn't really a bad thing. You should be ashamed of being fat.
The fact that his looks come off as unhealthy( to some)is proof enough that our perception of health is twisted. This is the human being that can cover 100 miles/12 hours time greater than anyone in human history. Kardashian ~era thinking.
The dude is extraordinarily humble
Best thing about ultrarunning Ive found is the people. I always find interesting people to talk to, who've often travelled from across the world to be there. They're more chatty occasions than short distances. When I did a 24 hour race on a 1 mile loop, I was chatting to people most of the way round. Of course with ultras on trails you can end up on your own for hours so good playlists are important
The greatest ultra marathon runner of all time Yiannis Kouros didnt do any long training runs. I think he trained under 20 miles for training. He doesnt see that it is about how good a runner you are. He sees it as how strong you are mentally. Maybe that is why he was so good.
That's some David Goggins shit, right there! Damn, all runners are enlightened...
Joe Rogan invite Killian Jornet please :)
Yess
Ran up Everest ..2x in a week..
No
Or better yet, Jim Walmsley!
Maria Valdez shut up
I started off with a 24 hour run and said I'd stop after that and literally two months later tried my first 100 miler lol
Yiannis Kouros from Greece, was an ultra marathon runner that still holds multiple records (since the 80s) for 1,000 mile, 1,000 km and more. It's mind blowing.
Transcendental Ultra Series
I’m 40 and have just got into it’s running. It works well with martial arts because it takes a big mental push to get through it.
I've never done ultra long distance but I agree, distance running sucks you in. It's addicting in a very weird way. I haven't ran competitively in 6 years but don't go more than a few days at most without running still
My cardio improved just by watching this video.
Joe “there’s something about distance” Rogan
Nicholas Cage Lmaooo
running saved my life.
The difference in surface really does make a difference- after my first road marathon: couldn't walk for days. First trail marathon: I was completely fine because of the varied terrain, softer ground and slower pace.
@@My_Garmonbozia so which is it?
David Goggins
Goggins, David
Patriot Gains David Motherfucking MOAB finishing Goggins
Boat crew 2 checkin in.
They don't know me son !
box of mini doughnuts crew checkin in.
Idk why everyone here is so negative! Inspiring interview and interesting guest
JJ M maybe because no one wants to look like a marathon runner
The internet brings out people who complain about literally everything.
if you want to be a weak ass pussy go ahead I'm not looking like him
Because being negative is easy.
There’s something about endurance.... I’m nowhere near this guy’s pace, but I can tell you there’s something mentally challenging yet so rewarding when you complete long distances.
And a lot of people who’ve never run more than a few km’d don’t really get it - they can’t comprehend huge distances.
Thanks for sharing this! I've done 20 marathons so far (26.2 miles) but, no ultras. I look forward to doing my first. It's just for my middle aged ego!😅(mid 50s now). Happy trails, folks! 🙂👋🏽👨🏽⚕️🏞️🏃🏽♂️
20 marathons is incredible well done 👏🏼
I’ve just got back into running for the first time in 3 years (27 years old).
10k - 53:30
13.8k - 1:12
14.05k - 1:09
19.01k - 1:38
21.13k - 1:49
22.5k - 2:00
These are my distances and times starting from March and I try get a 5k in every Wednesday doing the long distance run every Friday. Do you have any tips for someone like myself who wants to get to a marathon followed by an ultra?
I’m a total novice so any advice would be great 👍🏼
The 22.5k was the longest distance and time I’d ever ran and boy did my legs feel it after 😅
Having done 100 miles both on track and trails - he is so right about the difference! The mental piece is huge - on track you can (and should) distract yourself and become disconnected and go on auto-pilot, otherwise everything will hurt. On trails, you have to stay somewhat present and focused on footing otherwise you'll face plant - but it provides distraction from the pain and keeps you going. Personally, the monotony of track kills me, and I don't think I'll ever do that again...
You’re a beast for even doing that once , I’m training for my first marathon
right now
That sounds so boring 😂
I thought Courtney was bad ass by doing 100 mile in 17 hours and this dude does it in 11 hours 19 minutes ! He’s insane ,
Holy shit I doubt I could even bike that fast
Holy Shit, that's insane....It's around 14 km/hrs, that's fast man. I huff and puff and totally out of breath after running 3 kms at this speed.
No way?!?!
Really?
That's Matrix level!!
Pretty sure Courtney was on trails though thats a huge difference.
@@jay-cg8ri you can't compare the 2, doing 100 mile on a track is not even remotely comparable to trail running
Did my first ultra (50k) in 6 hours 12 minutes in May 2019! Not the fastest but can outlast most!
Goodshit that sounds fast as shit
@@seanburke4622 thats 31miles so not fast.................i think youo thought he said 50 miles
That’s pretty slow
Good job man! Did mine in 3 hours 28 minutes. I'm in great marathon shape so don't be fooled by my time lol
Joe: "When you get runners high it's like a small hit of DMT"
😂😂
It actually is. I ran so long I could hear the elements give praise to The Creator
It really is though. Had friends who were runners so I started to. First day I ren for 7 minutes and that was it. I felt shame how out of shape I was. Started running 2x a day. Before and after work. When I first made it to 2 hours but still felt like I could go on,that's when I had my first runners high. You are literarly high on life. Weird thing happens.
@@armin38822 I’m currently getting fit for the army, and I had my first runners high yesterday. I’ve only been running for 2 months. Used to do drugs in the past and it feels quite the same. I used to HATE running but now I’m addicted to it hahaha.
@@yora7261 I always say to people that the hardest part of running is the first month or even two. If you are able to constantly push trough that start you will eventually reach a point where you enjoy running more and more. I had to stop since my heels got messed up so I swithched more to gym workouts. And yes runners high is a real thing. I had the same expirence in the gym though. I was working,working,workikg but was always kinda ona the same level. Then one day I walk into the gym. After work,didn't get enough of sleep...I was lookin forward to a bad work out. But boy was I wrong. In 1 day I made a huge break trough and literarly increased the workout for the addtional 30-40 %. Felt high righ there...
Its the ability to sustain suffering and not break - proves a lot to yourself about what you're capable of
About to run my first 60 k , taking notes. Hope I don’t die after this event
How did it go mate
Denas V died🤷🏻♂️
just did mine, you won't die :)
Tim Soekkha he’s gone bro...
Hello?
Joe asks good questions.
I’m no ultra runner or even a great athlete. But like Joe said, it’s the accomplishment, for me. I did a few MS150 bike rides. And I’ll never forget the first one where I got injured on day 2, but pushed through the pain and finished. As soon as I got in the medical tent and got ice on my knee, I lost it and bawled uncontrollably. There’s nothing like a good cry!
Zach is a beast
I have run several 5-6+ hour trail runs, and one formal 36-mile trail ultramarathon. Only the elite run all of the courses. The middle-pack people like me walk (hike) all the uphills, and run only the flats and the downs. It is time on feet for most middle packers, not speed. It is never about speed. An average finish time of a 50-mile trail ultramarathon can be 14 minute miles.
That sounds like a good pace in a trail for 50 miles
3:53 so true, I used to get defeated by a quarter of a mile but then I joined the gym and worked out on my cardio. Then a quarter mile turned to half a mile, a mile 2, 3, 4, then 6, 7.5, 12.5 and my current p.r. is 20.5 miles non stop. When I was breaking my 12.5 mile p.r. at mile 16 I wanted to give up because my ankles we're killing me but then the pain went numb and I made it to 20 miles non stop. Now I want to train to run a marathon. 💯 I Want to be a pro boxer who wins running ironman marathons.
If you can run 20.5 nonstop then you could register for a 50k (30.1 mile) little babie ultramarathon and knock it out. Just pace yourself. It would be cool accomplishment for you.
Lets get this guys heart rate. 32bpm?
Joe Rogan gets it. His questions and interest in this sport is admirable. I wish he’d have Anthony Kunkel on
Those eyes have seen a lot of running
As a runner I can confirm that most people pretend it’s unhealthy so they don’t have to face their laziness. If you’re running and consuming a sufficient amount of nutritious food to go along with your activity level, most people will benefit significantly from what running offers. That all said, visually this guy looks like he needs to consume more food.
@Joe Greene Well obviously hes not lacking key vitamins and minerals because if he was he wouldnt be able to train and win the way he does. He obviously has it all covered and very well too judging by his record. He runs a lot of miles, hes going to be lean no matter what diet hes on.
You really need to do some research. As a runner I go on 10 mile runs and do speed workouts DESPITE the negative health effects. I would run longer, and I would run faster, but I care more about longevity. Maybe to you, running long distances is worth losing 10 years on your life, for me, I love it, but not more than my life. It's very bad on your heart to push your body so hard. It's recommended to not go more than 5-6 miles, and around 15 miles a week, beyond that and you are harming your body.
By the way most educated runners (not you clearly), including this guy, are well aware of how bad ultra running is for their health. They do it in spite of the negative health effects. Watch enough interviews from these guys, and all of them admit it might be good for you mentally, but it's horrible for you physically in nearly every way possible.
Chris Kelley Sorry, I am calling BS on your recommended miles/miles a week. Credible peer reviewed and scientific sources please. Never heard of such a thing. thx
@@chriskelley7097 Dude, what are you talking about? 15 miles a week is what primary school kids do.
What an educated, fascinating guy, very interesting
*David Goggins has entered the chat*
Podcast hasn't even ended and this is already up...
like fighters, these guys are a different breed
Bro how do they have synchronized swimming in the Olympics but not this?
the event would be 12 or 24 hours of people just jogging, its not really suited to the Olympics
Biden is president 😂
If you really want to up your game for race day or in general cross train by sprinting stairs, start with 30 min and then move on to an hour of up and down.. non stop. Watch what happens to your runs after that. Pretty incredible.
I read about the race he talks about at 08:10 in The Rise of Ultrarunners by Adharanand Finn. It was in the late 1800s that six-day race contests were held at huge indoor tracks in London or Madison Square Garden (in NY). 6 days because it was the longest you could walk or run without encroaching on the Sabbath. This reached it's peak with the Astley Belt contests in 1878 when Sir John Astley sponsored 5 international events. Crowds of over 30,000 came out to support at Madison Square Garden. Prize money was $10,000 for the winner ($250,000 in today's money) and the winner (O Leary) ran over 520 miles over the 6 days (this was at the London event). The current 6-day world record is 664 miles (1984, Yiannis Kouros)
To be fair, he doesn't look any worse than regular marathon runners.
Marathon runners don’t look bad though
I used to live in Silverton and watched people come back from running 100 miles - through the mountains - in one day for the Hardrock. It takes a special kind of person.
Thats a hard ass lifestyle
... David .... Goggins (crowd cheers)
I am a solid runner, I did 5K for 18:50, 10K for 39:02, 21K for 84:45, best 42K for 3:23, worst 42K for 3:59. 42K hurts a lot and it is not something that I am good at, I say to my self I do not want to do it, but I always do it when I get a chance.
Excellent time! do you have a training/preparation routine?
Thank you.
I try to be active at least once a week, when I can beside work, family and social obligation I am active more. But that one time is very important to me. I do not have strict routine. I do things when I find time but try to be stady.
How much activities you have? Do you do races?
@@mirnesnuhanovic9597 Your 5k and 10k times are very respectable. You should be capable of a sub 3 hour marathon judging by your 5k time but it hasnt transpired yet. This is something you need to work on, more mileage for next marathon.
@Rasher Thank you for the kind words. Maybe in the future I will try to do sub 3 hour marathon but for now my thoughts are on sub 20 min 5k, sub 90 min 21k and sub 40 min 10k.
Marathon is a long race and very demanding, it takes more work than other races but I respect marathon runners very much.
Hope you are doing good with your races! I wish you prosperity..
All these guys jealous because there so unfit and unatheletic 😅
Traditional velodrome bikes do not have brakes Joe. And only one speed/gear. They are as light as possible and built for speed.
This guy is a machine
Across the Years 6-day foot race in Glendale, AZ, is a blast. 1 mile flat loop at the Dodgers/White Sox spring training facility. Great race. Check it out.
I recently upped my run from 2km to 3km. I was proud of myself until I seen this 😩
Be proud. You’re still lapping people sat on couches. 👍
@@Kuriousape True Adrian but it's like a fart in a hurricane compared to this guy!
cejka30 ackkk. You can’t compare yourself you guys like this now. Use them as inspiration of what some people can achieve, sure; but comparing yourself at ‘beginner’ level is just going to dishearten you. I started a few years ago with run/walk cycles for 2-3k and last autumn did my first marathon. I still find ultra runners weird. 🤣
@@Kuriousape My question is if ultra runners run the way through, or mix it up(run and hike). Cos i do a straight 10k and feel like my heart is about to fall off my heart. So when i hear 200k, it baffles me.
Emeka Ezeagu Some do. Some just run it, but they run at a slower pace. I had a 10k time of just over 50 mins and 1/2 M of 1:59 but marathon was 4:51. I find it difficult to imagine anyone could maintain a nice fast 10k pace for 200 miles, or even 20.
Thanks for sharing this awesome discussion!! Amazing to see that its still applies today!!!!
I'm always thinking about doing something to really push myself. But never do it. It's always a "you should do it, you can, should do it", but something's missing. It's like gravity, your normal routine is holding you into position, and you need more than just "you should do it" to break free, to get off the ground. But that seems to be a hard thing to manifest, when your norm is on the opposite end. Still possible tho.
I’m pretty sure I heard of some people doing like a centa-marathon or some shit where they would run a marathon every day for 100 days. And I was proud of myself for running 7kms once a few weeks ago…
It’s mind blowing how tough these people are
Great interview, Zach. It took two years for me to see it...I was watching some UFC results with Joe Rogan commentating, which led me to this. I’m sitting in Baraboo, your old stomping grounds, as I watch.
After about 27 miles you go to a different place in your mind, it’s a weird feeling. You don’t need to be the fittest or fastest to get to that place. It’s like free therapy.
I’m not an ultra runner, yet, but I am drawn to endurance sports. I guess being a dude with a smaller stature, I knew I wasn’t going to out-strength anyone. I think I’d rather be the unstoppable force over the immovable object.
Ran 4.2k last week and felt like I had just done 3 laps of earth
Its true ...a flight of stairs is a marathon when we are unfit. And 26 miles is possible when we are fit .
My dad told me about 6 day bicycle races, in Chicago. This brings back the recall of it.
Up until 100 years ago the human race suffered. We suffered in weather, in getting food, in hunting, etc. Our bodies are not designed for air conditioning and office chairs, and keyboards, and comfy lazy boys, and cars. When we go out and run an ultra marathon it takes our bodies back to where we have been the past million years. It's our comfort zone. Once you run one you will understand. There is something that happens that feels so wrong but so right. Your body and mind is back home.
Apparently , a trained human can outrun any animal over long distance because we adapted from needing endurance to hunt animals for hundreds of millenia.
His favorite word is *'Fascinating'*
Joe’s face looks so much younger and thinner
I did 44km trail. Missed a path and did 2km more in trail marathon. Fun stuff
Kilian Jornet for further reading 🐐
Yes! When I was doing upper Yosemite falls I kept thinking, this suck, I want to stop and then the next day, I thought well maybe I'll do it some other day..
I started running a month ago. Just did a marathon, followed up with a half marathon in the morning. I want to do an ultra marathon within a year. I'm 26. I think it has been from chronic self-doubt, I now have a fire lit under me and want to achieve things. I have a masters degree but have always labelled myself as useless and worked minimum wage jobs where I get bullied.
Sounds believable
500 mile races? That's insane
"The Rarámuri or Tarahumara is a group of indigenous people of the Americas living in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. They are renowned for their long-distance running ability." 🙌🏾🤙🏾✌🏽great show.. go get lost on a walk or jog somewhere soon...
I see distance running like being tattooed, it hurts, you suffer and you're never gonna do it again until the next day when you plan your next one.
Maybe it something to do with battling though the suffering and achieving your goals being so rewarding
all the people saying he looks unhealthy are afraid to admit that they are in fact the ones who are unhealthy. its hard to admit you have no will power and youve been making bad decisions. its also hard to get off the couch and change that.
Runners high ........ feeling of accomplishment. 26.2
You should get the hardest geezer on to your show! He is running the length of Africa and has already ran from Asia to London
Joe should totally get Lazarus Lake on, the Barkley Marathons is probably the most gruelling in the sport, and Cantrell is a fascinating guy
100 miles... on A TRACK? i didnt think anyone did that!!! what!
"I consider myself an average runner" Dude come on!
I think what he means is his marathon pr is 2:30, which is not world class at all. Look at elite marathoners, he is not one.
You should interview some of the Barklrey Marathon finishers.
Apostle Paul: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Love the conversation!
This guy is amazing...excellent podcast!