This week we are chatting with adventurer Jude Kriwald fresh off of a bike packing trip across Western Africa!!

10 years ago Jude spent nearly a year biking from his home in England to India, a journey that represents the unknown and the ups and downs of adventure to its core. 

Recently, Jude biked across Western Africa, including a trip through the thick jungle of Liberia!

In this episode we chat all about those experiences, what led him to take these trips on, and the benefits that are found from intentionally losing a safety net!

I really enjoyed chatting with Jude and hope you all love the episode as much as I did!!

MORE FROM JUDE:

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JudeKriwald

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judekriwald/

Adventure Mentor: https://adventurementor.org/

#382: Jude Kriwald -- Biking from England to India, Bikepacking through Liberian Jungle

This week we are chatting with ocean adventurer and incredible speaker Cyril Derreumaux!!

Cyril just wrapped up his grand adventure of solo kayaking across the Atlantic Ocean. 71 days of isolation, endurance and self reliance! Through this experience he truly got the opportunity to connect with the ocean spiritually while embracing the routine of the day to day.

This episode is all about this adventure and is one of my favorite conversations I've had for the podcast! We talk about the scariest moment of his kayak when he encountered a giant swordfish right next to his boat, what one learns about the world when they feel so completely insignificant on the ocean, and how he has felt since returning to land!

If you enjoyed Cyril on the show be sure to check out the links below to see his public speaking. He truly is incredible and would be a great person to bring into your business or school!

MORE FROM CYRIL:

Website: https://www.cyrilderreumaux.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyrildx/

Explorer's Web Article: https://explorersweb.com/cyril-derreumaux-finishes-kayaking-across-the-atlantic-ocean/

#411: Cyril Derreumaux 2 -- Grand Adventures While Solo Kayaking Across the Atlantic Ocean

This week we are talking with elite endurance runner Pete Kostelnick about his journey back from a devastating car accident, his goals for 2025, plans to run across Australia and how to adventure in Iowa!!

This is an awesome one and Pete is the absolute nicest dude around!! Enjoy!

(Cover from Mile90 Photography)

#412: Pete Kostelnick 3 -- Journey Back from Accident, Big Plans for 2025!!

This week we are joined by adventurer, photographer, ultrarunner, and awesome guy Howie Stern!!

Howie just finished photographing the first part of Ray Zahab and Kevin Vallely’s expedition crossing Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. 

In this episode we’ll talk all about this expedition and the first one Howie went on with Ray in Baffin Island. We also talk about what the brutal cold feels like, the challenges of getting to these remote places, and what it’s like to be approached by Arctic Wolves!!

This is an awesome episode and Howie is a great guy I could listen to for hours and hours! Be sure to check out his photography, it is beyond excellent!

MORE FROM HOWIE STERN:

Website: https://www.howiestern.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howiesternphoto?igsh=Zzk5ZDRqNHYxbWQ=

#413: Howie Stern — Adventures While Photographing Arctic Expeditions

#414: Kelly Hays -- Backpacking the AT and the CDT, Taking on Her First Ultra

This week we are chatting with Ray Zahab about his epic journey across Ellesmere Island with his adventure partner Kevin Vallely! 

The adventure has been years in the making and I want to give Ray and Kevin a BIG CONGRATS for getting it done! They battled the brutal weather of the Arctic, had Arctic Wolves walk right into camp, and persevered for 28 days.

I hope you enjoy the episode!!

#415: Ray Zahab 7 -- Epic Journey to Cross Ellesmere Island on Foot

In this episode we talk with Drew Raney about his adventure taking on the Stagecoach 400 bikepack race on a singlespeed!!

Drew is also a P.E. teacher who does amazing work on a program "All Kids Bike" in which he teaches kids the skills, resilience and confidence that comes with biking!

This is a super fun episode!! Thanks for coming on the show Drew!

MORE FROM DREW RANEY:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raneydayss/

All Kids Bike: https://allkidsbike.org/

#416: Drew Raney -- Bikepacking the Stagecoach 400, "All Kids Bike" Program

This week is a very special episode introducing a second adventure documentary we are about to go film in the great state of Iowa!!

I'm joined with my friend and one of the smartest, most creative guys I know Paul Scheuring to chat through the idea of this film and the possibilities of this adventure!

Way more details about this project in this episode!! 

All I can say right now is that I am very excited to move on from the pre-production "thinking-things-through" phase of this project to the "go out and do it" phase next week as me and a bunch of close friends journey across Eastern Iowa. 

Wish us luck!! It's going to be an adventure!!


#417: Introducing our Upcoming Iowa Adventure Film Project!!

This week we are chatting with Kari Gibbons about her 27 day journey through the Alaskan wilderness to complete the entire 1,000 mile Iditarod on foot!!

Kari's journey is all about endurance, joy, perserverance, art, creativity, community and mentorship. This is a fantastic episode!! Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!!

MORE FROM KARI:

Wild Winter Women: https://www.instagram.com/wildwinterwomen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kari_outside/

#418: Kari Gibbons -- Battling through the Entire 1,000 Mile Iditarod on Foot

#419: Francesco Valentinuzzi 2 -- "Ephemeral" Telluride Mountain Film, Producing Adventure Films

#420: Tim Barr 5 -- Running the West Highland Way Race in Scotland

#421: Heather Werner 2 -- Biking Across Mongolia, Guiding Up Mt. Shasta

If you are a parent...or an athlete....or a parent-athlete, you are going to love this one!

Sara and Wes Turner are two of the most driven athletes in Virginia.  On this podcast we like to highlight people rebelling against the status quo and I'm happy to say that this husband and wife team are epitomizing the Like a Bigfoot spirit!

For the past few years Wes has been literally chasing his goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the marathon.  He is beyond driven, missing ZERO workouts while winning race after races he slowly creeps up to the magic 2 hours and 18 minutes needed to qualify.  Dude is FAST!

Sara is also a runner and spends her time training and writing on her popular blog "Running Wife" being completely transparent about the peaks and valleys of being in training, racing, and cheering on her husband throughout this journey.

Recently their story has transformed as they added the challenge of having a baby.  Now they are in the middle of adapting from life as "two married athletes" into "daddy/mommy athletes"...or as I like to say "dadthlete"...and I guess "momthlete".  They now are learning how to balance their workout routines with the amazingness and stressfulness of parenthood.

As a dadthlete myself (who just had to abandon my morning workout mid-deadlift because my 6 month old decided 5am was the pristine moment to start her day) I can tell you that parenthood adds whole new dimensions to being an athlete.  You can let it completely derail your training or you can choose to use it as a tool to make you a mentally stronger, more flexible competitor.  Sara and Wes are excellent examples of parents choosing the latter.  Their dedication to both their family and their individual goals is inspiring.

Oh yeah, did I mention that Sara finished 1,000 miles throughout her pregnancy (in a safe, doctor-approved and husband-doctor-approved way).

In this episode we chat about misconceptions of exercising when pregnant, how Wes completes every workout through the exhaustion that is doctor residency, what it's like to run at the front of the pack, Sara's plan for postpartum training, how they have adapted to life with their wonderful son Easton, dealing with mental barriers while chasing a goal, and how Wes plans on incrementally gaining those few minutes to reach his milestone.

Check it out!  These two are AWESOME!

They are currently live in Danville, Virginia where they are training for the Boston Marathon in April where Sara will run her first race postpartum and Wes will continue hunting for that magic marathon time.

Follow their story at Sara's excellent blog www.runningwife.com  or her very active community on instagram @therunningwife.

Make sure you are getting after it this week in pursuit of whatever your goals may be. Use this story to inspire you to drive forward and give 100% of your own effort!

#23: Sara and Wes Turner --Quest to Qualify for Olympic Trials, Running Through Pregnancy

Imagine walking sunrise to sunset day after day for 2,650 miles through brutal winter weather.  We're talking summiting gigantic frigid mountains, freezing cold river crossing, waist deep snow, without seeing other hikers for weeks at a time through intense wintry wilderness.

Those are only a few of the obstacles Shawn Forry and his hiking partner Justin Lichter faced while successfully completing the very first WINTER thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Thru-hikes have always fascinated me.  What it must feel like to immerse yourself into the wilderness with nothing but the winding trail for months at a time.  In fact, every time I did a day hike on the Appalachian in Virginia I would unsuccessfully try to get into that headspace.  Beyond the completely awesome story of the winter PCT, I was pumped to chat with Shawn just so I could nerd out on some of the billion of questions I had for an experienced thru-hiker.

On this week's episode Shawn shares stories from the winter PCT trek, explains how his thru hiking career began and the factors that drive him to continue, how he's created a mindset that helps push him through seemingly insurmountable adversity, and so much more!

After reading Shawn's history on his website www.shawnforry.com, I have to honestly believe he is one of the most experienced thru-hikers in the world having trekked over 20,000 miles in various countries over the last 14 years.  The Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest, Continental, El Camino De Santiago, Hayduke, Great Himalaya Trail, are some of the highlights of his extremely impressive resume.

Shawn was a pleasure to talk to and I hope that this inspires you to get outside and immerse yourself in the beauty of a local trail....or do a really long walk....or realize that you have the power within you to achieve a seemingly impossible goal!

Enjoy the convo and we'll get back at you next week!!

#27: Shawn Forry -- First Ever Winter Thru-Hike of Pacific Crest Trail

This week Brady Manriquez and Travis Steffen discuss their experiences in the Monument Valley Ultras.

Brady finished off his very first half marathon, 13.1 beautiful miles running through the desert.  A culmination of a year long discovery of running.  He recaps his strategy to deal with the pre-race jitters, how he handled running in the sand, and the importance of embracing happiness and rolling with the punches.  The race ended with a bunch of letters from friends and family and a finish with a great time!

Travis's story is probably one of the most unique race reports of ALL TIME!  The dude terminatored his way through a 50 mile race on pretty much ZERO training because he wanted to experience pain and misery in an attempt to see how much he can withstand physically, mentally and emotionally.  The last few hours, he dug deep as he trekked through rain, wind, and darkness in only a soaking wet t-shirt and some running shorts.

We dig deep into Travis's mindset during the race.  How can we grow by purposely seeking out hardships?  What do you learn about yourself when you are stripped of all common comforts and put through the ringer?  Why do we crave pushing the limits?  Whereas a lot of trail runners treat the experience as a social one, Travis really craved an individual quest, observing his inner emotional struggles while the miles went by.

It's a crazy story!

Also.....before recording this episode I would have been 100% sure that no one in history had used a mantra that is also a title of a Nic Cage film to finish an endurance event....

Congrats to both these guys! Glad I got to experience an amazing event with my family and two of my favorite people in the world!

If you want to have an awesome adventure in the beautiful southwest, I highly suggest checking out the race series put on by Ultra Adventures.  Zion, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and a bunch more.  I will for sure be participating in more in the future.

If you missed part one, you can find it here:  https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/31-monument-valley-ultramarathon-race-report-part-1-chriss-journey

Be sure to subscribe for new podcasts every single week:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

Enjoy!!

#32: Monument Valley Ultras Race Report Part 2 -- Brady Manriquez & Travis Steffen

This week I was fortunate enough to chat with Eric Schranz, the host of the absolutely wonderful Ultrarunner Podcast!

Years ago I binged a bunch of his episodes and then decided to sign up for my first 50k.  So yeah...it's his fault that I'm an ultrarunner!

In fact, if you are curious about looking into the sport of ultrarunning, I would highly suggest that you check out the URP as it is a great resource to learn all about this crazy sport.  Each week, Eric shares a wide variety of stories from the world of ultrarunning.  From elite athletes to regular every day folks to simply some insane people running some insane events!

He also highlights the diverse nature of the sport; everything from 100 mile point to point mountain runs to self supported stage races to events where participants literally run for days around high school tracks.  All the while learning tips of the trade, hearing wild adventure stories from his guests, and nerding out over some of the biggest events in the sport.  Seriously, one of the best sports podcasts out there!

I was excited to geek out with Eric about podcasting and the sport of ultrarunning while hearing more about his own running career.

In this episode he tells us the best event to start with for all the people pursuing their first ultrarunning event, explains the joys of alpine horning (is that the correct verbiage?), enlightens us on the benefits of running circles around the a city park for 24 straight hours, and why ultrarunners need to be adaptable.

We had a great chat and I fully believe that the content on Ultrarunner Podcast is at an all time high in the over the last few episodes (Barkley Marathon, TransAmericana, etc) so please check it out! www.ultrarunnerpodcast.com

Eric also shares the "URP Daily News" which is a daily update on all things trail running, outdoor sports, running wisdom, and beer.  http://ultrarunnerpodcast.com/category/daily-news/

If you enjoyed this episode, please check out the rest of the Like a Bigfoot episodes.  Not all the stories are ultrarunning related, but I promise that you will find motivation, achievement strategies, stories of adventure, wilderness and plenty of tales with blisters and suffering!

You can find them on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Or subscribe to the iTunes feed for a new episode every single week https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

Next week we are sharing stories of insane endurance events from race director Candice Burt (Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200, and much more).  See you then!!!

Keep Bigfootin'!

#36: Eric Schranz -- Host Of The Ultrarunner Podcast, A Life Of Running

This week we are chatting with Jason Sudduth about rediscovering health, having adventures, and creating positive routines.  Recently he's lost 40 pounds in two months, started doing yoga, began running, and recently went on his first backpacking trip to the Linville Gorge in North Carolina.

I had Jason on specifically to nerd out about the Linville Gorge, one of the most remote wild places in the southeast, but upon seeing the strides he has made towards a healthier lifestyle the conversation turned into a much deeper more hilarious reflection on health and happiness.

He followed, what I believe to be, the time tested formula of success:

CONSISTENT POSITIVE ACTION / TIME = SUCCESS
It's nothing fancy, there is no shortcut or hack, and it sure isn't pretty.

It IS just showing up day after day, week after week, and putting in the hard work.  Being cool with a little discomfort.  Being ok with "failure" and having the beginner's attitude.

That's it.

You have a goal?

Do a little bit each and every day to move towards that goal.

While most of us would prefer to go directly from point A to point Z, that's not a realistic expectation.  You have to consciously travel all the steps along the journey A, B, C......until you eventually reach Z.  There's no teleportation.  Like I said, it ain't pretty.  But it's necessary.

In the words of the ancient poets....AC/DC  "It's a long way to the top....if you want to rock n roll"

So do the work.

Be like Jason.

(Oh yeah....I might have convinced him to sign up for his first ultra marathon in October......and he's only run 7 continuous miles up to this point.  But he understands this formula and realizes that if he puts the work in daily and remains motivated, he WILL reach his goal)

Hope you guys enjoy!  It's an important message and an empowering one!

You can find the rest of our episodes here: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

Calvin Johannsen's Join 100 Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/832978636814272/

#39: Jason Sudduth -- Backpacking the Linville Gorge, Losing 40 Pounds in 2 Months

I'm honored to have a platform to share this week's story.  It's all about one of the most beautiful places in the world, the lakes, rivers and wilderness of Grassy Narrows in Ontario, Canada.

Grassy Narrows sits on the English River about 40 miles north of Kenora, the nearest town.  It's an isolated, wild, gorgeous place full of tranquil watersheds and Canadian wildlife.  When I imagine the northern wilderness, I imagine the English River and it's lakes.

My dad and I have traveled to the First Nation community (similar to a Native American Reservation) for our last few fishing trips up north and have enjoyed the peace the lake has brought us along with all the delicious Walleye.

Ryan Duplassie is part of the department of Native Studies for the University of Manitoba.  As we came back to camp, the area we previously had to ourselves was now full of college students.  Ryan was teaching a 10 day travel study course focused on the Grassy Narrows Community.  Within a 20 minute conversation, two things were apparent, Ryan was an excellent, passionate teacher AND the beautiful area we had enjoyed over the last three days and the people who relied on it for livelihood had been completely DEVASTATED by deadly pollution, neglectful politics, and opportunists willing to take advantage without a second thought.

Here's the story in a nutshell:

Ryan informed us that in the 1960s a paper mill in Dryden, Ontario disposed  incredibly harmful pollution into the English River and Wabagoon River watershed.  This went on for a decade before the government instated regulations causing them to stop.

This severely disabled the Grassy Narrows First Nation Community, essentially contaminating their food source (the fish that I was currently eating), taking away their livelihood, and poisoning their community (90% have mercury poisoning also referred to Ontario Minamata Disease).  When we spoke at the campsite, Ryan explained that neither the paper company (technically it was legal to dump at the time) or the government was willing to pay for the cleanup (in the last month they've put up $85 million to begin this herculean task).

First of all I was shocked.  How could this gorgeous part of the world be poisoned and f****ed over like this?? The paradigm I had in my head about where we were choosing to enjoy outside time was shattered.  And, I was ashamed and embarrassed for being so completely uninformed and ignorant of what was happening in a part of the world I enjoyed.

I haven't been able to get it out of my head since.  So this podcast was my small way to let Ryan's voice be heard and hopefully inform and influence you about environmental concerns throughout the world.

Time to get preachy....hold on to your britches (pants..for us non-old timers)....

If you're listening to this podcast, you probably LOVE the outdoors.  You most likely enjoy your time exploring, pushing your limits, and appreciating the beautiful nature we are lucky enough to have in this country, throughout this continent and on this planet.  Personally, I would go absolutely crazy if I wasn't able to head out my door into the mountains, forests, plains, lakes, and so on.  That's why understanding and being informed about issues that affect these wild places (which I fully admit I previously was not about Grassy Narrows) should be important to you.  Let alone the concern with how we should treat other humans (which are also addressed in this episode)!

At the end of the episode Ryan shares a very important message of hope.  Start at a local level.  Understand the issues that are affecting the area you live in and pursue ways to make positive changes.  Start small, be consistent, and speak up when you see or hear about something you don't think is right.

Get 'em guys! And enjoy this week's show! Ryan was awesome, intelligent, well-informed, and ultimately optimistic about a place and a group of people he loves and admires.

#50: Ryan Duplassie --Grassy Narrows Environmental Concerns, Activism and How to Make a Difference

This week I'm excited to share a conversation with Adam Jones.  Adam is the owner of The Brick, a running store in downtown Danville, Virginia.  He and the store have become key in Danville residents rediscovering and reclaiming their fitness.  Through opening the store and organizing a variety of different meet-ups, clubs, challenges, and races, Adam really is essential in changing his community for the better and has helped lead many people to healthier, happier lives.  

Seeing first hand the running community he's been able to establish has been inspiring and, honestly, makes me hopeful for Danville, a town I really miss and think about often.

In this episode, Adam shares his story.  How did he discover his love of running?  Why did he start the business?  How did he handle making a leap of faith?  How does he approach the challenges of entrepreneurship?  What incredible stories has he witnessed through starting the store?  How does he nurture the running community in Danville and what events are he most proud of?  

I hope you guys enjoy this episode as much as I did!  If you're ever in southern Virginia be sure to head into Danville and check out the Brick, I promise you'll be as impressed as me with what Adam has been able to do with it these previous 5 years!

MORE FROM ADAM AND THE BRICK:

The Brick's Website: http://www.thebrickva.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thebrickva/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrickva/



MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likeabigfoot/

#53: Adam Jones --How Starting a Running Store Led to Unexpected Awesomeness!

This week we are welcoming back Ryan Chukuske specifically to hear about his adventure racing the Bigfoot 200 out in Washington a couple weeks ago!

Ryan does a great job describing his race experience.  Everything from the hilarious bus ride to the starting line to sleeping in the sleep stations to the challenges of the actual course.  He also shares some strategies and tricks of the trade he observed from the other racers.

If you're interested in racing a 200 mile endurance race, you DEFINITELY need to give this episode a listen!  Ryan really puts you into the race and will help you truly understand what you are getting yourself into.

If you are like me and simply confounded by the whole dang thing, also be sure to tune in! It really gives you the impression that anything is possible.

Hope you guys enjoy!  We will definitely chat with Ryan again as we approach the release of his book "Bigfoot 200: Because, You Know, Why the $%#@ Not?" which chronicles the event from the perspective of Ryan, a plethora of other racers, the course medic, and the race director!  It's going to be an awesome read for all you endurance junkies out there!

More from Ryan Chukuske

Our Previous Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/47-ryan-chukuske

Order “100 Miles of Thought”: https://www.amazon.com/100-Miles-Thought-Finding-Success/dp/148021583X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498747719&sr=1-1&refinements=p_27%3ARyan+M.+Chukuske

Order “Into the Darkness: A Runner’s Revenge”: https://www.amazon.com/Into-Darkness-Ryan-M-Chukuske/dp/1499727844/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1498747719&sr=1-2&refinements=p_27%3ARyan+M.+Chukuske

ABC News Article: http://abcnews.go.com/US/minnesota-marathoner-covers-52-miles-run-backward/story?id=26316850

Past Interviews about 200 Mile Races:

Melissa Sinclair – How to Survive the Tahoe 200: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/like-a-bigfoot-13-melissa-sinclair

Candice Burt – Race Director of the Tahoe, Moab and Bigfoot 200: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/37-candice-burt

More Like a Bigfoot:

Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likeabigfoot/

#55: Ryan Chukuske 2 -- Bigfoot 200 Race Report, Writing His Upcoming "Bigfoot 200" Book

In August Natalie Larson caught an Uber to the Mexican border and set out on the biggest adventure of her life.  44 days 18 hours 40 minutes and 1,171 miles later, she had traversed the entirety of the Californian coast.  Along the way she survived encounters with mountain lions, swam across rivers, and discovered the kindness of strangers.

Natalie's journey really encapsulates all I respect and love about adventure.

Here's a bit of the intro to her fantastic blog about the experience (link below):

"I saw headlamps from afar that led me to water in the middle of the night. I found a woman's purse complete with driver's license, credit cards, sunglasses, from the 70s. I found my way out of a sandstorm on fifty-foot high dunes, scared away a mountain lion by screaming at the top of my lungs, climbed over slippery rocks, raced along the beach to beat the incoming tide, escaped the grasp of a farm worker who grabbed my arm, swam across a river carrying my gear on my head (twice), followed footprints when I couldn't see through the beach mist at night, tripped, fell, and passed out from the pain along the highway. I dealt with poison oak, an infected blister, and glasses scratched by sandy high-speed winds. I slept under trees beside the road, on the beach, and in campgrounds where I shared food with the homeless. By San Francisco I had started to resemble a homeless person and the homeless recognized me as one of their own, asking me for gear tips and warning me that the police were "on the war path."

Her story truly is AWESOME

I hope you guys enjoy the episode and feed off of the inspiration from Natalie to move forward on your own dreams!

Congratulations again Natalie.  You are an inspiration!  Keep being you and kick some ass on whatever your next big thing is!

MORE FROM NATALIE:

Natalie's California Coastal Trail Blog: https://natalielarsoncct.blogspot.com

Previous Like a Bigfoot Episode: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/like-a-bigfoot-11-natalie-larson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arationallens/

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likeabigfoot/

#66: Natalie Larson 2 -- California Coastal Trail Fastest Known Time

How would you live your life if you had absolutely no fear holding you back?

This week's Like a Bigfoot Podcast is a sit down conversation with the owner of Feral Mountain Co. Jimmy Funkhouser.  Feral is my absolute favorite outdoor shop in Denver and Jimmy's story is incredibly energizing.

On New Year's Eve 2016, Jimmy committed to living a "Year Without Fear".   He promptly quit his corporate job of 10 years and within three months Feral was up and running.

Feral is a unique store.  It's very community driven with everything supporting Jimmy's mission of connecting people to wild places.  Outdoor adventures have had such a positive impact on his life, his passion is to "create adventure" all through his community.

So Feral has become much more than a shop.  There are outdoor movie nights, organized group hikes, 14er climbs, and even a couple hammocks to relax in out front.  He's forged a very inviting community encouraging everyone to get outside and explore.

In this episode Jimmy shares the challenges faced during a major stepping outside your comfort zone, how his very first hiking trip has influenced the rest of his life, why conservation and wild places mean so much for him and how we can help our public lands, and how he aligned his personal purpose and passions with the mission of Feral Mountain Co.

If you're in the Denver area or just driving through on your way up to the mountains I highly suggest the two minute detour off I-70 to load up on adventure supplies and gear from Feral. They rent all sorts of camping equipment for those of you flying to Denver who want to explore but couldn't ship out all your camping gear.  Chat with Jimmy or the other folks working there for recommendations for all the insanely beautiful places Colorado has to offer.

Also the store has, hands down, the most badass logo I've seen!

Thanks Jimmy for taking time from the busyness of running a store to chat with me for the show. What you have created is fearless, inspiring and I hope our listeners take away as much motivation from you as I did!

MORE FROM JIMMY AND FERAL MOUNTAIN CO:

Website: https://feralmountainco.com

Shop: https://shop.feralmountainco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feralmountainco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feralmountainco/

People Magazine Article: http://people.com/human-interest/jimmy-funkhouser-ditches-10-year-corporate-career-starts-feral-mountain-co/

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likeabigfoot/

#70: Jimmy Funkhouser -- Starting Feral Mountain Co, "Year Without Fear"

Today the always fascinating Travis Steffen is back to the podcast.

If you haven't listened to the previous episodes, Travis is one of my absolute best friends in the whole world.  He's also one of the wisest, strangest, most successful and genuine people I know.

I never know what to expect when we do a podcast.  This week as I sat at my kitchen table, watching him put his hair up in a 'Manbun' I thought... "What direction is he gonna take this one?"  The conversation is extremely introspective, at times both heartbreaking and hilarious, and inspirational.  There's always lessons to be taken away from listening to Travis.

Today is all about mindset, self reflection and failing in order to succeed.

Travis shares the importance of being completely transparent and genuine, why we need to take time to self reflect, how a strength in one area of life could be a weakness in another, and how epic failures have helped him let go of fear and driven him towards success.

Please go back and check out Travis's previous episodes if you have missed them! He will always make you think while inspiring and entertaining you.

MORE FROM TRAVIS:

The time he powered through 50 miles: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/32-monument-valley-ultras-race-report-2

50 minutes on his morning routine and the story of his first marathon: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/29-travis-steffen-2

His first ultra marathon and the concept of Extreme Ownership: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/like-a-bigfoot-10-travis-steffen

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#83: Travis Steffen 3 -- Mindset, Importance of Introspection, Failing Produces Success

This week's episode is an extremely powerful example of the power of perseverance, gratitude, and a "learning how to suffer" mindset.

Maudie Jordan is a wonderful, incredibly positive, and completely badass mountain athlete from the Pacific Northwest.  She has completed multiple 100 milers, climbed numerous mountains, and spends her times exploring all sorts of wild areas.

In this episode, she shares the ups and downs of her journey, what it's like to run a 100 miler with anemia, and how failure led her to personal growth and how she learned to embrace an adventurous life.

Most importantly she teaches us perseverance.  She set a goal to finish a 100 miler,  failed four separate times, quit running, rediscovered her love of trail running, and eventually accomplished her goal!  Her story is so incredibly inspiring and my hope is that we can all apply some of these lessons to our own lives.

This was one of my absolute favorite conversations! Maudie is well-spoken, hilarious, extremely positive, and authentic.  Enjoy!

MORE FROM MAUDIE:

"Runfreerunwild" on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runfreerunwild/

Excellent Blog for Trail Sisters: https://www.trailsisters.net/2018/03/07/i-didnt-finish-but-have-grown/

"Those Park Guys" Podcast Episode: https://soundcloud.com/tpgpodcast/3-ultramarathon-runner

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#90: Maudie Jordan --  "RunFreeRunWild" Mindset and The Power of Resilience

I am incredibly excited to bring you this week's episode with Colorado mountain athlete Justin Simoni.

Last summer, Justin created a challenge he dubbed the "Tour De Highest Hundred" which was a self powered journey to and up the 100 tallest mountains in Colorado.  Over 60 days he did something no one else has even attempted as he biked to trailheads, summited the mountains, ate an astonishing amount of food, and slept in the wilderness.  It truly was an extraordinary feat of human endurance!

In this episode we hear the tale of the Tour de Highest Hundred.  What is it like to take on an adventure of this magnitude?  What sort of misadventures did he have along the way?  How does one train for something this intense?

Justin also shares the story of  his first known traverse of the Mosquito to Ten Mile Range from Trout Creek to Mt Royal.  That's a total of 91 hours, 87 miles, and 30,000’+ of elevation (which are numbers that my brain can barely comprehend!!)

I really hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did! I'm an absolute Colorado mountain geek and am so grateful I got to nerd out with such an accomplished mountain athlete!

MORE FROM JUSTIN SIMONI:

Read more about his adventures on his Blog: http://longranger.justinsimoni.com

"Climbing" Article: https://www.climbing.com/news/justin-simoni-summits-colorados-100-highest-peaks-in-60-days-self-powered/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/longrangerjustin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longrangerjustin/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/justinsimoni

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#104: Justin Simoni -- Tour De Highest Hundred, Bikepacking & Climbing the CO Centennials

For the past 26 years, legendary race director Rick Nealis has put all he has into the iconic Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C, a race that is widely known as one of the absolute best marathons in the United States.  One that is an unforgettable experience as it guides the runner on a tour past the monuments and history of the Capitol, ending at a finish line full of Marines.

This year Rick and his staff are adding something extra special as they dive into the ultrarunning scene and put on the inaugural MCM 50k!

For both the ultra and road racing community, the MCM expanding to ultra distances is going to be paradigm shifting and, in my eyes, will have an extremely positive effect as it will allow more and more people their first ultra experience.  In turn this will infuse new racers with all the positivity and life lessons that come along with tackling difficult challenges.

In this episode I brought on my friend, former marine, and 5 time MCM finisher Phil Pinti to explore all aspects of this new event.  We have a conversation with Rick and his operations manager Bret Schmidt about the ins and outs of race directing, the WHY as it pertains to expanding to an ultra, and how they plan on making it the best experience ever for their 1,700 racers.

We also dive into Rick's rich history with this race, hearing stories from his first time running it as an athlete, how it's changed over the past quarter century, the effects it has had on both Marines and Civilians alike, and, of course, how he convinced Oprah to make the MCM her first and only marathon.

This episode was tons of fun to record and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Huge thanks to Rick and Bret for coming on and sharing their thoughts and to Ashley Topolosky for setting this up!  It was awesome to chat with all of you!

If you are taking on the MCM 50k or preparing for any sort of crazy endurance event, stick around for the end of the episode where Phil and I briefly discuss lessons and strategies we've learned through racing a handful of ultras.

MORE FROM THE MARINE CORPS MARATHON:

Website: https://www.marinemarathon.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinecorpsmarathon/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarineCorpsMarathon/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Marine_Marathon

Info about the 50k: https://www.marinemarathon.com/blog/mcm-new-50k

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#143: Rick Nealis -- The Man Behind the Marine Corps Marathon, Going Ultra with the MCM 50k

This week we are talking with lifelong athlete, ex-Navy, powerlifter, and all around awesome dude Dave Ruppert!

Dave is extremely dedicated to his health and exemplifies the power of consistency.  He has also led an incredible life through his time in the Navy which led him into body building and powerlifting.
In this episode, we chat about the time he played semi-pro football, his journey into powerlifting, his various injuries, why he has an awesome home gym and how he continues to show up to his health day after day.

Dave is really inspiring to me and I'm lucky to be able to call him a friend, a coworker, and a lifting buddy.  Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy!

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#147: Dave Ruppert -- Lifelong Athlete, Tales from a Life of Powerlifting

Happy 2020!! This week we are chatting with bikepacking champion, extraordinary endurance athlete, and all around awesome human being Alexandera Houchin!

Alexandera has had an inspiring athletic journey culminating in dominant performances at the Tour Divide, Colorado Trail Race, amongst many other long distance bike races.  She rides her single speed bike for days and days rocking steel toed boots, fixes bikes with sporks, and continues to smile and laugh despite any obstacle thrown her way.  More importantly, she's a super down to earth, resilient, positive person who was an absolute joy to chat with! I'm seriously in awe of her accomplishments and her humbleness.

In this episode we chat all about her recent record setting ride on the 486 mile Colorado Trail, her journey from back of the pack in her very first race to becoming the first woman to win back to back Tour Divides (a 2,745 mile race from Canada to Mexico), and the lessons she has learned along the way.

This one was one of my favorite episodes of the show so far!  My mind is blown by the adventures Alexandera has had and her evolution as an athlete.  I'm so honored she would spend some time to chat and felt like her perspective on endurance sports was incredibly relatable.

I hope she inspires all of you to take on some major challenges in 2020! I know my motivation was through the roof after recording the episode!

MORE FROM ALEXANDERA HOUCHIN:

Alexandera's Blog: https://alexandherrastro.wordpress.com

Outside Magazine Article: https://www.outsideonline.com/2397215/alexandera-houchin-endurance-cycling

REI Article: https://www.rei.com/blog/cycle/alexandera-houchin-is-the-peoples-champion-of-bikepacking

Bikepacking Article: https://bikepacking.com/news/alexandera-houchin-2019-tour-divide/

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

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#177: Alexandera Houchin -- Adventures from a Bikepacking Champ, Tour Divide & Colorado Trail Race

This week race director and ultrarunner Candice Burt comes back on the show to chat about surviving 200 mile runs, organzing some of the biggest ultraruns in the nation and what she discovers through big time adventures!

To say Candice has been busy over the last few years would barely scratch the surface.  Not only does she organize, design and manage the Triple Crown of 200s (and many more races through her company Destination Trail), but she balances regular everyday life while striving to be the best athlete she can be.  To say it bluntly, what she manages to accomplish with her time is INCREDIBLE!!

We've featured a lot of episodes about running 200 mile races and if you loved those ones, this one will not dissappoint.  Candice has experienced more people taking these on than anyone in the world and has the knowledge and insight to show what actually gets people to successfully make it to the finish line.  She understands the strategies and mindsets that are necessary for racers to reach their goals and also shares the common mistakes she has seen to lead people to DNF.

Last year she took on one of these events as an athlete (and won the whole thing!), The Delirious W.E.S.T. 200- a point to point 200 mile race in Australia.  Through the race Candice faced all the highs and lows of a long endurance challenge and in this episode she shares what she learned from the experience.

This was a super fun conversation that I hope you guys enjoy!  Her knowledge of hallucinations and sleep deprivation is one of the more unique and intense things we have featured on the show and I'm hoping you take home some awesome nuggets of inspiration and information!

Please check out her races as they are known to be some of the most well-organized and great experiences in the country!

MORE FROM CANDICE:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcandicerun/?hl=en

Website: https://www.candiceburt.com/

Her Wonderful Blog: http://www.wilddefined.com

Sign up for a 200 miler (or her other races) here:  https://www.destinationtrailrun.com

Previous LABF podcast episode (#37): https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/37-candice-burt

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#178: Candice Burt 3 -- Pushing Your Body Over 200 Miles, Hallucinations & Sleep Deprivation

(Photo Credit: Discovery)

On Christmas Day, 6 athletes stepped foot onto Antarctica.  Almost two weeks earlier they  pushed off from Cape Horn, the southern most point of South America, rowing in hour and a half shifts to become the first people to successfully cross the infamous Drake Passage completely man-powered.

Through sheer will, determination and positivity they conquered not only world records, but their adventure of a lifetime.  Today's podcast is about this quest.  It's about the formation of brotherhood, bravery in the face of extremes and the power of Mother Nature.  What it's like to go into the ocean only to be tossed around like a rubber ducky in the world's biggest bathtub and the lessons you learn when you come out the other side.

The team battled cold water, wind, and powerful waves that are nearly impossible to imagine.  The Drake Passage had never previously been rowed for a reason, it is beyond ferocious.  Now imagine rowing it, day after day while battling sleep deprivation and fatigue.  It is the definition of epic!

This one is unlike any adventure we have featured on this show and bringing us the story is John Petersen, a dad, a husband, an elementary principal, a former collegiate rower, and, most importantly, a guy willing to step outside his comfort zone to pursue adventure!

In this episode, John dives into all things "Impossible Row".  What led him to Antarctica, preparations the team had to make, how he handled the hard times, and lessons he learned from each one of his accomplished shipmates (Captain Fiann Paul, Colin O'Brady, Andrew Towne, Cameron Bellamy, and Jaime Douglas-Hamilton).

There are so many lessons shared in this episode and I absolutely cannot wait for you guys to listen!! I highly suggest checking out John's teammates (who are all very accomplished athletes in their own right) and the Discovery Channel Youtube Miniseries based on the expedition.  It will blow your mind!!

MORE FROM THE IMPOSSIBLE ROW:

Project Website: https://www.discovery.com/shows/the-impossible-row

Youtube Series: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqOoboPm3uhY_YXhvhmL-WA

John Petersen: https://www.instagram.com/john.r.petersen/

Colin O'Brady: https://www.instagram.com/colinobrady/

Fiann Paul: https://www.instagram.com/theimpossiblerowcaptain/

Jaime Douglas-Hamilton: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedougham/

Cameron Bellamy: https://www.instagram.com/cam_ubunye/

Andrew Towne: https://www.instagram.com/towne_andrew/

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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#181: John Petersen -- "The Impossible Row", Rowing to Antarctica

Interviews with incredible people about Adventure, Motivation, Mindset, Positivity, Endurance, Health, Perseverance, and Possibility

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