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Becoming Ultra

Becoming Ultra is all about that first Ultra. We follow other runners training for their first Ultra, interview race directors of Ultra's, talk training tips, and just about anything for that next, very long, step.
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Becoming Ultra
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Now displaying: March, 2022
Mar 29, 2022

Beth Freymiller is a wife, mom of three girls, engineer, yoga teacher, cyclist, and trail runner with a passion for being active in the outdoors. Beth was a college track and field and cross-country athlete.  She took a long break from running after college just returning to the sport in 2020 as a trail runner. Since then, she has completed two 50k’s and one 100k. Beth is also active as a cyclist who competes in endurance races on gravel, mountain and fat bikes. Beth is a total bad ass with an unbelievable drive and focus.  She is also  highly proficient at driving her coach nuts by signing up for too many races. 

We had a great chat with our friend and fellow Team BU member.  Beth embodies focus and determination, she believes in herself and is always striving for more.  Beth is not just a runner but an avid biker, we discuss her dedication to both running and biking.  She talks about her big goals and how she is balancing family and work life to make them happen.  We also talk about the importance and impact of the running and biking community.  After you listen to this one you just might feel like stepping up your game and tackling some big goals.

Mar 26, 2022

Cale and Meghan deal with some seasonal allergies but keep increasing volume and look strong.  Amy gets more miles on the bike as her leg continues to be an issue but she is keepnig it positive!

Mar 25, 2022

Coach Hillary gets her crew mentally ready for the coming weeks!  Jeremy plans to practice eating aid station foods and deals with a hip.  Evangelyn has a tough long run!  Enjoy!

Mar 24, 2022

Ellie meets with her runners on this episode to talk about the last few weeks before their first 50k!  Lene looks for solutions for the end of her long runs.  Caitlin gets a little tough love and seems to have found a distraction on the trails!

Mar 24, 2022

Coach Scott Jones fields a handful of questions from runners.  Is cadence that important?  How do you maintain 100 mile weeks?  How do you get better running downhill?  Enjoy the show!

Mar 22, 2022

Sarah Cummings is a marathon, ultramarathon and ultra-trail runner. She is a 2-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (2:34.47 personal best) and 3-time member of Team USA (Road 50K x2, Pan American Games Marathon). In 2014, she was 10th at the Chicago Marathon. 

Sarah started her running career at Corona del Mar HS in Newport Beach, CA and continued at Princeton University where she graduated in 2011 with a degree in Economics. While at Princeton, Sarah was a 4-time Ivy League Champion and earned All-America honors in 2009 in the 10K. In 2017, following a near career ending hamstring surgery, Sarah discovered her love for the trails while on a "runcation" in the Dolomites. It was only in 2020 that she got the chance to trail run and adventure on a regular basis after moving from New York City to Park City, Utah. 

Sarah's top ultra and ultra-trail performances include a win at the 2021 JFK 50mi in 6:18.43 (and a runner up finish in 2020), overall (M/F) win and CR at the 2021 Arches 50mi, win and CR at the 2021 Antelope Island 50K, and a win at the Hardloop 50K in 3:19.15 (Road 50K PR). Sarah was named #5 2021 UltraRunner of the Year by UltraRunner Magazine. 

Sarah is a winter sports aficionado. She loves snowboarding, splitboarding, nordic skiing, and ice skating. Sarah is an assistant coach for the Park City High School Cross Country team. 

 

“Accept what your body is willing to give and stay present”. Wise words from Sarah Cummings!  Sarah takes us through her running career and how she came to be one of the top trail runners of 2021.  We also talk about what inspired her move from New York to Utah.  Sarah also talks about her almost career ending injury and how she came through it.  Sarah has so much gratitude and it really comes through when you talk to her. We are excited to follow along with Sarah’s running journey and are rooting for her.  We know you will be too! 

IG- @sarahcummings

Mar 15, 2022
When you google teamwork, you just might see Willy’s picture next to it.  Also google crazy, same pic different outfit. Willy is all about helping others and hates to be the center of attention. At 49 he was very overweight, mentally strong and positive but not physically well.  Being the great polish wife, I am I got his fat ass a gym membership and put us both on a nutrition plan. We were in this together!  The weight loss is what started the journey.  One day he woke up and said he is going to start ultra-running. He applied and was chosen to be one of the two runners on season 8 of Becoming Ultra, completing his first 50k. Later that same year Willy was diagnosed with tonsil cancer. Cancer didn’t stop him from doing a 24-hour running event to raise money for a local veteran or attempting a 100-mile run with 30,000 feet of vertical at Mt. Hood. Willy is currently battling a recurrence of the cancer, this time in the lymph nodes in his neck.  He is doing it with the most positive attitude and resiliency and still taking the time to help others.   

What a fun and inspiring conversation we had with Will.  He is one of a kind in the best way.  We got to know Will from the COVID season of Becoming Ultra, he was one of two people selected to run their first 50k.  Since then, Will’s life has taken a few turns.  Diagnosed with tonsil cancer, he never let that stop him from setting goals and doing hard things to help others.  Subsequently, Will discovered he has cancer in his lymph nodes.  Still can’t stop this guy!  His mindset and positive attitude are amazing.  This one is full of fun talk and lots of inspiration.  We feel so fortunate to know Will and hope you enjoy this one.

Mar 12, 2022

It happens to everyone at some point.  You feel guilty for running when you have so much else to do.  Sometimes you just need a little perspective and that seemed to be the theme on today's episode with Caitlin, Lene, and their coach Ellie Greenwood!

Mar 10, 2022
Evangelyn has an epic time in Moab.  Jeremy wants to know how to mentally prepare for the distance when you don't go all the way in training.  Another great conversation for Season 11 runners!
Mar 8, 2022
Amy made her way to Arizona and vounteered for a race while the Pearson's have a couple big weekends in the books.  Enjoy the show!
Mar 8, 2022
Erica Efinger-Gratton is a mother, race director and runner.  She is grateful to her father for encouraging her to run at a very young age.  Before race directing Erica went to school for the recording arts and worked as a sound engineer and in production management.  She worked with numerous bands which included Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park where she gained her knowledge of producing events.  In 2001 she started her family and stayed home to raise her girls. In 2010, she got certified as a running coach, coaching for many years until her trail running events took off.  Since 2014 Erica has been producing races and camps. Erica’s newest project is a 2-day stage race in the Red Rocks of Sedona on April 2-3.  It’s the first of its kind; showcasing the best trails on Sedona’s West and East side, offering distances from 50k to 16k.  Erica shares her home with her significant other, youngest daughter and rescue shepherd and cat.  When she is not producing events, she is working as a cycling guide, exploring new trails, mountain biking, reading, writing, and hanging out with her family.

If you are considering a trail camp or running vacation this one is for you.  Erica talks about her latest stage race and trail camps.  Her enthusiasm, support and attention to detail will make you want to go for it.  Erica is also an ultra-runner with some impressive races under her belt.  We talk about how her career in music production and passion for running made the transition into running camps and vacations the perfect fit.  One of my favorite parts of this podcast was Erica talking about change.  We think her superpower is being happy and making others happy.  I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!

trailrunningescapes.com

IG- trailrunningescapes

Mar 1, 2022
Sabrina is a professional trail and ultrarunner for HOKA, a philosophy instructor at Morehead State University, a writer, a wife, and a mom to a 20-month-old daughter named Lucy. She has been selected to 5 US teams and has won 5 US national titles. She was the individual silver medalist in the World 24-Hour Championships in 2013 and a scoring member of the 2018 Trail World Championship bronze medal-winning team. Sabrina's philosophy research is moral character and emotions, and her current project examines character development in the context of distance running.  

Carly and I really enjoyed this conversation with Sabrina.  One of the things that stands out about her is her understanding of priorities and how they change.  Running helps her maintain a well-ordered life and live a morally good life.  We discuss her philosophy research and the impact it has had on her own relationship with running.  We also talk about running for Team USA.  Sabrina shares how her love of running has changed since the birth of her daughter; her order of loves is how she describes it.  There is so much more we could talk with Sabrina about, we told her she would make the perfect dinner guest.  I know you will enjoy this conversation with Sabrina as much as we did. 

IG- sabrinablittle

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