Free Outside

Madison Blagden joins me to break down one of the wildest hiking years I have ever heard of. In 2025, she completed a border-to-border Calendar Year Triple Crown, then kept going until she hit 10,071 miles on foot.

We talk about how the goal evolved in real time, what it takes to hike that kind of mileage day after day, and how she handled injury, snow, isolation, grizzly country, and the mental toll of a full year spent moving forward. Madison also shares how she got into thru-hiking in the first place, from starting the PCT with almost no experience to building into one of the biggest hiking years ever.

This one is about huge miles, trail life, identity, sacrifice, and what happens when you push so far that the whole experience starts to feel bigger than hiking.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Walker of the Year Nominee
09:27 Transitioning from Trail to Everyday Life
15:12 The Impact of the First Thru-Hike
21:10 Living on the Road: Adventures and Challenges
29:30 Navigating Trail Challenges
36:20 Pushing Hiking Limits
42:00 Starting the 2025 Journey
48:44 The Journey Begins in Key West
54:48 Transitioning to the PCT
59:58 Navigating Challenges on the PCT
01:04:45 Overcoming Injury and Setbacks
01:15:35 Balancing Hiking with Content Creation
01:20:41 Finding Spirituality in the Wilderness

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Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

This week on the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by Allison Mercer to talk about one of the strangest weekends the running world has seen in a while.

Allison was in Atlanta covering the US Half Marathon Championships, but before the reporting even started she paced a marathon, took a hard fall at mile 16, finished the race covered in blood, and ended up getting stitches. Somehow that still wasn’t the craziest thing that happened.

We break down the controversy from the championship race where the lead women followed a vehicle the wrong direction late in the race, how it affected the results, and why the reaction online got so heated. We also talk about what actually happened behind the scenes and why these situations are more complicated than they look on social media.

After that we catch up on everything else happening in running right now, Black Canyon course records, Western States storylines, FKTs starting to heat up for the season, and Allison somehow explaining Barkley and FKTs to Olympic champion Cole Hocker over breakfast.

It’s a mix of running news, chaos, and a little bit of perspective from two people who spend way too much time thinking about this sport.

Thanks for watching and supporting the show.

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Chapters

00:00 Marathon Weekend Recap
03:45 Race Day Chaos and Injuries
06:49 The Aftermath of the Race Incident
10:01 Social Media Reactions and Accountability
12:57 Understanding the Race Dynamics
15:43 The Impact of the Incident on Athletes
18:45 Community Response and Support
21:50 Reflections on Empathy and Accountability
24:47 Looking Ahead: Future Races and Events
37:20 Emerging Trends in Running and Relatability
40:48 Ultra Runner of the Year Predictions
45:32 Growth of FKTs Globally
52:21 The Race Purse Controversy
56:40 Excitement for Race Season and Recommendations

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at [email protected]

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com
Instagram: thefreeoutside
facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Anthony Lee joins the Free Outside Podcast for a deep, honest conversation that starts in Vancouver, Washington (not Canada) and runs all the way to Boulder, Colorado, and 30 completed 100-milers.
Anthony opens up about growing up sedentary, finding fitness through family, and the non-linear reality of turning your life around. We talk about bad decisions, real consequences, therapy, and the support system that helped him rebuild. Then we shift into what he does best, racing hard mountain ultras like Ouray 100 and Hurt 100, and why he keeps choosing the toughest courses.
We also get into travel, his engagement story in Japan (yes, the ring lived in a fanny pack for two weeks), sponsorship, and how it actually happens, plus what Anthony would fix in trail running right now, from social media noise to making the sport more welcoming and more diverse.
Topics we cover
-Growing up in Vancouver, Washington and finding running later than most
-Setbacks, consequences, and the role of therapy and family support
-Moving to Colorado after winning High Lonesome 100
-Why Anthony loves 100 milers (and why his race schedule is “chaotic”)
-Favorite races, Yurei 100, Hurt 100, and what makes them special
-The mental checklist for surviving low points in ultras
-Engagement in Japan and traveling outside of race season
-Diversity in trail running, barriers to entry, and representation
-Sponsorship, persistence, and building a career as an athlete
-What’s next, Golden Ticket races, Western States, Hardrock, and maybe Barkley

Follow Anthony online: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyclee94

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Chapters

00:00 From Vancouver to Boulder: A Journey Begins
08:50 Finding Fitness: The Shift from Sedentary to Active
14:06 Overcoming Challenges: The Road to Trail Running
20:37 Love and Support: The Engagement Story
24:05 Racing Passion: The Ultra Running Experience
29:53 Exploring the Challenge of Ultra Races
34:02 Mental Strategies for Endurance Racing
35:06 The State of Trail Running: Community and Inclusivity
38:17 Diversity in Trail Running: Progress and Challenges
42:24 Personal Experiences and Representation in Running
47:13 Future Goals and Aspirations in Running
50:11 The Journey to Sponsorship in Running
55:23 How Running Transformed My Life
57:41 Community and Support in Running

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at [email protected]

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com
Instagram: thefreeoutside
facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Jacob Banta has spent years photographing the fastest runners in the sport.

Now he’s racing them.

After grinding as a privateer photographer, ski instructor, and self-sponsored athlete, Jacob earned a Golden Ticket at Terrawera 100K and punched his way into Western States.

Follow Jacob Online: https://www.instagram.com/banta.visuals/

Thumbnail photos from
Ryan Thrower: @ryanthrower
Jacob Banta: @banta.visuals

We talk about:
-Losing money to chase the Golden Ticket
-What elites actually do behind the scenes
-Brain injuries from motocross
-Why he stopped looking over his shoulder
-The psychology of racing for position
-Being a “pro exerciser”
-And whether mayonnaise is the real performance enhancer

This is the story of someone who didn’t choose one lane, ignored his 7th grade coach, and built a life around movement, creativity, and trying really hard.

Support our Sponsors:
Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/
Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726
CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee
Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at [email protected]

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com
Instagram: thefreeoutside
facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Jeff Galloway passed away on February 25, 2026 at age 80. He was a 1972 U.S. Olympian and the creator of the Run Walk Run method, the simple idea that made running feel possible for millions of people, from first time 5K runners to marathoners and ultrarunners.

This episode starts with a short monologue about what Jeff’s legacy means, and why inspiration is not always about being the fastest. Sometimes it is about making the sport accessible, lowering the fear, and giving people a repeatable way to show up. I also share a line that has stuck with me, “fill your dash,” the idea that everything we do lives in that small space between the year we are born and the year we die.

Before the replay, I read a piece Jeff sent me, “A Philosophy of Running,” where he writes about meaning, community, and why endurance can change a life. Then I roll straight into our full conversation from Month of Jeff. We talk about the post-goal low after the Olympics, building a life around helping others run, the origins of Run Walk Run, and how Jeff kept refining his method through decades of coaching and data.

Rest in peace, Mr. Galloway. Thanks for teaching the world that running can belong to everyone.

Support our Sponsors:
Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/
Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726
CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee
Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab

Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com

Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside

Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF

Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at [email protected]

Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside

Website: www.Freeoutside.com
Instagram: thefreeoutside
facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure