Free Outside

Mac, the creator of Halfway Anywhere and the annual PCT Thru-Hiker Survey, joins the show to talk about hiking Corsica’s GR20, how the Pacific Crest Trail has changed, and whether modern thru-hiking has lost some of its mystery.

We compare our experiences on the GR20, including huts, snow, intense heat, crowded trails, French hiking culture and the unexpected luxury of buying sandwiches in the mountains. Then we dig into the evolution of the PCT, from paper maps and hitchhiking to FarOut comments, scheduled rides, heavier gear and thru-hikes that now average around $10,000 to $11,000.

Mac also shares how Halfway Anywhere became his full-time work, what more than a decade of PCT survey data reveals about backpacking gear, why experienced adventurers have to work harder to find the unknown, and what he is planning next in Japan.

Before the interview, I recap running an 18:52 5K in Crocs and explain why the weird goals nobody else understands can sometimes be the most meaningful.

Learn more from Mac at Halfway Anywhere: https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/

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

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Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

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

One year after standing on Katahdin wondering if I even had a chance, I finally sat down to break down exactly how I trained for the Appalachian Trail self-supported FKT.

In this episode, I go through the numbers, the workouts, the training camps, and the philosophy that helped me prepare for 45 straight days on the trail. It's less about one magic workout and more about building durability, confidence, and giving yourself a chance.

After that, I'm doing something a little different.

I'm playing the newest episode of Free Inside, the new podcast Allison and I started together. We talk about strange ultrarunning stories, Rube Waddell, mysterious Oakville Blobs, relay races, the Teton Crest Trail, hallucinations, and plenty of other random things that somehow make sense to us.

🎬 Appalachian Trail Film will premiere on August 27th in Bozeman!
➡️ https://partiful.com/e/FwwSWZwK7q3KoZsS3tFK?

Youtube Channel for the August 28th Premiere
https://youtube.com/@freeoutside?si=pMVoBdiYC05XsLKj

📖 Training Article / Substack
➡️ http://freeoutside.substack.com/

🎙️ Free Inside
➡️ https://open.spotify.com/show/033Pwij3Why0tydLeZPnMz?si=7498b342f9b7450c

Support our Sponsors:
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 jeff@freeoutside.com

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

I met Mike Kratzer at the Zugspitze 100 after organizers turned our 100-mile race into a 100K just hours before the start. Somewhere between sharing a helmet that I never ended up using, surviving the German heat, and talking after the race, I realized Mike had something that draws people in.

In this episode we talk about why positivity isn't fake, why you don't need a dramatic life event to make a change, how social media creates pressure that often comes from ourselves, and why the best adventures usually start by simply heading in the right direction instead of finding the perfect path.

We also dive into:

Why Mike quit drinking without hitting "rock bottom"
Building authentic community through running
The evolution of trail running media
Speed Project stories
Why comparison steals joy
The psychology of trail conversations
Choosing the life you actually want instead of the one people expect

Whether you're a runner or not, this conversation is really about permission: permission to change, permission to be yourself, and permission to chase the things that matter to you.

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 jeff@freeoutside.com

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

Every weekend it feels like another record falls.

This week we're diving into one of the biggest stretches of performances trail running has seen in years. We break down Max Jolliffe and Carmen Pérez's record-setting runs at Badwater 135, Aurélien Sanchez's Pacific Crest Trail FKT, Josh Kerr's incredible mile world record, and what all of it says about where endurance sports are heading.

We also talk about London's move to a two-day marathon, why FKTs continue to grow around the world, the culture surrounding iconic routes like the Bob Graham Round and GR20, and whether supported FKTs are becoming an entirely different discipline.

Finally, we tackle the biggest topic in trail running right now: doping. Recent controversies have raised difficult questions about education, race organizers, governing bodies, and what clean competition should look like as the sport continues to grow.

A fun conversation that starts with record-breaking performances... and somehow ends with bobbleheads.

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 jeff@freeoutside.com

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

Western States made Canyon Woodward one of the top ultrarunners in America—but that's only part of his story.

Before earning a top-10 finish at Western States, Canyon spent years organizing political campaigns in rural communities, helping flip a state senate seat through a 100% positive campaign, and learning how meaningful change happens one conversation at a time.

In this episode, we talk about far more than racing. We discuss why community keeps us coming back to the trails, what endurance sports and organizing have in common, growing up in the remote mountain community of Stehekin, dealing with imposter syndrome, finding optimism in difficult times, and why shared experiences matter more than ever.

If you've ever wondered whether running can teach us something about life beyond the finish line, this conversation is for you.

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 jeff@freeoutside.com

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