Free Outside

Cocodona 250 starts in two days, so I’m talking through the plan, the nerves, the training block, and why this race still matters so much to me. This episode is also the two-year anniversary of the Free Outside Podcast, which launched during Cocodona because I was too nervous to watch whether anyone listened.

I get into the pressure after the Appalachian Trail FKT, a clunky but meaningful Cocodona build, working with a nutritionist and mental performance coach, and the three values I’m carrying into the race: presence, community, and trust. Or, fittingly, PCT.

Presence: be here now.
Community: let people help.
Trust: trust yourself.

This is my Cocodona 250 race plan, but also a reminder that hard things are better when they are rooted in joy, connection, and a reason that actually means something.

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

Cocodona 250 is here, and right after recording this, I’m heading out the door to go run it.

So naturally, the best thing to do before a 250-mile race is sit down and try to predict everything that’s about to happen.

In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by Tara Dower and Allison Mercer to break down the Cocodona 250 field, storylines, and everything we think might happen… knowing full well that none of it will go according to plan.

We talk about:

Why the women’s field might be the most exciting part of the race
Dark horses, favorites, and who could surprise everyone
How 200+ mile races actually play out (hint: not how you think)
Influencers vs contenders and why Cocodona is its own world
Live stream chaos, race coverage, and being way too exposed mid-race
Falling… a lot of falling
And why we do all of this in the first place

This is part preview, part comedy, and part reminder that these races are supposed to be fun, even when they feel overwhelming.

If you’re watching Cocodona this year, this will get you ready.
If you’re running it… good luck.

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

What if ultrarunning wasn’t about suffering… but about having more fun?
Andrea Moore has run 200s, 300s, and more races than most people would ever consider—and somehow, she makes all of it look like a moving party.

We talk about:

Why the back of the pack might be having the most fun
The real “secret” to 200-mile races
Snacks, bush naps, and the weird moments that actually matter
DNFs, dark moments, and why they don’t define you
Why no one remembers results—but they remember stories

If you’re heading into Cocodona 250 or just curious about ultras, this is a different way to think about it.

Less pressure. More curiosity. More fun.

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

I sit down with Sally McRae to talk about Cocodona 250, 200-mile racing, her career, and what actually matters in running.

We get into why Sally is coming back to Cocodona, what went wrong the first time, and how she’s approaching it differently this year. From dialing in gear and nutrition to cutting time at aid stations, this is a real look at what makes a difference in long races and what doesn’t.

We also talk about the evolution of the sport. From early blog days to the current boom in gear, content, and sponsorships, and why it can feel harder than ever to find something real in it.

Sally shares what she’s learned after years in the sport, including:

Why efficiency and organization matter more than fitness in 200s
The mindset it takes to keep moving when everything hurts
How to think about gear without overcomplicating it
Why most runners are focusing on the wrong things
What actually improves performance over long distances

We also get into body image in endurance sports, fueling, durability, and why being strong might matter more than being light.

This one is part philosophy, part race strategy, and part reality check for anyone chasing big goals in ultras.

If you’re running Cocodona, thinking about a 200-miler, or just trying to figure out how to get better without burning out, this episode will hit.

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

We spend a lot of time talking about how hard Cocodona 250 is. The miles, the climbing, the heat, the sleep deprivation.

But this course didn’t start as a race. Bryce Brooks teaches us all about that.

In this episode, we go through the history of the Cocodona 250 route, from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, and all the strange, wild, and sometimes brutal stories that came long before runners showed up.

Mining towns that popped up overnight. Roads built to haul gold through the mountains. Saloons, fires, outlaws, and entire buildings moved by hand. Sections of trail that were once trade routes, stagecoach roads, and lifelines through unforgiving terrain.

And the realization that when you’re out there struggling… you’re not the first one.

This episode is part history lesson, part storytelling, and part reminder that these miles mean a little more when you understand where you are.

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