Free Outside

Ben Dhiman has one of the best names in the sport, and he actually earned it. We talk nicknames, alter egos, and the wild cat energy he taps into when racing, then rewind to the thru hiking years that shaped his brain, his grit, and his need to keep pushing the edge. From the AT and CDT to the Hayduke and a full-on Himalayan mission in Nepal, Ben explains why big adventures can be both glorious and miserable, and why thru hiking can “ruin you” in the best and worst ways.

Then we follow the pivot into trail running, pacing Hardrock almost by accident, showing up to races undertrained on hiking fitness and stubborn confidence, and eventually forcing the door down in Europe the old-school way, by racing hard and winning. We also get into family, balancing ambition with real life, his coaching philosophy, and why he treats winter as an off season where the work goes up and the pounding goes down.

Chapters

00:00 The Origins of the 'Demon' Nickname
05:34 Mental Clarity Through Hiking
08:25 The Impact of Thru-Hiking on Personal Growth
11:38 Transitioning to Trail Running
14:37 The Journey to Becoming a Competitive Runner
17:34 Navigating the World of Sponsorships
20:25 Racing in Europe vs. America
23:23 The Challenge of Proving Oneself
26:16 The Evolution of Thru-Hiking Experiences
30:49 Navigating the Wilderness: From Maps to Experience
33:18 The Call of the Himalayas: Planning the Adventure
35:06 Challenges in the Himalayas: Red Tape and Realities
37:58 Surviving the Elements: A Tale of Perseverance
41:43 The Role of Guides: Navigating Culture and Communication
43:24 Resupply Strategies: Making the Most of Local Resources
45:29 Reflections on Thru-Hiking: Contentment and Progression
49:35 Shifting Focus: From Thru-Hiking to Ultra Running
56:22 The Addictive Nature of Adventure: Community vs. Solitude
56:53 The Community of Thru-Hiking
01:00:28 Mental States in Long-Distance Hiking
01:05:57 The Dynamics of Team vs. Solo Hiking
01:12:37 Coaching and Evolving as an Athlete
01:19:05 Skiing as a Complement to Running
01:20:56 The Journey of Thru-Hiking and Ultra Running
01:21:28 Living Abroad and Competitive Spirit in Sports

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#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

I’ve struggled to record this episode. Lately, it’s been harder to run, harder to feel motivated, and harder to know what to do in a world that feels increasingly loud, divided, and unjust.

This episode is about words without action, the illusion of impact created by social media, and the lessons the trail has taught me about accountability, humility, and real work. Community isn’t built by the loudest voices. It’s built by the people who show up when no one is watching.

If you’re angry, frustrated, or unsure where to put that energy, this is my attempt to talk through it.

Chapters

00:00 The Challenge of Communication in a Noisy World
02:58 Words vs. Actions: The Need for Authenticity
06:06 The Importance of Community and Real Impact
08:56 Harnessing Emotions for Positive Change
11:51 The Role of Consistency in Achieving Goals
15:13 Navigating Authority and Accountability
17:43 The Slow Path to Progress and Real Change

Support our Sponsors:
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Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726
CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee
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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

In this episode, I sit down with Krista, winner of the Jeffrey Award for Most Tragic FKT, to talk about what might be the happiest tragic FKT of all time. We start with the infamous double Tahoe Rim Trail effort, an adventure that was never officially recognized, never really meant to be an FKT, and somehow still earned an award. From there, the conversation spirals in the best possible way.

We get into thru-hiking origins, trail names, COVID-era Appalachian Trail chaos, living in vehicles, selling bikes in Poland, walking across Europe, scary moments on trail, bear encounters, ultra running detours, and the strange emotional comedown that follows big goals. Krista is thoughtful, honest, funny, and self-aware in a way that makes this episode feel less like an interview and more like two people trying to understand why we keep choosing hard, inconvenient adventures.

We also accidentally pitch a thru-hiker assisted living facility, question the economics of adventure, and agree that sometimes the process matters more than the recognition. This is one of those conversations that reminds me why I love long trails, long runs, and talking to people who are willing to build unconventional lives around curiosity and movement.

Follow Krista on Instagra: https://www.instagram.com/kristafas/

Chapters

00:00 The Tragic FKT Award
01:54 The Tahoe Rim Trail Experience
03:50 Travel Adventures and Countries Visited
06:52 Biking vs. Hiking: A Personal Preference
09:52 The European Adventure: From Biking to Hiking
12:44 Challenges and Changes in Travel Plans
15:32 Scary Moments on the Trail
18:29 The Journey of Thru-Hiking
21:51 COVID-19 and the AT Experience
25:45 The PCT and CDT: A New Chapter
29:35 Post-Triple Crown Adventures
31:35 Transitioning to Ultra Running
32:56 The Journey into Ultra Running
35:02 The Draw to Challenging Adventures
37:12 Coping with Post-Trail Depression
39:00 Living the Adventure Lifestyle
42:01 Making Sacrifices for Adventure
45:01 Life Lessons from Thru-Hiking
50:33 Transformative Experiences in Nature
53:38 Wildlife Encounters and Their Impact
57:03 Innovative Ideas for the Future of Adventure
01:02:59 Introduction to Outdoor Adventures
01:03:28 Sponsorships and Support for the Show

Support our Sponsors:
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Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726
CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee
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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

Today on the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by Coleman Cragun, the winner of the Jeffrey Derrick Lytle Award, which is an honor with a proud tradition and a clear meaning (none of that is true). Coleman is an up and coming trail talent with the most relaxed confidence imaginable, and a nickname that may or may not stick: The Kraken.

We get into Coleman’s origin story, including the moment he saw the Southern Utah University team running tempos, held the gap, and decided, “I can do this.” From there it became a yearlong grind: emailing the coach for qualifying times, self-coaching off podcasts, and then his mom stepping in to find him a coach in Cedar City. That coach was Hayden Hawks, which Coleman somehow did not realize was a big deal at the time. Hayden helped him hit the marks, showed up with a stopwatch, and even emailed proof to the coach. Coleman walked on ready to travel, compete, and immediately level up his goals.

Then we bounce into the trail side: why the mountains pulled him in, the summer of living on trails in places like the Sawtooths, chasing Strava crowns, and eventually committing fully to the sport. Coleman breaks down the biggest transition from college running to ultras (fitness matters, but nutrition, pacing, and durability decide everything), tells stories from racing and training in Thailand with Hayden (including a fall that cost him the win), and talks through the nerves and excitement of stepping up to the 100K at Black Canyon with golden ticket dreams.

We also cover what the grind actually looks like when you have a full-time job, a long commute, double runs, and no time to eat like a normal human. Plus, the most unhinged training environment imaginable: working at a fishing lodge in Alaska and running ten miles at 11 pm on a dock where 20 laps equals one mile, until one night he found bears at the turnaround and ended up sleeping in a boat in the rain.

It’s a fun one, and Coleman is the real deal. If you like stories about earning it the hard way, learning the trail game, and chasing big goals without taking yourself too seriously, you’ll like this episode.

Follow Coleman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleman_cragun/

Support our Sponsors:
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Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726
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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

Comedic impressionist Dylisms is here. He has LOUDLY become one of the funniest voices in trail running by doing spot-on (and occasionally unhinged) impressions of the sport we all take way too seriously.

We get into how he makes viral running videos using nothing but his phone, his car, and pure chaos, why he waited to run an ultra before posting running content, and how trail running compares to climbing, skating, and just… exercising for a really long time. Along the way, he drops impressions of commentators, influencers, philosophers, cops, firefighters, and anyone else who’s wandered into the ultrarunning cinematic universe.

We also talk about award season absurdity, influencer culture, $200 shirts with holes in them, farting during ultras, and whether trail running is actually a sport or just very committed cardio. This one goes fully off the rails in the best way.

If you’ve ever thought “we might be taking this a little too seriously,” this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dylisms and Impressions
05:04 The Art of Voiceovers and Equipment Setup
07:56 Favorite Impressions and Character Exploration
10:51 Challenges in Impersonation and Method Acting
13:39 Transitioning from Climbing to Running Content
16:47 Community Reception and Content Creation Process
19:55 Humor in Running and Climbing Culture
22:46 Reflections on Storylines in Trail Running
24:43 Trail Running: A Selfish Pursuit
26:56 The Evolution of Running Culture
29:36 Moth Tech and Running Fashion
32:22 Impersonations and Humor in the Sport
36:51 The Seriousness of Ultra Running
40:56 Universal Basic Gel Allowance
41:45 Closing Thoughts and Reflections

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