The Rambling Runner Podcast

Mike McCalley shares the unlikely progression from being unable to jog a quarter mile to training for and racing some of the biggest endurance events in ultrarunning.

This conversation centers on a turning point with his son, the habit changes that followed, and how he built the fitness, durability, and mindset to pursue Leadville, Wasatch, and the broader Grand Slam goal.

In this episode, Mike McCalley discusses the family moment that sparked his return to fitness, the practical systems he used to lose weight and build consistency, and how he shifted from general health work to a true athlete’s mindset. We also talk through the role of coaching, elevation, blood work, trail running, and why the process matters as much as the outcome.

Key topics

Mike explains how a run with his son exposed just how unfit he had become, despite having been athletic earlier in life.

He shares the emotional impact of his son telling him, in effect, that he had to live up to the standard he had set for his kids.

He breaks down the first two to three weeks of rebuilding fitness by running until winded, then walking, then repeating the cycle.

Mike describes the shift from “get healthy” to “lose weight first,” including daily walking, rowing, and simple dumbbell work.

He details the dietary reset: high protein, reduced carbs, minimal sugar, no alcohol, and using shakes to control intake while working from home.

He talks about how habit formation took about 30 days to feel real and around 90 days to become automatic.

Matt and Mike dig into why alcohol is especially disruptive to weight loss and muscle development.

Mike explains the transition from general fitness to competition

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

Kila - Get revolutionary orthotic support with super foam springiness and comfort with Kila! Go to ⁠⁠www.kilarun.com ⁠⁠to scan your feat and get personalized insoles that fit your feet and your high octane lifestyle. Use code RAMBLING to save $50 on your purchase!

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Now with Mango Yuzu and Blueberry Lemonade flavors! Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.

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In this episode, I share a solo update on my knee surgery, focusing on what a meniscus repair is, how it differs from older meniscus procedures, and why I chose this path as a runner.

I also break down my current recovery status, the milestones ahead, and the realistic tradeoffs of trying to preserve long-term knee function. I talk through the decision-making process behind surgery, what the surgeons found, and why the rehab timeline is so restrictive at first. I also get honest about the frustration of being non-weight bearing, while still feeling optimistic about the possibility of returning to sport.

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

Kila - Get revolutionary orthotic support with super foam springiness and comfort with Kila! Go to ⁠www.kilarun.com ⁠to scan your feat and get personalized insoles that fit your feet and your high octane lifestyle. Use code RAMBLING to save $50 on your purchase!

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Now with Mango Yuzu and Blueberry Lemonade flavors! Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When sports journalist and bestselling author Matt Fitzgerald is struck by long COVID, his lifelong passion—running—becomes a distant memory, leaving him trapped in a failing body that simply won’t cooperate. After authoring dozens of books and articles on athletes pushing the limits of human endurance, Fitzgerald is now forced to confront his own limits in ways he never imagined. Doctors have no answers and every day feels like an endless loop of misery and mental fog, but Fitzgerald is determined to reclaim his life and his passion.

Despite serious health risks, lack of training, and a body that has become utterly unreliable, he makes the reckless decision to run a 100-km ultramarathon in a record-breaking desert heatwave. It’s an audacious gamble that could cost him dearly, but Fitzgerald won’t surrender to chronic illness without a fight.

Drawing inspiration from ancient philosophy, modern psychology, and epic tales from Greek mythology, Fitzgerald embarks on a grueling physical and spiritual journey to discover what it truly means to live when your body betrays you. He has no idea if he’ll find redemption or ruin in the scorching heat of the Sonoran Desert, but one thing is certain: This is a race he can’t afford to lose.

You can get Dying to Run at https://8020books.com/product/dying-to-run.

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

Kila - Get revolutionary orthotic support with super foam springiness and comfort with Kila! Go to www.kilarun.com to scan your feat and get personalized insoles that fit your feet and your high octane lifestyle. Use code RAMBLING to save $50 on your purchase!

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Now with Mango Yuzu and Blueberry Lemonade flavors! Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I talk with Jared Ewing about one of the most remarkable comeback stories I’ve ever heard.

Jared shares how a devastating accident changed his life, and how he went from wondering whether he would ever run again to becoming an elite adaptive endurance athlete. What stands out most to me about Jared’s story is his mindset. He walks me through the darkest moments after the accident, the long rehab process, and the daily discipline it took to rebuild his body and confidence one small win at a time. I love how honest he is about the pain, the uncertainty, and the mental grind that came with every step forward.

We also talk about how he kept pushing himself beyond what anyone expected, from returning to marathons to taking on ultras and now the Grand Slam of Ultra Running. Jared explains what it’s like to run without calf muscles or an Achilles tendon, how he manages training and racing, and why he wants adaptive athletes to get more visibility in the sport. He shares why he’s documenting this chapter of his life, what it means to represent adaptive athletes on race results and podiums, and how important it is for people with disabilities to see themselves reflected in endurance sports.

If you want to follow Jared’s journey or support his documentary project, you can find him on social media and contribute through his GoFundMe.

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In this episode, Sue Reynolds describes her surreal and amazing journey from a 60 year old 335 pound new athlete to two-time World Champion triathlete. Sue's athletic life is detailed in her two books: The Athlete Inside and Across the Line.

You won't want to miss Sue's amazing story from non-athlete, to World Champ, and the cost that journey can take.

You can buy Sue's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B081HVS38M

Sponsors

Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order.

CurraNZ - CurraNZ is a natural runner’s recovery supplement made from New Zealand blackcurrant extract, with over a decade of peer‑reviewed research showing real‑world gains for everyday runners – better performance, smarter fuelling, and faster muscle recovery. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more, and use the code RAMBLING20 to receive 20% your first order from their website.

Tailwind Nutrition - Tailwind set the standard for running nutrition and hydration. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tailwindnutrition.com/RAMBLING ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or use code RAMBLING20 to save 20% on your first order.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices