Dead Cow Gully Ultra with "Bagman" Mitchitaro Mizuno
Send us a textIn this episode, the guest is Michitaro Mizuno. Michitaro is a young Japanese ultra trail runner, podcast host, race director, and community builder in his own right. We talk about his 94 loops at Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra — that’s 94 hours of running, or 3 days and 22 hours, covering a total distance of 630.364 km.Michitaro earned the nickname "Bagman" because he ran with a shopping bag for the entire race. And yes — in this episode, we answer the question: what was in the bag?Michitaro is part of a thriving trail running community in Tanzawa, Kanagawa, Japan.If you’re new to it, a Backyard Ultra — also called Last One Standing — is a type of ultramarathon where runners must complete a 6.706 km (4.167 mi) loop every hour. They have to start a new lap on the hour, every hour, and the race continues until only one person finishes a loop. (Wikipedia)LinksBackyard Ultra TokyoDead Cow Gully Backyard UltraHadano RunningTanzawa Nature Activity BaseMichitaro's InstagramAs Far As Possible UltrarunningBeyond the Despair - A Backyard Ultra DocumentarySupport the show
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18:39
Japanese Laz aka Tomokazu Ihara on Barkley Marathons, Grand Slam & Oshigaichi FKT
Send us a textIn this episode the featured guest is Tomokazu Ihara, Tomo is affectionately known as "Japanese Laz" the world over. Tomo is an accomplished ultrarunner who started running from a 5km challenge at work. Tomo is currently in a quest to complete 100 100-milers and he is at number 78 at the moment. He also completed the Grand Slam.In trail running, the term “Grand Slam” typically refers to the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning™, a U.S.-based challenge that involves finishing four of five of the most prestigious 100-mile races in a single calendar year. These races are:Western States 100 (California)Vermont 100 (Vermont)Leadville Trail 100 (Colorado)Wasatch Front 100 (Utah)Old Dominion 100 (Virginia)In 2023 the Vermont 100 was cancelled and Tomo Ran the Devil’s Gulch 100 which was an acceptable replacement race. Tomo went above and beyond by completing five in 2023: Old Dominion 100, Western States 100, Devil’s Gulch 100 (in place of the Vermont 100), Leadville 100, and Wasatch Front 100.In this episode, we talk about the Barkley Marathons 2025 — which is Tomo's 6th attempt. This year, only four people were able to complete two loops, including Tomo. ( with one 3 loop finisher - John Kelly)We also talk about Tomo’s recent attempt at the grueling Oshigaichi FKT, a roughly 450 km (280 miles) run with over 30,000 meters of elevation gain around the mountainous border of Shiga Prefecture, Japan.We also discuss the docuseries tracking Tomo's series Main Quest and Japanese trail running culture.🔗 Links & Mentions:Tomokazu Ihara on InstagramGrand Slam of Ultrarunning – Official SiteBarkley Marathons – WikipediaMain Quest Docuseries Ultrarunning MagazineSupport the show
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45:42
Carlos Rabsiun Aramburu on Strategy, Grit, and the Okumusashi 105 Long Trail
Send us a textThis episode features Carlos Rabsiun Aramburu, who recently placed third in the grueling Okumusashi 105 Long Trail ultramarathon. We dive into his race experience, covering everything from his pacing strategy and nutrition plan to the mental and physical demands of ultra-distance trail running.Carlos, originally from Argentina and now based in Tokyo, shares how a casual invitation from a colleague turned friend sparked his journey into the world of ultrarunning and how that moment led to a deep passion for the sport.Topics Covered: Okumusashi 105 race breakdownTraining and racing strategyNutrition tips for ultramarathonsCarlos's journey into trail runningLinks The Premodernist – YouTube Channel Runto Japan – YouTube ChannelInto Their Labours by John Berger Okumusashi 105 Long TrailJapan Trail RunningSupport the show
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Breaking Records & Building Healthy Communities with Kwame Terra
Send us a textIn this inspiring episode, I chat with Kwame Terra, CEO of bEHR Health Systems. We explore Kwame’s running journey, how a childhood sports injury sparked his passion for public health, and how that led to a lifetime of advocacy and leadership.Kwame shares the story behind his world record: walking an incredible 2,007,178 steps in a single month! We talk about:* What drove him to attempt the record* The physical and mental challenges he faced* How walking—one of the simplest forms of movement—can transform your healthWe also touch on the connection between movement, mindfulness, and community empowerment.📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir EyalA New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose* by Eckhart Tolle 🌐 Connect with Kwame Terra* Instagram: @kwameterra* Twitter: @kwameterra* Website: bEHR Health SystemsApp name: dacadooAccess code for the app: RUNNINGVOYAGER🔔 Don’t forget to **follow or subscribe** on your favorite podcast platform, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a little motivation to start moving!Support the show
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1:25:55
Skipping to Save Lives – The Rope Runner’s Mission with Marissa Groenewald
Send us a textIn this episode, we’re joined by Marissa Groenewald, better known as The Rope Runner—an unstoppable force blending endurance sport with powerful advocacy.Marissa recently made history by becoming the first person to complete a marathon while skipping, and she didn’t stop there. She’s already conquered the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56km)—also on a skipping rope—and is now preparing for her biggest challenge yet: the legendary Comrades Marathon (89km).Her mission? To raise R500,000 for Love Justice International, an organization that fights human trafficking by intercepting victims before they’re lost across borders. Every skip she takes is a step toward saving lives.Marissa’s passion is personal. Inspired by her mother’s work helping trafficking survivors in Asia, she’s using her platform, strength, and story to protect those who need it most.💛 Join us as Marissa shares how she’s turning an unconventional sport into a movement for justice—and why she believes every jump can change a life.Links:👉 Support her campaign: BackaBuddy – The Rope Runner’s Race for HumanityMarissa's Instagram pageMarissa's FacebookComrades Marathon Ryan Sandes: Run. Risk. Reward.: My Epic Trail-Running AdventuresSupport the show
This is a podcast about running and storytelling. Each episode we’ll talk to a runner and hear their story. Running is never just about running there’s always so much more to it!
South Africa