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by Blueprint to Ultra
Whether you are dabbling with the idea of running your first ultra or wanting to figure out how you can push farther than you ever have before, we are here to help you put that plan together. Join ultra runners, Steve and Jeff, as we interview people that are just like you, all with the goal of helping you answer the question, "what does it take?"
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago1h 7m
Episode 54: Kaylee Fredrick - Proving that age doesn't define you regardless if you are 16 or pushing 90 in the sport of ultra.
Our guest today has a heck of a resume that includes having run her first 100-miler at 16 and a 200-miler at 17. Kaylee Fredrick became the youngest finisher at the Badwater 135, which she happened to also finish two other times after that, getting progressively faster each time. She represented Team USA at the 24-Hour World Championships, and even though she went in as an alternate, she had the second-most miles for the women for the USA team, recording 147 miles in 24 hours. That's ridiculous. Just recently, she won the Eastern States 100 outright, she was the first time a woman to go sub-24 in that race's history, obviously set the course record with a time of 23:09.Her story is one of learning about the sport and herself along the way. During her first 100-miler, at mile 93, she found herself lying in the middle of the trail, crying, unable to take another step. Somehow she got back up and finished those final seven miles, and on today's show, we are going to talk about what she's learned about getting through difficult moments, how her training and racing has evolved, and how she balances competing at the elite level with school and also maintaining four jobs. Whether you're preparing for your first 50K or your next 100-miler, there's a lot that we think you can learn from somebody who's experienced both the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs. Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Connect with Kaylee on IG: @frederick.kayleeConnect with us on IG: @blueprint_to_ultraLooking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/
- 2 weeks ago1h 19m
Episode 53: Danielle Fazio - You were capable the whole time
We are joined by Danielle Fazio on the show this week with a former colleague of Steve's at Fleet Feet Laguna Niguel. Danielle shares how a college triathlon in Mexico and learning to run by taking run/walk trips to Blockbuster video sparked her love of endurance sports, trail running, and ultras. Because yes, we all begin somewhere!Danielle recounts her early longer efforts like Pikes Peak Marathon, her first 50K at Lake Hodges and then her rapid progression to 100Ks and 100-milers. We dig into the Speedgoat 50K as her lowest moment which was also just a few short months prior to her running UTMB and accepting that one race doesn’t predict another. Danielle explains how a 2025 stress fracture brought relief, renewed connection through cross-training, and deeper community support leading into Kodiak, where staged mantras and process goals helped her win her age group and earn a UTMB spot. That's right, she went to from run/walks to Blockbuster video to winning a entry into UTMB by her performance at the Kodiak 100. We talk about UTMB’s demands, travel logistics, aid-station culture, pacing technical terrain, and finishing with the message, “You were capable the whole time.” The episode has a little bit of everything to help you in your own journey.Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Connect with Danielle on IG: @danielle.fazioConnect with us on IG: @blueprint_to_ultraLooking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/
- Oct 2, 20261h 8m
Episode 52: Roger Johnson - Fail until you succeed
On this episode of the podcast we interview Marine Corps instructor and hybrid athlete Roger Johnson, who began endurance sports around age 35 after reading Kelly Starrett’s Ready to Run. Roger shares how military leadership, early-morning routines, and a drive for self-discovery shaped his mindset, plus tactics like mirror reminders and eliminating “options” when the alarm goes off. We talk about his first ultra, chasing resiliency through discomfort, including his experience at the Cherokee 130K and why it didn’t deliver the emotional low he expected and hoped for. Yeah, you read that right. The conversation covers balancing strength and endurance with relatively low running volume, training constraints without elevation, preparing for his first 100-miler (Beast of the East), and how pushing with Ainsley’s Angels changed his definition of success.Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start listening, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Connect with Roger on IG: @failuntilyousucceed Connect with us on IG: @blueprint_to_ultraLooking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/
- Sep 18, 20261h 2m
Episode 51: Britney Brugger - We all run for different reasons. But, once you get into ultras, there is no turning back.
On this episode of the podcast, our guest began running after a health scare and a chronic Lyme disease diagnosis that left her with ongoing leg tingling and nervous system disconnect. Britney shares how she moved from treadmill walk-runs and insecurity about being seen running to embracing the trail community, volunteering with Ontario’s Start to Finish program supporting at-risk kids through running and reading, and rapidly progressing to 50Ks and timed events. The conversation centers on learning when to push mentally versus when to stop for injury, including her knee pain that altered training and goals. Britney discusses preparing for her first backyard ultra (Bush Bitches Backyard Ultra), her strategy for 50-minute loops, nutrition plans, and lessons from the Tally in the Valley 24-hour event and Sulphur Springs 50K.Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start listening, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Connect with Britney on IG: @brritneybConnect with us on IG: @blueprint_to_ultraLooking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/
- Sep 4, 20261h 10m
Episode 50: JJ Goodrich - In pursuit of setting a course record at Summit 200, getting into Bigs, and on the US 24 hour team.
JJ Goodrich sets goals. Big goals. JJ is a UESCA-certified ultra-running coach and ultrarunner, who has raced distances from 50K to 200 miles, timed events, and backyard ultras. The conversation centers on the Summit 200—an alpine, high-altitude 200-miler in Colorado—which JJ says changed him long before race day by pushing him to improve mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. JJ recounts his 2025 Summit 200 finish (about 90 hours) as a “recon” effort and explains his 2027 plan to chase the 61:42 course record by cutting sleep, minimizing aid-station time, using crew and pacers, and applying segment-by-segment strategy. He also discusses training approaches (strength work, altitude prep, nose breathing, run/walk intervals), his entry into ultras after his father’s death, and joins us for coaches' corner to answer a question on practicing race-morning nutrition for evening trainersJoin us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Connect with JJ on IG: @running_chowhound Connect with JJ on Strava Connect with us on IG: @blueprint_to_ultraLooking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/
- Aug 21, 20261h 10m
Episode 49: Bryan Botma - From 11 NYC Marathons to a First 100-Miler. Discipline, Bonks, and the Tahoe Rim Trail
We are joined by Bryan Botma, a former basketball player turned runner who is preparing for his 11th New York City Marathon and recently finished his first 100-miler at the Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run (25:03, 8th). Bryan explains why NYC is meaningful to him, including running it with his mom before she later died of cancer, and shares how to get into the race and his goal to become a 15-time “legacy” runner. He describes returning to trails during COVID, running Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim attempts, and choosing ultras for their uncertainty. Bryan breaks down Tahoe’s logistics, altitude, heat/cold swings, what went well (training, heat management, no foot issues, nutrition early), what caused his bonk (delayed switch to solid food, hiccups), and how his pacer helped him recover with broth and quesadillas. He also discusses post-race recovery, trail community culture, and plans to run Canyons 100.Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start watching, because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Connect with Bryan on YouTubeConnect with Bryan on StravaConnect with us on IG: @blueprint_to_ultraLooking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/
- Aug 7, 20261h 9m
Episode 48: Dawn Gwin - Would you sign up for a 100 mile race 5 days in advance?
Today's guest was recommended to us by one of you! A listener sent in a recommendation for us to interview Dawn Gwin because he admired her toughness and positivity that he saw during the Cowboy 200. On the show, Dawn talks about how she got back into running ultras later in life because the shorter races left her unsatisfied. We talk about practicing to calm the mind before the race, supporting one anothe during a race, her training with Zach Bitter. Race wise, we dig into the Honey Badger 100 held in Kansas, in July, so yes a hot one, and race that Dawn signed up for 5 days in advance - proving once again to us that we are capable of so much more than our limits tell us.Join us and don't forget to hit subscribe and like. You know, you could subscribe before you even start , because if you have read this far, well, we are friends now. So yeah, give us a like and subscribe. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Connect with Dawn: @coloradorunner60 Connect with us on IG: @blueprint_to_ultraLooking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/
- Jul 24, 20261h 12m
Episode 47: Nathaniel Burness - A masterclass in how to cut time in races.
Nathaniel ran his first marathon as a sophmore in HS with a time of 4:07. He then ran that same marathon year later in 3:07. To top that, he ran his first 50.miler at 18 in a time of 8:41 and then returned one year later and set the course record dropping over 2 hours with a time of 6:17. How? That's what we wanted to know. Join us as we pick the mind of a young Jedi on how he has learned practical fueling strategies, consistency-focused training philosophies, burnout prevention, the Hell Hole 50 miler, and Beast of the East 50 mile course records.Before you hit play, don't forget to hit subscribe and give us a like, before you forget.Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We would love to hear from you.Connect with Nathaniel on Strava.https://www.strava.com/athletes/93122943 Connect with us on IG: @blueprint_to_ultraLooking for a coach?Work with Jeff: https://www.jwultrarunning.com/Work with Steve: https://www.socalrunnercoaching.com/
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About Blueprint to Ultra
Whether you are dabbling with the idea of running your first ultra or wanting to figure out how you can push farther than you ever have before, we are here to help you put that plan together. Join ultra runners, Steve and Jeff, as we interview people that are just like you, all with the goal of helping you answer the question, "what does it take?"
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