Advertise on podcast: Miles & Mountains

He built 13 video rental stores, brushed up against pop culture history, then watched streaming wipe out an entire era. Instead of letting that loss define him, Bill “Epic Bill” Bradley turns reinvention into a sport and then chooses the most unforgiving arenas he can find to prove one point: you can keep going even when the odds say you shouldn’t. We talk through the entrepreneurial origin story, including the rejection from banks and the scrappy credit-card strategy that got his first store open. Then we follow the pivot into sobriety, running, and extreme endurance, from Badwater 135 to the escalation of double Badwater and a jaw-dropping quadruple crossing of Death Valley. Along the way, Bill shares what failure actually feels like up close: underestimating the Grand Canyon, getting pushed off course in the English Channel, and coming within 600 feet of Aconcagua’s summit before his body shuts down in the thin air. The heart of the conversation is mindset. Bill explains why he chases what scares him, how he uses mantras like “I’m doing the best I can do, and the best I can do is good enough,” and why “chunking” a giant goal into small milestones keeps him moving. If you’re searching for resilience, mental toughness, ultrarunning motivation, or a real-world blueprint for not quitting, this one delivers. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review with the goal you’re ready to take back. Instagram:  @epicbillbradley https://www.instagram.com/epicbillbradley?igsh=MXY4bDdvb2FhamI5Yw== @epic_bill_film https://www.instagram.com/epic_bill_film?igsh=aDh6YTI5enFkdWFh Shoutout to: Epic Bill Bradley  The Bradley Family  Ultra Running Community  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

The camera doesn’t care if you’re exhausted, sunbaked, or doubting yourself, it still asks for the truth. We sit down with Amber Myers, a photographer whose work threads through trail running, family life, and the intense world of ultra marathon racing. Her story starts with a borrowed beginner camera and a single fall photo that proved she could capture mood without forcing it. It eventually pulls her into endurance sports photography, where the stakes are higher and the moments are far more fragile.  We talk about what it’s really like to document races such as Badwater 135 and Cocodona 250 from the crew side: file dumps at checkpoints, hiking out for more honest angles, and learning how to stay invisible while still getting the shot. Amber shares the surreal reality of extreme heat, how crews keep runners safe, and why the ultra community often wants the gritty frames the ones that show the hard minutes, not the highlight reel. Along the way, she opens up about imposter syndrome, earning trust around big names, and how supportive photographers helped her level up fast.  Health is the turning point. Autoimmune issues and adrenal stress force her to let go of personal racing goals, including a 100-miler dream, but not her place in the sport. We also dig into why jiu jitsu became a better fit for her body, how training teaches calm “one inch at a time,” and why constant wearable metrics can create more stress than clarity. If you’re into ultra running, trail culture, endurance mindset, or sports storytelling, this conversation offers a grounded way to keep moving forward when your plans change.  Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a friend in the endurance community, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Instagram:  @ambermyersphoto https://www.instagram.com/ambermyersphoto?igsh=MTlmMW9hNWFhaG13eA== Shoutout to: Amber Myers  The Myers Family  Ultra Running Community  Ben Light Mike McKnight Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

A PRCA bullfighter isn’t there to look fearless, he’s there to be trustworthy when everything goes wrong in a split second. We talk with Colt Steggell about what bullfighting really is: reading cattle, attacking the bull’s line at the right moment, and taking responsibility for a rider’s safe exit. If you’ve ever wondered how rodeo athletes protect each other while still competing, his answer lands hard and clear.  Colt breaks down the realities people never see on camera: broken ribs, cracked sternums, and how a bullfighting vest helps but doesn’t save you from bad decisions. He also walks us through the PRCA pro card process step by step, from getting NFR level signatures, to paying for evaluations, to fighting pro rodeos on a permit while you’re still being scored. Failing twice nearly crushed him until blunt feedback forced a reset: be more aggressive, and stop doing it like you’re not having fun.  Then the conversation turns to the topic he most wants in the open: veteran suicide and mental health. Colt shares losing a fellow soldier, surviving two suicide attempts, and why dissociation and depression can hit even if you never deployed. We also talk about community-driven support through WarriorsnRodeo and Operation VetNow, and how brotherhood can be a real lifeline, not a slogan.  If this hit home, share it with a friend, subscribe for more real stories from the rodeo and military worlds, and leave a review so more people who need these conversations can find them. What part of Colt’s story stayed with you? Instagram:  @the_stegg45 https://www.instagram.com/the_stegg45?igsh=MXhlbXpydzA4NjRjNA== Shoutout to: Colton Steggell The Steggell Family  Rodeo Community Jace Angus  Riley Riddle  Operation VetNow Warriors and Rodeo  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

We sit down with Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud and Seven Clay, to unpack the hard pivot from jack-of-all-trades operator to disciplined builder. He shares how a simple birthday joke at his office turned into a serious wake-up call, and why implementing EOS, org charts, and SOPs let him stop being the bottleneck without lowering standards. From there we go deep on the craft behind endurance gear. Josh explains the biomechanics that drive a truly stable hydration pack, why stability prevents chafing, and how fabric choices, breathable spacer mesh, ripstop nylon, and YKK zippers add up to durability you can trust for long trail runs, ultramarathons, gravel rides, and adventure races. He also tells the unfiltered startup story: ugly early prototypes, the mystery of tech packs, factories that will not call you back, and how one good connection can change everything. We also tackle the complicated economics of “Made in USA” versus overseas production, plus the exact kind of frustration that sparks new companies. When local shops could not deliver quality embroidery, Josh built Seven Clay and scaled it nationwide. If you care about product design, manufacturing, small business scaling, customer feedback loops, and endurance performance, this conversation delivers real decisions, not vague motivation. Subscribe, share this with a founder or athlete friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway: where are you still being the “fixer” in your own life? Website: https://www.orangemud.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorJsXpTkD5q-ZFa8rT3EU-qgw4jKNmhh79Eo2LUkrk3otAxOc5R Instagram:  @orangemud https://www.instagram.com/orangemud?igsh=eXhiNWxyZXVvazI1 @sevenclay https://www.instagram.com/sevenclay?igsh=eGNoYzIzY2NrZmIw Shoutout to: Josh Sprague The Sprague Family Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

He’s not trying to look perfect online. He’s trying to tell the truth about the road. We sit down with Andrew, a traveling rodeo photographer and videographer who’s built a reputation for showing the whole story. That means early mornings, midnight edits, flat tires, long drives, and the unglamorous reality behind the “one great shot.” We talk about what the job actually demands, why communication earns patience, and how his background in fashion photography helped him create better rodeo storytelling for brands, sponsors, and rodeo organization's. Then the conversation turns personal. Andrew explains the meaning behind “Howdy Friend,” the phrase that became his mission and merch line, and why it’s rooted in inclusion, kindness, and mental health awareness. He shares how heartbreak and loneliness spiraled into depression and suicidal thoughts, and how small, ordinary moments in rodeo community became the turning points that saved his life. If you’ve ever wondered how community shows up when you don’t ask for help, this will hit home. We also dig into the practical side of building a creative career in the Western industry: chasing a PRCA pro card, networking, earning trust, learning horses to be safer and more useful around the chutes, and defining success as respect rather than hype. If you care about rodeo photography, Western lifestyle media, travel photography, or honest conversations about mental health on the road, you’ll get real takeaways here. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs a “Howdy Friend” moment, and leave a review telling us what part of Andrew’s story stayed with you. Instagram:  @avaranch_rodeo https://www.instagram.com/avaranch_rodeo?igsh=Y2c4czZzZHduZG9k Shoutout to: Andrew Van Asselt aka AVA  Howdy Friend  Emma Folz Rodeo Community Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

Eight seconds is the easy part to talk about. The hard part is what happens when the rider comes off wrong, the bull turns back, and a bullfighter has to choose a gap with no guarantee he’s walking out clean. That’s where Riley Riddle lives, and he joins us to explain what real preparation looks like in professional rodeo bullfighting.  We get into the daily work most people never see: training five to six days a week, staying “old school” with weights and time in the dirt on practice bulls, and treating the gym as mental training as much as physical. Riley also calls out a trend he’s watching closely in bull riding and local rodeos, where some people want the photos and the TikToks more than the reps. He breaks down why that mindset does not just limit performance, it can put bullfighters in a bad spot when riders don’t commit and the arena gets unpredictable.  Riley shares what 36 years in rodeo has taught him about professionalism, reputation, and being the same person at the day job, at the airport, and behind the chutes. We also talk rodeo content creation, how he actually gets filmed, why editing takes time, and how he chooses music that stays clean and watchable for every age. Then we go straight into the danger: a hospital trip, a horn to the head, and the kind of decision-making that keeps riders safe even when it costs you.  If you care about rodeo fitness, bull riding safety, the realities of the rodeo lifestyle, and what it means to give 110% when it counts, you’ll get a lot from this one. Subscribe, share the episode with a rodeo friend, and leave a review with your take: is practice the real separator or is it something else? Instagram: @official_starch_rileyriddle https://www.instagram.com/official_starch_rileyriddle?igsh=MXd3Y3RzdGF0YTA5Yg== Shoutout to: Riley Riddle The Riddle Family  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

Barrel racing looks like a blur of speed, three tight turns, and a clock that doesn’t care how far you hauled to get there. The truth is messier and more interesting. Arley Hughes joins us to talk about what it really costs to compete in rodeo, why so many athletes do it anyway, and how a “hobby” can turn into a lifestyle built around horses, hauling, and grit. We get honest about the overhead most people never see: the truck and trailer, diesel, feed, farrier work, vet bills, and the reality that “profitable weekend” is the exception, not the rule.  Arley also shares her story of starting on horses as a little kid, stepping away when life and support made it hard, then jumping back in decades later when her husband opened the door. From buying tack again to running jackpots and quickly grabbing a WPRA permit, she explains how passion can outrun perfection and why momentum matters more than waiting until you feel “ready.” We also dig into the questions every rodeo family faces: how to enter rodeos around T-ball, cheer, business demands, and travel, and what would change if a once in a lifetime horse put bigger goals on the table.  You’ll hear practical road-life details too: what she does before and after a run, how she thinks about fitness and core strength, the calendar systems that keep everything moving, and the food strategies that make long weekends doable with kids in the rig. If you love barrel racing, WPRA rodeos, or just want a real look at rodeo work life balance, this one delivers. Subscribe for more conversations, share this with a rodeo friend, and leave a review with the part that hit closest to home. Instagram:  @arleyann1017 https://www.instagram.com/arleyann1017?igsh=MTFhdWZ5OGhxOHltbA== Shoutout to: Mrs. Arley Ann Hughes The Hughes Family WPRA Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

A city background does not prepare you for a morning that starts with milking a cow, scanning for rattlesnakes, and measuring your day in half-day chunks because there are no shortcuts. We sit down with the co-owner of SISU Farms, to talk about how she went from urban convenience to a full-on homesteading experiment on remote land, and why she believes you can change your entire life faster than you think. The story begins with a family health crisis and a growing distrust of “business as usual” solutions. That pressure turns into a deep dive into self-sufficient living: sourcing ingredients directly, learning food preservation and fermentation, and building a farm-to-table routine where milk can go from cow to table in hours. Along the way, we get honest about the unfiltered realities of rural life: wildfire risk, fire breaks, livestock management, predators, and the kind of small mistakes that can lead to big consequences. We also talk about the parts people rarely post, including the heartbreak of animal loss, the grind of long workdays, and the decision to delete negativity on social media instead of feeding the outrage machine. She shares what helps her stay steady, from running quiet rural roads to sauna culture and learning to sit with her own thoughts. If you’re curious about homesteading for beginners, off-grid mindset, and what it really takes to build a self-reliant family life, this conversation will give you both the inspiration and the reality check. If this gave you a new way to think about your own life, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s craving a reset, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of homesteading would you try first? Instagram: _sisufarms_ https://www.instagram.com/_sisufarms_?igsh=MTd5MzliY3cxMGYyOQ== Shoutout to: SISU  The SISU Farms Family  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

The crowd sees the run. We live everything wrapped around it: the midnight departures, the feed stops, the horse-first priorities, and the mental snap from exhausted to locked in when it’s finally time to compete. From Centralia to Port Angeles to the next town, we talk through what a real rodeo weekend looks like when you’re hauling, swapping slack, sleeping in fragments, and still expected to perform like nothing hurts. If you’ve ever wondered how rodeo athletes survive the travel grind, this one puts you in the passenger seat.  We also get into the part people avoid saying out loud: rodeo finances can feel like gambling on yourself. Entry fees, fuel, repairs, and those weekends where you go home broke. We break down how competitors think about payouts, why guaranteed money from pickup work is hard to turn down, and what it means to choose between chasing competition and staying financially stable. Along the way, we talk steer wrestling, team roping, the culture behind the chutes, and why the best talent really does look like “D1 athletes” when you watch them up close.  Then the conversation turns raw and personal. I share what cancer remission, grief, and burnout taught me about fake support, real friendship, and putting family first. We talk faith without the performative stuff: showing up, sitting in silence, and the emotions that surface when you’re trying to rebuild yourself with discipline, training, and honesty.  If you got something from this, subscribe, share it with a friend who respects the grind, and leave a review so more people can find these stories. What part of the road life would break you first: sleep, money, or mindset? Instagram: @wileyjackcoyote_22 https://instagram.com/wileyjackcoyote_22?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Facebook: @wileyjack.karas https://www.facebook.com/wileyjack.karas?mibextid=LQQJ4d Shoutout to: Wiley Jack Coyote Karas The Karas Family Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

A fifteen-year-old stock show competitor opens up about life in FFA, why she chose pigs over sports, and how caring for animals builds real discipline. She shares the feed plans, show prep, and family support that keep her moving toward a future in nursing. • moving from 4‑H to FFA and finding a better fit • what FFA teaches about livestock, routine, and responsibility • choosing pigs, training methods, and daily handling • feeding strategies, target weights, and show prep for OYE • weekly care, pen cleaning, grooming, and teamwork with her sister • honest talk about butchering, costs, and hard choices • future goals in healthcare inspired by her grandmother. Shoutout to : Jaxi Long  The Long Family  FFA  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

A metal kid grows up on thrash and stadium riffs, then finds himself writing country songs on a beat-up acoustic. That’s where our conversation with Jared Graham begins—somewhere between distortion and dust, showmanship and bare-boned truth—and it doesn’t let up until the last chord rings. We trade stories about the albums that rewired our ears—early Metallica, the maligned but meaningful Saint Anger, and the Red Dirt records that sneak up on you with brutal honesty. Jared opens up about bombing out of a formal music track, switching majors, and refusing to quit the guitar. The pandemic pause gave him space to write; the return to stages—from winery barns to Montana saloons—taught him how to read a room, shift gears mid-set, and end with a song that matters to his family. If you’ve ever fought for a booking by sheer persistence, or felt that jolt when a crowd locks in and the set starts feeding on itself, you’ll recognize his path. We tour the Northwest circuit—Long Branch’s songwriter rounds, Ellensburg’s WinterHop, Tri-Cities breweries that turn taps into stages—and swap notes on live presence from Slayer’s velocity to Demon Hunter’s surprise catharsis to Sturgill Simpson’s relentless focus. Along the way, we dig into why rock-to-country isn’t a sellout move but a search for a fuller language: metal names the rage, country names the ache, and together they feel like real life. If you love genre-bending artists, gritty lyrics, and the DIY hustle behind every “yes,” this one’s for you. Hit play, then tell us the show that changed you—and where Jared should play next. Subscribe, share with a friend who lives for live music, and leave a review so more listeners can find the pod. Instagram: @jared.q.graham https://www.instagram.com/jared.q.graham?igsh=Y3VmZW9lZjg0OGVk Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/share/1AtbGwnQsK/?mibextid=wwXIfr Shoutout to : Jared Graham The Graham Family  Music that shaped us.  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

What does it take to aim your life at 89 mph and keep your head still while the world blurs? We sit with Andy Whittier, a Team USA skeleton hopeful on the cusp of Cortina 2026 and pull back the curtain on a sport that pairs sprint speed with steel nerves and brutal precision. From a small Idaho town and Division I football to a niche winter discipline, he explains why size and weight caps push some athletes toward skeleton, how a 70-pound sled changes sprint mechanics, and why no two 50-second runs on the same track ever feel the same. The journey isn’t glamorous. He left a secure marketing career, lived on sponsors and side gigs before a stipend finally kicked in, and accepted that holidays would happen without him. Training is a study in extremes: two to three runs a day, 4–6 G’s testing neck strength, and hours of film, sanding runners, mobility, and “mind runs” to map every curve. We trace the selection process from Park City to Europe—how circuits are assigned, how points stack from November to late January, and why only two men and two women will ultimately earn their Olympic start numbers. What stands out is the mindset. He talks about crashing early and getting back on the sled 15 minutes later, about reducing life to the work in front of him, and about the electric weight of the anthem after a win. The culture is both cutthroat and generous—teammates push each other hard and celebrate each other’s breakthroughs—because the flag deserves the best-prepared athlete on race day. If you’ve ever wondered how visualization, relentless discipline, and community support can carry someone from a local track to the world stage, this conversation delivers an unfiltered look at the process and the price. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves winter sports, and leave a review with your favorite moment. Then set a reminder to watch the Utah Olympic Park selection races on YouTube and tell us: would you go headfirst even once? Instagram: @andy_whittier_ https://www.instagram.com/andy_whittier_?igsh=MWt1cnM0NHpiZ2U2OQ== Website: https://linktr.ee/awhittier Shoutout to : Andy Whittier  The Whittier Family  US Skeleton Team  US Winter Olympic Team  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

A headlamp slicing the dark. A kid who’d rather be grinding levels than hiking switchbacks. A flash of fear on the roadside that turns into something like courage. Eliot Peper joins us to share Ensorcelled, his compact 90-minute novel about a boy named Tim whose attention is split between the glowing pull of video games and the raw, unscripted wonder of the Sierra backcountry. We dig into why this story works so well in a short form and how a tight arc can carry more voltage than a sprawling series. Eliot talks about writing in first person to capture a mind that hops from action to reflection to speculation, and how the book intentionally blurs that line where imagination colors reality without erasing it. He opens up about the moment that inspired the “rewild your attention” theme: seeing himself through his newborn’s eyes, staring at a small rectangle while the world dazzled right beside it. From there, we trace the trail—parents, friction, friends, and a mysterious light that readers can’t stop talking about. The outdoors isn’t just scenery here. Eliot draws from real trips to a hidden Sierra lake and a life lived near the Pacific, where surfing teaches timing, patience, and commitment. We talk about creativity as a way to love nature more—write a page, sketch a shoreline, record a wave—and why that practice makes the next ride richer. We also widen the lens: genre as a toolbox rather than a box, how to market work that refuses neat labels, and why he thinks writer’s block is a myth for long-form storytellers. Plus, a candid take on AI as both promise and upheaval, closer to the printing press than a passing fad. If you’re hungry for a fast, moving read that blends fantasy’s wonder with the grit of real trails, you’ll find a lot to love here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge outdoors, and leave a review to help more listeners discover the show. Instagram: @eliotpeper https://www.instagram.com/eliotpeper?igsh=MWJ4eXh5bGhjbHVzbw== Website: https://eliotpeper.com Shoutout to : Eliot Peper The Peper Family  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

Step into the world of rodeo media with Clay Noel Harper, the 26-year-old Editor-in-Chief of Rodeo Life magazine who's reshaping how Western stories are told. Born into what many consider "rodeo royalty," Clay Noel shares her unique journey from college rodeo competitor to becoming a respected voice in rodeo journalism. With remarkable humility, Clay Noel opens up about growing up in a family deeply rooted in the Western way of life. Her father, a retired bullfighter turned renowned Western artist with a secret passion for Sasquatch hunting, instilled in her the importance of giving back to the industry that gave her so much. This mission has guided her career from New Mexico State University through positions at Cowboy Channel and now as an independent media professional balancing editorial leadership with sideline reporting at major rodeos across the country. What makes Clay Noel’s perspective particularly valuable is her insider-outsider position in the industry. Married to professional saddle bronc rider Joe Harper, she provides intimate glimpses into the challenges rodeo athletes face—from judging inconsistencies to the physical toll of competition. Yet as a media professional, she maintains the analytical eye needed to tell these stories authentically. Her passion for showcasing the human element of rodeo shines through as she discusses memorable interviews, including her final conversation with bareback rider Trenton Montero before his tragic passing. Clay Noel’s insights about rodeo's evolution are particularly fascinating. She discusses how modern competitors approach their sport with professional athlete mindsets while maintaining rodeo's gritty spirit. She celebrates the industry's growing inclusivity while emphasizing what makes rodeo unique—particularly its recognition of animals as athletes in their own right. Whether you're a lifelong rodeo fan or just curious about Western culture, Clay Noel’s story offers a compelling look at an industry balancing tradition with innovation. Subscribe now to hear how faith, family, and flying hooves have shaped one of rodeo media's rising stars, and discover why her voice is helping preserve the authentic stories of the American West. Instagram: @clay_noel25 https://www.instagram.com/clay_noel25?igsh=OHU3OXY5azBsNzhj Shoutout to : Mrs. Clay Noel Harper Joe Harper Rodeo Life Magazine  The Barry Family  The Manning Family  Miles Barry Wiley Coyote Karas  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Alter Ego Ambassador: https://alteregorunning.com/ Miles & Mountains Promo Code: Milesmountainsyr3 Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail

What drives someone to run 200 miles through rugged mountain terrain? Just three years after her first ultra marathon, Michaela Trenidad conquered the infamous Bigfoot 200, completing the punishing course around Mount St. Helens in 74 hours.  Michaela pulls back the curtain on what she calls "the stretch of carnage" - a seven-mile section where exhausted runners collapsed alongside the trail every mile. She reveals the surreal experience of hallucinations after days without proper sleep, describing how the mind struggles to process reality when pushed to extreme limits. "I'm convinced you can sleep while walking," she shares, explaining how she navigated through nighttime sections with her eyes closed, trusting her trekking poles to keep her upright. The conversation challenges conventional wisdom about training, as Michaela reveals she typically ran just 40-60 miles weekly while preparing for this enormous challenge. This speaks to a central theme that emerges throughout: ultrarunning success stems more from mental fortitude than physical preparation. "I had no other options," she explains about her mindset approaching the race. "I had thought about it so much leading into it... it was almost like life or death in a way." Beyond the physical journey, Michaela shares touching insights about the ultrarunning community, the spiritual dimensions of seeking solitude in nature, and finding purpose in extreme challenges. Whether you're an experienced ultrarunner, a curious newcomer, or simply fascinated by what drives humans to test their limits, this conversation offers a window into the transformative power of embracing seemingly impossible challenges. Have you found your "why" for the mountains you're climbing? Join our community of trail runners and share your story with us on social media or leave a review with your own experiences pushing beyond comfort zones. Shout out to: Michaela Trenidad The Trenidad Family The TriCities Wolfpack  Badger Mountain Challenge Ben, Lance, Matt, Jason, Brandon and the rest of the Tri Cities running community.  Ag-Gear Store  https://www.aggearstore.com/ Use Code: Milesmountains  For 15% Off  Alter Ego Ambassador: https://alteregorunning.com/ Miles & Mountains Promo Code: Milesmountainsyr3 Raising Awareness: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Mental Health  Send us Fan Mail