Advertise on podcast: The thisABILITY Adventures Podcast

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ In this episode, Team thisABILITY takes us behind the scenes of the 26-hour Teton Ogre Adventure Race in Idaho. Andrea Anderson, Eric Smith, Kenny Sheffler, and Chip Dodd raced as hard and fast as they could, finishing 2nd overall and just one checkpoint short of clearing the entire course. The team covered more than 84 miles and climbed over 15,000 feet, pushing through a course that truly lived up to its reputation as one of the toughest adventure races around. Team thisABILITY shares the race strategy, teamwork, challenges, and those final moments when every minute on the clock matters. And, of course, there's the part of adventure racing that makes it so special—the camaraderie between teams and racers. #AdventureRacing #TetonOgre #TeamThisABILITY #AdventureRacingPodcast #RaceRecap #ExpeditionRace #Idaho  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Andrea Anderson sits down with Em Panietz, Sara Boyer, and Melissa Dupke-Bourgeois to talk about their incredible experience racing solo at Cowboy Tough, a grueling 50-hour adventure race. What does it take to navigate, trek, bike, paddle, and push through the mental and physical challenges of an expedition-style race—all on your own? Em Panietz took the challenge to another level, finishing as the 2nd overall winner! 🥈 Hear the stories, strategies, struggles, and lessons from three incredible women who took on Cowboy Tough solo. 🎧 Melissa is directing this race!  ↓  https://adventuregirlsracing.org/team/ #AdventureRacing #CowboyTough #TeamThisABILITY #WomenInAdventureRacing  #WomeninAR #USARA Support the show

Send us Fan Mail After a season filled with solo efforts, Team thisABILITY was finally back together. In this episode, Chip Dodd, Andrea Anderson, David Grabiner, and Kevin Keck recap their experience at the 27-Hour Brake the Habit Adventure Race in Marlinton, West Virginia. What looked straightforward on paper quickly turned into a race of constant decision-making. Throughout the night and into the final hours, the team found themselves analyzing route choices, adjusting plans, and balancing risk versus reward as they fought to stay competitive and make every checkpoint count. Their strategy paid off. Team thisABILITY crossed the finish line as the 1st Place 4-Person Coed Team and 2nd Overall. A major storyline throughout the race was their battle with the incredible Women of AR team—Britt Mason, Karen Dulaney, Susan Aldeman, and Michelle Hobson. Time and again, both teams seemed to arrive at checkpoints together despite taking different routes. Their presence kept the pressure on from start to finish and pushed Team thisABILITY to stay sharp throughout the race. The episode also covers the highs and lows of racing as a team again, the route choices that made the difference, and how they managed to hold on until the very last miles—ultimately becoming the final team to reach the finish line. 📲 Follow Team thisABILITY Racing: Instagram: @thisabilityracing Facebook: Team thisABILITY Racing YouTube: Team thisABILITY Racing Kica Air Pump: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=kica+jet+fan&crid=3LCGFFWNT9KVB&sprefix=kica%2Caps%2C165&ref=nb_sb_ss_p13n-expert-pd-ops-ranker_ci_hl-bn-left_1_4 https://www.backcountry.com/b/aire-k-mini-pump? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Andrea and Chip break down their experience racing the Cerberus Adventure Stage Race in Newcastle, Virginia — a unique three-day stage race hosted by Adventure Source that mixed long race days with camp life, good food, and time to actually sleep and socialize between stages. The episode also dives into race strategy, cutoff pressure, navigation lessons, and the mental gears racers find when time starts running out. Andrea finished as the 2nd soloist and 12th overall, while Chip placed 1st as solo and 3rd overall despite a time penalty. Pack raft inflator (Kica Jet Fan – often misheard as “Kiva”): •Camping Hiking Adventures: https://campinghikingadventures.com/products/electric-pump-for-inflating-packrafts •MRS official site: https://www.mrsraft.com/ Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing (New Castle, VA): •https://www.wilderness-adventure.com (linked via Virginia.org listing) •Address: 11176 Peaceful Valley Rd, New Castle, VA — https://maps.google.com/?q=11176+Peaceful+Valley+Rd,+New+Castle,+VA+24127 Out There USA Packs: •https://outthereusa.com/ Hyperlite Mountain Gear Packs: •https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/ ROCKBROS Pants: •Amazon.com: ROCKBROS Men and Womens Cycling Bike Pants Quick-Dry Outdoor Mountain Running Hiking Gear Black'' } : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry BRONAX Shoes: •Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09P43J5LN?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apan_dp_5BDRZCSV408MAA4XBRHT&ref_ Seneca Rocks Climbing School (WV): •https://www.climbseneca.com Sterling HollowBlock2 (friction hitch): •https://sterlingrope.com/hollowblock2/ Rappel How-tos: https://youtube.com/shorts/A_vsn145ROM?si=G39bidskgeV-rSLF https://youtu.be/ar-ueF57BFc?si=7sF3WVRvP2tqCzfm Follow us on our social media accounts Instagram: @thisabilityracing Facebook: Team thisABILITY Adventure Racing YouTube: ThisABILITY Racing Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Chip and Andrea share their experience racing at the Shenandoah Epic 24 Hour Adventure Race, organized by Adventure Enablers in the mountains of Shenandoah Valley. Racing solo for 24 hours is never easy, but both racers had an incredible day on the course. Chip Dodd and Andrea Anderson each took 1st place in their respective solo divisions, earning a spot on the podium after a full day of trekking, biking, navigating, and pushing through the challenges of this ever-changing race. They also share highlights from the course, lessons learned from racing solo, and appreciation for the adventure racing community that makes events like this so special. 🎧 Tune in for stories from the race, reflections from the course, and a celebration of another unforgettable day in the Shenandoah mountains. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Chip, Andrea, Nick, and David take on The MAGNIficent 2026, tackling a course packed with challenging navigation, demanding terrain, and nonstop decision-making. In this episode, they share their experience racing together—breaking down key route choices, the toughest sections of the course, and the moments that made the race memorable. From teamwork and strategy to the unpredictable twists that come with adventure racing, tune in to hear how the team navigated their way through another unforgettable 7 days on the course. The MAGNIficent Adventure Race 2026 is a multi-day expedition adventure race held on the South Island of New Zealand, specifically across the Southland Region and Otago Region, with the town of Gore serving as the race headquarters.  Dates: February 28 – March 8, 2026 Race start: March 1, 2026 Course closes: March 7, 2026 Total distance: about 500 km Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Andrea and Chip take the mic to recap the Winter Warmup Adventure Race, a 5-hour race organized by GRIT Adventure Racing in Maryland. From cold-weather challenges to smart navigation and nonstop movement, they break down what made this race tough—and fun. The episode also includes practical winter gear tips for racing in cold conditions. Chip shares his experience winning overall and being the only racer to clear the entire course, while Andrea talks about racing solo, finishing 1st in the Masters Female division, 1st solo female, and 13th overall. A mix of race strategy, lessons learned, and winter racing insights you can take into your next adventure. Chip's preferred glove for this race: https://www.amazon.com/Windproof-Adjustable-Suitable-Outdoor-Running-Cycling/dp/B07JHP9SDG/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1550KKIDM7GYM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qCSjTrNw1gQE3lDHEY4Lx_LtgYIancFZYq4UeBctsjZffXYdwFVj8qYsWmGhAI1AIjjnxSo0qCAJ9sNoytiy6kQUOgLOHOVQT-lTDgfnngKHHMjlseRnTU6ZELM2P36Faxr4Vit6Zz2_jZASEHEDLVw4SLLrWNLPlll51bpMidLSCrhjwNMXxvISCkOo7xth33d3NN4xMBYXXXIFXVdQAh2TLnAWYxB5axC9GAiQd6RQqcxtR7_EibphSaZE3KHFnw6BpcnoguLJDifJhdmFhnUEIpyTd9tMrZepdEzhrog.XB5CtP-0pD9roT8unnBV-HghGa2q0mAij9kiV1Set2c&dib_tag=se&keywords=warm%2Bgloves%2Bwith%2Bzipper&qid=1768273832&sprefix=warm%2Bgloves%2Bwith%2Bzipper%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-7&th=1 Andrea's preferred glove for this race: https://www.montbell.com/us/en/products/detail/1118256?fo=0&color=BK Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Doug Silk of ARDotWatch sits down with Team thisABILITY members — Chip Dodd, Caitlin Stark, David Grabiner, and Nick Hurff — for an inside look at their journey through Adventure Racing World Championship: Expedition Canada 2025. From high-alpine trekking to cold-water paddling and complex navigation across British Columbia’s wild terrain.  Get an inside look at how they pushed through the elements in one of the world’s toughest expedition race.  Note: There are a few audio hiccups at the start, but hang in there, the quality improves, and the stories are absolutely worth it. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Team thisABILITY takes on the 2025 Mint Springs 8-Hour Adventure Race in Crozet, Virginia. Chip delivers a stellar performance, finishing first overall in 4 hours and 37 minutes, while Andrea marks a major milestone — her first adventure race since recovering from injury.  Huge thanks to John and the Crozet Racing crew for hosting such a well-designed and scenic course — and for keeping racers fueled with post-race hotdogs and snacks 🌭 Support the show

Send us Fan Mail  Join Team thisABILITY — Chip Dodd, Sarah Goldman, and Mark Bolyard — as they relive their adventure at the 2025 USARA National Championships, held on September 12–13, 2025, in Bentonville, Arkansas.  Dive into the stories before the finish line — the teamwork, the strategy, and the stories that kept them moving forward.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Andrea chats with Joel Flory of 180 Adventures/Lone PAWS and Alyssa Godesky of Pretty Reckless about the realities of injury recovery and their experiences at the USARA National Championships, a 30-hour race held in Bentonville, Arkansas. Alyssa shares insights from her journey with Pretty Reckless, an all-women’s team that finished 7th overall at the USARA National Championships, while Joel talks about his team, 180 Adventures/Lone PAWS, who placed 9th in the coed division and 19th overall. It’s an honest and inspiring conversation about perseverance, mindset, and finding strength when it matters most.  Learn more about Alyssa at alyssagodesky.com  Follow her on Instagram: @alyssagodesky Whether you're gearing up for your first 5K, chasing your next ultra, tackling a multi-day expedition race, or coming back from an injury—  www.nickhurffcoaching.com  offers personalized coaching to help you reach your goals. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Team thisABILITY dives into their wild experience at the Sud Raid Adventure Race in France. From biking, trekking, paddling, caving in dark tunnels, and even tackling quirky challenges like golfing and curling. Chip Dodd, Mark Miller, Nick Hurff, and Brenda Carlson share the highs, lows, and unforgettable moments of this extraordinary race.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Chrissy van Assendelft shares her journey of reclaiming strength after a frozen shoulder left her sidelined.  A powerful story of resilience, healing, and self-awareness. Stay tuned till the very end to find out what women do better than men. Whether you're gearing up for your first 5K, chasing your next ultra, tackling a multi-day expedition race, or coming back from an injury—  www.nickhurffcoaching.com  offers personalized coaching to help you reach your goals. https://www.drstacysims.com/newsletters/articles/posts/optimal-protein-intake-for-women https://www.drstacysims.com/newsletters/articles/posts/fasting-for-active-women-risks https://www.drstacysims.com/newsletters/articles/posts/hydration-for-active-women https://www.drstacysims.com/newsletters/articles/posts/menopause https://www.drstacysims.com/newsletters/articles/posts/Resistance_Training_Getting_the_Respect_It_Deserves https://www.drstacysims.com/newsletters/articles/posts/Women_Need_Strength_for_Life Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Andrea shares an honest and heartfelt update on her recovery, opening up about the physical challenges she’s facing and the emotional weight that comes with being sidelined by injury. She’s joined by Nick Hurff, who breaks down her recovery plan, key mindset shifts, and the road ahead. Meanwhile, Chip shares exciting details about Team thisABILITY’s upcoming race at Expedition France – Accueil this August 2025 — a race Andrea will be cheering on from afar.  Whether you're gearing up for your first 5K, chasing your next ultra, tackling a multi-day expedition race, or coming back from an injury—  www.nickhurffcoaching.com  offers personalized coaching to help you reach your goals. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Andrea and Chip sit down with David Grabiner, coming off America’s Toughest Race—Expedition Oregon. David shares what it was like racing solo through Oregon’s rugged backcountry, where he finished 3rd in the Sololist Category and 7th overall. Hear about the grit, the strategy, and what it takes to do it alone.  Whether you're gearing up for your first 5K, chasing your next ultra, tackling a multi-day expedition race, or coming back from an injury—  www.nickhurffcoaching.com  offers personalized coaching to help you reach your goals.  Support the show