Endurance State of Mind

Endurance State of Mind is your go-to podcast for all things endurance—from the long miles to the mental grind. Hosted by Zach Vogt and Anthony Herrington, two everyday athletes with an obsession for pushing limits, this show dives into the training, mindset, and lifestyle of endurance sports. Each episode brings candid conversations, local race highlights (especially in Mississippi), interviews with inspiring guests, and plenty of laughs along the way. Whether you’re chasing a PR or just trying to survive your next long run, this podcast will keep you motivated, informed, and connected to the endurance community.

Endurance State of Mind is a sports podcast hosted by Anthony Herrington & Zach Vogt, with 72 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Anthony Herrington & Zach Vogt hosts Endurance State of Mind, a sports show with 72 episodes published.

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  Endurance State of Mind

  Episode 73: How to Race the Rocket City Marathon | Pacing, PR, BQ & Course Strategy

  Aug 18, 20261h 35m

  What does it actually take to race the Rocket City Marathon ? Not just finish 26.2 miles, but actually execute a smart marathon from the starting line to the finish? On this episode of Endurance State of Mind , we're heading to Huntsville, Alabama, for the 50th edition of the Rocket City Marathon with Josh Moore, a coach, marathoner, and two-time Rocket City Marathon finisher . This isn't just a Rocket City Marathon course preview. We're talking about how to actually race the course , how to pace yourself, when to be patient, when to start pushing, and what runners chasing a PR, Boston Qualifying time, or sub-three-hour marathon should be thinking about before race day. Josh takes us through the Rocket City Marathon course and shares his experience racing it, including his time pacing the three-hour group during the 2025 race. We break down the opening miles, the residential sections, the Space Center, the Botanical Gardens, the final 10K, and the fast finish toward the Von Braun Center. One of the biggest lessons of the episode is simple: don't try to win the marathon in the first half. The opening miles can feel easy. You're rested, the adrenaline is high, the crowds are around you, and your goal pace can suddenly feel much faster than it should. We talk about why staying disciplined early can make all the difference when you reach miles 20, 22, and beyond. Josh also shares lessons from the 2025 Rocket City Marathon three-hour pace group , including what happens when runners leave a pace group too early, how the race changes in the second half, and why the runners who are patient early can often be the ones still moving late in the race. We get into one of the most practical questions for marathon runners: Do you trust your GPS watch or the official mile markers? We discuss GPS accuracy, certified marathon courses, running tangents, and why runners chasing a specific finishing time should build a little cushion into their goal rather than expecting their watch to perfectly match every official mile marker. That leads to a bigger conversation about marathon pacing strategy . If you're chasing a three-hour marathon, should you run exactly 6:52 pace from start to finish? Or should you give yourself some room for turns, aid stations, crowds, GPS variation, and the reality of running 26.2 miles? We break down how to approach your goal pace without becoming obsessed with the number on your watch. We also talk about the biggest moments on the Rocket City course, including the Space Center, Botanical Gardens, elevation changes, and final miles back toward Huntsville . The final 10K becomes especially important. Instead of spending your energy early, the goal is to arrive at the final 10K with something left. Josh explains why runners shouldn't be afraid to change gears around the 10K-to-go mark and start racing when the course begins to work in their favor. We also discuss a key mental checkpoint late in the race: 24.7 miles. Instead of thinking about how much farther you have to go until 26.2, getting to roughly 24.7 miles means you're almost home. The crowds are coming back, the finish is getting closer, and it's time to spend whatever you've been saving. Beyond pacing and course strategy, we get into the practical side of marathon racing. We talk about fueling, hydration, aid stations, warm-ups, clothing, cold-weather racing, and watch data . Josh explains how he uses lap pace and lap time to stay on target instead of constantly chasing the instantaneous pace on his watch. We also look back at the difficult conditions during the 2025 Rocket City Marathon , including cold temperatures and strong winds, and talk about how runners can prepare for unpredictable December weather in Huntsville. If you're running Rocket City, preparation isn't just about the miles. It's about knowing the course, understanding the conditions, having a fueling plan, knowing your goal pace, and being prepared to adjust when race day doesn't go exactly according to plan. We also talk about what makes the Rocket City Marathon such a special race. With nearly 50 years of history, a fast course, strong organization, and a race-day experience designed around the runner, Rocket City has developed a reputation as a race for runners, by runners . From transportation and parking to aid stations, course support, the expo, and the finish inside the Von Braun Center, the goal is to take as much of the logistical stress away from runners as possible. Once you're on the starting line, there's really only one thing left to do: Run. And that's where the conversation gets bigger than Rocket City. We talk about what it means to stand on a marathon starting line with a PR or Boston Qualifying goal after months of training. You've already done the work. You've already completed the long runs. You've already put in the early mornings, the late nights, the sacrifices, and all the miles that brought you to race day. Now it's time to be present and see what that work can produce. We talk about gratitude, staying in the moment, accepting the possibility of failure, and remembering that simply putting yourself on a starting line with a difficult goal is something worth celebrating. Because not everyone is willing to put themselves in a position where they might fail. That's part of what makes endurance sports so special. Whether you're running your first marathon , chasing your next PR, trying to break three hours, pursuing a Boston Qualifying time , or simply looking for a smarter way to approach 26.2 miles, this episode is packed with practical advice you can take straight to the starting line. In this episode: • Rocket City Marathon 2026 • 50th edition of the Rocket City Marathon • Rocket City Marathon history • Huntsville, Alabama • Rocket City Marathon course breakdown • Rocket City elevation and course strategy • Marathon pacing strategy • Marathon PR strategy • Boston Qualifying strategy • Sub-3 marathon strategy • Three-hour marathon pacing • Marathon pace groups • GPS vs. official mile markers • Marathon fueling and hydration • Cold-weather marathon racing • The 2025 Rocket City Marathon • Racing the final 10K • The 24.7-mile mental checkpoint • Space Center and Botanical Gardens • Von Braun Center finish • Marathon race-day strategy • How to avoid going out too fast • When to start pushing • How to finish a marathon strong • Two-time Rocket City Marathon finisher Josh Moore • Endurance State of Mind Know your pace. Know the course. Be patient early. Save something for the finish. And when you get to that final 10K, it's time to race. This is Endurance State of Mind — a podcast about running, racing, endurance sports, the people behind the miles, and everything that happens between the starting line and the finish. https://www.instagram.com/endurance_stateofmind?igsh=cjBnanNobHhhYXNu

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  Episode #72

  Episode 72: You Know the Voice, But Do You Know Chris Worden? Behind the Mic and Beyond the Finish Line

  Aug 11, 20261h 4m

  What makes ultrarunning so compelling? Is it the elite athletes breaking records, the runners fighting through the final miles, or the stories of ordinary people doing something they never knew they could accomplish? On this episode of Endurance State of Mind , we sit down with Chris Worden , one of the most recognizable voices behind the live coverage of some of the biggest races in ultrarunning. Chris has completed more than 170 races and has spent years on both sides of the microphone—as an ultrarunner and as a broadcaster covering some of the most iconic endurance events in the country. Through his work with Mountain Outpost and Aravaipa Running , Chris has had a front-row seat to the evolution of trail running, ultramarathons, and the rapidly growing world of live ultrarunning coverage. From Cocodona 250 and Western States to Hardrock 100, Black Canyon, Javelina, Desert Solstice, and other major trail races , Chris has watched some of the greatest performances in the sport unfold in real time. But what makes his perspective unique is that he isn't only interested in the front of the pack. Chris believes some of the most powerful stories in ultrarunning are happening much farther back. In this episode, we talk about how Chris went from being a runner and former radio broadcaster to becoming one of the voices of modern ultrarunning. He explains how an opportunity to help broadcast Desert Solstice in 2018 ultimately turned into years of covering major ultramarathons and trail races across the country. Chris shares what it is actually like to spend hour after hour behind the microphone covering an ultramarathon, including the preparation, research, storytelling, sleep deprivation, and constant attention required to follow races that can last 24, 48, 60, or even 100+ hours. We also get into what Chris calls "farming for engagement" —his approach to meeting runners before races, walking around race towns, attending expos, talking with competitors, learning their stories, and finding the details that can later bring a live broadcast to life. Because in ultrarunning, everyone has a story. Chris explains why getting to know the runners before the race allows him and his broadcast partners to tell better stories once the race is underway. A runner who may be completely unknown to the audience on Friday can suddenly become one of the people thousands of viewers are cheering for on Saturday. And that leads into one of the biggest themes of this conversation: the importance of covering the back of the pack. The front of an ultramarathon gets the headlines. The records, the podiums, the course records, and the elite athletes naturally attract attention. But Chris believes the runners fighting through the final miles can create just as much—if not more—emotional investment from the audience. We discuss some of the unforgettable moments from Cocodona 250 , including the incredible story of Wayne Amo , who came within roughly a minute and a half of the cutoff after covering 250 miles. Chris describes what it was like watching the clock, doing the math, and trying to will Wayne toward the finish line as the entire broadcast team became emotionally invested in the outcome. That story becomes a perfect example of why ultrarunning is different. You may not be able to relate to a professional athlete running a record-setting performance, but you can relate to someone fighting through exhaustion, doubt, pain, and uncertainty just to make it to the finish line. We talk about why those stories matter and why the ultra community has become such an accessible and welcoming part of endurance sports. Chris also shares his thoughts on how ultrarunning has changed over the years. More generous cutoffs, more coaches working with everyday runners, improved race coverage, better production, social media, documentaries, YouTube, and the growing number of people discovering trail running have all helped make the sport more accessible. The conversation also dives into the incredible people working behind the scenes to make live ultramarathon coverage possible. We talk about follow filmers, bike crews, drones, camera operators, and the people running miles and miles alongside athletes just to capture footage for the broadcast. Some of these camera operators are elite-level runners themselves, while others are simply willing to put themselves through an incredible physical effort to tell the story of someone else's race. Chris explains why all of these pieces are necessary to create a live ultramarathon broadcast and why following a runner through difficult terrain for hours can be its own endurance event. From there, we look toward the future. Could ultrarunning eventually have a regular place on ESPN or another major sports network? Chris doesn't necessarily believe full live broadcasts of 100-mile races are the most realistic model for mainstream television, but he sees a real opportunity for an ultrarunning roundup or weekly show that highlights the biggest races, performances, personalities, and storylines in the sport. With major races already drawing thousands—and sometimes tens of thousands—of viewers online, the audience is clearly there. We discuss what needs to happen for ultrarunning to continue breaking into the mainstream, including sponsorship, increased viewership, better storytelling, documentaries, athlete-created content, and the importance of demonstrating the value of the sport to sponsors and media companies. Chris also talks about the growing influence of ultrarunning films and documentaries, including The Chase , and why he believes the next generation of storytelling could be a major part of the sport's future. One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is the discussion around failure . In a world where social media often shows only the wins, podiums, PRs, course records, and perfect finishes, Chris believes the stories where things go wrong can sometimes be even more compelling. A DNF. A failed attempt. A race that doesn't go according to plan. An athlete who has to go back to the drawing board. Those moments create vulnerability and make elite athletes more relatable to everyday runners. We discuss how that idea applies to athletes like Max Jolliffe , whose difficult experience at Cocodona was followed by an incredible performance at Badwater 135 . Chris explains why the story doesn't end with the failure—and why watching an athlete come back and try again can be one of the most compelling narratives in endurance sports. We also get Chris's thoughts on the future of athlete storytelling and why runners may benefit from putting more of their journey out into the world instead of only documenting the final successful result. And then we get into one of the most fun parts of the episode: Chris Worden's Mount Rushmore of North American ultrarunners. His four selections: Ann Trason Courtney Dauwalter Scott Jurek Carl "The Speedgoat" Meltzer Chris explains why each of them deserves a place on his personal ultrarunning Mount Rushmore and discusses the possibility that today's generation of runners—including names like Jim Walmsley and Rachel Entrekin —could eventually force their way into that conversation. We also talk trail running shoes as Chris reveals his current favorites for a 50K, including the HOKA Speedgoat 7, Mizuno Neo Vista/Neo Acero, and Mount to Coast H1 , and he explains which shoe he'd grab for a fast, runnable Arizona trail. Finally, we look ahead to the future of Aravaipa Running, Mountain Outpost, and live race coverage , including the possibility of coverage expanding to races such as Zion 100 . This is a conversation about much more than broadcasting. It's about why people run, why people watch, why stories matter, and why ultrarunning continues to attract people who are willing to do things they aren't sure they can accomplish. Whether you're an ultramarathon runner, trail runner, marathoner, triathlete, endurance athlete, race director, crew member, pacer, or simply someone fascinated by human performance, there's something in this conversation for you. In this episode: 00:00 – Introducing Chris Worden 01:30 – How Chris got into running 03:39 – Chris's path into radio and broadcasting 06:30 – From finance and accounting back to broadcasting 07:00 – The beginning of Mountain Outpost live coverage 08:00 – Broadcasting 24-hour endurance events 10:00 – Covering more than 170 races 10:30 – The dream of working in ultrarunning 12:00 – Preparing for major ultramarathons 14:00 – Chris's research process before races 15:00 – Why runner surveys matter 16:00 – "Farming for engagement" 17:00 – Meeting runners before the race 18:00 – Finding the stories behind the bib numbers 20:00 – The incredible story of Wayne Amo at Cocodona 22:00 – Watching a runner fight the cutoff 24:00 – Why telling back-of-the-pack stories matters 26:00 – The Golden Hour at Cocodona 27:00 – What Chris learned from Ironman 29:00 – Why the back of the pack represents most runners 31:00 – Why ultrarunning is becoming more accessible 33:00 – Generous cutoffs and the growth of the sport 35:00 – The people behind the cameras 36:00 – Follow filmers, bikes, and drones 38:00 – How difficult it is to follow elite ultrarunners 39:00 – The future of ultrarunning coverage 40:00 – Could ultrarunning make it to ESPN? 42:00 https://www.instagram.com/endurance_stateofmind?igsh=cjBnanNobHhhYXNu

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  Episode #71

  Episode 71: Walker Higgins: Badwater 135, Spartathlon, and Six Days in the Dome. The Return of WHOA Racing??

  Aug 3, 20261h 3m

  Walker Higgins joins Endurance State of Mind for one of our most anticipated episodes yet. If you've spent any time in the ultrarunning or trail running community throughout the Southeast, you've likely heard Walker's name. His resume includes some of the toughest endurance events in the world, including Badwater 135 , Spartathlon , expedition racing, multi-day adventure races, elite 100-mile performances, and one of the most remarkable pacing displays we've ever seen at Six Days in the Dome . Beyond his accomplishments as an athlete, Walker has inspired countless runners through coaching, race directing, and creating unforgettable endurance events that have helped shape trail running throughout Louisiana and the Gulf South. In this episode, Walker shares his journey from an adventurous kid growing up in Louisiana to becoming one of the most respected ultrarunners in the region. He talks about the races that changed his life, the mindset required to compete at the highest level, and the lessons he's learned after decades of pushing the limits of human endurance. Walker tells the story of how his very first 5K sparked a competitive fire that never went away. After getting passed late in the race by another runner—and then by someone pushing a stroller—he became determined to see just how far he could take his potential. That single race ultimately led him into adventure racing, expedition racing, ultramarathons, and some of the most demanding endurance competitions on the planet. We spend time exploring Walker's background in expedition racing, where athletes spend multiple days navigating forests, rivers, mountains, and wilderness using mountain biking, kayaking, trekking, climbing, swimming, and running. He explains why those experiences became the perfect foundation for ultrarunning and how they built the mental resilience that continues to define his racing today. The conversation then shifts to Badwater 135 , widely considered one of the toughest foot races in the world. Walker discusses what it takes to qualify, why he intentionally built an aggressive racing schedule to strengthen his application, and the valuable lessons he learned after pushing his body to its limits in pursuit of one goal. We also dive into Spartathlon , the legendary 153-mile race from Athens to Sparta, Greece. Walker shares the rich history behind the event, what it's like to follow the ancient route of Pheidippides, run past centuries-old ruins, cross mountains in the middle of the night, and experience one of the most iconic endurance races ever created. One of the most entertaining stories of the episode comes from Walker's own wedding, where a friendly challenge from another ultrarunner convinced him to sign up for his very first 100-mile race. That moment became the catalyst for a career that would eventually take him around the world. One of the biggest highlights of this conversation is Walker's detailed breakdown of his incredible performance at Six Days in the Dome . If you're interested in race execution, pacing strategy, or elite ultrarunning, this section alone is worth the listen. Walker explains: How he maintained nearly identical lap splits for over 100 miles. Why consistency beats speed in long-distance racing. The mental tricks he used to stay focused for nearly fourteen hours. Why bathroom breaks became part of his race strategy. How positive thinking helped him push through some of the hardest moments of his career. What it takes to execute an elite 100-mile performance from start to finish. Throughout the episode, Walker shares practical advice for runners of every level. We discuss: Preparing for your first ultramarathon. Why most runners lose the race before the starting line. The importance of pacing discipline. Training slower to race faster. Nutrition and hydration strategies. Learning to adapt when your race falls apart. The difference between physical fitness and mental toughness. Why consistency always beats shortcuts. Building grit over years—not weeks. Walker also discusses his coaching philosophy and why learning to embrace discomfort during training often becomes the difference between success and disappointment on race day. Rather than chasing instant results, he encourages athletes to become comfortable with patience, consistency, and long-term development. Anthony and Zach also share their own experiences with endurance sports, pacing mistakes, visualization techniques, caffeine strategies, and the mental battles that occur deep into ultramarathons. One of the biggest announcements of the episode comes in the second half: WHOA Racing is back. Walker officially shares the return of WHOA Racing , the Louisiana race organization known for creating some of the South's most unique endurance events. He discusses: The return of the Cane Field Classic . Plans for bringing back Children of the Cane . The legacy of Beast for a Day . Why he stepped away from race directing. What inspired him to bring these races back. New endurance event ideas currently in development. His vision for the future of trail running throughout Louisiana and the Gulf South. Walker also talks about The Block Fit in Baton Rouge, where he coaches everyone from beginner runners to collegiate athletes and elite ultramarathon competitors. He explains how the gym has grown into a complete training facility featuring strength training, endurance coaching, yoga, Pilates, sauna, cold plunge, recovery services, and personal coaching. Later in the episode, Walker discusses his upcoming goals, including chasing a sub-five-minute mile at 44 years old, returning to the New Orleans Ultramarathon , and pursuing an ambitious sub-six-hour 50-mile performance. His willingness to set bold goals—even when failure is possible—offers valuable perspective for athletes at every level. Walker closes the conversation with one of the most powerful messages we've heard on Endurance State of Mind: Don't rush your endurance journey. You don't have to run a 100-mile race next year. You don't need to copy elite athletes. You don't need to constantly chase bigger races. Build your fitness, enjoy the process, and allow endurance sports to become something that lasts for decades rather than just a few seasons. Whether you're training for your first marathon, your first 50K, your first 100-mile race, preparing for Badwater 135 , dreaming about Spartathlon , or simply looking for inspiration to become mentally stronger, this episode is packed with stories, lessons, and practical advice from one of the Gulf South's most accomplished endurance athletes. If you enjoyed this episode, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment letting us know your favorite takeaway from Walker's story. Your support helps us continue bringing conversations with elite athletes, coaches, race directors, and inspiring members of the endurance community. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you on the next episode of Endurance State of Mind . https://www.instagram.com/endurance_stateofmind?igsh=cjBnanNobHhhYXNu

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  Endurance State of Mind

  Episode 70: A Navy Engineer's Tour de France Analysis: John Daly on Tadej, Vingegaard, MVDP, and the Data Behind the Numbers

  Jul 28, 20261h 15m

  This week on Endurance State of Mind, we bring on one of the most well rounded athletes and sharpest cycling minds we've had on the show. John Daly. Six foot seven, 250 pound former Citadel football player. 18 year active duty Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer. Deployed across the world with the CBs, including hard tours through Europe and Africa. Powerlifter who has bench pressed 500 pounds on two different continents. Road cyclist. Rower. Peloton dominator turned Gulf Coast Bicycle Club regular. And the guy in our group chat who can actually make sense of what we just watched at the Tour de France. We open with John's journey. From growing up in Marietta, Georgia playing baseball as a right handed first baseman who nobody needed, to earning a football scholarship at The Citadel where he studied civil engineering under a full ride. From working construction and design out of school to joining the Navy in 2007 to build in some of the toughest places on earth. And from powerlifting his way to a 500 pound bench in the 275 pound class to picking up a Peloton bike with his wife in 2017 that quietly rewrote what he thought was possible. John tells us about the moment he realized dominating the Peloton leaderboard was not the same thing as being a road cyclist, buying his first entry level Giant Contend 3 from a shop in Georgia, and finding his community on the Mississippi Gulf Coast under the mentorship of Eddie Holmes and the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club. He talks about deploying with NMCB 133 across Europe and Africa, using sport as a shared language when no other language works, and how a soccer ball or rugby ball can build trust and camaraderie faster than any English speaking classroom ever could. He walks us through his climb of Haleakala in Hawaii, the 10,000 foot stratovolcano that taught him a hard lesson about watts per kilogram when you weigh 250 pounds. The bonk. The nutrition failure. The fact that he had to drive down the first 5,000 feet of descent because he could no longer safely hold the brakes on a six percent grade. And what it means to prepare for one specific day when you do not live on the island where the climb sits. Then he takes us inside his most recent big ride. Seattle to Portland (STP). 206 miles from Husky Stadium to Portland in a single day. Five AM wave, on the road for over 12 hours, on the bus back until midnight, home at 2 AM. 6,400 people signed up. Roughly 10 percent do it in one day. John was one of them. And then we get into the reason a lot of you clicked this episode. The 2025 Tour de France, unpacked from the inside out by someone who actually understands what he is looking at. We dig into Tadej Pogačar's performance on Alpe d'Huez. Seven watts per kilo for 35 minutes. A two and a half minute gap to Sep Kuss, Carapaz, and Lenny Martinez that Tadej closed alone after Adam Yates set him up at the base of the mountain. John explains why he thinks Tadej was fully peaked for that specific stage, why his consistency across the year is the strongest evidence for his physiology being legitimate, and how his relatively heavier build at 68 kilos changes the math on wattage output. He also explains why Tadej climbing that mountain on a Colnago Y1 Rs aerobike matters, and why Chris Froome's high cadence style might not be what works for the current era of climbers. We tackle the doping questions head on. The high altitude alibi and the theory of microdosed EPO hiding under expected altitude bloodwork spikes. Whether the anti doping wake up calls at 2 AM for Jonas Vingegaard and 5 AM for Tadej Pogačar between two of the hardest mountain stages of the tour were necessary, appropriate, or a step too far. Whether Jonas being woken in the middle of the night played a role in his crash on stage 14 that broke his collarbone and ended his tour. And what a real biological passport can and cannot prove. We break down the wide open podium fight for second and third after Jonas went out. Remco Evenepoel. Isaac Del Toro. Paul Seixas. Tom Pidcock. Florian Lipowitz. The Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe two team leader problem. Sep Kuss missing his feed and going over the barrier at speed on the descent (thankfully into the safety net). What the Peloton dynamics look like when the whole race is essentially a Tadej Pogačar exhibition. We get into cutting edge nutrition science. The exogenous lactate gels being tested by Labdafield, Exolactate, Santa Madre, and Innervit. Whether a four percent gain is actually meaningful at the top of the sport, or whether it disappears into the noise of training effect and individual variability. Why ketones seem to have shifted from performance to recovery in the peloton. We close with the Champs Elysees finish that John calls one of the most otherworldly moments in cycling. Matthew van der Poel kicking Tadej Pogačar off his wheel on the Montmartre climb. Tadej holding 700 watts for over a minute just to hang on. MVDP dropping an estimated 1,500 watt sprint (two horsepower) to take the stage by the width of a wheel. Whether Jasper Philipsen sat up and let van der Poel take it. And Lance Armstrong's observation on The Move that Lance himself would have never even bothered racing that stage. We finish with the big question. How many more Tours can Tadej win? Zach says five. John says four. Both of us agree the window will narrow, but nobody in the current peloton looks like they can push him one on one the way Jonas can. If you love the Tour de France, want to actually understand the numbers, or just want a great conversation about the sport we all love, this one is for you. EPISODE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome. Introducing John Daly. 01:15 From Marietta baseball to The Citadel football and engineering. 03:00 Joining the Navy Civil Engineer Corps in 2007. 04:00 Powerlifting to a 500 pound bench on two continents. 05:15 The Peloton bike that started the cycling journey. 06:20 Getting the first road bike and joining the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club. 07:30 Deploying with NMCB 133 across Europe and Africa. 08:15 Sport as an international language. 09:30 Shoutout to Eddie Holmes and the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club community. 10:20 From engineering right out of college to active duty. 11:00 How height changes the drafting math on a bike. 12:20 Bart and the impossible draft off a small rider. 13:00 Why powerlifting eventually reaches a diminishing returns wall. 14:30 The five pound difference at the top of any sport. 16:45 Seattle to Portland 206 miles in a day. 19:45 6,400 riders, 700 do it in one day. 20:45 Climbing Haleakala from sea level to 10,000 feet. 22:45 The descent when your hands are too cashed to hold the brakes. 23:45 Sep Kuss missing his feed and the net that saved him. 25:30 The physical feeling of missing nutrition mid climb. 27:00 Kicking off the Tour de France deep dive with Alpe d'Huez. 29:00 Why John's evidence for Tadej is consistency across the year. 30:00 Adam Yates as leadout and the two and a half minute chase. 31:00 Seven watts per kilo for 35 minutes. 32:30 Johan Bruyneel's take on The Move. 33:00 Greg LeMond and Anthony's thoughts on cadence versus wattage. 34:30 Genetic VO2 max versus trainable VO2 max. 35:30 Why Tadej climbing on an aero bike matters. 36:00 Bike frame material evolution from Lance's era to now. 37:40 Cadence as a personal fingerprint. 38:00 The exogenous lactate gel discussion. 39:30 Whether four percent is real or noise. 41:00 Did Jonas's absence help Tadej run away with it? 43:00 The Remco versus Lipowitz Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe leadership question. 45:00 Zach on the high altitude alibi and microdosing EPO. 46:00 Why the microdose ceiling limits the theory. 48:00 Middle of the night anti doping wake up calls. 50:00 Tadej's response and the character piece. 53:00 Descending as a mental endurance event. 55:00 Tadej's simple disciplined life in Slovenia. 56:30 Van der Poel on Montmartre. 57:00 Why Tadej skipped the Vuelta this year. 58:00 The UCI Worlds in Rwanda as the next big target. 01:00:15 Facing Primoz Roglic once he drops in. 01:01:15 The 2021 Vuelta time trial where Tadej snatched yellow. 01:01:45 Neutralizing the general classification times on the final stage. 01:04:15 Why the neutralization actually cost France a podium. 01:05:20 Ending on Van der Poel's 1,500 watt sprint to win it by a wheel. 01:07:00 How many more tours can Tadej win? 01:08:00 Mads Pettersen bridging gaps for green jersey points. 01:09:00 Did Jasper Philipsen let Van der Poel take Montmartre? 01:11:00 The one wheel finish and Lance's take on The Move. 01:12:00 Tadej with no theory of victory still refusing to sit up. https://www.instagram.com/endurance_stateofmind?igsh=cjBnanNobHhhYXNu

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  Endurance State of Mind

  Episode 69: Sub 6 in the Swamp: A Big Butts 50K Post Mortem, Josh Kerr's Mile Record, and Tour de France Week 2

  Jul 21, 202659 min

  Just the two hosts this week, back behind the mics fresh off Big Butts 50K in the Mississippi summer, with a heat index that touched 106 and a story arc that included a two hour personal best, a survival mode second half, and a whole lot to unpack. We open with the reality of racing an ultra when the sun peaks at 97, the humidity turns the course into a sauna, and the heat advisories keep rolling in. Anthony walks through his day lap by lap. How he set expectations without telling anyone, how he executed nutrition to a T after learning from Mississippi 50, how he lost his entire bottle of carbs and electrolytes in the first half mile of lap four, and how he still hunted down a sub 6 hour finish by sprinting the last two miles at a 190 heart rate with 10 minutes to spare. Two hour PR. Mission accomplished. Zach walks through his own race, including how the humidity hit like a light switch at the start of lap three, how his ice bandana strategy stopped working, and how his core body temperature stayed elevated so long that he registered a low grade fever seven hours after crossing the line. Real talk about what it takes to just get to the finish line in these conditions, and why the Big Butts 100K finish rate this year was four out of seventeen. We give major shoutouts to David Slowick for a podium finish at the 100K, the Delot family, Ward, Jamie, Lacey Saul, and Michael Yarbrough for showing up in that oven. And we talk through Anthony's three bucket framework that made this his best race in years: execution discipline, sleep hygiene, and nutrition. Then we pivot to one of the coolest sporting moments of the year. Josh Kerr broke the mile world record over the weekend. 3:42, taking down Hicham El Guerrouj's 27 year old record. Kerr called his shot months in advance under a project he named Two Two Two (222 seconds to break 3:43). He documented the entire vulnerable journey publicly, showed his prep workouts, and delivered on the biggest stage. We dig into what made it special beyond the number: the courage to call your shot in front of the world, the discipline of showing up every day, and the Steve Magness quote that stopped us both in our tracks. "On the starting line, trying harder is the enemy. You spend years grabbing control, then in the moment that matters most, the skill is letting go of it." Then we head to France for a Tour de France week 2 that flipped the entire race on its head. Tadej Pogačar answered every question people had about whether the field could keep him close. He went from being down 8 minutes on Jonas Vingegaard early to putting up an 11 minute swing on a single stage, opening a lead that already feels insurmountable with a week to go. Then Jonas crashed on stage 14 and broke his collarbone, ending his tour. And a controversy exploded around the anti doping officials waking Jonas at 2 AM and Tadej at 5 AM to test them between two of the most demanding mountain stages of the tour, with the cycling community raising real questions about how that was handled. We break down what a wide open podium fight for second and third looks like now. Remco Evenepoel, Isaac Del Toro, Paul Seixas, Tom Pidcock, Florian Lipowitz, and the mess at Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe with two team leaders who clearly do not want to work together. Plus a great Lance Armstrong quote from The Move about Tade being fully aware of the yellow jersey count he could be chasing. And of course we wrap the tour segment with the running Watch Update from the peloton. Pogačar wore his $989,000 Richard Mille. Matthew van der Poel showed up with a $300,000 Richard Mille and a Rolex Daytona. Jasper Philipsen sported a $60,000 AP. Quinn Simmons in a Tudor Black Bay flying the American flag. And Ben O'Connor in a Cartier Santos. We close with a huge shoutout to Sierra Morris, host of the Shattered Runner Podcast, who absolutely shattered her goals at the Vermont 100 this weekend after publicly documenting her mental and physical training. Both Anthony and Zach will be appearing on her show soon. If you love endurance sports, PR stories, world records, cycling drama, or just watching normal people do genuinely hard things in horrible conditions, this one is for you. EPISODE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome. Fresh off Big Butts 50K. 01:05 Heat index of 106 in Jackson, Mississippi. The AAR from weather.com. 02:00 Only 4 of 17 finished the Big Butts 100K. 04:45 Anthony's expectations coming into year two of Big Butts. 06:00 Nailing nutrition and heart rate management. 07:30 Lap one and two overconfidence. 08:00 The two hour PR and sub 6 finish. 09:20 Losing the bottle of carbs and electrolytes at the start of lap four. 12:15 The sprint to the finish at 190 heart rate. 15:00 Zach's survival lap and the humidity light switch. 17:30 Ice bandanas, core body temperature, and a post race low grade fever. 20:00 Shoutout to David Slowick and the 100K podium. 22:30 Anthony's three bucket framework: execution discipline, sleep hygiene, nutrition. 25:30 Not going to Taco Bell (this time). 27:00 Josh Kerr breaks the mile world record. 28:00 Project Two Two Two and calling his shot. 30:00 The vulnerability of documenting the journey publicly. 34:00 The Steve Magness quote that stopped us both. 38:00 Tour de France week 2 recap. 39:00 Tade's massive swing on Jonas. 40:00 Jonas crashes on stage 14 and breaks his collarbone. 41:00 The 2 AM anti doping controversy. 42:00 A wide open podium fight for second and third. 47:00 Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe's two team leader dysfunction. 50:30 Lance Armstrong from The Move on Tade and the yellow jersey count. 53:00 The Watch Update from the peloton. 55:00 Sierra Morris shatters her Vermont 100 goals. 56:00 Big Butts shoutouts across the running community. 57:30 Mic drop. TOPICS COVERED Racing an ultra in extreme heat and humidity Pacing, nutrition, and execution discipline for a 50K Sleep hygiene as a race performance lever Big Butts Ultra 50K and 100K race recap Community shoutouts across the Mississippi ultra scene Josh Kerr breaking the mile world record after 27 years Project Two Two Two and the value of calling your shot Steve Magness on automaticity and letting go on race day Tour de France 2025 week 2 recap Tadej Pogačar's dominant swing on the general classification Jonas Vingegaard's crash and broken collarbone Anti doping test timing and rider health controversy The wide open podium fight between Remco, Del Toro, Seixas, Pidcock, and Lipowitz Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe's leadership dynamic The rider watch trends and the money on the wrist at the tour Sierra Morris and the Shattered Runner Podcast Vermont 100 story ABOUT THE SHOW Endurance State of Mind is a podcast for endurance athletes who want more than splits and finish times. Hosted by Anthony Herrington and Zach, we sit down with ultra runners, triathletes, cyclists, coaches, and everyday athletes to talk training, mindset, recovery, race day strategy, and the stories behind the stories. New episode every week. Follow Endurance State of Mind on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. If this episode hit you, please rate, review, and share with a friend who needs to hear it. https://www.instagram.com/endurance_stateofmind?igsh=cjBnanNobHhhYXNu

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