Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Start Where You Are Running and Ultrarunning

When the People Who You Love Don't Get Your Ultrarunning

Training for an ultramarathon is a massive commitment — and not everyone in your life is going to get it. In this episode, Erin breaks down how to handle the three types of people you'll encounter when your ultrarunning dreams don't align with their worldview: anonymous critics on social media, coworkers and acquaintances who crack jokes at the watercooler, and — hardest of all — close family and friends whose lack of support can really sting.

From blocking trolls to neutralizing awkward office conversations to giving grace to loved ones who may be scared or simply don't understand, Erin shares personal stories (including a brutal Reddit experience during a femoral stress fracture recovery) and practical strategies for protecting your peace while pursuing what you love. Plus: why you need to be your own number one fan, how to find your people when you don't live in an ultrarunning hub, and a reminder that the trails, the stars, and the trees are always cheering you on.

Whether you're deep in a training block or just starting to dream of your first ultra, this one's for anyone who's ever felt misunderstood for choosing to run.

To apply for Erin's 1:1 online coaching go to this link https://bit.ly/4hqOZEL

Email her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com

or visit her website at erinmaryquinn.com

Episode 30: Readiness Is a Myth — The Four Principles of Start Where You Are

In this milestone 30th episode, Erin breaks down what "Start Where You Are" really means — both on the trail and off. She shares her four guiding principles: conquering the "starting scaries," building (and rebuilding) your running base, starting where you are beyond running, and escaping the comparison sabotage that holds us all back.

Along the way, Erin gets personal — from quitting smoking one minute at a time, to showing up terrified and underprepared for her first 50K in the Moab desert, to facing imposter syndrome launching this very podcast. She also shares how curiosity and a willingness to "do it scared" can unlock everything from writing to ultra running to starting something brand new.

Plus, Erin announces an upcoming in-person workshop for female runners in New Paltz, NY — "Running Yourself Back to Life" on October 17th.

To reserve your seat for this workshop just email erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or

Venmo to reserve a seat (Program Fee $85) @erinquinn70

Whether you're lacing up for the first time or chasing your next ultra, this episode is your reminder: you don't have to be ready. You just have to start.

Iron Deficiency in Endurance Athletes — What You Need to Know

Somewhere along the ultramarathon journey, host Erin Quinn lost sight of one crucial metric: iron. In this episode, she dives deep into iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among endurance athletes — especially female runners, up to 45% of whom may be affected.

Erin breaks down why iron matters (hint: it's tied directly to oxygen delivery and performance), how endurance training accelerates iron loss through hemolysis, sweat, and inflammation, and why menstruating and plant-based athletes face even greater risk. She also shares her own wake-up call — a summer of unexplained fatigue, heart palpitations, and hills that suddenly felt impossible — that led to a shocking blood test result.

You'll learn the symptoms to watch for, the difference between iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, how it's diagnosed, and what treatment options (from dietary changes to supplements to infusions) look like.

Knowledge is power — don't let iron be the blind spot in your training.

Start where you are, but make sure you start.

Follow Erin Quinn, @erinquinnultraruncoach for more tips and training and everything Ultra. To contact Erin and learn more about her 1:1 online ultrarunning coaching go to erinmaryquinn.com or just shoot her an email at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com

She'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, and any stories you'd like to share or topics you're interested in having her cover on the podcast.

Start Where You Are, But Start!

In this episode, host Erin Quinn takes you inside her fourth finish of the legendary Survival of the Shawangunk's (SOS )— a grueling triathlon combining a 30-mile road bike, three lake swims, and nearly 20 miles of trail running through the mountains of New Paltz, NY. Erin shares an honest, in-the-moment race recap, including an unexpected battle with IT band and hip flexor pain from mile one, and the mental tools she used to keep moving forward anyway.

Beyond the race story, Erin breaks down why keeping a training log and writing a post-race report is one of the most valuable tools in an endurance athlete's toolbox. She walks through how to set both performance and process goals, how to reframe negative thoughts mid-race, and how rooting for other runners can lift your own performance. Whether you're prepping for your first ultramarathon or your fiftieth, this episode is packed with real, practical mindset strategies for showing up on race day — messy training and all.

For 1:1 coaching inquiries you can reach out to Erin via email erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or on her website erinmaryquinn.com

For a link to her Race Report Forms she provides to athletes just click here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BQB_k4QIzmOL3HzjxqRiIiCGcgZPh3U2thF-qGCnuAM/edit?usp=sharing

Taper time can feel like an emotional rollercoaster — exciting one minute, anxiety-inducing the next. In this episode, ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn breaks down five practical strategies to help you navigate the mental side of tapering before a big race: proof (looking back at your training log for confidence), positive self-talk (reframing fear and self-doubt), projects and people (using extra time and energy wisely), performance enhancers (understanding adrenaline, nerves, and those weird pre-race twinges), and practice gratitude (a mindset shift that works whether you're feeling great or terrified).

Drawing on her experience as a 15-time ultramarathon finisher and coach, Erin shares personal stories — from prepping for the Bigfoot 200 to dealing with mysterious pre-race injuries — and reminds listeners that no matter how race day goes, who you become through the training process is what really matters.

Whether you're gearing up for your first ultra or your fiftieth, this episode will help you handle the taper tantrums with more confidence and calm.

If you want to schedule a discovery call for Erin's 1:1 Ultrarunning Coaching you can reach out to her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or go to her website at erinmaryquinn.com

Start Where You Are, But Start!

It's back-to-school season, and coach Erin Quinn is here to help you channel that "clean slate" energy into your own goals. In this episode, Erin gets personal about how trail and ultrarunning became her lifeline through the hardest parts of parenting — from the anxiety of that first school bus to dropping her kids off at college. She shares how running gave her an outlet, a community, and a sense of identity beyond being a mom, and makes the case that investing in your own training is one of the best things you can model for your kids. Whether you're aiming for your first 5K or your next ultra, Erin offers real talk and encouragement to help you pick a goal, put it on the calendar, and start where you are — this September.

Episode 25: Doing Hard Things (and Doing Them Again)

Coming to you live from the beach on her birthday, ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn tackles a myth that trips up even the toughest endurance athletes: that once you've conquered a hard thing, it gets easier. It doesn't. Erin unpacks the physiology and psychology behind repeatedly choosing discomfort — from her own training for the Survival of the Shawangunks Triathlon to lessons from athletes who've run 100-plus miles and still show up nervous at the start line.

Along the way, she talks about why getting outside and moving in nature matters more than ever, what she calls "deepening the toughness groove," the role failure plays in building resilience, and why gratitude for what your body can do beats obsessing over how it looks. Plus, stories from Cocodona 250, the Bigfoot 200, and a mantra that carried her through 200+ miles: "You have everything inside you that you need."

Start where you are. But make sure you start.

If you're interested in Erin's 1:1 online coaching you can contact her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or at @erinquinnultraruncoach or at erinmaryquinn.com

Ever felt like you were flying on a run — only to check your watch and discover you were barely moving?

That's exactly what happened to host and ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn at mile 189 of the Bigfoot 200. She felt like she was running a 9-minute mile. She was running a 14. And that moment perfectly illustrates why RPE — Rate of Perceived Exertion — might be the most powerful training tool you're not fully using.

In this episode, Erin breaks down what RPE is, where it came from (shoutout to Swedish researcher Gunnar Borg and his 1960s effort scale), and why it outperforms heart rate and pace for trail runners and ultramarathoners. Because when you're 80 miles into a race, climbing at altitude in the heat, with your quads breaking down and your stomach turning — your watch can't tell you what your body already knows.

You'll learn:

• Why heart rate monitors and pace data fall apart on trails and in ultras
• The 1–10 RPE scale and what each zone actually feels like (including Erin's "ugly running" zone 10)
• How heat, altitude, fatigue, and even an annoying text message can throw off your data — but not your perceived effort
• Why RPE gives athletes a sense of autonomy and body awareness that no metric can replace
• How to apply RPE to summer training when heat and humidity are tanking your pace and spiking your heart rate

Erin also draws a surprising parallel between RPE and ditching the scale — and shares why she hasn't known her own weight in 15 years.

Whether you're coming back from injury, deep in ultramarathon training, or just trying to survive August runs in the humidity, this episode will help you tune into the metric that matters most: how hard you are actually working, on that day, in that body.

Start where you are — and trust what you feel.

Interested in one-on-one coaching with Erin? Reach out at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or find her on Instagram @ErinQuinnUltrarunCoach.

The Perfect Ultramarathon Training Plan (Spoiler: There Isn't One)

Wouldn't it be nice if you could follow a flawless training plan from start to finish and arrive at the start line perfectly prepared? Coach Erin Quinn is here to tell you the truth: life happens — and that's okay.

In this episode, Erin breaks down the three things that will actually make your ultramarathon training as strong as it can be:

1. A plan built for you — your base fitness, your goals, your lifestyle
2. Consistency — showing up 80–85% of the time beats heroic one-off performances every time
3. Writing down your wins — learning to reframe setbacks as progress

Erin shares stories from her own 100-miler training block (back spasms, a last-minute trip to NCAA swim nationals, and more), plus real wins from her athletes navigating nerve flare-ups, sharp knee pain, extreme heat, and altitude — and how they all made it to the start line anyway.

Whether you're training for your first 50K or your fifteenth ultra, this episode will help you give yourself some grace — and remind you that the most important thing is to start where you are.

Erin encourages listeners to reach out to her with comments at erinmaryquinn.com (or leave them here!)

If you're interested in applying for her 1:1 coaching you can reach her at that same email address to set up a free consult, or go to her website at erinmaryquinn.com or message her on Instagram @erinquinnultraruncoach

What if the most meaningful race of your life wasn't the biggest one — but the one closest to home?

In this episode, host Erin Quinn celebrates the 40th anniversary of the SOS — Survival of the Shawangunk's — a one-of-a-kind grassroots triathlon in New Paltz, New York that goes bike, run, swim, run, swim, run, swim, run through some of the most stunning terrain in the Northeast.

Erin shares the full story: the race's origins with founder Don Davis, her years of watching from the sidelines as a journalist and fan, her humbling first attempt at the Cape Cod offshoot (complete with a cop car sweeping her in dead last on the bike), a sprained ankle two weeks before race day, and the moment she finally crossed the finish line and heard the words — "You are a survivor."

This one is for anyone who has ever stood on the outside of something intimidating and wondered, "Could I actually do that?"

In this episode:

• What makes the SOS unlike any other triathlon in the world
• The history of a 40-year community institution
• Training on borrowed bikes, clip-in shoe disasters, and humble pie
• Why local, grassroots events deserve your support
• How to work your weaknesses and do something scary

🔗 Learn more: [sostriathlon.com

The GunksCast with Jeff Weiss & Glenn Lapolt, specifically they're deep dive into the race, its history and competitors in Episodes 1-9 [thegunkscast.com]📧 Coaching inquiries: erinmaryquinn@gmail.com | or on her website at erinmaryquinn.com

Episode 21. Something's Gotta Give: The Truth About Balancing Life and Ultramarathon TrainingLet's get real: the idea that we can perfectly balance every area of our lives is a myth — and if you're drawn to ultramarathons, you're probably not a "moderation" person anyway.

In this episode, host and professional ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn gets honest about what it actually takes to train for an ultra while navigating the rest of your life. Drawing on her own journey — from a Division I ski team athlete, to a mom of three running on fumes, to a 15-time ultramarathon finisher in her "ultra era" — Erin breaks down why balance is an illusion, why women are so underrepresented in ultrarunning (hint: it's not a lack of drive), and what you can actually do to make training work in your real life.

In this episode:

• Why the "everything in moderation" myth is setting you up for failure
• The real reason women are disproportionately underrepresented in ultramarathons
• Practical tips for carving out training time — morning runs, lunch breaks, night runs, and more
• Why hiring a coach can save you more time than you think
• How to do an honest inventory of your time and decide what needs to go
• Why your ultra training might actually make you a better parent, partner, and person

Whether you're deep in the thick of raising kids, building a career, or heading into an empty nest, this episode will help you figure out if now is your ultra season — and if it is, how to make it happen.

"Start where you are, but make sure that you start."

Connect with Erin:📧 erinmaryquinn@gmail.com🌐 erinmaryquinn.com📱 @ErinQuinnUltraRunCoach on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in one-on-one online coaching with Erin or her September Empty Nester Ultramarathon Program? Reach out through any of the links above.

If you loved this episode, please leave a five-star review, subscribe, and share with a friend who needs a little push to start!

And remember, Start Where You Are, But Start!

Episode 20: DIY Ultra Training Camp

Ever wish you could afford a fancy training camp to prep for your next ultramarathon? Coach Erin Quinn breaks down exactly how to build your own — no expensive retreat required.

In this episode, Erin walks you through the architecture of a DIY ultra training camp: how to structure your three (or five) days, how much volume to target based on your race distance, and how to simulate race conditions as closely as possible. From fueling and hydration practice to headlamp logistics and pole management, Erin covers the tactical details that can make or break your race day.

In this episode:

• Why removing daily life stress is as important as the miles themselves
• How to structure back-to-back long runs for 50Ks, 50-milers, 100-milers, and 200-milers
• The calorie-counting wrapper trick every ultra runner should try
• What to practice so race day feels like a rehearsal, not a surprise
• How a DIY training camp sets you up for the perfect taper

Whether you're chasing your first finish line or your next PR, this episode gives you a practical, coach-backed blueprint to show up to race day confident, prepared, and ready to start where you are

Zone 2 is everywhere right now — but what does it actually mean for your running? In this episode, coach and ultramarathon finisher Erin Quinn breaks down the zone 2 "revolution" and explains why it's really just a rebranding of the most fundamental principle in endurance training.

Erin covers the full five-zone model, why zone 2 looks completely different depending on your experience level, and how new runners, seasoned racers, and ultra runners each relate to it differently. She also dives into the science of lactate threshold, mitochondrial function, and fat burning — without the jargon overload.

Plus: a heat training PSA for anyone running through a summer heat wave, a recap correction from her Manitou's Revenge 53-miler in the Catskills, and her honest take on why chasing speed work can plateau — or injure — runners who skip the foundation.

In this episode:

• What zone 2 actually feels like (and the talk test)
• Why new runners don't have a zone 2 yet
• How zone 2 builds your aerobic engine over time
• Lactate, hydrogen ions, and why your muscles seize up
• The two biggest zone 2 mistakes runners make
• Why RPE may matter more than your heart rate monitor

Start Where You Are is hosted by Erin Quinn, professional ultrarunning and USA swim coach, 15-time ultramarathon finisher, and award-winning journalist.

To learn more about Erin's 1:1 Online Ultrarun Coaching email her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or go to her website at www.erinmaryquinn.com

Episode 18: Manitou's Revenge Race Report

Erin Quinn, ultrarunning coach, USA swim coach, award-winning journalist, and now 15-time ultramarathon finisher, takes you inside one of the most demanding 50-mile races in the Northeast — Manitou's Revenge.

This 53-mile beast winds through the rugged Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, packing 15,000 feet of climbing into every mile. Erin breaks down the full race experience alongside her friends Shiloh and Jessie — from the gnarly trails and brutal climbs to the mud, the aid stations, the gear decisions, and the mental battles that only an ultra can produce.

Along the way, she shares the story behind the race itself: how Charles Gadol and Run Wild built a nonprofit organization dedicated to land preservation and trail conservation — so runners can keep doing what they love in wild, beautiful places.

Whether you're a seasoned ultra runner or just trail-curious, this episode is part race report, part love letter to the Catskills.

Topics covered:

• Course breakdown and what makes Manitou's so uniquely brutal
• Gear, nutrition, and race-day decisions
• The history of the race and Run Wild's conservation mission
• The highs, the lows, and everything in between

To learn more about Erin's 1:1 online ultrarunning coaching, you can reach out to her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com

You can also fill out the apply to coach with Erin form on her website at www.erinmaryquinn.com

Start Where You Are, But Start!

**Episode 17 Beat the Heat: Ultrarunning Tools for Summer Training

Summer running is hard — and if your legs have felt like lead, your effort through the roof, and your water bottles empty way too soon, you're not imagining it. Host and professional ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn breaks down exactly what heat does to your body (spoiler: it's not personal, it's physiology) and why those brutal summer miles are actually making you a stronger runner come fall.

In this episode, Erin shares her go-to heat hacks from training through back-to-back 200-mile race seasons in the heat and humidity of New York's Hudson Valley — including how to build a makeshift aid station from your car, the ice bandana trick that changes everything, and why sometimes the most elite thing you can do is walk the hill and grab a cold Coke.

You'll learn:

• What heat actually does to your cardiovascular system and pace
• 5 practical strategies for surviving (and benefiting from) summer training
• How to plan routes with water sources, shade, and resupply points
• When to push and when to check your ego at the door
• Simple heat adaptation techniques you can start using right now

Whether you're chasing a fall ultra or just trying to stay consistent through the summer, this episode will help you keep moving — smarter, cooler, and with a better story to tell.

Start Where You Are, But Start!

To schedule a free discovery call with Erin for her 1:1 Online Ultrarunning Coaching contact her by email @ erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or fill out an application to Train with Erin on her website www.erinmaryquinn.com

Follow her on social @erinquinnultraruncoach

Episode 16. Hit Override

Ever find yourself lying in bed, running through a mental Rolodex of reasons why today just isn't the right day for a run? Host Erin Quinn — ultra running coach, USA Swim coach, and 14-time ultramarathon finisher — gets real about the resistance we all feel, even when running is something we love.

In this episode, Erin breaks down what she calls the Override Principle: a set of practical, no-fluff tools to get you out the door when your mind is working against you. From training with accountability partners and prepping your gear the night before, to battling bad weather, building identity-based habits, and talking yourself through a truly terrible run — Erin covers it all.

She also shares a personal story from a brutal six-mile run in the summer heat that nearly broke her, and what she learned from pushing through anyway. Plus, a surprising lesson from choreographer Twyla Tharp on why thinking about the full workout is the biggest trap of all.

Whether you're training for your first 5K or your next 100-miler, this episode will give you the mental tools to hit that override button — and start anyway.

If you'd like to learn more about Erin's 1:1 online ultrarunning coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com and fill out the application to train with Erin, or reach out to her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com to set up a free consult.

Host Erin Quinn, a professional ultrarunning and USA Swim coach and 14-time ultramarathon finisher, unpacks the “aging athlete” conversation by reframing it as the adult or “forever” athlete and arguing that age is one limiting factor—not the factor—while attitude is often the biggest limiter. She shares her own journey through chronic injury, pregnancy and postpartum years, raising three kids, and slowly returning to trails, emphasizing not comparing yourself to a younger self or others and resisting shortcuts and performance-enhancing-drug hype aimed at middle-aged athletes. Quinn highlights advantages of age—trial and error, perspective, experience, knowledge, curiosity, and sometimes more time—and encourages gratitude, self-assessment, and building performance through sleep, hydration, electrolytes, nutrition, strength training, and smarter training to pursue goals from a first 50K to age-group success.

To apply to train with Erin for her 1:1 online run coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com

To contact her, ask a question, leave a comment go to erinmaryquinn@gmail.com

Start Where You Are, But Start!

Erin Quinn has finished 14 ultramarathons — including the Moab 240 and Cocodona 250 — but race number 15 is the one she doesn't like to talk about.

In this raw and deeply personal episode, Erin shares the full story of her DNF at the Tahoe 200: a 200-mile race around Lake Tahoe that she trained for despite recovering from a femoral stress fracture, battling severe altitude sickness starting at 7,600 feet, and running on little sleep after traveling across the country.

From the first steps on the ski slopes of Heavenly, Nevada to a tearful phone call from a cheap motel room, Erin holds nothing back. This is the story of what it takes to toe the start line of a 200-mile race, what it feels like when everything falls apart, and how a DNF can still make you a better athlete — and a better coach.

Whether you're an ultrarunner, an aspiring one, or you just know what it feels like to fall short of a big goal, this episode is for you.

Start where you are — but make sure that you start.

To inquire about Erin's 1:1 Ultrarunning Coaching email her at www.erinmaryquinn.com or on her website www.erinmaryquinn.com

Episode 13: The Underrated Advantage — Working Your Weaknesses

What if the thing you avoid most in training is exactly what will make you a stronger runner?

In this episode of Start Where You Are: Running and Ultrarunning, host and professional ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn dives into one of the most overlooked aspects of endurance training: working your weaknesses. It's easy to default to what we're good at — but real growth happens outside the comfort zone.

Erin shares her personal struggles and breakthroughs with heat training, speed work, hiking integration, strength training, and cross-training — and why each one made her a more resilient, well-rounded ultramarathon athlete.

Whether you're training for your first 50K or your tenth 200-miler, this episode will challenge you to take an honest inventory of your weaknesses and turn them into your greatest competitive advantage.

Topics covered: heat training · speed work · hiking · strength training · cross-training

🎙️ Coaching inquiries: erinmaryquinn@gmail.com | erinmaryquinn.com

**Spicy Takes on the Cocodona 250 | Bonus Episode

In this bonus episode, host Erin Quinn digs into the historic 2025 Cocodona 250 — a 250-mile ultramarathon from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona — and she has a lot to say.

Rachel Entrekin won overall with a new course record of 56 hours and 9 minutes, becoming the three-time Coco Queen and making headlines on ESPN, CBS News, and the BBC. Erin breaks down the women's and men's fields, how her pre-race predictions held up (two out of three ain't bad), and the wild stories that unfolded across 250 miles of desert, mountains, and rock.

This episode covers:

• Rachel Entrekin's record-breaking overall win and what it means for ultrarunning
• Courtney Dauwalter, Mika Thewes, Heather Jackson, Meg Eckert, and the stacked women's field
• DNFs from Cam Hanes, Manuela Valesca, and others — and Cam's raw podcast recap
• The heartbreaking news of a runner's death mid-race
• Navajo Nation runners Greg Secatero and Brandan Boxie making history
• The Mingus Basketball Association, (MBA) courtesy of the Distance to Empty podcast
• Six-time finishers Andy Glaze, Jeff Garmire, and more
• Scott Jurek, bone broth, and a vegan-carnivore pacer duo
• Ann Trason's moving tribute to Rachel's run

A celebration of the grit, community, tragedy, and joy that makes ultrarunning unlike anything else.

🎧 Start Where You 'Are, But Start!

To learn more about Erin's 1:1 Online Ultrarunning Coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com.

If you want to send a comment or just say "hi," email her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com

Episode 11: Embrace the Suck

Ever have one of those runs where nothing goes right — and it never gets better? Coach Erin Quinn is here to tell you those are the runs that matter most.

In this episode, Erin breaks down the bad run — what it actually is, why it's different from a hard workout, and why every ultrarunner needs to collect a few of them. From legs that feel like cement pillars to bargaining with yourself on mile three, Erin shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of running when your body just didn't get the memo.

You'll learn why finishing a terrible run builds the mental toughness that carries you through the lowest miles of an ultramarathon — and why the suffer bus might just be your best training tool.

In this episode:

• What separates a bad run from a hard run
• How bad runs build your "toughness groove"
• Why getting it done — no matter how slow or ugly — counts double
• Erin's own recent suffer fest (hint: she thought about calling 911)

Whether you're training for your first 50K or your tenth 100-miler, this one's for you. Start where you are — but start.

To learn more about Erin's 1:1 online run coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com

To contact her with comments or questions or just to say "hi," you can email her at erinmaryquinn@gmaill.com

Follow her on social media @erinquinnultraruncoach

Episode 10: The 5 C's of Ultrarunning

What does it really take to become an ultrarunner? In this finale of the Beginning Ultrarunning series, host and professional ultrarunning coach Erin Quinn breaks down the five big dial movers she calls "The 5 C's" — Consistency, Comparison, Curiosity, Coaching, and Commitment.

Erin gets real about what ultrarunning actually looks like: the blisters, the chafing, the cow dung, and the moments your body screams at you to stop — and why it's still one of the most beautiful, raw, and rewarding experiences you can have. She shares her own journey from barely crawling across a 50K finish line to completing the grueling Moab 240, and the mindset shifts that made it all possible.

Whether you're lacing up for your first ultra or looking to level up your training, this episode will remind you that the trail doesn't care about your pace — it just asks you to show up.

In this episode:

• Why consistency beats perfection every time
• How comparison steals your potential before you even begin
• The questions that will keep you curious and in love with the sport
• Why hiring a coach was Erin's single biggest game-changer
• What real commitment looks like, day in and day out

Start where you are — but make sure that you start.

You can learn more about Erin's 1:1 online run coaching at www.erinmaryquinn.com

If you want to contact her directly she'd love to hear from you

erinmaryquinn@gmail.com

Follow her on Instagram or Facebook

@erinquinnultraruncoach

Podcast Host, Erin Quinn, also an ultrarunner and ultrarun coach takes you through her Cocodona 250 race experience in 2024 while also previewing the 2026 course for runners, pacers, crew members and everyone who is interested in learning more about his 250-mile foot race from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff Arizona.

This is a fun, unfiltered race preview and report that will get listeners edified and excited about the race.

To learn more about Erin's 1:1 online ultrarunning coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com

You can always reach out to her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or follow her on social media @erinquinnultraruncoach

In Episode 9 of Start Where You Are Running & Ultrarunning coach Ultra Run Coach Erin Quinn delivers a complete beginner's guide to trail running.

Topics include: how to find trails using apps like AllTrails, understanding trail types (rail trails, carriage roads, single track.) Managing pace expectations off-road, measuring progress on trails, gear (and why you probably don't need new shoes), and embracing the mindset shift from road to trail. Perfect for beginner runners, road runners, and anyone looking to explore the outdoors on foot.

Erin would welcome any comments that you have and if you would like to apply for her 1:1 online run coaching you can go to her website www.erinmaryquinn.com or reach out to her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or DM her @erinquinnultraruncoach

Episode 8: The Case for Running & Racing Local — a ~24-minute episode of Start Where You Are, hosted by Erin Quinn, an ultra running coach and 14-time ultra marathon finisher.

Erin makes a case for putting local races on your calendar for 4 specific reasons.

1. Dollars & Cents (Sense)) — Race fees stay in the community, supporting local race directors, trail maintenance, land conservation, and scholarships (he highlights the RunWild organization, Sassquad Running, and the Shawangunk Runners).

2. Exploring Your Own Backyard — Local races introduce you to trails you've never been on, and the more people who fall in love with local trails, the more support there is for land conservation. He highlights the richness of New York's Shawangunk's, Catskills and Adirondacks.

3. Performance — Local races serve as low-cost, low-stakes check-ins on your training — great for practicing race-day execution, fueling strategy, and mental preparation before your "A" race.

4. Community — The shared experience of racing alongside strangers and friends creates bonds that can't be replicated virtually. He closes with a vivid story of getting caught in an April snowstorm at mile 9 with a group of runners, high-fiving through the snow.

The episode opens with a story from a recent local half marathon at Minnewaska State Park — a rainy, hail-filled, mud-fest that Erin loved— and closes with shoutouts to local Hudson Valley race organizations and a preview of upcoming Cocodona 250 coverage.

For inquires on Erin's 1:1 online ultrarunning coaching reach out to her at www.erinmaryquinn.com or email at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com You can also DM her on Instagram @erinquinnultraruncoach

Leave a comment here or reach out to Erin with any thoughts, questions or things you'd like her to discuss on upcoming episodes.

Episode 7: TheNon-Geek Gear Guide for Ultrarunning In this episode, Ultrarunning Coach and Journalist, Erin Quinn, breaks down the 10 key pieces of gear she recommends for ultrarunners who are attempting to tackle 50K distance up to a 100-miler. Erin delivers these recommendations from the perspective of a "non-gear geek" who prefers buying used and keeping things simple.

The 10 gear items she covers:

1. Shoes – wear what's comfortable; trail shoes help on technical terrain
2. Socks – she swears by Darn Tough wool socks

1. Gaiters – essential for preventing debris in shoes (loves Kahtoola)
2. Hydration vest – her top recommendation; uses UltrAspire Alpha 5/6
3. Headlamps & waist lights – critical for night running; keep a backup flashlight
4. Poles – helpful for mountainous races; check race rules first
5. Body Glide – Vaseline or Squirrel's Nutbutter to prevent chafing
6. Apparel – personal preference; highlights Run Rabbit and the "No Fry Sun Hoodie"
7. Watch – recommends COROS or Garmin for GPS and Training Peaks integration
8. Headlamp (revisited as a safety essential)
9. Poles: Leki
10. Waist Belts UltrAspire

The tone is casual, funny, and relatable — Erin openly admits she ran many of her early races without the "proper" gear and still finished. Her core message: gear doesn't make the runner, but these 10 items give you a solid, safe starting point.

To get on Erin's newsletter that provides great running & ultrarunning tips and strategies every 1-2 weeks just put your name and email here:

https://erinmaryquinn.aweb.page/trail-running-ultrarunning-insights

If you're interested in 1:1 online coaching with Erin contact her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com or www.erinmaryquinn.com

follow her in Instagram @erinquinnultraruncoach

Drop a comment if you enjoyed the show! She'd love to hear from you.

Here are the links to gear that Erin recommends:

Darn Tough Socks:

https://darntough.com/collections/womens-running-socks/products/womens-merino-wool-run-quarter-no-cushion-ultra-lightweight-running-socks?variant=42348136136890

UltrAspire Alpha Vest 5/6

www.ultraspire.com

Kahtoola Gaitors:

https://kahtoola.com/gaiters/instagaiter-sl/

No Fry Sun Hoodie Ketl Mtn

https://ketlmtn.com/collections/long-sleeve-tops

Erin goes into the terminology that is specific to the ultrarunning niche and gives listeners some funny insights into what these words or acronyms actually mean and how they can be applied to your training and your race.

Follow Erin on social media @erinquinnultraruncoach

Email her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com

To learn more and apply for her 1:1 online ultrarunning coaching services go to

www.erinmaryquinn.com

Just drop a comment, she would love to hear from you!

In this show Erin mentions the Podcast by Jay Friedman and Phil Vondra called The Pain Cave which you can find here https://www.gunksrunner.com/paincave

On this episode Erin dives into the pros and cons of utilizing the Strava app as both a fitness app and a social media platform. She also references some recent controversies the company has gotten embroiled in. Whether you Strava or not, Erin is, as always, supportive of people getting out and moving and hitting the trails and wanting them to Start Where They Are, but to Start!

If you'd like to reach Erin just send her an email at erinmaryquinn.com or go to her website at www.erinmaryquinn.com or DM her on Instagram @erinquinnultraruncoach

In this episode Erin discusses the intersection between running and art. She goes into simple ways in which runners can use art to enhance not only their runs, but their lives as well.

It's compelling, fun and inspirational. Erin discusses three mediums:

1. Photography

2. Writing

3. Drawing/Painting/Sketching

That any runner can introduce into their life. This is a passionate episode that is joyful and entertaining.

You can reach out to Erin on social media @erinquinnultraruncoach

You can learn more about her 1:1 Online Ultrarunning Coaching at www.erinmaryquinn.com or just email her at erinmaryquinn.com

She would love to hear from you!

In this episode, Erin breaks down mental skills training for runners and ultrarunners into 5 categories. She provides a simple, but effective exercise athletes can do to help improve their mental fortitude in each one of these categories including, identity, self-talk, writing, directing attention and gratitude. Don't miss this one. It will have you strengthening the biggest muscle in your body--- your brain!

In this episode, Erin goes over the START Methodology that she in her 1:1 online run coaching that can help prepare a runner for their first or next ultramarathon. The methodology includes 5 Pillars including:

1. Base Building

2. Speed

3. Hill Workouts

4. Back-to-Back Long Runs

5. Running Logs

Erin provides a sample workout for all 5 that listeners can put into practice immediately.

If you want to get in touch with Erin about her 1:1 Online Run Coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com or just email her at erinmaryquinn@gmail.com with any questions or comments. She'd love to hear from you.

You can find her on social media @erinquinnultraruncoach and on Facebook.

Ultrarunning Coach, Erin Quinn takes listeners through what exactly an ultramarathon is, where and how to choose and sign up for one and what they will need to get started.

To learn more about Erin Quinn's 1:1 Coaching go to www.erinmaryquinn.com

To read her published articles on the world of ultrarunning to to www.erinmaryquinn.com

To follow her on Instagram go to @erinquinnultraruncoach