The Ultra Running Guys – Details, episodes & analysis

Chris Rice got his start as an adventure racer and has since racked up more than 90 events on UltraSignup.  We were lucky enough to shake hands with him recently at the Loopy Looper 100 miler where we witnessed his sub 24 hour finish , teaming up with prior guest Michael "Gagz" Gagliardi to tough out the last 3 hours of the race.  And to hint at the grit this guy has, the Loopy Looper was just 10 days after his 4th Badwater 135 finish. He is now preparing for the 153 mile Spartathlon on September 28, and then The Arizona Monster 300 in April 0f 2025.  So plug in to hear what makes him tick and how he is approaching a 300+ mile challenge. Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: The Final Countdown

After over a year of race spotlights, we must confess. This is the first race spotlight for a race in Iowa. And, we are so grateful that this one was recommended to us as it was flying under the radar, but no more. The Mines of Spain 100 takes place in Dubuque, Iowa in October and sells out each year, so if you want to run this one, you may have to wait until next year. But put it on your watch list so you can be alerted to register in time next year.

The Mines of Spain 100 takes runners on 5 - 20 mile loops covering trails that range from steep & technical to flat dirt single track to rolling & grassy and everything in between. Each 20 mile loop of the course is about 2800 feet of gain/loss which totals out to roughly 14,000 feet for the full 100 and runners have 33 hours to complete the distance.

Joining us on the show to talk about the Mines of Spain, is RD, Josh Sun.

Race spotlight recommended by Chad Fridley Photo: Mile 90 Photography @mile90photo Mines of Spain 100 Information Race website: https://minesofspain100.com/ IG: @minesofspain100

Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 14, 2024

Jeff Browning is currently ranked 2nd in the world for most 100 mile career wins, having competed in over 200 ultras and standing at the top of the Podium for races like Hardrock, Bighorn 100, HURT 100, and so many more. He has been named in the top 10 ultra runners of the year an astounding 8 times, and at age 52, is the oldest male to ever be ranked. And he just keeps getting better. He took the win at 5 of his 7 races in 2023, and then kicked off this year with a win at the Coldwater Rumble 100, a podium slot at the Mesquite Canyon 50 miler, and then came across the line at the Cocodona 250 with a heart wrenching 2nd place finish due to a bout with Reactive Airway Dysfunction after absolutely dominating the majority of the race. He is renowned for his coaching, his expansive knowledge around training, strength work and nutrition, and after getting to spend a little time with him, we can confirm that he is the nicest dude you could ever hope to come across. No matter where you are in your ultra journey, there is always so much to learn from this guy so be sure to plug in for our chat with the one and only Jeff Browning, aka "Bronco Billy." This episode was edited by Steve Saunders at Saunders Audio Check out more from The Ultra Running Guys Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 14, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s

Following a near fatal fall in 2017, Hillary Allen has literally written the book (Out And Back: A Runner's Story of Survival and Recovery Against All Odds) about overcoming the seemingly impossible. From being told she may never run again, to recently winning the grueling Madeira Island Ultra Trail, her story is one of tragedy, triumph, and simply never giving up. We were so lucky to sit with Hillary just before launching into 2022 and her words are exactly what we all need as we look forward this year. There is so much to learn in this episode about ultra running and life in general. Thank you, HillyGoat, for spending your time with us. Enjoy the episode! Be sure to follow Hillary on IG at www.instagram.com/hillygoat_climbs and you can pick up a copy of her book on her website www.hillaryallen.com It is a must read! Happy New Year! Also, be sure to check out our new Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguys

Anthony Lee began running to combat obesity as a child, and has since become one of the toughest mountain runners in the field. Recent 1st place finishes include Mace's Hideout 100 and the grueling Ouray 100, followed by an impressive 2nd place finish at the Spartan Trail Championship Golden Gate Trail Classic 100K. We were honored to chat with Anthony about his story, maintaining balance, and some gnarly mountain running. Be sure to follow him in Instagram at @anthonyclee94 and send him some love. Enjoy!

Joel Cervantes is one of the toughest people we have ever talked to. He works nightshift as a nurse for special needs kids, cross trains like a madman, ran his first 100 miles in his neighborhood to "prepare" for a 100 miler, and just tackled the MOAB 240 in October. On top of it all, he is an amazing, positive guy. Hit him up on IG at @hownowbrownjoel and send him some love. Enjoy the episode!

It was amazing to sit down with Jack Brunecz, winner of our first race The Final Countdown, and talk running, his victory, his coaching tips and more. Jack is a total class act and we can't wait for you all to get to know him. You can follow Jack on IG @jackbrunecz . Enjoy the Episode!

Will Frantz is a nutrition coach trained by Precision Nutrition and The Nutrition Coaching Instititute and is also an NASM Certified Personal Trainer. In this episode we dive into the nuts and bolts of endurqnce nutrition for both training and race day, and also discuss the topic over training vs. under recovering. Be sure to plug into Will's FB Group "Trail And Ultra Nutrition" and visit his website www.willfrantz.com Enjoy the episode!

Michael "Gagz" Gagliardi is a friend, a monster runner, and the killer host of his own Podcast, "Running Times with Gagz." We can pretty much guarantee you will fall in love with Gagz (if you're not already) and the value he provides in this episode is epic. Give him a follow on IG at @bdg123, plug into his Podcast, and see more from him on his linktree at https://linktr.ee/bdg123 Let us know what you think! Enjoy the episode!

We had so much fun chatting with Run It Fast founder Joshua Holmes!  Be sure to plug in so you can hear how he got started running, details of his "Summer of Suffering," his mindset tips that got him through 274 ultras / marathons with 0 DNFs, and more.  Let us know what you think! You can follow Joshua at @joshuaholmes and @runitfast on IG and see more at www.runitfast.com . Enjoy!