For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running

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Maria Chevalier on 48 Marathon States, Running Double Boston, and Doing Hard Things Anyway May 29, 2026

Show notes

Maria Chevalier has run a marathon in 48 states, finished the Boston Marathon 17 times, and a few weeks ago ran it twice in the same day, starting at 3 a.m. in reverse from Boston to Hopkinton, resting for a few hours, and then lining up with everyone else for the actual race. 52.4 miles total.

But the distance is almost beside the point. What makes this conversation worth listening to is how Maria thinks about hard things and why she keeps choosing them.

She's navigated four wrist reconstructions that ended her music career before it fully started. Nine DNFs at Vermont 100 before finally finishing on the tenth try. A medical history that took away choices she thought were hers to make. And through all of it, she kept finding a way to keep moving forward.

This conversation goes deep and is a must listen!

Topics covered:

How running found Maria after she couldn't make the team in any other sport
What drew her to the 50 States and why she's two away from finishing
Why road marathons and trail ultras attract fundamentally different people
The dashboard effect — why people share their most vulnerable things on long runs
Her DNF at Vermont 100 at mile 65 and quietly finishing her first hundred in Boulder months later
Nine DNFs at Vermont before finishing on attempt number ten
Wrist reconstructions that ended her path to a music career
Learning she couldn't have children and how she found her way through it
Why she stopped listening to people telling her what she couldn't do
What she told her surgeon in the pre-op room that says everything about who she is
The Gap and the Gain — looking back at progress instead of forward at the gap
How Double Boston came together with Mount to Coast and the Trail Animals Running Club
What it felt like to start a marathon at 3 a.m. and feel fresh enough to run another one
What's coming up: Vermont 100, Manchester Monadnock 55, and the final two states

This episode is supported by:

Precision Fuel & Hydration - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Tifosi Optics - If you've been curious, now's a great time to try them. Head to tifosioptics.com and use code FTLR2026 to tell ‘em i sent you!

Eternal - The app I've been waiting for is finally here. Your labs, your wearable, your training, all in one place that actually does something with it. Download Eternal Health in the app store at eternalhealth.app.

Vacation Races - The Rocky Mountain Half and 5K in Estes Park, Colorado this August. Run both and earn the Elk Double. Use code FTLR when you register at vacationraces.com.

Dan Green Has Run 250 Miles. He Still Just Calls Himself a Guy Who Loves Running. May 22, 2026

Show notes

Dan Green is a trail athlete for Salomon who grew up running in West Virginia, spent years working at a running shop, and recently finished Cocodona 250 — a race he'd wanted to do for years before finally deciding to stop waiting. In this conversation, Dan talks about how running has given him everything that matters in his life, what it actually took to get sponsored, and why being yourself is both the simplest and hardest thing to do in this sport.

Topics covered:

How Dan got into running (his football teammates basically told him to leave)
Going from college cross country with no track program to chasing a pro career
Why he was anti-trail in college and what changed that
His first ultra: a 24-hour race on a concrete loop with zero plan
Early results at Black Canyon and Javelina and when he started thinking pro was possible
Setting realistic goals versus big swinging ones
Crewing his buddy Ryan at Cocodona before deciding he had to do it himself
What it's actually like to be on mile 120 and know you have more left than you've run
How running has given him his college, his fiancée, his friendships, and his career
The path to getting sponsored and why the East Coast made it harder
Why Cocodona's live stream changed everything for his visibility
Bargain Boys Media and why unpolished content fits trail running
Shoe fitting guidance from someone who's spent years doing it
The gravel shoe category and who it's actually for
His high school coach Lance Pledger and what real belief looks like
Advice for runners curious about going longer

Stay connected:

Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danisgreen/?hl=en

This episode is supported by:

Precision Fuel & Hydration - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Tifosi Optics - If you've been curious, now's a great time to try them. Head to tifosioptics.com and use code FTLR2026 to tell ‘em i sent you!

If you’re in Boulder for BolderBoulder week, come hang with us at two community events:

• Thursday, May 21 at Skratch Labs Table: free shakeout run with Chelsea Sodaro and the MomForward Movement benefiting For All Mothers, followed by a live FTLR panel with Chelsea and Kara Goucher. Raffle prizes from On, Coros, Rapha, and Oiselle. Learn more here: https://www.movemint.cc/events/momforward_movement_unlockingyes

• Friday, May 22 at Otto and Co on Pearl: “Fueling the Long Run,” presented by ProBio and FTLR with Hillary Allen, Charlie Sweeney, and Dr. Marc Bubbs. Shakeout at 6:30 p.m., panel at 7:15 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Colorado Athletics Project. Learn more here: https://www.movemint.cc/events/probio-fueling-the-long-run

Dr. Teddy Bross on Future of Athlete Healthcare, Running, and Recovery May 15, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Teddy Bross is a practicing family medicine physician at Highpoint Direct Care where he focuses on the treatment of athletes and active adults in Colorado and select surrounding states. He is an avid mountain ultra trail athlete, husband and father. Happiest in the company of friends and indulging in small joys, Dr. Teddy is a seeker of wild flowers, avid reader and consumer of poetry, and frequent DIY project manager, including the building of a dreamy Finnish basement sauna.

In this episode, Teddy and Jon talk about the massive gaps that exist in traditional medicine for endurance athletes and why so many runners are struggling with fatigue, low energy availability, recurring injuries, and burnout without getting meaningful answers.

They dive into the realities of modern healthcare, why most runners wait too long to seek help, and how Teddy approaches athlete care differently through direct primary care. The conversation also explores ferritin and iron deficiency, underfueling, GI issues in endurance sports, why so many athletes are chronically exhausted, and how curiosity plays a role both in medicine and in running.

Teddy also shares stories from pacing David Roche at Leadville, witnessing the emotional moment at Foresthill during Western States, and what excellence really looks like behind the scenes.

This episode is a deep look at athlete health, performance, consistency, and the systems that either support or fail runners trying to stay healthy long term.

Stay connected:

Learn more about Highpoint Direct Care: https://www.highpointdirectcare.com/aboutus

Dr. Teddy Bross on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/run.doctor/

This episode is supported by:

Precision Fuel & Hydration - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Good Ranchers - Better training starts with better inputs. Good Ranchers delivers high-quality, American-sourced meat and seafood so you can stay consistent with your protein and iron. We heard you! The code IRON is now worth $40 and offers the ability to try out a box before subscribing, but if you want to jump in on a subscription you get $100 off the first three months (total) plus a free bonus protein. Visit goodranchers.com to start shopping!

Tifosi Optics - If you've been curious, now's a great time to try them. Head to tifosioptics.com and use code FTLR2026 to tell ‘em i sent you!

If you’re in Boulder for BolderBoulder week, come hang with us at two community events:

Building a Life Around the Process and Choosing Hard Things with Joe Corcione May 08, 2026

Show notes

Joe Corcione is an ultrarunner, coach, and host of the Everyday Ultra Podcast, where he helps runners of all levels improve not just physically, but mentally. His path into the sport didn’t follow a traditional trajectory. He found running during a period of major life change, using it as a way to rebuild structure, discipline, and a sense of direction.Since then, Joe has gone on to complete some of the most demanding races in the sport, including 200+ mile events, while also building a coaching business focused on helping athletes push beyond what they think is possible.In this conversation, Joe shares how fear has shaped his approach to both running and life. Instead of treating it as something to avoid, he’s learned to see it as a signal that something meaningful is on the other side. That mindset shows up in how he chooses goals, how he approaches competition, and how he thinks about long-term growth.He also talks about what it takes to stay in the sport over time. Not just chasing big race-day moments, but committing to the process that happens in between. Training, setbacks, and the repetition that most people don’t see are what ultimately shape the outcome.The episode is a look at how Joe has built both his running career and his life around that idea, continuing to lean into discomfort, learn from failure, and keep moving forward.This was recorded live at the Boston Marathon, at an event hosted by Mount to Coast ahead of their double Boston Campaign.

Stay connected:

Joe's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-ultra/id1600327047

Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/

This episode is supported by:

Precision Fuel & Hydration - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Mount to Coast - Built for runners who go long. From Badwater to Boston, Mount to Coast is designing footwear for the demands of real endurance. Learn more at mounttocoast.com and use code FTLR for 10% off.

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Vacation Races - Run where you play and chase the extraordinary. Use code “FTLR” for 15% off their half marathons, ultras, and trail fests at vacationraces.com through the end of 2026.

What Happens When You Choose the Hard Thing with Brendan Morgan May 01, 2026

Show notes

Brendan Morgan is an ultrarunner who found running in 2023 by doing something most people avoid. He started because he hated it.

Since then, he’s gone all in. From completing a 4x4x48 just months after starting to running across Pennsylvania, Brendan has quickly built a reputation for taking on challenges that push both his body and mind to the edge. But what stands out isn’t just the distance. It’s the mindset behind it.

In this conversation, Brendan talks about why running became more than just a physical outlet. It’s something he can fully control in a world where most things aren’t. That idea has shaped how he approaches challenges, how he deals with adversity, and how he shows up for others.

He also shares how his past experiences and mental health journey influence the way he uses running as a tool, not just for himself, but to create space for others to feel seen and supported. Whether it’s running across a state to raise awareness or showing vulnerability online, Brendan is intentional about how he uses his platform.

This episode is about choosing discomfort on purpose, understanding why that matters, and exploring how far you can go when you lean into it.

Jon and Brendan talk about:

starting running because he hated it and what kept him coming back
using running as something you can fully control when life isn’t
how pushing physical limits translates into mental resilience
the role running plays in his mental health and day-to-day happiness
developing a deeper “why” through ultramarathons and long efforts
running across Pennsylvania and using extreme challenges to raise awareness
the experience of running Double Boston and what it revealed
the contrast between quiet miles and race-day energy
how past experiences shape his approach to discomfort and growth
why he shares vulnerability and mental health openly online
what draws him to longer and harder challenges like backyard ultras
advice for anyone who wants to push themselves further

Follow Brendan: https://www.instagram.com/runswithb?igsh=MXAwM3RoZGNydHdoag==

This episode is supported by:

Precision Fuel & Hydration - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Mount to Coast - Built for runners who go long. From Badwater to Boston, Mount to Coast is designing footwear for the demands of real endurance. Learn more at mounttocoast.com.

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Vacation Races - Run where you play and chase the extraordinary. Use code “FTLR” for 15% off their half marathons, ultras, and trail fests at vacationraces.com through the end of 2026.

The Truth About Fueling for Runners with Stevie Lyn Smith Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Stevie Lyn Smith is a registered dietitian, board certified in sports nutrition, endurance athlete, and one of the most trusted voices when it comes to practical, realistic fueling advice for runners.

As a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, Stevie combines her passion for endurance athletics with evidence-based nutrition practices to help individuals reach their health and performance goals. She’s also an ultra-endurance athlete herself, with 10 Ironman finishes, which gives her a firsthand understanding of how nutrition impacts both performance and everyday life. When she’s not training, she’s usually outside exploring trails with her dog or experimenting in the kitchen.

In this episode, Stevie breaks down what fueling actually looks like for everyday runners, not just elites, and why so many people are unintentionally underfueling their training. The conversation covers carbohydrates, hydration, sodium, and protein, with a focus on what’s realistic to execute in both training and racing.

They also get into how fueling impacts recovery, energy levels, and long-term performance, especially for runners balancing training with work, family, and everything else in life. This isn’t about chasing perfect numbers. It’s about understanding your needs, being consistent, and making fueling something that supports your training instead of holding it back.

Jon and Stevie talk about:• what “high carb fueling” actually means and why it’s individualized• how to think about fueling for long runs, races, and everyday training• why most runners are underfueling their weekly training volume• how carbs support performance, recovery, and adaptation• hydration, sodium needs, and how to know if you’re a heavy sweater• fueling for longer efforts like marathons and ultras• when and why to incorporate protein into long efforts• balancing carbs and protein without overcorrecting• how to identify misleading nutrition advice online• why practical, consistent fueling matters more than perfect plans

Stay connected:

Follow Stevie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevielynlyn/

Listen to Real Fuel Podcast hosted by Stevie Smith: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-fuel-with-sls/id1746341651

Stevie's website: https://stevielynrd.com

This episode is supported by:

Precision Fuel & Hydration - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Mount to Coast - Built for runners who go long. From Badwater to Boston, Mount to Coast is designing footwear for the demands of real endurance. Learn more at mounttocoast.com.

Don't miss out on a live podcast recording in Boston at the Marathon Sports Brand House brings together Jonathan Levitt and Joe Corcionefor a candid conversation on training, strategy, and gear for runners looking to take on longer distances from their first 50K to ultramarathons. Sign up here!

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Vacation Races - Run where you play and chase the extraordinary. Use code “FTLR” for 15% off their half marathons, ultras, and trail fests at vacationraces.com through the end of 2026.

The Long Game: From the 2012 Olympics to LA 2028 While Working Full-Time with Ruben Sança Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

From immigrating to the U.S. at 12 years old to representing Cape Verde at the Olympics, Ruben Sança’s story is one of consistency, patience, and staying in it long after most people step away.

Ruben Sança is a Cape Verdean Olympian and elite distance runner who competed in the 5,000 meters at the 2012 Olympic Games in London after previously representing Cape Verde at the 2011 World Championships. He is a former standout at UMass Lowell, earning multiple All-America honors and helping lead the program to conference championships during his collegiate career. Sança holds multiple Cape Verdean national records and has run personal bests of 1:05 in the half marathon and 2:18 in the marathon while competing internationally and across the U.S. road racing circuit. In addition to competing, he coaches athletes and works professionally in leadership roles focused on education and opportunity for students.

Ruben talks about how his relationship with running has evolved over time, from thinking he was “running across the country” in middle school to building the kind of durability that allows him to train at a high level for decades.

There’s also a constant theme of balance. Balancing training with a career. Knowing when to push and when to back off. Building a life that supports running, not one that’s consumed by it.

Jon and Ruben get into:• growing up in Boston as an immigrant and finding running by accident• why he never wanted to think of himself as “gifted”• building durability and handling high mileage over time• transitioning from track to the marathon• representing Cape Verde at the 2012 Olympics• why he’s going after LA 2028 at age 41• managing 100+ mile weeks with a full-time job• what sustainable excellence actually looks like• confidence, belonging, and showing up to races differently• the growth of running culture in Dorchester and Roxbury• why community matters more than pace

This is a conversation for anyone trying to figure out how to do both, pursue something meaningful while building a full life around it.

Stay connected:

Follow Ruben: https://www.instagram.com/rubenpsanca/

This episode is supported by:

Precision Fuel & Hydration - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Mount to Coast - Built for runners who go long. From Badwater to Boston, Mount to Coast is designing footwear for the demands of real endurance. Learn more at mounttocoast.com.

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Vacation Races - Run where you play and chase the extraordinary. Use code “FTLR” for 15% off their half marathons, ultras, and trail fests at vacationraces.com through the end of 2026.

Outrun the Darkness: Running, Recovery, and Doing Something Bigger Than Yourself with John Shep Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

From hitting rock bottom to building a life of recovery through running: Meet John Shep.

John is a Canadian ultrarunner, teacher, and host of the Athletics Ontario Running Podcast. He’s also the creator of “Outrun the Darkness,” a project centered around a 142.2K ultra-double, completing the Sulphur Springs 100K and the Ottawa Marathon on back-to-back days to raise awareness for youth mental health.

John’s journey into running didn’t start with performance. It started with recovery.

After a mental health crisis and disordered eating led to hospitalization, running became a way to rebuild his relationship with himself, with food, and with the world around him. Nearly two decades later, he’s still living what he calls “a life of recovery,” using running as both a tool and a platform.

Jon and John dive into:• John’s path from mental health crisis to ultrarunning• the concept of “living a life of recovery”• how running can support, and sometimes challenge, addictive tendencies• “riding the edge of the lightning bolt” and finding balance• using running as exposure therapy and rebuilding a relationship with food • the role of community in recovery and mental health• the story behind Outrun the Darkness• why mental health conversations need to be ongoing, not occasional• what it means to use running for something bigger than yourself

Stay connected:Follow John: https://www.instagram.com/outrunthedarkness/

This episode is supported by:

Precision - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Mount to Coast - Built for runners who go long. From Badwater to Boston, Mount to Coast is designing footwear for the demands of real endurance. Learn more at mounttocoast.com.

Tifosi Optics - If you've been curious, now's a great time to try them. Head to tifosioptics.com and use code FTLR2026 to tell ‘em i sent you!

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Getting Sponsored While Pregnant: What’s Changing in Pro Running with Grayson Murphy Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

From questioning what’s considered “normal” in professional sport to speaking up about what actually needs to change: Meet Grayson Murphy, a professional runner bringing clarity to conversations around pregnancy, contracts, and what real support for athletes should look like.

Grayson is a world champion trail runner and professional athlete who has built her career at the highest level of the sport. But beyond performance, she’s using her voice to challenge long-standing norms around how female athletes are treated, especially when it comes to starting a family. Her perspective is grounded, honest, and rooted in lived experience.

Jon chats with Grayson about:• her identity as an athlete and how that’s shifting with pregnancy• why she’s never felt the need to choose just one lane in running• what it’s actually been like to slow down during pregnancy• comparison, expectations, and stepping away from social media• signing a pro contract while pregnant and what that represents• why being supported shouldn’t be seen as “lucky”• how expectations for women in sport are starting to change• sharing the non-perfect version of her life and why that matters• the role of community and other athlete moms• what’s next, including a potential marathon debut• building a business alongside her running career• why storytelling and non-endemic sponsors are shaping the future of the sport

Stay connected:Follow Grayson:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racin__grayson/

Wild Strides Paper Co. training logs and coaching: https://wildstridespaper.com

This episode is supported by:

Precision - Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Mount to Coast - Built for runners who go long. From Badwater to Boston, Mount to Coast is designing footwear for the demands of real endurance. Learn more at mounttocoast.com.

Tifosi Optics - If you've been curious, now's a great time to try them. Head to tifosioptics.com and use code FTLR2026 to tell ‘em i sent you!

Boulderthon - Our favorite Colorado race event with a variety of distances. Use code FTLR2026 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon when you register at www.boulderthon.org.

Run Your First 200 Mile Race: Tips for Consistency, Accountability, and Running Toward What Scares You Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

From a finance pro who decided to chase what scared him, to a trail runner who's pushed the boundaries to 200 miles: Meet Dom Bubri, who discovered that the most extraordinary transformations happen when you stop thinking and just start running.

Dom is a trail and ultra runner who loves the grind of long miles and the clarity that comes from spending time outside. By day, he leads finance teams, but his favorite lessons come from the trail - showing up consistently, embracing discomfort, and playing the long game. Running has shaped how he thinks about work, leadership, and life beyond the finish line.

Jon chats with Dom about:

his introduction to running
the transition from road to trail running
going from 50K to 100 miles
his winning mental approach
getting to the 200 mile race distance

Stay connected:

Follow Dom:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbubri/

LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/dbubri

This episode is supported by:

AmazFit Check out the T-Rex 3 and a selection of GPS watches at https://us.amazfit.com/discount/FTLR2026 and use code “FTLR2026” for 10% off.

Vacation Races Run where you play and chase the extraordinary. Use code “FTLR” for 15% off their half marathons, ultras, and trail fests at vacationraces.com through the end of 2026.

Precision Dial your fueling in this year. Use code “LONGRUN26” for 15% off your first order at www.precisionhydration.com.

Mount to Coast Mount to Coast is partnering with For The Long Run because they want to tell the stories behind the runners. The why. There's something specific coming around the Boston Marathon that I can't fully get into yet. But stay tuned. It's worth it. For The Long Run it will be indeed.

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For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running

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