Like a Bigfoot

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#27: Shawn Forry -- First Ever Winter Thru-Hike of Pacific Crest Trail Mar 02, 2017

Show notes

Imagine walking sunrise to sunset day after day for 2,650 miles through brutal winter weather. We're talking summiting gigantic frigid mountains, freezing cold river crossing, waist deep snow, without seeing other hikers for weeks at a time through intense wintry wilderness. Those are only a few of the obstacles Shawn Forry and his hiking partner Justin Lichter faced while successfully completing the very first WINTER thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Thru-hikes have always fascinated me. What it must feel like to immerse yourself into the wilderness with nothing but the winding trail for months at a time. In fact, every time I did a day hike on the Appalachian in Virginia I would unsuccessfully try to get into that headspace. Beyond the completely awesome story of the winter PCT, I was pumped to chat with Shawn just so I could nerd out on some of the billion of questions I had for an experienced thru-hiker. On this week's episode Shawn shares stories from the winter PCT trek, explains how his thru hiking career began and the factors that drive him to continue, how he's created a mindset that helps push him through seemingly insurmountable adversity, and so much more! After reading Shawn's history on his website www.shawnforry.com, I have to honestly believe he is one of the most experienced thru-hikers in the world having trekked over 20,000 miles in various countries over the last 14 years. The Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest, Continental, El Camino De Santiago, Hayduke, Great Himalaya Trail, are some of the highlights of his extremely impressive resume. Shawn was a pleasure to talk to and I hope that this inspires you to get outside and immerse yourself in the beauty of a local trail....or do a really long walk....or realize that you have the power within you to achieve a seemingly impossible goal! Enjoy the convo and we'll get back at you next week!!

#26: TJ Anderson -- Author of The Art of Health Hacking Feb 22, 2017

Show notes

“We don’t lack the science, information, or technology to get healthy. We lack the art to know how to use those things properly.” This week’s Like a Bigfoot Podcast is with the author of the upcoming book “The Art of Health Hacking” TJ Anderson. TJ is an advocate for human optimization through continual learning, testing, and adapting your habits to chase your ideal physical, mental and emotional health. He’s also just a really positive, life-embracing, loving dude who just oozes positivity and I had a great time chatting with him. While some health-hacking authors focus on the nitty gritty details, TJ has embraced the idea the of differentiation- teaching a diverse group of people how to teach themselves to optimize healthy habits in a way that works for their own individual backgrounds, needs, and bodies. What has worked for him may or may not work for you….so his book acts as an overall blueprint of HOW to pursue YOUR experience by choosing to focus on behavior change and strategies you can use on your journey to better health. He shares strategies to help you explore new routines and guidelines how to turn the ones that create positive changes into lifelong habits. Once again, the book is “The Art of Health Hacking” and right now TJ is looking to crowdsource the publication at www.publishizer.com. You can purchase the book and support TJ by helping him find a publisher by visiting https://publishizer.com/the-art-of-health-hacking/. For more updates from TJ visit his website http://www.thisistj.com To check out all the other great episodes of the Like a Bigfoot Podcast head over to https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464 or subscribe on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2 Thanks for TJ for podcasting with me this week and thanks for you for listening! You guys rock!

#25: Brady Manriquez 2 -- Preparing for Monument Valley Race, Like a Bigfoot Mindset Feb 16, 2017

Show notes

Since we last spoke to Brady Manriquez (episode 1), he has lost 15 more pounds, overcame set-backs in the form of an emergency surgery, began pumping iron, and discovered the great form of exploration known as trail running. All this in preparation for his very first race- a 14.5 miler in the absolute breath-taking Monument Valley smack dab in the middle of the Arizona/Utah desert. In this episode we break down Brady's pre-race plan along with my own (I'm running the 50 mile Monument Valley ultra the same day), wax poetically about everything we know about Monument Valley, discuss ways to really make the most out of a big destination race, the origin of the name "Like a Bigfoot", and so much more! While you are listening to Brady's story, realize that a year ago he hadn't even dreamt of running one mile, not to mention running 14.5, let alone running 14.5 in a desert trail half marathon! His story is proof that you can accomplish whatever it is you want as long as you are consistently taking sustainable steps towards your goal. Although he's lost 75 pounds, his biggest benefit has been regaining strength, athleticism, and confidence. The dude is a status quo crusher by every definition of the term! Some would have continued down the path of "same old, same old", but Brady decided to set off on his own path and rediscover the control he has over his own health and therefore his own life. Thinking about that inspires me every SINGLE day. He represents the epitome of the "Like a Bigfoot" mindset. CONSISTENT HARD WORK + TIME = SUCCESS. Enjoy this week's episode! If you missed Brady's first appearance on the show (and the first episode of this podcast), look for it here: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464/like-a-bigfoot-1-brady-manriquez You can find all of our episodes by clicking this little link: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464 Get after it this week!

#24: Lindsey Ward -- The Whole 30 Challenge Feb 10, 2017

Show notes

This week's guest is amazing, hard working, hilarious, loving and just so happens to be the most important person in my life, my beautiful wife, Lindsey Ward. (Brownie points for me!) As the clock ticked midnight on New Years' Eve, Linz and I started our month long journey to tackle the Whole30 challenge. The Whole30 challenge encourages you to eat only the absolute essentials- vegetables, fruits, and meats. It is not focused on counting calories, juicing, or portion control, and instead simply forces you to eat clean food. It also turns your focus away from weight and instead to simply observing how your body feels after eliminating processed food, sugars, alcohol, dairy products, etc. Lindsey and I wanted something to kick us out of our food routines to help nourish new, healthier habits. We also wanted to avoid the normal pitfalls of most unsustainable New Year's Resolutions. We chose Whole30 because, instead of creating vague goal over an indefinite time period, it offered a very black and white guideline of what we could and couldn't eat AND it had a set amount of time. 30 days to do anything seems very ACHIEVABLE versus the whole "no end in site mindset". Overall it was a good month that forced us to step outside of our comfort zone and challenged some previous beliefs. For example I didn't think it was possible to run a 50k (31 miles) without the use of gels, soda, or processed sugar. I discovered that not only was it attainable, but I actually felt MUCH better throughout the event. As for Lindsey, I am posting this with a huge smile on my face! I'm so proud of my wife for achieving this goal (even spitting out a cookie our 3 year old literally put in her mouth at one point. "It'll be yummy for you!"). Lindsey has an incredibly strong mindset that gotten her through the insanity of medical school and residency while overcoming some major adversity in her life. I'm excited to share our conversation (and maybe a window into our weirdness) with you guys! In this episode Lindsey and I share the ups and downs of our month doing the Whole 30 diet. What was easy? What was challenging? How do we feel now? What did we learn about our previous routines and how can we implement changes in a sustainable way? Also, a little change of format this week. We are playing with time in a very "LOSTesque" way! The first 15 minutes or so were recorded before the challenge on December 30th, 2016 and the last 45 minutes were recorded post challenge on February 1st, 2017. Hope you guys enjoy this episode! As always check out the rest of the podcasts right here: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464 To learn more about Whole30 make sure you visit their website: http://whole30.com

#23: Sara and Wes Turner --Quest to Qualify for Olympic Trials, Running Through Pregnancy Feb 03, 2017

Show notes

If you are a parent...or an athlete....or a parent-athlete, you are going to love this one! Sara and Wes Turner are two of the most driven athletes in Virginia. On this podcast we like to highlight people rebelling against the status quo and I'm happy to say that this husband and wife team are epitomizing the Like a Bigfoot spirit! For the past few years Wes has been literally chasing his goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the marathon. He is beyond driven, missing ZERO workouts while winning race after races he slowly creeps up to the magic 2 hours and 18 minutes needed to qualify. Dude is FAST! Sara is also a runner and spends her time training and writing on her popular blog "Running Wife" being completely transparent about the peaks and valleys of being in training, racing, and cheering on her husband throughout this journey. Recently their story has transformed as they added the challenge of having a baby. Now they are in the middle of adapting from life as "two married athletes" into "daddy/mommy athletes"...or as I like to say "dadthlete"...and I guess "momthlete". They now are learning how to balance their workout routines with the amazingness and stressfulness of parenthood. As a dadthlete myself (who just had to abandon my morning workout mid-deadlift because my 6 month old decided 5am was the pristine moment to start her day) I can tell you that parenthood adds whole new dimensions to being an athlete. You can let it completely derail your training or you can choose to use it as a tool to make you a mentally stronger, more flexible competitor. Sara and Wes are excellent examples of parents choosing the latter. Their dedication to both their family and their individual goals is inspiring. Oh yeah, did I mention that Sara finished 1,000 miles throughout her pregnancy (in a safe, doctor-approved and husband-doctor-approved way). In this episode we chat about misconceptions of exercising when pregnant, how Wes completes every workout through the exhaustion that is doctor residency, what it's like to run at the front of the pack, Sara's plan for postpartum training, how they have adapted to life with their wonderful son Easton, dealing with mental barriers while chasing a goal, and how Wes plans on incrementally gaining those few minutes to reach his milestone. Check it out! These two are AWESOME! They are currently live in Danville, Virginia where they are training for the Boston Marathon in April where Sara will run her first race postpartum and Wes will continue hunting for that magic marathon time. Follow their story at Sara's excellent blog www.runningwife.com or her very active community on instagram @therunningwife. Make sure you are getting after it this week in pursuit of whatever your goals may be. Use this story to inspire you to drive forward and give 100% of your own effort!

#22: George Kittle -- Iowa Hawkeye Starting Tight End, How Hard Work Creates Success Jan 27, 2017

Show notes

I met this week's guest way back in 2008 during my first year of coaching 9th grade football for the Iowa City West Trojans. He instantly became one of my favorite players. He was coachable, tough, would play any position asked of him, worked harder than anyone else, and had the never say die attitude that brings a smile to a coach's face. Over the last nine years, George Kittle transformed himself from 160 pound ninth grader into a 250 pound starting Tight End for the Iowa Hawkeyes. In the last two years he has scored 10 touchdowns, became one of the team's best run blockers, and helped lead them to one of their best seasons of all time. How did his mindset help him throughout this journey? What obstacles did he overcome? What lessons did he internalize while pursuing his goals? What does the next step look like for a potential prospect chasing an NFL career? In this episode George shares the most important lessons from his journey. Over his five year college career he has used the power of consistent hard work, realized that success follows complete focus and discipline and, most importantly, became a sponge who sought lessons from everyone around him. I was beyond impressed by the amount of solid advice and inspiration he shared in our conversation. The "Reset" button is something I will use for the rest of my life! He also explains what he has gained from three excellent teachers; head coach Kirk Ferentz, strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle, and, most importantly, his father Bruce Kittle. So big thanks to George for chatting with us. We wish you the best of luck in the next phase of your life! Enjoy the podcast. Also, George and his dad were the first people I knew who went out to Colorado to climb "14ers" (big ole mountains), so we definitely talk about his experiences adventuring up mountains too!

#21: Jill Campbell -- What is Acroyoga? Joys of Teaching Yoga Jan 20, 2017

Show notes

This week we are proud to have the opportunity to talk to one of the leading experts of Acroyoga. The most basic definition of this style of yoga is that it is a mixture of acrobatics and yoga. It is the rare “social” yoga in that the poses are generally accomplished with either one or more partners. This week’s guest has spent the last ten years learning and practicing under the watch of Acroyoga creators Jesse Goldberg and Eugene Poku and is now one of the most highly respected Acroyoga instructors in the world. Jill Campbell fell in love with the movement, art, and connection that Acro brings to her life and is on a quest to spread the goodness to as many people as possible. She travels all over the world bringing acroyoga to literally thousands of students and has now spread her influence by teaching the next generation of instructors. Jill is a caring, introspective, boundary pusher who is blazing the trail for Acroyoga practitioners worldwide. As someone who has practiced yoga pretty regularly throughout the last four years but has never participated in an Acroyoga class, I am so grateful for the opportunity to speak with Jill. I truly believe that there is a lot to gain from talking to highly qualified people in any field you are curious about and can honestly say that, as someone who knew nothing of Acroyoga (beyond that it looks really fun), Jill has inspired me to step outside my comfort zone and begin looking for classes around my area. I came at this interview as a complete curious newbie and probably asked some extremely surface level questions. Although this podcast is aimed at all levels of experience with this yoga practice, I believe that it will really be beneficial for all of us who have no clue what to expect from an Acroyoga class. Also, as a 8th grade science teacher, I was fascinated with the similarities seen for all teachers, whether it’s a peaceful yoga class or a public school class with goofy hormonal 8th graders. We really dig into what you can expect from a first time Acro experience, how becoming really passionate about something can change your life, her teaching philosophies and how it influences her teaching style, how the partner and social aspect makes Acro different from other forms of yoga, and a lot more!

#20: "Iron Cowboy" James Lawrence -- 50 Ironmans, 50 states, 50 days, Mental Toughness for Athletes Jan 14, 2017

Show notes

What kind of person can endure 50 ironman triathlons, in all 50 states, in 50 straight days? An Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and finished with a 26.2 mile run for a total of 140.6 miles. For most people completing one is a MAJOR life accomplishment. In the summer of 2015, "The Iron Cowboy" James Lawrence powered through 50 of them, for 50 straight days, while traveling through all 50 states with his wife, five kids, and his crew. He called it the 50.50.50. Some call it the craziest feat of self-induced human endurance. I call it the most impressive accomplishment I've ever witnessed. His story will truly open your eyes to what humans are capable of. In this week's episode, James shares some high points and low points of the challenge, the mindset it takes to endure this massive endeavor, how he has developed his physical and mental toughness with the power of consistent action over time, the positive ripple effects he has witnessed from his project, and what challenges he is planning on facing in 2017. Oh yeah...he also spells out his plan to bike up Mt. Kilimanjaro. I am beyond honored to bring you guys the interview with James. I have been a huge fan of his journey for quite some time now. To me he represents everything there is to know about toughness and stoicism. He was at the top of the list of "dream guests" when starting this podcast and I have not been able to wipe the smile off my face since chatting with him. So check out this episode and feel free to share it. Especially, if you find something that connects with you and you feel like it could help others on their journey, because at the end of the day that's the whole purpose of this podcast: to spread stories of goodness. To discover more of the Iron Cowboy's story or to keep up on his training and future events, be sure to check out www.ironcowboy.co, his Facebook page Iron Cowboy and his instagram @ironcowboyjames. If you are interested in being coached by Team Iron Cowboy in any event from 5k to an Ironman please go to www.teamironcowboy.com. To get a feel for what the 50.50.50. you can go to Vimeo and check out the "Iron Cowboy Documentary: The Story of the 50.50.50."

#19: Shaida Hossein -- Discovering a Love of the Outdoors, 72 Hikes in 52 Weeks, Pacific NW Jan 06, 2017

Show notes

How do you transform from a self-described "indoor kid" to a person who spends entire weekends hiking through the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific Northwest? What lessons would you learn by stepping into the fresh air to wander in nature? Why are weekend adventures in the natural world so important for your success during the weekdays? This week our podcast proudly welcomes Shaida Hossein. Shaida has spent the last 4 years exploring the wilderness surrounding Seattle, Washington. Originally from the Midwest, these travels have helped her form a newfound love for hiking adventures and open her eyes to whole new aspects of herself. Last January she decided to step up to the "52 Hike Challenge", a global movement to inspire people to complete one hike every single week of the year. So at least once a week you would find Shaida outside exploring the beautiful waterfalls, mountains, and beaches surrounding Seattle. In fact, by the end of the year, she had piled up miles on 73 different trails! On this episode Shaida shares what she learned from her year of wandering; lessons about herself, friendship, wildlife, inner strength, and the importance of weekend adventures to her life. She also entertains with some delightfully hilarious stories about run-ins with animals, teenagers, and machete-wielding forest folk while out on the trails! Shaida is also an excellent photographer and blogger and I suggest that you all check out her blog Daily Amusements of a Midwest Girl and be sure to follow her fantastic instagram account at shaida05 to be inspired by the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest. As always, thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe on iTunes, check out our archive of other podcasts on Soundcloud, or join our Facebook Community.

#18: Calvin Johannsen 2 --14ers Project Celebration! 111 Mountains in 105 Days, Join 100 Club Dec 30, 2016

Show notes

The mountain conquerer has returned!! A few months removed from finishing his 14ers Project where he summited the 100 tallest mountains in the contiguous United States, Calvin Johannsen returns to the podcast for an overdue celebration of this lofty accomplishment. In this episode we crack open some beers, open some presents, and have a great time as Calvin shares more adventures from the road, including one so intense that it actually gave me a nightmare...as embarrassing as that is to admit as a grown man. Enjoy the conversation as he recounts the highs and lows of solo travel, waxes poetically about how awesome it is to sleep in the back of a Prius, explains how he dealt with the post-adventure slump, and, of course, reveals about the trials and tribulations of climbing some of the most rugged mountains in the U.S. over 100 straight days. Calvin is the master of the "Calspiration", straightforward advice intended to push you towards being the best possible human possible, so I'm releasing this episode specifically on New Years Day for all of you guys looking to start 2017 off on the right foot. Instead of simply making a New Year's Resolution (and abruptly breaking it a few days later), I'm urging you to check out Calvin's "Join 100 Club" which highlights the power of consistency in achieving your goals. Signing up is free and by completing 100 days of your own specific habit, I promise you will see considerable amount of progress! Personally, I'm doing 100 days of a minimum of 15 minutes of yoga to improve my flexibility and mobility (and hold myself accountable). Whatever you decide to do with your year remember this, YOU have control over your decisions and those decisions will lead you down whatever path you choose. This could be the path of new experiences, adventure, discipline, progress and experiencing the most out of life or it could be the path of stagnation and "same old, same old". I know what I'm striving for!

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