I have been following Scott Jurek since a few years after his final major first place win in 2008. I heard his name in Born to Run and immediately picked up Eat and Run. Scott is a legend and the greatest dynasty in male ultrarunning in my opinion.
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We sat and talked in Amsterdam for about an hour and my primary takeaway is that he’s got a lot of hot takes and he’s not shy about them. And who better to have hot takes than someone who also has the ability to influence change? But what actually needs to change? Scott has some thoughts on that.
Topics:
- Scott Jurek and Y2K
- DIY: Ultrarunners, Punk Rock, and Skateboarding
- Runners have it easier with gear advances
- Athlete mentality is shifting in a sterile direction
- Mental resilience in ultra running
- The lasting bonds of competing in ultratrail
- The commercialization of Ultratrail Running
- Despite changes, the essence of running remains accessible to everyone.
Time Stamps:
- 00:00 Y2K Reflections and Early Career
- 04:02 The Evolution of Ultra Running Culture
- 09:58 The Transition from Competitive to Recreational Running
- 14:13 The Challenges of Sustaining a Long Career
- 20:03 The Current State of Ultra Running and Future Prospects
- 26:10 The Evolution of Ultra Running and Athlete Care
- 28:12 The Changing Landscape of Ultra Running Personalities
- 31:12 Trash Talk and Camaraderie
- 40:10 Global Perspectives: The Heart of Ultra Running
- 47:04 The Future of Ultra Running: Accessibility and Community
Enjoy, Josh
PS. The Accolades:
- Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run: Record seven consecutive wins
- Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles): Won twice
- Spartathlon (153 miles, Greece): Won three consecutive times – first American to win
- Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run: Winner
- Appalachian Trail Speed Record: Set fastest known time for the 2,189-mile thru-hike (46 days, 8 hours)
- 24-Hour Run: U.S. record for distance (165.7 miles); silver medal at World Championships
- Miwok 100K Trail Race: Won three times
- Leona Divide 50-Mile Run: Won four times
- Diez Vista 50K Trail Run: Won twice; set course record
- Minnesota Voyageur 50-Mile Run: Won three times; set course record
- Series and slams: Completed Ultra Running Grand Slam; won Montrail Ultra Cup series twice
Watch Josh’s Interview with Nils Arend, founder of the Speed Project.
