Like a Bigfoot

Motivation, Mindset, Positivity, Endurance, Adventure, Perseverance, and Possibility

Month: December 2019

Like a Bigfoot Podcast #177: Alexandera Houchin — Adventures from a Bikepacking Champion, Tour Divide & Colorado Trail Race

Happy 2020!! This week we are chatting with bikepacking champion, extraordinary endurance athlete, and all around awesome human being Alexandera Houchin!

Alexandera has had an inspiring athletic journey culminating in dominant performances at the Tour Divide, Colorado Trail Race, amongst many other long distance bike races.  She rides her single speed bike for days and days rocking steel toed boots, fixes bikes with sporks, and continues to smile and laugh despite any obstacle thrown her way.  More importantly, she’s a super down to earth, resilient, positive person who was an absolute joy to chat with! I’m seriously in awe of her accomplishments and her humbleness.

In this episode we chat all about her recent record setting ride on the 486 mile Colorado Trail, her journey from back of the pack in her very first race to becoming the first woman to win back to back Tour Divides (a 2,745 mile race from Canada to Mexico), and the lessons she has learned along the way.

This one was one of my favorite episodes of the show so far!  My mind is blown by the adventures Alexandera has had and her evolution as an athlete.  I’m so honored she would spend some time to chat and felt like her perspective on endurance sports was incredibly relatable.

I hope she inspires all of you to take on some major challenges in 2020! I know my motivation was through the roof after recording the episode!

MORE FROM ALEXANDERA HOUCHIN:

Alexandera’s Blog: https://alexandherrastro.wordpress.com

Outside Magazine Article: https://www.outsideonline.com/2397215/alexandera-houchin-endurance-cycling

REI Article: https://www.rei.com/blog/cycle/alexandera-houchin-is-the-peoples-champion-of-bikepacking

Bikepacking Article: https://bikepacking.com/news/alexandera-houchin-2019-tour-divide/

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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Like a Bigfoot Podcast #176: Don Reichelt 2 — Lessons From Big’s Backyard Ultra

This week we are bringing Don Reichelt back on the show to talk all about his experience running in this year’s edition of Big’s Backyard Ultra.

Big’s has quickly risen to the top of iconic ultra races in the United States.  The format is simple- every hour runners must complete a 4.16 mile loop, the next hour they must complete it again….then again….then again….at any point a person can quit….and this will continue until there is only one person left standing.  It’s an event designed by Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell, the genius behind the Barkley Marathons, to truly explore the limits of human endurance.  What pushes a person to tap out?  How can one to simply endure?

This year was the world championship where 75 high level endurance athletes flew out to Laz’s backyard in Tennessee to see who could outlast the others.

While Don’s race didn’t go as planned, a bashed up foot and messed up anterior tib saw to that, he discovered so much about his drive, mindset, and willingness to dive deep into the pain cave.  He also discovered a beautiful community full of other highly driven ultrarunners and absorbed lessons from everyone he had the opportunity to run with.

In this episode we chat about Don’s race prep which included a sports psychologist and hours spent running four miles around his neighborhood.  We also dive into what Don observed from the other racers, including Maggie Guterl the ultimate winner after 250 miles over two and a half days.

Hope you enjoy show!! I always enjoy chatting with Don and hearing his perspective on this crazy sport of ours!

MORE FROM DON:

Like a Bigfoot Podcast #175: Preparing for Booneville — Taking on First Ultra w/ Sean F, Thad B, Matt R, and Brady M

A goal of mine has always been to encourage people to take on an adventure, whether that’s signing up for an ultra marathon, climbing a mountain, or simply stepping outside their comfort zone.  More specifically I always joke that the secret intent of the podcast is to get people to sign up for their first 50k, the ultra distance that I believe is the perfect intro to adventure.  Well I’m happy to say that recently I convinced (peer pressured) 4 of my friends to register for their very first 50k!

In May, we will be taking on the Booneville Backroads Ultra, a fantastic race through the country roads south of Des Moines, Iowa.  This episode is all about “what in the world did we get ourselves into?”  We chat with all four of these gentlemen about their goals, expectations, and what they hope to gain by pushing themselves way outside their comfort zones!

All of these guys have been on the show before and huge thanks to each and every one of them for sharing their perspectives.  Matt Rackers, Sean Furlong, Thad Burkamper and Brady Manriquez, I truly cannot wait for May!

MORE FROM BOONEVILLE BACKROADS ULTRA:

Website: http://boonevillebackroadsultra.com

Ultrasignup: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=72917

“Reach for the Stars” Documentary: https://www.expandyourpossible.com/online-store/Reach-for-the-Stars-The-Booneville-Backroads-Ultra-Marathon-Digital-%26-Streaming-p139527512

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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Like a Bigfoot Podcast #174: Josh Milich & Brian Tjersland 2 — Running 500 Miles for Mission 22

This week we welcome back Josh Milich and Brian Tjersland after their 500 mile journey in support of Mission 22 a community with the goal of putting a stop to the high amount of veteran suicides that unfortunately happen every single day.  By running from the Massachussetts National Cemetary all the way down to Arlington National Cemetary, these two raised money and awareness in every single city and state they traveled through.

We chatted with Brian and Josh last February about their lofty plan (Episode #134) and I am so excited to have them back on the show!  I’m a huge fan of these two and followed along with their live updates over the adventure and I gotta say, they might be the most positive, calm, go with the flow dudes in the country.  With a cause bigger than themselves, seemingly nothing would stop them.  Not sore feet, sleepless nights, rain, exhaustion; their minds were set on making it to the finish line no matter what.

In this episode we hear all about the “500 Miles to End Veteran Suicide Project”.  What is it like to traverse the East Coast on foot?  How do you discover the real “Rules of the Road”?  What is it like running into gigantic cities on foot?  And what lessons did they learn about themselves, Mission 22, and humanity?

I really hope you enjoy this episode!  You can still support Josh and Brian’s project until the end of the year! Really loved chatting guys!

Donate and find all their information here: https://mission22.networkforgood.com/projects/65986-500-miles-to-end-veteran-suicide?fbclid=IwAR2O2SbWxpZLf5yMwzsJNk3ZUOcVsv90fcNPkeof-Z9TdoONPRlWNaAcezQ

MORE FROM 500 MILES TO END VETERAN SUICIDE:

Donation Page: https://mission22.networkforgood.com/projects/65986-500-miles-to-end-veteran-suicide?fbclid=IwAR2O2SbWxpZLf5yMwzsJNk3ZUOcVsv90fcNPkeof-Z9TdoONPRlWNaAcezQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/500milestoendvetsuicide/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/500milestoendvetsuicide/

Mission 22: https://www.mission22.com/#ourcause

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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Like a Bigfoot Podcast #173: Clark Beckham — American Idol to Marine Corps Marathon, Success through Determination

This week we welcome American Idol finalist, first time marathoner and future ultra marathoner Clark Beckham to the show!!

I recently met Clark at the finish of the Marine Corps Marathon.  Sitting there in my own state of pure exhaustion, I was re-energized by the brief synopsis of Clark’s marathon journey- 6 months earlier he was 30 pounds heavier listening to David Goggins’ book “Can’t Hurt Me” when he pulled his car over and signed up for his very first race.  He set a lofty goal of a 3:45 marathon and trained like crazy day after day after day before ultimately getting it done.  He also had the added pressure of singing the anthem to 30,000 racers, marines, and spectators before the starting gun went off!

Clark’s tale is unique and I’m super happy to get the opportunity to sit down and chat with him about it.  A solid mindset of perseverance, determination, and the ability to work hard has helped him find success both in running and in his career as a musician (he was a finalist on American Idol and is a fantastic singer!!)

Now he’s looking to take on his first 50 miler and continuing his journey into endurance and what is possible!!

Hope you guys enjoy the episode!! Happy Thanksgiving!! Thankful for all of you for tuning in!

MORE FROM CLARK BECKHAM:

Website: https://clarkbeckham.com

Music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkbeckham/?hl=en

Running Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkbeckhamrun/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClarkBeckham

MCM Article: https://www.marinemarathon.com/blog/idol-finalist-mcm

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

Subscribe and Review on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/like-a-bigfoot/id1160773293?mt=2

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