“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”  – Mae West

This week we are chatting all about the adventure documentary “Once is Enough” with ultrarunner, filmmaker, comedian and super awesome dude Jeffrey James Binney!!!

A few weeks ago I watched Jeffrey’s film on Amazon Prime and was captivated by his ability to capture everything I love about endurance sports- from the often hilariously weird aspects to the heartbreaking, inspiring, uplifting reasons people push themselves to the limit.  It is presented in a really unique format as it bounces back and forth from his hilarious one man show, standup routine pointing out the bizarreness of a 100 mile race to a more serious, emotional one on one interview digging into his why as you watch him transform from non-runner to ultra marathoner.

The logline for the film perfectly sums it up: “After losing his mom to obesity-caused heart disease, a 32 year old husky ginger comedian and vegan son-of-a-pig-farmer sets out to lose 100lbs and run one of the world’s most difficult 100 mile ultramarathons…and lives to tell jokes about it.”

While sitting in the hospital, Jeffrey picked up Trail Runner Magazine, read an article about Leadville 100, thought “that sounds like a good idea” and then had the boldness to go chase his dream.

The movie is phenomenal and I absolutely loved chatting with Jeffrey for the show!! Be sure to check out “Once is Enough”!! I promise you that you will love it!!

MORE FROM “ONCE IS ENOUGH”:

Website: http://www.onceisenoughfilm.com

Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Enough-Jeffrey-James-Binney/dp/B085GHM2CB

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-utKMShTQ&feature=youtu.be

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

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

This week we are catching back up with Shep to hear all about his experience going after the Canadian six day ultra running record!

In a continuation of Episode 205, we dig into the lessons learned and growth experienced during Shep’s “6 Days in the North”.  A major theme is “expect the unexpected” as the project started with a massive torrential rainstorm.  Enduring unknown challenges with adaptability and confidence is HUGE in life and Shep was a steward of this through this event.

We also dive into the concept of learning from failures and the cycle of  “attempt, learn, adjust, attempt” which is a powerful driving factor to anyone’s success!

Hope you guys enjoy the episode! I could seriously chat with him for days as he is incredibly knowledgeable, passionate, driven and shares a wonderful growth mindset!

MORE FROM MATT ‘SHEP’ SHEPARD:

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

OUTRUN Backyard Ultra: https://www.facebook.com/OutrunRare/

CBC Article about Quarantine Ultra: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/valleyview-runner-virtual-ultramarathon-indoors-covid-19-1.5524034?fbclid=IwAR1cuMvJLN3Ym2sKXNSoqVJ0lxu_G_PprSZMQotPo2x4uLbOxXrGWMFhzOg

Personal Peak: https://personalpeak.ca

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

A few months ago we chatted all about rugby with Angus Peacock, the Executive Director of Rugby Colorado.  This week we are focusing on his emphasis on health and happiness as he approaches the big 5-0 in our strange times.

Angus has taken on a One Million Step Challenge with his sister to support diabetes research.  This is quite the challenge as it requires pretty much a half marathon every single day for weeks for 900 miles….also it’s really 1.7 steps.

In this episode we dive into his challenge along with many other topics.  We chat about his approach to diet, which is based on his study of what British soldiers ate through desert missions in World War 2.  We talk leadership principles and how we can apply them to our own lives, reframing “angst”, the Siberian Dilemma, Comparing yourself with yourself in the moment versus yourself in the past, and how to reverse the erosion of our four pillars.

This one is a good one full of plenty of knowledge and ideas we can apply to our own lives!

Chatting with Angus brought me out of a funk as he explained the significance of the important aspects of our lives, the four pillars of health — physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  Hope you guys enjoy!

If possible, please support Angus’s challenge by checking out the links below.

MORE FROM ANGUS PEACOCK:

Linkedin Blog: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachangus

One Million Steps Fundraiser: https://step.diabetes.org.uk/pages/hannah-78

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

Imagine heading out your door pedaling west and returning, years later, from the east covering each and every mile around the entire planet under your own power.  That is exactly what this week’s guest is planning on doing through a life-defining, thought provoking, mindset expanding quest to “Pedal Round the World.”

Paul Spencer is in the midst of planning what has to be one of the biggest challenges a person could possibly take on- a self propelled circumnavigation of the globe using his bicycle and a beautifully designed pedal boat.

Inspired by adventurers Jason Lewis and Erden Eruc and wanting to deeply explore the world and his own psyche through 50,000 miles in this honest-to-goodness adventure odyssey.  Paul is a cyclist, endurance athlete and an adventurer who has taken on gigantic challenges in his career- cycled across Africa, finished the Leadman challenge, four crossings of the U.S. by bike, Tour Divide, Colorado Trail Race- just to include a few.

In this episode we chat all about his plan to pedal round the world, what his expectations are, the factors he’s had to consider to prepare for the long ocean crossings.  We also geek out about Jason Lewis’s “The Expedition” books, chat about Paul’s rugby career, beer miles, what it’s like to cycle with a Malaria infection, and what he’s discovered about himself through travel and endurance.

It’s an AWESOME episode and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.  Definitely check out his website and social media to support and follow along with his journey!

MORE FROM PAUL SPENCER:

Website: https://yeshesmad.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulmcspencer

Records: https://www.pr.com/press-release/786849

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

Adventure. I need this, you need this. It’s a need that runs through our blood as humans. The need to explore and to experience the unknown in order to somehow, someway attempt to uncomplicated this complicated world. Adventure helps form purpose, it brings exhilaration, it opens our eyes to the world we inhabit.

This week’s guest is the embodiment of the modern day adventurer.

Adam Shoalts is a Canadian explorer, a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a best selling author, a geographer and historian, and a dude who can put up with more horseflies and mosquitos than you or I could possibly imagine.

In 2017 he completed a near solo 4,000 km journey across Canada’s  Arctic, a wilderness that my childhood self has found fastened tightly to my concept of true adventure. Throughout his documentary “Alone Across the Arctic”, Adam captured all of his ups and downs, miles and miles of portages (pulling a canoe through thick woods and marshes) and allowed us to experience the adventure alongside of him.

The resilience, sheer stubbornness, and untarnished love for exploration that is required to finish a task this great is expertly captured in his film and I was blown away by it!

I am really grateful to get to chat with Adam this week and I hope you guys love the episode as much as I did!!

MORE FROM ADAM SHOALTS:

Website: https://adamshoalts.com

Books: https://adamshoalts.com/literature/

“Alone Across the Arctic” Film: https://www.amazon.com/Alone-Across-Arctic-Adam-Shoalts/dp/B0876L37HR

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

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

Kirstie Ennis is a complete badass.

A marine sergeant injured  in Afghanistan in a helicopter crash eventually resulting in an above the knee amputation, Kirstie is an absolute all-around mountain athlete who is seeking to climb the 7 summits- the tallest mountain on each continent.

In a podcast focused on driven, inspiring people, Kirstie stands out.  In 2019 she won an ESPY for the Pat Tillman Service Award, she’s competed in the Paralympics for snowboarding, walked 1,000 miles across England (which we didn’t even get into!), has been a stuntwoman in various Hollywood productions, and so much more.

More importantly she uses her platform and story to inspire everyone, from fellow amputees to mountaineers to people seeking their best selves.

In this episode we chat all about her journey and focus in on her attempts at the seven summits.  How a trip up Kilimanjaro galvanized this project, the craziness involved in summiting Carstenzs (Oceana’s highest point), and why calling it two hundred meters from the top of Everest was a wise albeit difficult decision to make.

Hope you guys enjoy the show!! Kirstie is awesome and I’m honored to get an opportunity to share her adventures!!

MORE FROM KIRSTIE ENNIS:

Kirstie Ennis Foundation: https://kirstieennisfoundation.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirstieennis2

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KirstieEnnis

Jocko Podcast: https://jockopodcast.com/2019/10/21/199-pain-makes-you-better-with-kirstie-ennis/

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

Way back in November I successfully convinced (tricked) five of my closest friends to sign up for their first ultramarathon.  Matt Rackers, Sean Furlong, Brady Manriquez and Thad Burkamper were going to take on the 50k at the Booneville Backroads Ultra while Travis Steffen and I were gonna slog our way through 100k.  We had a few awesome months of building up training, holding everyone accountable through an oftentimes hilarious and inspiring group chat.  I even designed weekly challenges and kept a running scoreboard which was ultimately going to lead up to a grand prize and, of course, all of us triumphantly finishing a brutal run down backcountry roads in Central Iowa.

That was the plan….and you know what they say about plans….

COVID hit. The race got rescheduled. The wind got knocked out of our sails. All of a sudden a silly ultramarathon seemed pretty inconsequential and the training we were all slowly building up dropped off significantly.

Flash forward to end of April and we all decided we needed to honor the date and, although we may not do the exact distance, we should all push ourselves physically to do something hard.  That was the parameters, something hard and ‘endurancey’.

So some of us laced up the running shoes, strapped on the heavy rucksack, or fired up the ole Peloton trainer and set off to kick some butt! (Thad even completed 15 miles a week after dislocating his elbow when a climbing rope hanging from a tree in his yard just became….a rope, sending him plummeting to the ground below)

Super proud of all these guys for stepping up to a variety of difficult endurance challenges! Though it wasn’t quite the ultra we were preparing for, it was still one heckuva fun weekend and I was blown away by all of their accomplishments!! Can’t wait to actually physically hang out and take on some sort of race with these guys in the future!

Hope you all enjoy the show!!

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:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

Matt Shepard is a on a quest to tackle some of the most challenging ultra running events around by taking on “Last Runner Standing” style Backyard Ultras and ridiculously long six day races.  He’s a big dreamer with some serious resilience and the ability to dig deep into the pain cave to withstand these brutally long events.

He started off with a win at OUTRUN Backyard Ultra in Alberta receiving a golden ticket to Big’s Backyard down in Tennessee where he learned a lot but didn’t quite come away with the result he (and everyone else who was not named Maggie Guetrl) was eyeing.  After that he got 2nd place at the Across the Years 6 day event running a stout 435.87 miles (yes, you read that correctly!) and has his sights set on the Canadian six day record of 870km (540.6 miles) which he will be taking on starting July 1st.

Also he ran a significant portion of Personal Peak’s Quarantine Backyard Ultra around and around and around a coffee shop!

In this episode we chat all about Matt’s journey, the lessons he has learned along the way, how he prepares to race multi day ultras, and some of the mental, physical and emotional strategies he use in order to be successful!

Hope you guys enjoy, are inspired and learn a bunch! I can’t wait to chat with him again!

MORE FROM MATT ‘SHEP’ SHEPARD:

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

OUTRUN Backyard Ultra: https://www.facebook.com/OutrunRare/

CBC Article about Quarantine Ultra: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/valleyview-runner-virtual-ultramarathon-indoors-covid-19-1.5524034?fbclid=IwAR1cuMvJLN3Ym2sKXNSoqVJ0lxu_G_PprSZMQotPo2x4uLbOxXrGWMFhzOg

Personal Peak: https://personalpeak.ca

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

Today’s guest is the eccentric adventurer, filmmaker and writer Beau Miles!!

Beau has filmed some of the most inventive adventures out there including “The Human Bean”, “A Mile an Hour”, “Run the Line”, “Africa by Kayak” and many more.  His Youtube channel is full of entertaining, quirky, impressive filmmaking and I am so grateful I was able to sit down and chat with him for this episode!

Throughout his many adventures (and misadventures), Beau comes across as a person who is passionate for new experiences, who seeks understandings of the world both the internal and external, and someone who expresses his artistic side through creating some major challenges.  At their core these adventures demonstrate an honest-to-goodness curiosity for life.

From running an abandoned railroad line in his hometown to kayaking 2,000kms along the Souther African Coast to commuting 60+ miles to work by highway and waterway, Beau shows all the ups and downs of forging new experiences.

In this episode we chat all about the lessons he’s learned, his musings on adventure both local and exotic, and how he’s evolved along the way.

I hope you love this one as much as I did! Huge thanks to Beau and make sure you tune into all of the amazing projects he has released and everything that is on the way!!

MORE FROM BEAU MILES:

Website: https://beaumiles.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm325cMiw9B15xl22_gr6Dw

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

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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

Three days ago 19 year old Darius Sam pushed through anguish, adversity and 100 plus miles of PURE GRIT.

His story is quite remarkable.  After years of struggle, one day Darius looked himself in the mirror and realized just how much potential he was wasting.  He pulled himself together, started waking up at 3am to work and powerlift and decided to complete an ironman on minimal training.  Once that was accomplished he was determined to really see how far he could push his limits so he set his sights on taking on 100 miles.

Around the same time of his self betterment, Darius realized just how people in his community were struggling.  Really wanting to prove to himself that “one person can make a huge difference” he decided that he would use the experience of suffering through an ultra marathon to raise money for the local food bank.  So he set a goal of $1,000.  Through the last week and through all the ups and downs of his run, that number has exploded!!

We are releasing this episode early in the week in hopes that we can contribute in some way to Darius’s GoFundMe for the Nicola Valley Food Bank (link below).  Also I wanted to put the show out there just because I’m so damn impressed by Darius and his determination!  Please help him out if you can.

The story of his hundred is absolutely EPIC, including major support from his family and his community, a trip to the hospital, a quick checkout of the hospital and a person completely going to war in the pain cave!

Hope you guys enjoy the story as much as I did!!!

MORE FROM DARIUS AND HIS FUNDRAISER:

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nicola-valley-food-bank-fundraiser?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet

Original Vancouver Sun Story: https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/indigenous-teen-overcomes-past-and-raises-5000-for-local-food-bank-with-ultra-marathon

News Video Coverage: https://cfox.com/news/7065516/b-c-teen-running-ultramarathon-for-charity-hospitalized-20km-from-finish/

MORE LIKE A BIGFOOT:

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

Soundcloud Archives: https://soundcloud.com/chris-ward-126531464

Stitcher Archives: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/like-a-bigfoot

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/likeabigfoot/

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