Endurance State of Mind

Every now and then you come across an athlete whose story forces you to rethink what endurance is really about. Not because of how many races they have won, but because of how many times they have been willing to start over. That is exactly who Epic Bill Bradley is.

This week on Endurance State of Mind, we sit down with one of the most respected and recognizable figures in the ultra endurance world. Bill has swum the English Channel. He has finished the Badwater 135 in Death Valley in 57 hours cramping so hard he had to sit in a cold bath through the night. He has biked across America. He has climbed Denali. He has crossed the Grand Canyon rim to rim seven times. He is a nine time Ironman finisher. He has raced the Ultraman in Hawaii against Olympians. And he has become one of the most iconic figures at the legendary Arrowhead 135.

But if you ask Bill, that is not what his legacy is built on. His legacy is built on the fact that he keeps showing up. After his marriages ended. After his 10 million dollar video store empire fell to Netflix. After more DNFs than most athletes would ever be willing to talk about. After the depression. After the bankruptcy. Bill made persistence his identity.

In this conversation, Bill takes us through the entire journey.

He starts with getting cut from every ball sport in the ninth grade, running out of the basketball locker room crying, and watching a teammate quietly practice all summer and make the baseball team while everyone else quit for good. That was the moment he decided he was never going to quit anything again in his life.

He walks us through the drinking years as a young union electrician, opening 13 video stores with a stack of credit cards after every bank in San Francisco turned him down, growing that chain into a 10 million dollar empire that beat Blockbuster head to head, and then watching Netflix quietly wipe it all out. He talks about filing for bankruptcy, being told by his second wife "this is not what I signed up for," his dad calling every night to do what Bill would later find out were suicide checks, and how running was the only tool that would let him think straight for an hour a day.

He talks about the Tony Robbins seminar at 30 that started his exit from drinking, walking on coals as a metaphor for attacking his fears, and finally quitting for good and going to AA.

Then we get into the racing. His first Ironman DNF in Canada at 105 degrees. Coming back the next year to finish. Nine Ironmans and one Canada tattoo on his left calf. Sneaking his way into the Ultraman in Hawaii. Making the decision to swim the English Channel on the spot after realizing a channel swimmer had only beat him by five minutes in an Ultraman ocean swim. Qualifying with a six hour cold water swim inside of six months. Finishing Badwater 135. Biking across America in the Race Across America at 18 hours a day on the seat for 16 straight days, wearing four pairs of bike short

In this episode of Endurance State of Mind, hosts Anthony Herrington and Zach Vogt sit down with Clint Pagan, founder of Full Armor Fitness and the newly-minted first-overall finisher and course record holder at the Night Howler 50 Mile in Hoover, Alabama. Clint's story is a masterclass in how curiosity, community, and a growing obsession with personalized data can turn a casual runner into a competitive ultramarathoner. If you've ever wondered whether VO2 max testing, resting metabolic rate testing, lactate threshold testing, or heart rate zone training are worth your time and money, this conversation lays out exactly what those tools can (and can't) do for your training.

Clint's endurance journey didn't start on a track or a trail. It started with GORUCK challenges and obstacle course races like Spartan Race and Tough Mudder back around 2011, when he and his wife were living in Atlanta. After bonking hard at a Spartan race in 2016, Clint made a simple decision: drop the obstacles and focus purely on running. A corporate wellness perk covering local 5K and 10K entries (Mobile, Alabama's "Corporate Cup" series) gave him the on-ramp, and a top-10 finish at his very first local 5K hooked him for good. From there, Clint describes a progression many endurance athletes will recognize: 5Ks turned into a hunt for a sub-20-minute 5K, which turned into training for the Mobile Marathon, which turned into chasing a Boston Marathon qualifying time.

That road wasn't smooth. Clint ran his first marathon, the Mobile Marathon in 2019, with an undiagnosed stress fracture in his foot, gutting out a 3:22 finish before learning at the finish line just how injured he actually was. COVID derailed his 2020 season, and he lost significant fitness and volume during that stretch. But 2021 became a turning point: Clint got intentional about training, started watching heart rate data on every run, and used the brutal, windswept 2022 Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon (13-15 mph headwinds for 26.2 miles) to run a 2:58 and lock in his Boston qualifying time, the same race where his path first crossed with Zach's.

The data obsession really took hold once Boston training began. Clint talks candidly about the misinformation loop that trips up self-coached runners, forums insisting you need 60-80 mile weeks to break three hours, when he found success on 40-45 peak miles per week by training smarter, not just harder. That meant learning what heart rate zone training actually was, cutting "gray zone" junk miles, and building the aerobic base that lets you hold pace instead of falling apart at mile 20. He crossed the Boston finish line in 2:59 and, by his own account, felt like he'd barely touched the tank, the moment that pushed him to chase his VO2 max number and eventually launch Full Armor Fitness, his own mobile lab-testing business.

A significant chunk of this conversation is a deep, practical breakdown of the physiological testing tools available to se

This week it's just us, your two favorite hosts back behind the mics, and we are bringing the energy, the opinions, and a few questionable predictions. Anthony and Zach take you through an action packed episode covering everything that has the endurance world buzzing right now.

We open with a quick story about Zach surviving twelve days without AC in the Mississippi summer (involuntary heat training is still heat training, right?) before diving into the biggest cycling story of the year: the Tour de France 2025.

We break down the entire field, jersey by jersey. The yellow jersey GC race that almost everyone (us included) is calling for Tadej Pogačar to run away with. The white jersey young rider race that might be the most exciting battle of the entire tour, with Paul Seixas, Isaac Del Toro, and Florian Lipowitz all in the mix. The green jersey sprint duel between Jonathan Milan, Jasper Philipsen, and Biniam Girmay. The polka dot KOM jersey hunt with names like Lenny Martinez and Richard Carapaz. And the first stage time trial where Remco Evenepoel is the question mark of the entire race after a long time off.

We also nerd out on Wout van Aert being out for Visma, Visma losing their key director to Red Bull, the UAE Team Emirates monster roster supporting Tadej, the Garmin to Whoop competitor we expect to debut, and the watches on the riders' wrists. Including a brand new Richard Mille that Tadej will reportedly wear during the tour priced at $989,000.

Then we pivot to one of the most exciting Western States 100 races in recent memory. With unprecedented weather conditions, we saw record breaking performances all over the field. Zach gives a deep breakdown of the old guard versus the new guard. Jim Walmsley (the four time champion and reigning course record holder), Killian Journet, the Hoka super team of Adam Peterman, Hayden Hawks, Hans Troyer, Jim Walmsley, and Francesco Puppi all toed the line. We get into Hans Troyer running on 13:35 pace at halfway (the course record is 14:09) and blowing up at mile 78. And then the cinderella story of the entire weekend: Vincent Bouillard, the former Hoka employee turned pro after winning UTMB, who became the first Frenchman ever to win Western States.

We talk about the pros who finished even when their race fell apart. Shout outs to Molly Seidel for completing her first 100 miler in 24 hours after being projected for the podium. We celebrate Zach Miller's iconic full send finish that gave us Steve Prefontaine vibes. And we discuss the wild 87% finish rate this year and the "ultra lean" moments at the line that we never want to experience ourselves.

From there we get personal. The Big Butts 50K is three weeks away. Anthony reports being in the best shape he has been in two years. Zach is feeling behind on heat training. We dig into the Adidas Evo SL shoes that Anthony has converted to and why the lacing makes all the difference.

We close with a real conversation

This week on Endurance State of Mind, we sit down with one of the most fearless and inspiring athletes we've ever had on the show. Aimee Warnke. Active duty Army physical therapist with over 14 years of service. Former Ironman World Championship qualifier. Collegiate cyclist at Saint Louis University. And now, one of the most exciting names in the ultra running world.

But Aimee's story doesn't follow a normal endurance athlete arc, and that's exactly why this episode matters.

In 2024, as a brand new ultra runner with only a handful of races under her belt, Aimee showed up at Dinosaur Valley and won the 100K and the 100 miler outright. Not the women's race. The whole field. Two days later, her pre op scans came back with a diagnosis that would have stopped most people in their tracks: chondrosarcoma, a rare malignant bone tumor in her left pelvis. Doctors initially told her she'd need a hemipelvectomy within six months. Translation: cut out a major section of her pelvis. Translation behind the translation: she'd likely never run the way she does again.

She refused the standard answer.

Instead, Aimee, armed with her own clinical background and a refusal to accept the first diagnosis as the only diagnosis, advocated for herself, found a team of trauma surgeons willing to pursue a never before attempted 3D printed pelvic reconstruction using her own iliac crest, and asked for time to race the Dinosaur Valley 100 first. She got it. Today she's in surveillance and watchful waiting status. The tumor hasn't grown. Her mileage has.

In this conversation, we go deep on the entire journey:

How a junior high counselor noticed she was getting picked on for a speech impediment and quietly handed her a borrowed bike, an entry to a sprint triathlon, and the community that would change her life.

Her early triathlon career: Age group Team USA at the 2008 ITU Long Course World Championships in Holland, the 2009 Half Ironman Worlds in Clearwater, the bike crash mid race that broke her clavicle and several ribs, the compound fracture surgery, and how she ended up qualifying for Ironman Canada through a Power Bar raffle she'd entered the same weekend (yes, really).

Four years racing collegiate cycling at Saint Louis University, the team time trials, the breakaways, and what it taught her about being the only woman on the start line at the top level.

The pivot to the Army, fourteen plus years of active duty service, deployments, becoming an Army Baylor DPT, and the side quest into Pacific Northwest backpacking, skiing, and obstacle course racing that quietly built the engine for everything that came next.

Finding trail running through the Hawaii Spartan Ohana, watching the Hurt 100 from the volunteer side and thinking "this is insane, but I'm doing it someday," and eventually returning years later to win that very same race outright.

The Dinosaur Valley 100K and 100 mile sweep, including how Zach (also

What if the most important muscle you train for your next race has nothing to do with your legs? On this episode of Endurance State of Mind, hosts Anthony Herrington and Zach sit down with one of the most accomplished sports psychologists in the country, Dr. Ashley Sampson, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion at the University of Kentucky, for a conversation that might just change the way you think about running, racing, and everything in between.

Dr. Sampson's journey into endurance sports is one that a lot of us can relate to. She grew up as a multi-sport kid in Louisiana, competed as a track and field and rowing athlete in college, and then stumbled into distance running almost by accident, deciding the night before a half marathon that she was going to run it. Fast forward through graduate school, a move to California, a deep dive into trail running, and a jump straight into a 50 miler in the Marin Headlands outside San Francisco, and you've got someone who doesn't just study the psychology of endurance athletes from the outside. She lives it from the inside. These days she balances her role as a professor and private practice sports psychology consultant with competitive equestrian riding, trail running, yoga, and somehow still managing to prioritize sleep like a professional. She is the real deal.

But this episode isn't just about Dr. Sampson's impressive background. It's about you, the runner, the cyclist, the triathlete, the ultra runner who wants to know how to get more out of their mind on race day and in training. And Dr. Sampson brings the science and the lived experience to back up every single thing she shares.

The conversation kicks off with one of the most refreshing reframes we've ever heard on this podcast, the idea of shifting your mindset not from negative to positive, but from negative to productive. If you've ever had a coach or a well meaning friend tell you to just think positive when things are going sideways on a long run, you know how hollow that advice can feel. Dr. Sampson explains why that approach doesn't work neurologically or psychologically, and what to replace it with instead. The goal isn't to lie to yourself and pretend everything is great when your quads are on fire at mile 40. The goal is to ask a better question, what can I get out of this right now, and let that question pull you forward.

From there, the episode dives into the science of mental toughness itself. What is it, really? Is it something you're born with, or something you can build? Dr. Sampson challenges the either or framing entirely and makes a compelling case that mental toughness is both a natural tendency and a trainable skill, and that the environment you put yourself in has a massive influence on which direction it develops. Whether you grew up being pushed to your limits or you're building that resilience for the first time at 35 through ultramarathon training, there is a path forwar

Anthony and Zach recap their first ever live podcast recorded on location at Southern Prohibition's Big Run 5K in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. They break down race day performances including Anthony's 5K PR, reflect on what made the live format so electric, and share what's coming next for the show including bringing on a dedicated videographer named Jeremiah who was weaving through the race course all night capturing content, and their plans to do more live events moving forward. The energy at a live race is just different and after this one, there is no going back. Then stick around for four back to back guest interviews recorded straight from the event. Rhonda Hayden of Kinda Gritty joins to officially announce Endurance State of Mind's Podcast Alley partnership with the Rocket City Marathon, giving listeners a preview of what the 50th anniversary race weekend will look like for runners and fans alike. She breaks down the full podcast alley concept, the six podcasters coming in from across the southeast, and her vision for transforming both the pre race and post race experience for every runner who toes the line in Huntsville this December. Southern Prohibition owner Ben Green talks about catching the running bug at 39, what the mental side of running has meant to him in recent years, building one of the most welcoming run communities in South Mississippi through Wednesday run clubs and Fleet Feet pub runs, his Big Butts 25K goals, his obsession with finding rare sneakers nobody else has on the rack, and what's on tap literally at one of Hattiesburg's best kept secrets. Ultra endurance athlete and certified Sherpa Chris Lott stops by fresh off the 5K to talk about watching Unbound Gravel, heat training for Big Butts, the exploding ultra running scene across Mississippi, and how races like Mississippi 50 are selling out faster every single year. He also reflects on the influence of storytelling and podcasting on the growth of the sport and what it means to have a community of people pushing each other to do hard things. And finally in his third appearance on the pod, Brian Murphy makes it official. He's signing up for the Zion 100, a hundred mile race in Utah next April alongside Zach, Anthony, and what's shaping up to be the largest group of Mississippians ever assembled in the state of Utah at one time. Brian talks through the mental process of leaping from a 50 mile to a 100 mile, why the training is not as different as you might think, what it means to do a destination race with your people, and how a 5K bib number with the digits 1 0 0 on it was the final sign he needed to stop overthinking and just say yes.

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It's a hosts-only episode to celebrate Episode 62, and Anthony and Zach come loaded with topics. Zach kicks things off breaking down his spontaneous Saturday 50K through the streets of Hattiesburg — planned the night before, fueled by electrolyte watermelons, and executed with the kind of locked-in energy that only comes when the family's out of town. Anthony counters with a nostalgia-soaked 10-miler through Oxford, Mississippi, retracing his college stomping grounds and realizing that a walk he used to dread is now just a warm-up.

The guys then dive deep into the weekend's biggest endurance news: the infamous mud chaos at Unbound Gravel 200, where "peanut butter mud" clogged drivetrains, ended races, and had pros walking their bikes through two-mile stretches of Mississippi-style muck. From gravel, the conversation shifts to road cycling as Anthony breaks down the Giro d'Italia results, Jonas Vingegaard's dominance, and — most importantly — introduces the audience to 19-year-old French phenom Paul Seixas, the youngest Tour de France starter in 90 years and a name you'll want to know before July.

Speaking of the Tour, Anthony and Zach preview what to watch for: the opening team time trial, Remco Evenepoel's mysterious first-half absence and what it means for Red Bull's strategy, and whether Tadej Pogačar is simply untouchable at this point.

Then things get genuinely thought-provoking. The guys unpack the Cam Haynes vs. Sage Canaday peptide controversy that's been dividing the ultra running community — debating where the line is between medical necessity, performance enhancement, and transparency, especially for masters athletes competing in non-elite fields. It's a nuanced conversation with no easy answers, and they want to hear where you stand.

To close it out, Anthony teases a documentary on microplastics that will make you rethink everything in your kitchen, and the guys announce two big upcoming events: their first-ever live podcast at the Fleet Feet Big Race at Sopro in Hattiesburg, and Podcast Alley at the Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, Alabama this December — where both hosts will be racing and looking to cause a little trouble.

If you're into ultra running, gravel cycling, road racing, endurance culture, or just two guys who genuinely love this stuff talking shop, this one's for you.

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In this episode of Endurance State of Mind, Anthony Herrington and Zach Vogt sit down with ultrarunner, marathoner, and economics professor Ward Sayre for a deep dive into endurance sports, longevity, and the mindset behind racing over 70 ultramarathons.

Ward shares how he went from running cross country in a small Texas town to completing some of the most challenging trail races in the country. From the Flying Pig Marathon to Bighorn 100, Sedona Canyons 125, and countless 50Ks and 100 milers, Ward explains how consistency, patience, and smart training have allowed him to keep showing up year after year.

The conversation covers:

•  How Ward balances ultrarunning with life, work, and family 
•  Why recovery and sleep matter more than most runners realize 
•  The role of strength training and 80/20 running 
•  Lessons learned from DNFs at mountain ultras 
•  Training for altitude as a runner from Mississippi 
•  The hidden costs of endurance sports 
•  Building community through local trail races 
•  Why ultrarunning is more about longevity than speed 

If you love trail running, ultramarathons, marathon training, endurance sports, or hearing real conversations about the mental and physical side of going long, this episode is packed with insights and stories from decades in the sport.

Whether you're training for your first 50K, chasing a 100 miler, or dreaming about races like Western States, Cocodona, or Leadville, this episode with Ward Sayre delivers wisdom every endurance athlete can learn from.

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In this episode of the Endurance State of Mind podcast, Zach and Anthony sit down with ultra runner Blake Colton to talk about resilience, reinvention, and what it really takes to keep showing up when things get hard.

Blake shares his journey from high school running and BMX racing to tackling some of the toughest endurance events in the country, including the Mississippi 100, Run Rabbit Run, and Cross Florida 200. We dive into the viral “flood year” at Mississippi 100, pacing strategy, training while working full-time as an electrician, and the reality of balancing endurance sports with family life.

The conversation also goes deeper than racing. Blake opens up about battling multiple DNFs, dealing with gut issues during long races, meeting David Goggins at Cross Florida 200, and using running as a way to process the loss of his brother-in-law to cancer. Through it all, Blake talks about finding purpose through endurance sports and how the ultra running community helped shape his outlook on life.

We also cover:

•  Running 200-mile races while working full-time 
•  Trail running vs marathon culture 
•  Mississippi 100 race stories and flood year conditions 
•  Nutrition mistakes, Taco Bell cravings, and ultra fueling 
•  Mental toughness and recovery during ultras 
•  Social media, content creation, and documenting the journey from day one 
•  The future goal of using endurance and content creation to give back 

Whether you’re training for your first ultra marathon or just looking for motivation to keep pushing forward, this episode is packed with honest conversation, real struggle, and the mindset needed to endure.

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In this episode of the Endurance State of Mind podcast, Anthony Herrington and Zach Vogt recap an unforgettable trip to Arizona while crewing and pacing their friend Hezekiah through the brutal Sedona Canyons 125 ultramarathon.

From delayed flights and desert adventures to sleepless nights, aid station chaos, hallucinations, and emotional highs and lows, this episode gives a raw behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to survive a 125-mile ultra. Anthony and Zach break down the entire experience — pacing through the night, managing nutrition failures, dealing with sleep deprivation, and learning firsthand how quickly things can unravel in extreme endurance events.

The conversation also dives into lessons learned from the ultra world, including fueling strategies, pacing mistakes, recovery, mental toughness, and why real food may matter more than gels during multi-day races. Along the way, they share stories from Sedona, encounters with elite ultrarunners, thoughts on Cocodona 250, and how the experience left all of them “Coco curious” about taking on even bigger endurance challenges in the future.

Whether you’re an ultrarunner, trail runner, endurance athlete, or someone fascinated by the mental side of pushing human limits, this episode delivers an honest and entertaining look into the world of 100+ mile racing and the people crazy enough to chase it.

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