Becoming Ultra

Hardrock 100 puts just 146 runners into one of the most remote and demanding mountain races in ultrarunning. Supporting them requires approximately 650 volunteers, specialized safety sweepers, hike-in aid stations, four-wheel-drive transportation and nearly a full year of planning.
Bill Schum, Hardrock's volunteer coordinator and an aid-station captain, takes Scott behind the scenes of the legendary 100-mile race through Colorado's San Juan Mountains.
Bill explains how volunteers support runners across a 48-hour event with roughly 33,000 feet of climbing. Some carry supplies into remote aid stations. Others spend two nights in the mountains, clear the course, manage traffic, provide medical support, or follow the final runners across passes above 13,000 feet.
He also shares some unforgettable moments from the course: volunteers searching for a missing pacer, a runner receiving the shoelace directly from a volunteer's shoe, a surprise bear at an aid station, and the wildfire smoke that kept Bill awake for 64 consecutive hours.
Along the way, Bill reveals what the back of the pack experiences at Hardrock, how technology has changed remote aid-station operations, and why every runner should expect the race to be harder and much slower than imagined.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Bill Schum and the Hard Rock 100
01:05 Bill's background and how he got involved in ultramarathons
02:13 Overview of the Hard Rock 100 race
03:43 Starting race planning and volunteer recruitment
05:14 Details of aid station setup and logistics
07:59 Managing remote aid stations and safety sweepers
14:07 Memorable wildlife encounters during the race
19:17 The most rewarding parts of the race experience
21:49 Impact of technology on race management
24:26 Race week sleep schedule and challenges
27:10 Advice for future Hard Rock runners
28:46 Closing thoughts and encouragement to spectate or volunteer
Learn more about Hardrock 100
Official Hardrock 100 website:
https://hardrock100.com/
Hardrock volunteer information:
https://hardrock100.com/hardrock-volunteers.php
Course description and safety information:
https://hardrock100.com/hardrock-course.php

Finishing last isn't the same as failing. Ultrarunner and race director Mandy Hansel shares what her DFL finishes have taught her about courage, cutoffs, and creating races where every participant feels welcome.
At the back of the pack, the aid stations may be picked over, the course markers may be coming down, and long stretches of the race may be spent entirely alone. Mandy has experienced all of it, from having a sweeper push her out of an aid station to being cut halfway through a race she had trained hard to finish.
Those experiences helped shape the kind of race director she wanted to become. Mandy, co-founder of Storm Sporting Events, joins Scott to talk about the mental strength required at the back of the pack, the fear of finishing last, and why a DFL finisher can deserve the same celebration as the person who came in first.
They also explore fixed-time events as an approachable way to take on something big, what race directors can do to create a more inclusive experience, and how Storm Sporting Events uses its races to support youth mental health in southeastern Minnesota.
Chapters
(00:00) Meet Mandy Hansel and the meaning of DFL
(01:51) From road running to Mandy's first ultra
(04:24) How Storm Sporting Events began
(06:52) What finishing DFL taught Mandy
(08:12) Race cutoffs and choosing the right event
(10:12) Keeping the finish line up for every runner
(12:37) What runners experience at the back of the pack
(14:45) Chasing cutoffs and dealing with imposter syndrome
(15:59) The fear of finishing last
(16:29) Why Storm gives an award to its DFL finisher
(19:35) Storm the Day and the appeal of fixed-time events
(22:01) Turning race registrations into support for youth mental health
(24:23) Mandy's encouragement to runners who are afraid to try
Connect with Mandy
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/girl_out_doing_what_she_loves/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mandyl.hansel/
The Storm Trail Race Series
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thestormtrs/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thestormtrailraceseries/
Storm Sporting Events
Website:
https://www.stormsportingevents.org/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/stormsportingevents/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/StormSportingEvents/

How fast should you actually be moving at mile 20, 50 or 80 of an ultra?
Danny Murphy is an ultrarunner, engineer and the founder of UltraPacer, a race-planning tool designed to account for the things that make trail racing complicated including elevation, terrain, altitude, heat, fatigue and even darkness.
Scott and Danny talk about how UltraPacer started as a spreadsheet Danny built while preparing for his first 100K, why evenly pacing an ultramarathon usually isn't realistic, and how runners can use pacing data without becoming completely tied to a spreadsheet on race day.
They also dig into race-day strategy, setting realistic goals, using training runs to test a race plan, and why a good pacing plan may be just as useful for your crew as it is for you.
Chapters
00:00 – Meet Danny Murphy and the story behind UltraPacer
02:00 – Modeling elevation, terrain, heat, altitude and fatigue
05:00 – How the pacing models were built
07:45 – Why ultrarunners slow down
09:30 – Elite pacing vs. everyday runners
10:20 – Using your training to set realistic race goals
13:00 – When a pacing plan is too aggressive
15:30 – How to actually use a pacing plan on race day
17:00 – How UltraPacer helps crews
18:15 – When to adjust your race-day goal
22:15 – Building and improving UltraPacer
25:00 – What's coming next
27:00 – How first-time ultrarunners can use UltraPacer
30:45 – UltraPacer tools for coaches
32:15 – Ultra chores?
33:00 – Where to find UltraPacer
Connect with UltraPacer
Website: https://ultrapacer.com
Instagram: @ultrapacer
Facebook: ultrapacer
About UltraPacer
UltraPacer helps runners create race plans based on the actual demands of a course rather than relying on one average pace. Runners can account for variables including grade, terrain, altitude, heat, fatigue and darkness, then use those estimates to better understand what race day may look like.
The majority of UltraPacer's features are available for free, and runners can use existing courses or upload their own GPX file to start building a plan.

Dr. Mandy Riehl is a chiropractor, former Division I runner, trail and ultrarunner, and high school cross-country coach who works extensively with endurance athletes.
In this episode, Scott and Mandy talk about building runners for the long haul from how we develop young athletes to how adult runners can better handle injuries, strength training, and the inevitable aches and pains that come with the sport. They dig into common running injuries, why pain isn't always coming from where you think it is, and why heavy, simple strength training can be one of the best tools for staying healthy.
Chapters
00:00 – Meet Dr. Mandy Riehl
07:20 – From soccer to Division I running
13:40 – The college athlete experience
16:30 – Building an identity outside of sport
21:00 – How much should young runners be running?
24:00 – Developing runners for the long haul
29:00 – Mandy's work with trail and ultra runners
31:45 – Common running injuries
34:20 – Is it really IT band syndrome?
37:45 – Strength training for injury prevention
39:20 – Hip mobility and running mechanics
42:20 – The simple strength routine runners need
44:20 – Building a trusted injury and rehab team
47:10 – What we'll tackle next time
Connect with Mandy
P2 Sports Care: https://p2sportscare.com

Ultrarunner and Down with Running founder Matt Lamos shares how his daughter Lilly inspired a mission to help individuals with special needs pursue meaningful physical goals one step, one challenge and one "I did it" at a time.
In this episode, we talk about
Matt's path from soccer and casual fitness to ultrarunning

The surprisingly hilly side of trail running in Iowa

Lilly's birth and the family's first 40 days in the hospital

How Down syndrome can affect muscle tone, development and milestones

Lilly's progression from using a walker to running down the aisle at Matt's wedding

Why the words "I can't" and "I don't want to" are not interchangeable

Rethinking the language we use when talking about a "healthy" child

Matt's honest first emotions after learning that Lilly had Down syndrome

Why Lilly's siblings treat her like their sister—not someone who needs different expectations

The mission behind Down with Running and its focus on instructional encouragement

Why meaningful physical goals can range from walking a mile to running an ultramarathon

Creating access to shoes, race entries, programs and one-on-one support

The Cedar Bend Endurance Run and using local races to fund the mission

Matt's long-term vision for Lilly and Down with Running

Why lasting change often starts close to home

Chapters
(00:00) Meet Matt Lamos and Down with Running
(02:57) From soccer to ultrarunning
(05:20) Lilly's story and understanding Down syndrome
(10:34) From using a walker to running down the aisle
(12:23) "I did it" and the difference between "can't" and "don't want to"
(14:19) Rethinking health and Matt's first emotions as Lilly's dad
(21:59) Raising Lilly alongside her siblings
(24:51) The mission behind Down with Running
(26:56) Why every physical goal deserves support
(30:58) Early wins, current hurdles and the Cedar Bend Endurance Run
(33:42) Matt's 15-year vision for Lilly and Down with Running
(37:22) Making a difference close to home
Resources mentioned
Down with Running

Matt and Lilly's story

Cedar Bend Endurance Run — September 5, 2026, in Waverly, Iowa

Connect with Matt and Down with Running
Down with Running on Instagram

Matt Lamos on Instagram

Down with Running on Facebook