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We Are Superman

Author: Bill Stahl

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Founded by David Clark, a former 320-pound alcoholic, drug addict, food junkie turned accomplished endurance athlete, bestselling author, plant-based fighter, and happiness warrior. Ultramarathoner and coach Bill Stahl is continuing David's legacy to bring you inspirational stories of ordinary people overcoming alcoholism, addiction, obesity, or catastrophic injuries or illnesses to accomplish epic achievements like running ultramarathons, climbing Everest, etc. We also bring you world-class athletes and others involved in the endurance sports space, medical providers, and others who can help you up your own game in athletics as well as in life so you feel, look, and perform better. As David said, we will help you look into the far side of the universe where anything is possible and all things are eventual.
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Jack Rubalcave, my 24-year old traveling companion, with whom I’ve previously traveled to Portugal, the Azores, and Ecuador, took an amazing 3½-week long trip to Asia this fall, and we want to share with you some of our adventures and inspire you to seek your own. We carried nothing but a backpack, took 13 flights, visited seven incredibly interesting countries, and probably spent less than $1000 each for the entire trip. We have been sharing some of our formula as well as the exotic sights, food, and fun we had.  In the previous two episodes we covered Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and in this one we talk about the crazy times we had in Thailand and Bali, Indonesia, including a surprise encounter with really big, venomous water monitor lizards in a Bangkok park, an enchanting elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and attempting to rent and drive scooters on the very chaotic streets of Bali. I think these travels have given me a much deeper understanding about other people and cultures, which we in the U.S. are often insulated from. In the next episode, we’ll chat about beautiful Singapore and our tips for pulling off such a trip yourself, as well as where we hope to head next.Jack RubalcaveInstagram @jubalcaveSnapchat jackrubalcaveBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
If you think you can’t accomplish a lot of change and challenge yourself to achieve new goals in a short amount of time, then you’ll benefit from listening to this chat with Diarra Cropper. I’ve gotten to know the ever-enthusiastic Diarra through the Black Men Run community.  Black Men Run is a dynamic nationwide organization that is a movement that encourages Black men to be active to reverse health risks like hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and mental depression that disproportionally affect this population. The organization conducts meetups to bring local chapters together and organizes to connect at races throughout the country. I began running with the Denver chapter three years ago and have developed many great friendships. With awesome leadership, the Denver chapter has been one of the fastest-growing in the country. Diarra, like many African-American male track athletes, gravitated toward the power events like sprints. And why not? If you turned on a marathon on TV, the only Black runners you saw were Kenyans and Ethiopians, almost no Americans. Black runners were virtually absent from ultramarathons. When Diarra moved to Colorado Springs, it opened up a whole new world of trail running to him. Within a couple of short years, Diarra is now crushing trail ultras and through an almost-random encounter at the Leadville Trail 100, has recently gotten sponsored by Speedland. He's become a leader as well of the BMR sub-chapter in Colorado Springs. What’s been super cool is that there are others in Black Men Run running ultras, and during our group runs it’s exciting hearing the chatter about ultrarunning. The tide is definitely turning, too, as you see more Black runners at marathons and ultramarathons, and you are beginning to see lots more women and runners of other colors out there as well. I have no doubt that Diarra, with his passion and drive, is headed toward becoming a major force in the ultrarunning scene. Before we jump in, I’d encourage you to go to blackmenrun.com to find a local chapter. I got involved after the insane killing of Ahmaud Arberry, which woke me up to the fact that it is markedly less safe for a Black man to simply go for a run anywhere he wants unlike a white guy like me can. I’ve never regretted finding this really positive group to run with.Diarra CropperInstagram and Threads @co_trilete25Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
Keenan Haga is who you might call a serial marathoner. In fact, he has run 311 of them so far. On every continent, including Antarctica. He has run one in every state – three times. Keenan’s goal for 2024 is to run 100 marathons, including 13 in 15 days, plus a 100-miler. You’ll undoubtedly enjoy hearing about his cool experiences running among polar bears, sea lions, on the race track at Churchill Downs, at Crater Lake, Oregon, and the not-so-great ones like getting a parasite from water at an aid station in Brazil. In the midst of all of this marathoning, Keenan also beat stomach cancer, chemotherapy, the whole works. He credits running with helping him develop the attitude that he could dig in to battle it. But he kept his diagnosis to himself, even to his family, until he met another runner, Karen Kay-Timonier, at the American Heroes Run to whom he opened up and began to share his cancer journey. Keenan had already discovered how much he cherished the running community he’s met throughout the world, but now he has also been absorbed into the cancer survivor community in which he can share his experiences. The first things I noticed in our chat is how down-to-Earth Keenan is about his life’s extraordinary journey, his positivity, humility, warmth, and his gratitude that he gets to do the things he does. For you distance junkies, Keenan also shares a lot of helpful little tips from a guy who covers an awful lot of miles. I think you’ll enjoy this chat a lot.Keenan HagaStravamycoloradolife.netBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
Helping and honoring our military veterans was deeply meaningful to David, and he helped support them with his American Heroes Run. As you may know, I now direct the event to continue his important legacy. Proceeds support Warriors’ Ascent, an organization that provides holistic programs to veterans and first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress. Treating veterans with this not-as-visible type of battlefield injury has often gotten overlooked by the Veteran’s Administration and organizations that support veterans. I became aware of Iraq War veteran Gene Bennett’s story and received a copy of his chilling book, “We Did Not Deserve the Crapper: The prison we entered but never fully left.” Gene served two tours in Iraq. At first, the Army used him as a truck tire mechanic, but as sometimes happens, they assigned him where needed, and with just a smattering of training, he ended up a prison guard. Gene, whose callsign was Spazmasterflex, termed this job “the worst babysitting job ever.” In 130o heat, often walking on metal grating during all-day or all-night shifts, he was tasked with guarding a violent population where Sunnis and Shia often clashed, and often meted out their own versions of justice, which could be death. Of course, they all wanted to kill the Americans. To make it worse, the prison comprised both adult and juvenile sections. At one point, an eight-year-old was detained and a riot broke out until this child was released. On his watch, an Iraqi teen was murdered, something which continues to haunt Gene. He also witnessed several incidents of horrible atrocities and jaw-dropping leadership ineptitude committed by U.S. military officers. His PTSD and depression no doubt were exacerbated by a difficult childhood in a dysfunctional family. Gene has been fighting back by working to get his fellow veterans improved treatment from the VA, as well as write a cookbook to help them take better care of themselves. He is also creating an innovative line of meat smokers. Gene and I had a very engaging conversation that I think will keep you on the edge of your seat. I’d highly recommend you read his book to get a bird’s eye look at one veteran’s deployment that will leave you shaking your head, but also rooting for this hero to emerge on the other side in a better place.Gene BennettBook on Amazon: "We Did Not Deserve the Crapper: The prison we left but never fully left"Instagram and X @mickeyseversonBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
In a little bit of a twist, I’m chatting today with another podcaster, Joe Corcione, from the Everyday Ultra Podcast. Joe is a fellow New Yorker who also cheers for, and often suffers with, my same New York teams the Giants, Yankees, Rangers, and Knicks. The Everyday Ultra Podcast is laser-focused on the ultrarunning world with one of the best lineups of guests to keep ultra aficionados informed and entertained. Joe also presents episodes that provide excellent tips and guidance to your everyman and everywoman ultrarunner. What is incredibly impressive, though, is that Joe grew up as a self-described non-athlete who eventually developed a serious drinking problem. When Joe hit his breaking point, he moved west, eventually landing in Arizona, and he began running and jumped in with both feet, pun intended. Like most starting out, his journey began with baby steps, and Joe began to rise rapidly in his challenges to become an ultrarunner and is now training for the Cocodona 250. Not only that, but he has built a successful coaching business and Everyday Ultra is a top-ranked podcast, all of this occurring in a mere five years. As you’ll find out here, although Joe is relatively new to ultrarunning, he can also dispense some amazing insights and wisdom for a young guy. I’d definitely recommend you check out the Everyday Ultra Podcast where you will always feel Joe’s unbridled enthusiasm for the sport, and above all, his desire to make a difference to help every ultrarunner get better.Joe CorcioneEveryday Ultra Podcast anywhere you find podcastseverydayultrapodcast@gmail.comInstagram @joecorcione and @theeverydayultraBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
If you’ve ever run an ultramarathon, you almost certainly know the name of Marshall Ulrich. His accomplishments are unparalleled, and if I tried to list them, I’d undoubtedly leave out many. I could naturally mention his 29 official Badwater finishes in Death Valley, a race most of us would not want to tackle even once. Or that he dwarfed those finishes by continuing on to the Mt. Whitney summit, or that he once ran around the entire 425-mile perimeter of Death Valley, which we have fun talking about here. He completed the Seven Summits on his first attempt, and he set the speed record for the transcontinental run across the U.S., recounted in his great book, "Running on Empty." I could add his Stray Dogs team completed all of the Eco-Challenges, televised as The World’s Toughest Race. You may have already heard about all of this, so instead let’s focus on his latest endeavors, like the Route 66 Ultrarun, a 140-mile, multi-day event along that historic route in Arizona, and his support for his good friend and fellow Stray Dogs teammate Mark Macy in his inspiring battle against Alzheimer’s. Marshall is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet in the sport. He was an early mentor to an aspiring ultraendurance athlete named David Clark, and wrote the foreword to David’s first book, "Out There, a Story of Ultrarecovery." Marshall’s latest book, "Both Feet on the Ground," will inspire you to seek out your own adventures. Grab on tight, you’re in for a thrilling ride listening to Marshall!Marshall Ulrichmarshallulrich.comroute66ultrarun.comFacebook Marshall UlrichInstagram @marshall.ulrichBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
We are into the dog days of winter, and for a lot of folks the days are gray and cold and New Year’s resolutions are starting to fade into oblivion. That’s why I thought it would be great to bring back Dan Herman, whose upbeat approach to health, fitness, and setting goals would be a refreshing antidote to the winter blahs. Dan owns Dan Herman Performance in New Jersey, and I think he offers some of the most practical advice people can employ to knockout fitness and nutrition goals in sensible ways and not succumb to the hype of online hawkers of canned fitness programs and supplements that have not been scientifically studied. It’s not just that Dan had once been 375 pounds, lost weight, got fit, and now thinks he knows it all. Dan has earned numerous certifications, and knows great ways to help people develop solid plans to overcome obstacles that prevent them from following through on their stated goals. Plus, I always enjoy Dan’s positivity for a guy who lives in Jersey. I hope you take away a few nuggets from this dynamic chat!Dan Hermandanhermanperformance.comFacebook, Instagram, and YouTube @danhermanperformanceBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
For 24 days beginning in mid-October, Jack Rubalcave and Bill (and Nigel Leonis for part of the trip), had an amazing time traveling through 7 countries in Asia. In part 1 of this trilogy, we described the incredible energy and culture shock we experienced in Japan, and the interesting Communist world of Vietnam. In this episode, we share with you our experiences in South Korea and Taiwan, two countries that have experienced their share of conflict. Seoul is a beautiful city with many cultural surprises, including crazy almond stores, wild street food, and an obsession with K-Pop. We also took a fascinating side trip to the DMZ, where we got to within 70 meters of the North Korean border. Taiwan is fiercely independent despite China wanting to seize it back. We had some unique experiences in Taipei, where we saw some beautiful Buddhist temples, as we did in Seoul. Jack and I hope that you enjoy hearing about these adventures and get inspired to explore new travel destinations yourselves. Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman PodcastJack RubalcaveInstagram @jubalcaveSnapchat jackrubalcave
For 24 days beginning in mid-October, Jack Rubalcave and Bill (and Nigel Leonis for part of the trip), traveled through 7 countries in Asia. It was truly an amazing trip and we crammed an incredible amount of activities and saw so many sights in such a short span of time in each place. We each brought only a backpack. We took 13 flights in the 24 days, and get this, our total outlay for airfare was $204! We flew on airlines like Scoot, Peach, Air Asia, and VietJet using our miles and points, and had almost no issues. Our lodging was just over $500 for all of these nights!Jack and I hope that you enjoy hearing about these adventures and get inspired to explore new travel destinations yourselves. We describe in this first of three parts our adventures for the first eight days of the trip in Japan, and in Vietnam, where we ended it. Japan stood out for its incredible energy, how nice and polite people were, its cleanliness, fantastic food, and its surprising customs. Like buying hot corn chowder from vending machines on the street - and it was actually good! Vietnam was unusual in how Communist it felt there and that pho is truly street food.Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman PodcastJack RubalcaveInstagram @jubalcaveSnapchat jackrubalcave
It's that time of year for resolutions and goal-setting. But how do you do this after last year was derailed and you're still struggling to take the first steps to even set goals for the new year? Using my own current experience battling back from August bunion surgery that still hasn't yielded good results, I discuss strategies to set your sights on goals you'd like to achieve in the coming year.Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
It’s the New Year, and we all know what that means. Perhaps you are already on your way to working toward your 2024 goals. Others might be planning to start on Jan. 1. Or maybe later when the snow begins to melt. Some will go it alone, so to speak. But for a great many, coaching will improve the chances you can have success. After all, I have yet to see a football team take the field this bowl season without a coach. Even in individual sports like golf or tennis, the pros have coaches. Heck, Tiger Woods had a cadre of coaches – a swing coach, a mental skills coach, a strength coach, a nutrition coach, etc. What can a running coach do for you, and who might want to have one? I discuss this with UESCA-certified coach Miki McConaha and cover many aspects in which coaches can help you get more out of a sport in which you’re already investing a lot of your time and resources, so why not get the most bang for your buck, so to speak. Many runners enjoy the community aspect to being coached, but perhaps you live in a remote area, or you have a schedule that doesn’t allow you to make group runs. So Miki and I have begun the Be Positive Runners community. Miki and I will provide you customized, personal workouts on the TrainingPeaks app, and we will have group online calls where we can share experiences, tips, and provide encouragement to one another. Hopefully this will develop into group trips to goal races. We will initially limit the community to 10 motivated individuals who want to help themselves and others knock out their 2024 goals. If interested, shoot me a message at silly_billy@msn.com or on Facebook or Instagram Messengers and we can talk to see if you would like to be a Be Positive Runner to achieve more in 2024, or mention it to a friend who you think could use this kind of positive community.Miki McConahawww.trainingthroughthetrees.comFacebook Miki McConahaInstagram @miki.mcconaha10 and through.the.trees10Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
Our annual tradition is back!  We began this with David Clark and have continued it since.  Gary, a former obese alcoholic who became an ultramarathoner and all-around extremely insightful human, and I share a chat which goes in any and all directions.  Always one of our most downloaded episodes, you're sure to gain some gold nuggets when listening to Gary's wisdom. Enjoy, and Merry Sober F*cking Christmas and Holidays to all WASP listeners!Gary Stotlergarystotler.comFacebook Gary StotlerInstagram @_garystotler_Find his latest book, "Success is Spelled Action" on AmazonBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
As many of you know, David, the founder of this podcast, was an incredibly insightful man. A lot of that was gleaned from the hardships that he endured, many that were self-inflicted. He also studied Eastern religions like Buddhism which helped him acquire a better understanding of the human psyche, and pointed him toward directing his energies inward toward improving himself in order to improve the world around him. Along the way, in his memoir, Out There: A Story of Ultra Recovery, he showed how he could attain a huge measure of that by showing his vulnerability, unashamedly exposing his mistakes and shortcomings, discussing the self-loathing he felt, and letting people make up their own minds about his efforts to make amends, and importantly, not harboring ill will toward them if they chose not to accept any of that. He understood that we all have done things we regret, and he was willing to accept others for who they were trying to be instead of judging them for past misdeeds.The most interesting book along those lines I have read in a while is by Nick Moore. I found his book, Who Am I?, to be a real page-turner that I tore through in two sessions. Nick grew up in Texas among racism, violence, and parents who were unfaithful to one another. On the plus side, he loved to play football, and in high school received all of the adulation that football players get in Texas, and eventually got to play for Georgia Tech and Baylor. On the other, he had a mercurial, sometimes violent father. Nick discovered that his father had been molesting his daughter and granddaughter, leading Nick to call Child Protective Services, and causing an irreparable rift in his family. Nick struggled from that point with depression, substance abuse, mistrust of his religious upbringing, and finding a good direction to his life. Nick’s story takes more twists and turns than a rollercoaster as you share his bad luck, frustrations, and questionable choices. But he could eventually see how the Universe was pushing him in the right direction, even after losing his life savings – an envelope with $4000 in cash – that he’d planned to use to re-start his life in Amsterdam.Interestingly, Nick had a psychological breakthrough while experimenting with psychedelics. He now lives in Hawaii, where he learned about the love and acceptance offered by Hinduism, and found some very wise mentors. He shares his poetry with visitors on Waikiki Beach, and like David after the revelations he realized, has become a leader in teaching others about vulnerability, self-love, and compassion, and most importantly, how people think about themselves. He definitely gave me some impetus for self-reflection, so I hope you enjoy this chat, too. Nick Moorenicholasjordanmoore.comHis book "Who Am I?" is available on AmazonNicholasjordanmoore@gmail.comInstagram @nicholasjordanmoore and @papa_infiniteYouTube @nicholasjordanmooreX @NickJordanMooreTikTok NicholasJordanMooreBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
A quick guide to how to use this very effectively tactic in your races to beat your competition and run faster. Please feel free to contact me if you have specific questions on implementing surges into your tool kit. Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
You might remember early last spring, an athlete who I coach, Julia Beckley, had her racing wheelchair stolen from her garage. We put out the word to every local media outlet we could, yet unfortunately it never turned up. However, the good news is that a GoFundMe that was setup raised enough funds for Julia to order a new chair and fly to Atlanta twice to get fitted for it and then have it fine-tuned. It should arrive just in time for a project that will begin on Oct. 26 that will highlight the needs of other adaptive athletes. Thanks in part to Julia’s efforts, races have added or enhanced their pushrim divisions, including the Colfax Marathon and the Bolder Boulder, and more racing chairs are available to other adaptive athletes in Colorado. During her project, which she calls the Beckley Marathons, an intention pun on the infamous Barkley Marathons, she will wheel herself through a marathon on consecutive days in various corners of Colorado, beginning in Fort Collins, hitting southern Colorado, the Western Slope, and ending in Washington Park in Denver. She figures she will be pushing herself for 96 hours. She will be posting details on her Instagram account, @artisaurous  I’m looking forward to following Julia’s progress while she balances the challenges of her complex health issues and pushing herself through these daily efforts.Julia BeckleyInstagram @artisaurousBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
Imagine trying as hard as you can to run, bike, dance, or hike and yet always struggling to keep up with everyone else. Worse yet, getting told by coaches, PE teachers, even friends that you were just lazy, or worse yet, that you plain sucked?  Andrea Ogg experienced that her whole life until she was 35 years old. Then she got the diagnosis that it wasn’t her, but a congenital heart condition called Left Ventricular Non-Compaction Cardiomyopathy that prevented her heart from developing normally. So this ever-cheerful and funny woman found joy in other areas of her life. Until one day in August, 2017 her heart stopped, and she keeled over and died. She didn’t even realize what had happened to her as she clowned around with the paramedics in the ambulance until she was informed that the defibrillator that had been implanted in her chest had kicked in to restore her heart rhythm and save her life. However, her heart was now on borrowed time and in July, 2018 she received a heart transplant from a stranger. Andrea’s amazing attitude is to show her gratitude by giving her new heart the kind of life that a parent would want to give to their child. She lost 50 pounds and dedicated her life to health and fitness. She has continued to sing and dance in musical productions, took a photo safari to see African mountain gorillas, and in June ran her first half-marathon! She is focused on showing others how you can be resilient and see beyond the challenges in life. If you go to her web site, andreaogg.com, you’ll also find that she is hilarious in how she chronicled her journey up to and through her heart transplant. She also has some absolutely awesome recipes on there, too. As she sums up on her web site: “Heart transplant patients can not only lead completely normal lives. They can lead extraordinary ones.” I think you’ll enjoy this energetic chat with this amazing woman.Andrea Oggandreaogg.comFacebook Andrea OggInstagram and X @dfibkittyBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
We are going to drop into a whole new kind of location on the WASP, the Turks and Caicos Islands, near the Bahamas. Drexwell Seymour was raised in this British possession into a family with very modest means but not knowing any different, he was a happy child. However, he endured quite a bit of racism while in school, which greatly affected his self-confidence. He threw himself into his studies and graduated high school at the age of 15. He got an incredible break when an American philanthropist awarded Drexwell a scholarship to attend Wilmington College in Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Management in only three years. He then precociously added on an MBA from Miami (Ohio) University by the time he was 19. Armed with these degrees before he turned 20, he returned to his home islands, hoping to get into the hospitality industry. We have all encountered this Catch-22 - he was told he couldn’t get into that industry because he didn’t have experience. So with his accounting degree, he created his own opportunity in that field, and later eventually started his own firm and became owner of a hotel as well. Suddenly the young man who had been filled with self-doubt was a respected community leader, and his success has springboarded him to become a civic leader in the vexing issues facing his small country, which still has not achieved independence from Britain. It has also led him to writing books and speaking gigs. His first book, Rise Up and Take Your Position: Don't give up. Find your Gift and Cultivate It became an international bestseller on Amazon. He’s just released his second book, Succeeding In Your Position: Ten Essential Ingredients for Success that covers how to build self-confidence, deal with everyday challenges, and live passionately and purposefully to achieve all of your goals by detailing the numerous timeless concepts that anyone can use. Among these he teaches is how to find your gift, search for meaning in your life, overcome your fears, how to look at failure as opportunity, and then cultivate your meaning, work on it, and rise up to share it with the world and make you successful. I think you’ll enjoy hearing how this dynamic man seized every opportunity given to him and used the gifts that he discovered only through hard work to change his life trajectory and be able to share it with others.Drexwell Seymourdrexwellseymour.cominfo@drexwellseymour.comFacebook Drexwell SeymourInstagram @drexwellgseymourHis books:https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Take-Your-Position-Cultivate/dp/B09JF3W26J/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=https://www.amazon.com/Succeeding-Your-Position-Essential-Ingredients/dp/1637653719/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
This year’s Leadville Trail 100’s winners both hail from Boulder, CO, so I got to venture a tad north and west to visit at the house of the men’s winner, JP Giblin. JP seized control of the race just beyond Winfield, the mid-point of the race, and he kept adding onto his lead, finishing in 17:07:25, 40 minutes ahead of runner-up Luke Paulson on one of the hottest Leadville race days in history. JP, an Altra-sponsored professional athlete, is hoping this victory opens up new opportunities for him. Despite earning the Leadman title in 2022 for accruing the best time for all of the Leadville running and biking races, sponsors weren’t yet knocking down his door, and a disappointing finish at the Western States 100 in June didn’t help that or his path forward. So the self-coached JP tore down what he was doing and quickly pivoted his training, which obviously paid off. JP sees a lot of upward potential for himself being that he’s only 29 years old with not a lot of miles on his bones. Even though he made his Leadville debut when he was 21, JP only ran one ultramarathon in a span of more than six years due to serving in the U.S. Navy. Uncertain upon his discharge about what direction he wanted to choose with his life, he cast caution to the wind to become a pro runner. So you’ll hear in this fun chat about how JP bet heavily on himself, as well as about how he revamped his training, how the LT100 race unfolded, and what lies ahead for him. There are also some good nuggets to learn from for future Leadville racers and all ultramarathoners.JP GiblinInstagram @jgiblin13Strava JP GiblinBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
When I first ran the Leadville Trail 100 in the early 90s, and for many years afterward, there had never been a finisher younger than 23 years old. A few had unsuccessfully tried, but it was considered too much of an endeavor for a younger person to do the necessary training for an ultramarathon. But then along came Clare Gallagher and Annie Hughes, major race winners and record-setters in their early 20s. In 2019, I ran the start-to-May Queen stretch of the LT100 alongside college senior Harrison Hornung, actually named after the main drag in Leadville, who was attempting to complete Leadman, which he did. There’s no doubt the demographics in ultramarathons have trended younger, yet I was pretty surprised when I was up at the LT100 this year and saw that there were 4 or 5 runners in the 18-19 year old division. Alden Iselin of Newton MA just graduated from high school and impressively finished in 29:11:33. I was curious what made this young man tick, and what I discovered is an energetic 18-year old who is eager to explore new places and challenges, and who wants to help others seek similar goals. He is relatively new to the ultrarunning world, too, having only run his first 50-miler in NH in October. In February, he completed the rugged Orcas Island 100-miler, which was complicated by bad weather, precipitating a 12-hour start time delay. His time there was more than 32 hours. I greatly enjoyed hearing about what sparked his interest in ultrarunning, his training, the challenges he has faced in his nascent ultrarunning career, what he learned in these first experiences, and about his extraordinary focus for an 18-year old. Alden might be a future star, and you heard him first on the WASP!Alden IselinInstagram and Strava @aldeniselinBill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram @stahlor and @coachstahlYouTube We Are Superman Podcast
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Comments (1)

Bear Siragusa

awesomeness. this episode inspired me to donate. you're the man.

Jun 6th
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