Run The Riot Podcast

Patrick Yalon’s story is one of the wildest comeback stories we’ve had on Run the Riot. In July 2024, Patrick went surfing at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. A freak accident drove his head into a sandbar, leaving him face-down in the water and completely unable to move. His friend John eventually found him, pulled him from the water, and began CPR. Patrick survived, but the road ahead looked completely different. His legs weren’t moving. He underwent a major spinal fusion surgery, spent weeks in rehabilitation, and was told that walking again would take a tremendous amount of work. But Patrick had something sitting in the back of his mind: The Moab 240. It became what he calls his “North Star.” His mantra became: “If I can stand, I can start.” Incredibly, just months after the accident, Patrick showed up at the starting line of Moab 240. Still recovering, still dealing with pain, and nowhere near fully rebuilt physically, he made it 144 miles before finally deciding that continuing could cause serious damage. For most people, that would have been more than enough. For Patrick, there was still unfinished business. He returned the following year—15 months to the day after his accident—and faced brutal rain, mud, lightning, damaged feet, exhaustion, and everything else a 240-mile race can throw at you. This time, he finished. And there was an incredible full-circle moment waiting for him: John—the same friend who had pulled Patrick from the water and helped save his life—joined him for the final 40 miles to the finish. In this conversation, Patrick and I talk about much more than ultrarunning. We talk about gratitude, faith, resilience, recovery, purpose, suffering, and what happens when life forces you to discover what you're actually made of. Patrick also shares the book he has written about his experience, his continued recovery, and why he now thinks of the years since his accident as his “second life.” In this episode: How Patrick went from rugby and surfing to ultrarunning Why he jumped from shorter ultras straight toward Moab 240 The surfing accident that nearly took his life Realizing he was paralyzed while face-down in the ocean The friend who found him and performed CPR Spinal fusion surgery and learning to move again The tiny movement of his big toe that changed his mindset Why “If I can stand, I can start” became his mantra Showing up for Moab only months after his accident Making it 144 miles during that first attempt Why he knew he needed to go back Rebuilding himself physically and mentally in Thailand Returning to Moab 15 months after the accident Surviving brutal storms, rain, mud, and lightning The emotional moment when he yelled, “I’m still here” Finishing the final 40 miles with the man who saved his life Gratitude as a tool for getting through suffering His upcoming Tahoe 200 The book he has written about his story What it means to make the most of a “second life” Follow Patrick Instagram: @bodiezepha415 You can also find Patrick Yalon on Facebook and LinkedIn. Run the Riot If you're working toward your first ultramarathon—or your farthest one yet—make sure you're subscribed to Run the Riot for more conversations about ultrarunning, mindset, training, and doing hard things. Episode Sponsor — Mount to Coast I’ve been putting miles into the Mount to Coast R1 road shoe and T1 trail shoe and have been impressed with their comfort and durability for endurance training. Use code RIOT10 to save 10% on your order.

What happens when you stop chasing finish lines and start chasing experiences? In this episode of Run the Riot, I sit down with Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud, for a conversation about ultrarunning, adventure racing, hydration, fueling, gear, strength, and why our relationship with endurance sports can change over time. Josh started Orange Mud after getting frustrated with the hydration options available to endurance athletes. His philosophy was simple: innovation from frustration. If he couldn't find the gear he wanted to use, he'd build it himself. That same willingness to experiment has followed Josh through hundreds of endurance events, including ultramarathons, adventure races, triathlons, mountain bike races, gravel events, and multi-day adventures. We get into some practical stuff every ultrarunner can use. Josh shares why he developed a habit of drinking every 15 minutes, how he measures exactly how much fluid he's getting from a hydration bladder, why he tests different flavors of the same nutrition product, and why he'll intentionally train with warm fluids before a hot race. We also talk about training your gut for ultra racing. Josh has learned the hard way that race day isn't the time to suddenly start eating everything that looks good at an aid station. If you plan to eat quesadillas, pizza, pickles, or other real food during your ultramarathon, you'd better find out during training how your stomach handles it. Of course, Josh also tells one of my favorite fueling stories I've heard in a while: carrying a Meat Lovers pizza around during an adventure race and eventually using it to fuel a charge up and over a mountain. But my favorite part of our conversation may be what happens when we move beyond training and racing. After years of chasing bigger distances and checking races off his list, Josh has found himself wanting something different. He wants to experience the adventure. We talk about the pressure of Strava, skipping time with friends because the training plan says you need to do intervals, stopping to look for arrowheads, and learning that not every run needs to produce an impressive number. Josh even tells the story of running right beside the Queen Mary during a race without ever noticing the enormous ship. There's probably a lesson in there for all of us. Don't get so focused on the finish line that you miss where you are. We also talk about Josh's simple challenge of completing at least 500 push-ups every week. What started as a small goal has now lasted more than a year, and Josh believes the added strength has made a noticeable difference in his running, cycling, paddling, and overall health. And somewhere along the way, we manage to talk about copperheads, Taco Bell, gas-station food, pickles, a 100-mile bike ride that was supposed to be 30 miles, and an incredible experience Josh had with his late golden retriever, Lady, during a 720-mile bike race. It's a fun conversation with a guy who understands that sometimes the best adventures are the ones that don't go according to plan. In This Episode How Josh started Orange Mud Innovation from frustration Adventure racing and ultrarunning Drinking every 15 minutes during endurance events Measuring your hydration rate Sodium and electrolytes for long races Training your gut for race-day nutrition Liquid calories versus real food Pizza as adventure-race fuel Why pickles can be so good during an ultra Josh's favorite trail race His incredible experience with Lady during a 720-mile bike race Competing versus experiencing The Strava trap Staying adventurous as we get older Josh's 500-pushup-per-week streak Why ultrarunners need strength training Connect with Josh Orange Mud:https://www.orangemud.com/ Run the Riot Coaching Have a big ultrarunning goal but aren't sure how to put all the pieces together? I coach runners preparing for their first or furthest ultramarathon with individualized training, accountability, race strategy, and guidance along the way. Learn more:http://www.theriot.run/coaching Thanks to Mount to Coast for supporting the Run the Riot Podcast. I've been training in the R1 road shoe and T1 trail shoe and have been impressed with their comfort and durability over the miles. Use code RIOT10 to save 10% on your order. If you enjoyed the conversation, follow the podcast and share this episode with another runner who needs to hear it. #runtheriot #ultrarunning #ultrarunner #trailrunning #trailrunner

What does it take to keep moving when everything inside you wants to quit? This week I sit down with Jon Sheldon, Marine Corps veteran, leadership coach, and founder of BelleauWood Coaching. Although Jon doesn't coach ultrarunners, the principles he teaches apply directly to running, business, leadership, and life. We dive into the mental side of performance: Why you have to count the cost before chasing big goals. How to build resilience before adversity arrives. The difference between motivation and discipline. Creating decision filters for high-pressure situations. Why elite performers simplify their thinking when things get hard. Lessons from military leadership that translate directly to ultrarunning. Whether you're training for your first marathon, your first 100 miler, or simply trying to become more disciplined in everyday life, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom. Episode Highlights The hidden cost behind every meaningful goal Why mindset matters more than motivation Building discipline that lasts How Marines prepare for difficult situations The "Intent • Inspect • Initiate" framework Decision filters for difficult moments Why gratitude can become a performance tool Training your mind before race day Presented by Mount to Coast This episode is brought to you by Mount to Coast. I've been putting their shoes through hundreds of training miles and have been genuinely impressed with both the R1 Road Shoe and the T1 Trail Shoe. They're comfortable right out of the box, incredibly durable, and built specifically for endurance runners. Save 10% with code: RIOT10 Check them out: https://mounttocoast.com Discount Code: RIOT10 Connect with Jon Sheldon Website: https://belleauwood.coach Instagram: @belleauwood_coaching Connect with Run the Riot Website: https://www.theriot.run Coaching: https://www.theriot.run/coaching-services YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@runtheriot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtheriot Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runtheriot

Sometimes an ultramarathon is about much more than the finish line. In this episode of the Run the Riot Podcast, I sit down with ultrarunner Matt Lamos to talk about how running became the catalyst for rebuilding his life after a difficult season, why suffering on the trail teaches lessons that carry into everyday life, and how his daughter inspired him to create a nonprofit that's changing lives. Matt shares how he went from never wanting to run a marathon to chasing 100-mile races, backyard ultras, and mountain adventures. Along the way he discovered that the hardest miles often reveal the strongest parts of who we are. One of the most inspiring parts of our conversation centers around Down With Running, a nonprofit created to help individuals with special needs pursue physical goals that many people assume are impossible. Whether you're training for your first ultramarathon, preparing for your next 100-miler, or simply looking for encouragement to keep moving forward in life, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and inspiration. In This Episode Matt's unexpected path into ultrarunning How 75 Hard introduced him to endurance sports Lessons learned from his first 50K and first 100-mile race Why every ultrarunner needs a powerful "why" What backyard ultras teach about perseverance Running through suffering—and choosing to continue How ultrarunning translates into everyday life The inspiration behind Down With Running Parenting a daughter with Down syndrome Creating opportunities for athletes with special needs Why community matters more than finishing times Matt's upcoming Superior 100 and future fundraising adventures One Quote That Stuck With Me "You always have more left in the tank than you think." That simple idea comes up throughout this conversation. Running has a way of proving that our limits are often farther away than we imagine. Connect with Matt Website:https://www.downwithrunning.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlamos https://www.instagram.com/downwithrunning Facebook: Down With Running Matt Lamos Learn More About Run the Riot Coaching If you're training for your first ultramarathon or chasing a new personal best, I'd love to help. Coaching:https://www.theriot.run/coaching Website:https://www.theriot.run Listen & Subscribe If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another runner who could use the reminder that big goals are built one step at a time.

In this Midweek Motivation, we explore the importance of knowing when to back off in your training. Sometimes, the challenge isn't about pushing harder, but about listening to your body and making smart decisions. Key takeaways: * Recognize when to rest: Pushing through pain can lead to injury. * Consistency over time builds fitness: One missed workout won't derail your progress. * Modify your plan: Adapting your training can still lead to success. * Wisdom in training: Sometimes, backing off today allows for better performance tomorrow. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:28 The challenge of knowing when to back off 01:22 Listening to your body 03:05 The importance of consistency 05:03 Adapting your training plan 07:25 The balance of pushing and resting 10:46 The wisdom of long-term goals 12:14 Making decisions based on wisdom What's your biggest challenge with balancing training and rest? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for weekly motivation and insights on running and training! #MidweekMotivation #RunningTips #ListenToYourBody