The following is a conversation with Zach Bitter, ultra marathon runner and coach who held multiple world records in the 100 mile run and other ultra-angirance events.

He is currently training for a run across America, which for now is planned for September this year.

Like many of the things Zach has done in the past, this is a big, fascinating challenge.

Quick mention of our sponsors, ladder, Velcampo, NUME and BetterHelp. Check them out in the description to support this podcast.

As a side note, let me say that Zach has been advising and coaching me on my own running journey.

I want to mention that Zach sent me some running shoes from Ultra, which I think is a company that sponsors him.

When I put those shoes on, I feel like Zach is watching me and I get that extra motivation to make him proud.

And by that, I mean, I want to put a lot of miles on those shoes.

Running is something that has always been difficult for me, but I love it because it is difficult.

The hardest part is I'm left alone with my thoughts for one or two hours.

Some thoughts are dark, like thinking about mortality, my own, and that of others.

Some are self-critical, like personal weaknesses or dreams not realized.

Some are simply human feelings of loneliness, personal and existential.

And yet, they're the moments during a run when all that fades and I'm left empty of negative thoughts and full of appreciation for the beauty of experience of nature, life, the whole thing.

This is why I return to running, not to get in shape, but to face myself and to run through it.

That's why I'm inspired by people like Zach and by David Goggins and others like them who seek to find the limits of their body and mind.

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I often meditate on my mortality, often talk about it.

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