81. Rob Krar, Ultra Runner & Mental Health Advocate
Ali on the Run Show
Ali Feller
4.9 • 4.2K Ratings
🗓️ 5 July 2018
⏱️ 65 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"I said, 'No way am I running Western States! That's 100 miles!'" — Rob Krar, Western States Endurance Run winner 2014
Rob Krar is one of the kings of ultra running. He was a middle-distance runner through college, but then threw his running shoes in the trash, insisting he was done with running forever. Famous last words: Though Rob did take a break from running (during which time he worked grueling 12-hour graveyard shifts as a pharmacist), he eventually returned to the sport in a big way — as an ultramarathoner. He has won the most prestigious and competitive ultras, including Western States, Leadville, Run Rabbit Run, and a handful of North Face Endurance Challenge races, to name just a few. Rob is also a vocal advocate for mental health, and on this episode he opens up about his struggles with depression. Rob lives in Flagstaff, AZ, with his wife and fellow ultra runner, Christina.
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What you'll get on this episode:
- How and why Rob transitioned from the track to ultra running (4:15)
- How Rob met his wife, Christina, and the role running plays in their relationship (12:10)
- How Rob says he found his purpose through running after a difficult time in his life, and why he became drawn to ultras (18:45)
- What Rob's relationship with pain is like (26:45)
- How Rob, who is self-coached, plans his training schedule and goal races (33:50)
- Rob's advice for dealing with injuries, both physically and emotionally (41:10)
- What Rob tells people who are interested in getting into ultra running (43:50)
- Rob opens up about his mental health struggles and experience with depression (45:45)
What we mention on this episode:
Emily Halnon on Episode 1 of the Ali on the Run Show
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks. |
| 0:08.6 | Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. |
| 0:10.8 | I'm your host, Allie Feller, and today I'm joined by one of the kings of ultra-running Rob |
| 0:16.7 | Krarr. Rob lives in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife, who's also a runner, and I love the |
| 0:23.1 | story of what brought him to ultra-running. He was a middle-distance runner through college, |
| 0:27.6 | and then said he was done running, but Rob lied. He did, however, go on to become a pharmacist |
| 0:34.4 | and work excruciatingly long night shift hours seven days a week. He had plans to move back |
| 0:40.3 | to his hometown in Canada, but took a detour that led him to run a 120-mile, six-day race through |
| 0:47.6 | the mountains. And thus began Rob's journey into ultra-marathon running. He has since gone on to run |
| 0:54.6 | and win the prestigious Western States endurance race, and in 2014, Rob ran and won three 100-mile |
| 1:03.1 | races, Western States ledville and run-rabbit run in the span of 11 weeks. Now Rob seems totally superhuman, |
| 1:10.9 | and physically he absolutely is, but he's also become known for being an outspoken advocate for |
| 1:16.3 | mental health, particularly as it pertains to athletes. Rob has struggled with depression throughout |
| 1:21.5 | his life, so we talk about that quite a bit on this episode. And that's enough for me. Let's just |
| 1:26.8 | go ahead and hear it from Rob. Rob, welcome to the Allie on the Run Show. I am super excited to have |
| 1:35.6 | you here today. I'm excited too. Thanks for having me, Allie. All right, so start us off with a warm-up, |
| 1:42.0 | just like any good run, right? You do that for ultra-as-you. Do you warm up for a 100-mile run or you |
| 1:46.4 | kind of just get going? I kind of just get going. I figure running 100 miles is enough. I'll do some |
| 1:52.6 | stretching, but it's certainly not like my days in track or running the roads. All right, so this is |
| 1:57.8 | your stretch then. Stretch, stretch everyone. Tell us who you are, where you're from, and what you do. |
| 2:04.0 | Sure, my name is Rob Krar. I am an ultra-runner. I've been an athlete most of my life. I grew up in |
| 2:12.4 | Hamilton, Ontario, in Canada. I ran track and cross-country throughout high school and also was |
... |
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