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Trail Runner Nation

EP 694: The Intersection of Trail Running, Backpacking and Fastpacking

Trail Runner Nation

Trail Runner Nation

Ultramarathon, Fitness, Running, Community, Health & Fitness, Trail, Endurance, Trails, Sports

4.51.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 September 2024

⏱️ 89 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What happens when a love for the outdoors leads to launching an outdoor gear company and then running your first ultra-marathon?

In this episode of Trail Runner Nation, we’re joined by Tayson Whittaker, founder and CEO of Outdoor Vitals, to dive into the world of fastpacking, trail running, and backpacking. Tayson shares his inspiring journey of launching Outdoor Vitals, a company committed to providing high-quality outdoor gear. He reflects on his love for exploring remote areas, disconnecting from the digital world, and how his passion for backpacking evolved into a desire to push his limits through trail running.

We also explore Tayson's transition into ultra running, including the challenges he faced in his first 75K race, his experience pacing at the Moab 240, and how these trials sparked his goal of completing a 100-mile race. Throughout the conversation, Tayson emphasizes the importance of building confidence through experience, using the right gear, and embracing the mental and emotional benefits of outdoor adventures. Whether you’re a runner, backpacker, or fastpacker, this episode is packed with insights on stepping out of your comfort zone and growing through new challenges in the wilderness.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

I sign up for the hundred, I don't know why, but I did it, right?

0:05.0

But then after you do it, people constantly ask you, like when you maybe tell them, they're

0:10.5

like, why did you do that, you know, why, what are you thinking?

0:14.5

And they'd really look at me and be like, you know, are you okay, like, are you, like,

0:18.7

are you really okay, like, you know, like I'd shrug it off.

0:22.2

And then after like so many people had done that, I was just like, am I okay?

0:27.2

Am I not normal?

0:28.2

I get totally flipped the script eventually.

0:32.0

And I'm like, maybe I should explore that a little bit.

0:36.4

Welcome to the trailhead of trail runner nation.

0:49.0

We go on virtual trail runs with interesting guests.

0:51.7

They're going to help us learn a little bit more about ourselves, help us become better

0:56.1

trail runners, and maybe that translates into us being better human beings.

1:01.4

And today we're running with Tason Whitaker, and we're going to build a Venn diagram.

1:06.6

Scott's introduced us to how we're going to talk about backpacking trail running and

1:11.9

fast packing and where they meet.

1:14.2

And make sure, just like one of those Marvel movies, don't hit stop at the end when the

1:19.9

credits start rolling because we have a bonus question and discussion with Tason after

1:27.0

we hit stop about cramping.

1:31.4

John G has announced this new fall collection of running essentials and technical trail

1:36.0

wear.

1:37.0

It's fun to frequently go to johngy.com because every time I go there, there's something

...

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