Less for Duncan, welcome to Wild Ideas Worth Living.

Thanks so much for having me on Shelby.

Thanks for coming over in person because I miss in person interviews and this is like a joy.

I know we've been like a year and a half without human contact so it was great and it was great

walking down the beach with you this morning also. It's a lot of beaches so amazing.

Ultra marathon runner Less for Duncan lives in San Diego so before this interview we took a

little surf check walk. Prior to the pandemic I often spent time with guests before we sat down

to record. During our brief walk this morning I could sense that Lessford radiates a reflective

and soothing presence. He can hear it in his voice. Lessford has always loved connecting with nature.

He finds freedom on mountaintops and forest trails and he wants everyone to find that feeling

for themselves. When he's not running Lessford is the senior director of programs at Outdoor

Outreach. They're an organization that connects kids to the transformative power of nature.

I'm Shelby Stanger and this is Wild Ideas worth living.

If you're a longtime listener to the podcast you may remember an episode from 2018 where we talk

to four Outdoor Outreach alums about how the program changed their lives. Outdoor Outreach does

an incredible job creating access to the outdoors for kids who just don't have as many opportunities

to engage with nature. But it's not just about taking kids surfing or rock climbing. Outdoor Outreach

also teaches them about sustainability and they encourage advocacy. For Lessford this mission runs

deep. He didn't grow up in a stereotypically outdoorsy family but getting outside had a huge

impact on his life and his mental health. I hear that you and I share the belief that the

outdoors can have a real positive impact on your mental health. Where does that belief come from

for you? Yeah so I ran track and track was really an escape for me and in many ways growing up

...