The Running Life of Indie Rocker Ben Gibbard

Outside Podcast

Wilderness, Sports

4.3 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 September 2023

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie applies the same approach to ultramarathons that he does to touring: just keep moving. A decade ago, he got into distance running almost by accident, entering a trail race in Northern California with little idea of what he was doing. He’s since become a passionate and committed ultramarathoner, entering close to 50 races and training hard even when he’s on the road with a band. For Ben, running is a way to both connect back to the playfulness of childhood and embrace the unknowns that come with pushing your body and soul to the limit. As he laps the U.S. on a joint tour with Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie, he talks about the freedom he finds on the trail and the lessons he learned this summer after breaking down physically and emotionally during the hardest run of his life. The Outside Podcast is made possible by Outside+ subscribers. Learn more about all the benefits of a subscription and subscribe now at outsideonline.com/podplus.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From outside magazine, this is the outside podcast.
0:15.4	Rock stars are not always who we think they are.
0:18.3	In fact, they might really be what we expect.
0:21.4	As evidence, I submit the fact that Alice Cooper is an avid golfer, and Metallica's James
0:27.2	Hetfield is into beekeeping.
0:29.6	Also, Rod Stewart really digs model trains.
0:33.4	And then there's Ben Gibbert, front man for two bands, the Postal Service, and Death
0:38.0	Cab for Cutie, and one of the most successful and influential indie rock artists.
0:48.4	Doing a two hour show as a 47-year-old would probably be a lot more taxing if I wasn't
0:54.3	in ultra-shape.
0:55.3	You know, if I wasn't spending my free time running up and down mountains.
0:58.9	Over the last decade, Ben has become a passionate and committed distance runner, training even
1:04.4	when he's on tour, like he is now, to celebrate the share 20th anniversary of two groundbreaking
1:10.3	albums.
1:11.3	Death Cab's Trans-Atlanticism and Postal Services give up.
1:26.1	I don't feel any different.
1:32.1	Just before Ben got on the road, producer Patty O'Connell tracked him down at his home in Seattle,
1:37.4	Washington, to try to understand the connection between his twin loves of music and sport.
1:44.0	Are you excited?
1:45.0	Are you nervous?
1:46.0	Is it kind of like pre-race jitters?
1:47.0	Do you feel like you're like the racehorse in the stall?
	...

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