Allison Mercer and I recap the chaos of Cocodona 250. From a tracker glitch that placed Jeff in Africa in 1969, to GI issues, hallucinations, Mingus basketball, sleepless nights, and a fifth straight top 10 finish, this year’s race felt bigger, faster, and stranger than ever. They also dive into the intensity of the competition, the growth of the sport, the power of crew and pacers, and the heavier moments that reminded everyone just how serious these events can be.

Cocodona 250 starts in two days, so I’m talking through the plan, the nerves, the training block, and why this race still matters so much to me. This episode is also the two-year anniversary of the Free Outside Podcast, which launched during Cocodona because I was too nervous to watch whether anyone listened.

I get into the pressure after the Appalachian Trail FKT, a clunky but meaningful Cocodona build, working with a nutritionist and mental performance coach, and the three values I’m carrying into the race: presence, community, and trust. Or, fittingly, PCT.

Presence: be here now.

Community: let people help.

Trust: trust yourself.

This is my Cocodona 250 race plan, but also a reminder that hard things are better when they are rooted in joy, connection, and a reason that actually means something.

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Cocodona 250 is here, and right after recording this, I’m heading out the door to go run it.

So naturally, the best thing to do before a 250-mile race is sit down and try to predict everything that’s about to happen.

In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by Tara Dower and Allison Mercer to break down the Cocodona 250 field, storylines, and everything we think might happen… knowing full well that none of it will go according to plan.

We talk about:

Why the women’s field might be the most exciting part of the race

Dark horses, favorites, and who could surprise everyone

How 200+ mile races actually play out (hint: not how you think)

Influencers vs contenders and why Cocodona is its own world

Live stream chaos, race coverage, and being way too exposed mid-race

Falling… a lot of falling

And why we do all of this in the first place

This is part preview, part comedy, and part reminder that these races are supposed to be fun, even when they feel overwhelming.

If you’re watching Cocodona this year, this will get you ready.

If you’re running it… good luck.

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What if ultrarunning wasn’t about suffering… but about having more fun?

Andrea Moore has run 200s, 300s, and more races than most people would ever consider—and somehow, she makes all of it look like a moving party.

We talk about:

Why the back of the pack might be having the most fun

The real “secret” to 200-mile races

Snacks, bush naps, and the weird moments that actually matter

DNFs, dark moments, and why they don’t define you

Why no one remembers results—but they remember stories

If you’re heading into Cocodona 250 or just curious about ultras, this is a different way to think about it.

Less pressure. More curiosity. More fun.

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I sit down with Sally McRae to talk about Cocodona 250, 200-mile racing, her career, and what actually matters in running.

We get into why Sally is coming back to Cocodona, what went wrong the first time, and how she’s approaching it differently this year. From dialing in gear and nutrition to cutting time at aid stations, this is a real look at what makes a difference in long races and what doesn’t.

We also talk about the evolution of the sport. From early blog days to the current boom in gear, content, and sponsorships, and why it can feel harder than ever to find something real in it.

Sally shares what she’s learned after years in the sport, including:

Why efficiency and organization matter more than fitness in 200s

The mindset it takes to keep moving when everything hurts

How to think about gear without overcomplicating it

Why most runners are focusing on the wrong things

What actually improves performance over long distances

We also get into body image in endurance sports, fueling, durability, and why being strong might matter more than being light.

This one is part philosophy, part race strategy, and part reality check for anyone chasing big goals in ultras.

If you’re running Cocodona, thinking about a 200-miler, or just trying to figure out how to get better without burning out, this episode will hit.

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We spend a lot of time talking about how hard Cocodona 250 is. The miles, the climbing, the heat, the sleep deprivation.

But this course didn’t start as a race. Bryce Brooks teaches us all about that.

In this episode, we go through the history of the Cocodona 250 route, from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, and all the strange, wild, and sometimes brutal stories that came long before runners showed up.

Mining towns that popped up overnight. Roads built to haul gold through the mountains. Saloons, fires, outlaws, and entire buildings moved by hand. Sections of trail that were once trade routes, stagecoach roads, and lifelines through unforgiving terrain.

And the realization that when you’re out there struggling… you’re not the first one.

This episode is part history lesson, part storytelling, and part reminder that these miles mean a little more when you understand where you are.

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Most people think the finish line is the point.That’s where the photo happens, where the time gets recorded, where you finally get to stop. But after enough races, FKTs, and long efforts, I’m starting to think the finish line is actually the least important part of the whole thing.In this episode, I talk about what these big efforts really give you, and why the value has almost nothing to do with the final result.Then I’m joined by Monica Monroe, who recently set the unsupported FKT on the Ouachita Trail. Her story is one of the best examples of this I’ve seen. She didn’t start as “the FKT person.” She started as a beginner backpacker making every mistake in the book, and over time built the experience, confidence, and mindset to take on something much bigger.We get into how she trained, how she approached an unsupported effort, what it feels like to carry everything you need for a week, and the mental side of sticking to a plan when things get hard. We also talk about the moment where her “why” shifted on trail, and how these efforts can turn into something a lot more personal than just chasing a record.Follow Monica on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makeway4mudcatSupport our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffeeGarage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8abSubscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.comSupport this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutsideBuy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSFEmail me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.comWatch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outsideWebsite: www.Freeoutside.comInstagram: thefreeoutsidefacebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside#Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

Ultra running gets talked about like it has to be miserable. Stay hard. Go one more. Keep hammering. Suffer better. In this episode, I unpack why I think that mindset can miss the whole point of going long in the first place. Yes, hard things matter. Resilience matters. Pushing past limits matters. But if the only way to do something difficult is to build a hostile relationship with yourself, what are you really discovering out there?

I talk about why joy, curiosity, adventure, community, and self-discovery are a much bigger part of ultras than the loudest voices on the internet sometimes make it seem. I also revisit my criticism of the BPN Go One More Backyard Ultra and admit where I think I was wrong.

Then I’m joined by Kai Slough, who ran 103 miles at BPN Go One More in his first official ultra. We talk about what the event was actually like on the ground, the backyard ultra format, pacing, food, gear, the strange magic of running loop after loop, and what happens when you go from zero ultras to 100 miles in a day.

We also get into why people really come back to hundreds and backyards, and it is not just to prove they can suffer.

This one is about hard things, but also better reasons for doing them.

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Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com

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