I met Courtney the day before I raced Broken Arrow this fall. I was jogging down a random road off the mountain completely alone, and a runner approached me from behind. when they caught up, they slowed down to my pace. I did a double-take. it was Courtney. we chatted for a few mins, she asked me some questions about my upcoming race. it was the highlight of my weekend. she didn't need to stop and talk, I would have completely understood if she just wanted a quiet jog by herself. the woman is an amazing competitor, and an amazing person.
@@michael7324 I was speechless. I used to live in NYC next to a movie theatre where they did Hollywood premieres. I saw famous people there all the time, but I didn't really care. but the fact that I bumped into Courtney " in the wild" really through me for a loop. yes I was star struck. only time its every happened... go ahead and call me a Fan Boy :)
Finally....someone asked Cortney a question and then shut their mouth until she was done talking. No other podcaster has done that with her. They ask a question and then at the first pause they interrupt and interrupt and interrupt. Courtney is the type of person who doesn't talk over people and I love that about her. If you want to get the goods let her talk:) Well done!
funny you say that. i was listening to rich roll interview her and just had to shut if off - he was doing all the talking and i don't care what he had to say.....strange way to interview someone.
@@emilyrapp3778 I cannot stand to listen to that guy! I had to shut that one off also. He would ask her a question and then answer it for her. I have no idea why anyone listens to that Rich guy or why anyone would go on his POD. It's so weird. Nick is the first person I have maybe ever listened to that makes the POD all about his guest. Being able to really listen is a dying art.
@@emilyrapp3778 there must be thousands of us who had the same frustrating experience 😂 loving this interview though, *so much better* a lovely conversation.
@@emilyrapp3778 Could not agree more. I saw that one too. She looked hella uncomfortable during the Rich Roll interview. This interview was very natural and she smiled so much and was completely at ease.
I haven't listened to the Rich Roll but it had to of been really bad if this one is considered letting her talk because I spent a half time rolling my eyes at his oh yeah me too stories on every single thing she said
Epic! Love Courtney! When she passed me at Western States 100mile it was all class. A pat on the back, a joke and a wave of energy for everyone she encounters at mile 60 or on a street corner!
Hi Courtney, I like the way you think. Long distance runners are born with this eagernes to run. You motivate me to run more. I am 69, so I cannot complete all the races in time. But I can cover the distance, so I set my own goals. When I was younger I completed 18 Comrades marathons, one 100 km race and 5 hundred milers. I am from South Africa and followed your race when you were running the Cape Town 100 km last week on the 27 of November. You are my inspiration for running each day. Best of luck. Will love to meet you one day. Willie Malan Sedgefield South Africa.
I’ve watched a lot of interviews with Courtney, & this was definitely one of the best ones. She seemed relax & more open to talking. Excellent episode!!
That's because this guy actually shut his mouth and listened to her. So many podcasters don't actually listen and Courtney is the type of person who doesn't talk over people. You have to ask a question and then shut your mouth until she is fully done her thought. Almost no one can do that nowadays.
I'm a slow runner. Prepping for a road marathon in a couple of weeks. Nowhere near sub-3. Closer to 6 hours. I lost 50 lbs over the last year and just building my fitness, so yeah I'm slow right now. So I approach it with the ultra mindset because it takes me so fricking long. That's how I found out about Courtney, and wow what an amazing inspiring human. It makes me want to check out ultras, but then I remember my road marathon is basically an ultra in terms of time on feet. hahahha.
Damn that story resonates with me as well. First 30k I did took 8 hours. Definitely ultra time. Now I'm aiming at sub 6 hour marathon. Courtney is amazing!
funny store but relevant: this past summer I was competing in a 6hr timed event. up and down a mountain as many times as possible in 6hr. it was 95 degrees and 80% + humidity . brutal day on the East Coast. at about 5:30 hours and a mile from the end of the loop, I came across a young guy sitting on a rock. he was a fast guy and he had lapped me a couple of times because the loop was only 2.5 miles. I asked him what the trouble was. He said something like "man, I have no energy, I can't make it". I asked him if he'd been taking any nutrition. the young guy looked at me like I was a space alien. I realized he had no idea about nutrition. I gave him an extra Maurten gel with caffeine. a few mins later he comes bounding down the trail like a puppy and said " holy $%#$^%, what is that magic stuff you gave me"....I think he learned something that day, glad I could help a runner who was just learning about ultras.
Great interview Nick, you really aced making Courtney feel super comfortable and that makes the conversation SO much more interesting and authentic. Absolutely love Courtney and this feels like her best recent interview about her training, mindset etc. Two amazing athletes talking about crazy races!
Started getting really active 6 months ago and discovered trail running due to park runs I started before the pandemic and more recently online documentaries where I discovered you two, amongst others, which has been inspirational. Most of my life was spent in active addiction. 5 years clean & sober now. Watching this interview is so relatable because I am learning to discard so many negative thoughts about myself. It's a beautiful thing to see the relationship aspect, the splendour of the outdoors and the multi-levelled personal development trail running brings about. What really strikes a cord is "less impressed, more involved", "more than the miles" and then what I recently heard on another athletes documentary about thru-hiking - "the most important lessons are learned, not taught". Thanks for putting yourselves out there and sharing your journey. 💪🏾 - with love from South Africa
This is so true. I did my first marathon this past May and the furthest I’ve ever ran before was 15 miles. I hit a wall twice during that marathon at mile 17ish and 23ish and I started to talk so much shit to myself and came right out of the pain running. Shortly after I felt no pain and was on the runners high. That’s personally when I hit that high is when I come out of a low painful space. I love watching these two. Courtney is an absolute savage.
"I wondered what else I could do that sounded too hard". Pure gold. I'm starting triathlon now, despite what almost everybody is saying ("you're nuts", etc). Great feeling of renewing my boundaries at the age of 40. Never felt better. PS: 39:53 "goldfish and crackers" Nick is so pissed with her simplicity haha
Courtney is just awesome! I actually see myself a bit in her. I am very ambitious when it comes to crazy adventures and challenges. It's mostly my body who doesn't let me do what I want to do. I just keeps breaking on me! But I will finally run my first 50-miler in January. I have done a few 50k's and I know I can do that, but the thought of running another almost 20 miles on top of that? It does freak me out slightly. Haha... I'll go and find out how that will feel. I am expecting quite a big pain cave!
Nick, for this past year it's been hard to explain to others, my wife included, why I'm addicted to running ultras. I even started my own podcast for an excuse to get into the minds of other runners. This conversation is one of the best in depth views into the ultra runners mind, and I very much appreciate it. Looking forward to competing with you in Maine. Can't believe you've signed up for that race too, should be fun.
I have loved everyone of Courtney's interview on different channels, but Courtney and Nick's discussion about the Pain Cave is the best. This podcast made push the click to sign up for a Backyard Ultra! Great discussion!
I'm here for the videos and the high-quality interviews. Thank you for speaking the minimal amount possible and letting your guests speak freely and fully.
I don't know why I made this connection all of the sudden, but CT Fletcher told Joe Rogan that when his heart flatlinned it was like he had the best sleep of his life, does Courtney managed to run herself to death and came back when she slept those 1 min best sleep ever?
My favorite thing about Courtney is how fascinated she is with how far the human's anatomy is capable of reaching. She can feel that our bodies are a lot more than what we've always thought it to be. It's like a machine, which is seperable from the mind. Thanks, Nick!
She always seems so grateful, as she should. I think a lot of people think and feel what a great experience it would be to be a professional ultra trail runner, all in. Most, myself included, just don't have the talent to be able to do so. This creates a true appreciation for her and the grace by which she carries herself.
Sooooo good! You both give me some much inspiration. Going to try my first marathon beginning of 2022…and hoping to do a 30-mile trail run during the summer. Maybe an 50-mile ultra to close out 2022. Thanks for the inspiration!
Really loved this interview. Courtney is such an inspirational human being with a positive mindset that is infectious. And Nick conducted a perfect discussion. Fascinating listening. Thanks.
Great interview. Insightful and inspiring hearing the mind games/pain cave are similar at an elite level. It's a level playing field and wish more people would experience. Appreciate your work and outlook.
I feel like Courtney at the beginning of college...Last year during track I rekindled my love for running and ran more trail runs in the morning, during lunch, and after school. Will say trail running is fun and amazing.
Watching this two years later but I think the dessert you are talking about is called sticky toffee pudding and it’s not super hard to make but yes it’s sensational. Makes me teary eyed when I eat it
Just listened to this episode for the first time, and I already know that it’s going to be something I wish I could listen to for the first time again.
This Podcast is amazing for several things but one thing stuck out to me: There is this huge man talking to this small woman and in a "classical role picture" you would think he's the interesting one and she would be the interviewer but in the ultra world its just different. The massive "dude" is the pupil learning from this small woman the rules of ultra. Its why I love this sport. Its so powerful, so focused on the mind and it just crushes stereotypes. Its the one sport where anyone can search for, find and achieve their true potential. I've followed both Courtney and Nick for a long time but seeing them side by side just hammers this message home. Great cast!
I support BPN and Nick, channel, products, etc., 🙌🏼🙌🏼but I was a little disappointed by this interview, mostly towards the end. Just listening on apple pod was harder than watching I suspect. Felt like Nick went on and on at times, getting more into his own goals, and you can tell by her responses towards the end. You wanted to get into her other races but then it just sounded like you were prepping for future races. No question about MontBlanc?!? With watching, enjoying all of your content, I would rather hear all about your guest, with a little back and forth. It seemed as if she was very comfortable and willing to talk openly so I don’t think it was that. Bummer bc it started out really well.
You will find “Ultra” Running is based much more on “feel” as it should be vs. Road Running where they tend to dial in on every minute detail and force the body into a specific way. Both styles have their own advantages; however, distances are significantly different. I would Not want to force an Ultra into a dialed in specific, it could be damaging.
Ultras are like the old Mike Tyson saying “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”, you can plan and routine your training but most of that goes out the window in a 75-100-200 mile ultra 😂😂
Iditarod invitational 1000 mile foot race in the heart of Alaska! Peter Ripmaster a legend won it. I paced him for a 100 miler he did this weekend. You both should check it out and look him up. It would be awesome to hear you all on a podcast together. ✌️
I run around lake Georgetown, and its nice to hear confirmation from the greats that that trail is very rocky. Im running my first 50k around November 18th.
I think there's a difference between doubting what you are capable of and realizing you just don't want to. I come here to understand what it is that motivates people. A lot of people I don't even like. I hate their personalities, their traditions, their beliefs, etc. I want to understand what it is, deep down, that causes someone to go through so much pain voluntarily. I understand what pain is like incidentally, though _my own_ experiences, but not beyond as much.
A podcast by someone who has no idea the topic they are about to discuss that begins by saying "the greatest female ultrarunner today" without actually knowing any of the female ultrarunners today and how they compare. Hell, Courtney herself would hate that you even said that. But you're all about the hype and overstating things for your brand.
love how this is all about you, best part of the interview is when she just said that learning to ride on the trail means picking your feet up not shuffling along and then you told me exact same story as if it was your own. then when she said I like to turn the radio off, another boring self story of "when I..."
Hey Nick, you should come up to Kansas for Unbound Gravel. I think you might like the gravel community since it's similar to the ultra community (I've experienced both)
I ran my first ultra, being a 50km at the end of 2020 on a whim - went from not running at all to 50k in 4.5 weeks. Two weeks prior to the 50k I ran my first half-marathon. I finished the 50k in 6 hours 15 mins and destroyed my body in the process. I don't really consider myself a runner, but I would like to take it more seriously and get back into it to see what I can do. Watching some of Courtney's videos made me decide to go after the 50k. Great podcast.
In college cross country, our second practice would be a second run + weights. We'd blast "Slaves of Pain" by Sepultura. I remember my coach all of the time, "Practice feeling good! Embrace the pain, You're not gonna die!".
Great pod cast as always. Was looking to put an order in for some products & trying to find the top you are wearing in this. Are you still selling them? Keep up the great content!
I use generic aquaphor on my toes before running. If you want some technical trail in central Texas come to Canyon Lake and do the Madrone trail. It’s only 8 miles and if you can run it twice you’re in great shape.
I really think Nick would excel at Barkely with his orienteering background and now with leadville under his belt in terms of pure vertical motion. April will be here real soon!
Sabrina Stanley is the first ultra runner I heard being cutthroat and competitive, she did not stop and check on Courtney when she was throwing up on the side of the trail during Hardrock this year (based on the Salamon documentary footage).