Gotta Run Podcast Norm & Jodi

Join us on this episode of the Gotta Run Podcast as we dive into the world of SkyRunning with Jackson Cole, the reigning champion of the Minotaur SkyRace, North America’s only event, in Blairmore, Alberta, Canada.

Originally from New Zealand, Jackson shares his journey from collegiate track and field in Colorado to becoming a La Sportiva sponsored athlete conquering some of the most challenging SkyRaces across the globe.

Discover the unique challenges and exhilaration of this extreme sport, as Jackson recounts his experiences at races like Italy’s Grigne Sky Marathon and Switzerland’s Matterhorn Altraks Extreme. 

We also get a sneak peek into the upcoming Minotaur SkyRunning Race, with Jackson offering insights into what makes this race a must-do for any SkyRunning enthusiast. From the wild, remote beauty of the Canadian Rockies to the nail-biting descents and technical scrambles, this episode is packed with adventure and inspiration.

Whether you’re a seasoned ultra-runner or new to the sport, Jackson’s passion and expertise will leave you eager to hit the trails. Tune in for an in-depth conversation that celebrates the spirit of SkyRunning and the mountains that call to us all.

Here is Jackson Cole…

You can follow Jackson on Instagram here  -

https://www.instagram.com/jayrcolee/

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In this episode, Norman and Jodi chat with Esther Fellhofer, a 34 year old ultra runner from Austria.

Esther shares her inspiring story of being a non-athlete for most of her life to becoming a trail-running champion who has conquered some of the toughest races in Europe.

Esther talks about her transition to trail running after moving to the mountainous region of Tyrol, her impressive wins in races such as the Eiger Ultra Trail and Andorra 100K, as well as defending her title at the Ultra Trail Vipava Valley in Slovenia.

Listen in as Esther reveals her future racing plans, her experience of representing Austria in international competitions, and why she prefers technical, steep trails over runnable courses. 

Don’t miss this conversation with a true trailblazer who proves that it’s never too late to discover your hidden talents!

Here is Esther Fellhofer…

You can follow Esther on Instagram here  - https://www.instagram.com/esther_fellh/

If you enjoyed our show please leave a rating and review.  We would really appreciate it.

Check out GottaRunRacing website here and use promo code GRRPODCAST for discounts - gottarunracing.com

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Hey, everyone! We’re back with another exciting episode of the Gotta Run Podcast. It’s been a busy two weeks in the world of Gotta Run Racing, and we’re thrilled to bring you all the action from the Sulphur Springs Trail Race, Canada’s oldest ultra, which was vying for a Western States 100 qualifier.

We kicked things off with a recap of our Lost Treasure Trail Race in Mansfield, which went off without a hitch. Then, we headed to Ancaster, Ontario, to witness history in the making at Sulphur Springs Trail Race. With over 250 runners in both the 100K and 100-mile races, the stakes were high, trying to be the first Ultra Race in Ontario to be a Western States 100 qualifier and the atmosphere was electric.

In this episode, we bring you interviews with top finishers, and many enthusiastic participants. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of the race, the challenges faced, and the incredible stories of determination and triumph. From the youngest finishers to seasoned ultra veterans, every runner had a unique tale to tell.

We also delve into the Canadian favourite butter tart debate—raisins or no raisins? And explore the community spirit that makes trail running so special. Despite the crazy weather, including torrential rain and muddy trails, the runners’ resilience shone through, making this event truly unforgettable.

Join us as we celebrate the incredible achievements at Sulphur Springs and look ahead to our upcoming adventures, including our races at Rainbow Trail Run and Island Lake Classic. Don’t miss out on this epic episode filled with inspiration, laughter, and the pure joy of trail running.

Ontario now has a Western States qualifier, congrats to the race directors of Straw Dog Racing for successfully achieving this for our strong ultra community.

Until next time, keep running and stay inspired!

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If you enjoy our show, please leave a rating and review.  We would really appreciate it.

Check out GottaRunRacing website here and use promo code GRRPODCAST for discounts - gottarunracing.com
Check out our YouTube Channel here - https://youtube.com/@GottaRunRacing
Check out GRR Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/gottarunracing/
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Norm and Jodi are Gladiators! That’s right, we recently completed the 62K course at Ultra Trail Vipava Valley in beautiful Slovenia which is themed around an epic battle that took place in this region over 1600 years ago.

In this episode we chat about how we chose this particular race and our experience from race kit pickup to crossing the finish line.

It all started with Gladiators leading us out from the start line to unpredictable weather, whiskey shots to muddy descents and everything in between!

Here is our UTVV race recap...

Head on over to our YouTube channel and subscribe to not miss any uploaded videos.

If you enjoy our show, please leave a rating and review.  We would really appreciate it.

Check out GottaRunRacing website here and use promo code GRRPODCAST for discounts - gottarunracing.com
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We are off to Slovenia soon to race the Ultra Trail Vipava Valley UTVV for short on April 27. It will be our first time there and it came on our radar after our chat with Canadian Galen Reynolds in Episode 81 who lives and trains near the capital, Ljubljana.

Since we know very little about this part of the world or these trails we figured why not ask someone who has run the course, so we reached out to runner Anze Sobocan who not only has run the race but has completed every distance this event has to offer including several podium finishes.

Anze is 39 and a member of Team Salomon Slovenia.  He has racked up quite a few race results in a relatively short period of time including many events in Slovenia and neighbouring countries of Croatia and Austria.

We chat about the Istria 100 which has the oldest start line in the world at 3000 years old and the Swiss Ultra Tour Monte Rosa 100 miler his hardest race to date and then of course, Ultra Trail Vipava Valley UTVV.

Here is Anze Sobocan…

You can follow Anze on Instagram here  - https://www.instagram.com/anze.sobocan/

If you enjoyed our show please leave a rating and review.  We would really appreciate it.

Check out GottaRunRacing website here and use promo code GRRPODCAST for discounts - gottarunracing.com
Check out our YouTube Channel here - https://youtube.com/@GottaRunRacing
Check out GRR Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/gottarunracing/
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Returning to the podcast is Ihor Verys.  Based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Ihor is the first Ukranian-Canadian finisher and ultimate winner of the 2024 The Barkley Marathons!
Ihor has been very busy since we last spoke to him after his Fat Dog 120 win in 2022 including runner up at Big’s Backyard World Championship running over 715k last year and a win at Hurt 100 this year.
We touch on a few key elements from those two races and then dive into The Barkley Marathons.  In a year that saw five finishers in total including the first woman, Jasmin Paris, Ihor was the winner in 58 hours, 44 minutes.
After spending just a short time with Ihor virtually, it is obvious to us that he is an incredible human being and true ambassador for ultra running. 

We wrap up our chat with a light-hearted rapid-fire segment so be sure to listen to the end. 

Here is Ihor Verys…

You can follow Ihor on Instagram here  - https://www.instagram.com/ihorverys/

If you enjoyed our show please leave a rating and review.  We would really appreciate it.

Check out GottaRunRacing website here and use promo code GRRPODCAST for discounts - gottarunracing.com
Check out our YouTube Channel here - https://youtube.com/@GottaRunRacing
Check out GRR Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/gottarunracing/
Check out GRR Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/gottarunracing/
Check out GRR Twitter here: https://twitter.com/gottarun_racing
Support us on Patreon here : https://www.patreon.com/gottarunracing