Free Outside

Jeff Garmire
  • 4.9 (142)
  • RUNNING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to "Free Outside," the ultimate podcast for outdoor enthusiasts! Join me, Jeff Garmire, as I blur the lines between trail running, Fastest Known Times (FKTs), thru-hiking, backpacking, and all endurance. With 20 FKTs under my belt, a book, a movie, and plenty of unconventional experiences, I'm here to share my adventures and insights. Expect engaging interviews and fun interactions with guests who excel in various ways. Whether we're discussing the art of slowly running through forests, the thrill of a challenging hike, or simply an appreciator of beauty and comedy, here we are.

  1. 1D AGO

    Barkley Marathons: A Recap with Allison, Map, Compass, Vert, Repeat

    We recorded this one on the drive home from Frozen Head State Park to Bozeman, while the mud is still on the shoes and the bruises are still fresh. Allison finally gets to talk about the last three months of secret training, the stress of learning map and compass, and what it is like to go from “I might get lost” to “I just found every book” in the same day. Find Allison's Substack: https://allisonhardingpowell.substack.com/ We walk through the whole loop from the 6 a.m. start, the chaos at the first book, the long climb up Rat Jaw, and the moment it became clear the time cutoff was slipping away. Then it turns into something better than a time goal, a full team effort with the “Overtime Eight,” eight runners from around the world who worked together, found every page, and finished the loop together, hands on the gate. If you are curious about Barkley, this is a first-timer perspective on what matters most: why you want it, how to balance vert and navigation, how hard the book hunting really is, and why accessible calories can be the difference between moving and melting. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Journey Overview 12:02 Balancing Work and Training 17:20 Race Day Experience and Strategy 28:34 Climbing Ratt Jaw and Race Reflections 34:41 Navigating Challenges on the Course 46:45 The Power of Group Dynamics 54:03 Preparing for the Unexpected Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

    1h 2m

  2. 4D AGO

    Three Minutes of Chaos: Ski Mountaineering’s Olympic Debut, Explained

    Ski mountaineering is officially coming to the Olympics, and if you’ve never watched skimo before, this episode is your crash course. I’m joined by Max Valverde, former U.S. skimo athlete and NBC Olympic commentator, to break down how the sport works, why the Olympic version is so different from traditional backcountry skiing, and how the U.S. somehow snuck into medal contention at the last possible moment. We talk sprint races that last three minutes, transitions that decide medals in seconds, why these athletes are basically redlining past max heart rate, and how trail runners will instantly recognize the engine required to compete at this level. Max also explains the Cam Smith and Anna Gibson story, why transitions matter more than fitness alone, and what to watch for when the races go live. If you’re into trail running, endurance sports, or just want to understand what you’re watching when skimo debuts on the Olympic stage this February, this episode gives you everything you need. Chapters 04:21 Why ski mountaineering is in the Olympics 05:05 What skimo is and how it differs from traditional racing 06:55 Sprint vs mixed relay explained 08:45 How the U.S. qualified at the last possible moment 11:40 Cam Smith and Anna Gibson’s breakout race 14:10 Why transitions decide races 17:05 Boot packs, skins, and six-second chaos 20:15 How mistakes cost medals 23:10 Favorites and podium contenders 26:40 Mixed relay medal math and U.S. upside 30:30 Race strategy and pacing across heats 34:15 Why skimo works as an Olympic spectator sport 38:05 Calling the Olympics from NBC 41:00 Final thoughts and wrap-up Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

    43 min

  3. FEB 15

    Barkley Marathons Before They Were Famous: With the First Finisher, Frozen Ed Furtaw

    In 1988, before the 100-mile version existed, before the conch shell start became legend, before the documentaries and global fame, one man proved the Barkley Marathons could be finished. Frozen Ed was the first person to ever finish the Barkley. Not the 100-miler. The original three-loop race that no one thought was possible. In this episode we talk about: – What Barkley was really like in the 80s – The story of Tom Possert and the missed summit – How the book pages became part of the race – When the 100-mile version was born – The Soviet invasion year – The prison apprehension story – How the course has evolved and gotten harder – Why Laz says he’s not trying to make it the toughest race in the world – The real energy cost of Barkley – And why endurance athletes need to protect their hearts This is a history lesson, a philosophy lesson, and a reminder that Barkley has always lived at the limit of what’s possible. If you love the mystique of Barkley, this is required listening. Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

    1h 35m

  4. FEB 14

    Barkley Marathons 2026: The race explained, and I’m Running It

    The Barkley Marathons is designed to sit right on the edge of possible. Sixty hours. Five loops. Nearly all off trail. No GPS. No course markings. Books hidden in the woods. A cigarette lights the start. In 2021, I stepped onto the course and heard Taps play when my race ended. In 2026, I’m lining up again. In this episode, I break down what Barkley actually is, how it started under at Brushy Mountain, why it keeps getting harder, and what makes it different from every other 100 miler on the planet. We talk navigation, the fun run, the infamous virgin sacrifice, the conch shell, the secretive entry process, and why even legends like John Kelly can get stopped at three loops. But more than that, this is about why anyone would go back. Barkley is not about speed. It is not about splits. It is about finding your limit in a world where almost nothing forces you to. And in 2026, I’m going to try again. Chapters 00:00 The Origins of the Barkley Marathons 02:51 The Challenge and Difficulty of the Race 05:47 The Unique Entry Process and Race Structure 08:50 Navigating the Course: Skills and Strategies 12:09 Mental Toughness and the Experience of Running 15:04 The Community and Culture of the Barkley Marathons 18:11 Inspiration and the Future of the Barkley Marathons Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

    26 min

  5. FEB 12

    From Turkey Trot to Black Canyon: The Madison Liechty Story

    Madison Liechty joins the Free Outside Podcast and we keep the promise of no hard questions for about five seconds. We talk about her very normal Montana childhood (no horses to school, sorry), how one turkey trot convinced her friend Makena Morley to start coaching her toward big marathon goals, and why the trail world, where you can eat bacon mid-race, ended up being a better fit. Follow Madison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madison_liechty Then it gets unexpectedly real. Madison explains living her whole life unable to burp, how that made long trail races brutal from a fueling standpoint, and how getting treated for R-CPD flipped everything. Suddenly, she can actually eat deep into efforts, trail running gets fun, and she wins her first 100 miler. Now she’s heading into Black Canyon with her dad pacing the last miles, plus bigger dreams on the horizon like Hardrock and UTMB. We also get into Bozeman training culture, 5 a.m. long runs, pacing her dad at a stack of hundred milers, a grizzly encounter in the Beartooths, and her long-term vision: keep building as a trail runner, and someday open the post-adventure bakery truck Bozeman needs. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 06:06 Early Running Journey 11:14 Transition to Trail Running 16:05 Overcoming Challenges in Trail Running 21:03 The Impact of Medical Issues on Performance 26:00 Baking Dreams and Future Aspirations 30:50 The Bakery Dream 32:00 Afternoon Running Revelation 33:11 Pacing and Family Bonds 36:21 Black Canyon Race Reflections 41:32 Future Goals in Trail Running 48:19 Balancing Engineering and Running 50:06 Wildlife Encounters in the Wild West 52:55 Training with Fast Friends Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

    59 min

  6. FEB 8

    Sub-4 Miler to Black Canyon 100K: The Zach Perrin Story

    Zach Perrin has run 3:59 for the mile, then promptly got humbled by his first trail race in road shoes and swore he would never do it again. Now he is all-in on ultras, dialing sweat rate and sodium, and lining up at Black Canyon with a golden ticket on the mind. We talk sub-4 race strategy, the “panic point” in the mile, ego-check moments on the trails, and what it actually takes to run well for seven to eight hours. Follow Zach online: https://www.instagram.com/zach_perrin/ Chapters 02:00 What a Sub-4 Mile Actually Feels Like 05:00 The Mile’s Panic Point vs Ultra Pain 08:00 From Montana to CU and Early Running Roots 12:00 Leaving Track and Finding the Trails 16:00 Getting Humbled in His First Trail Race 20:00 Letting Go of Pace Ego and Learning Effort 26:00 Fueling, Sweat Rate, and Fixing 100K Mistakes 33:00 Adam Peterman, CU, and Training With the Best 40:00 Black Canyon 100K Strategy and Golden Ticket Goals 52:00 Staying Calm, Mental Approach, and What’s Next Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

    59 min

  7. FEB 6

    White Mountains Stories and a Retreat Invite

    The White Mountains have a special talent for making strong hikers question their life choices, and their mileage math. In this episode, I’m joined by Eli Burakian and Justin Chapman, the brains behind Northeast Trail Adventures, to break down what makes the Northeast so rugged, so beloved, and so different from anywhere else. Sign up for the retreat: https://northeasttrailadventures.com/ We dig into Moosilauke as the first true alpine-style summit for northbound AT hikers, the old-school trail design philosophy (straight up, minimal mercy), and the culture shift where vert matters more than pace. Then we get into the wild story of the Mount Ascutney Vertical Backyard, a last-person-standing race that went a jaw-dropping 90 hours, and somehow turned race directing into an ultra of its own. After that, we talk about something more important than suffering, community. I’m officially joining Northeast Trail Adventures as a leader for their White Mountains running and hiking retreat (June 5 weekend at Hub North), a low-pressure, all-abilities weekend built around moving efficiently in the mountains, learning from experienced leaders, and hanging out like normal humans at night with meals, stories, and whatever game ends friendships. If you want an entry point to the Whites that’s fun, supportive, and not gatekeep-y, this is it. Retreat spots are limited, and Free Outside listeners can use FREE OUTSIDE for $100 off. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Northeast Hiking Experience 06:41 Personal Connections to the White Mountains 11:48 Launching Northeast Trail Adventures 21:45 The Unique Vertical Backyard Race 32:26 Reflections on the Race and Future Plans 34:03 Community Building in the Whites 39:18 Retreat Structure and Activities 55:43 Inspiring Stories and Personal Experiences 01:04:35 Future Events and Opportunities Find Northeasttrailadventures.com on social media https://www.instagram.com/northeasttrailadventures Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

    1h 14m

  8. FEB 2

    Black Canyon 100k Preview: Burritos, Banked Tracks, and Golden Tickets

    Allison Mercer drops a one-month-in “ins and outs of 2026” list that should be printed and taped to every smartphone: ranting to your phone is out, solutions and actual dialogue are in. From the chaos of Burrito League to the hype of the Millrose Games, we bounce between weather-whiplash field reporting, race-culture grievances (selfie sticks, pacers, entitlement), and a very biased Black Canyon 100K preview with picks, storylines, and the important reminder that community is built by showing up, not shouting into the void. Chapters 00:00 2026: A Year of Change and Observations 02:43 Ranting vs. Solutions: A New Approach 05:32 Weather Woes: A Running Perspective 07:23 Running Czar: Changes in the Race World 10:18 Behind the Scenes: Understanding Race Logistics 11:49 Personal Achievements: Racing Stories and Reflections 15:12 Bucket List Dreams: Olympic Aspirations 17:55 Community Engagement: The Burrito League Experience 21:44 Milrose Games: Indoor Track Insights 32:54 Racing Dynamics and Athlete Strategies 38:54 Emerging Talents and Competitive Landscape 43:52 Youth in Sports: Pressure and Performance 45:38 The Impact of Betting on Professional Sports 49:54 Trail Running: Anticipation for Black Canyon 58:00 Golden Ticket Races: Opportunities and Challenges 01:03:48 Women's Race Preview: Anticipation and Insights 01:06:31 Key Athletes to Watch: Molly Seidel and Tara Dower 01:09:37 Emerging Talents: Jade and Shai's Breakout Potential 01:14:11 Race Strategies and Turnarounds: Caitriona Jennings and Others 01:18:54 Marathoners Transitioning to Ultra: Des Linden's Debut 01:23:42 Strava Insights: The New Age of Training Analysis 01:26:42 Final Thoughts: Predictions and Weekend Highlights Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside #Trailrunning #Runningnews #Outdoors #Outdooradventure

    1h 29m
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4.9
out of 5
142 Ratings

About

Welcome to "Free Outside," the ultimate podcast for outdoor enthusiasts! Join me, Jeff Garmire, as I blur the lines between trail running, Fastest Known Times (FKTs), thru-hiking, backpacking, and all endurance. With 20 FKTs under my belt, a book, a movie, and plenty of unconventional experiences, I'm here to share my adventures and insights. Expect engaging interviews and fun interactions with guests who excel in various ways. Whether we're discussing the art of slowly running through forests, the thrill of a challenging hike, or simply an appreciator of beauty and comedy, here we are.

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Garmire
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    193
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jeff Garmire
  • Show Website
    Free Outside

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