On the Road|EP32: From Flat Roads to 100K Trails — Coach Kyle on Ultra Training, Climbing, Fueling, and Race Strategy 🌐 Visit our website: https://ontheroad-podcast.vercel.app/ Join our community, recommend a guest, and explore previous episodes. Coach Kyle shares how he entered trail running through hiking and mountain adventures. Starting with just one mile a day, he eventually finished mountain marathons, 50-milers, Hardrock, Western States, and other 100-mile races. Coach Kyle team runrun link: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/kyle-fulmer-boulder-running-coach/ Nutrition Product and Discount Code from Kyle: Phun Bar 30% off code: KYLO30 Hyperlyte 30% off code: RUNRUN15 Book Recommendations: Running & Being: The Total Experience — George SheehanBorn to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen — Christopher McDougallBernd Heinrich - Why We Run: A Natural History Kyle explains why ultrarunning plans should be individualized. A flat 100K, a mountain 100K, and a 100-miler all require different preparation. For races like Kodiak, runners need climbing strength, power hiking, downhill durability, and time-on-feet. A 100K is not just a longer 50-miler. It may include night running, cold weather, navigation issues, fueling problems, headlamp management, and several extra hours of fatigue. First-time 100K runners must train both body and decision-making. For runners in flat cities like Houston, Kyle recommends treadmill hiking at 15% incline, stairs, StairMaster, and weighted walking. The goal is not speed, but building muscles for long, slow climbs. Walking uphill is not failure. Kyle explains that hiking climbs can save energy and protect the second half of a race. If running uphill becomes too slow or inefficient, power hiking may be the smarter choice. Kyle discusses Achilles issues, soleus strength, calf raises, foot strength, and tendon loading. Instead of only stretching, runners often need controlled strength work to rebuild durability and prevent future injuries. Race-day fueling should never be a surprise. Kyle talks about practicing calories, carbs, sodium, electrolytes, and hydration during long runs. His simple system: one bottle with hydration mix, one bottle with plain water. The biggest mistakes are starting too fast, not practicing nutrition, and using untested gear. Shoes, socks, pack, headlamp, clothing, and rain gear should all be tested before race day. Back-to-back long runs teach runners how to move while tired. The goal is not to avoid discomfort, but to stay calm, keep fueling, and avoid disaster when the second half gets hard. #TrailRunning #UltraRunning #100KTraining #UltramarathonTraining #PowerHiking #ClimbingTraining #FlatlandRunner #TreadmillHiking #StairTraining #UltraFueling #TrailRunningGear #AchillesRehab #StrengthTrainingForRunners #BackToBackLongRuns #RunningMindset #Kodiak100K #HundredMileTraining #RunningCoach A practical guide for first-time 100K runners on climbing, fueling, pacing, gear, strength work, and staying steady when the race gets hard. 0:00 Welcome Coach Kyle1:46 From hiking to trail running4:49 First mountain marathon8:08 First 50-miler: Red Rock 5010:40 56 ultras, 100-milers, and Hardrock15:30 Why Kyle became a coach19:44 Individualized training philosophy22:40 Base training for 50K and 100K24:50 Easy running and conversational pace27:15 Training around work and family28:52 Double runs and durability31:33 Speed first, race specificity later32:55 Climbing training without mountains34:21 15% incline and weighted hiking38:31 Achilles rehab and foot strength44:06 Why power hiking matters47:08 Run-walk practice53:16 Back-to-back long runs57:48 Recovery, sleep, and nutrition1:00:16 Carbs, calories, sodium, electrolytes1:05:30 Long-run water strategies1:08:11 Common 100K mistakes1:09:12 100K as a mini 100-miler1:11:54 How to know you are ready1:16:16 Book recommendations