Today on The Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by the legendary Cam Hanes—bowhunter, ultrarunner, lifter of heavy things, and yes, friend of Joe Rogan. We dive into everything from Courtney Dauwalter’s mountain mindset to how Disneyland became a tactical hunting joke with a laser pointer (thanks, Joe).

Cam shares his thoughts on the growing influencer side of trail running, Western States carnage, public lands politics, and what he really thinks about ultrarunning's obsession with science and splits. We talk about grit, quitting, suffering, and why lifting weights is somehow less cool than ultrarunning. Plus: what hunters and trail runners can learn from each other, and why Cam still calls himself an outsider in this space.

If you're into raw takes, wild stories, and the occasional Keep Hoeing joke—this one’s for you. From the Taylor Swift of Ultrarunning, meet Cam Hanes!

🎙️ Sponsor Support:

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🎧 Episode Chapters

00:00 – Cam Hanes Intro

02:30 – Small Town Ties

05:00 – First Ultra Story

08:20 – Ranking Communities

11:30 – Courtney Dauwalter Talk

14:00 – Love the Process

18:00 – Cocodona Doubts

22:00 – Crew Tricks & COVID

25:30 – Public Lands Rant

30:30 – Rogan Disneyland Story

34:00 – Quitting vs Grit

41:00 – Jeff’s AT Record Goal

46:00 – Western States Opinions

53:00 – Hunting Misconceptions

55:45 – Final Thoughts & Goodbyes

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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

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This week on the Free Outside Podcast, I'm joined by repeat guest and newly crowned Lavaredo 120K podium finisher Alyssa Clark. We talk all things Lavaredo—what makes this epic European race special (aside from the 11 PM start and absurd elevation gain), how she ran within striking distance of Courtney Dauwalter, and how pink hair and frogs helped her stay grounded mid-race.

But that’s just the start.

Alyssa opens up about the team she’s built around her—nutritionist, mental coach, agent, husband, and even the cats. We go deep on how her mental game has evolved, why she talks to frogs mid-ultra, and how rewriting internal narratives (with the help of a herd of mental sheep) has changed everything.

We also dig into where the sport is heading—development pipelines, the blurry line between influencers and athletes, why agents matter, and how media obligations are shifting as trail running professionalizes.

If you’ve ever wanted to hear two runners talk about therapy, shoes, mentorship, contracts, and night running tunnel vision all in one episode, this is your jam.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Lava-Eido: A Unique Race Experience

02:50 Race Day Strategies: Preparing for a Night Start

05:48 The Influence of Competition: Running Against the Best

09:10 Race Planning: Balancing Goals and Performance

11:59 Building a Support Team: The Importance of Collaboration

14:53 Nutrition Strategies: Tailoring Fuel for Performance

17:46 Mental Resilience: Strategies for Self-Compassion

20:56 Embracing Identity: Overcoming Past Challenges

23:55 Mindfulness in Racing: Staying Present

26:46 Training for Mental Toughness: The Role of Discomfort

29:48 The Future of Ultra Running: Evolving Support Systems

32:14 The Mental Game in Ultra Running

34:01 Breaking Into the Sport: Challenges and Opportunities

36:19 The Importance of Mentorship and Development in Ultra Running

38:32 Respecting the Elders: Learning from Experience

40:04 Navigating the Influencer vs. Professional Athlete Landscape

44:35 The Role of Brands in Athlete Development

52:20 Building Confidence in Uphill Running

55:31 The Role of Agents in an Athlete's Career

58:08 Media Obligations and Athlete Performance

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👕 Janji – Running apparel that performs on big climbs and looks good during your post-race meltdown. Their gear is built for adventures, designed with global inspiration, and supports clean water initiatives. Use code FREEOUTSIDE for 10% off your order and help support the podcast!

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

Western States 100 needed an awards show—so we made one. I’m joined by Allison Mercer for the first-ever Westees, a highly serious, extremely prestigious, and entirely made-up award show for the 2025 Western States 100.

We hand out awards like:

BDE: Big Dad Energy

Michigan "Bluff" Award (for premature blowups

Scuba Steve Award

I’m Not Back, I’m Better Award

The Cougar of the Field

The Zach Miller Lookalike Award

...and of course,

Jeff of the Day

We also break down the biggest performances, the carnage, the drama, the livestream chaos, trail fashion disasters, questionable pacing decisions, and how Killian somehow still looks fresh after 100 miles.

If you like trail running, roasting, fashion critiques, or just hearing someone talk trash about professional runners while wearing Janji shorts—this episode is for you

Janji – The best running shorts in the game (and yes, I’m literally wearing them right now).

Use code freeoutside for a discount.

👉 janji.com

GarageGrownGear.com

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Montana Meltdown – Our very own fixed-time race in Bozeman, Montana. 4, 12, and 24-hour options on a beautiful loop course.

👉 Sign up on UltraSignup – just search Montana Meltdown

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Westees Awards

06:08 The Women's Race Highlights

11:58 The Men's Race Highlights

21:45 Awards and Recognitions

28:55 Reflections on Performance and Training

30:25 Celebrating Chris Myers and Brooks' Impact

33:05 The Performance of Hoka and Unsponsored Athletes

39:24 Mo Money, Mo Problems: The Pressure of Sponsorships

42:53 The Rise of Women in Ultra Running

47:00 The Need for Better Storytelling in Ultra Running

51:58 Age is Just a Number: Inspiring Performances

54:58 Consistency and Experience: The Legacy of Jeff Browning

55:57 Hans and His Journey

01:00:00 Sponsorships and Their Impact

01:05:00 Awards and Recognition

01:10:03 FKTs and Trail Challenges

01:15:07 Reflections on the Appalachian Trail

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