What is THE WHY? Of doing hard things...

In this solo episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I dive into a topic that every endurance athlete eventually wrestles with: What’s your why?

I unpack what it really means to chase big goals in the era of social media, external validation, and highlight reels. From the pressure of performance posts to the value of community and joy in the moment, this is an unfiltered look at what keeps us coming back to these wild endurance events—even when nobody's watching.

Topics include:

-Why social media can distort your motivation

-The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic goals

-Lessons from my worst FKTs and best trail moments

-The underrated power of fun, struggle, and shared experience

-Why Cocodona doesn’t “make” anyone—and why you do

-Encouragement for media, volunteers, and the mid-pack majority

-And how the ultra/trail community is more diverse than it looks

Whether you're a front-runner, back-of-the-packer, or just love long miles, this episode is a reminder to step back and ask: Why am I really doing this?

Chapters

00:00 Exploring the Intrinsic Why

06:58 The Three Pillars of Motivation

10:12 The Role of Community in Endurance Sports

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 [email protected]

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