Episode 119: Todd Bogdaschewskyi - From Addiction & Depression To 100 Miles!

Melissa Londry ran her first 50K back in 2015, but it was during COVID that she really got warmed up, knocking out her first 100 miler as a virtual race and then completing an astounding 45 UltraSignup events since Feb of 2020, which doesn’t even include other monster efforts such as the 240 mile Tridge to Bridge which is an unofficial and unsupported race in Michigan that she completed in 2023.  She is currently gearing up to take on the Massanutten 100, another round of the Tridge to Bridge 240 in July, and then our recently spotlighted Mamba 100 in November, which looks like an absolute blast.  So plug in to hear us chat about her experiences, her training, and what prompted her to take over Race Directing duties for the New River 50K, which just so happened to be her first ultra finish back in 2015. As always, we would love to hear what you think! Enjoy! Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

The DAYTONA 100 is a point to point race that starts from Jacksonville Beach and goes south to Ponce Inlet, which is about 10 miles south of Daytona. The course is flat and is a solid choice for a first ultra or to set a PR. The race is run on pavement, so this is not a 100 miles of running on the sand down the coast.  If you hear Florida and think, oh man, that is going to be real hot and humid for a 100 miler, don’t lose heart, this race takes place in December, so that should help alleviate some of those concerns. Let us not also neglect the fact of who the race director is either. Bob Becker proves that age is just a number, and embodies our ethos of Showing Up. Bob holds the age group world record for 48 hours with 167.5 miles that he set in June 2023 at the age of 78. And, is also the oldest finisher of Badwater 135 that he finished in 2022 at the age of 77. Bob shatters the myth that we have to hang up the shoes, just because we are getting a little bit older.  Lighthouse photo by Scott Richards . So take a few minutes to download the episode and listen in as we explore the Daytona 100 with RD, Bob Becker. Daytona 100 Info: Race Website: www.daytona100ultra.comRegistration: Daytona 100 Ultra RaceInstagram: @daytona100ultrarace Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

After realizing he had become the guy that parents warned their kids to stay away from, Todd Bogdaschewskyi joined the Marines to make something of himself. But as a mortuary affairs specialist, Todd came face to face with atrocities that most humans will never have to face, and he eventually found himself depressed, deep in addiction, and grossly overweight. After finding the courage to ask for help, Todd began the long, painful road to recovery, turning to running as an outlet and eventually conquering the 100 mile distance on his 4th attempt. He has since moved to Colorado to fuel his passion for ultra. Join us as we chat with Todd about his story, why we was able to overcome crippling odds, and how he wants to use his journey to inspire others to realize what they are capable of. Be sure to follow Todd on IG at @tbogda0471. Enjoy the episode! Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

For today's race spotlight, we are heading to Memphis, Tennessee to take a look at the Mamba 100. The race is run mostly on single track with minimal elevation gain, which should make for a relatively faster course for the 100 mile distance. The course is a looped course with each loop being 14.3 miles. For everyone doing trail math right now, that would be 7 loops for the 100 miler. To top it off, runners have 34 hours to complete the distance, which is a pretty healthy cutoff time for a flatter 100 and sets this up to be a good race for those looking to tackle their first 100 miler. The Mamba 100 is only in its second year and is already on the verge of selling out. There are also cash awards for winners. BUT, not race winners necessarily. Instead they give this out as a raffle. So, all runners who register to run the race are eligible to win! 5 runners will be drawn at random to win cash in the amount of $1,000, $500, $300, $100, and $100. Want to learn more? Join us as we catch up with James Boler, Race Director for the Mamba 100. Mamba 100 Info: Race Website: https://www.mambatrailrunners.com/ Registration: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=103114 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/9292557920758047/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mambatrailrunners Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

Trey Morrison has been on quite the journey.  After a high school injury ended his sports aspirations, he found himself in a deep dark hole fueled by drugs, alcohol, and self hatred.  And then, after losing his brother a few years ago, he hit rock bottom, and decided he only had 2 options.  Suicide, or faith.  Luckily for us, he chose faith and in December of 2022 his new path led him to his first 50K, followed by his first 100 miler a year later at the crazy tough Beast of The East 100 here in North Carolina.  He has since launched his Run With Christ mission where he plans to run a 100 miler in all 50 states, taking on the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 in May to check off the state of VA.  Join us while we chat with this coach and strength training gym owner about how he got here, what will keep him going, and how he plans to tackle fifty 100 milers to carry forward his mission.  Enjoy the episode! Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hydra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - April 20, 2024 Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

For ultra runners that are history buffs, this is the perfect combo. A race event that has a 50 mile and 100 mile option that allows runners to travel back in time to run along a portion of the historic Pony Express trail. The race takes place in Western Utah along a course that is very remote. The course is 100% dirt road and only has about 3000 feet of elevation gain/loss. Runners have 30 hours to complete the 100 miler, unless you are 60 and over, then you get 32 hours to complete. And it you want to learn about history, who better to host a race that takes runners along a journey back in time, than the ultra running historian himself, Davy Crockett. We hosted Davy on the podcast, on episode 70. Davy is the 15th person to have completed 100 mile races, is the director of the American Ultra Running Hall of Fame, the host of the Ultrarunning History Podcast, and is the RD for the Pony Express Trail Run. Take a few minutes to learn more about this incredible race, the Pony Express Trail Run from the great historian and Race Director, Davy Crockett. Pony Express Trail Run Info: Race Website: http://ponyexpress100.org Registration: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=110179 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/260004530699363 Ultrarunning History website: https://ultrarunninghistory.com Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hydra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - April 20, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

Scott Perry seems to be just about everywhere. During his buildup for the 2024 Georgia Death Race, he has been seen running, hiking, rock climbing, skiing, pacing, crewing, sweeping a course, and maybe even mountain biking, usually with friends, some of which he probably just met that day. And following GDR, Scott is on a mission to find the HARDEST 50K in the US and is jumping in strong with races like Quest for Crest 50K, Speedgoat 50K, and the Barkley Fall Classic all on his 2024 calendar. Tune in to hear Scott's amazing stories, his inspirational passion for life, and why he loves the ultra community so much. Enjoy the episode! Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hydra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - April 20, 2024 Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

Family!  That's what this race, the Loopy Looper, feels like to us. We have had 6 of our previous guests run this race at some point and all have talked about it in some way, shape or form. So, we figured, it is time for us to get to know the Race Directors themselves.  The race itself has 12 hour, 24 hour, a 100 mile and a relay option for those looking at different formats. The race is held on a 3.75 mile loop on a paved path around Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The course is mostly flat and you will run as many loops of it as you can/want in the time allowed. According to the race website, this is one of the fastest looped courses in the country and a great chance to put in some serious mileage.  Take a few minutes to learn more about this incredible race, the Loopy Looper from co Race Directors, Jen Gaynor and Pete Greenfield. Loopy Looper Info: Registration for the Loopy Looper is open, the race is 8/3 at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, NJ, and new for this year the Glow Up Night Loop - 1 lap of Cooper River at 10pm. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/endlessenduranceraces/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endlessendurance/ Website: https://www.endlessendurance.com/ Ultrasignup: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=111437 Photo Credit: Glass Jar Media - https://www.instagram.com/glassjarmedia/⁠ Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hydra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - April 20, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

Prior to COVID, Chase Price was a gym rat who hated to run. But after putting in some time and targeting a few half marathons, he decided to "do something crazy" and set a personal goal of finishing a 100 Mile race. And boy, did he! Chase blazed through his first 100 miler at Blackbeard's Revenge, finishing in 16 hours and 17 minutes, claiming 2nd overall. He then went on to set a marathon PR of 2:44 only a few months before becoming one of only 6 people to have ever finished the Uwharrie 100 in under 24 hours, good enough for 1st place in 2023. He has since started the Casually Ambitious Podcast as well as founded the Casually Ambitious Performance Club. Tune in to hear his tips and tricks as as well as his big plans coming up in 2024! Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hydra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - April 20, 2024 Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support

Our mission is to help runners take their next step along their ultra running journey. With this series of Race Spotlight episodes, we want to introduce you to races that you may or may not have heard of by speaking directly to the Race Directors to give you all the information you need. We have featured a few of the races put on by Aravaipa running which is based out of the Southwest, but what many runners are not aware of is that Aravaipa has also partnered with White Mountain Endurance to host races on the East Coast. This episode spotlights one of those races, the Jigger Johnson 100. According to their website, the Jigger Johnson 100 is one of the world's most grueling trail races. Located in White Mountains National Park in New Hampshire, the race is a 100 mile out and back with an actual mileage of 112 miles and 32,000 feet of elevation gain with a cutoff of 54 hours. Some key info though, the max elevation is 4,340 feet, so you won't be climbing Mt Rushmore and probably not dealing with any form of altitude sickness or acclimation needed. But the race is absolutely tough, remote, and is designed for those that are comfortable being off the grid. Take a few minutes to learn more about this incredible race, the Jigger Johnson, from co Race Directors, Kristina Folcik and Rem Stone. Jigger Johnson Info: More information on the Jigger Johnson: Register: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=109601 Race Info:https://www.aravaiparunning.com/white-mountain-endurance/jigger/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitemountainendurance Checkout more from The Ultra Running Guys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theultrarunningguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Final Countdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - September 16, 2024 Race: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Hydra⁠⁠⁠⁠ - April 20, 2024 Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/theultrarunningguy⁠s --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theultrarunningguys/support