photo: Bredan Davis/Kyle Pietari
Just over a week out from Western States, it was a real honor to have returning top-10 runners on both the mens’ and womens’ side in the Pain Cave to talk about the Big Dance. Clare Gallagher is the defending champion at the nation’s premier ultramarathon, and Kyle Pietari has four times placed in the top 10. The two Colorado residents joined us to talk about their recent trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota, where they helped to crew and pace Alex Falconer to complete the first ever crossing of the preserve on foot. We spoke about their efforts to protect this wilderness and to bring awareness to the negative environmental impacts of proposed mining operations in the area. Then, we talked about this year’s fantastic fields at Western States and how these two legends of the sport will approach the race. Finally it was Twenty Questions time, talking tapers, books, Instagram, and more.
Links:
Alex’s pre-run summary of the Boundary Waters Traverse project, and his recap of the run
FKT.com: The Boundary Waters Traverse
Save the Boundary Waters: urge your representative to support the bill to protect the Boundary Waters
Also here; from this site specifically about the run
Beers for this episode: Athletic Brewing Free Wave, Pawley’s Island Big Sandy Beaches
Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale