Distance To Empty

Redemption on Ice: Michael Koppy's Arrowhead 135 Journey

Become a Distance to Empty subscriber!: https://www.patreon.com/DistancetoEmptyPod Get some free DTE Swag by supporting out sponsors!Check out Mount to Coast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mounttocoast.com/discount/Distance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code DISTANCE at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Janji.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to select 'podcast' > 'Distance to Empty' on the post purchase "How did you hear about Janji" page. Thank you!In this episode of "Distance to Empty," we welcome back Michael Koppy, a seasoned ultra-marathon runner, to discuss his recent experiences at the Arrowhead 135, a grueling 135-mile race through the icy wilderness of Minnesota. Michael shares his journey of redemption after a near-finish DNF in 2024, detailing the challenges of extreme cold, self-sufficiency, and the mental and physical endurance required to complete such a demanding race. The conversation delves into the unique aspects of cold-weather racing, the importance of preparation, and the inspiration Michael provides to others by achieving remarkable feats at the age of 75.

If I Can Stand, I Can Start: Patrick Yalon’s Moab 240

Become a Distance to Empty subscriber!: https://www.patreon.com/DistancetoEmptyPod Get some free DTE Swag by supporting out sponsors!Check out Mount to Coast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mounttocoast.com/discount/Distance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code DISTANCE at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Janji.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to select 'podcast' > 'Distance to Empty' on the post purchase "How did you hear about Janji" page. Thank you!Patrick J. Yalon was training for Moab 240 when a routine surf at Ocean Beach in San Francisco went catastrophically wrong—his board stopped, his body didn’t, and he broke his neck, drowned, and was revived on the sand before undergoing a nine-and-a-half-hour spinal fusion and learning to move again one toe at a time. Just three months later, still battling nerve pain and fear of re-injury, Patrick toed the line at Moab anyway—finishing 144+ miles before making the hard call to stop, knowing the difference between “good pain” and “bad pain.” In this episode, he walks us through the mental darkness before the accident, the identity reset that followed, and why Moab became his North Star—then returns in 2025 for redemption, fighting brutal weather, river crossings, shredded feet, and soul-level lows to finally earn the finish. It’s a raw conversation about gratitude, grace, and pushing forward “aid station to aid station”—and why Patrick believes he may never find his distance to empty.

What Running 200+ Miles Taught Me About Perspective, Pain, and Possibility w/ David Park

Become a Distance to Empty subscriber!: https://www.patreon.com/DistancetoEmptyPod Get some free DTE Swag by supporting out sponsors!Check out Mount to Coast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mounttocoast.com/discount/Distance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code DISTANCE at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Janji.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to select 'podcast' > 'Distance to Empty' on the post purchase "How did you hear about Janji" page. Thank you!In this episode, David Park shares his inspiring journey from a sedentary lifestyle to becoming an ultra runner, detailing his experiences with the Moab 240 race and his upcoming epic season. He discusses the role of fear, validation, and social media in his life, as well as the lessons learned from his 100-day fitness challenge. David emphasizes the importance of perspective in endurance sports and reflects on his relationship with running and the community around it.

THE CUTOFF - w/ Dylan Harris & Jamil Coury

Become a Distance to Empty subscriber!: https://www.patreon.com/DistancetoEmptyPod Get some free DTE Swag by supporting out sponsors!Check out Mount to Coast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mounttocoast.com/discount/Distance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code DISTANCE at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Janji.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to select 'podcast' > 'Distance to Empty' on the post purchase "How did you hear about Janji" page. Thank you!This episode delves into the themes of the film 'The Cutoff,' which focuses on the experiences of runners at the back of the pack during the Cocodona ultra marathon. The filmmakers, Dylan Harris and Jamil Coury, discuss the emotional and physical challenges faced by these participants, the misconceptions surrounding cutoffs, and the storytelling approach that highlights the human spirit in ultra running. They emphasize the importance of relatability and community in the sport, as well as the unique filming strategies employed to capture the essence of the race.

The Return of the King w/ Mike McKnight

Become a Distance to Empty subscriber!: https://www.patreon.com/DistancetoEmptyPod Get some free DTE Swag by supporting out sponsors!Check out Mount to Coast here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mounttocoast.com/discount/Distance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code DISTANCE at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Janji.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be sure to select 'podcast' > 'Distance to Empty' on the post purchase "How did you hear about Janji" page. Thank you!In this episode, Michael McKnight returns to discuss his journey in ultra running, focusing on his identity as a 200-mile runner, the challenges of recovery from injury, and the mental shifts necessary for success. He reflects on the emotional toll of burnout and the importance of redefining personal goals beyond placement. Michael also shares insights into his new race, the Old Ephraim 200, and the motivations that drive him as he prepares for the upcoming season. The conversation emphasizes the significance of mindset in overcoming obstacles and finding fulfillment in the sport.