The Rambling Runner Podcast

#732 - Dan Montgomery: A 15 Min. PR and 3:11 Marathon at 51

Join us as Dan Montgomery shares his remarkable evolution from casual runner to competitive marathoner over 25 years - including a blistering 3:11:53 at the McKirdy Micro Marathon at 51 years old! Discover how disciplined training, strategic nutrition, and unwavering commitment transformed his body and performance. This episode offers valuable insights for runners of all levels aiming for continuous improvement. Main Topics: Dan's unlikely start in running and early marathon experiences His journey through injuries, nutrition adjustments, and body composition changes How working with a nutritionist and focusing on macros improved his marathon times The mental shift from health to performance goals The discipline and routines behind his race day success Strategies for sodium management and fueling in cold weather His ambitious long-term goals, including chasing the marathon majors record The importance of mindset, consistency, and trusting the process Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#731 - Jesse Gauf's Inspiring Journey from 340 Pounds to Endurance Racing

Discover how Jesse Gauf turned his life around within a year, shedding over 100 pounds and conquering marathon distances, all while sharing his progress openly online. This episode explores the mental shifts, practical strategies, and community support behind his transformation. In this episode: Jesse recounts his fitness journey starting from Navy days to weight ballooning over 340 pounds Emphasis on focusing on personal versus comparative progress as a key motivator The importance of consistent habits like walking, training, and strategic goal setting Overcoming mental hurdles related to masculinity and body image, especially for men How social sharing has fueled Jesse’s accountability and inspired others The role of rest, recovery, and strategic nutrition in sustainable progress Setting ambitious goals like Ironman 70.3 while embracing the process The power of embracing discomfort and pushing through adversity in endurance events Recognizing that ordinary stories of perseverance resonate more deeply than superhero tales Practical tips for beginners on starting with walking, mindset shifts, and setting intentional goals Follow Jesse at www.instagram.com/jesse.in.motion. Sponsors Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order. Amazfit - The GPS running watch I trust is Amazfit. It is loaded with features, top tier GPS technology, and is incredibly well-priced. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/47AOxzW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more and use code RAMBLING to save 10%. The Marathon Project returns December 11–13, 2026 in Chandler, Arizona, offering one of the fastest, most athlete-focused marathon experiences in the country. The event features a Gold Wave amateur race on Saturday and the professional race on Sunday, giving runners the chance to race fast and then watch some of the best athletes in the sport compete the next day. The course is flat and criteria-style with pacers every five minutes from 2:20 to 3:30, bottle service, bag drop, and a top-tier race experience designed for performance. The Gold Wave is open to runners who have run under 3:30 since 2022, and last year 81% of finishers hit their Boston Qualifier. Registration is currently $400 but increases to $500 on April 1. Visit ⁠themarathonproject.com⁠ and use code roadtothetrials (all lowercase, no spaces) to save $25 on your entry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#730 - Mindset, Marathon, and Nutrition: Lottie Bildirici's Winning Formula

In this episode, we explore Lottie Bildirici’s inspiring journey from battling stress fractures and bone health issues to smashing personal marathon records. She shares her insights on injury prevention, mental resilience, and how purposeful nutrition fuels peak performance.  Main Topics: Lottie's background in endurance sports and overcoming stress fractures The impact of nutrition and strength training on injury recovery and bone health Her evolution from a 5-hour marathoner to a sub-3:40 The role of mindset, confidence, and mental health in running success Practical nutrition tips, especially for race week and everyday sustainability How professional athlete insights shape her approach for amateurs The importance of community and authenticity in athletic growth Visit Lottie's website Running on Veggies  Sponsors Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order. Fooster - Check out the player in the online sports nutrition retail world - Fooster! While you're at it, you can pick up the new Rambling Runner Pack to try a variety of sports nutrition options and use code "Runner" to save 15% on your order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thefooster.com/products/rambling-runner-pack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Marathon Project returns December 11–13, 2026 in Chandler, Arizona, offering one of the fastest, most athlete-focused marathon experiences in the country. The event features a Gold Wave amateur race on Saturday and the professional race on Sunday, giving runners the chance to race fast and then watch some of the best athletes in the sport compete the next day. The course is flat and criteria-style with pacers every five minutes from 2:20 to 3:30, bottle service, bag drop, and a top-tier race experience designed for performance. The Gold Wave is open to runners who have run under 3:30 since 2022, and last year 81% of finishers hit their Boston Qualifier. Registration is currently $400 but increases to $500 on April 1. Visit ⁠themarathonproject.com⁠ and use code roadtothetrials (all lowercase, no spaces) to save $25 on your entry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#729 - Wilbur Vale: Transformation Through Fitness, Faith, and Connection

Discover the remarkable story of Wilbur Vale — from struggling with his health and weight as a child to becoming a dedicated runner and advocate for holistic wellness. In this episode, Wilbur shares how faith, community, and resilience propelled his transformation and how he uses his journey to inspire others to live healthier and meaningful lives. Key Topics: Wilbur’s pivotal moment: a challenging hike in El Salvador that revealed his pre-diabetic condition His childhood influences and family culture around food and survival The mental and emotional challenges of gaining weight again and self-compassion strategies The importance of community in endurance sports and personal growth How faith shapes Wilbur’s approach to setbacks, goals, and perseverance The 90-day challenge focused on physical, mental, and spiritual renewal Tracking progress with body composition scans versus scale weight Tips for integrating faith and community into fitness pursuits Wilbur’s current focus on sustainable health practices and goal setting Follow Wilbur’s Instagram Sponsors Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order. Amazfit - The GPS running watch I trust is Amazfit. It is loaded with features, top tier GPS technology, and is incredibly well-priced. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/47AOxzW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more and use code RAMBLING to save 10%. The Marathon Project returns December 11–13, 2026 in Chandler, Arizona, offering one of the fastest, most athlete-focused marathon experiences in the country. The event features a Gold Wave amateur race on Saturday and the professional race on Sunday, giving runners the chance to race fast and then watch some of the best athletes in the sport compete the next day. The course is flat and criteria-style with pacers every five minutes from 2:20 to 3:30, bottle service, bag drop, and a top-tier race experience designed for performance. The Gold Wave is open to runners who have run under 3:30 since 2022, and last year 81% of finishers hit their Boston Qualifier. Registration is currently $400 but increases to $500 on April 1. Visit themarathonproject.com and use code roadtothetrials (all lowercase, no spaces) to save $25 on your entry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#728 - Nick Lee: Cape Cod Traverse Self-Supported FKT

Last weekend, Nick Lee set the fastest known time on the Cape Cod Traverse, self-supported -male. He finished the 64.6 mile route in 11:06:54. Nick is a longtime friend and I couldn’t wait to talk to him about the effort and the training/planning that led into it.  You can view the effort here: https://fastestknowntime.com/route/cape-cod-traverse-ma Sponsors Mount to Coast - Explore the H1, one the most critically acclaimed running shoes of the past year, and all of its road or trail glory, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.mounttocoast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code RAMBLING to save 10% on your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices