The Human Potential Running Series Podcast

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 40 HPRS Race Director John Lacroix begins our new series, designed to help folks navigate the ins and outs of trail and ultrarunning. In this episode John provides a bare bones, no BS, approach answering the typical newbie questions to those trying to get into trail and ultra. What shoes and socks to wear. Do you need a watch? How to start running. Where to plan your routes. Progressing through the distances. John provides the information you NEED to keep is simple, and cuts out everything you don't need to start dabbling in trail and ultra.

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 39 HPRS Race Director John Lacroix reads to you his 2024 State of Our Sport Address. This year's address reviews the data and analysis from ultramarathon running participation in 2023. It is followed by a dicussion highlighting where ultrarunning is today, and where John predicts it will move in the future. A not to be missed episode as this is the last State of Our Sport Address that John intends to give after more than a decade. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 38 HPRS Race Director John Lacroix talks about where we go from here on the heels of the UTMB-IM issue in Whistler. Many have called this a "Turning Point" for our sport, but John argues that this is merely the next speed bump; and we've already decided the direction we're going to take long ago. Another passionate episode with a call to action, with the hopes of being a better more positive community moving forward. Take a listen!

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 37 HPRS Race Director John Lacroix dives in to what transpired in Whistler between Gary Robbin’s Whistler Alpine Meadows (WAM) event and UTMB-Ironman. John offers an honest perspective that highlights the intricacies of event permitting; including lessons that everyone should learn from the situation. John even dives into the history of UTMB events in North America and how no one should be surprised that this is where our sport finds itself today.

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 36 we share the audio from the September 2023 Water Cooler LIVE, hosted on the HPRS Facebook Page. Join HPRS Race Director John Lacroix and HPRS community guests Carey Martin, and "Ketchup" Joe Von Bokern. The show is full of laughs, fun, and HPRS news snippets. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 35 we share the audio from a HPRS Town Hall held last week, where we reveal the final activated recommendations of the HPRS Focus Group, outlining the path FORWARD for HPRS.

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 34 HPRS owner and race director John Lacroix welcomes Jason Keith to the program. Jason is a trail and ultramarathon runner who works and volunteers his time towards public land policy with the AMGA, Access Fund, and Runners for Public Lands. In this episode, we learn about a new proposal from the USFS centered around "Cost Recovery" and how this new rule stands to shakeup trail and ultra in a HUGE way.

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 33 HPRS owner and race director John Lacroix welcomes HPRS runners and volunteer Cade Hanson to the program. We get to know Cade and his journey into ultra running, his experience at the 2023 Stories Ultra, more about his professional background in video then take a deep dive into the HPRS Focus Group. The HPRS Focus Group just wrapped up their work over the last few months to help steer the HPRS ship into new waters. Cade was a vital piece to that group and is here to discuss more about what was discovered and what is yet to come. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 32 HPRS owner and race director John Lacroix discusses the level of "burn out" he experienced in Late 2022/Early 2023 that almost led to his retiring as a race director, and sale of HPRS. Instead, the path forward was found in the new HPRS Focus Group. A live show was hosted on March 30th with Focus Group members Matt Stoub and Stephen Wilfong-Oliphant and we share the audio from that show for this episode. This is the start of revealing the future of HPRS and the path our series will take in that one direction we all know, FORWARD. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 31 we welcome Kevin, a runner who took on the Stories Ultra 15-Hour this February to discuss the answer to the question on the back of his bib, "How do you remain hopeful in challenging circumstances." An 8th grade teacher, Kevin gives us a brief dive into the psychology of being a teacher in a world where violence is far too prevalent. Also, a brief look into the HPRS Future Preservation Focus Group. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 30 we welcome HPRS community member Tim Leach to talk about their experiences in running. In this episode we talk about Tim's journey going from a stay at home dad who hadn't run any kind of race in years, to working his way through the distances at HPRS all the way to finishing his 1st 100-miler at the Sangre de Cristo Ultras. Tim is our 2022 HPRS Rookie of the Year. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 29 we welcome HPRS runner and volunteer KP Hartman to talk about their experiences in running as a non-binary person. In this episode we tackle the Western States Endurance Run's controversial new transgender and non-binary runner policies; specifically looking at the lacking research required for WSER to be able to adhere to their policies without being discriminatory. We discuss HPRS' policies and the general issues of inclusivity and intolerance within the sport of trail and ultra. This is a not-to-be-missed episode!

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 28 HPRS owner and race director John Lacroix brings validity to his State of Our Sport Address from a month ago by discussing the current realized trends in Colorado trail and ultra one month in to the new year. Then, he switches gears and tells the tale of what went down behind the scenes to get the Franklin Mountains Trail Runs to happen. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 27 HPRS owner and race director John Lacroix narrates his 2023 State of Our Sport Address, as well as his Review of the 2022 Colorado Ultra Scene. In this year's address John explains why he feels the State of Our Sport is currently "Critical." Issues include a massive decline in volunteerism, rising costs of entry, an oversaturated and hostile market, and a cultural shift highlighting our sport's intolerance issue are all discussed with data and sources to support the narrative.

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 26 we welcome HPRS runner Stefan Schuster to discuss Ultra Cults. A cult is a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing. While ultra running in and of itself can be considered a cult, there are numerous cults within the sport itself and in this episode we list them out!

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 25 we welcome HPRS runner Stefan Schuster to discuss his journey into thru hiking. We also talk about fast packing and how backpacking experiences cross over into ultrarunning as an exceptional way to train.

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 24 we welcome HPRS Assistant Race Director Emily Royal as our special guest host to discuss the life cycle of an ultra, more specifically the rise and fall of The Razorback Running Revival. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 23 we welcome HPRS runner Stefan Schuster as our special guest host to discuss how running affects our romantic relationships, and our friendships. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 22 we welcome HPRS runner Stefan Schuster as our special guest host to discuss running and mental health; how running helps us appreciate life and become better individuals. 

Take a run with The Human Potential Running Series podcast. For Episode 21 we welcome HPRS runner Stefan Schuster as our special guest host to discuss the difference between being a runner versus being an athlete, and what being healthy really means.