There are two kinds of fear: the kind that keeps you alive — and the kind that keeps you from living. In this final episode of Awake Athlete: The Road to El Cruce, I share what it was like to stand on the starting line in Argentina after 27 weeks of becoming — confident, grounded, and deeply ready. Not because nothing could go wrong, but because I trusted what I would do with whatever came up. We talk about the intelligence of life itself — and the willingness to feel all feelings and experience all experiences as the true gateway to transformation. I reflect on the electric energy of Argentinian culture, the unexpected gift of the language barrier, and why being unable to understand the words around me created a rare clarity and inner stillness. I walk through my strategy for each stage, the mantras that carried me, and the failsafe mindset I return to again and again — in racing and in life — as an antidote to overwhelm and fear. We explore what fueled a fluid, responsive mind on the trail, and why readiness is not about certainty, but about trust. This episode isn’t about what happened to me out there. It’s about how I met it. And why that way of meeting life is available to all of us.

On this narrowing road to El Cruce, I’m living in the unfiltered experience of me—the place where clarity breathes louder than chaos. In this episode, I explore the moments that can’t be measured, tracked, or posted… only felt. I open up about my greatest fear—not the unknown, but the soul-level terror of staying the same—and how this season has called me again and again into deeper alignment, deeper truth, and deeper self-trust. As the countdown to Patagonia speeds up, I reflect on the year, the training, the warrior mind skills being sharpened daily, and answer listener questions that keep calling me forward: Why do I continue walking toward the edge? What draws me to these unknowns? And what shifts when I choose me over the need to belong? I share stats on the race and how my mental prep is evolving, along with the integration of practices that allow me to show up steady, sovereign, and ready. I close this episode in the place I keep finding myself lately—the quiet center where I remember who I am and what I’m here to do.

Coming back from altitude rocked me in unexpected ways. This episode explores what it means to move forward without forcing — to release the need for hero workouts and align with the deeper rhythm of training, trust, and truth. I share the honest reality of returning from altitude, what I’m trusting now, and how the plan evolves from here as El Cruce draws near. I dive into the truth of “should,” the science and expansion of visualization, and the only time in life we truly have free will. This is about training the mind as intentionally as the body and living from a place of aligned action in all things. I hope you enjoy the show.

Altitude exposes truth — physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this episode, BJ Gumkowski joins me to break down my recent altitude training trip to Colorado — the planning, the purpose, and the push. We explore how I prepared for this trip while still recovering from my fall, how I trained for an ultra through a triathlete’s lens, and what it means to hold the mindset of *what can I do?* even when the path isn’t clear. BJ and I unpack the power of the mind, the art of recovery, and the mistakes athletes often make in the final stretch before a big event. I share the truth of what I felt after coming home and the patience required to let fitness integrate. Expect honesty, humility, and a real look into the process of training for El Cruce — altitude, fatigue, clarity, and all.

The past four weeks have been nothing like I planned. One fall shifted my training, forced me into patience, and gave me a whole new window of clarity. It’s shown me that risk and consequence always travel together — and real strength is in how we meet the outcome, not just the leap. It’s shown me the danger of waiting too long, of holding out for perfect conditions that never come. And it’s reminded me that trust — in the body, in the process, in myself — is not optional. It’s the path. My return has not been reckless. It's been practiced surrender, and empowered movement. Hope you enjoy it!

Sometimes the clearest window opens when life drops an obstacle in your path. My fall brought a new training plan—not one I designed, but one I was given. And inside it, I’ve been handed lessons I couldn’t script: trust, surrender, and the courage to experience consequences without fear. In this episode, I share: – Why consequences aren’t negative, and how they carry us forward – The process of trust: what it looks like to live it instead of just talk about it – How surrender evolves over time—not giving up, but putting down the fight – Creating the best environment for healing, even when “everything is not good” – Nullifying doubt and seeing what’s here without distortion This isn’t easy, but it is clear. Every action leads to evolution. And in the practice of trust and surrender, everything resolves to good.

The middle is where growth takes root. It’s not flashy like the start or triumphant like the finish, but it’s where durability, patience, and true resilience are forged. In this episode, I explore the mental and emotional terrain of being halfway — in training, in ultras, and in life. I share a breath technique to slow down, the practice of meeting the edge without recklessness, and how to keep yourself awake to progress instead of slipping into autopilot. The middle is not monotony. It’s the forge. This is where inspiration is born, where the nervous system learns durability, and where the real joy — the dopamine — is found in the process itself.

The stages for El Cruce have been released. The profiles are no longer an idea in my mind — they’re reality on paper. And that reality demands durability. I’m reflecting on two gnarly ultras I’ve done and the lessons that will carry me through these days in the Andes. I’m also awake to the moments when I’ve underestimated sections of a race, because this middle stage looks relentless. When the map drops, panic can creep in. The mind might want to hit the throttle hard, but there’s a choice to be made: do I let panic become a magnet pulling me into scarcity, or a motivator that sharpens my focus? In this episode, I share how I’m reading the course, regulating my nervous system, and doing the mental reps to stay in my power. I talk about the risk of writing the “not enough” story — and why meeting the course from a place of trust might just be the strongest move you can make.

In this episode of The Road to El Cruce, I’m diving into the art of restraint in endurance training — and why holding back can be just as powerful as pushing forward. I share a recent experience that landed me in what I call the “strange pocket” — that place where you want to do more, should yourself into believing you need to do more, but know deep down the best move is to stick to the plan. From the constant dissatisfaction of the mind, to the quiet strength of no longer needing to prove you’re tough, this episode explores: -The question every athlete should ask to keep training on point -The “secret training” technique I almost indulged-A practical breath tool that drops you out of the noise and into clarity -How to build mileage safely without overloading your system -The deeper work of being in true partnership with your body and your goal If you’ve ever wrestled with the urge to do just a little more, this episode is your reminder that more isn’t always better. Sometimes the greatest endurance is knowing when to step back. 🎧 Listen now and see what unfolds when you trust the plan.

The adventure is going — and it’s not just about the workouts. This season of training is about syncing up with the rhythm of my body, my mind, and the mission ahead. Because endurance isn’t just built in the legs — it’s built in your internal state. Inspired by a moment from the Tour de France, I explore what it means to get your body into the mindset — to set your inner frequency before the work begins. We don’t wait for the start line to wake up. We prepare the body, the mind, and the spirit to be ready. In this episode: How my training is unfolding right now Tour de France team radio + the mindset of readiness Why visualization works Modern science meets ancient wisdom Skill in action: training your cells, not just your body The two ideal companions to endurance training Syncing up with the rhythm so you don’t miss what you’re ready for This one’s for anyone learning that mastery isn’t just in the grind — it’s in the presence, the alignment, and the inner state of go. 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.