Latest / Reimagine Running / Reimagine Running | Interview with Melody and Jacob Bateman S1E31
Transcript
- Jacob Bateman: The reason I do these things is because I love it. And I used to think it needed to be like a much bigger, like deeper, meaningful why. It and of course those whys still exist. I love helping people run races. I I love watching people finish their first hundred mile race. It's so fulfilling. It's so fun putting on these races and watching people cross the finish line and their their kids run with them through the finish line and their families there with posters and it's so fulfilling. It's so awesome. And I just genuinely love it. And I think It's taken me time in my life to realize the importance of doing things that you love. Like you need to take time to just do things that fill your bucket. Coach Ryan Head: Running is a strange thing. Some people find it on the sidewalk at sunrise. Some find it deep in the mountains chasing daylight. And some of us find it when life feels heavy and running is the only thing that makes sense. For some, starts with the 5k. For others, it's a marathon. And for a few, it's a hundred miles that changes everything. But somewhere between the first step and the finish line, something happens. Running stops being about pace or distance or medals. It becomes about purpose. I'm your host Ryan Head. And this is Reimagine Running, the podcast dedicated to talking about why we run. Each episode, we'll sit down with runners from every background, trail runners, road runners, beginners, veterans, and talk about their journey. Not just where they've run, but why they run. Because for many of us, running didn't just change our fitness. It helped us find clarity, healing, discipline, hope, and sometimes even ourselves. Whether your why was born on a short loop around the block or somewhere deep inside a long, lonely mile. This podcast is for you. Welcome to re-imagine running. Ryan Head: Alright, everybody, welcome back to Reimagine Running, the podcast talking about why we run. I am so excited. As I've told you guys, we're coming to the end of the season. We're just wrapping up the last few episodes We'll eventually come back. It won't be too long. Season two is gonna be on its way for sure, but I'm super excited for this episode for many reasons. most importantly, the two people who got me into podcasting originally are I get to have them on now today as my guests. but more importantly, We've become great friends over the years. they have seen me truly in my highest moments, and they have seen me in my darkest moments. these Two have been people that I have truly come to love. They mean a lot to me. And they have just been wonderful individuals. They're doing wonderful things. It's been cool to see as they had their podcasts and as they continue to evolve, not just front their podcast, but also into races, to 100 milers, 50k's, 50 milers. also seeing their family members be doing races. It's just been cool to see their impact, not just on me, but many people around them. So, without further ado, I'm excited to bring the Trail to 100 crew on today. Jacob and Melody Bateman. They are some of my favorite people. Again, just an honor to have both of them because they've been instrumental. Truly, they helped give me the idea. Idea to start my own podcast, this wonderful reimagined running. So, Jacob Millody, welcome to the podcast, guys. Jacob Bateman: That was quite the intro. Thank you. Man, you're gonna get me emotional before I even say a word there. I've already filled all the the lovey feelings. No, we're we're happy to be here. It's it's fun to finally be a guest on your podcast, Ryan, because you are a six-time I think it's six time guests on the Trail to One Hundred podcast. So I'm not a podcast more than anybody else. Basically I what are we at? I think we're around a hundred and fifty episodes or something like that. So man, that's at least what five percent of our episode. Ryan Head: It's like three percent of three, four percent. Jacob Bateman: But still, that's pretty dang good. Your name is Ryan Head: It is pretty good. It is pretty good. Jacob Bateman: probably mentioned in about a quarter of the episodes at minimum. Ryan Head: I know ever since like twenty twenty what was that, twenty twenty-three and then yeah, all the times we got to run together and stuff. But yeah, it's Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: been awesome. Well no, you guys, and that's I mean, honestly, I know I'm like, I gotta play catch up with you guys now, so I gotta I gotta bring you guys on a few times and you guys have just a wealth of knowledge and that's what you know I think is so cool about both of you. You both have just done amazing things in the running community, on the running community. you both have been able to promote races, you've both been able to really bring you know as I've talked to multiple people just and and we'll get to it you know as we talk through this podcast but just the races you guys are hosting and and the difference you guys are making in so many people's lives is just incredible so I think it's awesome just excited to have both of you so before we jump into it with both of them as always throw a big shout out to Fleet Feed our premier sponsor for the podcast if you guys have any shoe needs gear needs nutrition needs they can help you with all kinds of different stuff. I'm one of their coaches as well, go see those guys in Layton or Ogden, they'll get you taken care of. all right, guys, I'm so excited. You know, before we jump into it, I just want to tell a little bit about both Jacob and Melody as I've got to know them over the years. But, you know, as I've got to know them over the past, you know, three, four years, five years, whatever it's been, you know, Jacob has has just been this awesome, really down-to-earth person who is just a hard worker. you know, I've seen him just do wonderful things, not just in his personal life, but also professional life. And and just, I've seen him in dark moments on his races. I was able to be there for him on Wyoming Range 100. I helped him to Scout Mountain 100. Which I did this year, he was my inspiration for that. but also in that same sense, just seeing Melody. I mean, Melody, you've been amazing with not only your races, and I always say to Jacob, I can't wait for the day for you to do the Wasach 100 because I think you will top 10 finish. That's what I honestly believe. we talked about this when me and him ran the course just recently, but you know, I think your perseverance, your dedication to just everything you do in life, and you know, like you're a great mom. I mean, I've seen the love that you have for your family. family and you know especially on social media and so you guys are just cool two awesome amazing people you're truly like a power couple in my mind and not just in running but in just life in general and and it's really cool. I mean I hate that you guys live up in Evanston but I'm grate also grateful that you found a place you guys feel is like home but no hate on it Jacob Bateman: Don't hate on don't hate on Evanston. No, no. Evanston it actually Evanston's terrible. Don't move here. worst Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: Right, right, yeah, worst place ever. Everyone Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: listening to this. All you Utah's listening to this. Don't even think about crossing the border. But but cross Ryan Head: Yeah, that's awesome. Jacob Bateman: the border to come to our races. That's it. That's it. That's it. You can come visit. No, thanks, Ryan. Anyways. That's all really nice. You make us sound a lot better than we are, I think. Ryan Head: Yeah. Yeah. There you go. That's awesome. Yeah. Yeah. whatever. Jacob Bateman: If this is what a power Ryan Head: Whatever. Jacob Bateman: couple is, then I hope everyone knows that being a power couple means a lot of days of struggle. Yeah. Ryan Head: But that's that's the joy of it, right? Like that's that's life in general, so that's that's awesome. But w Jacob Bateman: No, I I actually love that compliment though, because when we were dating we used to have these they're they're like these power bracelets, do you remember? I think they were the balance power balance bracelet or something like that. We used to wear those bracelets and we were like one day we're gonna be a power couple, so that's always what it reminds me of anyways. Yeah. Ryan Head: I love it. I love it. That's awesome. That's super cool. well, you know, like I like I do with everybody before we get into talking anything running related, I've always wanted I one day I'm gonna do an episode that won't be running related at all. I want it to just be random, just whatever. We can talk basketball, football, I don't even care, computers, Star Wars, I don't even care. The hour talk, yeah. Jacob Bateman: Star Wars Star Bring me on for the Star Wars one. Ryan Head: Exactly. I need to have like a round table about that. But what I always like to ask every guest that I have on and love to hear from both of you on this, what is something you're passionate about outside of running? it can't be running related here just for a moment. What is something you are passionate about that's not running related? Jacob Bateman: Well if we're talking hobbies, I Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: practice Kenpo karate. I just got my second degree black belt this year and I teach kickboxing at the local gym here, so I really like kicking and punching and martial arts. Ryan Head: that's awesome. That's super cool. Huh. Yeah, you and Joe who paces me a lot. you guys are very similar in that way. She was very big into it when she lived back east. So yeah, she's she's really, really into it. I always tell people I'm like, if she has a stick, I wouldn't mess with her. She's probably more dangerous with a stick than most people are with like a knife or something. I mean she's dangerous. Yeah, you should. Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. Jacob Bateman: Like to meet her. She sounds awesome. Same same with Melody. My mind kinda went to something I haven't done in years, but you just said something I feel passionate about. But I guess I I grew up working at scout camps every summer as a youth and it went on into my college years to where I worked every summer at camps. It was like twelve summers total, I think, that I was able to to be out there on in the mountains and this also probably plays a role into what got me in the trail running just living in the mountains every summer. but yeah, I I I loved I the Boy Scouts helped formed me, especially working at camps in the summer. It helped give me a love for outdoors. It also taught me a lot about service. taught me a lot about hard work. Those days were basically six AM to ten PM all summer long and which I think about a lot of that and I there's a lot of crossover that w leads and the trail running that I learned, but just taught me also just about loving people as you're you step away from technology and and you're in the mountains and you're just with the these same like sixty people all summer long, face to face contact every day, living with them and so I loved that that kind of thing and and every summer whenever it starts warming up and I get in the mountains I always find myself Melody sees it where I just start talking about camp a lot and things like that and and just reminiscing about the good times working at Scout Camp. In fact we have the Boy Scout motto mantra. What do you call it? Oath? Yeah, the Boy Scout Oath and Law. Yeah. Giant Schofield Scout Camp flag that hangs up Ryan Head: Let's go. Jacob Bateman: in our bed. The thing is literally like ten by four feet. Like it's huge. It takes yeah, Ryan Head: That's Jacob Bateman: Melody's not lying. It's the entire wall it takes up. So luckily I have my wife who It goes to the bedroom, not the living room. I mean, but still I feel like most people's wives wouldn't let them hang up a a a forty foot sized flag that takes up a whole wall and says Schofield Scout Camp on it and the giant Boy Scout logo and and anyways, so I married the I married the right person for me. Ryan Head: Yeah, my wife would not. Yeah, you you did 'cause My wife would not be okay with that. Like she'd be like, not gonna happen. I I actually Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Yeah. Ryan Head: have a from my LDS mission, I did my mission in in Houston, Texas, and Galveston, Texas is a is a part of that area. And anyways, I would there's a pirate shop down there of all things. And I was like, I gotta buy something from the pirate shop while I was down there one day and and I bought a pirate flag. It's like the Jolly Roger, like, you know, crossbones and everything. And she's like, That's never going in our house. So it hangs in our garage. I have it hanging in my garage, but she's like Don't ever bring that in the house. I'm like, it's cool. It's like it's a jolly bronzer. Like it's a pirate flag. She's like, nope, don't ever bring that in here. So Jacob Bateman: In her defense, I don't know if you were into pirates, I don't know if I'd be okay with that in the grandhouse. Ryan Head: That's awesome. You know, honestly I'm not either. Like I'm not like excit like I'm like my gosh pirates are cool, but it's just a cool flag. I'm like, it's kinda cool. Jacob Bateman: I get it. I had actually a pirate flag that I used in a scout camp skit. And I I hung that flag up in my room when I was in high school because I'm like, I'm not into pirates, but that that flag was cool. Skull Ryan Head: Heck yeah, man. Jacob Bateman: and crossbones and the Ryan Head: yeah. Jacob Bateman: bandana thing and eye patch and yeah. Yeah. Ryan Head: It's cool dude. It's yeah. I I get it, but yeah, that's funny. That's really cool. That's interesting about both of you. And and honestly, you know, going back to what you both have said, like, you know, Jacob, I know that had a huge impact on you, and I know we've talked about that multiple times just when we've like ran together and everything, 'cause scouts was really important to me as well. And I'll always say that. I think, truthfully, that's what really got me into loving like the outdoors and running. Like my parents would take us camping all the time. We were always camping as kids, but usually entailed just like like craziness and chaos and everything with family so you know it is what it is but but scouts was always just so fun and our leaders were so committed and dedicated and and I still remember I I I always talk about this experience where we did our fifty mile trek to get our our the big mirror badge you know I forget what it was called Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: but the fifty miler and I remember like on some of those trails and they're basically almost like the Great Western Trail, just I I don't think it is. I think it was called the Old Spanish Trail. old Spanish Fork yeah something trail down there in in Spanish Fork and it went all the way down to Fish Lake and I remember being like Jacob Bateman: It's awesome. Yeah. Ryan Head: Yeah, at the time I hated it, right? Because I was fourteen years old and I'm like, this is stupid, middle of summer, you're out there walking, then we're upsane at night, and you're afraid we're gonna get attacked by bears or wolves or something, you know, whatever you imagine in your fourteen year old brain. But then yeah, like I like to think back on I'm like, dude, that's why I like ultra running now. I love like that game of being out there and I'm like, dude, it's just like this is fun. Anyways, so Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: I get ya. Hundred percent get ya. So Jacob Bateman: Yeah, doing something like that in your youth. I don't know, it's making me like I listened to a podcast with Killian Korth recently, who won Cocodon two fifty, obvious really good and you know, ultra runner out there. and he talked about when he was in his youth, or no, when he was just like eight, his parents like put him on a tandem bicycle and biked him, hadn't you know, and he was helping pedal obviously and biked him from like Colorado to Washington one summer. Ryan Head: Holy crap. Jacob Bateman: Yeah. This is the podcast. He's on it, Sally McRae's podcast. Yeah, he did it with Sally. Told that story. Ryan Head: wow. Jacob Bateman: It's really interesting. He talks about how formative that was to him to do some like like a long Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: you know endurance event as a kid and and how much he learned on it and how big it impacted him. Like you talk about your fifty mile hike, like that's huge when you're Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: a youth to do something like that. Then the thing that's like where's the balance between pushing your kids. This is just my mom brain, you know, going here like pushing Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: your kids versus you don't want to make them hate it, you know? Because Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: I have some friends who will never hike or camp because their parents forced them to and now it's the worst thing ever, you know. But anyways. Ryan Head: Yeah. No, y you you you're a hundred percent right. And that's funny, this is a good transition to just talk about running, but it's funny that you say that because that's what we deal with right now with our daughters, 'cause we're like we haven't game being coached for like for softball and both my daughters are pretty talented. My older one's really she has some great potential, but we we have to be careful because when we start to force them to go practice every day, they get really irritated and bugged. And so you have to just like there's this balance we're like, Well, how bad do you guys want it? And that's what we have to remind them. We're like, listen, we don't care If you don't do it, like honestly, I don't care if you don't. I would prefer you don't because it's one less thing we have to worry about each week: getting you to coaches and getting you to games and all this other jazz. but if you want it, how you know what are you willing to do? But like you said, it cements that legacy, kind of like what you said, Jacob. I like how it cements it in someone's head that, like, like it all of a sudden you break down these boundaries of like what you can and can't do. Because you know, right like going 50 miles in the mountains, I never thought I could do that, and all of a sudden we're doing that over a week, and I'm like, whoa, I just didn't. It's 50 miles, like how's that even possible? Think about what that was for Killian, right? Like he bikes whatever it is, whatever how many miles it is, and it's like yeah, Jacob Bateman: Over a thousand plus miles, yeah. Ryan Head: and all of a sudden that that barrier that he had in his head that he can't do this, and like we've talked about this, I think, on your guys' episode, like where like my mind when I completed Wasach for the first time, it went from I can't to I can, right? There was it was like it was something clicked where I was like, my gosh, like this is now possible. Because I used to think, I don't know if I'm ever really gonna get to finish this. Like I know when we talked on my very first episode with you two, we talked about this where I was talking about Antelope Island and my mindset going into Antelope Island in 2023 was if I can make it 70 miles, I'm gonna feel good with that. And I remember, Melody, when you coached me, you were kind of like, no, you can't have that mindset. You gotta either be completely locked in or let's not do this. Like, you gotta be locked in. And that changed my whole mindset. Is like even now as I'm getting ready to do Wasatch next week, it's like I've already made up my mind. I'm gonna finish the race. Now it's right, you have to be you have to be smart and not do anything stupid, but you you gotta be prepared for what could possibly happen. So it's just crazy. It's funny. It's funny to think back about some of those old memories that we have, all of us together. So yeah. Jacob Bateman: Isn't that interesting? And I I don't mean Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: to like stray way too far in this podcast. I just I just had this Ryan Head: No, you're good. Jacob Bateman: thought as we talked about our kids and we don't wanna push them, we don't wanna force them, but we wanna encourage them. I feel like we need to do the same thing with ourselves. Like we parent ourselves Ryan Head: Heck yeah. Jacob Bateman: as adults, right? And we if we are pushing ourselves and forcing ourselves to get out there every day, then we're gonna make ourselves hate it, versus if if we're you know, giving ourselves grace and we're talking positively in our heads and we're encouraging ourselves to get out there and we're remembering why we're doing what we're doing and and we're doing it out of love for the sport instead of forcing ourselves to do it. I feel like I feel like that's just something important to remember. Like we're parenting we're parenting ourselves too and we need to be careful with with ourselves as well. Ryan Head: Yeah. Beautifully said. Wow. Love that quote. That was perfect. Amazing. people, write that one down. That was really good because a lot of times I think we forget about ourselves, and then when cr things creep in, that's when things can go sideways. So love it. Thanks, Melody. I actually 100% agree with you on that. So cool. Well, I'll throw the first question I throw at everybody. Well, the second question I throw at everybody, and both of you would love to hear your guys' responses to this is when did running kind of first both enter your guys' lives? And I'm sure I your guys' early episodes of your podcast, you guys talked about this. And really where I'd love to hear, you know, not so much like, you know, I'm sure in junior high or elementary you probably started running. We all were forced to do it. And a a lot of times for us it was just painful and you hated it. But when did it start to mean something more than just going and do an exercise? Jacob Bateman: gosh. That's a to that when did it start meaning more than just exercise? Well, I guess I started willfully running when I was in high school and not not in any competitive atmosphere. so I moved during my freshman year from Idaho to Oklahoma. So big culture shock. Moved from like suburbia, you know, town. My high school has like over 500 kids in it to middle of nowhere sticks, like only had one neighbor, lived across the street, you know, like and we had acreage, they had acreage and anyways, High school actually was pretty miserable for me, like legitimately miserable. And I just I was into sports and sports wasn't working out. I got cut, la di da, you know, from the basketball team and and I I don't know. I just like started getting out on my country road one day. I think it was mainly out of just like not having much to do, feeling low and just feeling like I should get out and do something. and so I just would run to the end of County Road twenty seven ten was the name of it. And I'd run to the end and back and It turned to dirt at one point even and there'd be a gate that it ended at and I would go pee at the gate and then then anyways run back. and so I have no problem with going pee out on the trails anyways. But it would it it I quickly found like, you know, that I felt better. after I did that. It was like a mile and a half, that I would do. It was like point seven five to the gate and then back. And felt better and then there was a guy that I met in my church who he was older, probably like mid thirties, you know, I'm like sixteen and he told me that he was running and so I was like, Yeah, can I come with you? And so he invited me and I remember running seven a seven mile loop with him out, you know, middle of nowhere roads one day. And just like when we got to mile five and I was still going, I felt so high, like, whoa, like are you serious? Like, cause we literally got to the next Town over. I'm like, we seriously ran from Elgin to Fletcher. Are you kidding me? Like, you know, just super jacked up about it. And and then from there, it was I was always running to a point. Like, I never thought I'd run a race, but I found relief, and it wasn't just the exercise, but I knew knew there was a mental relief and a mental lift that came from it. So that's where. it was more than just exercise. I guess immediately it was more than just exercise for me. Ryan Head: That's cool. Yeah, thanks for sharing that. Yeah, Melody. I'd love to hear kinda when it changed for you. Jacob Bateman: I really liked the fitness aspect of it. I liked feeling good. I liked being in shape. I liked being with my friends. I didn't handle the pressure of track very well. I definitely grew up a perfectionist and if I didn't get first place I just beat myself up and put way too much pressure on myself and that's something that I still, you know, am always kind of dealing with in my head. I'm sure a lot of runners can relate to that. running changed for me in college because all of a sudden I didn't have a coach screaming in my face and I didn't have this pressure to win a race. I just started running just to be in shape and I have this specific memory that I probably think of on a weekly basis, where I was running it it was the summer and I was back at home for the summer and I was running on this road that I used to walk to. or I used to walk on To and from school, and it was like four in the morning because back then I was really ambitious and woke up that early to run for no reason, anyways. And I just remember like the moon was full, and I was listening to Lady Antebellum on my iPod, and I just was like, it was just this like runner's high, I just felt so good, and I feel like that was the moment actually that I fell in love with running and our story. If you've ever listened to our podcast we we talk about our story there quite a bit but that's how we both got into it and then we met each other and started running together and that's when it took on a whole new meaning for us is when we started running together. It went a whole nother level. Yeah. Ryan Head: Yeah, I'd well you Yeah, I and I know a little bit about that story, but why don't you guys share that story? I'd love for you guys to tell a little bit more about that because I know our listeners would love to hear. because obviously I've seen some of the pictures, I've seen, you know anyways, I don't want to spoil it, but yeah, tell us more about that with you guys. Jacob Bateman: yeah, so we met each other, started dating, and we were dating after Yeah, and we were both into fitness and I was actually signed up for a Spartan race at the time. I had never ran well I'd never ran a race further than a five K at that point. and like an official race. Yeah, yeah. And so I remember Melody and I like I I signed up for the Spartan out of sh being basically peer pressured by my sister in law to do it with her and my brother. like I I didn't like have any drive to like go. Yeah, basically get in shape 'cause I was single and I wanted wanted an attractive girlfriend, you know? Exactly. And and I Ryan Head: Yeah, sure, sure, sure. Ain't no wrong though. Jacob Bateman: remember when Melody and I started dating, I remember going on a walk with her, like around the block and us talking about like marathon runners and we're like, Yeah, we could never do that. Like you you remember this. Yeah. Like it it's That's way too much time. Yeah, yeah, like like like yeah, we like fitness, but no way are we gonna dedicate that much time. We were always adamant about not being labeled as runners. Yeah. Like we even after we ran our first marathon, we were like, Yeah, but we're still not runners. Yeah, you know. And then you had a free you had run a few events at that point though. Yeah, I'd done a couple of five Ks. Yeah. And you had a free two free entries to a a marathon. The Morgan Valley Marathon, because I'd volunteered at it. Yeah. And you called me up one day and were like, What should sho what should we do? Should we do like the half and like We both knew at that time 'cause we were running like eight miles regularly and like we were like, Yeah, we could do the half, like for sure. And I remember just thinking, like, why not challenge ourselves? Like, just go for the big dog. And at this point we'd been dating for like three months. Yeah. So it was still pretty early in our relationship. But You you were down and we're like, let's you were I I think I actually wanted to do the full. But you know, we talked about how runners are crazy and I didn't want to come across crazy and be like, Hey, we should do the full Yeah. So when you were like, No, we should do the full I was like, Okay, yeah, we should definitely do the full. So we that was our dating life. basically After that, yeah. After that we didn't go to restaurants or movies or bowling, like we just went on long runs together and So we saw each other at our lowest right off the bat. We would go different places to run and score adventure. Yeah. It was the challenge. Anyways, so I I'm sorry I don't need to take over. I just get excited about but anyways, so we ran this marathon. And, you know, we talked about are we gonna run it together or separately? We But we never made a decision until in the race. We we took it at our own paces. Yeah. Jacob I ran like the first two or three miles with you and then I was I got antsy and I'm like, I wanna I wanna see how fast I could do this thing. I'm sorry, Val. Yeah, I wasn't offended, it was fine. Yeah. And we both were happy other time, so it's a really great experience. Ryan Head: Yeah, that is awesome. Anyways, that's really cool to hear kind of what your guys' journey was because obviously at this point I didn't know you guys. and obviously as I've listened to some of your old episodes of your podcast, it's been cool to hear what that story is, where you guys came from, how you guys got into running. obviously, Jacob, you told me it multiple times about that. But it's cool to see that progression and how running helps shape your guys' journey, if you will, and really get you guys like, okay, you do a marathon, you know, you guys do a half marathon, then you do a full marathon, like all the crazy adventure that happens there. I mean, so many people follow this same process, but you know, because A lot of our listeners right now are very similar to you guys. what would be one bit of advice that you'd give someone who is in that progression right now? That, like you guys talked about, whether it's they're at the half marathon and they're going to the full, or they're the full to they want to jump into trails and do a 50 miler or What would what what what bit of advice would you give someone that's in that progression and they're like, dude, I'm gonna be doubling my mileage here very soon? Like how am I gonna pull this off? Jacob Bateman: One of the first things I tell people, like if you've never done a marathon before or a fifty before, the first time is always the scariest. And maybe maybe some people disagree with me, but walk. You know that Ryan Head: Amen. Jacob Bateman: you like you can walk. When you're tired, just walk. And the trick is to just keep going and you'll get there. And I've noticed that that eases anxiety in a lot of people 'cause there's this like for some reason you think, this is a race. I'm not allowed to walk. But you really you can walk whenever I was having a conversation with someone a few weeks ago and he was like, you know, I love biking, but I just can't get into running and he's like the thing with biking is like when you go down hills or like if you need a break you can just coast. And I'm like, it's really the same thing with running. Like if you're tired and you need a break, you can literally just walk whenever. And I feel like that takes a lot of pressure off. So that's that's a little a little tip that I would give. Ryan Head: Yeah, and I really love that because I can't tell how many times I've told people because you know, like when you hear people talk about marathons or running hundred miles, they really think you run the whole time. And I'm like, listen, Jacob Bateman: Right. Ryan Head: I didn't run one hundred percent on a road marathon until like three years ago. Every one of them before that was major walk breaks, like and lots of them. And I'm like, listen, like it's okay to walk. There's nothing wrong with walking. Like you were totally okay to do that. And I get it, like Some people are just fantastic athletes, but if you're like, I'm really nervous about this, it's giving me a lot of anxiety. If you get to mile 13 and you're just like, I need to like chill for a minute, then walk for a minute. I mean, heaven knows, like hundred milers are just hikes walking and eating a lot of food. That's really what they are. Yeah. Daniel. Jacob Bateman: We're really just speed hikers. Sometimes I feel like a poser when I say I'm a runner. I feel like I really am just a speed hiker. Ryan Head: Exactly. Exactly. Well, Jacob, yeah, what do you think? What what what bit of advice would you give to somebody like that's trying to make that transition from whatever it is, right? Mar half marathon to a marathon, fifty miler to a hundred K, 100 K to a hundred miler. What would you say to them? Jacob Bateman: I'd say a couple of things. First off I'd say you'd surprise yourself what what you can do Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: if if you just show up to the start line. Even when training doesn't go when does training ever go as planned? Rarely. Before you when you don't have kids. Then you can follow training plan religiously. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. That that. So outside of that, rarely does a training plan or what you want to do ever go a hundred percent how you want. but I would so I would say first off you can surprise yourself. You will surprise yourself if you just get out there and start showing up. and I don't know. Secondly though, you talk about that progression, like say like And it it it kinda like makes me laugh a little bit. I mean I'm not gonna tell you no. I'm never the guy to tell you. David Goggins did it, you know. Goggins did it, but Goggins was also a very fit navy SIL at that time. And he broke all the bones in his feet and had kidney failure. Yeah. and i exactly, and that's the thing. He broke all the bones in his foot, he had stress fractures all over, and he had kidney failure, had to go to the hospital emergency room after. So yes, if you wanna go run a hundred miles just ride on With with go right to it. Expect injuries to happen. It's just but so be patient with yourself though. And and like it's a journey and like a part of me almost feels like we went a little too fast. We did. Yeah. Yeah. And I I'm a little jealous of like like Melody's dad, Mark Collister. He's been on our podcast a lot and and he had a great progression. He like did half marathon one time. He's been so strategic and methodical about it. Then he did like a couple Granted he's had us as his coaches, but But it couple fifty K's, then it led into a fifty miler. it was like a four or five year build up. And but which is really what it should be. And when he got that hundred though, it was so special. when he crossed the finish line. I got it's one of my f all time favorite running moments was being with him as he crossed that hundred mile finish line. And and so I guess I'm just saying be patient with yourself and each milestone is something huge to celebrate. So like just pick the next milestone and you'll you'll get there, you'll hit it, you'll surprise yourself. And there's nothing wrong with maybe you do your first fifty and maybe you stick with fifties for a couple of years. Like really nail down the fifty before you jump to a hundred. There's nothing wrong with that. There's no rush. But there is a point where you just know it's time. Yeah. And Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: you just got to you don't want to procrastinate it like if it really is a goal. Yeah yeah. Ryan Head: Yeah. I love that. I think the sound advice by both of you and be patient with yourself and and I like that, you know, because I was there for more when Mark, you know, obviously as you guys know, I was there when he did his hundred and and it was really cool because he just seemed so zoned in and locked in because he knew what to expect. He knew what was coming because he just had basically perfected the art to get to that point. And I thought that was was really cool because I remember being in the middle of the night and being like, Okay, I remember on my first hundred, like this is when stuff really went sideways for me. And I mean, right, of course, he's 60, 70 miles, whatever it was, into a race and he's starting to slow down. But he just kept plugging along. And I was like, yeah, man, like let's go, brother. Like this is good. Like you're doing great. And anyway, so it was just really cool to see that from him. you know, and and the other thing that, you know, like is, you know, I've kind of mentioned already on a few episodes, and you know, one thing, because people always ask, like, when are you doing your 200? And I always say to people, when I feel like I've got a hundred down really well. And when my daughters are grown up. I'm not doing it. I want Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Exactly. Ryan Head: to being a dad is really the most important thing to me right now. I love running. I'll always love running, but I want to be present. And yeah, I, you know, I remember me and Jacob used to talk about this all the time. I'm like, I'll never do a 200. My mind has changed, I'm not gonna lie. but those yeah, I Jacob Bateman: First time you said that to me. Ryan Head: Yeah, but I will do it. I know now that I will do it. It's just it's it's gonna be down the road and and I'm gonna be patient with it and I'll let it happen when it's meant to happen, but it's it's not anytime soon. So one question I wanna throw at you guys because obviously there's a lot of people in the same boat as you guys right now. And and I know Melody, it's not been as easy for you. Maybe Jacob, you have a little bit more experience with this one, but how have you been able to train while having little kids? How have you been able to pull this off? Because it's not e yeah, it's not easy. And I'm sure Jacob Bateman: Yeah. I love this question. Yeah. Ryan Head: you guys have answered this on your own ep podcast, but I we got listeners right now who are mm You know, I think I've never had someone that's really in the same stage that you two are in right now so far. Everyone's either past kids or they haven't had kids yet. You guys have little kids, you guys are pregnant obviously with your second right now. Like, how do you do this, guys? Because this is difficult. I know it's not easy. Jacob Bateman: It sometimes feels impossible. We're still figuring it out. Yeah. And Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: as I gosh, just little side story here. Like we we put on a trail race and and I had a guy email me because registration had closed and he sends me this email and he's like, Hey, I I know registration is closed, but I was wondering if there's any chance I could get in because I have, you know, like an eighteen month old kid and I've kind of thought trail running was I've temporarily giving it up with how crazy it's been with an eighteen month old. But my wife and my eighteenth month are out of town this weekend and I just thought it'd be so great to be able to do a trail race again. And you know, it just like pulled at my heart 'cause I'm like, I feel you, man. Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: So of course I got it, man. But but like that's like I everything you described, like I've I've felt those feelings because it feels impossible to train. I I don't know, like things I've done is I've accepted in my life like early morning is the only time I will ever get to to train before the family wakes up. that's for me. And which also kinda sometimes I feel a little bad because it means Melody can't ever train in the early morning. But we figured that works out better. So if I'm gonna train, it has to happen early morning. Last year I did do a hundred miler. And Travis was How old was he? He was almost he was he was eighteen months to two two year range then. and I would actually run to work. I was lucky enough that my work has a shower. So most of my weekly runs was just running to work and running back home. And it was like a five K to work, a five K home. And that's hard for you 'cause you like adventure. You don't like running the same route every day. And it also meant doing a lot of roads. even though there are there there are some trails I could take like cut over some hills. And things and really crappy trails, but anyways. but so that's what it did. And then it entailed trying to get ten to twenty miles. Anyways, and I would get like an early morning run in on Friday morning where I'd wake up at like around four AM, try to get like make basically ten to fifteen most of the time on the local trails, right where I could hit just out my front door. and then on like Saturdays I would try to get more up into the high mountains and get more vert in. And but it wasn't perfect by any means. And I and I guess I'm more I've just come to accept that I'm a low mileage runner, which means I will never well as long as this is now the for now, as long as this is happening, I'm never gonna be competitive. I'm just honestly setting out for most of these ultras just to try to finish them. then that's what my training is basically showing that I'm just trying to finish. and I do at work, I do I have like body weight exercises that Melody's made up for me. She's made up some plans. So I do often try to get in like about 20 to 30 minutes either at lunch or when there's dead spent time at work. I'll just like shut the door to my room that that I work in and I'll just, you know, start doing push-ups and bodyweight squats and and you know planks and doing that sort of thing to try to keep my, you know, 'cause I do Phil, you have to do strength work still. and so it's just basically I'm just getting by with the minimum. Squeezing it in, however you can. Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: Yeah. This is something Jacob's really good at this. If he sleeps in, which you know, sometimes you have a a rough night with the baby and nowadays, sometimes with the wife and and sometimes he doesn't get up and he doesn't get his workout in and instead of beating himself up, he just goes, Well, like, I just didn't get it in today and, you know, we'll just get it in tomorrow and He's done that with long runs too. when he was training for this hundred that he did last year, we had a a family vacation at one point and he didn't get all of the hours in. It was my big it was supposed to be my peak peak week. And and he just wasn't able to get it in. There was just too much going on. I went and did like a half like one of the mornings up in the mountain. You still got something in it. Yeah, and then like but I just felt like if I went out another morning and was gone like till noon, like it just cutting into family time. Yeah, yeah. It felt at that point it was too much. It like this was a special family reunion that I was just out on my own, you know, doing these long runs. Jacob's just really good at making those decisions, which makes it really easy for me, like when he wants to run a hundred, it makes it really easy for me to support him because he has always put family first and he's just really good with those decisions and, you know, he decided not to run that morning and he just gets whatever he can get in in and that's another thing is he's not this black and white thinker. It's not this all or nothing. Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: obviously getting a few hours in is better than the planned six hours or whatever was on the plan and he just does what he can and then race day comes and and then you just tow the start line and just hope for the best. But but honestly like your your training even though it's not like to a T following the plan, it's you always get it in. It's really solid. I still hit fifty miles some twice, I think, in that training plan. So like I know I was very intimidated to go after a hundred miles 'cause I thought it meant seventy mile weeks like every week. And so with me, it means thirty mile week on my low range on like easy weeks and fifty is like my hard peak weeks. And most of the time I'm in the forties. Yeah. Which is what you need to finish. So Ryan Head: That's awesome. That's awesome. Yeah. And I I I can't tell how many times I've told people, I'm like, listen, one of my best friends, I can tell you, if you're averaging about forty miles a week, you can finish 100. I know you can. And I and Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Yep. I agree Ryan Head: it's because you've lived this. And I I always share that with people. I'm like, listen, I yes, the more miles you can do, it's gonna make you faster, it's gonna make you stronger. I get all that, but I know forty miles can get you there. And it depends on the race and there's a lot of other stuff you Jacob Bateman: And Ryan Head: gotta consider, but yeah. Yep. Jacob Bateman: And the strategy and yeah. Now if it was my first hundred, I don't know if I would feel very good about that. Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: I I feel like a lot of the reason I am able to do this is because I now have the experience. I know kind of what goes Ryan Head: Yep. Jacob Bateman: into the hundred. And so 'cause there's such a big once you've done a hundred, there's just the mental load is such a big advan advantage, yes. Yeah. If I haven't Ryan Head: Yeah. Yeah. Jacob Bateman: done a hundred, I'd recommend you go a little harder than that. You know? 'Cause you got you have to get yourself mentally prepped, you know, and and if you show up to that start line just like, my gosh, I only ran forty mile weeks, I'm screwed, like it's gonna it's gonna toy with you during the race. Yeah. Ryan Head: totally. Well, and what I was gonna say is, you know, and and shout out to you guys on this, but like one thing I always recommend too is you know, if you're like, I really don't know how to feel comfortable with this. I've got a race here in three, four months, whatever. Hire a running coach. This is exactly what I did with Melody. you know, I remember I went on their podcast many years ago and I said, Running coach is never for me, I'd never do it. I can figure this out. But I didn't know what I didn't know, and I was absolutely terrified after DNFing. What to mean is an easier hundred and I know r each one's relative to each person but Antelope Buffalo 100 is relatively easier than Wasatch. and I remember being like if I can't finish that how am I even going to stand a chance you know going after one of the hardest hundreds in the United States in the continental United States. So that's why I I hired you we worked together it was awesome you got me across the finish line we did awesome there. Some little moments some fun moments with Jacob was there to to see all those but but it was it was really good and and that's what the beauty of it is. Like you said, can you do one by yourself? Yes, like the training plan you can do by yourself. But if you're just like I need someone who knows, you got you got two wonderful people. Jacob Bateman: yeah. Ryan Head: You got two wonderful people here that you should hire. They're great coaches and and I've, you know, fortunately been able to to work with them and and have them get me across multiple finish lines. Good. Jacob Bateman: to answer your question though, I think Melody has just something Melody did a fifty five K last year with twelve thousand feet of her. It was her first Ryan Head: Let's go. Jacob Bateman: ultra back from having our first baby. So you gotta talk about that 'cause the way Melody trained for that, that that blew me away. Well it's very un very unconventional. Ryan Head: Yeah, and I'm to and and a hundred percent. And trust me, I was gonna leave the witness and ask her to tell about the story because I Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: remember this story. But yeah, tell us about it, Melody, because it is impressive what you pulled off. What you pulled off there. Jacob Bateman: I I appreciate that. Yeah, yeah. What I've done, I've I've done. Whatever. Melody, the way she pulled that off, like to rain it down on say one experience is more impressive than the other. They're just they're very different experiences, you know. but i anyways I really went through an identity crisis after having a kid and I know that all of us, male and female, can relate to that. Especially since trail running it just had become our identity. That's you and as a couple and we weren't able to run together as a couple anymore 'cause we had a baby. And that it just changed everything. And Yeah, I just i it it's it still is this journey of trying to figure out like I feel like I just recently realize that I can still be an ultra runner even in in this phase of life. I've kinda gone through phases where I'm like, I don't know if I I can do this anymore. But but anyways with it was called the White Pine. It was fifty five K White Pine solstice. Fifty five K with thirteen thousand feet of climbing. And it's a race that I've seen Jacob finish a couple of times. I've always wanted to do it. It's close to home, which made it easier logistically And I a lot of my training was done in the gym. We have a a local gym here with a daycare. So I just got in the habit of dropping Travis off at the daycare and going to the gym for an hour a day. And that's usually all I had was an hour a day. And it this only worked if Travis wasn't sick, which was not very often, honestly, in when he was this age. So I drop him off the daycare and I would either do a fitness class or I'd go on the stair stepper. I did so much stair stepper, just hours and hours on the stair stepper. I also was teaching a kickboxing class at the time and so I was getting cardio and hit training in there and then Jacob would take Travis on the weekend so I could get some long runs in. and I didn't get a ton of long runs in. No, you only got like two or three like two or three like long runs. Real long runs. Yeah. Yeah. but yeah, most of my training was just done in the gym while Travis was in the daycare. And I was also lifting. I was doing yoga. I think lifting and yoga, I think those two things really, really saved my butt, just keeping my body healthy. And honestly it was the best race of my life. I l I literally have dreams. To this day I dream about running that race and just feeling those feelings again 'cause it just was so incredibly fun. And and that's the thing when you train well for a race and you also keep your nervous system in check because if you overtrain, if if you're experiencing Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: experiencing a lot of stress, which as a parent to really young kids, you experience a lot of stress. And so I I had to realize that I had to give myself a lot of grace and not push myself too hard, not force myself to get up at four o'clock in the morning. I needed the sleep. Travis wasn't a great sleeper at the time and so we weren't sleeping great. And anyway, so I just gave myself a lot of grace. I didn't beat myself up if I if I missed a workout or if I didn't get my full workout in. And a lot of my inspiration was from Jacob too. And I just got in what I could and it was an amazing race. But but when you get the training in, it it makes race day fun, you know. Yeah. So it yeah, it was a great experience. The stair stepper. I've never like I've Never really heard of anybody using the stair stepper as much as you you use that so much. 13,000 feet climbing, you know, because I was you weren't able to to to get out into the mountains a lot. And the stair stepper I think was just so because you slayed that race. I've done that race twice, and Melody beat my fastest time by like over 30 minutes, like 30, 45 minutes. I I do have to throw one more thing in. This I think this really helped too. I was Yeah, Ryan Head: Hmm. Heck yeah. Jacob Bateman: And that I my quads have never been so strong in my life. Honestly. That helped so much. You knew you were in a climbing race and you just imitated climbing it 'cause you couldn't get climbing right right where you were at in your phase of life. You couldn't just go to the mountains every day to get the climbing in. And so you imitated that with the stair stepper, with the lunges, the weighted vest, you know, and and the strength training. Like so it was so impressive. And then you just went out there on race day and killed it. Thanks. Ryan Head: Yeah. Well, I have to ask the question, 'cause you know, our our listeners want to know, what was your time and and I know you finished very high, like what place did you get, like in women or or overall? Do you remember any of that? Jacob Bateman: I don't remember. Fourth or fifth, I think in the winter. My time was like what was my time? I don't even remember. Okay, the cutoff for that race is thirteen and a half hours. Mm-hmm. You were like right around twelve hours. Okay. I think. And like I've never finished that race faster than like twelve hours forty five minutes, I think. North right. Yeah, I think that's like just under thirteen was me and you were like forty five minutes ahead of me. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And that's I just don't pay attention. I'm just like, that was a really fun race and I beat the cutoff. Ryan Head: Yeah. Yeah. Jacob Bateman: And that's what Melody's good at. Melody's good about just fr loving loving life out there. Ryan Head: Yeah. Well Jacob Bateman: When you get out there you just soak it in. And it sh shows in your running that you're enjoying it. Ryan Head: Yeah. Well, and I think that's what's really cool is like, you know, again remind our listeners, you know, you're hearing this and you're like, okay, a fifty K and she took her thirteen, you know, twelve, thirty almost thirteen, whatever, twelve hours. you know, yeah, but you have to remember Jacob Bateman: Fifty five K. Ryan Head: that this has thirteen thousand feet of Earth. It Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: is a very difficult course. I know many people who have DNF'd this thing. Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: one of our previous listeners actually ran out there, he did the fifty mile race. he's up been on your guys' show as well, Luke Richens, but I know he went out there and did really good on that, on one of those races out there. But he he he said the same thing. Very difficult, very difficult terrain. Warm usually, very hot, and Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Ryan Head: just very technical. And yeah, the climbing doesn't seem like it ever ends. And so I've heard this from multiple people. Jacob Bateman: Like I think the the race director puts you on these trails because he's a local and he just wants people to to step on all the weeds so that there's more of a trail there for him Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: later. So I think that's why that's the kind of trails they are. But I love the race director. I love the guy. He's actually one of my Ryan Head: He he Jacob Bateman: inspirations for ultra running. and but it we I do like to like to hound him about the trails he uses for his races. He picks some crazy trails, but it it also is Like you can't make up time on the downhills. Like you're going slower on the downhills on the uphills because of how technical weeds. There's no real trail. The the grade is sliding on the rocks. Yeah. Yeah. Ryan Head: That's that's awesome. that's funny. Well, I do, you know, and maybe you've kind of already alluded to this melody, but I wanted to ask a very specific question to you because I was fascinated by your response. obviously you crushed it with the the white pine solstice race, fifty five K. But what what's one bit of advice you'd give to somebody who's maybe, you know, in your same scenario right now. They've they've been pregnant, or they are pregnant, and they are And and again, right, no one's expecting you to go out and run a marathon, run races or whatever. But what's one bit of advice would you give to somebody right now, whether it is running related or not? Like, how do you how have you been able to continue to work through all this? Because right, she's a fantastic let me let me rewind back to like people, like she's a really good runner. Like she's really good. And so I can only imagine that this can be a little bit tough for you right now How are you able to do like what's something, what bit of advice would you give to someone that's that's maybe like, man, this is not what I want to be at right now? And yeah, because we see all the cool, like not cool, but you see these people that are running marathons when they're 37 weeks, and I'm not gonna say that's healthy. I don't know I I shouldn't even comment. I'm not a girl, so I don't I I should never comment on something like that. But sometimes I think, man, that's nuts. I don't know that it's not for me to say much about, but yeah, anyways, I'm blabbering on what would you Jacob Bateman: No, I thanks for asking me these questions 'cause I love it. I love talking about this. I'm so passionate about this right now. And I feel like I've learned a lot with the second pregnancy. You do see these amazing female athletes who are running marathons and even fifty mile races in their third trimester. And I definitely see that on Instagram and and sometimes it hurts and I'm like, why can't I be like that? I always thought I would be. When I was pregnant with our first, I was like, of course I I'm gonna be running 50 mile races. I had no idea. And for me, in both of my pregnancies, I've had to stop running or any kind of high impact around 20 weeks. My body and my brain, I just can't handle it. And my advice to someone in my shoes is to just do what you can. And that's what other female athletes told me before, and I hated that answer. Just do what you can. I'm like, but I I want to do more, you know. But you really just have to accept the reality of where you're at and give yourself grace. And I keep saying that. I'm just so passionate about giving yourself grace because I'm someone that has just really beat myself up in my life and I've kind of forced forced myself to to do the things that that I've done and it's not healthy. And I I know a lot of runners, type A runners can relate to this. You really have to be nice to yourself, especially as a pregnant woman, you're going through a lot of things. So be nice to yourself. Just do what you can and know that it's just a phase. I just just with this second pregnancy I've realized I'm still an ultra runner, even though Ryan Head: Yep. Jacob Bateman: I'm not running hundreds and I'm not I'm not running fifty miles a week right now. I have and I will and I'm doing what I can right now and that doesn't my identity identity hasn't changed. Like you can't take that away from me, you know what I mean? and and I'll I'll get back into it eventually. At least that's the plan, that's what I want to do. And there's other ways that you can be involved. It's been really fun to pace and crew and it's been really fun to put on these trail races that we've put on and there's so many other ways that you can be involved in in running and racing and you know, we do our podcasts and just doing this right now, it just you can still be involved. So do what you can realize that you know, it's actually kinda sad when we moved to Evanston a couple of years ago. I was like, I'm not a trail runner anymore. Like I had a baby. I can't do this. And I went and I it's kind of embarrassing, but I went and I like deleted all of my trail running stuff on social media because I didn't want my new friends here in Evanston to like know that part of me. I was like I'm just not that anymore. and since then I I've posted about my running. I've talked about my running and I'm like, that's not I shouldn't be ashamed of that, you know? Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: And I think just remembering that that still is a piece of you. Just because you're not doing it right now doesn't mean it's not you. This is just a phase of life. So anyways, I feel like I'm kinda rambling. But but that Ryan Head: No, you're not. You're not. Jacob Bateman: that's that's what I would say. Give yourself grace, hang on to that identity, have hope that you can get back into it. And yeah, and just do what you can. And Just observing you. Like and you've you've pretty much said this, but like don't beat yourself up for not being further because you've done that and it's hurt you. Yeah, it does hurt. Because you beat yourself up for not being as far as you hope you your expectations were, you know, about let go of expectations. That's another thing. Exactly. And and like I don't know, like I'm not a woman, so I shouldn't be giving an advice, but s observing you is just like, you know, it it it like you've s you've mentioned, it's it takes you like, well, first off you got a year of giving your body up for the pregnancy. Then you got basically a year of recovery with the pregnancy, and it doesn't feel like that second year that you s really started to like be able to feel like you could really start building again. You know, and and and getting you know, and so that's tough, like two years and I I could see why it's so hard and be so frustrating to to not accept where you're at and and getting frustrated and mad at it, you know. But but if you force it, just kinda like what we were talking about before, like you can force it. Like you can go try to run a hundred mile race when you're six months postpartum, three months postpartum, but But it's dangerous, it's risky depending on who you are. I of course some women might be able to safely do that. But you know, don't don't rush the process. And you also want to keep long term in mind. Like this is something we want to be doing up until our our seventies, eighties, like these other seventy, eighty year olds we see on the trails. And and that means doing it the right way, building a solid foundation. And two years is nothing compared to the rest of lives. Like one day our kids will be out of the house and we'll be able to train six hours a day and just run in the mountains all day, every day. Okay, maybe not to that extent. Hopefully. You know, like it it's just the phase that we're in and we just do what we can. And it's also been a great like I've learned so much about exercise and the human body and I've learned a lot more about weightlifting. I've learned a lot more about flexibility. I've Fitness classes. Fitness classes. I've I've been teaching yoga classes and I feel like these are all things that in the long run are going to make me better runner and are going to make me a better coach, you know. Ryan Head: Yeah, that's awesome. Well, I mean, I'm just gonna be honest, Jacob. I shouldn't have even invited you on here because Melody just keeps dropping amazing, amazing Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: stuff. Like, wow. Thank you for sharing that. And I think there's even though, right, like you're you're talking to women and maybe those who are pregnant right now, I think you're talking to everybody right now with what you're sharing, because so many of us are going through, even us guys are going through, you know, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual challenges right now that are just crazy. crippling and so many of us are just like I'm I'm not that person anymore. I'm not who I was five years ago. I'm not I'm not that good person that I think anymore. But the reality is you are still that good person. you are still capable of doing great things and It's you need to take you need to take a step back for a second, give yourself, like you say, grace, and say, listen, we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna give ourselves a a minute to think about the stuff and like just start start moving in the right direction. Like no matter how many steps you've gone in the wrong direction, it's time to start taking the steps in the right direction. And yeah, I mean you've you've outlined that perfectly here, and that's what I've loved. I've loved that you shared that because in so many ways I can only imagine what it's like to be like, but I am a good ultrarunner and I'm great at this. This and like I want to be good at it, and and now here we are again. And obviously, you guys want to have kids. I mean, you know, you that it's yeah, it's a decision Jacob Bateman: And it's worth it for sure, yeah. Ryan Head: you both have made, but but at the end of the day, too, there's still also like, but I know what I was and I want to be that again, and I and I can't. And you know, the only advice I'd ever give to you guys, which I know I promised you I want to give you family advice or marital advice, but enjoy these moments, they're fleeting. I mean, I miss having little kids. I mean, yes, the hours of less sleep. And it just it you know, the lack of sleep, if you will, that sucks. But I'll tell you what, now my kids are almost both teenagers and it's kind of sad to be honest with you, 'cause I'm like, what happened Jacob Bateman: Yeah. yeah. Ryan Head: to the toddler stage and the baby stage? And you know, you think back about those moments and you're like, God, man, that that went quick. It went quick. And then I'm then Jacob's busting on me for turning forty this year, sending me stupid text messages. And I'm like, dude, you're you keep it up, brother. Keep it up, watch what happens. So anyways, that's all good. But but it's Jacob Bateman: Ha ha Ryan Head: just It's really cool. Great advice. I thank you. Thank you both for that because I think that was really good stuff for our listeners to hear because Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: so many of us are ch struggling right now in life with whatever. So yeah. Jacob Bateman: For sure. Ryan Head: Yeah. Well, last last kind of segment we'll jump into and then we'll we'll do our lightning run questions. It's what I ask every one of our our guests when they come on and it it's what is your why? And I know everybody's why is different. I know they're complicated, but why do you guys do all this? Why do you guys do your races, right? And I know we haven't really touched on that in here, but we'll give you guys an opportunity at the end to talk a little bit more about that. But you know, they they've started these races, they've they've had this. Podcast for a while. They're both great runners. Why do you guys do all this? Why do you continue to put yourself through this? Because heaven knows, and I know it now, running a podcast is not like a money-making machine. it doesn't just bring in tons and tons of dough. it is an act of love in a lot of ways. And for me, my why behind why I do the podcast is because I allow people to tell their story, and I think that's beautiful. I like it, they get to tell their story and tell their why. but that's what that's why I do the podcast. But but why do you guys do all the stuff? Why do you holster race? Why do you run races? Why do you guys have a podcast? Why do you guys do all this? What's what's your why? Love to hear from both of you on this. Jacob Bateman: I think there's a lot of whys, but the first thing that comes to my head and it kinda is on theme with like what we've just recently been talking about. The reason I do these things is because I love it. And I used to think it needed to be like a much bigger, like deeper, meaningful why. It and of course those whys still exist. I love helping people run races. I I love watching people finish their first hundred mile race. It's so fulfilling. It's so fun putting on these races and watching people cross the finish line and their their kids run with them through the finish line and their families there with posters and it's so fulfilling. It's so awesome. And I just genuinely love it. And I think It's taken me time in my life to realize the importance of doing things that you love. Life isn't all about just being productive and you know, go, go, go, being productive, being successful. Like you need to take time to just do things that fill your bucket. And I feel like this is something that I've really learned with having younger kids and everything turns into you know serving your family and serving the people around you and keeping your family alive and it's really easy to forget about yourself. And I've just learned the importance of doing things that you love and I just love being in the mountains. I love spending time with my friends and my family in the mountains. I love the crazy hard work of camping with a toddler and And setting up a race and holding canopies down in the wind and the rain and really hard work out the gym. It just is so fun. I just love this life. I love this lifestyle. I love that we've been able to create this life together where we're around runners and we're in the mountains all the time and we're working hard. It just I just love it. Ryan Head: That's awesome. No, thank you for sharing that. Jacob, yeah. Why man? Why do you do all this, man? Jacob Bateman: I ask myself that every day. Ryan Head: I love it. I love it. Jacob Bateman: I don't know, as as you asked that, like I mean it the the answers vary a little from the podcast to my personal running to the the race directing. but as I thought about that, I I kinda maybe bringing this full circle to the first question you ask about what's something I'm passionate about outside of running. and I talked about the Boy Scouts and I guess ultra running almost makes me feel like I'm back as a Boy Scout again in this in a sense. It's and I know that might sound super nerdy or or whatever, but like the Boy Scouts pushed me, you know, and for the first time and in in a long what you know, in a long time when I started getting the ultra running, I felt that same kind of push. you know, it race directing pushes me. It it it gives me a challenge of creating something out of nothing. which I had to do a lot when I worked at camp, as you you teach, you know, twelve year old boys trying to teach about weather or whatever. You you're basically creating something out of nothing, but it gets me in nature, to to connect with nature. I I I feel like something's missing from my soul if I don't get out in nature. it gives me an opportunity to bond with other people. like like me and you, Mel. Like we bonded over running. it Bonded so much we decide to marry each other. as we ran miles and miles and miles together. Ryan, you're my brother because we've run miles and miles and miles together. We we've had a lot of good times together and well we've had a lot of good times together. We fought on the trail together. We didn't even talk on the trail. We made love on the Ryan Head: There we go. Now we're talking. Now we're talking. Jacob Bateman: Anyways though. Sorry. Sorry. PG. PG. but like podcasts. Anyways. I I'm so sorry. spied my Ryan Head: it's staying in. I'm not pulling that out. Jacob Bateman: meat. But anyways, like, you know, the connection. it's it's given me an opportunity to serve, you know, at Scout Camp I served all those twelve-year-old boys. And ultra running, holy cow does it give you an opportunity to serve. Crewing and pacing is a spiritual experience. Volunteering is a spiritual experience. Like It's just so much like I guess, you know, the the connections that I had for why I loved those summers working at Scout Camp and why I love ultra running just right there. The everything's just brought together there and so that's what keeps me coming back is ultimately I feel fulfilled with when I am involved in the running community and whether it's through race directing, running, pacing, podcasting. podcasting, I feel the connection and fulfillment to to earth, to God, to people, to my family. Amen. Ryan Head: That's awesome. That's awesome. No, thank you. And and I obviously that's why I love this question. I love it's kind of the big last question I ask all my guests. Is it you can always feel it's deep. it means something when I ask someone because you don't put yourself let's for lack of better term you don't put yourself through this hell over and over and over if you don't if you're not passionate about it. Like why am I destroying myself in the middle of the summer? You know, obviously it was hot here in Utah this year and you guys know that. You know, you're just in the state next to us. But like it's hot this year and multiple mornings I was getting up and it was in the mid eighties to high eighties at five in the morning and I'm like, what am I doing with my life? Like this sucks. And I'm like You've already done a hundred, you've done it now seven times. You have nothing left to prove. Why are you doing this to yourself? And I'm like, because, dude, like your why is why you do this. And and you know, as I've always shared, my why is so complicated, and and there's a lot of roots to it, and there's many different things. But I will share, just like what you said, is you know, part of me always yearns to go back to that moment in 2023 with me and you at Mile E3 on Wasatch. Like, always think about that moment, and I think about that moment every time we're Life gets hard when there's just something difficult going on. I'm like, listen, you found that when you couldn't, it became you can. And and I'll never forget that moment. Like it was, and it was so cool because you were there for it. And I'll always be like, dude, that's where we became brothers. Like we were probably brothers before that, but Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: but we just that was something like so different. And you know, then I was able to help you on, you know, not only scout and see you go through just awful crap there, but and then you know, then this help you last year with Wyoming Grange and you know, to see you just struggle with whatever it was, whether that was altitude sickness or yeah, but I mean he was yeah, he was Jacob Bateman: Me being a baby, who knows? Ryan Head: a mess of a situation and I remember just still calling Melody and be like, I don't know, I don't know I'm getting nervous for him, like I don't know if I feel good about this and you know, I almost pulled the card of, you know, we gotta pull the plug on this and anyways, you know, you still get the finish, but it's these memories that you share with these people and you know, Melody, me and you, you know, you being my coach and I still just I I'm gonna try to keep my emotions here on this one, but I just still think about you being at the finish line of Wasatch in twenty twenty three. And I remember I broke down crying to you and just was like, You helped me to do this, like you gave me a plan to be successful. and you helped me accomplish my dream and yeah though like you're not like I still always refer to you as my coach like yeah Melody's the one that got me there and she's the one I always you know think about when it comes like Carl Meltzer helped me but Carl is unique and love the dude but he's just a different kind of guy but anyways I just like I still remember being like you you helped me like believe that it could be possible and so I just appreciate both of you a lot and and I love just what you guys have created and I'm excited to see where you guys go. I'm excited to see where things take you guys in the future because I can't wait for you guys to whenever you decide that you're done having kids, I can't wait to see what you both do and running when you can both like really be dedicated and and really get after it a little bit more because I think you're both so capable of great things and you're at a good stage of life. You gotta be a parent. Enjoy that. That's a good thing. So it's a beautiful thing to be Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: in. So but and Jacob Bateman: And Ryan, I don't know if you've ever I haven't listened to all your podcast episodes, but Wow I don't know if you've ever shared. but I remember one day out on the trail with you, and I was debating whether to sign up for a race or not and I ended up not signing up for it, which was a good decision for me, but this conversation did stick with me because I was asking I was telling you, I'm like, I don't know if I have a why for this race, you know? and you're like and you're like, Come on, man, like you like like you do, like like and I'm like, Well what do you mean? What do you mean? And and the conversation conversation led to you basic cause me asking you like well what's your why you know and and you basically said like this is who we are dude like this is who we are and this is who I am and I didn't get it at first. I'm like, what like I thought you had to like have some like big extravagant why. But as I I I thought about that and I I still think about that today, like, 'cause this is just this is who I am and and like I'm like, you know what? That's actually pretty profound that you can just n know like this is who I am and and I, you know, these kind of races are what I wanna do and and how I wanna push myself and I still have a hard time explaining that. But just thinking about that, this is who I am. I'm doing this, you know? Here here's the th sorry. I I was just gonna say, Ryan Head: Yep. Yeah. You okay, yeah, go for a melody. No no go for it Jacob Bateman: like when you I I tell this to Jacob We put on our so we put on two races and the second race we put on this year, it was our first year putting it on and as we got closer to the race Jacob was, you know, asking like why, why are we doing this? We're about to have a baby. It's it was probably one of the most stressful things we've ever done. and it was totally worth it. And I love watching Jacob as a race director 'cause he is in his element. He just says one hundred percent Jacob and I love to see that 'cause I love Jacob and same thing when he is training for a hundred or when he runs a hundred, like you just are you. And Jacob was like, I need to do a hundred next year and we were kinda talking about it and he's like, But we're gonna have a newborn and I was like, I need you to run a hundred. Like we're gonna do whatever it takes for you to run a hundred next year because it's Ryan Head: Heck yeah. Jacob Bateman: what makes him Him. Yeah. You know, it just it Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: fills your cup. If it fills your cup and and Don't let the world tell you that that you can't do it, it's not you. If you find a love for it and a passion and if it fills you and it won't fill you every day. Yeah. Well after you sign up for the race, there'd probably be a good month or two where you're like, What the why why? Why am I doing this? you know, but it ultimately it's who we are, you know, and so you just do it. Ryan Head: Yeah. Well, the only thing I'd add to that, because that was just beautifully said again, and I love that you bring up that conversation. And I remember that. And I've actually shared that with quite a few of my athletes. When they're like, I this I don't know where I'm at. I don't know why I'm doing this. And I'm like, It's because it's who you are. This is who we are. We are runners. we love the outdoors. We love being this and You know, it's cool when you bring this up because in my mind it goes back to that mindset. I still remember when you guys when we did the the live episode for the Wasatch 100 and where you guys are interviewing me as I'm going up to the race and you're just like, How do you feel about the race? Like, you know, you have any concerns? I'm like, Nope. And you guys are like, Wow, that's the mindset you want. And I was like I was like, Yeah, 'cause nothing's nothing's gonna stop me. And and on Yeah Jacob Bateman: I love that episode. I love that part. Ryan Head: And honestly, it's the same thing. Like right now, like I'm thinking, Kay, Wasach and Bear. Like I only got two weeks now between the two of them. It's not one, it's not three like it's always been. It's two. Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Yeah. Ryan Head: And I'm like, anything gonna stop me? And I'm like, nope. I'm gonna get it done. Like it's gonna happen because it's who I am. It's it Jacob Bateman: Freaking awesome. Yeah. Ryan Head: is like you said, I don't I don't I wouldn't say it's my identity. But it is a huge part of who I am. My identity is very wide. I'm an HR professional. I'm a father. I'm a husband. I'm a son. I'm a follower of Christ. I'm, you know, I have all these things that I believe in. And a huge Yankees fan too. We don't want to forget that and Blink182 Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: fan just for Nate all red. but one thing I am is a huge part of that is I'm a runner and I know I'm good at it. And I don't have to be fast, but I am good at it and I know I'll get across that finish line and It's gonna happen. So anyways Jacob Bateman: But y you push yourself, you you finish things, you you you set your sights for things that seem unattainable. Like that is who you are. And so trail Ryan Head: Yep. Jacob Bateman: tra those hundred mile races are just, you know, a way to do everything around that. Like it's not Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: it's not the race, you know, it's everything around the race that really, you know, is why we're out there. Yep. Ryan Head: The training, the dedication, the commitment. Yeah, it it makes you who you are. It refines you as a human. The race was anticlimactic. I mean, every time coming through finish line, it's fun. But like I think about I even think about your Wyoming range. Like that was like I'm I don't want to be a jerk. I think it's an Jacob Bateman: It always is. Ryan Head: awesome race. But the finish line was the worst finish line I've ever seen for any race I've ever been a part of. I was like. No. It was awful. And I'm like, Yeah. Jacob Bateman: There it's not it's not a finish. It's it's you you touch a cabin, sit by a fire for five minutes and get in the truck. That's what the Ute 100 was like too. It was like Ryan Head: Yeah. Yeah. Jacob Bateman: one person was clapping and one person at a cowboy. There was one canopy one canopy set up at the Ute One Hundred. Yeah. Yeah. my goodness. Ryan Head: Yeah. Well that was that was more than Wy Wyoming range, man. Like the race director was there and he gave you a big bear hug and you were giving him grief, which was awesome. But it's like it it's not really about the race. It's not really about the finish. It's about what the whole process really made you into and who it turned you into. And that's goes back to what you said, Melody, you know, you know, twenty, thirty minutes ago about, you know, yes, right now in a stage of life, you're not. You can't. You're not going to. You're not gonna endanger yourself and your baby. But you are still that person. You did do those things. You are capable of great things. And it's just a different time of life right now. But you it is who you still are and yeah, I anyways, you just said that so perfectly when we brought that up and Anyway, so guys, this has been awesome. Such a fun episode. I'd love to end like I do with everybody. We do a lightning road of questions. It's it's very quick, like one-hitters. You can say one word or you can say 10 words, however you guys want. I'd love to hear from both of you on all of these. I won't kill you guys with a ton of them, but we'll we'll throw some. Everyone's been loving these. These are fun on each episode. So, anyways, okay, here we go. First question: favorite race distance. Jacob Bateman: gosh. fifty mile or I love the fifty. Fifty K. Really? Yeah, I think so. I was not expecting that. Ryan Head: 50k, let's go. Man, for for for a podcast called Trail to 100. 100 is not the favorite, so there you go. I just teased it. I had to give you guys three. No, that's awesome. Both. Jacob Bateman: It's the big dog, but it's not the favorite. Ryan Head: Yeah, no, that's awesome. Yeah, I love it. Love it. Okay. I think I already know the answer to this one, but road or trails? Jacob Bateman: I'm not answering a question like that, okay? I I don't even Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob Bateman: feel like I have to gosh. I know I know Ryan Head: I know. Jacob Bateman: you I know you're half roadie, half trail, right? And I give you grief on it, so Ryan Head: Yep. Yeah, no, we bring on we bring on our road friends on here all the time, so they're they're good people too, so yeah. Jacob Bateman: Don't worry, road friends. We're not judging you that much. Tim. I I only judge Tim a little bit, so Ryan Head: Yeah. Well, as I've always said, I'm a child of both. I will always be a child of both sides, so I Yeah, I love the I love the call out. There you go, Tim. There you go. He's he's calling you out, man. It's such a challenge. It'll be good. Tim listens to every episode, so Jacob Bateman: Uh-oh. Dude, if Tim ran a trail race, he'd kill it. He'd kill it. He does need to do it. Anyways, sorry Tim. Ryan Head: He's by the way, he does like trails. Yeah, he likes trails, by the way. He ran quite a few of them this past winter with us. I'm defending his honor right now. but Jacob Bateman: Ha ha ha. Ryan Head: he he will do a trail race. He said that he will do that once he's done. But watch what he does here at Big Cottonwood same weekend as Wasatch. He's gonna it's gonna be special. Anyways, I don't wanna I don't wanna give anything more away, but it's gonna be good. It he's yeah, no, it's good. Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Okay. Sorry, Tim, love ya. Ryan Head: Okay, next lightning run question. Morning or evening runs? Jacob Bateman: Morning. Morning. I'm surprised Ryan Head: Morning. Yeah, same way. Okay. Jacob Bateman: you said morning. I love mornings. I just can't do them currently. That's just not an option for me right now. Love mornings when you're not pregnant. Yes. Ryan Head: I love it. Love it. Okay. Favorite yeah. I love it. Okay. Favorite post run or post race meal? Jacob Bateman: Burrito. Posta Vita burrito. Any burrito, Ryan Head: Let's go. Jacob Bateman: honestly. Ryan Head: Breakfast burrito for me. I'm just it's so good. Jacob Bateman: Ugh no a maverick burrito. That's my answer. Ugh yes. Ryan Head: gosh. I love it, Jacob. Jacob Bateman: honestly most time like it'd probably be a smoothie. Not Ryan Head: Nice. Jacob Bateman: a big eater after I run. Excuse me. Ryan Head: Yeah. I'm usually the same way. I can usually just choke after a hundred it's usually just choke down a chocolate protein shake and that tastes about as good as I can get. Yeah, it's all I can usually Jacob Bateman: Yeah, something like that. Yeah. Ryan Head: do. So Okay. music, podcasts, or silence on your runs? Jacob Bateman: Podcasts. Yeah. Ryan Head: Ooh, okay. What what podcasts would you throw some love to besides our two? Jacob Bateman: Too strong. I love Sally McGray's podcast. I know you've given me a hard Ryan Head: If you guys don't Jacob Bateman: time about being obsessed with Sally McGrae. Yeah. Okay. She's she's awesome. Ryan Head: If you don't know the love that yeah, if you don't know the love that Melody has for Sally McCrae, just go listen to like any episode of Trail the One Hundred. You're gonna hear through it. So she's amazing. No, she's amazing, but Jacob Bateman: Because she's a trail running mom. That's why she's my favorite. Yeah. She is. Ryan Head: yeah. I yeah. Jacob, yeah. I think she might Jacob Bateman: Yeah. Ryan Head: she might like Sally more than she likes you. I'm just being honest. I just see that. Jacob Bateman: Well, we haven't had Sally on the podcast yet. We almost did We almost did. Literally we are just about to interview her Ryan Head: I heard. I remember when you told me about this. Yeah. Jacob Bateman: and she canceled. So we'll try again. Ryan Head: Yeah. Jacob, what podcasts? Jacob Bateman: Well so this might surprise people. I don't listen to a lot of running podcasts. Ryan Head: Nice. Jacob Bateman: I enjoy sports and so I listen to local sports podcasts most of the time is my go to. Well, but recently my favorite guy just stepped away from the radio and now he's selling insurance. Come on. But So I'm a little bit homeless 'cause yes, I had a daily podcast called Hands and Scotty. they were they covered Utah sports. listen to Nick Bear or what? Yeah, I d I have been digging Nick Bear. So yeah, we'll say that. He's not he's like a mix of he's just like a fitness podcast, but I really enjoy him. I I enjoy his he also gets he talks a lot about being a parent and also being a man of faith and so I find a lot of connection with him when he talks about those things. Ryan Head: That's cool. Okay. I know you both didn't say music, but we are putting together a playlist. What's one song you'd have what what's one song on your playlist right now or one song you would add to a a r reimagine running playlist? Jacob Bateman: The first song Ryan Head: Be any song. Jacob Bateman: that pops in my head is Champion by Carrie Underwood. Okay, okay, good. Ryan Head: Okay, okay, that one has not been dropped yet, so that's good. I like that. Okay, that'll get added. Jacob, what do you got? Jacob Bateman: Afterlife by Switchfoot. That is a good one. I had a Ryan Head: It's a good one. Jacob Bateman: experience where I heard that sixty miles into a hundred mile race and I literally started screaming and running eight minute miles as that song go went. So it got me going. At about two Ryan Head: Let's go. Let's go. That's good. Jacob Bateman: in the morning, you know. That's a fun idea. I'm excited for this playlist. Ryan Head: yeah, it's gonna be fun. I I was really glad you didn't say the Rocky theme because someone has said that. So I was like, no, he's gonna say that 'cause I remember Melody telling me that was a secret weapon for you on your ace, so Yeah. But I was like Yeah. Jacob Bateman: I didn't. yeah, that that's a big one too, yeah. The Rocky theme. That actually came on before after life. So yeah, anyways. So maybe it was a build-up. I have a video of Ryan Head: Yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome. Jacob Bateman: Jacob listening to that. Was it before I think it was before Scout and he's like s listening to the Rocky theme song and like punching the air in the air. Yeah. Ryan Head: Let's go. That's awesome. Jacob Bateman: We're not very good at this speed lightning round, sorry. Ryan Head: No, you guys are good. Last question. This is more of a pot shot at one of our good friends, Enya. Yes or no? Jacob Bateman: Heck yeah. I I don't even know who that is. Do you know Enya? I know Ryan Head: Yes. Jacob Bateman: the name. I couldn't tell you anything about her. Or one song. No, you do Ryan Head: Right. Jacob Bateman: know Enya. What's a song of her? Yeah. Ryan Head: Sail away, sail away, sail away. Jacob Bateman: okay. See? You know I would never turn that on. It definitely Ryan Head: Yeah, me neither. Thank you, Jacob. Thank you. Jacob Bateman: is the kind of music you listen to, not that I've ever purposely been high, but the kind of music you would listen to when you're high, I imagine. You know? It's trippy. She's Ryan Head: Yes. Would you listen to would you listen to Jacob Bateman: unpurposely been high. This is the first I've ever heard. wisdom teeth, tonsils. Wow. Ryan Head: Would you listen to it running a like a hundred? Yeah. Would you listen to it on the bare 100 at like mile fifty? Jacob Bateman: feel like if you're starting to kinda get into like hallucination stage you're just like or you know, you're kinda like runner's high. I feel like it would be a vibe. I I just still don't know who the heck she is really. You you're gonna hear Ryan Head: There you go. I love it. Nate n this has been a huge disgust good. Jacob Bateman: one of the songs and you're gonna know exactly who it is. Yeah. Ryan Head: Yeah. Yeah. Anyways, this has been a huge topic on multiple runs lately and it it sparked a fierce debate today on whether Enya is good or bad and I'm just not a fan. So but Nate all writ yeah. I I well I I was Jacob Bateman: Bad you would never ever Ryan Head: forced to listen to it growing up and my dad loved it. I always thought it was weird and cringy and so yeah. So but Jacob Bateman: That's like one thing my mom forced me to listen to that I don't mind. Ryan Head: Nate is a big fan. Nate is a huge fan, so it's weird. I don't know. Jacob Bateman: You know what, Nate, I won't hold it against ya. Ryan Head: gosh, dude, don't be on his team. Come on, don't don't do this. Jacob Bateman: I I'm not on his team. I'm just, you know we still don't even know what we're talking about. That's why I won't hold it against him. Ryan Head: Ha that's awesome. That's awesome. Well, guys, we'll we'll we'll wrap it up. you know, big shout out to you guys. You guys are doing some awesome things. Follow their podcast. If you haven't heard it before, Trail to 100, they've been doing it for many years now. you they do multiple races, up in the Wyoming kind of Utah area, if you will. They do their Bear River Trail race and then you're into wilderness trail marathon. any announcements there, anything you want to share, or just plan on those. Jacob Bateman: We are they will happen next year. We are working Ryan Head: Nice. Jacob Bateman: on expanding the UNT wilderness trail race to longer distances. so Fingers crossed that we will get up into the fifty K distance next year and it would be a gorgeous course going on to some backwoods, high altitude lakes. That would be awesome. So we are still working on improvals though, so nothing's official, but that is the goal. And you can always find more Ryan Head: Cool. We'll stay. Yeah. Jacob Bateman: information, Instagram, Facebook, or our website, cholera one hundred dot com. Ryan Head: Yep, I'll throw that on the show notes as well so people can kind of follow that as well. So stay tuned, people, I personally have ran the Bear River both years that it's been in place and it's a great fun race to do, especially if you want to go fast. You can go as fast as you want on this bad boy, and it's a trail race. So and then last question I have for both of you, what's next? What's next with running? Jacob Bateman: Beating your butt at Wasatch. Ryan Head: there it is, p shots across the bow. I love it. I love it. I love it. So Jacob Bateman: Jig Jacob's ready, man. You think I'm you think I'm joking. Ryan Head: It's not hard to beat. Come on. Unless something changes this year, it's gonna Jacob Bateman: Ha ha Ryan Head: be easy for you to beat. So it's good. Jacob Bateman: Well next is Ryan Head: love it. Jacob Bateman: honestly having a baby. That that's what I'm gonna say. That's the next adventure. Baby and then recovery and then beating your butt at Was Edge. Supporting Jacob as he tries to beat your butt at Wasatch next year. Ryan Head: You so are you are you publicly declaring you're going for Wasach in twenty twenty seven? Jacob Bateman: If he gets pulled he's he's doing it. That's that's what he's told me. You know. Ryan Head: Well. I gotta hear it from him. Declare declare. Jacob Bateman: Ryan, it's the it's the front runner. I'm surprised that that you brought this up right now. It it is the there's a high likelihood that it's Wasatch next year. man, the the tension man. Ryan Head: I totally expected bear first with you, but nice. Good good that's a great race, man. Jacob Bateman: Now I might not get in. It's a lottery. So but Ryan Head: Yeah. Yeah. But they increased they increased the amount they let in and and yeah, I mean I went from like forty percent chance a couple years ago to like eight percent chance last year. So it was almost like a shoe win, with only one ticket. So you guys got multiple tickets, you're gonna get right in. So Jacob Bateman: And it would be fun to finally run the same race as you. To be in to Ryan Head: Yeah, it would be so. Jacob Bateman: be in a field with with the legendary Ryan Head. Ryan Head: Okay. Yep, whatever. So Whatever. Anyways. Well, you guys, this has been so fun. I really appreciate both of you. thank you for your time. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for, you know, just being on here sharing such great advice. I think our listeners are gonna thoroughly enjoy this and truly is one of our last episodes of the season. probably second to last or third to last. just a great episode. So thank you guys for your time tonight and and being willing to come on. Jacob Bateman: Thanks for having us on. and thanks for being a great friend, Ryan. We appreciate having you in our lives. Ryan Head: Yeah, likewise guys, feel the exact same way. So okay, we'll wrap it up. Thanks everybody. Coach Ryan Head: Hey runner, thanks for hanging out with me today on Reimagine Running. I'm grateful you're here and a part of this great podcast. I just want to remind you, if you ever feel stuck and unsure or just want someone in your corner, I do offer coaching for runners at any distance, whether you're starting out with the 5K or you're chasing some crazy big goals and dreams like the marathon or the 100 miler, I'd love to help you. Please reach out and I'd be happy to set up a time to go over options and plans and goals with you. Well, until next time. Take care of yourself, trust the process, stay disciplined and keep chasing that Y.