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100 People 100 Ultras Podcast

100 People 100 Ultras Podcast

Published by Patrick Durante on September 26, 2026

As many of you know, I’ve been coaching athletes for a few years now, and one thing that’s critical to coaching is one-on-one meetings. They’re always a chance to connect, see how training is going, and review plans for race week. I also usually do an exit interview to see how their event went. While out on a run, I thought to myself that some amazing stories come out of these meetings. Since I’m doing the calls anyway, I figured it would be a great chance to start a podcast built around them, and maybe cover some other topics as they come up. I quickly learned how to record, transcribe, and get episodes posted on all the major platforms. It’s so easy to launch a podcast that I can see why there are so many out there.

Laurel Highlands, Pacing Eastern States 100 and more with Rich Sharkey – Ultra Run Coach Podcast: 100 People, 100 Ultras

Coaching: https://UltraRunCoach.com In this episode of the UltraRunCoach podcast, host Patrick Durante sits down with guest Rich Sharkey (one of Patrick's early coaching athletes) to discuss his journey from road running and 5Ks to tackling ultras.Rich shares his experience making the massive leap from 50Ks like the Hat Run and World's End to the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Ultra (a Western States qualifier). We dive deep into elevation training strategies, surviving the infamous "Gate to Eight" section, gut training with real foods, dialing in sodium needs using a Nix sweat test, and how having a family pit crew transformed his race day.We discuss discuss Rich’s experience on the other side of the trail—pacing me through the final miles of the Eastern States 100, navigating rattlesnakes, and pushing past the physical and mental pain barriers.00:00 – Welcome & Introduction00:48 – Transitioning from Sports & Road Running to Trail Running02:46 – First Unofficial 50K at Blue Marsh Lake & First Organized Race (Hat Run 50K)05:24 – World's End 50K: Handling Mud, Elevation & Learning Hill Training07:54 – Making the Big Jump from 50K to the 70-Mile Laurel Highlands Ultra09:50 – Connecting with Patrick Durante for Coaching & Race Preparation11:19 – History & Unique Challenges of the Laurel Highlands Course12:14 – Training Feet Per Mile Elevation Gain & the "Gate to Eight" Strategy14:10 – Year 1 at Laurel Highlands: Heat, Severe Quad Pain & Mental Recovery17:44 – Year 2 Success: Shaving 33 Minutes & Upgrading Fueling Strategy20:22 – Gut Training: Shifting from Liquid Calories to Real Food21:16 – Electrolyte Breakthrough: Sweat Testing with Nix Biosensors23:12 – Building a Family Pit Crew & Pacing Duties29:35 – Flipping the Script: Rich Paces Patrick at Eastern States 10032:21 – The Role of a Pacer: Pain Management & Mental Distraction37:15 – Funny Race Encounters, DFL Motivation & Rattlesnakes on Trail41:21 – Strong Finish at Eastern States 10044:07 – Top 3 Tips for Anyone Taking on Laurel Highlands45:05 – Maintaining Consistency & Finding New Trails While Traveling46:43 – What's Next for Rich Sharkey (Nelson's Summit 50K)
  1. Laurel Highlands, Pacing Eastern States 100 and more with Rich Sharkey
  2. From DNF to Top 5: How Chris Gerrard Conquered His First 100-Miler

While I don’t think I’ll be putting out a ton of episodes, I’ll try to connect with a few past athletes, and maybe some people in the ultra space who can offer insights on completing these events. Let me know in the comments about what topics you would like to hear…

The Importance of Setting an Example Master Runner PodcastMaster Runner

The Importance of Setting an Example Master Runner Podcast

Published by Patrick Durante on December 6, 2022

I ran with Mike Warren at Rim to River 100 a few weeks ago and he then invited me to speak on his podcast “Master Runner”. He focuses on those of us between the ages of 40 and 49. He takes a deep dive into the stories behind these fellow master, grandmaster (50-59), and senior grandmaster (60+) athletes, along with their successes, struggles, and favorite mistakes they’ve made along the way.

As a child, Patrick, a newly minted master runner at the age of 41, remembers countless days accompanying his dad on his track workouts. While running up and down the bleachers as his dad sped around the track, his father’s dedication, hard work, and enjoyment were never lost on him, and those attributes became the foundation for the man he is today.

Now a father himself, Patrick continues instilling these values in his own children through his constant dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm toward running. While his family shares some of his love for running, he also wants them to know the more important part is to just enjoy this stint down here called life.