In this episode of the UltraRunCoach podcast, I sit down with guest Rich Sharkey (one of my early coaching athletes) to discuss his journey from road running and 5Ks to tackling ultras.
Rich shares his experience making the 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.
Why you should listen
This isn’t an episode about an elite runner with unlimited training time. Rich has a busy job, a family, and a travel schedule. He figured out how to show up, run smart, and get faster anyway. That’s the stuff that actually helps you finish.
Audio only version available wherever you get podcasts. Check out the video version as I included many clips from Eastern States, and photos from Laurel Highlands ultra.
Patrick is an ultrarunner and coach from Philadelphia who loves documenting his running career. His mission is to provide useful tips and tricks to assist others along their ultra journey.  You can find his coaching services at https://ultraruncoach.com.