Hallucinating in the Philippines, Race Directing, and Trail Running with Aaron Barber

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In this podcast episode, I sit down with Aaron Barber to dive into his experiences in trail running and race directing. We chat about the challenges of racing in extreme heat, like the Circle of Hell and the Phoenician 50k, and explore international events like a hundred in the Philippines.

Aaron shares some wild stories, including his unique hallucination experiences during races and the hurdles of racing in a different culture.

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We also talk about how he got into trail running, his transition from road running and triathlons, and how he made his way into race directing.

Towards the end, we offer tips and advice for anyone looking to break into the trail running industry. We wrap up by discussing the importance of putting runners first and ensuring a positive race experience. I believe trail running will continue to grow, with more competitive races and greater national exposure on the horizon.

takeaways

Aaron Barber shares his experiences in trail running and race directing

He discusses races in extreme heat and international races

Aaron talks about his unique hallucination experiences during races

He explains the challenges of racing in a different culture

Aaron shares how he got into trail running and his transition from road running and triathlons

The episode ends with tips and advice for getting into the trail running industry

Transitioning from one sport to another requires a shift in training mindset and approach.

Volunteering and being involved in the community can lead to opportunities in the outdoor industry.

Race directing involves logistical challenges and the need to prioritize the runner's experience.

Trail running is experiencing growth and may see more competitive races and increased national exposure.

Sound Bites

"The Circle of Hell: A race in Phoenix in July with 110+ degree heat"

"The Phoenician 50k: A brutal race with 11,500 feet of vert in Phoenix"

" A hardcore 100-mile race in the Philippines with 33,000 feet of vert"

"Volunteering, rubbing elbows, saying yes to giving someone a ride back to town. You never know who that's going to be."

"Seeing elites or fast people in general at an aid station is such a huge bonus to runners."

"Everyone shares the same start line and has to run the same route. It's pretty crazy that there's a sport like that."

Chapters

00:00 Racing in Extreme Heat: Circle of Hell and Phoenician 50k

07:10 International Races: in the Philippines

11:55 Hallucination Experiences and Challenges in Trail Running

22:54 Transitioning from Road Running and Triathlons to Trail Running

22:54 Tips and Advice for Getting into the Trail Running Industry

24:49 Transitioning from Triathlon to Trail Running

31:29 Becoming a Race Director

32:57 Dealing with Fires and Route Changes

39:08 Working at Aravipa and the Future of Trail Running
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trail running, race directing, extreme heat, international races, hallucinations, challenges, transition, trail running, race directing, outdoor industry, career advice, challenges, putting runners first, growth, aravipa running, mountain outpost