The Breezy Trailhead: Ultra Running Through Injury and Recovery

Ultra runner John Calabrese (The Breezy Trailhead) shares his journey through injury, recovery, and the unique culture of ultra running while reflecting on his experiences at races like Burning River and the Barkley Fall Classic.

• Coming back from injury and DNF at Burning River 100 where challenging weather led to many dropouts
• Struggling with cross-training through swimming after hip issues impacted training
• The importance of PT exercises despite difficulty fitting them into an already packed schedule
• Experience at underground races like the Wild Oak Trail 100 and Barkley Fall Classic
• Differences between trail and road race cultures - how ultra running "keeps it weird"
• Balancing family life as a single dad with ambitious ultra running goals
• Volunteering with Ainsley's Angels to push disabled athletes in races
• Finding joy in running at a comfortable pace rather than constantly chasing PRs
• Experimenting with unusual footwear including Amazon shoes on technical trails

You can find John on Instagram @BreezyTrailhead, where he shares his running adventures, shoe reviews, and occasional mustache updates.