Some Podcast Love

Technologically speaking, I am somewhere between my grandfather who takes pride in the fact that he doesn't even know how to turn a computer on and my mom, who really is better with computers than I am.

Actually, I'm much closer to my mom although I did not discover the magic of podcasts until I got my first smartphone (Motorolla Droid 2 Global) this past winter - okay, maybe a month or two ago when I couldn't stand hearing the same radio stations all the time at work.

Anyhow, along with some news/technology/career/sports broadcasts there are several running podcasts I've listened.  Some have been just okay, others fairly informative, but there have been two that really stand out from the rest.

Two Gomers Run a Marathon started out as "Two Gomers Run a Half Marathon" in 2008 when two ordinary guys overcame years of inactivity and "sheer girth" to run 13.1 miles.   They are wrapping up their third season, "The Sub-Five Strive" where they aimed to break the 5-hour mark in their second marathon.

The "Two Gomers" are Steven Grahmann, a youth minister in Flagstaff, Arizona and Anthony Georgeson, a professional musician in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Despite their distance, these two "best buds" from middle school (in Wisconsin, go figure) have a great rapport and an obviously strong and deep friendship.  Between their running stories and opinions on the previous week's training they frequently reference 80's movies (the phrase "flux capacitor" comes up frequently), so anyone in the 28-40 age range, or who has a love of 80's cinema will enjoy their banter.

For a full picture of their story you can go back to season one, when Gomer 2 (Stephen) admits to running around the block (well, mostly running) in khaki shorts and a white t-shirt, and Gomer 1 (Anthony) talks about 10-minute miles getting his heart rate into the 190's (!!!).  They both share that they are pretty much in total misery, but really want to get to a place where they actually enjoy getting out and running everyday. 

By Season 3, you'd have to say "mission accomplished," although Gomer 2 has given some indication that he never wants to run a marathon again after suffering through the Minneapolis Marathon earlier this month, where they failed to meet their goal of a sub-five hour time - due mostly to stifling heat that bruatlized runners in most of the country that weekend.

"Gomer Nation" is still waiting to hear whether the Sub-Five Strive will continue next fall, but I definitely expect the podcast to continue in some form.  You can download podcasts at TwoGomers.com and interact with the Gomers on Facebook or Twitter (@Gomer1 and @Gomer2).

The Ultrarunner Podcast was started on May 21 of this year with an interview with 2010 Western States Endurance Run champion Geoff Roes.  This grabbed my attention immediately and they've followed up with some great interviews including podiatrist Dr. David Hannaford, Barkley Marathons race director Gary Cantrell and Born to Run author Christopher McDougall.

Every interview has been informative and compelling.  My favorite so far has been with Nutritionist Sunny Blende whose experience as an ultra runner gives her great insight into the individual needs of (very) long distance runners which goes far beyond "carbo-loading" and "be sure to eat on the run."

Normally they publish once a week (Thursday night), but in the lead-up to Western States they have published a few extra times, featuring 25-time finisher Tim Tweitmeyer and the race's founder Gordy Ainsleigh, who showed up to the Tevis Cup, a 100 mile horse race, sans-horse and finished the course on foot in 23 hours and 42 minutes - ahead of many competitors on horseback.

You can download the Ultrarunner Podcast at Ultrarunnerpodcast.com.  Or follow them on Twitter.

Honorable mention also goes to:
Geeks in Running Shoes
Dirt Dawg's Rambling Diatribe