The Stubborn Tortoise

Author: Donna Pazdera

People often ask me why I love trail running. It's all about the stories. You meet a different kind of person on the trails: connects with nature, doesn't mind slowing down if someone is in need, says, "Good job, runner." Trail runners are competitive, for sure. But it's also egalitarian. Seldom will you find the elites separated from the regular folk. Everyone gets lost at some point. Everyone falls. These are our badges of passage. This is my take on trail culture. Logo: Kevin Stich Music: "Our Sky," by Overland (via Free Music Archive) Contact
Be a guest on this podcast

Language: en

Genres: Running, Sports

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

Get all podcast data

Listen Now...

Don't Skip Leg Day and Other Stories
Episode 16
Monday, 2 March, 2026

When you're training for and doing ultramarathons, there aren't enough hours in the day to strength train. So, like a lot of people, I skipped it. I did some cursory stuff, but, as I am now finding out, it wasn't enough.I'm back at physical therapy once again, doing millions of squats, clamshells, and lunges, because I didn't do them before. Or at least enough of them.Turns out, afflictions like arthritis can be ameliorated by strength training. It' something we know, deep inside, but kind of ignore it because -- hey -- I feel fine, so I guess I don't need it.So, listen to Aunt Stubborn and don't skip leg day.