Gotta Run Podcast

GRR #20 / KAT DREW (Top Canadian at Western States 100) GottaRunRacing

Kat Drew, one of Canada's top ultra runners, came 8th in the 2019 Western States 100 which earned her a spot in the 2021 Western States.  

While it was a different race experience, she was still able to finish under 24hrs which made her the top Canadian two years in a row.

We chat with Kat about her running career which includes her first place finish at Zion 100 and her Golden ticket race at the Canyons 100K.

This is her story...

 

You can follow Kat on Instagram here : katdrew

 

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GRR #19 / MICHELE GRAGLIA (Ultra Runner to Ultra Author) GottaRunRacing

Michele Graglia is a former top model and is currently one of the world’s top ultra runners. Since 2011, he has competed in over thirty ultramarathons all over the world, often winning and setting course records.

He has set Guinness World Records for his runs across the Atacama and Gobi deserts. His wins in the Yukon Arctic Ultra, with temperatures below -40oF, and the Badwater 135 in Death Valley, with highs above 130oF, made him the first person in history to win both the hottest and coldest foot races on Earth.

His motivational speaking has inspired thousands around the world.

His book ULTRA is now available Amazon here : ULTRA

 

You can follow Mickey on Instagram here : mickeygraglia

Check out Mickey's website here : michelegraglia.com

 

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You can also check out our Vodcasts on our Youtube Channel at Gottarunracing

GRR #18 / PAUL BONNETT (DFL AT WESTERN STATES 100 2021) GottaRunRacing

Paul Bonnett is no stranger to Western States 100.  He has raced it 6 times and helped pace his sister Karen to the finish line in 2017 which happened to be her epic DFL finish with only 9 secs left on the clock. 

When Paul toed the line at the 2021 WS100 he had no idea what would be in store for him and certainly didn't expect to relive what his sister Karen went through 5 years earlier.

But as history repeats itself, Paul realized that he was in the fight of his running career.  

Here is his Western States 2021 epic finish in his own words.

 

You  can follow Paul on Instagram here : ultrazbonnett

 

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GRR #17 / NOEL KINGSTON (His Epic Adventure At Cocodona 250) GottaRunRacing

When Noel first found out that the Cocodona 250 route would be going right through his hometown and it would coincide with his 56th birthday, he said "sign me up".

We chat with Noel about the heat, the DNF rate on the first day, the mountain lion sighting, how he spent his birthday and the beers along the way. 

This is one epic adventure you'll want to hear.

 

You can Follow Noel on Instagram here : ultragibroni

 

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You can also check out our Vodcasts on our Youtube Channel at Gottarunracing

GRR #16 / AILSA MACDONALD (2xs 100 Mile Winner, 2xs Ironman Winner) GottaRunRacing

Ailsa Macdonald is no stranger to endurance sports.  She began competing in Triathlons in her early 20s and went on to win the Canadian National Ironman in 2018 and Ironman Santa Rosa 2019.

 

Before that, she tried her hand at ultra running and in 2017 she won both the Canadian National 50k race and was the first winner overall at the Canadian National 100 miler at Sinister 7.

 

Her road to Western States started when she won the Black Canyon 100k beating Courtney Dauwalter to earn her a Golden Ticket in 2018.

 

Things didn't go to plan at WS100 2018 so she earned her second Golden Ticket with a win at Bandera 100k in 2020 and winning Tarewara 2020. 

 

Now she waits to cash in that Golden Ticket for WS100 2022.

 

Here is her story..    

 

You can Follow Ailsa on Instagram here : ailsamacdonaldrunner

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You can also check out our Vodcasts on our Youtube Channel at Gottarunracing

GRR #15 / SARAH SEADS (How She Won Western States 100 Lottery) GottaRunRacing

Sarah Seads from British Columbia began her running journey as an adventure racer. While she enjoyed multi discipline sports, she found herself excelling as a solo runner.

 

Not shy of long distances, the first ultra she completed was the Canadian Death Race, 125km in Grande Cache, Alberta.

 

After the Death Race, Sarah set her sights on Western States 100.  Her ticket race was The Lost Soul Ultra where she either won or placed the 3 times she completed them.  

 

Sarah became one of the Lucky Canadians when her name was called for the 2020 WS100.  Now she waits until she can finally compete.  

 

Here is her story..

 

You can Follow Sarah on Instagram here : wildseads

Check out Sarah's Coaching Website here : ELMHealth

Check out Sarah's Website here : wildseads

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GRR #14 / DAWN DESARMEAU (How I Lost 100 Lbs and became an Ultra Runner) GottaRunRacing

Dawn Desarmeau is an athlete who has struggled with her weight for years. When dieting and exercise failed, she elected to have a vertical banded gastroplasty in 1998. Ten years later, due to complications, she had to undergo corrective surgery. 

In 2011, she decided to go for a run around her block and hasn't looked back since. 

This is her journey from 5K to ultramarathons.

 

Dawn's Huffpost Article : Huffpost Article

 

You can Follow Dawn on Instagram here : ultradawn5

 

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You can also check out our Vodcasts on our Youtube Channel at Gottarunracing

GRR #13 / JESSE HULLEY (His Canadian Trail to Western States 100) GottaRunRacing

Jesse's journey into endurance sports began with obstacle racing, all the way to the world championship. He entered his first 100 miler The Sinister 7 in 2016 with a friend and never looked back.

His Canadian Journey to Western States 100 started in 2018 with his first qualifier The Canadian Death Race in which he ran twice.  He only needed two tickets to get his name pulled in the WS Lottery.

Now like the rest of the international runners, he awaits that day when he can finally toe the line at WS100.

 

You can Follow Jesse in Instagram here : united_ocr

 

Check out GottaRunRacing website here: gottarunracing.com

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You can also check out our Vodcasts on our Youtube Channel at Gottarunracing

GRR #12 / VINCENT GAUTHIER (His Canadian Trail to Western States 100) GottaRunRacing

Vincent's journey into endurance sports began with triathlon, eventually completing an Ironman. He later set his sights on Western States 100 and changed his training to focus on longer trail runs.  

His Canadian Journey to Western States 100 started in 2014 with his first qualifier Eastern States 100, followed up by Oil Creek 100 and never looked back.  His last ticket race was Twisted Branch 100k in 2019 when he finally heard his name pulled in the WS Lottery.

Now like the rest of the international runners, he awaits that day when he can finally toe the line at WS100.

 

You can Follow Vincent in Instagram here : ultra_vinceg

 

Check out GottaRunRacing website here: gottarunracing.com

Check out GRR Facebook here: GRRFacebook

Check out GRR Instagram here: GRRInstagram

You can also check out our Vodcasts on our Youtube Channel at Gottarunracing

GRR #11 / RICCARDO TORTINI (His Canadian Trail to Western States 100) GottaRunRacing

Riccardo's Canadian Trail to Western States started in 2014 with Pinhoti 100.  Along the way, Riccardo ran UTMB and The Canyons 100k 3 times to gain insight on the WS100 course. His final qualifier was the Javelina 100 in 2019 which led him to finally earn his ticket in the Lottery.  

Now like the rest of the international runners, he awaits that day when he can finally toe the line at WS100.

 

Riccardo's Coaching Website : teamrunrun

You can follow Riccardo on Instagram here : @rtortini

Strava here : riccardo tortini

 

Check out GottaRunRacing website here: gottarunracing.com

Check out GRR Facebook here: GRRFacebook

Check out GRR Instagram here: GRRInstagram

You can also check out our Vodcasts on our Youtube Channel at Gottarunracing