I first met Doug in 2012 for a trail run in Rock Creek Park. At the time, he had only been running for a few years but was quickly smitten by the peaceful grandiosity of trail running and exploring the woods.

As someone who ran his first marathon on a whim (he agreed to it after a few beers one night...), Doug quickly transformed himself into a competent and experienced trail ultramarathoner.

He's now run 100 miles (or more) five times. His idea of a fun weekend is going on a 12-hour adventure summiting peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains. And he has a 100-mile race coming up in May...

You might know Doug as the creative force behind Rock Creek Runner or as the cohost of No Meat Athlete Radio with Matt Frazier.

Or, from one of our earlier conversations about trail running.

But today we're not talking about trails or ultras. We're talking about development, progress, improvement, and growth.

We're discussing how Doug went from non-runner to ultra endurance athlete - and how you can, too.

Show Links & Resources:

Follow Doug on Instagram
Listen to the No Meat Athlete Radio podcast
Our sponsor SteadyMD
Periodization training for runners
How to set any goal time
Doug's 1st appearance on the podcast doing Q&A

I also want to thank SteadyMD for sponsoring this episode. SteadyMD pairs you with a primary care doctor, online who’s available via phone, text, or video for all of your needs.

And not just any doctor, but a fellow runner who understands the training process, your recovery needs, repetitive stress injuries, and can easily order you blood work, referrals for specialists, and more.

Visit SteadymD to learn more about this innovative medical service for endurance runners and reserve your spot.

125. The Ingredients of Improvement: How Doug Hay Progressed Over 10 Years

The Strength Running Podcast