Dirt Nap Diaries
A trail running podcast for everyday trail runners juggling training with real life. Hosted by women’s trail running coach Brittany Olson, it’s where the messy, funny, and real parts of running meet strength, joy, and the reminder that you’re more than “just” a runner.
Episodes
47 episodes
Episode 46: Born to Climb: My Journey to Vert
I didn't build a love for climbing. I just finally stopped being surprised that it was already there.In this episode, I'm answering a question from one of my athletes and friends — how did I actually build my capacity for vert? Were ther...
Episode 45: Cocodona 250: Your Questions Answered
You asked, I answered. This episode is a full Cocodona 250 Q&A — your questions about training, gear, crew, the mental game, recovery, and everything in between. If you've been curious about what actually goes into running 253.4 miles, this...
Episode 44: Cocodona Mile 176 to the Finish: Left on Birch
Made it! The final stretch. Mile 176 to the finish line at Heritage Square in Flagstaff.This episode covers the solo section through the Foxboro habitat where I was navigating a tracker scare, chatting with a woman from the UK named Jen,...
Episode 43: Cocodona Mile 75 to Mile 176: The Long Middle
Mile 75 to mile 176 — and this stretch had everything.In this episode, I'm taking you from Whiskey Row through Watson Lake, across Fain Ranch, up and over Mingus Mountain in the dark, down into Jerome, across the Verde River, through red...
Episode 42: Cocodona Day One: The Desert, the Dark, and Why It Still Feels Like a Different Race
Day one of Cocodona 250 covered 75 miles — through the Sonoran desert, up into the Bradshaws, through the first night, and into Whiskey Row in Prescott. And honestly? It still feels like it happened in a completely different race. Maybe that's ...
Episode 41: Cocodona 250: What I Wish I Said at the Finish Line
This week’s episode isn’t a full race recap yet because my brain still feels a little scrambled from five days across Arizona. But after sitting with the experience, I wanted to talk about the things that mattered most once the finish time goal...
Episode 40: There’s more than one win: Celebrating all the things
You trained for it. You showed up. And somehow…you’re still telling yourself it wasn’t enough.In this episode, I’m talking about something I see all the time—runners finishing races (or not) and immediately going to what went wrong. Miss...
Episode 39: How Training Actually Builds: From General to Specific (And Why It Matters)
Training isn’t random—even if it sometimes feels like it when you’re in the middle of it.In this episode, I’m breaking down how a training block actually builds over time so you can stop second-guessing every shift in your plan. From ear...
Episode 38: The final phase of training: Taper like you mean it
You hit your last long run and now you’re just…supposed to back off? Yeah. That’s taper. And if you’ve ever felt weird during this time—physically, mentally, emotionally—you’re not alone. I’m in it right now heading into Cocodona 250, so this e...
Episode 37: 75 Human: Why You Don’t Need Another Hard Thing
This episode came straight from a run and a voice memo I actually remembered to record. We’re talking about 75 Hard program, why it’s so appealing, and why it might not be the answer for most of us…especially the women already juggling a full l...
Episode 36: Fueling for performance: Support the work you're doing
This week on Dirt Nap Diaries, I’m talking about eating for performance and why trying to lose weight while training for an ultra can backfire fast. We get into underfueling, heavy legs, poor recovery, brain fog, and why carbs are not the enemy...
Episode 35: Stop Asking the Internet: Trust Yourself Before Race Day
This week I’m talking about something I see all the time in online running spaces: people asking the internet last-minute race questions that should’ve been figured out way earlier in training.I get it—especially if it’s your firs...
Episode 34: Cocodona Training Camp: Trail Running over 3 days
In this episode of Dirt Nap Diaries, I’m breaking down my big Cocodona 250 training weekend where I did 3 back to back to back long runs on course, including the first section out of Black Canyon City, Hangover Trail in Sedona, and the climb up...
Episode 33: What Actually Matters in Trail Running: 3 Things I Care About More Than Pace
What actually matters in training? Honestly…not your pace.In this episode, I’m talking about the three things I care about more than pace when it comes to trail running and coaching: consistency over perfection, effort over...
Episode 32: Stop Policing Other People’s Finish Lines: Someone Else’s Medal Isn’t Your Problem
The internet has been losing its damn mind over the LA Marathon shortening their course because of heat.Suddenly everyone’s an expert on “integrity.” People arguing about medals. People deciding whether runners should e...
Episode 31: Effort Over Pace: Their Effort is Not Your Effort
Today we’re talking about effort over pace because if you don’t understand the difference, you’re way more likely to plateau, overtrain, or mentally spiral (and I don’t want that for you).Effort is the stimulus. Pace is the result.
Episode 30: Pacers in Ultra Running: Support System or Safety Blanket?
Pacers…they can be the best thing that happens to you at mile 80…or the reason you’re suddenly redlining, annoyed, and questioning every friendship you’ve ever had.In this episode, I’m breaking down what pacers are actually for ...
Episode 29: Aid Stations for Everyday Trail Runners: Efficient, Prepared, and Not Distracted
Aid stations can be a lifesaver… or a total time-suck spiral where you stand there eating random stuff, forget your poles, and walk away somehow less prepared than when you arrived.In this episode, we’re talking aid stations. No...
Episode 28: Crew: What They’re For, What They’re Not, and How to Use Them Well
Crew can be an incredible asset on race day and it can also quietly make things harder if expectations aren’t clear.In this episode, we’re talking about what crew is actually for, when it makes sense to have crew and how to use ...
Episode 27: Borrowed Confidence vs Earned Confidence: Why Trusting Yourself Comes From Reps
Confidence is something a lot of runners think they’re missing. Especially in trail running. Especially when things feel hard, messy, or inconsistent.In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between borrowed confidence ...
Episode 26: This Isn't Normal: Silence, ICE and Trump are the Enemy
This is not a normal episode.I recorded this on release day because staying quiet felt worse than showing up imperfectly. I didn’t have fully formed thoughts. I still don’t. And that’s the point.This episode isn’t about trail runn...
Episode 25: Not Everything Has to Be Hard: Training Smarter in a World Obsessed With Suffering
We’re taught that if training doesn’t feel hard, exhausting, or leave us sore, it must not be working. And that belief sneaks into everything…strength training, running, and honestly, life.In this episode, I’m talking about why hard<...
Episode 24: Running Research : Why It’s Not Always About You
Running research is everywhere. One study gets shared and suddenly it feels like there’s a “right” way to fuel, train, or perform — and if you’re not doing it, you’re behind.In this episode of Dirt Nap Diaries, I talk about why ...
Episode 23: New Year’s Resolutions Aren’t the Problem: Being a Dickhead About Them Is
New Year’s resolutions get a bad rap. And honestly? They don’t deserve it.In this episode, we’re talking about why wanting more for yourself is not the issue, why cynicism isn’t wisdom, and why we need to stop yucking other people’s yums...
Episode 22: When Shit Goes Sideways: Safety, Scars, and Still Chasing Big Dreams
Trail running is unpredictable. Weather changes. Bodies change. Plans fall apart. And sometimes, even when you do everything “right,” things still go wrong.In this episode of Dirt Nap Diaries, I talk about what happens when some...