When childhood friend Brayden Mills steps into the world of ultra-marathon running, he brings a couple of cans of Athletic Brewing and a story of transformation that's as inspiring as it is sweat-inducing. Join us as we ring in the new year with a deep exploration of Brayden's journey, where gym routines morph into the mental and physical odyssey of trail racing. Our chat isn't just about the miles logged or the landscapes conquered; it's a candid look at the essence of recovery, the joy of pushing past limits, and the universal nature of athletic discipline.
From hockey and high school memories to the defining moments that shape us, this episode unearths the life lessons tucked within the trials of endurance racing. We celebrate the joys of the process, dissect the competitive spirit that fuels ultra runners, and acknowledge the financial realities nibbling at the heels of those chasing podium dreams. It's a winding trail of anecdotes and insights, where Brayden and Dave traverse the topics of community, family influence, and the power of a goal that keeps you lacing up day after day.
Finally, to those poised at the starting line of their athletic ventures, we offer a rallying cry: seize the day, seize the dream. With a plethora of resources at your disposal in this digital age, the path from an ambitious goal to a triumphant finish is but a plan and a promise away. So, listen in, get inspired, and perhaps, you'll find yourself sharing your very own remarkable journey with us on a future episode.
Want to see more of the AP? Subscribe to the AP YouTube channel.
---
Check out Brayden's stuff:
Instagram
Trail Pirate Running
LinkedIn
Check out Dave's stuff:
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
---
Produced by Rise Virtually
***
Other episodes you might enjoy:
World Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper, Taylor Learmont (Little "T" Fitness), Bruce Boudreau (Vancouver Canucks), Rhonda Rajsich (Most Decorated US Racquetball player), Zach Bitter (Ultra Marathon Runner), Zion Clark (Netflix docuseries), Jana Webb (Founder of JOGA), Ben Johns (#1 Pickleball Player in the World)
Check out our Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Tiktok | Spotify | Apple | Google | Youtube
When childhood friend Brayden Mills steps into the world of ultra-marathon running, he brings a couple of cans of Athletic Brewing and a story of transformation that's as inspiring as it is sweat-inducing. Join us as we ring in the new year with a deep exploration of Brayden's journey, where gym routines morph into the mental and physical odyssey of trail racing. Our chat isn't just about the miles logged or the landscapes conquered; it's a candid look at the essence of recovery, the joy of pushing past limits, and the universal nature of athletic discipline.
From hockey and high school memories to the defining moments that shape us, this episode unearths the life lessons tucked within the trials of endurance racing. We celebrate the joys of the process, dissect the competitive spirit that fuels ultra runners, and acknowledge the financial realities nibbling at the heels of those chasing podium dreams. It's a winding trail of anecdotes and insights, where Brayden and Dave traverse the topics of community, family influence, and the power of a goal that keeps you lacing up day after day.
Finally, to those poised at the starting line of their athletic ventures, we offer a rallying cry: seize the day, seize the dream. With a plethora of resources at your disposal in this digital age, the path from an ambitious goal to a triumphant finish is but a plan and a promise away. So, listen in, get inspired, and perhaps, you'll find yourself sharing your very own remarkable journey with us on a future episode.
Want to see more of the AP? Subscribe to the AP YouTube channel.
---
Check out Brayden's stuff:
Instagram
Trail Pirate Running
LinkedIn
Check out Dave's stuff:
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
---
Produced by Rise Virtually
***
Other episodes you might enjoy:
World Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper, Taylor Learmont (Little "T" Fitness), Bruce Boudreau (Vancouver Canucks), Rhonda Rajsich (Most Decorated US Racquetball player), Zach Bitter (Ultra Marathon Runner), Zion Clark (Netflix docuseries), Jana Webb (Founder of JOGA), Ben Johns (#1 Pickleball Player in the World)
Check out our Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Tiktok | Spotify | Apple | Google | Youtube
It's kind of a full out sprint, almost 50 Ks of full out sprint.
David Stark:You're pushing the pace If you're being competitive.
David Stark:Hey, happy new year. Episode 208 of the athlete's podcast. Thanks for clicking on it. Braden Mills I've known for 20 plus years. We went to school as kids together. We've grown up over the past couple of decades and it was an honor to be able to feature him on the show today. If you haven't checked out his stuff, go check out his Instagram. He posts some inspirational content host running clubs on a weekly basis. I've been admiring his athletic endeavors over the past couple of years, so it was a well overdue episode. I'm glad you folks are here to listen to this episode.
David Stark:We talked about World Juniors, which, unfortunately, the Canadians are eliminated from. Hopefully, sweden can take that home as the host nation. In other news, the PWHL successfully hosted two games this past week, one in Toronto, one in Montreal. The PWHL is officially here and for that reason, cook Stark Management released their very own. We are pro women sports hoodies in collaboration with Stark hockey. Head on over to Stark hockey and use the code CSM 10 to get 10% off your very own Stark hockey CSM hoodie. Tag us on your social media when you're wearing this and we'll make sure to share it on all our social platforms and, if you'd like, hit a comment below, you'll be entered to win your very own hoodie. Don't forget about our athlete agreement. You folks clicked on this. We don't ask for anything in return other than you hitting that subscribe button, whether you're on Apple, spotify, podcasts, wherever you're listening, or watching where you should be watching as YouTube, so you can see this fire hoodie.
David Stark:Anyways, without further ado, let's get to episode 208, featuring Braden Mills. Here to educate, entertain and inspire the next generation of athletes, here we go. You're the most decorated racquetball player in US history, world's strongest man, from childhood passion to professional athlete, eight time Ironman champion. So what was it like making your debut in the NHL? What is your biggest piece of advice for the next generation of athletes, from underdogs to national champions? This is the athletes podcast, where high performance individuals share their triumphs, defeats and life lessons. To educate, entertain and inspire the next generation of athletes. Here we go. There's pros and cons to uh. To live in life on the road. Put it that way Little kickstart for uh. Cheers to the AP brewing.
Brayden Mills:Cheers, dude, no athletic brewing.
David Stark:Uh, this is where's the what's the what's the code? Braden 11,. Braden 10.
Brayden Mills:Braden 20, I think yeah, braden, 20, b-r-a-y-d-e-n. There you go.
David Stark:Discount no free ads here. Athletic brewing yeah yeah. What were we talking about though? Coffee in the morning. Living remotely, we have been traveling a lot. It's been crazy, but we've got to see it, like every part of the world outside of Phoenix where you just ran your crazy and taint run. How are you feeling after that?
Brayden Mills:Good, yeah, pretty good. Knees a bit, a little bit mangled, but it'll be fine. Yeah, it'll be good, you'll survive. Yeah, the uh. You've put on how many?
David Stark:miles over the past couple of years too, because you were previously the meat self-proclaimed meat head, now turned ultra marathon runner with. With the heck happened. How'd that change? I don't know man.
Brayden Mills:I, just when COVID hit, I, uh, I was big into the gym. Covid hit and I was like you know what, screw it, let's run a marathon. So I trained to do a marathon and also trying to improve my squat, mm-hmm, um kind of PR. And uh, I did it anyways, yeah. And then it was just like a domino effect and I was like, okay, let's get faster and faster. Um, and thankfully I moved out to beautiful BC and then fell in love with the trails, did a couple of trail races, um, did surprisingly well with, like, not really training for it. And then I was like, okay, I like this, and now I'm just all in. Yeah, I feel like you were training?
David Stark:Do you mean just not training to what you know now with the standards?
Brayden Mills:Yeah, dude Like it's crazy, like it's crazy. Like, just to look at it, like my volume back. My volume now, even comparison to like the top top pros is low. Right, like this past fall is the most I've ever ran and it's still not not enough to be the best, so I have to have stepped it up in the next year. So you're not putting up exact bid or numbers. No, maybe one day.
David Stark:I got to slowly build up so he did say that you just got to build up bit by bit. That's you know. But I feel like you've been on the grind for a couple of years and you still are putting up numbers. It's not like you're doing nothing.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, I put up, yeah, I think this should be. I put close to 3,500 K, which is good for sure. Um, especially considering what I did the past couple of years, it was a big jump. But yeah, compared to exact bid or numbers, it's probably probably a bit low.
David Stark:I feel like that put you in the top 10 of Strava though.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, I got the year end yesterday yeah. It was top two, top two percent Top two.
David Stark:Yeah, no big deal that's. That's worth the athletic green sponsorship right there, the uh. You said, though, that you've like taken the gas off a bit right now.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, coming into, because I've been going pretty hard at it since the spring. Yeah, um, and I was. Just as soon as the daylight savings, it got darker and rain here in Vancouver, pacific Northwest. Oh man, it's brutal Like it's beautiful, but in the winter, you know like.
David Stark:It's only about five hours of it. Yeah, I got to get out of the charge. That's why we've been traveling so much. Get the vitamin D so it comes in the sun, yeah.
Brayden Mills:But I just burnt out, I was done with it, like I didn't enjoy going out for runs the last couple months or last month, I should say. Before the race, before the race Um and yeah, if you look at my training, it kind of actually went down, my coach.
David Stark:Let you know.
Brayden Mills:Rinsed me after the race, but um, yeah, I just need some time to like. I've ran a couple of times since the race, but I need to take just a couple of weeks off. What was that?
David Stark:like 50? It was 50 miles. Yeah, just wrapping your head around doing 50 miles is one thing, then completing it as another, like looking back. What would you have changed? Would you just ran more, ran harder?
Brayden Mills:Um, rance, run smarter. Okay, I have a tendency of going out way too hot and all the races and like in a 50 K distances I can hold that Like I never usually blow up because it's the grand scheme of things. Compared to the long, long distances, it's not that long, it's kind of a full out sprint. Almost 50 Ks of full out sprint, not necessarily, but like you're pushing the pace.
David Stark:If you're being competitive.
Brayden Mills:Um and the 50 miles. I'm still trying to really find my good spot, kind of where to pace myself because I go out too hot. Um, and that was a conversation I had with my coach prior to this race. He's like don't get caught up with the front pack. He's like like be mature.
Brayden Mills:Anyways, we took off and like they went out so fast it's super hot. Like we were doing like between four to four 10 K pace on the trail for like the first 30 K. And just the guy like David Roche, one I don't know if you're familiar I should be he, you can check him out. So he, he coaches a lot of the pros but he's also a savage himself, so he won the race. But anyways, they went out hot.
Brayden Mills:I ended up kind of falling off near the end. Um, and I can get into more of that later, but yeah, I still did well. But uh, coach was like, yeah, you blew up, he went out way too hot and he's like if you would have went slower at the beginning, yeah, it would have been hard, like in your mind, because they're way ahead of you, but he's like you would have made time and probably caught up with them near the end. So that's what I got to work on. Was your goal to win it? Yeah, coming into my goal was this is probably one of the most competitive races I've done, so I wanted to do top five. Okay, I wanted to podium. There was money on the line, um, but yeah, it didn't necessarily happen.
David Stark:So how does the hockey player that I grew up with playing house league hockey in semi-MU end up, you know, trying to podium, come top three in these 50 mile races? Cause that's one thing, we've had 200 episodes plus on the show and it's you know. We're featuring Olympians, high performers, nhl and MLB, nba. But we also got to showcase the real athletes, the everyday athletes, whether they're weekend warriors. People are putting up marathon numbers Like dude running a 410 kilometer pace is ridiculous on a trail to begin with. Then to try and put that over 50 miles, um, I can see why you blew up. I'm not having much experience at that distance. I can see why. But, like, let's maybe rewind, give some context to the listeners around our relationship. Yeah, cause we knew each other well before you became the world class athlete that you are.
Brayden Mills:Dude, the first, and I was thinking about this the other day, one of the first memories I have. So I was 11. I turned 11 on the flight moving out to BC, to White Rock, where we lived. Yeah, and I remember joining hockey semi-emo Ravens, and it was a couple of weeks or like a week already into the season or something. I remember coming to the dressing room and, uh, I've, there was nobody else in the dressing room yet except for you. I don't know if you remember this at all. I'm it's jogging some memory but.
Brayden Mills:I remember going to the dressing room and like you were putting on your pads you were the only guy there so far, um, but anyways, you were like one of the first like friends I met there, yeah, so I remember that.
David Stark:Eager beaver showing up really getting the gear on. That's the goal.
Brayden Mills:he struggles, you know, so that was probably the first memory of you. And then I have another funny story. Let's hear it dude I, I, we didn't go over this, so I'm ready to hear no-transcript.
Brayden Mills:So every time I'm talking to my dad and I mentioned you, he always brings this up. So I thought it was funny, I'm gonna bring it up. So I don't know, if you remember, we went to the Vancouver Canucks. It wasn't a game, but the St Louis Blues were in town, okay, and it was a practice. I think, and I don't, do you recall this at all.
Brayden Mills:Okay. So Manny legacy yeah, okay. So he was the goal at the time for the St Louis Blues. He grew up and played hockey with my dad, so they're good buddies, okay, and and so we got invited to the practice. I don't know, like before they get you.
David Stark:Yeah, this is jogging memory, so anyways, I remember you.
Brayden Mills:You came with me and we went down to the practice and whatever, I end up with a stick or something. Yeah, someone gave a stick. I think my brother took it. Yeah, I think my brother took it, but it was good. Kachuk stick.
David Stark:No.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, dude, the curve on it too is crazy. It's still at the house back home.
David Stark:Oh yeah, we need a little memorabilia. I'm gonna have to buy that off.
Brayden Mills:Your brother put in our studio and on the knob to it says To David Stark, to David Stark yeah. Well, in the knob dude it says Teran, matthew and Brady yeah.
David Stark:Wow, you know that's a, that's a piece of wood that you want to keep. Yeah, holy dine, I know where I was going with.
Brayden Mills:The funny story, though, is we were coming back, dad I don't remember this, but my dad always brings it up. Lady Gaga and poker face was on in the back in the drive-thru, and you were going pop up Poker face. My dad always brings it up, so I had to bring it up.
David Stark:Look at that, mr Mills. Just remember, in the good old days, I think we had a school project that we were submitting that was In line with that song for some reason, so I had to memorize it. That's perfect, dude. I was trying to think back because we played on the same team a couple years, right, yeah, and you know I was letting in goals left, right and center. But we did spend a lot of time together in high school and then it was like probably a four-year hiatus between yeah well, uni and then we meet back at Brock Randomly and then go again another four years without.
David Stark:Yeah, here we are cheers to that chairs did I, and now you're just living with Kyle and Kevin 24 7365 Cycling training with them. Yeah, kev still seems like he's got it on all his Insta stories on the swing, the golf.
Brayden Mills:Well, yeah, after this pod, we're going out later, are you? Yeah, we're gonna go just to the goat pasture down the road. Who's?
David Stark:uh, who's? That's a pretty competitive group between the three of you you, kyle and Kev.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, that's what we're doing, though, yeah, kev will kick our. Can we swear, yeah, kicker ass, kev will kick our ass in golf. Yeah, you, probably. You know you're a good golfer.
David Stark:He, he doesn't kick my ass quite as bad he might now, but okay, I've got some work to do to keep up with him.
Brayden Mills:He's just got good hand-eye man on real.
David Stark:He's always had it since we were 10, 12, 16 years old, every single time, whether it was baseball, ping pong golf, yeah.
Brayden Mills:Ping pong, oh yeah, even pool. We played pool last night and he rinsed us on that.
David Stark:Yeah, yeah, it's a you know what. He was one of those ones. It was always fun playing with him because at least I had someone who I was always gonna be challenged by.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, that way?
David Stark:Yeah, it was BS frustrating at times, but what are you gonna do? Yeah, did you end up playing hockey at Brock after like intermurals and stuff?
Brayden Mills:Yeah, put in a murals.
David Stark:Yeah yeah, for a bit it was fun. That was the best playing at 1 am In the morning.
Brayden Mills:I was gonna say straight I remember we did one game. Yeah, I don't necessarily do this anymore but, I, remember we went to the bar and then it we we'd like strategically Made it work. We would already have a van or a car there to put the bags in after the game. So we ubered there, had the gear there, already played hockey and it was a good time.
David Stark:I mean when you got moose Wednesdays and then you have a hockey game at 1 30 in the morning, it's only natural to make sure you get dollar beers. Yeah, I moves prior to hitting up the the rink. I'm dude, I just look back at like how much you've progressed from and actually how we both have realistically. But what's the then kind of Spur, the moment thing that gets you to sign up for a 50k, that gets you to sign up for a 50 mile or Sign up for Canadian death race, like what? What compels you to do that?
Brayden Mills:Well, it all started, covid, like I said, when the gym shut down, dude, I did a marathon and I kind of fell in love with running and I just love the process Because I think we live in a day and age where we have access, and I think you will be on the same page with this. We have the access to the internet to learn anything like you can find a free marathon program, you tube video.
David Stark:You know we'd also love to hear from you guys, specifically the males watching this athletes podcast episode. What are you guys doing for your face? You guys are probably brushing your teeth every day, but are you washing your face? Are you applying the good every night to make sure that you're hydrated, moisturized, making sure that your skin looks young, youthful, glowing?
David Stark:I personally use caldera lab. I start off my day by washing my face with the clean slate. You can tell it's still wet. That's because I used it this morning. Then I follow it up. I throw on the nice little icon here in the middle underneath the eyes, keeps those black, dark spots away, and then, to finish it off, we use the beard product to make sure that the beard is looking nice and full. Check out caldera lab calm. Use the code AP 20 for 20% off yours. It's the best deal that they offer anywhere out there, and I can't recommend the products enough. I use caldera lab every single day. As you can tell, my skin's looking alright and I'm very happy with it, to say the least. I Want to know, though, if you're using it. Let us know down below.
Brayden Mills:Guys promise you're gonna love it and remember always thinking I want to be that guy one day. You know who's done a marathon, whatever, and I still think that's so cool. But then once you do it, it's just like a domino effect. It's like, okay, what else can I do? So after doing that, like I said, I was just like okay, let's do it faster. And then I was like, okay, if I do this, like I definitely can do an ultra, if I just follow a plan and then do an ultra, and then now I'm competitive with it and I want to try to go pro. So I think I just kind of fell in love with the process of it and just if you have a plan, you follow it and then once you finish it, it's like holy smokes and just Translates in every other aspect of your life.
David Stark:Well, that is the biggest thing. I think people don't realize how much athletics Transition to real life, business, etc. And people are like, oh, I don't listen to the athletes podcast because I'm not a marathon runner, I don't lift weights or I don't play pro hockey and it's like no, everyone should listen to the athletes podcast because, at the end of the day, we're all human beings, we're all athletes and, realistically, anyone's capable of going and running a marathon, I'm going like.
David Stark:I Mind boggled and people like, oh, I'm gonna sit on my couch and just chill for the weekend. Maybe just take a little Braden Mills Strategy and just put a little plan in place, go for a run, see where it takes, you just do it right, just yeah, it's so good and I think you really will fall in love with it.
Brayden Mills:And I've been lucky that I've actually fell in love with ultra running. Like you said, to sign up for these longer distances, your kind of view on things change. Like a 50k was whoa, like that's out of the out of this world, but then, like I said, once you do it, it's okay. That wasn't too bad, mm-hmm, what's? Let's work on it, let's do something farther, let's go farther, let's go faster. And yeah, maybe have to be a different kind of person to do those longer distances. But I find when you're out there and you kind of, if you enjoy the software, you kind of get addicted to it. I mean just that feeling when you finish, it's just Nothing else like it what's going through your mind, a mile forty to mile forty nine.
Brayden Mills:Honestly, dude like training. I'm always thinking, but during a race I go into such a weird zone like your headphones no I never listen really to music. Okay, running sometimes if I'm training, but not usually races, never. I just go into a weird I know everyone's saying this now but like a flow state, like I just get in this weird flow state, man on a race and everything's just Doesn't feel like I'm out there for eight hours, like it feels like I'm out there for an hour, it's just everything's just tunnel vision.
David Stark:And then you don't have anything. You're reminding yourself like a mantra, keeping yourself kind of in that sense state or flow state.
Brayden Mills:Not necessarily a mantra. I think Like I really want to. It's something I love and I'm passionate about and I want to kind of take this sport like, take my like, go professional and take it to the next level. So I have that kind of in the back of my mind and I think part of that is trying to inspire other people. Like you said, like I was a house league hockey player, like if you asked me five years ago I would not be in the position I am. So I think, like just every ordinary person, if you just put in the work follow plan, like you can do some crazy shit.
David Stark:So yeah, I'm I'm going to. I don't know we've there's a tentative time in February that there's a 50 K going on. I think it's in the interior. I don't know if you know the one that I'm talking.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, I think you sent this to me. Yeah, something moves or something, yeah.
David Stark:I can't remember. Maybe I'll throw my phone to Phoenix. No, she'll look it up at some point. The my uncle and I were chewing on an idea of doing that. I also need to put on some serious miles because I don't have these legs ready for it. But I feel like to your point if you set out a plan. I had a buddy, bobby Ryan, shadow Tim. He did like a 50 K within a month and then he just did a 50 Miler, heck, yeah. And he, like you know I know he's got an engine that's crazy went, played for Colorado University skiing team but played for he's same thing. Either way. It was like you know, we've been on runs together and I know the work ethic that's required and I feel like at that point Zach Bitter even said during his episode it's like it's not ultra marathon running. At that point it's you're just completing it.
David Stark:Yeah it's not really a run you're, it's a jog some hiking right so to me I'm like okay, even if I wasn't running the entire time, I could get this done. I got long legs. Even if I just use the long strides, maybe I can make it happen, and I'm at the leanest I'm probably ever going to be. So I feel like I should try and take advantage of that man. I feel like we got to drag you out, though we got to get Jason.
Brayden Mills:If it's in February, I'm in.
David Stark:Okay, okay.
Brayden Mills:I'm kind of making my schedule for the year right now, so so maybe we have to tentatively do that.
David Stark:Putting this out there will hold me accountable. I'll have two months to do it. David Hutchison, who's a founder of Engel Mag, my uncle, he'll be joining. We're going to do it.
Brayden Mills:Well, that's your uncle. Yeah, I saw you post stuff before. You're your cousin too, right the place.
David Stark:Yeah, he's playing for the Giants. That's what we're going to go watch tonight actually.
Brayden Mills:Oh sick yeah. Yeah, go watch them play.
David Stark:shout out to Maddie Gonna, put a shout out against the Prince George Cougars. Hopefully no, it's, I think, like the running community is way tighter than any other group I've experienced also, and I don't even, I'm not even in it like, but I can see it.
Brayden Mills:Dude, it's insane and I think there is a difference to running as a whole. Yeah, huge community, but I also think it's a little bit of a stronger bond, stronger community in the ultra trail space. True, yeah, it's just. I find it's as much as people want to win and you're competitive out there there's also like a.
Brayden Mills:It's just like everyone's just trying to do the best they can and everyone's supporting each other and everyone's out there to just have fun at the same time. That's what I love about it, and they're just. Everyone likes to have a good time after two. Like it's not all work. There's a little bit of fun involved, that's just. I love it.
David Stark:What's you said there is money involved, like what does a podium finish?
Brayden Mills:when you depends where you are, like what race it is. Like what's? There's a big 100 miler down like leadville not leadville. Leadville might have some prize money on it. I'm not 100% sure. Run rabbit run usually has some solid prize money. Like what are we talking? 5k, yeah, up to that I think like. Fourth place was like 2500 bucks or something this one wasn't anything crazy. I think first place was like the Arizona race.
David Stark:First place was 1500, 750 for second and like pays for your flights to get there Exactly.
Brayden Mills:It's nothing crazy. That's the whole thing with ultra running right now. I don't know if you've heard much about it, teach me. There's just this kind of I don't want to call it a divide, but there's. Oh bobo our dogs coming in.
David Stark:Hello the load up.
Brayden Mills:No oh that's okay. The divide with ultra running.
David Stark:Oh yeah.
Brayden Mills:Again, I shouldn't call it a divide. It's not a divide, but there's kind of ultra running is in a tough spot right now because trailer and ultra running is one of the fastest growing outdoor kind of sports right now and a lot of people really want to professionalize it and some people don't and some people want to do both. But just really keep the integrity of the community aspect. Okay, where there's some controversy, with UTMB right now taking over smaller races like the Coast Mountain Trail race, I don't know if you've heard that.
David Stark:So there's yeah, there's some stuff to be talked about, but I think that's why there was, like it was through this Zach Bitter thread on Twitter that my uncle and I were chatting about this February moose one.
Brayden Mills:Okay.
David Stark:Because the UTMB was taking over and, like this, was not private yet, or something along those lines. I don't know.
Brayden Mills:Yeah. So yeah, I don't really probably shouldn't get too much into it Okay okay. But yeah, there was a race in Whistler by Coast Mountain Trail. They tried to do it for next year, basically, and they got shut out by some other companies not going to say. And then UTMB came in and all of a sudden has a race in Whistler next year. But the community is so strong that a lot of them aren't going to go.
Brayden Mills:They're backing Gary Robbins and the true BC Trail community. But there's a fine line because you still want to professionalize the sport but you also want to make sure all these smaller organizations that actually kind of started ultra running are still together, if you will.
David Stark:So it's a complicated one, yeah, and it's, is it? Gary Robbins? Gary Robbins, yeah. Okay. So, gary Robbins, the athletes podcast is with you. We'll be supporting your runs. Bc Proud He'd be a good guy to get on too, yeah 100%.
David Stark:I feel like I need to do a race, though, so that I can actually connect with these guys, because, you know, I played hockey. I can do a bit of it. Zach Bitter's like man, what's this guy doing? I mean, he's, you know, my longest run, probably 20k. I'm just short of like a half marathon. I'm definitely going to do the marathon at some point, but I might end up doing an ultra before a marathon.
Brayden Mills:Just go all in man, just do it.
David Stark:Start big. Yeah, go big, or go home, right, I figure, if I can. I don't know eventually the goal to get like New York or Boston in there, but you got to be running sub three for that angle.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, you could do it. Yeah, you could probably put in. You never know like you could crush it on your first one, but I would say, if you gave yourself a year or two, yeah, and you're putting in hard work, yeah.
David Stark:Okay.
Brayden Mills:Because you're fit like. I think you could do it.
David Stark:Yeah, are you going to come with?
Brayden Mills:I could, man. I think, like I've kind of been shifting away from the roads, I just I fell in love with the trails and I find it's where I'm most competitive. Okay, I think, like genetics play a part definitely in both, but I think genetics play a little bit more of a part in road running. I think ultra running is a little bit more Just your grittiness, toughness out there, mental toughness, and I think it both reward hard work for sure. Yeah, I think ultra running rewards hard work a little bit more.
David Stark:Yeah, well, I need you need a little bit more of that mental grit, because you don't know what you're running into next. What, yeah, what the ground underneath you looks like, right, yeah, you can count on concrete most of the time to be flat. Yeah, exactly, can't count on that for trail run. Do you have a favorite that you love to do here locally?
Brayden Mills:Trail run favorite.
David Stark:Oh, like I used to go dog mountain up on gross yeah, yeah and like that's just. I love that trail, it's beautiful up there and you get a sick view at the end. We haven't done the gross grind yet, but I need to take her there. That's, that's a real grind. Yeah, it's a good, good little place to do some workouts, but like we do the chief basically every time we're back in town. That's good to you.
Brayden Mills:At the end I Would say my favorite one in BC. It's really popular. But, like in terms of trail running, it it's sick. Oh, doing a hike to but Panorama rid, yeah, have you done it?
David Stark:I did a black tusk. I haven't done a lot. What's the? You get to the one Lake, the look, it's like three and a half hours to get Garibaldi Lake. Thank you, yeah, yeah, so Garibaldi beautiful. So that's one thing that I want to get her to too, but so black tusk is like another couple hours above it right.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, it's kind of on the other side. So me and my buddies in the summer we did a run where we ran up to black tusk and then come down and go up Panorama and that's just so sick because, like, the views are insane. I'd say that's probably my top in BC, just because the views are nuts. Yeah, but probably my favorite trail to train on on the North Shore is the Bain Powell. Okay, because you can go from like one side all the way to deep Cove. It's super technical, lots of elevation, lots of climbing. So if you're like training for a technical race, like it's just a good spot to put in some work.
David Stark:Were you doing a black tusk with Connor eminy or?
Brayden Mills:Don't think he made it that day his brother came with us that day yeah. I don't know where Connor was. Connor's killing it right though he's crushing it too, man.
David Stark:There's a lot of savages out here on the West Coast, you got a good group man. You guys are after. He's coffee with Connor every morning. Yeah he's killing that, and then he's gonna be when's his Race.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, so he's training to do an Iron man triathlon in Antarctica. I believe it's February.
David Stark:Okay, could be January. I'm pretty sure it's February, though and that'll be him seven for seven, correct.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, he'll do an Iron man on every continent, first person to do it, so it's crazy.
David Stark:That's wild and because you guys are training basically at least once a week or bi-weekly together.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, we got it for runs and stuff. We usually run together. I don't swim, especially not in the cold. And Biking, yeah, like I said, I have a road bike but I prefer just to run so we'll get out for runs.
David Stark:There you go. Why? Why only running, do you just? Is it what you excel at?
Brayden Mills:Yeah, yeah, that's what I excel at like so you're like me you lean into what you exactly do what you're good at.
David Stark:I'm not a good swimmer and I don't swim frequently. I swam during our try-to-try and that was it safe to say. I won't be doing seven, iron man, I'm seven, you never know. I know. I should say that now, probably in a decade, we'll look back, maybe we'll clip this, maybe we'll have done it. But what is there stuff on your like bucket list that you want to accomplish, kind of the way he has?
Brayden Mills:Yeah, I've thought about it. I think right now I'm just kind of training up but I want to be really competitive at the races. Like I've been lucky to podium on a few and a 1-1, and now next year like I'm really putting in work so I'd say bucket list or big goal. My biggest goal for the year is Squamish 50 miler in August. So that's they're hosting the Canadian championships this year. It's a very ambitious goal. So I'll have to put in a lot of work and I'm sure I'm gonna have to have some luck out there Because there's some savages running like best of Canada. All those guys and girls are going. But if you place top two you make team Canada. So you could go to the championships which last year was in Austria here before was in Thailand. So that would be up there.
David Stark:So and then so you're representing your country at that point and that it like what are those world? Is it a world championship? Yeah, and then where's that hosted that? You said it's in Austria.
Brayden Mills:I don't know exactly where it is next year that changes every year but this past year was Austria and the year before was Thailand.
David Stark:Okay, and then because we've had guys like Evan Dunfee, who's like a race.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, he's from Richmond, right.
David Stark:Yeah so, but and I look at what he's capable of doing at such an insane distance while keeping both feet on the freaking floor. He's so good. So you know Evan as well.
Brayden Mills:I don't personally know him, but I remember doing, a couple years ago, a half road marathon or something like that. Um, we're running and I remember coming back on a section and he's what is race walking. Yeah, and he was like passing so many people running, I was like this is, this is wild that would be such a demoralizing thing, to witness, as you're huffing along and this guy just walks beside you like I'd hit the frog. Still impressive.
David Stark:I've been struggling. Oh man, I uh. It's crazy. The different athletes that we've had the opportunity to talk with, and he's one that stands out because most people don't even know how to race, walking works to begin with. Yeah, the fact that you have to keep both feet on the ground like that part's intense on its own. Then you throw in his kd sponsorship, where he's just crushing craft dinner all the time.
David Stark:I didn't know that he's got a wicked combo. Um, we need a slightly healthier version of a partnership on the outfits podcast, but that's what we keep crushing. Athletic brewing right cheers, uh, code braiden 20 Thank you. Yeah, there you go, free stop.
Brayden Mills:I guess this is kind of a fun fun story. I didn't talk, I didn't bring it up when you were talking with the Arizona race. So, yes, I went out too hot and I didn't do as well as I wanted, but I also lost 20 to 30 minutes of time during that race. I was probably around 55K and in the longer distances the women are so much smarter than us guys and they know how to pace, so we go too hot. And then, around 55K, I look behind me and the top females zoom in and I was like you're cruising right now you can go ahead of me. So I jumped aside off the trail and I hit. Usually here running, you just hit a tree brush like just brushes your leg, no big deal, and I hit a cactus. I don't know if you knew that I did not know that.
Brayden Mills:So I had three like cactus balls this big stuck inside my leg. It actually still was bruised and anyways I had to stop. Thankfully she was like you have to flick them off when she ran by, because I'm not never ran in the desert before. So I snapped the branch off and had to like flick it off my leg and then I had 10K to the next aid station and then, once I got there, I had to sit down for like 10, 15 minutes and they pulled out all the whatever you want to call it, like bristles or what are they?
Brayden Mills:Holy crap so that was an experience. I'm kind of glad it happened, even though it put me back in the race. I think I. After that I finished six male 10th overall. I would have been sixth overall, I wasn't the dang cactus but it was a funny story.
David Stark:That'll be a little extra fuel motivation for you for the next race, though. See that thing. She told you that on the way.
Brayden Mills:I would have no idea. I attempted to run with them in my leg like the whole cactus and then it was like bouncing up and down and then I'm like, oh, kyle and Kevin weren't there to save you. What the heck.
David Stark:No, dude, they were there at the finish line, yeah.
Brayden Mills:And then we hit the med tent, but it was wild and even now it's completely healed. But if I push down on one spot I get like a nerve thing coming up. I'm not worried about it, but yeah, it's weird. Who knows what it is. So what kind of cacti? It was like three feet tall. It wasn't like your typical, like tall kind of T-shaped kind of cactus. It was like, you know, burrs. It was almost like that, but like this size. So like three of them. Like just all of a sudden, as soon as I hit, the cactus just came off on my leg.
David Stark:It doesn't sound like fun.
Brayden Mills:It wasn't fun, but it's a story.
David Stark:Yeah, it's a good story, Dude. Kudos to you for finishing. Cheers, dude. That's no fun. And then were the medics like anything to worry about, or they just let you go with no stress.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, they just cleaned it up and I was asking. I was like, yeah, like do I have to do anything, Cause I was kind of on vacation in Arizona?
David Stark:after this race.
Brayden Mills:I was like I'm going in the pool and the hot tub and they're like yeah, no worries, You're good. So hopefully, like I said, it's still not a hundred percent, but hopefully it'll heal up.
David Stark:It was a little warm there compared to running Pacific Northwest.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, I was. Thankfully it wasn't too hot. I was one thing I was worried about because personally I I'm not good in the heat. I've had some bad experiences in the heat for races. Thankfully during race day it was only like low twenties.
David Stark:Oh, okay. Yeah, so it was good, yo uh world junior is coming up. Are you going to be watching? Oh yes, are you staying here? Are you going back to Ontario?
Brayden Mills:I am flying to Ontario next Friday and then I'll be back here just before New Year's. Oh yeah, okay.
David Stark:I'm probably to the island to go watch it with the fam. That's where grandparents all over so spend a couple of days over there. It's family tradition that you watch. Oh yes, canada, hopefully, man it's fun, it's our fingers.
David Stark:I feel like we're fortunate to grow up in a nation where basically every year we're guaranteed somewhat of a podium finish. Yeah, at least in those finals, semifinal matches and, like dude, that's what I grow up loving to watch. Hopefully Maddy's there in two years down in Vegas playing for them. Is he drafted by Vegas? No, but that's where the world juniors are in two years.
David Stark:So he's 17 now, so he'll be like that'll be his 19 year old year, so, fingers crossed, nice, yeah, one of us goalies has got to make it. I wasn't doing that, so you know we got to put in the rest of the fam. Live vicariously through them. How are your brothers doing, though? Are they good? Yeah? I saw your brother was running too.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, my youngest brother, park's been running. Yeah, he's been kind of getting into it. He played junior hockey up until last year, so he's finished up. So he's trying to figure out. You know what he wants to get into and I think he likes running. I was going to say you're going to kick him into it. I think he'd be good at it. So, yeah, he's doing well. My other brother, riley's doing great too, and parents are doing well. Dad's running a bit.
David Stark:Dude, no way. Yeah, we were saying before we started recording his LinkedIn content gets me fired up. The sales approach. I love it.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, he's on there and then mom's doing well too. She's my mom runs a lot as well, okay so.
David Stark:Was that instilled? Yeah, I think it was.
Brayden Mills:We never did races really, but yeah, just growing up I was thankful to live in kind, no-transcript, fit, healthy family like my dad's. One heck of a hockey player still probably would kick my ass today Really maybe not speed wise, but yeah, he's good. Okay, and then my mom's always ran, so I'm sure that has played an effect.
David Stark:Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, it's interesting. I think the nature versus versus nurture thing is important and a lot of people Question whether they should have their kids in athletics. How much should they be putting them in what sports?
David Stark:It's like every sport as much as you possibly can get them outside, not sitting on technology, yes, 100% that way, whether they want to be a runner, whether they want to be a hockey player or football player, they at least have those skills and they're not working upstream after you know 10, 12 years old, because that's the worst. I know we have friends who we grew up watching who weren't athletic, and Makes it tough for life afterwards. Yes, indeed, and you want to be able to move around and enjoy life? Yeah, go for runs with friends right?
Brayden Mills:Yeah, go out on. Like it's nice when you get to a point where you can just go Okay, let's go run a 10k. Yeah, right, we're gonna do that we almost this morning?
David Stark:Yeah, we should have, maybe we'll do it. What are you saying tomorrow? I?
Brayden Mills:Could be down tomorrow. We, yeah, I'm not on a training block right now, so I'm game such in Latte, who we had on the pod.
David Stark:He's a former first responder work for Border services and he ran 22 marathons in 22 days over the summer, see the big, like pretty muscular. Yeah, I saw that one and so he ran from Rebels Stoke to Victoria, raised a crazy amount of money for honor hosts, but one of the things that he does every Sunday now is like a local run in white rock.
Brayden Mills:Okay.
David Stark:I'm figured we should rip that with him. He's doing some stuff with Lulu. We're gonna start doing some stuff with Lulu sick involved. We should have some fun. I'll be bringing up the rear, but you know, We'll get some miles in and that'll be fun, like how you actually yeah, crap for this, what you were doing, whether it's like nutrition, what that day in the life of Braden Mills looked like.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, as a future pro For sure, um, so I'll be honest nutrition wise, I'm pretty boring. Yeah, all my friends will say I'm not the greatest cook. I'm not. I am very simple. During the week, my dinner is usually consists of sweet potatoes and ground elk or ground beef nice, and then on the other side of that it would just be like a stir-fry with tofu or Ground beef again.
David Stark:Okay, you're on the tofu grind.
Brayden Mills:Yeah, I, I, one of my, like buddy's NSC is vegan. And lunch time Lunchtime yeah, honestly, I'll probably just have eggs, turkey bacon, piece of toast. Terms of like race nutrition. I usually, before like training, I'll have some oatmeal. Before race, it's always oatmeal, and then during the race, as much as I don't really enjoy it, but I just pound gels, gels and then some tailwind electrolyte drink. Okay, 45 minute gel every 45 minutes, that's it. It's pretty much it yeah.
Brayden Mills:April syrup, no, just just gels man. Okay, and in some of the longer distances, like the death race, yeah, I stop and actually had some actual food like I brought some like frozen waffles type thing, just jam it in, but yeah, that's pretty much it what?
David Stark:what did that death race take you how long?
Brayden Mills:16 hours, it's like two-thirds of your day. Honestly had a hard time sleeping the first night. Yeah, imagine so much caffeine with all the gels all day. Yeah, you're mangled after a race. Yeah because you're just consuming sugar and caffeine the whole day. Yeah, it takes a few days to kind of get back to normal.
David Stark:That would be not fun anything afterwards you did to like make sure your legs were in jello recovery Norma Check it up, or what.
Brayden Mills:No, I. Thankfully my body's been pretty resilient. I recovered fairly quickly this pass race. Just sat in the hot tub with with the boys. Yeah, kind of recovered that way.
David Stark:That's all Kyle does. Hey, yeah, huge hot tub guy. Yo Braden, can't thank you enough for coming on this one.
Brayden Mills:It's been great to catch up.
David Stark:Long overdue. We'll get. We'll see you in another four years You'll be pro, but not 7,000 miles every year. It'll be ridiculous. You know, as we wrap up every episode, biggest piece of advice for that next gen you want to drop it here.
Brayden Mills:Sure, I think I already kind of said it, but I think, like, just don't over complicate it and whatever you want to do, just do it. Like I said, we live in a day and age wave of access to learn everything through the internet. So if you want to run a marathon, go find a plan online and just do it. Just follow a plan and then At the end of the day you're gonna do it and then it's just a domino effect from there. So I'd say, just do it.
David Stark:Listen to Nike and Braden. Just do it. And then, if you do run that marathon, drop your name down below and then we'll reference you in the next episode and Braden will be the one that inspired you to do it. There we go, beauty you know.
Brayden Mills:thanks for being good, bobo. It is an honor. Thanks, man. Appreciate it, dude, anytime.