Max Janatsch Golden Hour Adventures

What does it take to train for 100-mile races. In this episode, we sit down with Max a fire academy technician by day and ultrarunner by passion to talk about everything from his first steps into the sport to toeing the line at some of the most iconic races in the country. Whether you're a seasoned trail runner or just ultramarathon-curious, Max's story is equal parts practical and inspiring. How Max got into ultrarunning — the moment a regular runner becomes someone who voluntarily runs 50+ miles through the mountains Balancing a demanding career with endurance training — how shift work, physical fatigue, and mental load factor into a training plan Training strategies that actually work — race prep, building mileage, and how to peak at the right time Gear breakdown — Max's go-to shoes, packs, and hydration systems, and why he chose them Fueling for the long haul — nutrition strategies from training runs to mid-race aid stations Race stories from the trail — including his experiences at Western States, Born to Run, and more Handling the hard stuff — weather, tough terrain, and the mental game when things go sideways The ultrarunning community — why the people in this sport are unlike any other What's next — bucket list races and goals on the horizon Connect with Max Strava:   / strava   YouTube:    / @flying90   Instagram:   / theflying90   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Race Highlights 02:46 Pacing and Personal Experiences 05:25 Weather Challenges and Race Conditions 08:27 Western States Race Discussion 11:09 Live Stream Coverage and Media Presence 13:41 Race Records and New Competitors 16:35 Discussion on Race Strategies and Expectations 19:19 Max's Journey into Ultra Running 22:03 Max's First Hundred-Miler Experience 24:44 Future Race Aspirations and Goals 29:31 The Appeal of Loop Courses 31:25 Community and Connection in Running 32:21 Chasing Big Races: The Coca Dona Experience 33:19 The Challenge of Vertical Gain 36:02 Mental Toughness in Night Running 37:53 Choosing the Right Gear for Running 47:03 Nutrition Strategies for Endurance Runners 51:36 Finding Your Identity in Running