For John Clark’s (JC) full bio revisit season 3 episode 4: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2437656/episodes/16363345

We sit down with JC to unpack his first winter ultramarathon finish at the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350, where dragging a gear sled through Alaska’s deep cold turns basic tasks like eating and navigation into real risk. We also talk through the behind-the-scenes prep, the gear, and the small decisions that add up over ten relentless days.

• what makes the Iditarod Trail Invitational so dangerous and so compelling
• hauling a 50 to 55 pound sled across lakes, rivers, and mountain passes
• gear failures leading to frostbite
• how the ITI qualifier camp teaches wet-gear survival and vapor barriers
• gear iteration under extreme cold including sleeping systems and face coverage
• early navigation mistakes and why staying on the packed route matters
• Rainy Pass rescues and the winter ultra culture of helping others
• the mental grind after the pass with long gaps between aid and sleep
• the final push with shiver bivies and trail naps
• what JC would change before trying the race again

If you want to check out some frostbite, go to our Instagram.

Look for another episode on this epic event dropping next week.

Thanks for listening to Running With Problems. Follow us on Instagram @runningwithproblems. DM us there with questions in text or audio messages! Or email us at podcast@runningwithproblems.run.

Hosted by Jon Eisen (@mildly_athletic) and Miranda Williamson (@peaksandjustice). Edited by Jon Eisen. Theme music by Matt Beer.