Running as Life: Aaron Saft on Misogis, 200-Milers, and Failing Forward

<p>In this episode of the <strong>Dirt &amp; Vert Podcast</strong>, Mike and I sit down with legendary ultra runner, coach, podcaster, and former race director <strong>Aaron Saft</strong>. Aaron called in live from his truck while towing his camper across the country to prepare for the Rocky Mountain Slam—giving us an authentic, unfiltered look into a career that spans over two decades in endurance sports. </p><p>Aaron takes us way back to the early, pre-UltraSignup days of the sport, when paper registrations, cash on race day, and low-cut hiking boots were the norm. We dive into his vast resume—from winning sub-ultra trail national championships to completing the Grand Slam and Bigfoot 200—and talk about his annual &quot;Misogi&quot; challenges, like running a calendar club challenge that capped off with a food-poisoning-fueled Christmas day effort. Aaron also shares the terrifying time he stood eye-to-eye with a 10-foot brown bear at the Canadian Death Race, why a high-carb strategy doesn&#39;t work for every stomach, and how decades of trail miles have deepened his relationships with his family and friends. </p><p><strong>Key Takeaways</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Before the Tech Era:</strong> What trail racing looked like in the early 2000s, handing out Janji gear before it was cool, and how the sport has evolved from paper sign-ups to live-streamed commercial events. </p></li><li><p><strong>The Canadian Death Race Encounter:</strong> Standing 6 feet away from a 10-foot brown bear with two cubs, sprinting 40 miles into the race, and trading a coin to a ferryman to cross a glacial river. </p></li><li><p><strong>Annual Misogi Challenges:</strong> Why Aaron sets one challenge a year with a 50% chance of failure—and how he survived running a 172-mile week in December through a bout of severe food poisoning. </p></li><li><p><strong>Nutritional Pivot for Older Athletes:</strong> Learning that high-carb intake isn&#39;t a one-size-fits-all solution, and why incorporating fats and proteins early can save an aging gut. </p></li><li><p><strong>Grieving a DNF:</strong> Why every runner needs a grace period to process a failed race, make a &quot;what went right vs. wrong&quot; list, and use the community to problem-solve. </p></li><li><p><strong>The Intrinsic &#39;Why&#39;:</strong> Why true motivation comes from the deep, unfiltered connections forged with family and crew out in the dark miles.</p></li></ul>