Episode 253 | Simon Freeman and Mario Fraioli on the Work That Happens in the Background, Why Running Is a Team Sport, and Helping People See What's Possible

I recently sat down with my good friend and frequent podcast guest Simon Freeman, the co-founder and publisher of my favorite running magazine, Like The Wind, for our third quarterly conversation of 2026, which you can listen to wherever you get the morning shakeout podcast. An excerpt of this exchange can be found in the latest issue of LtW, which is out now. (You can buy a copy or subscribe here.)

In this episode, recorded a month after Western States, Simon turned the tables and put me on the spot, asking about the work that gets done quietly in the background of a big performance. We talked about the work that happens in the background: how our crew was organized, what we'd have done if things had gone sideways, why I try to keep my cool no matter what comes into the aid station, and why I coach in the first place.

We also got into the parallels between coaching and editing, why "chop wood, carry water" is still the best advice to fall back on after a big accomplishment, and a lot more.

Click here for complete show notes and sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.

Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.