Aging As An Athlete - The Best Miles Aren’t Always the Fastest | EP 797

Krissy Moehl , Kathleen Egan , and Jenny Jurek , affectionately known as the  Mullet Train , share the story behind their goal of completing 1,000 trail miles together, including the Arizona Trail, High Lonesome 100, and Crazy Mountain 100. What started as an annual fastpacking adventure evolved into something much bigger: an intentional way to preserve friendship, challenge themselves, and keep adventure central as they get older. They talk candidly about learning each other's rhythms, figuring out how far their particular “train” can realistically travel each day, and discovering that a successful adventure doesn't always mean sticking stubbornly to the original plan. The conversation also gets wonderfully practical, covering ultralight gear, water, food, trail magic, trail names, cowboy camping, and the different “superpowers” each woman brings to the group. One of the most interesting shifts comes from Krissy, who spent decades racing at the highest level but now finds herself wanting to stop, take her shoes off at lunch, and actually absorb the places she once would have raced through. Underneath it all is a compelling message for aging athletes: don't wait for adventure to happen, put it on the calendar, find people who make you want to show up, and go collect some stories while your body still lets you. LINKS Jenny and Scott Jurek's book, N orth - Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail Krissy's coaching and races EPISODE SPONSORS Tifosi Optics  - CLARITY ON THE TRAIL: Post your Golden Nugget of wisdom  that helps you recover after a huge effort  on Instagram, tag @TifosiOptics, @TrailRunnerNation, and use the hashtag #ClarityOnTheTrail.  OR try texting us (within the USA) with your tip: 916-235-3928. If we use yours on a weekly episode, you get a pair of the new  Sanctum SL glasses ! ALTRA : With the classic Altra Fit, you set the pace. Altra running shoes are designed with room for your toes so they can actually spread out -  for a natural fit. This gives you comfort, balance, and strength on and off the trail. Better balance and stability for our toes mean more comfort – on mile 5, 50, or 100. Learn more about Altra Fit . Feel the Altra Difference and use code TRN10 for 10% off your first order at checkout at altrarunning.com/TRN . Stay Out There with Altra. RunMotion Coach :  Whether you’re training for your first trail race or chasing a new ultra PR, RunMotion Coach creates a personalized training plan that adapts to your schedule, fitness, and progress. Built by experienced coaches and powered by intelligent coaching technology, it helps you train smarter, stay consistent, and arrive at the starting line ready for your next adventure. Timestamps 00:24 – The 1,000-Mile Idea Krissy, Kathleen, and Jenny introduce their goal of covering 1,000 trail miles together and explain how an annual adventure gradually became something much bigger. 05:35 – Why They Needed This Adventure Jenny explains how life, motherhood, and time away from ultrarunning left her craving an adventure, and a proposed section hike eventually grew into tackling the Arizona Trail. 14:28 – Why This, Why Now? The women discuss why these adventures feel particularly meaningful at this stage of their lives and why intentionally carving out time together matters. 20:19 – Welcome Aboard the Mullet Train Jenny explains the wonderfully ridiculous origin of their team name, while the women identify the different “superpowers” each brings to the trail. 28:45 – It Took 400 Miles to Become a Team Kathleen explains how ambitious mileage goals gradually gave way to understanding their natural pace and how hundreds of miles together taught them to read and support one another. 35:00 – From Racing Through It to Taking It In Krissy reflects on one of her biggest changes as an athlete: after years of elite racing, she no longer wants to rush through beautiful places and would rather stop, soak her shirt in the creek, and enjoy where she is. 46:20 – Rattlesnakes, Cowgirl Camping and the Best Stories The women share moments when things didn't go according to plan, including a close encounter with a rattlesnake and an uncomfortable night of cowboy camping that unexpectedly became one of their favorite memories. 50:43 – Why Adventure Matters in Your 50s Jenny talks about the freedom of stepping away from work and family responsibilities and being completely responsible for herself in the mountains, while the group reflects on why these trips mean so much now. 54:08 – Sometimes the Hardest Part Is Showing Up Jenny compares their adventures to running a 100-miler: scheduling, planning, and getting everyone to the start can be harder than the adventure itself. Once they finally see each other at the airport, they know making the time was worth it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.