Episode 201: Iditarod Trail Invitational – 350 Miles of Self-Sustained Running in the Alaskan Wilderness: Interview – Austin Hansen
Episode 201: Iditarod Trail Invitational – 350 Miles of Self-Sustained Running in the Alaskan Wilderness: Interview – Austin Hansen
The Iditarod Trail Invitational is the world’s longest running winter ultra-marathon.
One of the most challenging experiences on the planet, participants brave extreme physical, environmental and mental challenges as they travel along the historic Iditarod Trail on bicycle, foot or skis. Requiring self-sufficiency and the considerable resilience to make it through up to 30 frozen days and nights, the Iditarod Trail Invitational has built its reputation on notoriously inhospitable conditions and minimal outside support.
For its participants, the Iditarod Trail Invitational is a measure of human willpower like no other.
On today’s show I bring you Austin Hansen, a man who was not only invited, but succeeded in completing the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350 this year in 2021 – thats 350 Miles of self-sustained, snow laden, torture, in my book.
Tune in to the audio program to hear about his adventure, the reasons he does it, and what he’s learned.
Austin Hansen has spent the last 5 years running marathons – 15 marathons, 8 Ultras, and 3 full triathlons, but this year he took a giant step into Winter Ultra Marathons. Welcome to the show.
To contact Austin:
Instagram: austwhansen
Email: austinHansen8@gmail.com
While we may not all be ready to hop a plane to Alaska to traverse the frozen tundra for hundreds of miles unsupported, we each have challenging paths. Hearing stories of how people embrace these types of physical challenges serve as motivation and example for what it looks like to really put your whole heart and soul into self-discipline, focus, pushing yourself, and being strong when everything in you wants to quit. For one person it may be on a physical level, for another it may be emotional or mental, sometimes it’s both. Thank you Austin for sharing your storyl.
Your challenge this week is to look at the biggest challenge in your life right now and think about what you’ve heard today. How can you stay the path?
Have a great week and as we sign off, here’s a word from the show sponsor, the 21-Life Connection Challenges that can help you and people your work with, live with, or play with join together for personal growth and connection:
About the author, Lori
Lori is the host and producer of the Love Your Story podcast, a podcast dedicated to sharing candid interviews and conversations about living our best life stories on purpose. Lori pulls no punches in capturing interviews that shine a light on how we make it through the hard stuff – stress, anxiety, suicide, eating disorders, rape, the death of children, abuse, divorce and the real stuff we have to deal with. But, she also shares interviews with Olympians and incredible athletes, life coaches, therapists, and people who are changing the world – most often these two categories are one and the same. She has a master’s degree in Folklore--her research focuses on the personal narrative. She is the author of six books and over 100 magazine and newspaper articles, including her latest, L.I.F.E. – Living Intentional and Fearless Every Day. She consults with individuals on a personal and business level in helping them find their stories, reframe the ones that are holding them back, and manage the stories they currently tell themselves in order to create the story they personally want to live.