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Mario Fraioli & John Fitzgerald | Coaching Vincent Bouillard & Jenn Lichter to Western States Victory

Running

Mario Fraioli & John Fitzgerald | Coaching Vincent Bouillard & Jenn Lichter to Western States Victory

The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman›

Jul 31, 20261:48:53

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Mentioned in this episode

JLJennifer Lichter

Episode Notes

Mario Fraioli is a running thought leader, media creator, and coach based in Marin County, CA. He is the author of The Morning Shakeout newsletter and the host of The Morning Shakeout podcast. He is also the coach of Western States champion, Vincent Bouillard.

John Fitzgerald is a running coach for CTS based in Montana. He is the coach of Western States champion, Jenn Lichter.

John and Mario have a personal relationship going back 15 years. They are both highly respected and thoughtful coaches, and together they provide a valuable peek behind the curtain at two of the greatest performances we've ever seen.

Topics:

Mario and John's connection to each other
Their connection to Vincent and Jenn
The uncoachable personality traits that make them special athletes
Vincent's "Let's go win this thing" text after securing a Golden Ticket
How Jenn's training changed as she's moved up in distance
Training environments: Jenn's Missoula crew vs. Vincent in Annecy
The focus and details of their respective training blocks
Race week energy: Vincent calm and happy vs. Jenn falling ill
Vincent's motto "Every second counts"
Race execution: Self-management, emotional control, will to win, etc.
Emotion of the finish and victory

Read Mario's post-race reflections

Read Mario's article about how Vincent trained for Western States

Read John Fitzgerald's article about Jenn's victory

Read Cliff Pittman's article for UltraRunning Mag

Sponsors:

Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order of NEVERSECOND nutrition at never2.com
Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

Freetrail Links: Website | Freetrail Pro | Patreon | Instagram | YouTube | Freetrail Experts

Dylan Links: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Strava

Next listen

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How do I listen to this episode of The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman?

"Mario Fraioli & John Fitzgerald | Coaching Vincent Bouillard & Jenn Lichter to Western States Victory" is an episode of The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman. Runtime 1 hr 48 min. Published July 31, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.

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Quick FAQ

When was this episode published?: July 31, 2026.
How long is this episode?: 1 hr 48 min.
What podcast is this from?: The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.
What does this episode cover?: The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman covers running. This episode runs on the show's regular cadence.

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Mario Fraioli & John Fitzgerald | Coaching Vincent Bouillard & Jenn Lichter to Western States Victory
The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman