#161 - Michelino Sunseri

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What happens when raw talent, relentless prep, and an unfiltered voice collide with a sport increasingly driven by optics? We sit down with elite trail runner and coach Michelino Senseri to talk wins, world teams, a headline-grabbing Grand Teton FKT, and what the culture gets wrong—and right—about mountain running today. It’s an honest, funny, and deeply practical conversation that moves from emus on leashes to cameras on social trails, from pacer debates at Western States to how influencer marketing is reshaping who gets seen and paid.

Michelino opens up about the craft of coaching: building durable athletes with VO2 work, smart plyometrics, and week-over-week progress you can actually feel. We dig into why human coaching still matters in an AI world, how accountability beats templates, and the difference between training that looks good online and training that actually moves the needle. If you care about performance, this is a masterclass in process over hype.

We also go deep on injury and return-to-form strategy. Michelino breaks down living and racing with bulging discs, the tug-of-war between extension and decompression approaches, and what eight to twelve weeks of patient, consistent work can do for your spine and your season. Then we look ahead: CCC on the calendar, selective FKTs, a potential Grand Teton docuseries with too much story for a one-hour cut, and writing that may grow into a book.

If you’re tired of staged narratives and want the signal without the noise, this one’s for you. Hit play for candid insights on coaching, culture, access, and how to stay grounded while getting fast. If you enjoyed the conversation, follow Michelino on Instagram, check out his coaching at mikelinosenseri.com, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to support the show.

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