#197 - Will Johnson

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Pikes Peak week has a way of making every runner take stock: what am I chasing, and what’s actually worth it when the climb gets real? I sit down with Will, a full-time high school English teacher and developing mountain runner, to talk about the years-long build behind “overnight” progress and why the best performances usually come from a love of the work, not a fear of the result. We trace his path from the Pacific Northwest to Western Colorado University in Gunnison, where day-to-day trail miles with a stacked crew helped shape his approach to training, racing, and staying grounded as the sport gets louder. 

From there, we get honest about pressure, self-criticism, and the post-college urge to make something happen immediately. Will explains why he picks races for the place and the experience, even when the elevation gain is intimidating, and why the finish line rarely delivers the fulfillment people expect. We also dig into his coaching relationship with Kieran, how they think in multi-year arcs, and what it takes to rebuild speed and running economy after a big hundred-mile effort while keeping the stoke high for a legendary mountain race. 

You’ll also hear how he balances ultrarunning training with the real demands of teaching, why Southern Colorado terrain near Mancos and Durango is an underrated playground for technical trail running, and how music and creative writing keep his creativity sharp. We even go deep on AI and why he and his students push back against shortcuts in art and learning. If you care about trail running mindset, ultramarathon training, and the craft of becoming a better mountain athlete, this one will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s training for a big climb, and leave a review so more runners can find the show.

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