The Untamed Rise of Hans Troyer: Wild Training, Near-Death Collapse & His Plan to Win Western States, The Superbowl of Ultras

Hans Troyer is the epitome of raw talent meeting ruthless resilience. From a near-collapse in the desert to record-breaking dominance, his story is one of fearless grit, second chances, and an audacious leap: from college steepler to 100K trail crusher. In just over a year, Hans has gone from collegiate standout to ultramarathon phenom: winning national titles, smashing course records, and landing podiums at some of the biggest races in the U.S. He’s the 2024 USATF 50-mile national champion, a 2025 Canyons 100K Golden Ticket recipient, and a pro for Altra and Hyperlyte Liquid Performance. His PRs are wild: 3:19 in the 50k, 5:16 for 50 miles, and 7:45 for 100k. But his life isn’t just one long highlight reel. There’s the hospitalization that nearly ended his season. The comeback that turned heads. The quirky fueling rituals. And somehow, in between elite racing, he’s juggling grad school, coaching, and content creation. The mini-documentary “The Kid” on YouTube captures the chaos, recovery, and relentless drive that define him, and is absolutely worth a watch. Hans is fast, fearless, and full of heart. And we’re pumped to have him on the show today. In today's conversation, Hans takes me through his remarkable journey thus far as an ultra-marathoner; his wild training tactics include "car saunas", his goal to win Western States at just 25yrs of age, his ambitions for the future, his thoughts on Backyard Ultras and so much more. Tap into the Hans Troyer Special. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. Comment the word “PODCAST” below and I’ll DM you a link to listen. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W N O T E S -The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): https://tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs -BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz