About this episode
Today on the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with the voice of Cocodona and one of the most passionate people in trail running media—Chris Worden. With over 150 races on UltraSignup and years of experience in both radio and accounting, Chris shares the wild journey from small-town sports broadcasting to being the emotional anchor of ultrarunning’s most epic live streams. Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clword77/ We talk about what goes into calling a multi-day race like Cocodona, the behind-the-scenes chaos (including some live broadcast bloopers), how Aravaipa has become the gold standard in race coverage, and why accessibility and storytelling are fueling the sport’s explosion. Plus, Chris opens up about getting into Western States this year after six years of lottery heartbreak—and what it means. If you’ve ever gotten sucked into the Cocodona livestream chat, dreamed of finishing your first ultra, or wondered how the heck someone commentates for 100 hours straight, this episode is for you. And yes... I made Chris call my 2025 Cocodona finish before I’ve even toed the line. So, technically I’ve already won. Support our sponsors Janji.com and GarageGrownGear.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Trail Running and Commentary 03:00 The Journey into Live Streaming and Broadcasting 06:07 Memorable Events and Personal Experiences in Commentary 08:50 The Evolution of Ultra Running and Accessibility 11:59 The Future of Ultra Running Events 14:52 Pre-Production and Storytelling in Broadcasting 21:03 The Impact of Broadcasting on the Community 24:14 Challenges and Learning Experiences in Commentary 27:54 Navigating Live Broadcasts and Viewer Engagement 30:14 The Evolution of Live Streaming in Ultra Running 33:10 Engagement Through Chat: The Double-Edged Sword 36:45 The Importance of Experience and Dedication 39:50 The Future of Ultra Running Coverage 47:38 Chris's Journey to Western States 56:14 The Emotional Connection of Trail Running Subscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.com Support this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutside Buy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSF Email me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.com