About this episode
I sit down with Kevin Russ—board game designer, iPhone photography legend, thru hiker, and freshly minted Cocodona 250 finisher. We dive into Kevin’s wild journey from shooting landscapes with just his phone to creating successful board games, and now, tackling 200+ mile races. He opens up about the physical and mental toll of Cocodona, the moments that tested him most, and the role his crew played in getting him to the finish. We also explore how creativity overlaps with endurance and what’s next for Kevin in both ultra running and game design. Check out Kevin on the internet: Website: https://www.kevinruss.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinruss/ Check out his board Game: https://amzn.to/3ZpJ0HT Support our sponsors: Janji.com Garagegrowngear.com Csinstant.coffee 00:00 The Rise of an iPhone Photographer 04:03 From Photography to Through Hiking 06:26 Transitioning to Ultra Running 09:19 Preparing for Cocodona 250 12:05 Training Challenges and the Chipotle Challenge 14:45 Cocodona 250: The Race Begins 17:26 Weather Challenges and Mindset Shifts 20:23 The Role of Crew and Support 22:53 Capturing the Journey on Camera 24:14 Navigating Sleep Deprivation 26:57 Injuries and Mental Resilience 29:18 The Role of Pacers and Crew Support 30:27 Facing Challenges in the Final Stretch 35:18 Reflections on the Race Experience 37:14 Future Plans and Training Insights 39:46 Hallucinations and the Nature of Endurance 41:09 Underrated Natural Beauty in the U.S. 43:04 The Journey into Board Game Design 45:48 Launching a Board Game 48:28 The Board Game Convention Experience 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 Watch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outside Website: www.Freeoutside.com Instagram: thefreeoutside facebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside