158: "I Couldn't Breathe" – Tom’s Attempt at the World’s Highest Marathon

In this episode of the Running Channel podcast, the hosts, Rick, Sarah, and Tom, discuss Tom's attempt to run the world's highest marathon, set at an astonishing altitude of 6,893 meters in the Atacama Desert. The marathon required climbers to summit a volcano before descending through various terrains. Tom details his extensive journey, which took two and a half weeks to acclimatize to the altitude, as well as the physical and psychological challenges he faced during the attempt, including altitude sickness that prevented him from reaching the summit.

Tom also shares his preparation for the trek, which involved extensive packing, organizing gear suitable for extreme temperature variations, and dealing with logistics, including the loss of his luggage. He describes the intense conditions and the mental struggle of having to turn back during an attempt to finish the race.

Despite not achieving his primary goal of finishing the marathon, Tom finds valuable lessons in personal growth and resilience from the experience. Throughout the episode, the hosts discuss running tips, upcoming marathons, training plans, and the importance of supporting each other in the running community. The conversation emphasizes testing oneself with challenging experiences and how they can lead to personal transformation and deeper understanding of capabilities.