EP184 - Chasing Miles, Not Perfection: Mason Phillips on Moab 240 and Learning as You Go

This week on the Run the Riot Podcast, we’re hanging out with ultrarunner Mason Phillips — and what a story this guy brings to the trail! From growing up in California to working remote trail systems in Alaska, Mason’s path to ultrarunning is as rugged and adventurous as the mountains he trains in. At just 26, he’s already crushed a 100-miler at Rio Del Lago and took on the monster that is the Moab 240 — and did it with grit, creativity, and just a little bit of chaos (spoiler: he carried dog food as training weight and wore trash bags for warmth during a bike race). We talk about: How Mason transitioned from college rugby to thru-hiking and long ultras The trail magic that led to meeting fellow ultrarunner Nick Fowler on the PCT Why he chose the Moab 240 as his first 200+ mile race What it was like running solo for nearly 100 miles without a crew His fueling, sleep strategy, and how he managed Alaska’s snow while training for a desert race Lessons learned, including why efficiency beats perfection every time And yes — he beat David Goggins. Mason brings a refreshing, raw perspective to the world of ultra racing — not everything has to be perfectly planned to achieve something incredible. If you’ve ever thought about going farther, pushing harder, or embracing the unknown in your running journey, this episode is for you. Video and show notes: http://www.theriot.run/masonp