# Vibe. Grind. Shine. (And Don’t Fall). Carb Maxing to run for Team USA

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/vibe-grind-shine-and-don-t-fall-carb-maxing-to-run-for-team-usa
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507/vibe-grind-shine-and-don-t-fall-carb-maxing-to-run-for-team-usa.md
Podcast: [Free Outside](https://stenobird.com/podcast/free-outside-6909507)
Published: 2026-04-17T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/freeoutside/episodes/Vibe--Grind--Shine--And-Dont-Fall--Carb-Maxing-to-run-for-Team-USA-e3i0jfa
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/eaf7016c/podcast/play/118557610/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-16%2F422205683-44100-2-24cdc97ba6e56.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/free-outside-6909507/episodes/vibe-grind-shine-and-don-t-fall-carb-maxing-to-run-for-team-usa
Duration seconds: 3993

## Resource

Allison Mercer just finished second at the USA 100K Championships… and is officially headed to Spain to represent Team USA. In this episode, we break down everything from the race, including how to mentally survive a 10-lap course, dialing in race-day nutrition, and why laps 4 through 6 are basically a personal crisis. We also get into her “vibe, grind, shine” mantra, carb intake (very high), and what it actually feels like when you realize you’re going to make the team. We also cover: How to pace a 100K without losing your mind Race prep, bottle systems, and why being organized actually matters The mental shift from training to racing What hurts during a 100K (spoiler: everything, eventually) Why second place is somehow both amazing and terrible Plus, we get into Boston Marathon storylines, Cocodona 250 hype, injuries in the sport, and whether running a 5K one week after a 100K is a terrible idea (it is). It’s part race recap, part comedy, and part therapy session for endurance athletes, just how we like it. If you’ve ever trained for something big, wondered how elites actually fuel, or just want to hear what it’s like to qualify for Team USA, this one’s for you. Support our Sponsors: Sawyer: https://sawyerdirect.net/ Janji (code: Freeoutside): https://snp.link/a0bfb726 CS Coffee: CSinstant.coffee Garage Grown Gear: https://snp.link/db1ba8ab 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:…

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