François D’Haene: Ultra Wisdom From An All-Time Master | Rich Roll Podcast

François D'Haene is one of the greatest (some say the greatest) ultra-distance trail runners in the world. He has won the prestigious UTMB an astonishing four times and clocked the fastest-ever traverse of the 210-mile John Muir Trail. In 2021, he won the Hardrock 100, one of the most difficult trail ultras, breaking the overall record previously held by Kílian Jornet. To read more about Francois and peruse the full show notes, go here👉🏾bit.ly/richroll709
✌🏼🌱 - Rich
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CHAPTERS
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:07 - What's the French way of training for ultra races? Is it different from the U.S.?
00:07:17 - Taking a 'neutral' approach to competition
00:15:41 - Getting in touch with a race community
00:17:03 - How does Francois think about his competitors?
00:19:11 - Having a longevity approach to ultra racing
00:25:31 - What gives Francois his ability to race exceptionally?
00:28:03 - Does Francois have a physiological advantage over other runners?
00:31:46 - How does Francois train? Balancing life outside of training
00:41:40 - Cross-training, avoiding injuries, being highly adaptive
00:46:59 - How has Francois's training evolved over the last year?
00:49:56 - Ultra Spirit
00:54:42 - Finding new ways to make a classic sport more interesting
00:57:51 - Will Francois go for a fifth win at UTMB?
01:00:11 - Ultra runner turned winemaker
01:08:05 - As a parent, how do you approach interest in sports with the kids?
01:10:22 - Joy of wine and joy of running
01:15:02 - You have to be well-balanced...
01:15:22 - How long does Francois see himself competing?
01:18:32 - Francois's advice for tackling an ultra race
01:23:19 - Took 10 years to win an ultra.
01:25:38 - What does the future of ultra running look like?
01:32:37 - Closing
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Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
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[@brookie_cuqui]

"You have to be well-balanced in what you think, what you feel, and what you love." This is an ultra conversation to have in a foreign language. What a champion.

[@ghostpos]

I love the way François talks about JW. He really loves him. Great sportsmanship.

[@gitaerram5116]

As usual (for this fantastic podcast) an important and extra interesting analysis of a fascinating athlete. I'm in the UK and Francois is very well known here (at least in the ultra scene) but I've never watched or heard and interview with him that's as in depth as this one. Thank you Rich (as ever) and long may Francois excite the trail and ultra running world in the years to come. Peace & Plants and (of course) love from NW Scotland. David & Gita (and the dog, Mciver).

[@dudeinthecrowd]

I am admired with people who can fit in and handle training and family things all together.

[@dudeinthecrowd]

It is always great to listen to Rich Roll podcasts and got those insights from guests that will take some time to discover by myself!

[@l.silcher]

I think what is really helpful for him: His knowledge about the human body bc of his job in addition to his passion and gratitude. So his imagination about how everything can come together and making it real (without getting stressed by trying to reach a specific goal under lots of unknown variables) is on another level :)

[@sorayapoulin]

My 2 idols together! Greetings from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[@ColtonLoberg]

Like the rawness of the studio setup in this

[@Skylarking555]

Chasing the « moon tail » ? Very poetic :)

[@blimpsgo180]

I really love how François says it could take 4, 5, or 6 years to run 100 miles, and Rich says it could take 10 years. I'm currently running 3.7 miles every other day, but who knows what's possible ten years from now.

[@king_has_no_clothskul8635]

are you talking trail or flat 100 mile run? if you are under 40 and forget timing. 100 km is doable in 18 months---road. 12*8=96 plus take 4 hour rest! 160 km or 100 mile 24 months---road, 20*8=160 take 4 hour rest! ------------- you want to increase timing add 6 to 9 months to above! And get to world class! ----------- Trail i dont know. i think 100 mile would take close to 30 hours! ------------- And full blowN dedication like a master degree. 100km is 9 to 10 months deal and 24 hours should be 15 month max deal! will cost you a lot as you would be nothing but that. even in kenya it is expensive and in ameica cost of living add up! cost you 50k, one year to 15 months time to be world class. PERIOD! ------------ Normally after 12 hours and if you can do above 130 to 12 km/hour, you are on your own!

[@NanSimonsen]

Hi Rich, as a health coach with a Lifestyle Medical practice teaching whole food plant-based nutrition, and following it for four years. I post about you and share your content regularly. I’m about to run a half marathon in two weeks, two months before turning 72. I began running at 70 by taking on a couple of 10K races and did well in my age range, but of course the competition was scant. I might also add that I am hooked on making cheeses from Julie’s cookbook. I was hoping there would be a conversation about nutrition here although if he’s a typical Frenchman, maybe that part of his regimen may not be inspiring to us. I am writing while I’m on an 8 mile run, which will be my farthest. So as you can imagine I have a ways to go before my race. Fingers crossed. I love your story and your message, thank you🌻🥰🌻

[@theallergyathlete]

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, Rich! I’m so thankful for how much I’ve learned from your podcast since I learned about you 3 months ago. Thank you for your teaching and for sharing your life 🙏🏽

[@Shevock]

Yeah, this is one of my favorite podcasts. 90 percent of his guests are super interesting and that's better than most podcasts I listen to.

[@DP-sh3nk]

Greetings from Boston. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to you ! Was just in Montreal yesterday love Canada.

[@user-cb7xh3fx8i]

Really enjoyed the podcast, Francois is a very uplifting runner and inspiration as a person.

[@davidessang1696]

I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation, it was filled with wisdom that I am certain will keep me busy unraveling for years to come. The final remark from Rich was resounding and deeply resonated with me. I think in the past I've glossed over the impact of sports commercialization of sports and the creation of a new machine/culture that embodies an antithetical spirit. Within this domain, that same corrosion fueled by inevitable commercialization is noticeable. As Rich eloquently says, the alluring spirit of an ultra is founded upon a reverence for solitude and furthering the union of an individual and their breath. Overall, I am very appreciative of the conversation and François' openness to giving us a glimpse into his life.

[@albertoduqe]

Absolute legend.

[@JCribb]

Inspirational stuff!! Love it..thanks from N.C.!

[@user-ph9cc7fw7c]

Très bon podcast (again)!! This is so important to balance other things in life than competition targets. What I keep from this is: "Enjoy and be grateful to just toe the starting line...the rest is just icing on the cake"! Thanks!

[@Ferns_Gaming]

I am so mad I missed that event at the Roost in Boulder. I live in Boulder and would have done anything to go see you two in person! SO SO sad

[@m1r333]

Love this one! Thank you!

[@alanmansfield664]

What a great interview. Long form interviews are so enjoyable for the insight. I love the right hand motioning as if turning a motorcycle accelerator; ‘…I go…’

[@jackiefox7326]

Fantastic interview thank you 😊

[@annaderoo8378]

delightful & inspiring

[@vijayeaswar9502]

Really respect that francois mentioned courtney dauwalter as someone to emulate! Shes amazing! Minimal fuss and just gets results! Shes the GOAT. Francois is not bad too😅

[@katis999]

Thanks Rich, great interview :)

[@JinglesPfeff]

Not sure what you mean when you say Killian Jornet's approach is just "oh go out and be one with nature." It's a highly data-driven approach. He recently published his training log for the months leading up to his UTMB win. He's not just out there finding his bliss, he's got metrics upon metrics upon metrics, generated by highly sophisticated technologies and labs.

[@BBTV008]

Right

[@dastolh]

Exactly. However, he did train this way before he had kids, and before he got more interested in physiology and tech.

[@zhshs8571]

Francois is well aware of this, he is trying to point out that what seems to differentiate him and Killian is that Killian's focus is for the biggest part on the activity itself, running or climbing a mountain and creating a connection between him and nature. On the other hand, Francois is pointing out that his approach is more based on a social aspect of running and sporting and he is is more interested in creating a connection between himself and other poeple (his kids, wife, other athletes). That's why Francois created "Ultra Spirit Fanily" and hosted an event that seeks to find balance between pushing your limits on the mountain and developing or strengthening new social relationships, while Killian went on a solo 8-day trip rediscovering the Pyrenees. So he is not actually talking about metrics here, just the two different approaches, both of which are fine, as long as you are doing something that you love and enjoy.

[@davidwellner4191]

Truly the Goat

[@blackhatultra]

colorado proud!

[@ThatRunnerAaron]

From what I hear is that - for the Europeans, it’s a way of life, it’s what they love to do & as a consequence they happen to be the best in the world. For the Americans, they have a desire to be the best in the world & have the desire to be that. The most American attitude ever, imitating instead of emulating. Kind of like a lion doing their best to be a mountain goat.

[@dennisallison8991]

Loving your kids and loving the mountains does not mean they will love the mountains like you do. It may be that they grow up to be passionate about something you care little about. Now you can show them how much you really love them.

[@CorentinHarbelot]

Vraiment un des plus grands , merci !

[@XAGR-hn3qt]

How do you start trail running?

[@sowmindful1501]

Loving this interview, not loving the stale coffee prepared on the coffee pot behind Rich.

[@beerserker]

Love how when he says Courtney Dauwalter it sounds like Coconut Water and I think that should be her new nickname XD

[@eivindstrmsvag3864]

The idea of Europeans being so great really is outdated. These days it’s so trendy to talk down how Americans do things and how Europeans are doing things better. As a Norwegian I think that we are much more alike Americans than we are alike the France. And being determined and have work life balance is definitely not an European thing, or something that Europeans do better than Americans. And what even is an European? 😬 very fascinating idea 😂

[@alljokesaside4918]

Hint, high school running already works that way

[@Shevock]

When he says, if I have Walmsley's approach, I can never win a race, I've been thinking the same. You need to live life. Love nature. But Jim puts too much emphasis on one race. One race that's not even that old. The reason an American has never won UTMB is because the last time the best ultra racer has been an American, UTMB didn't even exist yet. Scott Jurek ran a cool ultra in Greece, but really UTMB hadn't been founded yet. He could have run the 15 miler in Mount Blanc, which actually is a historical mountain race going back to the 70s, but UTMB didn't exist until the 2000s I think. Maybe early 2010s, when Jureks career was moving away from these fast 100s. Walmsley is one of the 5 best ultra runners in the world, and that's awesome, but wasting all his efforts on UTMB seems foolish. He could be dominating these same racers on courses that fit his running style and building his resume instead of throwing all his eggs in one basket that just doesn't fit his running. It's ultra. There's no single best race. Not Comrades, which might really be argued as the best ultra. Not JFK, America's oldest ultra. Not Western States, with its 40 year history. And certainly not a new event, however awesome, like UTMB.

[@Shevock]

.... also you handled all the wine talk at the end well. You are an inspiration.

[@berrytrenzy]

Making money is an action. Keeping money is behavior. Growing money is knowledge..

[@lepus6511]

Even ultra marathon videos aren't safe from the financial bot spam

[@niceguynevermind999]

@@lepus6511 sometimes they switch it up and make a little joke and end up sounding like Spock from Star Trek. The most human joke they can think of lol farts! 💨