This week on The Ostrich Running Podcast, we sit down with Wes Cornett—a retired U.S. Air Force Special Warfare operator turned ultrarunner, writer, and storyteller who is running with a diagnosis of early-onset Lewy Body Dementia.
Wes doesn’t sugarcoat anything. We talk about the real stuff: depression, sobriety, what it’s like to get lost on trail and concussed, finishing a 100-miler after two DNFs, and training for the Western States 100 even as time feels short.
He shares why he still shows up every damn day, how running helped him get sober, and the role of family—especially Elise and his daughter who crew and pace him. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s exactly the kind of conversation we think matters in the running world.
We also talk about pizza as the perfect ultra fuel, Monster Rehab pre-run rituals, meeting Elise on the Appalachian Trail, and why kindness on trail goes a long way.
If you’ve ever felt broken, discouraged, or like the miles are numbered—this one’s for you.

Lewy Body Dementia Foundation