Brendan Leonard has written a weekly column at his website semi-rad.com since February 2011, along with being a regular columnist at Outside. His stories have appeared in Backpacker, National Geographic Adventure, Outside, Men’s Journal, Sierra, Adventure Cyclist, and other publications.
Brendan is also the author of several books, available here.
Published
Fruits, veggies, flax milk, hemp seeds, and more make for a smoothie that's not too sweet, doesn't have any funky ingredients, and packs a great protein punch
With a child-free week ahead of him, one dad decides to summit as many local peaks as he can. In the end, he learns something about adventure, accomplishment, and himself.
Awe doesn’t have to be reserved for far-flung places. Instead, take a moment to learn about the landscape just outside your door.
After years of waiting for other people to care for my favorite trails, I finally bought a foldable saw and took care of it myself
For the past 18 years, I’ve used the same hefty lock—even when I’m riding cheap clunkers around town. Here’s why.
Imagine the most impractical road trip vehicle. Now, make it a little worse. You’re getting closer.
An excerpt from Brendan Leonard’s new book ‘Ultra-Something,’ which explores why we’re so drawn to the long haul
An adventure is an idea. It doesn't even have to be a good one. Here's a helpful guide to dreaming them up.
Kevin Kelly's new book is full of wisdom that applies equally to life as it does to adventure, whether that's a day hike or a big expedition
After running myself into the ground for the hundredth time, I had a realization that let me give myself a much needed break
Brendan Leonard, the author and illustrator behind the beloved Semi-Rad blog, explains his process
Whether you’re writing your first book or telling a story around a campfire, here’s the secret to capturing your audience right from the start
![You never know what might make future you happy. [SELFIE OF BRENDAN AND JAY ON BIKE]](https://cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cruiser-bike-guy_s.jpg?crop=1:1&width=300&enable=upscale)
Kids change a lot of things—including how happy strangers are to see you (and your tiny passenger) biking by
![[Drawing of fuel truck bumping plane with driver going “fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck”] [Drawing of plane, “30 minutes later”, with giant balloon over windows with every passenger going “Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck”]](https://cdn.outsideonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/semi-rad-quit-laugh-2_s.jpg?crop=1:1&width=300&enable=upscale)
Mayhem is an inevitable part of life. The real question is: How will you handle it?
Arbitrary goals are nonsensical. They also can be the source of great joy.
Oh, you wanted to take a fun little trip to run a breezy 100K? Think again. This course is relentless, technical, and populated by nudists.
The two pursuits have more in common than meets the eye
Mike Foote is a professional athlete. Brendan Leonard is a non-professional athlete. And he has some questions.
Diehard football fans have something to teach trail runners, skimo racers, and other competitive athletes
At its best, flying isn’t miserable. Here are 24 ways travel could be more fun—including, but not limited to, letting me fly the plane.
In the form of a handy little email, or a push notification, anything to remind me that I’m not heading too quickly toward the afterlife just yet
We have finally discovered the secret to the elusive, perfect cup of joe
Go ahead, pick one: to check in on, root for, and admire
Lessons in humility, humor, and preparedness from ice-covered sidewalks and trails
A wedding ring at the bottom of a pond, a retainer under a pile of leaves, a hat found at open sea three days after it was lost. Read on for more improbably lucky finds.
Both require self-motivation, incremental and attainable goals, and a whole lot of follow-through
When you’re plodding so slowly it feels like you're moving backwards, wouldn’t it be better to just... walk?
A rural road relay offers the author a chance to return home and consider important questions, like: Who has the aux in the support van and where did they find this weird club track?
A delightfully low-budget documentary about the Seven Summits (of a Montana neighborhood)
Our Semi-Rad columnist recently entered fatherhood, a transition that has him wondering if his two personalities—alpine athlete and regular dad—can peacefully coexist
Did I feel better about myself? Sure. Did I feel less likely to injure a disc in my back? Yes. But was it worth a precious minute of each day?
Feeling out of shape? Maybe you should run up and down a mountain three times.
These humble blue straps may have been designed for rafting, but their utility is (almost) as limitless as your imagination
There are two types of mountain athletes in the world
No commands, rules, or directives here. Just a gentle nudge towards something truly lovely.
Maybe you should start writing a little something about your run, too
Sure, maybe you get a leg cramp. But you could also get struck by an asteroid.
An argument in favor of catching sunrises, running errands, and talking with your friends face-to-face
We let dogs out to run. We should do the same for ourselves.
Meditations on radical incrementalism for the adventurer
Is it insomnia, or is it a tireless love for being awake?
Surely you’ve tried champagne flutes before?
Or: what to do when arguing with strangers
“I have shin splints,” “All of my running socks are dirty,” “I just ate a full rack of ribs and drank six Budweisers”
How much could you get done in a day if you were also trying to cram in a one mile run every hour on the hour?
The loss of a big toenail sent Outside columnist Brendan Leonard into an existential crisis—but maybe not for the reason you think
For 38 months, Rowlf brought love, slow meandering walks, and dog ice cream cones into writer Brendan Leonard's life. And now Rowlf is gone.
Ice cream? Before a run? Yes, please.
Anyone can show symptoms of Male Answer Syndrome, but let’s face it—it’s an affliction commonly found in dudes
A squeeze of honey, a squirt of ketchup, and other non-solids you can toss down your gullet if you so choose
I am pretty sure no runner who has consistently won races approaches their training in this way
Missoula, Montana’s M Trail is many things. But mostly it’s just steep.
Reflections on getting just a little bit older
Outside columnist Brendan Leonard investigates his relationship to nostalgia, happiness, and type-two fun
38 quotes that we interpret for our own needs
Getting heckled by construction workers and definitely not crying: a New York City Marathon retrospective
Why do I feel so, I don’t know, not that great after I spend a few minutes scrolling through social media?
In the words of Brendan Leonard: “I did perhaps underestimate it a tiny bit”
“Is it your interpretation that I am taking you for your walk, or would you say that you are taking me for my walk?”
Can I cut switchbacks? What about smoking on the trail? And what do I do with all those rocks?
There you are, at the bottom of a hill, on foot, or on your bike, or on skis, ready to start up. But are you really ready? Here are a few strategies you might consider. 1. Choosing More Pain for Less Time by Going Faster over Less Pain for More…
Do you jog around the block at the end of a run so your mileage equals a nice round number?
The weather is perfect. You get to do everything on your list. No one gets food poisoning or giardia or blisters.
Seven reasons from Brendan Leonard’s new book ‘I Hate Running and You Can Too’
Totally normal ways to keep the conversation moving