The RunOut Podcast The RunOut #164: Strong and Soft with Margo Hayes
Mar 17, 2026
Margo Hayes, professional climber, artist, musician and model, talks about climbing feats and life beyond the crag. She discusses battling Lyme disease and how it shifted her focus to art, music and writing. Her new book, The Margo Method, explores balancing strength and softness for long-term climbing and health.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Avoid Simul-Rappelling And Risky Shortcuts
- Avoid simul-rappelling and other high-risk shortcuts; they increase chances of fatal errors through loss of attention.
- Chris and Andrew recommend against simul-rapping after discussing Brad's death and its likely cause: loss of attention.
How The Ruling Could Chill Mentor Relationships
- The case forces a cultural question: how much responsibility does an experienced climber owe a less-experienced adult partner?
- The ruling may chill mentor-mentee climbing dynamics by introducing legal consequences for subjective judgments.
Experienced Climbers Carry Long Term Decision Weight
- Experienced climbers carry a psychological burden: decisions you make for partners linger even if outcomes aren't fatal.
- Both hosts describe how knowing a route's timing and partner ability shapes cautious choices and long-term responsibility.
