Florida Trail Runners Podcast: Recent Episodes
Joseph Fuller
Our mission is to represent and promote trail and ultra running here in the state of Florida! Explore the state, talk to the people, and learn the history!
It was another year for the annual Long Haul 100! Time and time again, this is the place where so many runners take on the 100-mile distance for the first time! On the chat, we have four of those first-time 100 mile finishers! Russ Hartzell, Tina Wolfe, Daisy Weckerly, and Ivi Stangle.
Russ Hartzell got it done with a time of 31:19:36! He's done races like the Ocho de Mayhem, Blaze Pioneer Trail, Whispering Pines, and the Wildcat Ultra!
Tina Wolfe got her buckle with a time of 31:22:02! She's done races like the Bronze Dragonfly, Vero Beach Octopus, River to Sea, Colt 45, Pinellas Trail Challenge, and the Skunk Ape Night Run.
Daisy Weckerly finished with a time of 30:45:55! She's done races like the 50 Miler at the Keys, Three Degrees of Hell, the RunFluent 7-Hour, and the Skunk Ape Night Run prior to coming out to the Long Haul.
Ivi Stangle, who one half of RunFluent, she got it done with a time of 29:00:52! She's done races like the Skunk Ape Night Run, Grayson Highlands, the Trident, Wild Florida, Forgotten Florida, and Sweat Swat n Swear!
Starting the 2024 Season off where it all started, the Long Haul 100. Frequent guest Andy "Croom" Mathews returns to the podcast to go in-depth into everything about this race. He's also joined by three-time finisher and 3rd Overall at the 2022 Long Haul 100, Jeff Iosa! Also joining the chat this year is two-time finisher and captain of the Boots or Saddles Aid Station, Andrew Barrett!
We analyze the course, answer some questions, talk about what it's going to take to be successful, some tips and tricks, some Long Haul 100 trivia, and yes! We make our predictions for the female and male top finishers for this year! We also chat on who we think is going to have most consistent race, some dark horses, and speculate on some Long Haul 100 rookies.
The Long Haul 100 takes place at Colt Creek State Park near Lakeland, Florida and is Florida's only Western States Qualifying Race. Great for first-timers and veterans alike! The course is a 6 x 16.6 mile loops. There are 3 fully manned Aid Stations and access to your drop bags every loop.
This race is truly the grand gathering of the Florida ultra and trail scene!
See y'all at Long Haul!
On the chat, we’ve got a chat with Erin Swanson and Wiatt Bowers on the Orange Belt Trail project that’s been in the works over the past couple of years.
Erin is a Pasco County Project Manager and Wiatt is aConsultant Project Manager for the Orange Belt Trail project.
The Orange Belt Trail is a proposed multiuse trail spanning approximately 37 miles through Pasco County from Trinity to Trilby. It would provide key connections to the Coast-to-Coast Trail, Starkey Trail, Suncoast Trail, and Withlacoochee Trail as well as link communities such as Trinity, Odessa, Land O’Lakes, Wesley Chapel, and Dade City!
More Info:
https://orangebelttrail.com
http://orangebelttrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/OBT_Workshops_4.2023_update.pdf
The Florida Trail Runners Podcast is back! And for episode #110, the comeback episode… we’ve got Casey Denman and his Across Florida 200! Casey got it done with a time of 81 hours, 19 minutes, and 14 seconds! He's also a two-time finisher of the Long Haul 100!Joe Miller also joins the chat! Him and James Mathis run a Facebook Group dedicated to helping Across Florida 200 runners. This is a course that will take runners from Cedar Key/Inglis area from the Withlacoochee Bay Trail - West End Overlook to St Augustine ending at the St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier. The Across Florida 200 has 100 miles of the beautiful Florida Trail, 20 miles of State Park trails, 45 Miles of dirt roads, 15 miles of Rails to Trails, and only 20 miles of road. It is one EPIC adventure.
This year Greg Bargo became third ever Floridian to ever finish the Hardrock 100, he joins Chris Twiggs and Matt Mahoney in that legendary feat to cross the finish line and kiss the rock. He ran a time of 47:31:42 to finish in the Golden Hour. This was a journey that took Greg 10 years in the making.
Greg has also run races like the Western States 100, the DT Stone Anvil, the Grindstone 100, Pine to Palm 100, Pinhoti 100, Rocky Racoon 100, and the Leadville 100.
Heading back to the Skunk Ape Night Run with Tina Wolfe, Kimberly Pasienza, Amy Thornton, and James Mathis.
Tina has done races like the Bronze Dragonfly, Badwater Cape Fear, River to Sea, the Vero Beach Octopus Ultra, Jacks 50k, and Whispering Pines.
Kim, as many may know her from her "Kimspiration Stations" at races. She's done races like the River to Sea, Bronze Dragonfly, and the SWAMP 10k!
Amy is the owner of the RunFit running specialty store in Lutz, Florida. She's also done races like the Sweat, Swat, n Swear and the Moon Over Croom.
James Mathis has been a huge help volunteering over the years and he has also run the Skunk Ape Night Run many times. He;s done races like the Dark Anchor, River to Sea, the Funest 10k, Wild Florida 12 Miler, and Sweat Swat n Swear.
This was the 50th Year of the Western States 100 that starts in the Olympic Valley and ends at the Placer High School in Auburn. On the chat, we've got three of the four Floridians who took on the course! This year Tyler Peterson, Joseph Pinter, and Zach Hanna crossed that finish line to get that belt buckle.
Tyler Peterson has done 100 Milers like the Long Haul 100 here in Florida, the Yeti 100, Burning River 100, Mohican 100, Kettle Moraine 100, Indiana Trail 100, and the Umstead 100. He finished the Western States 100 this year with a time of 25:24:44.
Joseph Pinter has done races like the Cruel Jewel 100, Grindstone 100, Massanutten Mountain 100, and the Pinhoti 100. He also ran at the 2019 Western States 100! In 2019, he ran a time of 29:42:39... this year he ran a time of 29:13:11.
Zach Hanna has done races like the Hennepin 100, Pinhoti 100, No Business 100, Rio Del Lago 100, and the Umstead 100. He finished the Western States 100 this year with a time of 28:37:16.
For almost five decades, the Western States 100 has been home to some of the sport’s most amazing and legendary competitions. It's essentially the Super Bowl of the trail running scene in the United States. With more than 1,500 dedicated volunteers helping to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the race has stirred the spirit of runners from all walks of life and from all over the globe.
This year four Floridians traveled to New York for the Great New York 100 Mile Exposition, also known as TGNY. Mark Cudak, Luis Cocco, Amy Rae, and Diane Romero-Lopez all got those belt buckles! The TGNY starts in Times Square and goes through Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Rockaway Beach, Coney Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan and Times Square.
Mark Cudak got it done with a time of 22:12:01! He's done races like the Keys 100, Daytona 100, Lake to Ocean 100k, the Long Play, Colt 45, and the Long Haul 100. He's also the head Course Marshall for the Keys 100.
Luis Cocco got it done with a time of 25:37:40! He's the Race Director for the Miami 100, Miami 50/50, Ride the Wave 50k, and the Co-RD for the Space Pirate 100. He's done some crazy stuff like completing the Lollipop 240 and his HERO 200 Mile. He's done races like the Daytona 100, Long Haul 100, LOST 118, Lake to Ocean 100k, Badwater Salton Sea, Pier 2 Pier 200k, and the Vero Beach Octopus 100.
Amy Rae, the Banana Champ, she placed third overall for the females with a time of 23:04:30! She's done races like the Trident, the Sand Spur, the Barkley Fall Classic, the Keys 100, and the Pinhoti 100.
Diane got it done with a time of 29:45:40. She is also the Race Director for the Monroe Cross Trail 50 Mile Ultra in DeBary! She's done races like the Long Haul 100, the LOST 118, Brazos Bend 100, the Yeti 100, the Pinellas Trail Challenge, and the Skunk Ape Night Run.
This year is the 50th year of the Western States 100 in the Olympic Valley. For this episode, we’ve got “Mr. Western States” Andy Jones-Wilkins back for a second time for the "Pre-Western States Chat" with a Florida runner! He's joined by Matt Murphy who got into the race on June 10th, only a two week notice for the Western States 100. They're also joined by Matt's wife, Karen, who will also be out there crewing and pacing!
Matt Murphy has done races like the Holcomb Valley 50k, the Long Play, Croom Zoom, the Javelina 100, the San Diego 100, Sweat Swat n Swear, Colt 45, the Black Hills 100, and the Long Haul 100! His wife Karen, not only does she crew and pace, but she's also ran races like the Skunk Ape's Revenge, the Long Play, Angry Tortoise, Croom Zoom, the Vermont 100k, and the 50 Miler at Umstead.
AJW has done the Western States 100 ten times, placing 2nd in 2005. Over his ten years he has placed in the Top 10 numerous times. He continues now with parking cars out at Robinson Flat, cheerleading, announcing, and helping make things happen! He also has his own podcast called "Crack a Brew with AJW!" So whether he's out there on the course, chatting it up with Trail Runner Nation, or writing articles on iRunFar... He's always representing the sport of trail and ultra running well!
We are back with the 2023 Lake to Ocean 100k, this is one of my favorite races in the state of Florida! I'm always fascinated on how each runner takes on the course. On the chat, we've got Sarah Flowers, Bailey Freer, and Scott Hoover! All three of them absolutely crushed it out there on the course that takes you from Lake Okeechobee to the ocean at Hobe Sound Beach.
Sarah has done races like Death at DuPuis and the Dunes 50k. She's been taking the trail and ultra scene head on! Ofcourse, that makes sense when Leo Acosta could talk about anyone into trying out the trails! Bailey has done races like the Quest for the Crest, Croom Fools Run, the Croom Zoom, Forgotten Florida, and the Georgia Jewel 50 Miler.
Now for Scott Hoover, don't his let mellow tone fool ya! He has done races like the Trident, Skunk Ape Night Run, the Long Haul 100, the Pinellas Trail Challenge, Skunk Ape's Revenge, Quest for the Crest, and Colt 45. He's also taken first place male at the Sand Spur 50k and won overall at the SWAMP 50k, and a third-place finish at the Skunk Ape's Revenge 60k. He's also the Co-Race Director for the Tick Tock and the Funest 50k! He's an all-around great guy that is always willing to help!
Shout-out to Jeff Stephens and Andrea Moxely who make this race possible; as well to Lulu Yun-Pelz for also being out there for all of the hours! So many people from Susan Anger and the Florida Trail Association with endless support and trail maintenance over the years.
Without the Florida Trail Assocation, there is no trail for us to enjoy.
On the chat for the Sweat Swat n Swear, we've got three runners who ran their first ever 50k! Brandy Krisher, Derek Adler, and Britta Devitt. They all got it done with a time of 5:41:30, 6:31:18, and 7:37:56! Also on the chat is your Womens Champion for this year's race, Ivi Stangle! She took it home with a time of 5:28:44!
Brandy also placed Second Overall for this year's race! She's done races like the Skunk Ape's Revenge and has volunteered at races like the Forgotten Florida, and she also takes some amazing photos! Derek Adler is new to the sport, he's done stuff like the Spartan Race, but this was her very first official trail race! Britta, she's done races like the Long Play, Withlacoochee River Run, the Skunk Ape Night Run, and Whispering Pines!
Ivi has done races like the Grayson Highlands, Skunk Ape Night Run, the Trident, Wild Florida 50k, and the Forgotten Florida 50 Miler. She is also the wife of Chris Stangle, as many may know from RunFluent. Ivi is the nutritional half of the RunFluent Team with Fulwise! Fulwise is all things nutrition, from a healthy day to day diet for those that are looking to get the most out of their bodies, as well as, in-race and post-race fueling.
It was another year for the Keys 100 from Key Largo to Key West. On this year's Keys 100 chat we’ve got JD Mcgee, Ty Aronson, Sarah Raaymakers, and Vivianne Zerquera! At the Keys 100, this group got it done and got those belt buckles!
JD got it done with a time of 30:53:42 and he’s even got an awesome new Keys 100 tattoo! He's done races like the Pinellas Trail Challenge, the Toxic Trail, Colt 45, Long Play, Sweat Swat n' Swear, and the Monroe Cross Trail 50 Mile Ultra. This dude has also been a tremendous help with volunteering at so many races like the Skunk Ape Night Run and he has also been a huge help crewing at races like the Lake to Ocean 100k.
Ty Aronson got it done with a time of 30:08:46! He's done races like the Daytona 100, the Long Haul 100, Tunnel Hill, and last year he ran at the Keys 100 with a time of 31:38:57! So it was awesome to see him comeback for a new personal record for the Keys 100 course.
Sarah Raaymakers placed 12th overall with a time 23:27:42! She's done races like the Pinellas Trail Challenge, the Clearwater Distance Classic 50k, and she ran the 50k at last year's Keys 100... talk about coming back for more!
Viviane crossed that finish line with a time 27:31:37 and! At the end of her race, she was surprised by a huge proposal that you’ll hear all about! what an amazing end so something already so special. She's done races like the Daytona 100 in the 50 Miler event and the Marine Corp Marathon in the 50k event!
Such an iconic and legendary Florida race! From the Race Director Bob Becker to all the volunteers, the Course Marshalls, Mark Cudak, the runners, the crews, the county, and everyone else involved does an amazing job year after year!
This year was the third for the Cocodona 250 put on Aravaipa Running in Arizona. When it comes to Florida, our state had eight runners taking on the challenge of 250 miles across the Sonoran Desert with soaring temps both hot and cold, broken-down RV's, cold plunges into creeks, and more... For this part-one episode we have Justin Davis, Seth Talalla, Kevin Coughlin, and Derek Kirkman!
Justin Davis crossed that finish line with a time of 105:32:45 placing 57th overall this year. He's done races like the Pine Creek Challenge, Legacy Trail 60k, Whispering Pines and the Bryce Canyon 100! He crossed the finish line with Kevin Coughlin! Kevin has done races like the JFK 50 Miler, Manchester 2 Monadnock, and the Traprock 50k! These two dudes pushed and helped each other for miles, it was amazing to see them cross that finish line together.
Seth Talalla got it done with a time of 112:48:10 and placed 97th overall. He's done races like the Moab 240, Pinhoti 100, the Keys 100, the Long Haul 100, Forgotten Florida 100, the Georgia Jewel 100, and gathered up 167 miles at Merrills Mile! Derek Kirkman took the DNF this year at Cocodona, but he took home a massive distance PR! He's done races like the Long Haul 100, Daytona 100, Javelina 100, the Pinellas Trail Challenge, and the LOST 118!
Luis Cocco has done it again with another 200+ mile feat, from last year's HERO 200 in his dojang to now the Lollipop 240! Luis officially finished the Lollipop 240 in 4 Days, 8 Hours, and 32 minutes! A journey took from the beach at Hobe Sound onto the Ocean to Lake Trail, circumnavigating Lake Okeechobee and back onto the Ocean to Lake Trail and back to where it all started on the beach at Hobe Sound. Luis battled the elements from thunderstorms to racing a prescribed burn! Regardless of what was thrown at him, he got it done!
Luis has a lot of 100-mile experience having done the Daytona 100, Iron Horse 100, Keys 100, the Pier-to-Pier 200k, the Long Haul 100, the Lost 118, and the Vero Octopus 100! He's also done Badwater Salton Sea and the Lake to Ocean 100 (Winter Edition), as well as his 200 miles at Hero Martial Arts running 9,696 laps (48.5 laps per Mile) on his 108.9167 foot course.
Another big factor into this Lollipop 240 was raising money for the Cypress Creek Bridge Restoration Project. The Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association built and continues to maintain this 61-mile trail in Southeast Florida. Due to flooding this past fall the Cypress Creek Bridge is in dire need of rehabilitation. To date of posting, he has raised $10,026 to help rebuild the bridge out there! So THANK YOU to everyone who donated!
Here we are for episode 99! This was the inaugural year for the Funest 50k out at the Loyce Harpe Park in Lakeland, Florida and it was awesome! On the chat, we've got your 50k Champion, Mike Alberts! He crossed the finish line with a time of 5:15:16! We've also got your Female Champion, Kate Morgan. She's a Lakeland local and this course is truly her home course. She got it done with a time of 6:54:26!
Then, we've got your DFL for the inaugural year, Anna Schermerhorn! She got it done with a time of 10:11:35! Then, we've got Brandon Holmes.. and this dude, let me tell ya. Normally people tend to drop down in a race when given the opportunity, not Brandon! He moved up from the 30k into the 50k during the race! He crushed that 50k with a time of 8:32:27!
Last year we covered the 50 miler out at the JW Corbett, so this year we are chatting about the 50k! And on the chat, we've got Chris Stevens, Brenda Lips, and Mark Cudak. This group did amazing! Chris Stevens came out and got First Overall with a time of 5:35. He followed up by Second Overall and the first lady to cross that finish line, Brenda Lips! She finished with a time of 5:38! They were both then followed by Mark Cudak who crossed the finish line with a time of 5:47 to take second for the men and Third Overall!
This group has talent! Chris Stevens has done races like the Summer Slam which includes the Vero Beach Octopus, the Skunk Ape Night Run, and the Trident! He's also done races like the Just Survive 125, the Sand Spur, the Miami 100, the Lake to Ocean 100k, the Swamp 50k, and Vol State!
Brenda has done races like the Trident, the Iron Horse 100k, and she even placed Second Overall at the Long Haul 100!
Mark Cudak, not only is the Course Marshall for the Keys 100... but he's done races like the Lake to Ocean 100k, Iron Horse 100, Daytona 100, Fort Clinch 100, and the Long Haul 100!
Here we are with episode 97! On the chat, we've the Robert Sterba! He's a coach, an athlete, and he recently took on the Zion 100 Mile out near Apple Valley, Utah! This is a race put on Vacation Races and its terrain covers Mesa's, deserts, and some beautiful trails. I think I saw somewhere the total gain/loss floats around 11,114/11,115 with 4 climbs of at least 1,000-1,500 feet each and 6 climbs of 250 feet each.
Neverless, Robert got it done with a time of 23:44:24 to place 14th Overall!
Robert has done races like the SWAMP 50k, Run the Rut, Bandera, and the Long Haul 100! With his coaching background, we chat a lot of training and different methodolgies from the heart rate to nutrition, to the sweat drip! We also jump into running shoes and finding the right fit... and of course, how his race went down!
On this episode we head up to Georgia for the inaugural year of the Canebreak 200 by Jason Green's Yeti Trail Runners! On the chat, we've got two Floridians who got it done...Rex Stinnett and Robyn Abrasley. They absolutely crushed it out there! Rex got it done with a time of 83:05:32 and Robin got it done with a time of 81:14:32!
While this was Rex's first 200 miler, he's done races like the Dark Anchor, the Wildcat Ultras, Bear Bait, and Lake Martin! Likewise for Robyn, this was also her first time for the 200 mile distance! She's done races like the Wildcat Ultras, Bear Bait, the Yeti 100, and the Destin Beach Ultra!
The Canebreak 200 runs past the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company textile mill, through movie locations like The Hunger Games, and wilderness just outside of Atlanta at Sweetwater Creek State Park. The course consists of a 5 mile loop followed by a 10 mile outer loop!
This was the inaugural year for Mikey Bee's Hungryland 100 out at the Hungryland Slough! Man, what a year it was! The finisher rate this year was a whopping 27%, as compared to Mikey Bee's 5 Trails at 50% and the Ridge to Nowhere at 35%. But! This was an awesome year for those seeking to conquer the 100 mile distance for the first time and on the chat, we've four 100 mile first timers!
We've got your overall champion, Jon Kier! He won this year's Hungryland 100 with a time of 22:24:45. He's done races like the Whispering Pines, the Durty B-ee-rr-un, Southern Discomfort, and the Brokentrack 12-Hour!
Also on the chat is Nate King from Wisconsin! He was third overall with a time of 24:23:01. He's done races like the North Face Challenge but has also come down to Florida before for the JW Corbett! Talk about a difference in race dynamics between Hungryland and Corbett!
Then we've got Nick Urena! He crossed that finish line with a time of 32:24:08! Nick rode with me out to the Hungryland 100, so it was awesome to see him get that belt buckle! He's done races like the Skunk Ape Night Run, Skunk Ape's Revenge, the Blue Ridge Ultra 50k, and Legacy Trail 60k.
Corey Setterlund also joins the chat! She got that first belt buckle with a time of 32:30:05! She's helped pace and crew for many 100 milers, but this time she got it done! She's done races like the Gate2Gate, the Dunes 50 Miler, the Osprey, the Angry Tortoise, and Whispering Pines! So don't let her fool you she doesn't secretly love the trails!
The Georgia Death Race is one of those legendary races on the East Coast, it's a point-to-point 70ish mile race through the North Georgia mountains. On the chat, we've got Matthew Johnson from Georgia, Josh Lockwood, and Mr. Pizza Gut himself... Neil Murphy.
Matthew Johnson is a guy who I've ran against before and these North Georgia mountains are his home terf. He's done races like the FATS 50k, the Sky to Summit, Sweet H2O, and the Quest for the Crest.
Josh Lockwood was done races like the Long Haul 100, the Pinellas Trail Challenge, Whispering Pines, and Death at Depuis!
Neil Murphy has now been out to the Georgia Death Race 8 times between volunteering and racing! His 2017 go at the race left him famous for the Pizza Gut meme. Whether know him has the Pizza Gut Guy, or not... He's done races like the Vermont Spartan Ultra Beast, Forgotten Florida 100, Spartan Death Race, and the No Business 100!
The Georgia Death Race is a 74ish mile point-to-point race from Byron Herbert Reece Farm in Blairsville, Ga to Amicalola Falls State Park. The race has 16,000 ft of climbing and 16,000 ft of descent. It is relentless.
On February 23rd, Andy "Croom" Mathews started the Lollipop 240. This is a journey that starts at Hobe Sound beach and follows the Ocean to Lake Trail, it then circumnavigates the entirety of Lake Okeechobee until you're back onto the Ocean to Lake Trail and heading back to where it all started at Hobe Sound beach. Andy's journey took him 4 Days, 16 Hours, 25 Minutes, and 33 Seconds. He's also joined by Mark Cudak who joined him for the most crucial miles in his journey.
The Lake to Ocean Trail runs for approximately 61.5 miles, west from Hobe Sound Beach to Lake Okeechobee where it ends at the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) Trailhead. This section crosses ancient sand dunes with scrub oaks and sand pines to pine flat woods, palmetto and oak hammocks, cypress swamp and wet prairies. It covers Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Riverbend Park, the Loxahatchee Slough, the Hungryland Slough, JW Corbett, and the Dupuis Reserve.
Circumnavigating Lake Okeechobee is a 118-mile journey. Many people are familiar with the LOST 118, a race that runs around the lake, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail offers spectacular views. On the east side of the lake, the views are primarily of islands and vast open waters. The west side of the lake is shallow and marshy.
Recently JD McGee and Melinda Hooper took on the over 57 miles FKT from the Flamingo Visitor Center located on the Florida Bay in Everglades National Park to the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Biscayne National Park. They set the Mixed Gender Record with a time of 18 Hours, 37 Minutes, and 11 Seconds!
The route follows Florida State Road 9336, which serves as the main park road within the Everglades National Park and has historical ties to Old Ingraham Highway. The route traverses 38 miles through the heart of Everglades National Park, where you will pass coastal lowlands, hardwood hammocks, mangroves, wetlands, prairies and cypress forests. Wildlife is abundant throughout the course, including birds and the occasional alligator and crocodile sighting.
Once exiting Everglades National Park, you will pass through some of South Florida's farmlands as you head into Florida City, the gateway to the Florida Keys and the Everglades, on your trek to Biscayne National Park.
From Florida City to Biscayne National Park, you will pass alongside various canals teeming with wildlife, including manatees, alligators and various native and migratory birds. The route ends at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center within Biscayne National Park, with vast scenic views of Biscayne Bay from the boardwalk.
Luis Cocco has the Male Supported FKT for this as well, he set that with a time of 10 Hours, 59 Minutes, and 7 Seconds!
The Long Play Trail Run was back for another year out at the Ridge Manor Trailhead! This race starts you off along the Withlacoochee River before diving into Croom Forest for the "Croom Loop!" On the chat, we've got Aden St. Charles, Amanda Guevara, Kali MacGregor, and Nate Bailey! Aden St. Charles has done races like the Forgotten Florida, Wild Florida, Sky to Summit, and Cloudland Canyons! She was the second female to cross the finish line this year with a time of 5:42:56! Amanda Guevara has done races like the Iron Horse, Azalea 12 Hour, Daytona 100, and the Dark Sky 50 Miler. Kali MacGregor has done races like the Long Haul 100, Colt 45, and the Pinellas Trail Challenge!Nate Bailey just moved down to Florida from Ohio. He’s done races like the Akron Trail Marathon, Eagle Up 100k, and the Tuscazoar 75 Miler!
The Space Pirate 100 had its inaugural year this year starting in Cape Canaveral and ending all the way south at the Treasure Coast! Starting off on the chat, we've got your Race Directors, Luis Cocco and Tuan Nguyen! These guys had an idea and it's amazing to see it come to life and turn into such an amazing race.
Then! We've got Sandy VI-Burruss on the chat, she was your second place for the women at this year's Space Pirate! She took it home with a time of 21:42:37! Her experience with the 100 Mile, and over 100 miles is absolutely incredible! In 2017, she set female World Record for the North American Transcontinental Run. That record had been standing since 1978, when South African Mavis Hutchinson ran from Los Angeles to New York City in 69 days.
She's also done races like the Javelina 100, 6 Days in the Dome, Across the Years, Daytona 100, Keys 100, Miami 100, the Lost 118, and she was the Womens Champion at the 2017 Badwater 135! Absolutely amazing!
We are diving back into the Green Swamp of Florida with the 2023 Skunk Ape's Revenge! On this episode, we are chatting with some of those 30k runners! At this year's race, the 30k had 81 finishers! This time we are joined by a group from Marion County who came out to the Skunk Ape's Revenge! We've got Joe Miller, Beth Bayer, Dylan O'Hara, and Bobby Walrath!
The Marion County runners typically meet at the Landbridge Trailhead on Saturday mornings and these trails are amazing! This is the primary trailhead that was developed to provide access to the I-75 Landbridge. The structure, which is 52 feet wide by 200 feet long, follows a natural ridge over 100 feet in elevation to minimize ecological damage. The planters on both sides of the bridge are vegetated with plants native to the surrounding area. The walls were built from local fieldstone.
Here we are with the Final Four of this year's Death at DePuis Last Man Standing race and these guys ran for hours on end! All of the runners took on a 4.166667 mile loop, or "yard" as it's also known as. The race restarts at the top of the hour every hour until only one runner can complete the loop on time, or everyone quits. On the chat, we've got your back-to-back champion Andy Scholly! He took it home with a total of 133.3344 miles! He is a Last Man Standing/Last Person Standing veteran having won the 2022 Last of the Felascans and last years Death at DePuis! He's also won races like the Last at the Lake in West Point, Georgia!
Your runner up, or the man who gave Andy the assist was Eric Kalina. He ran for a total of 129.1677 miles! He also recently ran a 3:11 Marathon after Death at DePuis and competed at this year's Long Haul 100 where he placed third overall with a time of 17:05:20! He's also done races like the Riverbend 12 Hour, the Lake to Ocean 100k, and the JW Corbett 50 Miler!
Then, we have Matt Clapper who ran a total of 120.8343 miles! This guy time and time again pushes himself to the absolute limits! When you look up "grit" on google images, I swear his photos come up! He's done races like the Across Florida 200, the Long Haul 100, Last of the Felascans, the Pinellas Trail Challenge, and the Trident!
Then we've got Vinny Wood with a brand-new distance PR! and I'm not talking a small PR by any means, he took it home with a total of 100.0008 miles! His previous furthest distance to date was 50 miles at the Nashville Ultra - 50 Miler, then he also ran at this year's Monroe Cross Trail 50 Mile Ultra! Incredible!
As always this is a homage to Big's Backyard in Tennessee, started by none other than Laz. Leo Acosta is the Race Director for this event and he does one heck of a job putting it on!
One of the races on my bucket list is the Mountain Mist! This is a race that takes place up in Huntsville, Alabama at the Monte Sano State Park and the Huntsville Land Trust Trails. This year Mark Crain, Joao Vitor Novaes, and Jenny Early took on the course and give us a Floridian insight on this Alabama race!
Mark has done races like the North Face Endurance Challenge, John Holmes 50k, Croom Zoom, the Iron Horse 100, Gate2Gate, and the Long Haul 100! Joao has gone from the IRONMAN to the hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail and Jenny Early has done races like the Yeti 100, the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic, and now the Mountain Mist.
There is around 4,000' feet of climb. There is a vertical climb on the course that requires the use of your upper body going up the infamous Waterline Trail. The final 6 miles drops into and back out of McKay Hollow, very rugged trails.
We are diving right into the Green Swamp of Florida with the 2023 Skunk Ape's Revenge! On this episode, we are chatting with some of those 60k runners! At this years race, nearly half the 60k field dropped down to the 30k distance... so these 60k runners are some real warriors!
On the chat we've got your overall champion, Kalo Axsom! He took the win out there with a new course record in a time of 5:09:31! He also recently won the Long Haul 100 and the Sandridge 7 Hour! He's run races like the Skunk Ape Night Run, Forgotten Florida, the Keys 100, and the Skydive 100!
Also on the chat is Shala Reifinger! She traveled down to the race from Georgia! It was awesome to have her out at the race and to have her family supporting and even running out there! Her brother also ran his first ultra at this year's Skunk Ape's Revenge! She's done races like the H9, Cruel Jewel 50, Mystery Mountain, Huff-n-Puff, the FATS 50k, and the Mountain Mist!
Then we've got Ryan Jacobson! He's one of those Skunk Ape Runners who was at the inaugural year for the Revenge race! He's a guy I swear I see at nearly every single race. He's done races like the Long Play, the Long Haul 100, Colt 45, Croom Zoom, John Holmes, and he's done the Ice Age Trail!
Then we've got Aaron Ware and his first ultra-marathon! But not only to that, it was really first ever organized trail race. He got it done with a time of 9:07:31! He absolutely crushed it!!!
Your top four women for this year's Skunk Ape’s Revenge 60k!
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Amanda Richmond - 6:07:08
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Sage Lyons - 6:14:34
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Daylee Sheppard - 6:24:06
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Cheryl Shelhart - 6:45:02
Your top four men for this years Skunk Ape’s Revenge 60k!
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Kalo Axsom - 5:09:31
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Steven Anderson - 5:27:52
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Matt Krauss - 6:15:24
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John Benham - 6:44:13
The Forgotten Florida 100 Miler was back for another year! On the chat, we have your back-to-back champion, Max Bennett! He took the win this year with a time of 18:18:47! At last year's race, it was a three-way tie with Max, Aden St Charles, and John Parker who went 19:58:59. So it was awesome to see Max back out there again this year!
Also on the chat, we have your DFL with 33 Hours, Jusup Sandoval! He has an amazing story going from a wheelchair to 100 miles. This guy has overcome so many hurdles that many, even doctors, would consider impossible. He first attempted the 100 distance at the Idaho Mountain Trail Ultra Festival, but you will hear what happened there.
Then we've got Joshua Ham from Fort Benning! He got the 100 done with a time of 29:03:41! He's done races like the Blackbeards Revenge 100, Beast of the East 25 Mile, Merrill's Mile, and the Run Undead Trail Party 100 Miler!
And, we've got Michelle Speer who ran her first 100 miler! She got that first belt buckle with a time of 32:41:54! She's done races like the Cruel Jewel 50 Miler and the Tick Tock. This year she plans on taking on the Cruel Jewel 100, so this race was perfect for her to get that time on the feet training!
The Forgotten Florida is located east of Orlando crossing multiple state forests, conservation and wildlife management areas presenting runners with one of the most biodiverse terrains. Large sections of it utilize the extensive Florida trail. While the terrain is mostly flat, it provides plenty of challenges to runners with its hot and humid climate and sometimes swampy and rainy terrain.
The Monroe Cross Trail 50 Mile Ultra was a race that made its debut last year with Diane Romero-Lopez leading the way as a new Race Director! She has done an amazing job turning this race from a late-night 50-mile birthday run into the race it is today! What a dream come true! On the chat, we've got two runners who ran their first ever 50 miler, Brent Knott and Megan Schweitzer! And! Also on the chat we've got two seasoned veterans, Rachel Alexander and Sean Baum who both ran some 50 mile PR's!
The race is a point-to-point race that starts in Rotary Park in Edgewater Florida and running 50 miles to the finish line at Central 28 Beer Company in DeBary, Florida. You run the Monroe Cross Trail the Sprint-to-Spring Trail, and beautiful shoreline of Lake Monroe until you reach your turnaround point before heading to Central 28. The Monroe Cross Trail also has the 50k and 17k events too!
Amazing!
On this episode we are back at the Long Haul 100, but this time we've got a whole new perspective on the race! Typically, the stories from the race come from the runners, but this time we've got Ali Mathews, Andrew Barrett, and Jessica Calise! They, alongside others, were some of your aid station heroes at the Aid Station Two with the Thompson's! But also, huge shout-out to Julie and Pops... they are absolute legends when it comes volunteering! It was so nice to see them out there this year.
It's always awesome to hear the perspective from the Aid Station Volunteers, the outlook they have on the race. It's such a blessing, not only looking at from a Race Directors point of view, but also as the runner... we are so blessed to have so many passionate people willing to give-up their free time to come out to a race and help so many people.
From start to finish; from the front of the pack to the back of the pack... your aid station volunteers log some serious hours and it is amazing what they do!
Speaking for myself, and probably so many others, I absolutely love volunteering at a race! It is something I would recommend for everyone to try out!
This year James Mathis took on the inaugural year of the Dark Anchor by Jason Green's Yeti Trail Runners in Savannah, Georgia. He was one of the many Floridians who took on the 3.34 mile course! He went out there and crushed it for 50 miles and a new distance PR! He was, as always, rocking the Team Beef Florida gear and we dive into that, some craft beer, and how the race went down!
James has done races like the River-to-Sea, the Skunk Ape Night Run, the Sandridge, Azalea 12 Hr, and the Seven Trails Ultra Festival! He's also your man at the Fire Berm aid station at the Skunk Ape's Revenge!
The Dark Anchor takes place at the Wormsloe State Park and follows a 3.34 mile course for 34 Hours! There is a small out-n-back on live oak ave (think Forest Gump!) as this view never gets old. An Anchor with the words 'Refuse to sink' is a firm sign of hope to hold on to. It means that an individual will not let a struggle become an anchor in stopping them to reach their goals. . It can be referenced back to a bible verse, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure".
Enjoy!
It was another year for the annual Long Haul 100! Time and time again, this is the place where so many runners take on the 100-mile distance for the first time! Not only from the first 100, but also the 5th... 6th... 10th 100-mile! This year Mo Hogan, Patrick Lloyd, Craig Bets, and Mac Jackson were some of the 100-mile first timers! The episode first opens up with some BIG NEWS for the Long Haul in regard to 2024! Your Race Director Andy "Croom" Mathews spills the beans and gives us the deets!The Long Haul 100 is truly one of those races that is near and dear to my heart. It’s the place where I got my first 100-mile belt buckle. It’s that special place where I truly achieved something I thought no way I could ever.Coming into the Long Haul 100, Mo Hogan has done races like the Daytona 50 miler, the Pinellas Trail Challenge, the Skunk Ape Night Run, and the 8 Hours of Hell! Her very first ultra took place at the Croom Zoom 50k! She got her first 100 mile belt buckle this year with a time of 31:14:15!!Patrick Llyod is new into the sport having done the Frozen H3 50 Miler and the Foking Run for the Greenhouse 8hr in 2021! It was in the Summer of 2019 that he first decided to make it a goal to finish a 100 mile race. This was the moment and he got it ! He had been training for and dreaming of for 3+ years and he got his belt buckle with a time of 23:51:50! He was last Sub-24 Hour runner at the 2024 Long Haul 100!Craig Betz is also new to the sport of ultra-running having started in the Spartan Racing and Road Racing scene! He had a busy 2021 and 2022 diving deep into races like the Croom Zoom 50k, Georgia Jewel 50 miler, the Long Play, the Dunes 50k, and the Trident! He got his belt buckle at the Long Haul with a time of 25:55:00!Mac Jackson, like everyone else on this list... also started ultra-running fairly recent in the past few years! He has done races like the JW Corbett 50k, the Colt 45, and a DNF at the Trident! He's currently coached by Sally McRae and the proof is in the pudding... he had one amazing performace at this years race! Mac took 4th Overall with a time of 19:11:36!!! Not to shabby for your first 100 miler!!!Enjoy!!
Starting the 2023 Season off where it all started, the Long Haul 100. Frequent guest Andy "Croom" Mathews returns to the podcast to go in-depth into everything about this race. He's also joined by three-time finisher and 3rd Overall at the 2022 Long Haul 100, Jeff Iosa! We analyze the course, talk about what it's going to take to be successful, some tips and tricks, some good ole Long Haul trivia, and yes! We make our predictions for the female and male top finishers for this year! We also chat on who we think is going to have most consistent race and wrap it up with our top four tips!
The Long Haul 100 takes place at the Cypress Creek Preserve in Land o' Lakes, Florida and is Florida's only Western States Qualifying Race. Great for first-timers and veterans alike! The race hosts a solid mix of double track, single track, sand, palmettos, pines, and wildlife!
Runners will take on the 10 x 10 Mile Loops to complete the course! One "loop" is made up of three spurs that stem from the main hub/crew area.
This race is truly the grand gathering of the Florida ultra and trail scene!
See y'all at Long Haul!
Alright so this is the final episode of the 2022 season! We are talking about the Jupiter Ridge Sand Spur! This episode is coming way after race day with some recording craziness that had me having to bail on the first attempt... but we finally got it done!
On the chat we've got your Overall Champion in the 50k, Allision Duarte! She absolutely crushed it in the sand going 5:25:52! Second place was Scoot Hoover who ran a time of 6:04:54. In 2021, she ran the Sand Spur 50k with a time 6:37:56 to place 4th overall. Allison has done races like Lake to Ocean 100k, the Osprey, and the Sky to Summit 50k.
Joining Allison is a Sand Spur and Trident veteran, Eric Desimone. He took on the 82 miles this year and he also placed 13th in the Trident Ridge to Nowhere 12HR/40 Miler back in July! In 2021, he also ran at the Sand Spur and the Trident placing 9th and 16th respectively. He's also done races like the Skunk Ape Night Run, Long Play, River to Sea, and the Toxic Trail 37 Miler.
He's joined by Shane Loughran! He placed 6th overall this year at the Sand Spur. We all either rust out or wear out, and Shane is crushing it! He's also done races like the Legacy Trail 60k, Dunes 50k & 50 Miler, the Coldwater Rumble 52 Miler, and the Riverbend Park 50k!
Then we've got your Overall Champion in the 82 Miles, Cole Bataille! Like Eric, Cole is a Jupiter Ridge veteran! He's ran the Trident Half-Marathon and Sand Spur 50k in 2018, the Trident Half-Marathon and Sand Spur 50k in 2019, the Trident Marathon in 2021, and the Trident Ridge to Nowhere 12HR/40 Miler in 2022... he also won ALL OF THEM! However, he took a DNF at the 2021 Sand Spur 5 Trials 81 Miler... but this year he got it done!
The story of this ultramarathon began during the last ice ages. On the Florida peninsula, sandy hilltop island and coastal dune ridges were the only lands peeking above sea level over 2 million years ago. Then the seas fell, leaving the flat, broad finger of land we now know as Florida. These ancient sand dunes are known as one of the rarest living communities. The Jupiter Ridge Natural Area is a coastal scrub environment, one of the rarest and slowest to rebound if damaged. It is home to 31 plant species and 14 animal species considered to be threatened, rare, or of special concern.
Mikey Bee does an amazing job bringing people out to run different distances and challenge themself to "The 5 Trials!"
The Ancient Oaks 100 took place on December 17th, 2022, this a race full of history. Mike Melton is the current Race Director as the race was founded by the late Stu Gleman. Stu race directed and participated in the race for many years until he sadly passed away in 2016 doing what he loved, running. The course is a 3.46-mile course for a total of 100.34 miles... thats 29 loops!
This year and on the chat Laura Walker was the overall winner with a time of 22:42:43 and this was her first 100 miler ever! She's had one amazing 2022 year with winning the Skunk Ape Night Run and setting the course record for the women. She also placed 4th overall at the Croom Fools Run 50 miler and has also run races like the Jack's 50k, River to Sea, and the Georgia Jewel 50 miler!
Also on the chat is Maren Baldwin, she crossed that finish line with a time of 28:58:48! She's done races like the Long Haul 100, Tick Tock, and the Wildcat 100k!
These ladies are joined by Cody Grigsby, he got his epic finish with a time of 30:15:37! This was his second 100 miler with the first being the Dunes 100 in 2018.
Enjoy!
Alright here we are in the new year of 2023! For the New Year's special episode, we've got Lovelyn Findley and the Across Florida 200! She is the first female to complete the Across Florida 200 and get that Belt Buckle! Also on the chat, Lovelyn is joined by her crew... Stephen, Rosa, and Megan!
Lovelyn is new into the ultra-distance scene with only have done ultras in the past two years! She's done races like the Forgotten Florida 100, the Keys 100, the Skunk Ape Night Run, Sky to Summit, and the Wild Florida 50k!
Also have to give a shout out to the O-Town Blazers AND the pacers who came out to support Lovelyn in this epic journey; Kalo, Joseph Greenslade, Jordan, Kari, and Luis Espinoza! I was even able to come out and pace and it was freaking awesome to see her knock out those miles hour after after!
Like Lovelyn said recently; "I am still in disbelief that this happened. Epic adventures are out there! Believe in yourself, surround yourself with people that believes in your dreams. And when possible, be the light for others."
The year of 2022 has been a big one for Gregory Ryan, in this year he has taken on two 100 miler's and several other awesome trail races! Trail races like the Forgotten Florida and the Palm Bluff 50k! In 2021, he also did the Bryce Canyon 50 Miler. But, as for this year in the 100 mile, Gregory took on the Yeti 100 out in Washington with a time of 27:17:33... He also took on this year's Daytona 100, get got that Belt Buckle with a time of 27:49:41.
It was awesome to get him on and chat about the Yeti 100, Sleeping during 100 milers, and how his race went down at Daytona!
This year Aaron Hale took on the Daytona 100 from Jacksonville Beach to Daytona Beach! He ran the majority of the miles with his guide Ty Aronson and had one heck of a crew. You see, Aaron cannot see. He is 100% blind, and he is deaf. He completed the Daytona 100 with a time of 30:41:01.
Aaron is a 14-year veteran, military chef, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (E.O.D) team leader. He has overcome all odds from the moment a blast robbed him of his vision in Afghanistan, to years later when he lost his hearing, he refused to accept defeat.
So now that he's hitting the roads and knocking out 100 milers, he's also in the kitchen! One thing I also have to mention is EOD Fudge, you've got to check it out. All of the fudge is made by Aaron without preservatives and are hand wrapped and packaged!
Extra Ordinary Delights - Veteran-made confections delivered to you (eodfudge.com)
This year the Daytona 100 was under the leadership of the legend, Bob Becker. This is a course that takes you all the way from Jacksonville Beach to Daytona Beach! On the chat, we've got Ty Aronson, Marty Gardner, and Rachel Alexander! They absolutely crushed it with a 100-mile distance redemption, PR on PR on PR's across the board, AND smashing an A-Goal for the race!
Ty Aronson, who was previously on the podcast with the Stories from the Pine Creek Challenge, got that belt buckle and completed the 100-mile course for some sweet redemption. His race was truly one-of-a-kind having guided fellow runner Aaron Hale. Aaron lost his vision in Afghanistan when he was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (E.O.D) Team Leader, however, going against all odds... Aaron never accepts defeat. So, Ty and Aaron together crushed the miles to get across that 100-mile course! The stories are honestly some of the most humbling I've ever heard.
Marty Gardner not only got that belt buckle, but he was smashing new distances! He also has a podcast called the Miles with Marty Podcast! I listen to it, I dig it, check it out! He crossed that finish line with a time of 28:25:08. This was his FIRST 100 mile finish!!! He's also done races like the Carolina Reaper 50k, Huff'n'Puff Half-Marathon, River to Sea 6 HR, the Jack's 24k, and the Sandridge 7 HR! He's also signed up for the Miami 50/50, the Skunk Ape's Revenge 60k, and the Badwater Cape Fear 51.4 Miler!
Rachel Alexander crushed her A-Goal for the Daytona 100 getting to that finish line with a time of 23:54:43! This was an amazing race as she's previously ran a time of 27:38:11 at the Brazos Bend 100 miler out in Texas! She's also done races like the Pinellas Trail Challenge, SWAMP 50k, the Palm Bluff 50k, and the Monroe Cross Trail 50 Miler!
This is one of the most epic tales to hit the podcast with Mike Alberts and Matt Clapper completing the Across Florida 200 with a record time of 67 Hours, 15 Minutes, and 20 Seconds. The previous record was held by none other than David Goggins! This race literally crosses the state of Florida starting at the Withlacoochee Bay Trail near Inglis, Florida and ends at the St. Augustine Pier!
A shout-out, not only to Mike and Matt, but also to the wives, Sam and Stephanie. These things are never possible without the support of the family and these two ladies did amazing to keep Mike and Matt moving! Not only to that, but the Boyds, this family is truly amazing. This is one of the most humbling stories you'll ever hear, and it is truly heartwarming. The call to serve and the willingness to help out is an understatement... tune in for the full story.
The Across Florida 200 is a true point-to-point course that has 100 miles on the beautiful Florida Trail, 20 miles of State Park trails, 45 miles of dirt roads, 15 miles of new Rails to Trails, and only 20 miles of road.
This year was the second Colt 45 Trail Run over at Colt Creek State Park put on by A1 Ultra Events! Perfect weather, fantastic community, wonderful aid stations, and so much more! On chat we've got Mac Jackson, Paul Gibbs, and Walter Estrada.
Mac is new into the ultra-world with his first ultra being at the JW Corbett 50k back in April of this year. He then went on to give the ole Trident a shot and was rewarded with a sweet DNF (Thanks Mikey) but have no worries... he came out to the Colt 45 and crushed it on his way to train up for the Long Haul 100!
Paul, also relatively new into ultra-world, came out to the Colt 45 and got his finish with a time of 12:06:22! Somewhere around mile 34-35 Paul had slowed down and was struggling to hit a 25 minute mile. Miles 35-39 were probably one of the worst low points he has ever had during a race. Not to spoil the story, it's his to tell in the episode, but he got back out there on the course to get to that finish!!
Walter has been out to the Colt 45 before running the race last year for the inaugural event! This year he crossed that finish line with a time of 10:22:13. He's done races like the Long Haul 100, but also the Long Haul 100k and 50 miler! He's also done the Gate2Gate 50k, Iron Horse 100k, Palm Bluff, and the Long Play.
The Colt 45 Trail Run features the beautiful trails in Colt Creek State Park. Runners will travel through "longleaf pine flatwoods, thick cypress domes, and open vistas.
This year Rob Marens come out to Azalea for a fifth time! However, this year he took on the 12-Hour event! Rob placed second overall going 56.5 miles! In 2015, Rob won the 24-Hour with a total of 100 Miles. He then went on to run 108 miles in 2016, 106 miles in 2018, and 99 miles in 2020.
Rob is also known as Sandal Rob on social media and with that we discuss sandal running, barefoot running, and running in minimal shoes. We also chat about the development of running shoes and how it has changed the biomechanics and gait of runners today. So, a lot of interesting thoughts on that!
Outside of Azalea, Rob has also run races like the Palm Bluff Trail Races, Croom Zoom, FASTtrack, River to Sea, and Whispering Pines.
The Azalea 50 mile/12-Hour/24-Hour is RD'd by Winston Fletcher and takes place at New South Farms near Florahome, Florida. This beautiful piece of property is owned and managed by elite Ultra-Runner and 1:18 Half-Marathoner Anne Elise, her husband Alex, and the Stone family.
This year at the Pinhoti 100, Florida had around 15 runners show up to take on the course! Of the 13 Floridians who made it to the finish line, we've got Deanna Doane, Daniel Ott, Soren Brockdorf, and Robert Sterba! The Pinhoti is a point-to-point 100 miler that starts at the Pine Glen Campground in the Choccolocco Management Area just northeast of Heflin, Alabama. IT's honestly one amazing race and course! Certainly, one of those races that is on my bucket list!
Deanna and Daniel finished together going 29:28:11 and 29:28:15 respectively. Soren came in with his wife Carmen, and what a finish it was! Soren came just behind Carmen going 30:12:30... thanks to a little finish line sprint. As for Robert, he took 23rd overall with a time of 24:49:00... he came through the finish line with his daughter running next to him! What a great moment.
On the chat for the Stories from the Lake to Ocean 100k - Winter Edition we've got your race leaders! John Parker, he made to Hobe Sound Beach first with a time of 12:27. Eddy Souza come up next after almost getting beat by Maria Urso! She was hot on his heels as they entered the parking lot for an epic showdown final sprint to the ocean! She was followed up by Kailynn Violette who took fourth place with a time of 13:04. They absolutely crushed it out there! For me? I took the DNF at the Beeline crew stop at roughly 37 miles!
I just want to give a huge shout-out to Jeff and Andrea... and everyone else who made this race possible. It was EPIC!
From all the Lake to Ocean veterans to the virgins, everyone who toed the line had an amazing adventure.
And, those who made it to Hobe Sound Beach like Andrew Barrett who completed his 8th finish of 9 starts out there. Leo Acosta, Micheal Strenzinski, Jessica Sohngen, Luis Cocco, Phillip Jackson, and Shawn Flannery who also completed the course!
This year Brian Mulrooney comes on to chat about his return to the Gate2Gate 50k at the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park near Alachua, Florida. He came out in 2021 and things didn't quite to plan having him finish the 25k Distance, but this year? He came out for vengeance and got it done! He got that redemption completing the 50k course with a time of 7:24:59!
He's done races like the Osprey, Skunk Ape Night Run, Skeeter Shoot, the Palm Bluff Trail Race, the Toxic Trail Relay Race, and ofcourse... the Gate2Gate 50k!
The Gate2Gate Trail Race has the 25k and 50k distances put on by Patrick Gallagher. It begins in the northern region of the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. After the first 5 miles of the course, runners will transition into the double track hiking and birding trails of the southern portion of the park. The southern portion of the race will follow the yellow trail loop through to the western portion of the park with great trails, including some decent hills. Then the course takes the runners on a lesser-known trail connecting runners back to the biking trails on the north end of the park to the start.
The Jack's 50k is a race put on by Dawn Lisenby out in Palm Coast, Florida and has a 50k, 25k, and 12k distance! For this episode we are chatting with your third-place overall finisher, Angel Garcia! He finished the race with a time of 5:36:27 which absolutely crushed his time last year of 6:53:39... talk about an absolute redemption race! Joining Angel is Martha Mayer and Judie Reynolds. Martha was the eldest finisher to cross the finish line in the 50k with a time of 8:44:01! She's done races like the 6 Days in the Dome, Long Haul 100, Colt 45, Vero Beach Octopus Ultra, Whispering Pines, and the Long Play Trail Run! Judie Reynolds placed just before Martha with a time of 8:32:09! She's a nationally ranked Tower Runner! From skyscrapers to the trails, she's done races like the Pinellas Trail Challenge, Ocho de Mayhem, Baby Dragon 40k, Guana 50k, and the River to Sea 6hr! The Jack's 50k is named in memory of Carl Jack Forman II (1974-1997). He was an avid runner, nature enthusiast, animal lover, University of Georgia veterinary student! Go Dawgs!
In this episode we quite literally cover the front of the pack to the back of the pack! Coree Woltering joins the chat, and he was the first-place overall champion at this year's Blue Ridge Ultra! He's joined by Florida's Amanada Dean, she was the official DFL for this year's race and as we learn... she is super proud of it! Jeff Leininger also joins the chat with the perspective of the Race Director!
Coree has run all over the world from his first 100 miler at the Dunes 100 here in Florida to Tunnel Hill, the Western States 100, the Black Canyon 100k, Mountain Mist, Cruel Jewel 100, to most recently also placing 6th place at the Clawhammer 50k (one week after winning the Blue Ridge Ultra)!
Amanda Dean has done races like 12k out at Jack's and she also coaches Cross Country and Track! She's been a lifelong athlete across numerous sports and now she's kicking up into the dark side of Trail and Ultra!
Jeff is the Race Director and founder of ARGEORGIA! Jeff started an adventure racing club in Florida called Florida Extreme in which he found others to learn from and better his game. Now with ARGEORGIA, he not only still competing, but also putting on events in Adventure Racing and Ultra Marathons! Jeff has completed over 100 expedition and adventure races alongside his son Hunter and close friends.
The Blue Ridge Ultra 50k consists of 16 miles of the Benton MacKaye trail, 6 miles of hidden trails, and 9 miles of Forest Service roads with over 6,000 feet of elevation change deep within the beautiful Chattahoochee National Forest of the North Georgia Mountains.
We are chatting with Doctor Ben Snyder, he was one of the Floridians who took on the Barkley Fall Classic this year with an epic story to tell. In the episode, we chat about psychology, performance, imposter syndrome, finding your why, and how it went down at the 2022 Barkley Fall Classic!
Dr. Snyder earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2004 and completed a master’s degree in Counseling from the Johns Hopkins University in 2008. He finished his doctoral training in Counseling Psychology at the University of Georgia in 2012. He has done races like the Barkley Fall Classic last year with a DNF, the Wy'east Trail Fest in Mt. Hood, and the Gateway 50k.
The Barkley Fall Classic is designed to give the runner a taste of what the Barkley Marathons is all about. It contains all the elements; beautiful trails thru the rugged Brushy Mountains, surprising new elements to the course every year, with the course map not revealed until the night before the race, numerous hard climbs and descents (including some of the signature hills that have made the Barkley a thing of legend), and a very personal challenge to face down the demons that wait for us at our very limits of endurance.
Mae Barker and Zach Hanna were two of the three Floridians who made to the Hennepin 100 in Illinois this year! From one Western States qualifier to the next, they've done races like the Pinhoti 100, the Laurel Highlands, Umstead, and the Rio Del Lago 100! With a hurricane almost cancelling travel, this power couple was able to manage a flight into Chicago and make it to the race on time.
Mae finished first place overall for the women with a time of 19:21:04! Zach followed behind with a time of 25:57:56. The Hennepin 100 is Illinois’ only point-to-point, all-trail ultramarathon! It takes you from Sterling, Illinois on the Rock River to Colona, Illinois along the historic and beautiful Hennepin Canal. On the course, you pass by the historic locks and lift bridges, fields of corn, and the multitude of local farms.
Mae is also the Race Director for the Angry Tortoise 25k/50k! Coming in 2023, the race will be celebrating in 10th year anniversary in the Cary State Forest, located on the outskirts of Jacksonville.
This year at the Miami 100, there were 13 total finishers that completed the course that takes you through some of Miami's hottest neighborhoods such as Wynwood, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, Calle Ocho, Coconut Grove, and so many more. However, only two of those runners completed the Miami 125! Brian Schuyler and Alex Wyrick were those two finishers!
Brian finished the Miami 125 with a time of 38:29:00 with Alex leading the way with a time of 37:08:00! Both guys are no strangers to the ultra-distance as Brian was on the podcast before with the Stories from the LOST 118! He's also done the Vero Beach Octopus 100, Lake to Ocean 100k, the Skunk Ape Night Run, and ofcourse the Sand Spur and Trident!
Alex Wyrick has also done the LOST 118 completing that in 2021, he's also done races like the Picnic Island Ultra, River to Sea, the Icarus, and he's also signed up for theLast Annual Heart of the South Road Race - 351 Miler!
One of my favorite aspects of the Miami 100's race format is that runners navigate their way throughout the city by following their directional cards with step-by-step directions to each checkpoint to receive their next batch of directions. The course map will not be available beforehand. Part of the challenge and uniqueness of this race will be to navigate the directions given and to successfully reach the next checkpoint for further directions on the course.
The Barkley Fall Classic is one of the hardest 50k's in the country and it is designed to give the runner a taste of what the Barkley Marathons is all about. This year Melody Diehl, Scott Hoover, and Cole Bataille were among the Floridians who showed up to Frozen Head State Park!
Melody has done races like the Tahoe 200, Gate2Gate, and the Sand Spur and she crossed the finish line at the Barkley Fall Classic at 12:23:57! Like Melody, this was Scott Hoover's first time at the Barkley Fall Classic!
He completed the course, however, DNF'd with missing the cut-off by the time he made it to the finish line. He's done races like the Sand Spur, the Trident, the Skunk Ape Night Run, Skunk Ape's Revenge, and Quest for the Crest.
Cole crossed the finish line with a time of 13:02:50 for his fourth finish at the Barkley Fall Classic! He's previously run the BFC in 2020, 2019, and 2017. He's won the 50k at the Sand Spur in 2018 and 2019 and recently won the Trident - Ridge to Nowhere this year back in July. He also won the 2019 Dunes 100 and still has the course record with a time of 21:24:41!
We are heading back to this year's Run Rabbit Run in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with two of the Floridians who took it on! Katie Rozar took on the 50 Miler and Steven Cornelius took on the 100 Miler!
For Katie, the first six miles are a 4000 ft climb straight up Mt. Werner, putting the 50 Miler around ~10,000 feet of elevation. She's grinding through everything happening with her foot that has limited her training leading into Run Rabbit Run. She didn’t have the race that she wanted, but it reminds us why we run and travel out to races like this... for the moment! Regardless of all the factors, she crushed it!
Steven placed 6th overall in the 100 Miler with a time of 19:54:09! At 6th place, you're talking prize money! Talk about being focused and engaged, Steven dealt with the classic issues of borrowing low lumen headlamps and having to run parts of the course with no light at all! He also recently won the Continental Divide 50k with a time of 4:18:25!
The Mighty Gallatin is an adventure that took place over September 5th to September 11th, 2022; it was created by our Florida Man, Helgi Olafson! The goal of this event was to reach upwards of 350 miles in the Gallatin Mountain Range in Montana with emphasis on a reduced carbon footprint with a total elevation gain of 76,332 ft! Helgi is a yacht chef based out of South Florida. He has done races like the Cocodona 250 and has achieved the Triple Crown of 200’s having finished the Bigfoot 200, Tahoe 200, and the Moab 240 in 2021. Joining Helgi on the Stories from the Mighty Gallatin are Staci Whitsell-Revel and Phyllis Stanely! Staci started running in 2016 and went on to complete her first half marathon in Feb 2017. Now she has done races like the Bigfoot 200, Cocodona 250, Rocky Racoon, the Crazy Mountain 100, and the Badger Mountain 100! Phyllis is an Arizona native whose running started as part of her Navajo heritage growing up. She and her family would practice the teaching of running each morning to build discipline and strength. They would get up before sunrise and run to the east to greet the holy spirits that pass through the landscape blessing their children who are up calling out to them. She’s done races like the Cocodona 250, Bigfoot 200, Rocky Racoon, and the Javelina Jundred!
The Osprey Trail Run was back for 2022 at the George LeStrange Preserve in Fort Pierce, Florida! With 186 total finishers between the 25k and 8k distance; Adam Savo, Lauren Starr, and Amy Columbo were among the many. They did amazing!
Adam placed 8th overall with a time of 2:21:31 for the 25k. Running has always been the thing athletically to push him to his limits. His last few races haven't gone nearly as with 4 DNF's since March. However, the Osprey was the race to get him back on track and he did it! It's always about the grind and pushing on even in suffering!
Lauren Starr placed 42nd overall and 17th for the woman's side with a time of 3:34:42! She's done races like the Skydive Ultra and the Long Play Trail Run with Gate2Gate and the Black Canyon 60k on her calendar!
Amy Colombo placed 26th overall and 7th for the woman's side with a time of 2:53:32! With her friendly face and booming Boston accent, she’s hard to miss! The Osprey (plus some morning miles) was marathon number 44 of 52 of her Gratitude Marathons. She's running to raise awareness that an addiction disorder does not have to be a death sentence in part with The Herron Project.
The Herron Project is an organization who dedicates themselves to ending the stigma associated with addiction and alcoholism and providing tools for those ready and willing to get the help they need. Amazing!
This year we had a few Floridians travel north to Pennsylvania for raced called the Pine Creek Challenge. This is a 100 Miler in Wellsboro, PA and the section they run next to on the Pine Creek is listed as a National Natural Landmark. On the chat, we've got Andy "Croom" Mathews and Ty Aronson! This is the race that ended a little DNF hot streak for Andy and it was awesome to hear what went into it to get him to that finish line!
As for Ty, he went home with the DNF, but like anything there's so much we learn in that! He's done races like the Keys 100 and the famous Tunnel Hill 100! He's also done Luis Cocco's Ride the Wave 50k and the Miami 50/50!
There was also a few other Floridians who made the trip, placing fourth in the 100 was Justin Davis from Bradenton. Karin & Phil Carter, and Karen Duncan also ran in the Marathon event! So, shout-out to them!
This was the inaugural year for the Last of the Felascans in Alachua, Florida. Andy Sholly was the Last Person Standing with a total of 26 yards for 26 hours running a total of 103.34 miles! Sholly is no stranger to this race format having won the 2022 Death at Depuis here in Florida and won the Last at the Lake in West Point Lake, Georgia. Matt Clapper took second place this year and his final lap was a legendary tale. Clapper recently placed 10th Overall at the Pinellas Trail Challenge.
Andrew Barrett joins the chat, like Matt, he also took on the Pinellas Trail Challenge the week prior. Andrew, also known as A2, has raced all over the world and across the country from UTMB to the Vermont 100, Rocky Racoon, Western States 100, Tuschars, Never Summer, and the North Face Endurance Challenge. He's also signed up for the 2023 Cocodona 250!
Last but not least, we've got Theresa Patton, she was your last woman remaining in the race! She completed 12 hours and 50 miles!
Enjoy as we ramble on through stories of feet, puke, hydration methods, and how the hours went down. It's an amazing event as everyone is competing meanwhile encouraging each other.
For Episode 56 we've got two-time Olympian and American Record holder in the 15k, Todd Williams. He is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and operates Monroe Jiu-Jitsu in Michigan. It's truly an honor to have Todd on the podcast. In this episode we chat about what we can do to prevent being attacked, how to be better be prepared, as well as, what to do when attacked. He also goes into some of the key safety tips for runners.
By now we have all probably learned and heard about what happened to Eliza Fletcher and many of us have done tribute runs in her honor. I really wanted to bring a subject matter expert in the conversation for us to learn from. So, take that with an open mind. What happened is heartbreaking and should have never occurred, but hopefully we can all do our part to keep each other safe when running on the roads and trails.
Todd Williams began his jiu-jitsu career training under Helio “Soneca” Moreira, a jiu-jitsu legend under Carlos Gracie Junior. He would continue his training and eventually earn his black belt under Luiz Palhares. He is a two-time USA Cross Country National Champion in 1991 and 1993. At the Olympic Games, he competed at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona in the 10,000m placing 10th overall with a time of 28:28:38. He then competed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Between the Olympic Games, Todd also represented Team USA at the World Championships in 1993 and 1995.
He won the Gate River Run 15k in Jacksonville, FL five times, including in 1995, when he set a still-standing American Record with a time of 42:22, which equals roughly 4:34/mile for 9.3 miles.
It was another year for the Pinellas Trail Challenge! This time we've got Matt Clapper, Katrina Pelican, Jeremy Hutson, and Shawn Eckert! Matt has run the PTC in 2021 for his first go at the race after overcoming a serious back injury. Katrina has run the race also in 2021! Jeremy has done the PTC four times now with 2018, 2019, 2020, and now 2022. Shawn is new into the ultra-running scene with this being his first trip to the PTC! Shawn has gone from 446lbs to ultra-runner!
With an event like this, there are so many people in the community that a play a role into getting wheels moving and making the race the success it is. Folks like your Race Directors Kelley Hewett and Luis Gomez. Then you've got Brad Park, David Whiteside, Carrie Graves, Susan Murphy, Jeff Iosa, Sonja Craparo, and Staci Guten. All of the volunteers and local organizations from the eight aid stations, bib pick-up, the starting line, and the finish!
Tonya Olson was your Medical Director; she's been saving feet at the Western States 100 for many years and was out at the Skunk Ape Night Run!
The Pinellas is an Ultramarathon that runs the Pinellas Trail. The race is an out and back event that starts in St. Petersburg, Florida takes you to Tarpon Springs and then back to Dunedin. The length of the race is measured at just over 46 miles!
The history of the Pinellas Trail goes back to Florida Railroad boom. The Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line railroads both served St. Petersburg and Clearwater for many years. They merged in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. After the SCL joined CSX Transportation in the 1980s, 34 miles of trackage in Pinellas County was abandoned, and purchased by the Florida Department of Transportation. After voter approval, the County acquired the property and began construction of what is now the beautiful Pinellas Trail.
This year Tyler Andrews was one of the elite contenders in the men's field for the Leadville 100. He had previously run there in 2021 placing 16th overall and this year he placed 4th overall with a time of 18:40:04! He has had some pretty serious FKTs on the high-altitude trails in Chile, Ecuador and Peru as part of a journey dubbed the Los 10 FKT Project. He’s also a two-time U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier with a personal best of 2:15:52.
Jeff Iosa also ran out at the Leadville 100 this year making it to 62 Miles. His 2022 schedule has been busy with the Long Haul 100, Black Canyon 100k, Old Dominion, crewing at the Western States 100, the Vermont 100 and of course Leadville. With Leadville being the bump in the road, Jeff still has the Wasatch 100 as part of the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning Series.
Brian Sharbono and Robert Sterba also have run the Leadville 100, they completed the course in the 2021 race placing 43rd (23:42:12) and 179th (28:52:08). Brian has recently placed 2nd overall at the Umstead 100 and won the Long Play Trail Run and the Monroe Cross Trail 50 Mile. Robert has also recently completed the RUT in Big Sky, MT. He has also run races like the Bandera 100k, Azalea 24 Hour, Long Haul 100, and has his sights set on Pinhoti (where Jeff and Brian met in the bathroom line back in 2018).
This year Julian Serrano was one of the Floridians who took on the iconic Leadville 100 in Colorado. He crushed it this year with a time of 29:18:56! This was redemption. Last time Julian ran the Leadville 100, he had to take the DNF. In the 2021 race, he rolled his ankle around 7 miles in, heard a pop, he watched runners pass him by for 31 miles as he hobbled onward. By the time he made it to Twin Lakes at mile 37.9, he was 5 minutes past the cut-off. But he came back.
We chat about the mental barriers and grit it takes to overcome and finish these types of races. It's all in your head and you can do it, regardless of what thoughts come up in the moment... because they are really only there for that moment.
The Leadville 100 course is a 50-mile out-and-back dogleg run primarily on the Colorado Trail, starting at 10,200 feet with elevations ranging from 9,200 to 12,620 feet. The centerpiece of the course is the climb up to Hope Pass at 12,620 feet, encountered on both the outbound trek and on the return. In most years, fewer than half the starters complete the race within the 30-hour time limit.
Here we are with Brenda Baader-Lips! This summer she was the woman's champion out at Mikey Bee's The Trident: Ridge to Nowhere! She absolutely crushed it out there battling the heat and all of the sand! She also ran her first 100k this year at the Iron Horse! Not only was she the woman's champion, but she also placed second overall! Amazing athlete and a superhero mom!
Here we are with Part Two of the Stories from the Skunk Ape Night Run! This time we've got Paul Gibbs, Greg Burnham, Gary James, and Noel Medina! This year Noel Medina made it out with a last-minute decision on race day, he went on to place second overall behind Kalo Axsom! Paul Gibbs has done the Skunk Ape Night Run before, and this time is crushed it going 3:55:50 from last year's 4:38:58! As for Gary and Greg, this was there furthest trail run distance to date and these guys absolutely crushed it!
This is a classic Florida race that covers almost all of the terrains Florida has to offer. From pasture lanes, mud, dirt roads, single track trails on the Florida Trail, some hills, to sugar sand, fire berms, and more! As the sun goes down, that's when the wildlife kicks off. You can hear the drone of frogs from all over, hoots from the owls, calls from birds, buzzing of bugs, and the yips of coyotes in the distance. Part of that sound and also silence, it will make you wonder if “just that sound” was from something else... perhaps, the Skunk Ape.
Here we are with Episode 50! This time we've got four of the ladies who crushed it at the Skunk Ape Night Run back on July 23rd; Laura Walker, Laura Bradely, Renee Tavakoli, and Lisa Hanes-Cox! Laura Walker was your woman's champion with a time of 2:43:12, smashing the previous woman's course record 2:56:00 held by Deanna Doane. Renee Tavakoli also placed 3rd Overall for the woman, her time of 3:07:20 is now the fourth fastest for the woman!
Laura Bradley, she was a guest on the show for Episode 29! She placed 5th Overall for the woman. She also placed 2nd for the woman at the Skunk Ape's Revenge 60k back in February. Lisa, like Renee, was also doing the Summer Slam... so this was her second weekend in a row racing! She did the Vero Beach Octopus 50k the weekend prior, then took on the Trident Night Half-Marathon the weekend after Skunk Ape!
This year Joey Lichter came back to the Last Annual Vol State 500k for redemption, and he did it! He made it to "the Rock" with a total of 7 days, 17 hours, 3 seconds!!! This was far better from his 2018 appearance where Joey had to pull the plug at 60 Miles, just two days into his journey. This year he managed to find that inner peace, overcome some brutal conditions to his feet, and the randomness of legit sleep.
The Vol-State 500k is a journey, an adventure, and an exploration of inner space. It begins with a ferry ride across the Mississippi River, from Missouri to Kentucky, and finishes at “the Rock,” high atop Sand Mountain in technically Northeast Georgia. However, you spend the bulk of your miles with the journey across Tennessee!
Joey has done races like the Icarus, Death at DuPuis, Picnic Island Ultras, Skydive Ultra, The Georgia Jewel, the Trident, and the Vero Beach Octopus Ultra!
Chris Twiggs is the Chief Training Officer & National Program Director at Jeff Galloway Productions and this year he completed his 16th Hardrock 100! This year he ran a time of 38:43:49 crewed by his amazing family and friends. He also placed 48th overall breaking into the Top 50. One of the biggest goals for this year was to break the 40-Hour barrier, a feat he hasn't done since 2010... and he crushed it!
Chris done races like the Keys 100, Leadville 100, Vermont 100, the Guana 50k, and Ouray 100!
Chris' Hardrock 100 Endurance Run Career:
- 2022: 38:43:49
- 2021: 45:10:03
- 2018: 41:29:04
- 2017: 41:30:47
- 2016: 41:52:56
- 2015: 45:31:10
- 2014: 43:30:20
- 2013: 40:19:59
- 2012: 43:19:00
- 2011: 43:51:00
- 2010: 35:58:00
- 2009: 38:36:58
- 2008: 42:04:18
- 2007: 42:22:00
- 2006: 44:54:01
- 2005: 44:09:01
Here we are with part three of the Stories from the Badwater 135, we've got Ted Williamson, Dawn Lisenby, and Alexia Garcia of the Florida Nine! This year both Ted and Dawn had their ups and downs... Ted battled it out to mile 90 with Dawn making it to mile 42 on the "World's Toughest Footrace." Alexis Garcia got that belt buckle finishing with a time of 46:35:36! He shares his story from the course and his journey of coming the United States. Alexis is also the first-ever Cuban-American to ever finish the Badwater 135!
Ted Williamson has ran Badwater in 2019 when he placed 77th with a time of 46:41:44. He’s done races like the Long Haul 100, Wildcat 100, Javelina Jundred 100, and Comrades. He's also done the Badwater - Cape Fear and the Croom Zoom.
Dawn Lisenby is a coach and a fantastic Race Director here in Florida. She’s completed races like the Keys 100, Lake to Ocean, the Grindstone 100, Ancient Oaks 100, Long Haul 100, and the Daytona 100. She’s run the original distance of 146 miles to the top of Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states with an elevation of 14,505 feet.
Alexis Garcia has competed the Keys 100, Daytona 100, the Pistol 100, Miami 100, and the Yellowstone-Tetan 100. Being a four-time Keys 100, he has certainly endured the roads and heat. He also has a documentary called the "Run Across Cuba." His level of gratitude for his life and the opportunity of American freedom is truly inspiring. A true light of Cuban spirit!
Here we are with Part Two! This time we've got Michael Ryan, Amy Costa, and Malu Paredes of the Florida Nine at Badwater this year! Michael Ryan completed 72 miles of the "World's Toughest Footrace," with Amy and Malu taking home that belt buckle with a time of 41:57:48 and 39:18:02. Malu was also the first-ever Venezuelan finisher of the Badwater 135!
Michael Ryan is a man you might know from his tattoos and his love for the heat. He ran the Keys 100 this year placing 26th overall with also in 2021 placing 3rd at the Miami 100. Being a four-time finisher of the Keys 100, he’s no stranger to withstanding the miles on the road, but also the indoor track going 106 miles in 2021 in the 24-Hour event at the 6 Days in the Dome.
Amy Costa has gone well beyond the 100 mile distance with this year being out at the Tahoe 200 (finished in 2021). But she’s also done the Moab 240, Bigfoot 200, Vol State unaided, the Brazil 135, LOST 118, and the Marathon DeSables. This was her 8th appearance. She ran Badwater in 2021 placing 50th overall with a time of 41:08:58. She also ran in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013.
Maria (Malu) Paredes placed 3rd at last year's Vero Beach Octopus 100 and has done races like the Long Haul 100, Skydive Ultra 100, Keys 100, and the Grindstone 100.
For 2022, Florida had nine runners in the Badwater 135, the World's Toughest Footrace, on the chat today for Part One is David Castro, Bob Becker and Caryn Lubetsky. This year, Bob Becker truly inspired us all with gritting it out to the finish and finishing only 17 minutes past the official 48-Hour cutoff. David Castro took his first journey into Badwater completing 49.03 miles of the absolutely brutal course. Caryn came back for a third year taking home that belt buckle with a time 37:30:02!
Bob Becker is a name a lot of us will know. He's the Race Director for the Keys 100 and now the new RD for the Daytona 100. Outside for the race directing role, Bob is no stranger to the distance with running 230 miles to become the overall winner and broke the race record at the A Race For The Ages in 2019. He’s done the 135-mile Brazil 135 Ultramarathon and with age being no question, in 2017, Bob was the oldest finisher at the 100-mile Javelina Jundred. Bob has done the Badwater with a DNF in 2021 and has run in 2015, 2014, and 2008.
David Castro has had his own shoes to pavement (and trail) experience with the Daytona 100, Long Haul 100, the LOST 118, Miami 100, and the Keys 100. He has a remarkable story and will be running on behalf of the Samuel's House Shelter in Key West, Florida.
Caryn Lubetsky was first female overall at Keys 100 this year. She competed Badwater in 2021 placing 21st overall and 4th overall for the women with a time of 34:56:11. She’s also done Badwater in 2019 placing again 4th overall for the women.
It was another year for the Vero Beach Octopus Ultra. Of the many runners across the numerous distances, this year Chris Stangle, Jacob Strezinski, and Phil Patterson Jr took on the course. Chris won the 50k race with a time of 5:41:25! As for Jacob, this was his first ultra-marathon ever and he placed second behind Violetta Yazlovskaya with a time of 8:27:09. Phil finished this year with a time of 28:04:16, this was a huge redemption race for him as this race last year ended his 100-miler finish streak!
The race is directed by Michael Strezinksi, which was originally born from his garage during the summer of 2020. After races were getting cancelled during COVID, he and a few others ran an out and back 8 times for 100 miles (and 33 hours). In 2021, the race moved to Environmental Learning Center to where it stands as the Octo-Hub today. To date now, finishing all 8 Octo-Arms within 32 hours earns you the esteemed and well-earned Octopus Buckle.
The idea behind the Octopus race is to have a centralized location, a base station, with 8 Octo-Arms out and back. The Vero Beach Octopus allows the new Ultra runners to complete their first Ultra completing Octo-Arm one (A1) and two (2); a 50k by completing A1, A2 and A3; and a 50 mile Ultra by finishing A1, A2, A3 and A4. Add A5 and you get a 100K. For the 100 Miler, you will be completing all eight of the Octo-Arms!
The 2022 Western States 100 has come and gone, and Luis Gomez was one of the few Floridians who crushed it this year. On episode 33, we had a pre-race chat joined by “Mr. Western States” Andy Jones-Wilkins. So without a doubt, we are back again to recap and hash out how that race went down!
Andy Jones-Wilkins has done the Western States 100 ten times, placing 2nd in 2005. Over his ten years he has placed in the Top 10 numerous times. He continues now with volunteering, cheerleading, announcing, and helping make it happen! He was also out at the Michigan Bluff aid station where he ran into Luis propped up on a chair getting his feet tended to by the wonderful Tonya Olson!
Luis is one of the very few Floridians to have their name drawn for this year's race. This journey covers 6 years of racing and 16 tickets! Luis has done races from the Long Haul 100, Javelina Jundred, Arkansas Traveler, to Bryce Canyon. Not a qualifier race, but also the Keys 100. He did awesome out there running a time of 26:28:58.
The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 Mile trail race. The Run starts in Olympic Valley, California, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and ends 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California. In the decades since its inception in 1974, Western States has come to represent one of the ultimate endurance tests in the world.
This year Lindsay Raley was one of the three Floridians at the Western States 100 in California. He crushed the course with a time of 29:12:51. Lindsay is no stranger to the distance and challenging courses as he's also finished the Black Canyon 100k twice, the Pinhoti 100, Croom Zoom, Lake Martin 100, and the Bloodrock 50 Miler.
He's coached by the man at the finish line, Tom Flahavan who finished 8th place at the 2001 Western States 100. Lindsay had some amazing pacers like Gary Klein (2017 Western States finisher), Tim Angelo, and Michael Klingman. He had the Crew Chief of Candi Jones, his kids Alex and Sam, and his wonderful wife Michelle who also joins us on this episode!
The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 Mile trail race. The Run starts in Olympic Valley, California, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and ends 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California. In the decades since its inception in 1974, Western States has come to represent one of the ultimate endurance tests in the world.
This year at the Tahoe 200, several Floridians took on the challenge of coverage this years out and back course. I'm chatting with Melody Diehl, John Becker, and Justin Yonker! John and Melody finished 21 minutes apart (96:29:25 and 96:50:19) with Justin taking the great achievement of holding the 2nd to last finisher spot with a grand total of 99 hrs, 15 mins, and 30 seconds of the 100-hour time limit!
Melody has done races like the Sand Spur, Long Haul 100, Iron Horse 100k, Gate2Gate, and Death at Depuis! John and Justin are also no strangers to the distance and mountains. John has done races like the Lake to Ocean, the Trident, Quest for the Crest, the Georgia Death Race, Barkley Fall Classic, and the Jacks 50k! Justin has done the Cruel Jewel, Long Haul 100, Ancient Oaks, the Javelina Hundred, and some awesome DNF's at the Bear 100 and the Hell Bender 100! This crew is in it for the challenge!
The Tahoe 200 is the first and only 200-mile single loop mountain trail race in the United States on a typical year, however, this year it was an out-and-back due to wildfires and forestry recovery. This course this year was still upwards of over 31,000 feet of elevation! You also still get to see the clear blue waters of Lake Tahoe and run through the aspen meadows, rock gardens, powerline roads, and long ridge lines with stunning views of Lake Tahoe. There is even a section of supposedly evil garden gnomes!
We've covered the trails, the roads, and now the 6 Days in the Dome! This is the race where Zach Bitter set that 100 Mile World Record in 2019! For this year, our state truly represented with Lisa Devona taking the overall victory in the 72-Hour event running a total of 203 miles! As for my guests today, I've got Alycia Slyck, Martha Mayer, and Michael Ryan. Alycia and Martha took on the 48-Hour event with Alycia knocking out a total of 105.5 Miles and Martha crushing the 100 Mile distance! Absolutely incredible. Michael Ryan took on the 12-Hour event, as well as, crewing for Lisa's amazing performance.
6 Days in the Dome has multiple events throughout the six days, one ofcourse being the full six days of running. That event was won by Viktoria Brown who ran a grand total of 457.41 miles! She's also won the 2021 BrokenTrack 12-Hour and raced at the Sweat, Swat, and Swear here in Florida! You've also got a 72-Hour event, the 48-Hour (which is two of the guests above), the 24-Hour, and the 12-Hour (with Michael Ryan).
Florida's Mike Melton is also the official race timer and Co-RD!
This year at the Moon Over Croom, like so many, some runners experienced there first ever trail run! Two of my guests today, Amie Balistreri and Jennie Eftikides did just that! Jennie has previously done races like the Pinellas Trail Challenge, but this was her first time on real dirt trails! I also dive into the race with some trail veterans like Nick Urena and Rusty Smith! We talk about this year's race and ramble on through all the new things that first time trail runners learn and experience.
Like a lot of the races out there at Croom, you start off at the Tucker Hill trailhead and go through the B-C Loop and the C-Loop for the 7ish mile loops!
This year John Parker and Jeff Forrester went up to Tennessee to compete at the Mid-State Mile. Both men took it on with John running 22 some miles and Jeff Forrester coming home with 5 miles. John Parker was one of the three winners at the Forgotten Florida 100! He's also raced numerous Last Man Standing races, including Florida's at Death at Depuis. Jeff Forrester is new to the trails, but he knocked it out at the HellCat 50k! Both these have some amazing stories at this years Mid-state Mile and its always a lot to take in, even though a race doesn't quite pan out as planned. Enjoy!
This course at the Mid-State is no joke. The Mid-State Mile course is housed on private land just 20 minutes from Downtown Franklin, TN. It's a one-mile course and hosts 340 feet of elevation gain per loop. That elevation is thanks to two climbs with fast runnable sections between them, plus an easy downhill section through the field to the start/finish area. The course itself is an old logging road with a lot of local history.
It's a Last Man Standing race that restarts every 20 minutes, so runners will have to complete the loop and be back in the starting corral ready to start the next loop until the last man standing.
Chris Kostman is one of the most iconic names in Ultra, he is your Race Director for The Badwater 135. He also set world ultra-cycling records, to include riding against the clock from San Francisco City Hall to Los Angeles City Hall and completed the 3,127 mile Race Across America bike race in less than eleven days at age of 20.
The Badwater 135 tends to draw folks from all over the world and country out to the Badwater Basin, or also known as Death Valley, California. However, every year Florida tends to have an amazing group in the masses out there! This year there are A LOT of Floridians in race! This year we have David Castro, Ted Williamson, Amy Costa, Dawn Lisenby, Alexis Garcia, Caryn Lubetsky, Maria Paredes, Ashley Paulson, Michael Ryan, and Keys 100 Race Director Bob Becker.
The Badwater Basin is an endorheic basin in the Death Valley National Park, which should be noted is the lowest point in North America and the United States with a depth of 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. Now the course also goes out to Mount Whitney which is the highest point in the contiguous 48 United States, the race itself finishes at Whitney Portal which is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit! The Badwater 135 course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 14,600 feet of cumulative vertical ascent and 6,100 feet of cumulative descent.
This year, for a third time, Eric Kienle took on the Mid-State Mile in Tennessee. He absolutely crushed it running 127.6 miles with 39,440 feet of elevation gain/loss. Eric is a former Florida resident who recently moved out to Montana, he's won races like the Itch, the SWAMP 50k, the first-ever Skunk Ape Night Run, and the Wild Florida 120.
The Mid-State Mile course is housed on private land just 20 minutes from Downtown Franklin, TN. It's a one-mile course and hosts 340 feet of elevation gain per loop. That elevation is thanks to two climbs with fast runnable sections between them, plus an easy downhill section through the field to the start/finish area. The course itself is an old logging road with a lot of local history.
It's a Last Man Standing race that restarts every 20 minutes, so runners will have to complete the loop and be back in the starting corral ready to start the next loop until the last man standing.
This year the teams of Powered by Prosecco and Boob Ice took on the Miami 50/50! Powered by Prosecco with the team of Cassidy Jacobs and Natalia Hester were able to pull off 2nd Overall and First Place for the women. Placing Second Overall for the women was team Boob Ice represented by Kailynn Violette and Janelle Nutting! This race takes you all over Miami, Florida for 50 miles! You travel from Luis Cocco's Hero Martial Arts and you make your way through Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove and so much more... and the course changes every year!
So it's called the Miami 50/50 as you run in two-person teams. It's an awesome concept. You and your teammate will both run the course following the directional cards together, but with that, if you DNF... you both DNF. However, once you cross that finish line you get one of those truly one of a kind Wicked Skins awards! This is one of the three races in the Miami Ultra Race Series, the other two races are the Miami 100 and the Ride the Wave 50k.
It was yet another year at the Lake to Ocean 100k for Andy “Croom” Mathews and Andrew Barrett! These two men have run every Lake to Ocean 100k to date. This course covers some of wettest terrain the state of Florida has to offer and takes you through Dupuis, JW Corbett, Hungryland, Riverbend, and Jonathan Dickinson and ends in the ocean Hobe Sound Beach! Jeff Stephens puts one heck of an event out there year after year. Just to add to the fun for this year, we also had a Tropical Storm come through too!
The race started in not so bad conditions as runner took off from Lake Okeechobee into the 15 some miles across Dupius with a light sprinkle of rain. Dupius this year didn't really have any standing water, but that's until you entered JW Corbitt for another 15 plus miles slogging through the well known standing water of fun. The course stayed wet pretty much the entire way until you made it to the sand dunes in Jonathon Dickinson. From then on, you're just battling the sauna like conditions until you make to the ocean at Hobe Sound!
The Western States 100 is coming up on June 25th in the Olympic Valley. For this episode we’ve got “Mr. Western States” Andy Jones-Wilkins and Luis Gomez! ADJ has done the Western States 100 ten times, placing 2nd in 2005. Over his ten years he has placed in the Top 10 numerous times. He continues now with volunteering, cheerleading, announcing, and helping make it happen!
Luis is one of the very few Floridians to have their name drawn for this years race. This journey covers 6 years of racing and 16 tickets! Luis has done races from the Long Haul 100, Javelina Jundred, Arkansas Traveler, to Bryce Canyon. Not a qualifier race, but also the Keys 100. He is going to do awesome out there!
The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 Mile trail race. The Run starts in Olympic Valley, California, near the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, and ends 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California. In the decades since its inception in 1974, Western States has come to represent one of the ultimate endurance tests in the world.
Here we are with Part Two of the 2022 Keys 100! This episode kicks off with Lucien "Mr Hot Chocolate" Boulet, this year he finished in a time of 31:07:07. Last year he ran a time of 27:58:04, however, with the time this year being slower... the journey was different, and that journey is what the true success was! He was also crewed by his amazing kids! After Lucien, I am joined by Patrick Gallagher, Matt Moss, Kalo Axsom, and Nels Matson! As Gallagher has done races like the Western States 100, the Barkley Classic, and Croom Zoom...this was his first Keys 100. He knocked it out of the park with a time of 25:04:22! As for Nels Matson, he followed Gallagher going 25:40:41. Nels was running in training for his run across the United States for Project Campbells Call. Kalo Axsom of the O-Town Blazers finished in 29:00:19 followed up by Matt Moss with a time of 29:04:15. These guys did AMAZING!!! They overcame the tough conditions; the humidity, the heat, the hot pavement and cement... a huge physical victory, but also a moral victory. Shoutout to Bob Becker, Mark Cudak, all the course marshals, volunteers, crews, and runners! You make this happen!
This year Lovelyn Findley, Pamela Chapman-Markle, and Diane Romero-Lopez were some of the brave ladies who took on the hot and humid Keys 100! Lovelyn did amazing going 29:00:19 for her first true road-ultra after having done the Forgotten Florida 100 back in February and 50k's in the Zion Valley and at Sky to Summit. Pamela is a legend of the sport, at 66, she has done the Keys 100 a total of SEVEN TIMES! She's also done the Badwater 135 a total of four times. This year she ran a time of 29:59:10 to just make it under 30 hours. Diane, who Race Directs the Monroe Cross Trail 50 Miler, ran her first Keys 100 with a time of 31:06:19. She had done course marshalling in the past and this year was her year!!! Anyway, these ladies did absolutely amazing and I loved hearing there stories! Enjoy.
This year Caryn Lubetsky took on her fifth Keys 100! This year was a tremendously hot year with being runners being drenched in sweat, dealing with the thick humidity, and the pavement from Key Largo to Key West. With this year being Caryn's fifth year, it was also her fastest to date on the Keys 100 course. She ran a time of 19:43:52 to take first overall for the women beating her previous course personal best of 21:27:41 from 2018. Regardless of her speedy times, her "WHY" is so much greater. Caryn really brings it in deep from her experiences at the Boston Marathon Bombings to today with ThumbsUp International, the wonderful Kerry Gruson, and why every mile is a blessing!
Today I hop on with one of most knowledgeable people for local Tampa history, Laura Bradley. She most recently completed the Ocho de Mayhem over in Middleburg, Florida put on by Mike Martinez with Runners 4 Recovery. With having done races like the Withlacoochee Moon River Run, Skunk Ape’s Revenge, Whispering Pines, and the Angry Tortoise… Laura also does the Go! Running Tours – Tampa Bay, which is a guided tour full of history, sights, and the best “where to go’s” for an unforgettable experience all wrapped into a run!
This year Mike Alberts, Courtney Joseph, Carmen Brockdorf, and Stephen Grieger were a few of the Floridians who took on the Cruel Jewel in the Chattahoochee National Forest of the North Georgia Mountains. This is a course that takes you on a wild ride through the Duncan Ridge from Vogel State Park to Blue Ridge and back.
For Mike, Carmen, and Stephen… they all took on the “100” mile course that adds up to roughly 106 miles with 33,000 feet of gain and 33,000 feet of loss just to keep it interesting. Now for Courtney, she took on the 50 miler as her first ever 50 miler! The Cruel Jewel 50 is a point to point “50” miler that rounds up to roughly 56 total miles for 15,000 feet of gain and 15,000 feet of loss.
Like many others C Sawyer took on the challenge of Aravaipa Running's Cocodona 250. He ran 60 of those completely barefoot and the rest in those very minimal Luna Sandals. It was at roughly 167 miles with over 20,000 feet of elevation gain, Sawyer knew he had already far exceeded his training and was asking more of his body than it was able to continue giving, so at roughly 8:30pm after hallucinating badly and having only a couple hours before a cutoff time at the next aid station, he pulled the plug. However, it wasn't "just a DNF," it was so much more. With 167 miles completed, that is no joke!
C Sawyer learned so much along this journey, not just about racing an extreme ultramarathon distace, but also about himself. We spend 20 or so minutes talking barefoot running, how it works, and connecting to the earth before jumping right into the Cocodona 250! Enjoy!
EarthBorn Primal as a brand that speaks to the Inner Beast within all of us. Reconnecting to these primal forces of nature and embracing our birthright as an integral part of the world. Sawyer is also sponsored by White Duck Expresso in Tampa!
This year was the second Cocodona 250 put on Aravaipa Running in Arizona. When it comes to Florida, our state had four runners taking on the challenge of 250 miles across the Sonoran Desert with soaring temps both hot and cold, bloody noses, heat rash, gnarly trails and more... For this part-one episode we have Michelle Taylor and Dave Krupski! The second part will be with the barefoot runner C Sawyer.
Michelle took on the course head on however, she unfortunately took a DNF this year. Covering the distance she was able to is still no joke! It is such an accomplishment and an amazing journey. Krupski came back for a second time after succumbing to a DNF last year. This year, he got it done! This was a blast!
For a second time Eddy Souza, the King of Corbett, took on the Tick out in the Ocala National Forest getting his second victory out there! This is a point-to-point 50 Miler that follows the Florida National Scenic Trail from Alexander Springs State Park to the far end of the Rodman Reservoir Dam. In years past, Rich Flint has been the race director... as for this year Andrea Tilley has now taken on the role with Rich now running the races he has developed. This one cool old school Florida trail race.
This year Deanna Doane, Bruce Sung Ho Choi, and Juli Goldstein took on the challenge of the C&O Canal 100 Miler up in Knoxville, Maryland. This was Deanna's first 100 miler and she crushed it with a time of 23:24:53 getting that sub-24 hour finish and that first time belt buckle! This was a comeback race for Juli having last run the Keys 50 Miler in 2019 and her 100 miler at the 2018 Keys 100. Bruce is a tried and true legend of sport who took this race on to help out the Florida gang and get one good long run in before this years Keys 100! The C&O Canal 100 has one 40ish mile loop and two 30 ish mile loops almost entirely on the C&O Canal towpath starting at Camp Manidokan and running along the canal between Antietam, MD and Brunswick, MD. The C&O Canal 100 course is almost entirely flat with packed dirt and gravel roads. These three did amazing with so many highs, lows, then highs, and even more lows all the way to the finish!
This year a handful of RunFluent athletes came up to the Buck Fifty in Chillicothe, Ohio. Today I chat with Chris Stangle, Scott Hoover, and Gustave Karagrozis about their time out of Florida up in Ohio. The Buck Fifty was founded to fight the drug problem in local community. They support eight local high school chapters of the Drug Free Clubs of America. The Drug Free Clubs of America Members at Huntington High School came up with a slogan that is so important and ties into the event; "Run Miles, Make a Difference."
The mission of RunFluent is to give everyone the opportunity to experience a professional Gait Analysis and receive customized goal driven run programming at an affordable cost. There number one goal is to help each and every client to run as efficiently as possible while chasing down their goals. Chris Stangle does an amazing job and his team at the Buck Fifty without a doubt brings that to light.
This year the Dunes were finally back on the trails of Jonathan Dickinson State Park! Today I chat with Andre and Ludi about the epic weekend for the Florida trail running community. Many runners were out on the trails for the first time, or it was their first half-marathon or ultra. This 50k course goes through 13 unique natural communities in 11,000 acres state park. It was awesome to hear about the Dunes of Heaven for the 13.1 and the Dunes of Heaven and Hell for the 50K course. It was awesome!
This year Christopher Caravello took on the Shadows of the South 100 with a time of 33:43:16! This of course was a race that almost didn't happen, however, the show still went on with a new course just days before race day. For a lot of folks, this would be super discouraging... but not Christopher. He crushed it out there! Christopher has done races like the Destin Beach 100, the Keys 100, Georgia Death Race, Sky to Summit, and sweeped at the Forgotten Florida. He is currently signed up for the Moab 240, a race he DNF'd in 2020, however this year he's going to be back at it again! It's races like the Shadows of the South that will have him ready in October.
Had a fun one with J.D. McGee and Alberto Vargas talking about the JW Corbett weekend. JD did the 50k and Al ran the 50 Mile out there in the JW Corbett Wildlife Management Area. We talk the course, the water, hotel room madness, gators, and so much more! Also! the big news with a new JW Corbett Race Director.
The JW Corbett 50 mile, 50k, and 18 mile has been a staple to the trail and ultra-marathon scene with active results going back to 2012. The course is a vastly diverse and full of possibly wet trails that wind through wet prairies, cypress strands, hardwood hammocks, open meadows, fields of wild flowers, and pine flat woods.
The history of the JW Corbett WMA dates back to the Native Americans building mounds and digging canals. In 1947, it was named after James Wiley Corbett who was a commissioner for the Southern States Land and Timber Company.
This year Lucien "Hot Chocolate" Boulet and Joseph Greenslade once again took on the Endurance Hunter 100 by ARGEORGIA. Lucien took on the 100 Mile with Joseph taking on the 100k through this course that takes you through the BMT, Pinhoti, and Fort Mountain Trails in Georgia. This race is a true point-to-point challenge. We are also joined by Jeff and Hunter Leininger who put on this event. This is the only 100 miler that has GPS trackers for all of the runners. Enjoy!
Nick Zivolich is the founder of Best Damn Race and Best Damn Events. After finishing a half marathon in St. Pete, Nick Zivolich put into motion his desire to put on his own running event that would still have the professional layout as the corporate races, but with a local race feel. His races would be accessible to all levels of athletes with a unique registration process for low prices on a first come, first serve basis. This process even crashed a race registration server!
The Best Damn Race philosophy is Run, Eat, Drink, Party and that something you can really see at every event. This year Best Damn Race put on its first trail event over at Starkey Park. It was a trail relay event that allowed groups of runners to run in teams to cover 130 or 97.5 miles! Here we go!
Laurel Slyck lives close to the Oregon Trail in Boise, Idaho but she has also run the Croom Zoom 100k in 2020 and competed in Cross Country at Florida State University. She recently released a book titled “Did Anyone Tell You It Was Going To Be Easy?” It is a good one. It’s been a while since I’ve been hooked on a book, and this is one of those. This memoir really reels you in. There’s a lot of relatable themes as Laurel navigates you through her own hardships, struggles, and personal matters that honestly, most of us experience or go through in some way but never put it out there. Those are the things that really reel you in when thinking about your own life and you connect to it.
The central theme of course is running, its fluent all the way throughout the book. That sense starts off in high school, into college, and all the way through Laurels life. For me, that was also something that I personally connected to with two of my first Cross Country coaches really building that foundation for me.
Listen in and enjoy!
You can find the book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Anyone-Tell-This-Going-Easy/dp/B09T8FFZHP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=222E1XTDRGIVZ&keywords=did%20anyone%20tell%20you%20this%20was%20going%20to%20be%20easy&qid=1647314793&sprefix=did%20an%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR12U4CEtdPuknfsIA965ldRLJt1UdpK8VCHYXfdCjhu0etAErcy0X7nAjI
This year was quite the rainy year for the Croom Fools Run near Brooksville, Florida. However, that adversity was no problem for many runners... to include my two guests Donna Morris and Doreen Hoffman who both finished the 50 Miler together! They did amazing!
The Croom Fools Run has three distances being the 16 Miler, a 50k, and the 50 Miler. For myself, I did the 16 Miler before heading out to an aid station for the rest of the race. The morning started off beautifully out there, the weather was great! The rain came in around 1:30pm and came down pretty hard in waves followed by some light rain and sprinkles between. Overall, those runners nailed it! They got it done!
Luis Cocco took on the 200 Mile right in the dojang of Hero Martial Arts running 9,696 laps (48.5 laps per Mile) on his 108.9167 foot course. He also raised money for ThumbsUp International in the process. This was his second attempt at completing the World Record for the Shortest Course Ever Utilized to Achieve the 200-mile Distance. Luis made 38,784 sharp 90-degree turns on his journey. Last year his legs gave out at mile 64. But, as his young daughter said to him, ‘running ninjas never ever give up.’ Luis is the embodiment of fighting spirit. He fought through those 200 miles every step of the way. The 200 miler was timed by Mike Melton! This run was in honor and support of ThumbsUp International which is Co-Chaired by the incredible Kerry Gruson & Caryn Vogel Lubetsky. Luis has known Caryn for a while and met Kerry when the two ran the Ride the Wave 50 Mile in September of 2020. They inspired Luis to stretch his own limits and raise funds for their nonprofit.
Today I got to hop on with some Floridians who took on the Georgia Death Race up by RunBum Tours. This year you had a first timer on the course Kailynn Violette; Mark Proch who has smashed it twice now; and Joshua Gray who went for redemption. What an amazing recap. These three did great!
The Georgia Death Race is 71ishh Miles starting in Vogel State Park with close to 28,000 feet of elevation change ending in Amicalola Falls State Park. The first 8 miles has close to 3,500 feet of elevation change, including the 3.8 mile, 2,300 ft. climb up and over the summit of Coosa Bald. This course takes you to Duncan Ridge to see the sunrise over the back of Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia, and the Toccoa Swinging Bridge and Amicalola Falls.
The SWAMP 100k, 50k, 30k, & 10k is a race put on by Dawn Lisenby out at Graham Swamp near Flagler Beach, Florida. This course is a 6.2 mile loop that is flowing, single track with a lot of short steep climbs. But don't let that lay easy in your mind, this course is one of the trickiest as it is said that the 50k runs like a 50 miler! This year the 10k race was a fundraiser for breast cancer and renamed the Debby10k, for the RD's sister who was diagnosed in 2014 with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. Only 20% are expected to live to 5 years, let alone past it, so as you can see she is a fighter and fittingly deserves a race run in her honor that will benefit breast cancer research.
We open up the episode with words from your Race Director, Dawn, she chats about how the race came to be, how the course runs, the special moments and race directors report. Then we jump into a conversion with your 100k second-place finisher Giovanni Cerbone, your 50k woman's champion Deanna Doane, as well as, Matt Murphy (50k - 10th) and Rick Williamson (50k - 9th).
This weekend is the Picnic Island Ultra’s, so today I am chatting with Mark Cudak! He and Scott Richards are the Race Directors for this weekend's event. We chat about how it came to be, the racoon, the Keys 100 and the ultimate flex it has compared to any other race, crewing at Badwater, and so much more to ramble onto! Mark has run the Lake to Ocean 100k, the Iron Horse 100, the Boston Marathon, the Keys 100, Daytona 100, Fort Clinch 100, and most recently the Long Play Trail Run!
The Gasparilla Distance Classic takes place every year in Tampa, Florida and hosts four different distances. However, some runners decide to sign up for ALL FOUR in an event called the Michelob Ultra Challenge. It consists of the 15k and 5k on Saturday then the Half Marathon and 8k on Sunday for 30 plus miles! I had the honor to chat with four of those runners; Dale Lively, Beth Waskom, Jeff Beck, and Sam Austin.
Dale is the owner of the LIVE Training Center in Palmetto, Florida and this was his first for the Gasparilla Distance Classic. He has completed a few trail and ultra such as the Croom Zoom. Beth Waskom is a member of the Team Ultra group that was out there this year and her story is truly amazing. Jeff Beck is the man who placed first overall this year for the Ultra Challenge, he traveled all the way from Oklahoma and is a member of both Team Ultra and Wahoo Running. Lastly, Sam Austin, she is a Tampa native who placed 200th overall in the Ultra Challenge and her story is truly elevating.
Today I chat with Laura Drake Cole! She's been competing for years with a lot of success in the IRONMAN having competed at the KONA World Championships on 11 occasions. She's also won the 15k at the Gasparilla Distance Classic three times, with one year winning both the 5k and 15k! She's transitioned more into the trail and ultra-running scene here in Florida (with great success)! Truly great, age has no factor into chasing success.
I hop on with Brian Schuyler as he shares his epic journey to complete the LOST 118 with true grit and glory. He learns more about himself and what it takes to finish. Just Keep Moving! He finished 4th this year with a time of 37:38:42. He, along with his crew of Christina Parmelee; Eric DeSimone; Sandra Spence; and Alberto Vargas learn more and find passion in the crewing world! I chat with the team to find out how they did it. Tune in!
I jump in and chat with Marc Burget, Luis Cocco, Tuan Nguyen, and Ramon Palomo. This year Marc ran the LOST 118 and finished with a time of 18:25:54 to not only be the first to finish, but also set the new Course Record! He absolutely crushed it out there. He had some amazing support from his crew with Luis, Tuan, and Ramon putting in countless hours and miles to keep Marc moving. With one drone down and to the tune of Phil Collins... this team not only achieved their goal but crushed it!
There's also a big "Thank You" out to the new Race Director’s taking over this historical Florida ultra-marathon, Brendan Barry and Scott Richards.
Not only did Marc get his LOST 118 Belt Buckle, but thanks to Wicked Skins Athletics and the hearts of the Race Director's the crew members received a beautiful crew finishers award! Amazing!
(Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight) under Fair Use
Today I am chatting with Scott Hoover. Recently this year he completed the Long Haul 100 Mile, a race that he honestly wasn't sure he was going to be able to accomplish. He then smashed some redemption at the Skunk Ape's Revenge 60k from bonking at last summer's Skunk Ape Night Run 30k. He's new to ultra running, but one of the friendliest faces you'll meet out on the course! Next up for Scott, he'll prepping for the Long Play Trail Run, Quest for the Crest, the Barkley Fall Classic, and the Trident 12 Hour! Listen in as he also drops some hidden gems for trail running in the Lake Wales and Frostproof area!
The Forgotten Florida took place recently, I hop on and chat with Sean "the RunBum" Blanton and the Trio that won this year's 100 Miler (Aden St. Charles, Maxwell Bennet, and John Parker). Sean opens up to what truly makes Florida trail running beautiful and why it's such a special place to put on a race. The Trio share and dive into this year's race and the adventure it brought them! What a wild ride.
The Forgotten Florida has three distances: the 100 mile, a 45 miler, and a 15 miler. The race runs through the Tosohatchee, Charles Bronson State Forest, Seminole Ranch, Little Big Econ State Forest and more. As for the 100, it is a point-to-point race! The first 50 miles of the 100 mile is the most technical and goes through some of those "forgotten" trails. The last 50 has more dirt roads, higher trafficked single track and beautiful rolling hills.
In the 45 Miler and 15 Miler, you get to run through some of those "forgotten" trails through Tosohatchee and Seminole Ranch. Those woods are home to the most beautiful miles of trail in the state. Enjoy!
Diane Romero-Lopez is the race director for the Monroe Cross Trail 50 Mile, which this year, had its inaugural event! She is someone who has so many ties all over our Florida running community. She has rocked the trails having finished races like the Iron Horse 100k, John Holmes, Angry Tortoise, the Skunk Ape Night Run, Daytona 100, Yeti 100 and Brazos Bend 100; but more to that, she is also a pacer for so many runners out there. Being a pacer for a marathon or half-marathon is one of the most important roles for those who are seeking to set a personal best or fulfill a dream. Diane is one of those people who are always out there in the community, and it is amazing to see her finally shine her own light and direct her own race!
Today I am chatting with Brian Sharbono, he won this inaugural Monroe Cross Trail 50 Miler this year as he preps for the Umstead 100. He has a handful of great runs at races such as winning the 2021 Pine Mountain 19 Miler and the Pine Mountain 46 Miler in 2019. He's done the Sweat, Swat, n Swear and took a victory at the River to Sea 6 Hour. At the 2021 Leadville 100, he ran a time of 23:42:12 to have a Top 50 finish.
So last weekend, that last weekend of January the Monroe Cross Trail 50 Miler took place in its inaugural event! Diane Romero-Lopez knocked it out of the park with this one. Now, it’s a paved point-to-point 50 miler that starts in Volusia County, starting from Rotary Park in Edgewater, Florida and going 50 miles to the finish line at Central 28 Beer Company in DeBary, Florida.
Brian Sharbono took the victory this year with a time of 6:13:19 as he preps for the Umstead 100. Marc Burget took that 2nd overall with a time of 6:31:26! Luis Gomez, who placed second at Long Haul this year came in 3rd with a time of 7:28:59.
The women’s race was a close finish!! The first woman came in 4th overall, Joanne Fisher, she ran a time of 8:11:41. She was shortly followed by 5th place overall, and of course your second place woman… Jennifer Jordan with a time of 8:11:53. Shirley Olson was your third woman and 9thoverall with a time of 9:10:51!
Harvey Lewis is a two-time winner of the Badwater Ultra-Marathon, a Big Dog's Backyard Champion, and has represented Team USA at the IAU 24-Hour World Championships on numerous occasions. Lewis has a legacy with the Long Haul 100 Mile trail race in Land-o-Lakes, Florida having won the event on two occasions. He won the 2022 Long Haul 100 Mile with a time of 16:07.24. He also won the 2020 Long Haul 100 with a time of 15:55:19, that year he won by over two hours. He placed second in 2021 with a time of 14:49:07, behind Keith Lundquist. In 2019, he placed third overall with a time of 18:19:29.
Not only to that, but Harvey is also an educator and one of the most down to earth guys out there!
We are just off the heels of the 2022 Long Haul 100 Mile, it is one of most important races here in the beautiful state of Florida. Stories from Long Haul 100 are a little collection of stories from those who ran this year. Part Two are stories from the men's side of the field with Neal Moser, Mike Alberts, C Sawyer; and your top two Floridian finishers Jeff Iosa and Luis Gomez. Enjoy!
We are just off the heels of the 2022 Long Haul 100 Mile, it is one of most important races here in the beautiful state of Florida. Stories from Long Haul 100 are a little collection of stories from those who ran this year. Part One is an all-woman episode as we chat with Marina Germain; Sarah Glass; and your 2022 Long Haul 100 Champion, Katie Rozar! Enjoy!
Andy "Croom" Mathews and I talk Long Haul 100, Long Play, Croom Zoom, Western States, and how truly great this running community is here in Florida. We get a nice little sneak peek and words of wisdom for what's to come at the 2022 Long Haul 100 Mile. Andy is the owner of A1 Ultra Events (ofcourse alongside Amy!) and has been a staple for the growth of trail and ultra-running here in our beautiful state of Florida.