But also… Trail running podcast

Host Celeste Fong talks with guest Greg Smith about his DNF at the Manitou's 50-mile race after severe food poisoning, and the physical and emotional aftermath. They discuss coping with embarrassment, confronting fears, race nutrition, training mindset, and using a DNF as fuel for future goals.

Celeste and the crew recap a chaotic and hilarious trip to Niagara: a scenic 50K with unexpected cutoff drama, big PRs, ziplining over the falls, late-night fireworks, a fox sighting, and one very forgotten batch of cupcakes. They share race surprises, course details, volunteer mix-ups, and why they’d do it again—maybe with more training and fewer Timbits.

Host Celeste Fong talks with Alyssa Freeze about her running journey — from starting during COVID to running Boston and falling in love with trail ultras. They cover race stories (Notchview, Mid‑State, The Cut), crewing and pacing, gear frustrations (hydration vests and shoes), and surviving a severe storm that led to many DNFs. Alongside lots of profanity and humor, the episode explores why...

On this adult-only episode, host Celeste Fong and her friends relive a brutal 50-mile race attempt at The Cut/The Butt. They recount the day’s highs and lows — extreme heat, a sudden thunderstorm, GI issues, a dramatic fall into a hole, ticks and spiders, and an unforgettable lightsaber-lit finish. Between real talk and profanity-laced laughs, the group praises the crew and pacers who...

Host Celeste Fong sits down with Greg to unpack the week before a race — the taper, sleep worries, last-minute research, family logistics, and the odd rituals runners use to feel prepared. They cover practical advice on packing and gear (organized ultra bags, dual headlamps), fueling and GI challenges, heat prep, and balancing race ambitions with home life and recovery.

Celeste and the crew trade profanity-laced stories and laugh-out-loud morning mishaps while debating whether anyone can truly be ready for an ultra—physically, mentally, and environmentally. They dig into race planning, crew and pacer responsibilities, fueling hits and misses, upcoming races (Cut 50, Niagara Falls, Notch View, Anchor Down), and the importance of flexibility and camaraderie on the...

Host Celeste Fong and friends roast and celebrate Boston first-timer Tony DiDomizio after his epic, cramping, and emotional marathon experience. They relive qualifying races, roadside spectating, elite athletes and wheelchair racers, and the highs and lows of race day. The conversation drifts into trail running plans, ultras, niggling injuries, goofy inside jokes, and afterparty antics—givin...

Host Celeste Fong talks with Raquel Brainard, Kristen Amick, and Emberleigh Luce about their weekend at the Lake Waramog ultras — Raquel's surprise 50K win, first-ultra experiences, and what race day actually felt like. They cover pacing and fueling strategies, aid-station hijinks, injuries and recovery, and the camaraderie that makes ultra running addictive.

Host Celeste Fong interviews Evan Titus, founder and race director of the inaugural Connecticut 123 Mile Race about the race’s origin, route planning, and fundraising efforts for the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. They discuss logistics like rolling aid stations, volunteer coordination, race formats (100K, 200K, relay), weather challenges, and race-day results. The episode also covers lesson...

Host Celeste Fong welcomes back Greg Smith for a candid recap of the Sleeping Giant 50K. They break down the brutal technical headwall, race results, changing conditions, and the logistics of racing crowded park trails. They dive into gear and shoe choices, blister fixes, pacing strategy, and using the race as training for the upcoming Manitou's, with practical tips on poles, aid stations, and cre...

Celeste Fong interviews Jodi Dougherty, founder of Running for Rescues, about how a running hobby turned into a 15‑year grassroots nonprofit that funds vet bills by mobilizing runners and everyday athletes. They discuss the organization’s origins, transparent model of paying vet bills directly, the surprising variety of animals helped, and how listeners can sign up to run, walk, bike, or gam...

The Idiots join host Celeste Fong as she shares her recent health scare that led to surgery, getting the all clear to start training again and trying to plan races for the year. The group debates whether she should attempt the 112-mile Cut race or drop to the 50-miler, discussing fitness, injury risk, fueling struggles, pacers and crew, plus upcoming races and volunteer plans.

Host Celeste Fong talks with Greg Smith about his running journey from college runs and marathons to technical mountain ultras. They cover standout races—from Spain’s rugged Pyrenees course to Mid-State Massive and Old Dominion—plus the thrill and challenge of trail versus road running. The conversation also explores balancing training with new fatherhood, sleep deprivation, race planning and fuel...

In this episode Celeste Fong talks with Marcy Ritsick about her shock discovery from an at-home DNA test, learning she was donor-conceived and half Ashkenazi Jewish, searching for and meeting her biological father, and the ripple effects on her family, identity, and medical history. They discuss the emotional fallout, the loss and rebuilding of relationships, finding community and chosen family th...

Celeste hosts an adult-only episode featuring Mike and Taylor as they relive the Frozen Yeti 30-hour winter race: extreme cold, deep snow, and brutal conditions that turned miles into a fight for survival. They discuss pacing, gear failures, injuries, aid-station moments, and the humor and teamwork that helped them get through a punishing 50-mile effort.

Host Celeste Fong and guest Mommy Craigery recount his wild experience at the Krispy Kreme Challenge in Raleigh: a 2.5-mile run to the donut shop, eating a dozen glazed donuts, and a 2.5-mile run back. The episode covers the chaotic donut pit, cold and windy conditions, surprisingly edible-but-exhausting results, friends’ antics (including one who ate 18 donuts), and the charity-driven spiri...

Host Celeste Fong sits down with longtime friend Mike Feinberg for an unfiltered conversation about his running journey — from awkward beginnings and cross country to joining the 169 Club, Winter Warrior challenges, marathons like New York and Chicago, and embracing ultras and multi-day training. They trade favorite race memories, parenting and community anecdotes, and the messy, motivating...

Host Celeste Fong sits down with Michael Lo Presti to trace his running journey from a late '90s start to 141 marathons and ultras, the discovery of a birth defect and aortic aneurysm, and his open-heart surgery and recovery. Together they discuss his return to endurance racing—including six-day and multi-day loop events—tattoos as storytelling, the supportive running community, and hi...

Host Celeste Fong and her crew of 'idiots' deliver an adult-only, irreverent end-of-year recap covering proud accomplishments, disappointments, and favorite race memories. They talk first ultras, finishing 169 towns, Notchview, HamsterWheel, Niagara plans, training goals for 2026, and plenty of offbeat, hilarious behind-the-scenes stories.

Host Celeste Rong talks with Rick Amernick about the two-decade history of the DC Capital Striders, their focus on giving back, and the community they built through group runs, volunteering, charity events, shoe demos, and partnerships. The episode covers memorable races, volunteer programs, holiday and scavenger runs for charity, how to join or start local group runs, and the real-life stories of...

Host Celeste Fong interviews Rick Amernick, founder of the DC Capital Striders, about the group's rise from a local meetup to a multi-location running community. They cover the shift into trail running, North Face training, ultramarathon experiences, and the Wolfpack trail faction. The episode also focuses on the group's charity work — the Holiday Lights Run, the Amazing Race events, volunte...

Host Celeste Fong talks with Rick Amernick, founder of the DC Capital Striders, about how a chance Meetup listing in 2006 grew into a large running community and 501(c)(3). Rick recounts early runs on the National Mall, expanding to DuPont and trail runs, partnerships with brands and organizers, and fundraising efforts like a Haiti benefit race. The episode highlights community-building through ru...

We discuss the chaotic, hilarious, and heartfelt moments from the Hamster Wheel 30‑hour race in New Boston, NH. We share stories of 100‑mile finishes, severe cold and hypothermia scares, top‑notch aid‑station food, crew and pacer heroics, costumes and shenanigans, and the strong community support that helped runners hit big goals.

Host Celeste Fong talks with ultra runner John Calabrese about trail and ultra racing — the highs, the DNFs, the gear, and the tight-knit (sometimes cult-like) running community. The conversation also wanders into food and film: pizza and competitive-eating dreams, favorite horror movies like The Blair Witch Project, true-crime and cult anecdotes, and the strange, hilarious moments that happ...

Celeste and Danielle recount a 50th birthday road trip through Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce — full of side‑quests, wildlife encounters, brutal climbs, and nonstop laughter. They share highlights, mishaps, and practical tips from Emerald Pools to the Narrows and Bryce’s hoodoos, celebrating the freedom of doing epic, unplanned adventures with a great travel buddy.