Dirt And Vert

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're joined by the incredible Rachel Drake, a newly minted doctor who also happens to be an amazing ultra runner who just shattered the women's course record at the JFK 50! Rachel's journey is nothing short of inspiring. We hear about her evolution from high school track star to ultra marathoner, including the Mackenzie River 50K where she met her husband....

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we were honored to have ultra runner Whitney Dancaster join us. Her story is one of incredible resilience and determination. Whitney shared her inspiring journey into the world of ultras, from those early races to taking on incredible challenges like the Keys 100 and Long Haul 100. She spoke with such honesty about the obstacles she faced in her first ultra,...

On this week's Dirt and Vert Podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Leah Mulligan, an incredible ultra runner from Chattanooga. Leah's story is all about passion, perseverance, and the power of community. We traced her journey from those early running days to her leap into the ultra world, and how her family and the running community fueled her every step of the way. Leah also opened up...

On this week's Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're joined by ultra-badass Tara Dower and her incredible crew member, Rascal, to talk about Tara's recent Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt on the Appalachian Trail. Tara's journey is nothing short of inspiring. We get into the nitty-gritty of her training, the challenges she faced on the trail, and the mental fortitude it takes to chase such a massive goal....

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we had the pleasure of chatting with ultra runner David Sullivan. David's journey in the ultra world is nothing short of inspiring, and he shared some incredible insights with us. We talked about his evolution from casual runner to podium finisher, and how gratitude and community have played a huge role in his success. David also emphasized the mental side o...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we sat down with ultra runner Ron Wireman. Ron's no stranger to pushing limits, and he shared some incredible stories from his experiences at Bob's Backyard Ultra and Big's Backyard Ultra. We dove deep into the nitty-gritty of backyard ultras, from the unique challenges they present to the incredible camaraderie among runners. Ron opened up about his trainin...

Shattering records with 526 miles in 6 days at the Dome and the most recent female world record at Big's Backyard Ultra with a jaw-dropping 362 miles! That's the mind-boggling distances ultra runner Meg Eckert has achieved in 2024. On this episode of Dirt and Vert, Meg takes us inside this incredible feat of endurance, sharing the mental and physical hurdles she overcame. From her transition to tr...

Imagine collapsing mid-marathon, waking up in the hospital, and facing the possibility of never walking again. That's exactly what happened to ultra runner Heather Watson. In this episode, Heather shares her harrowing experience of suffering a stroke during a race, the surreal moments she experienced while unconscious, and the critical role a paramedic played in saving her life. Hear how she fough...

In this episode of the Dirt and Vert podcast, hosts David and Matt sit down with Ken Zemach, the 2023 King of the Road, to discuss his journey into ultra running. Ken shares how personal struggles led him to take up running seriously at the age of 39, losing weight and finding a coping mechanism through the sport. He emphasizes the importance of coaching and accountability in training, as well as...

In this episode of the Dirt and Vert podcast, David and Matt sit down with Lauren Beihoffer, a former research scientist turned ultra running coach. Lauren shares her inspiring journey from being a non-runner to a passionate endurance athlete, detailing her experiences with various races, the challenges she faced, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation delves into the importance o...

In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, hosts David and Matt discuss their upcoming races, the Yeti 100 and Firewater, and share insights on training, nutrition strategies, and recovery practices. They reflect on past races, the importance of community in running, and their goals for future events. The conversation emphasizes the significance of proper training, hydration, and recovery in...

In this engaging conversation, Chris Clemens shares his inspiring journey from a life-altering accident that he overcame to becoming an accomplished ultra runner finishing Vol State an incredible 6 times. He discusses the challenges he faced during recovery, the importance of community and support, and his experiences in various races. The dialogue highlights the resilience of the human spirit and...

In this episode, David interviews Davy Crockett, who has completed over 165 races and is a member of the 100-100s club. Davy shares his journey into running, starting in his mid-40s and gradually progressing to longer distances. He discusses his experience with injuries, including a stress fracture in his tibia, and how he recovered and continued running. Davy also talks about his involvement in c...

Aaron Dana, a trail runner, shares his journey into running and the mental health benefits he experienced. He started running in 2019 and quickly fell in love with trail running. Running became his outlet and a way to cope with stress. He found that running helped him manage his mental health and gave him a sense of accomplishment. Aaron progressed from running a half marathon to completing a 100-...

Greg Armstrong, a talented ultra runner and founder of Run4Water, shares his journey into running and his experiences in various races. He recounts memorable moments, such as running Volstate 500k where he was mistaken as a homeless person and the Arkansas Traveler 100 where he had a challenging finish. Greg also talks about his transition to longer events and the importance of mental toughness in...

Join Kaylee Frederick, a young and fearless ultra runner, as she shares her incredible journey to becoming a top competitor in the world of endurance racing. From her first 100-miler at 16 to battling the extreme heat of Badwater 135, to winning Badwater Cape Fear in 2024 Kaylee's story is fun and inspiring. You can hear the joy she has for the sport and her determination to be competitive and con...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Matt Cook, an ultra runner who defied the odds. After being nearly paralyzed by Guillain-Barré syndrome, Matt not only recovered but went on to win The Cherokee Ultra 70k. In this podcast, Matt shares his incredible story of resilience, determination, and the power of the human spirit. Discover how he overcame adversity, found his passion for running, and...

In this episode, we sit down with Brandy Krisher, the chief editor of East Coast Ultra Running Magazine. Brandy opens up about her personal journey into running and ultra running, which began in her 20s as a way to cope with a difficult relationship and struggles with alcoholism. Running became a therapeutic outlet for her, and she has now been sober for over seven years. Brandy shares how she gra...

Brian Vermillion takes us on a journey from a nail in his knee during a trail race to back-to-back podiums finishes. One of which is Dam Yeti 50 his "fun run" turned into a podium finish. Brian shares his experiences with different coaches and his new focus on speed. The episode dives deep into the Cherokee 130K, where Brian is 1st place overall and sets the course record finishing first...

Get ready to hit the trails with "Candy Mama" Tara Dower, a seasoned thru-hiker turned ultra runner! Join us as Tara, a seasoned through-hiker turned ultra runner, spills the beans on her FKT adventures, epic race fails (cactus attacks, anyone?), and hilarious trail stories. From conquering brutal mountain trails to dodging foot fetishes at the Ohio Backyard Ultra, Tara's journey is anything but o...

Kallup McCoy II, a Cherokee native from North Carolina, shares his journey from addiction to becoming an ultra marathoner. He struggled with addiction for over 15 years and served time in jail before finding transformation and a new purpose in endurance sports. He started with an Ironman 70.3 race and fell in love with the sense of accomplishment and community. Despite facing challenges and setbac...

Ed the Jester, a record holder for the most 100-mile races completed, shares his journey into running and the challenges he faced along the way. He started running marathons as a teenager but stopped due to knee pain. After going through a period of depression and losing everything in the real estate market crash, he found solace in running again. He gradually got back into running and eventually...

Darren Janzen spills the dirt on his Mid-State Mile adventure, sharing his thoughts, heat-beating strategies, and the hilarious camaraderie of the trail running tribe. From plantar fasciitis to bulging discs, this guy knows pain, but he also knows how to push through it like a champ. This isn't your normal Sunday stroll. It's about finding your inner wild, embracing suck, and discovering j...

In a heartfelt conversation, the reigning Mid-State Mile champion and course record holder Eric Kienle opens up about his inspiring journey into the world of ultra running to his success and hard work to be the last man standing at Mid-State Mile. His evolution as a runner is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and self-belief. He shares his stories of setbacks, recounting the...

Michael Montgomery, an extraordinary athlete with over 1,000 races to his name, reveals a lifetime of dedication and passion for running. From his early days of pounding the pavement in 1982 to finishing 377 ultras and over 200 marathons and counting. Michael's journey is an exciting story that reveals his passion for the sport and the community. He discusses his DNFs, race directing, the comm...