But also… Trail running podcast

Host Celeste Fong talks with Ray Pinney about starting trail running later in life, tackling 50-mile races and 100+ mile events, and finding purpose and community through ultras. They discuss injuries and recovery, memorable races like Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim and the Race for the Ages, the mental highs and lows of ultra running, and how the trail community supports and inspires people of all ages.

Host Celeste Fong and guest Greg Smith recount his brutal Mogollon Monster 100‑mile race in Arizona — battling dehydration, altitude sickness, splitting headaches, and a relentless desert climb over roughly 36 hours. They reflect on the pressure of destination races, the lifeline of family crewing (Greg's dad and grandpa), mental problem‑solving in ultras, and the lessons he’ll use for...

Hosts Celeste Fong, John Calabrese, and Ben Nalette recount their chaotic weekend at the Jigger Johnson 100-mile race in New Hampshire: long drives, camp chaos, bizarre aid-station encounters, and a brutal 15-hour stretch that led to a DNF. Along the way they bond over bad movies, messy stomach issues, trail culture, race logistics, and why they keep coming back for more. Expect adult language, ra...

Host Celeste Fong sits down with Taylor Verville and her crew—Marcus, Steve, and Mike—to relive the brutal and beautiful Jigger Johnson 100-mile race. They break down the technical terrain, logistics, pacer strategy, and the unexpected chaos that defined the event. From dramatic road closures and tracker failures to dirt naps, fueling hacks, and a late-night finish, this episode captur...

Celeste Fong talks with TJ, who shares his raw, funny and adult-only journey from extreme weight loss to becoming an ultra runner. They dig into his first races, how he fell in love with ultra-distance events, and why he prefers loops and self-supported runs. The episode is full of candid race stories, training quirks, gritty race-day details, and the tight-knit trail community that keeps them com...

Hosts Celeste and Craig recap their experience at Anchor Down Ultra, a night-start loop race at Colt State Park that was defined by extreme heat and suffocating humidity. They describe the course, pacing strategies, aid-station realities, high DNF numbers, and the tight-knit, old-school ultrarunning community that keeps drawing them back. The episode mixes gritty race details with personal moments...

Host Celeste Fong welcomes Jess Roussell to discuss her emotional and hard-earned finish at Notchview reaching her 100-mile goal. They cover the mental battles of ultra running, the importance of crew and community, and practical race strategies like nutrition and pacing. Jess also shares her coaching work, future ambitions (including Leadville), and the small joys that make endurance racing meani...

Celeste Fong and friends take microphones on the trails at the Notchview event for a round of candid conversation: nicknames, bingo cards, glittered runners, and night-loop antics. Expect laugh-out-loud moments, trail-side support, and the chaotic joy of midnight hills and headlamp mishaps as the group navigates community, competition, and constant banter.

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...