In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, David & Matt sit down with fellow East Coast Adventures running team member, athlete, and coach Taylor Williams. Taylor shares her unfiltered story of stepping into the ultra world, from running her first 50K at Firewater to tackling one of the most brutal mountain races on the East Coast—the Cherokee.

Taylor pulls back the curtain on her massive training block leading into this year's Cherokee 130K, the mental hurdle of stepping onto the course alone, and navigating high heat, extreme humidity, and severe chafing that ultimately brought her day to a halt at mile 61. We dive deep into why a DNF doesn't define who you are, the power of leaning into a mentorship under Mary Cates, and how stepping out of your comfort zone builds lasting grit and grace.

Learn more about Taylor and coaching here:

https://www.endurecoach.com

email: endurecoachingknox@gmail.com

Key Takeaways

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  The Cherokee Experience: What it truly takes to prepare for and face 10,000+ feet of climb in the middle of summer humidity.

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  Overriding Imposter Syndrome: How Taylor moved past self-doubt to embrace huge miles, solo training runs in the Smokies, and leading other runners as a coach.

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  The Reality of a DNF: Why walking away with gas left in the tank teaches you where your real boundaries are and sets the stage for future growth.

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  Power Hiking Mastery: The strength of using the uphill as a tool to control heart rate and manage fatigue late in an ultra.

• Grit & Grace in Action: How finding a running family transforms your mindset on race day and keeps you grounded when things get tough.

In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, Mike and I sit down with legendary ultra runner, coach, podcaster, and former race director Aaron Saft. Aaron called in live from his truck while towing his camper across the country to prepare for the Rocky Mountain Slam—giving us an authentic, unfiltered look into a career that spans over two decades in endurance sports.

Aaron takes us way back to the early, pre-UltraSignup days of the sport, when paper registrations, cash on race day, and low-cut hiking boots were the norm. We dive into his vast resume—from winning sub-ultra trail national championships to completing the Grand Slam and Bigfoot 200—and talk about his annual "Misogi" challenges, like running a calendar club challenge that capped off with a food-poisoning-fueled Christmas day effort. Aaron also shares the terrifying time he stood eye-to-eye with a 10-foot brown bear at the Canadian Death Race, why a high-carb strategy doesn't work for every stomach, and how decades of trail miles have deepened his relationships with his family and friends.

Key Takeaways

• Before the Tech Era: What trail racing looked like in the early 2000s, handing out Janji gear before it was cool, and how the sport has evolved from paper sign-ups to live-streamed commercial events.

• The Canadian Death Race Encounter: Standing 6 feet away from a 10-foot brown bear with two cubs, sprinting 40 miles into the race, and trading a coin to a ferryman to cross a glacial river.

• Annual Misogi Challenges: Why Aaron sets one challenge a year with a 50% chance of failure—and how he survived running a 172-mile week in December through a bout of severe food poisoning.

• Nutritional Pivot for Older Athletes: Learning that high-carb intake isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, and why incorporating fats and proteins early can save an aging gut.

• Grieving a DNF: Why every runner needs a grace period to process a failed race, make a "what went right vs. wrong" list, and use the community to problem-solve.

• The Intrinsic 'Why': Why true motivation comes from the deep, unfiltered connections forged with family and crew out in the dark miles.

In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, we sit down with two-time Cherokee Ultra 130K finisher Aden Rogers. Aden is one of only four runners to earn the coveted Cherokee double buckle, and her story from this year's race is a masterclass in relentless forward progress.

Aden breaks down her journey into trail running—from picking up the sport to find time for herself as a mom to winning her very first 100-miler at Pinhoti. We go deep into her experience on the Cherokee course this year, where brutal heat and humidity forced her to battle extreme dehydration and stomach issues starting at mile 15. Aden shares what went through her mind on the dark stretch of Doc Rogers Road, how she navigated the fine line between safety and quitting, and why she refuses to give up on herself when things get dark.

• The Cherokee Double Buckle: Aden breaks down what it took to finish one of the toughest mountain courses on the East Coast for the second time.

• Battling the Heat: Managing severe dehydration and humidity, dealing with stomach issues from mile 15, and finding a way to keep moving forward.

• The Dark Miles: The mental strategy Aden used on the Doc Rogers Road section when quitting felt like the only option.

• Refusing to Give Up: Why Aden believes hardships in life and running are temporary, and how pushing through dark moments builds lasting strength.

• Pinhoti to Cherokee: Reflections on her background, from winning her first 100-miler at Pinhoti to tackling brutal technical vert.

In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, get ready for a one-on-one conversation with a runner who has been absolutely lighting up the ultra scene over the last couple of years—Kristen Soinski.

Fresh off the Chasing Democracy 250—a massive 250-mile journey run from the Statue of Liberty to Washington D.C. alongside Harvey Lewis and Greg Armstrong—Kristen pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to cover huge point-to-point distances in 90-plus degree heat. We talk about her start in middle school running, taking a five-year break from the sport, and her wild leap into ultras where she dropped a staggering 154 miles at her very first backyard ultra at Ohio's Backyard. Kristen shares how running became a vessel for navigating heavy personal grief, why she refuses to let a bad mile define her day, and the hilarious behind-the-scenes moments of foraging mulberries and accidentally buying sea moss jelly on the road with Greg and Harvey.

This week on the Dirt & Vert Podcast, Matt and I are sitting down with a runner who has been on an absolute, unhinged hot streak lately: Josh LaCrone. Josh is a paramedic, a dad, and the reigning course record holder at our very own Fort Frenzy, where he threw down a massive 113.15 miles on a notoriously brutal trail.

What makes Josh’s story completely insane is that Fort Frenzy was only his second ultra ever. After navigating some tough personal times, Josh set a wild goal to run a 100-mile race every single month—and he’s actually doing it. We talk about the steep learning curve of trail elevation, battling recurring rhabdo, and a recent, wild experience at the Matakwa 24 where he got bit by a baby copperhead at 11:00 PM, went to the ER, left against medical advice, and came straight back to the trail to finish the race and grab his buckle. We also deconstruct his performance at Blackbeard, where he threw down a spectacular 14-hour hundred on pure asphalt, proving he has the elite speed to completely mix it up with the top tier of the sport.

This week on the Dirt & Vert Podcast we have a guest who is redefining what it means to go the distance—Cody Taylor. Cody’s path is wild: he went from being a touring, major-label new metal drummer to a full-time endurance athlete and coach.

If you think a standard 100-mile race is tough, try dropping yourself onto a 550-mile trail completely unsupported—carrying a 50-plus pound pack, filtering your own water, and surviving a 50-hour push with nothing but a pocket full of pepperoni and zero sleep. We dive deep into his record-breaking FKTs on the Bruce Trail and the International Appalachian Trail, the brutal learning curve of packing a heavy bag incorrectly, and what it’s like to battle raw hallucinations and panic attacks in the deep backcountry. This conversation is a true masterclass in grit, constant self-reinvention, and what happens when you step up to a starting line with absolutely nothing to prove.

We are just two weeks out from Father's Day weekend, and that means it's time for a family reunion at the notorious Mid-State Mile in Franklin, Tennessee. To get our runners mentally locked in, we sit down with two legendary champions who know exactly what it takes to survive the "murder mile": Aaron Dana and Eric Kienle.

This conversation is a total masterclass for anyone stepping onto this course for the first time. Aaron and Eric strip away the illusions of the race on paper and dive straight into the brutal reality of the trail—the steep incline of Myers, the technical quad-burning descents, and the thick canopy that traps 90-degree heat and humidity deep into the night. We deconstruct our own fumbles from year two, trade notes on time-saving gear hacks like elastic Caterpie laces, and talk about how to mentally manage a strict 20-minute loop without letting a pity party or false strength from other runners take you out of the game.

This week on the Dirt & Vert Podcast, we are bringing you a heavy-hitting episode packed with prestige, mindset, and some serious backyard ultra strategy. Hosts David and Matt are joined by two of the absolute animals on the USA Backyard Ultra team: the legendary Harvey Lewis and the powerhouse Mark Dowdle.

Fresh off their massive battle at the BPN Last Man Standing event, Harvey and Mark are joining forces—and going head-to-head—at Tennessee’s notorious Mid-State Mile in Franklin. They dive deep into why they are stepping out of their comfort zones to face 340 feet of grueling elevation gain per loop, how they handle the intense external pressure of media-heavy races, and the specific mental shifts required when the quitting mindset starts sounding reasonable.

Mark shares his transition from college lacrosse to running after being inspired by a David Goggins podcast, while Harvey reflects on his incredible longevity in the sport, having run ultras longer than Mark has been alive. We deconstruct the unique format of Mid-State—where you have a strict 20 minutes to complete 340 feet of elevation gain and loss—and exchange veteran advice on managing body temperature in 90% humidity. From Harvey's 3-minute classroom naps to Mark's relentless "Calendar Club" training blocks, this conversation is a masterclass in locking down your mental game and building a bulletproof crew.