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Dirt And Vert: Daily Summaries Delivered
by East Coast Adventures
Run, party, repeat! Welcome to the East Coast Adventures Dirt and Vert podcast, where we talk all things running, racing, and training to help you get ready for your next big adventure. Learn from our successes and our failures, and have fun at the same time. Join us right here, every week with inspiring guests who share their captivating tales from the trails. And remember, nobody cares... run faster!!
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days ago1h 43m
Bad Beard Events Race Director Ginny Smith on Chattanooga Trail, Stump Jump 50k and Aravaipa: The Beard Isn't Going Anywhere
Ginny Smith never planned to be a race director. When Rock Creek's owners asked her in Chattanooga, her answer was simple: "No. I just run." A decade later, she's the woman behind Bad Beard Events — and in this episode of the Dirt and Vert podcast, with David Compton & Mike Taylor filling in for Matt, she tells the whole story: how she inherited some of the oldest trail races in the Southeast, and why she's now handing them to Aravaipa Running without letting go of what made them matter.Ginny walks through the wild ownership saga of the Rock Creek race series — from the original owners to Camping World nearly shutting it all down, to her cousin Ted of Gearhead Outfitters stepping in to save it. She explains how a beard logo on the River Gorge race became Bad Beard Events (yes, the irony of a woman running a company with an aggressive beard logo was the point), and what it takes to keep races like Stump Jump — one of the oldest trail races in the country at 27 years — alive across two mountains with no cell service and supplies hauled in by ATV.This is also a masterclass in what race directing actually costs. Ginny talks about running every department of a business by herself, marking the Signal Mountain loop seven times in two days because people kept tearing the flagging down, serving on the SORBA, Trust for Public Land, and Tennessee River Gorge Trust boards, and the fear every race director knows: that one runner's first race experience depends entirely on you. Then she takes the hardest listener question head-on — "Are you a sellout?" — and explains why trusting Jamil Coury and Aravaipa, keeping the races local, keeping prices the same, and staying through 2027 isn't walking away. It's making sure the races outlive her.Whether you're into ultramarathon training, dreaming of directing your own trail race, or you just love the grassroots side of this sport, this conversation is about the people who build the start lines the rest of us get to stand on — and why the finish line hug matters more than the finish time.
- 2 weeks ago1h 15m
Leave Nothing Out There: Sarah June on Failed Expectations, True DNFs, and Finishing 247 Miles
Sarah June didn't grow up a runner. She grew up a gymnast — until doctors thought she'd broken her back and the pain took the fun out of it. After college, she traded cigarettes and late nights for running shoes: every time she craved a smoke, she went for a run instead. Her first goal was a two-mile loop around a lake in Rochester, Minnesota. It took months. Then she accidentally signed up for a trail 5K, placed second without knowing races had places, and got hooked.In this episode of the Dirt and Vert podcast, David and Matt dig into Sarah's evolution from reluctant runner to ultramarathon coach, strength coach, and FKT holder. She opens up about the races that broke her — a Black Canyon 100K DNF in a snowstorm at 47 miles, freezing in 30-degree wind while her watch auto-paused because she was moving too slow to register, and a Mogollon Monster 100 DNF at mile 70 after sitting in an aid station for two and a half hours, out of sodium, spiraling mentally until she called her husband and told him she was broken.But this isn't a sob story. It's a masterclass in the endurance athlete mindset. Sarah talks about the race she's proudest of — Saddles 100, where she pulled herself out of mental lows, battled heat exhaustion, and walked the final ten miles to the finish — and her life-changing 247-mile Maricopa Loop FKT, completed in 84 hours and 17 minutes with an umbrella in 95-degree heat and a crew that never left her side. She breaks down the unsexy details that decide 100-mile races: ultra running nutrition, remembering your sodium capsules, changing your shoes before your feet turn into sausages, lining up pacers early, and why crewing an ultra well matters as much as training for one.Whether you're deep into ultramarathon training, chasing your first FKT, or just trying to understand why anyone runs 100 miles through the mountains, Sarah's story is proof that the outcome you want isn't always the experience you need — and that the experience is what makes you dangerous next time.
- 3 weeks ago1h 52m
When the Brain Just Wants Skittles: Crewing Your Runner with Jason Green & Mary Cates
In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, David, Matt, & Mary are joined by our good friend, fellow race director, and the creative force behind Yeti Trail Runners, Jason Green. With the first-ever joint ECA and Yeti event—the Smoky Mountain 24 Hour Challenge—just around the corner, we sit down to talk about how a shared love for the Appalachian spirit and Dolly Parton sparked the creation of this massive new race. The core of this episode is a complete masterclass in ultra crewing. Drawing from decades of combined experience as both runners and race directors, we break down exactly what not to do when crewing a 100-miler. We talk about the dangers of overloading a fatigued runner with choices, the importance of preloading GPS maps, and why giving your runner too much empathy at mile 80 can end their race. We also dive into the emotional side of the sport, sharing our personal "whys," how hitting rock bottom led us to the trails, and why the ultra community's relentless support is the ultimate antidote to a disconnected world.
- Oct 3, 20261h 23m
You Are Not Invincible: Joey Patoray on Near-Death Experiences and Never Settling
In this episode of the Dirt & Vert trail running podcast, we sit down with ultra runner Joey Patoray to talk about his unbelievable journey into endurance sports. If you are searching for ultramarathon motivation, mindset strategies for overcoming trauma, or tips on running 100-mile races, this episode delivers. After a traumatic construction accident left him fighting for his life in the hospital for 31 days with six surgeries and twelve blood transfusions, Joey went from being unable to walk to the parking lot to finishing the legendary Leadville 100 ultramarathon in under 24 hours. We dive deep into his gritty mindset for endurance training and how he leverages extreme trail running challenges to unplug from life and build resilience. Joey shares the raw reality of pushing the human body to its absolute limit, including running the Georgia Death Race on a fractured foot, surviving the brutal humidity of the Cherokee 130K with three hernias, and crushing a 171-mile PR at a 48-hour timed race. Discover what it takes to stop making excuses and tackle the hardest backyard ultras and point-to-point endurance events on the East Coast and beyond.Inside the Episode, We Break Down:🏥 The Comeback: Fighting back from near-death to running 100-milers and refusing to settle for mediocrity. 🏔️ Leadville vs. Cherokee: Why the brutal humidity, slick rocks, and running with three hernias at the Cherokee 130K made Leadville feel like a breeze. 🦴 Running on Broken Bones: Grinding out 51 miles of the Georgia Death Race on a fractured foot because quitting wasn't an option. ⏱️ Backyard Mindset: Overriding a blown plantar fascia by digging a massage gun into his heel every 4 miles to hit 108 miles—just in time to make it to his kid's birthday party.
- Sep 26, 20261h 46m
The Medicine from the Mountains: Leslie Cockrell on Ultrarunning, Regret, and Building True Strength
In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, Matt and I sit down with an amazing runner, coach, and longtime friend of East Coast Adventures: Leslie Cockrell. We first met Leslie back at the 2023 Fort Frenzy 12-hour, and since then, she has been an absolute fixture in our running community. Leslie takes us through her entire progression—starting out running during COVID, jumping into a 22-mile mountain retreat in Glacier National Park, and diving headfirst into the ultra scene with a 52-miler and two 100-mile finishes in her very first year of racing. We talk about the hard physical lessons learned along the way: fixing severe glute imbalances, navigating waist-deep water in Florida mangrove swamps at the Vero Beach Octopus 50K, and pacing her husband Jeremy through the brutal climbs of the Cherokee 70K. Leslie also gets real about her first DNF at the Great Divide, opening up about the mental traps that convince us to quit, why the regret of stopping hurts ten times worse than the physical pain, and how failing forward gives you the belief to tackle your next 100.Key TopicsLeslie's journey from casual runner to ultra marathonerTraining and race preparation for ultrasLessons learned from race experiences and DNF momentsImportance of community and support in ultra runningHeat training and race day strategiesBalancing personal development and athletic goals Leslie's transition from rodeo to ultrarunningCrewing experiences and lessons learnedThe emotional and physical challenges of ultramarathonsThe importance of community and support in racingHow to handle a DNF and learn from itRace directing and creating positive race experiencesBalancing coaching with personal racing goalsThe mental strategies for endurance sportsThe significance of race environment and organizationLeslie's future race goals and motivations
- Sep 12, 20261h 39m
Suffer to Honor: Brian Baker on Firefighting, Faith, and the Last Man Standing
In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, David & Matt sit down with an absolute grinder, good friend, and recent champion of the Inkom Last Man Standing: Brian Baker. Brian opens up about the road that brought him into this sport. After a devastating 2021 ATV accident on his family farm broke his pelvis, fractured his spine, and claimed the life of his senior firefighter and close friend Pat Mahan, Brian was left battling heavy survivor's guilt. He turned to suffering to cope—first putting his head down to complete a full year of daily CrossFit Hero WODs in Pat's honor, and eventually taking that drive to ultra running, where he found a deeper path to Christ and learned to stop using suffering as a punishment. We dive deep into the brutal reality of the short-loop format at Midstate Mile and Inkom Last Man Standing, where you have to line up every 20 minutes and make the conscious choice to suffer again. Brian shares his massive progression from 70 miles at Midstate Mile in 2025 to throwing down 127.6 miles over 39 hours and 40 minutes at Inkom Last Man Standing to take the overall win. We break down the danger of the "micro-quit" on the climbs, how an impromptu crew of friends helped him stay in the fight, and the raw emotion of taking that solo victory lap knowing the work finally paid off.
- Sep 3, 20261h 31m
Listening When Your Body Speaks: Keith Overbay on A Collapsed Lung, 100-Milers, and Problem Solving
In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, Matt and I sit down with a longtime friend in the Southeast trail community, and two-time No Business 100 finisher, Keith Overbay. Keith’s journey is one a lot of us can relate to—starting out in his 30s to get back into shape after a divorce, finding the trail community through Nashville's Dirtbags group, and eventually tackling brutal 100-milers like No Business and Cruel Jewel. But earlier this year, Keith went through something none of us saw coming. While casually riding his bike through Nashville to cheer on friends at the marathon, he felt a bad side stitch that turned out to be a spontaneous collapsed lung. We dive deep into Keith’s medical scare, the reality of having a tube put in your chest and getting surgery to rough up lung tissue, and the patience it takes to rebuild after back-to-back setbacks. We also talk about the mental grit required to survive 32 hours of hallucinations on a 100-mile course, learning to stop making excuses during 24-hour loops, and why ultra running is the single greatest tool for emotional growth and problem solving.Key TakeawaysFinding the Outlet: How a life pivot and divorce in Keith’s 30s sparked a return to running that eventually led straight into the ultra community. The Spontaneous Pneumothorax: The wild story of riding a bike, feeling what seemed like a minor cramp, and ending up in the ER with a collapsed lung requiring surgery and chest tubes. Listening to Your Body: Recognizing when something isn't normal pain, trusting your gut, and seeking medical care before a bad situation turns deadly. Hallucinations at Mile 80: What happens to the mind after 30 hours in the woods—from imaginary hot dog carts to seeing pirate ship masts in the trees. Problem Solving for 30 Hours: Keith’s perspective on why ultra running isn't just physical—it’s an ongoing test in staying patient, troubleshooting issues, and keeping a positive mindset. No Business 100: Looking back at the grit, weather, and deep relationships that make finishing a mountain 100 so meaningful
- Aug 21, 20262h 0m
Grit, Grace, and the Cherokee: Taylor Williams on Facing the Unknown
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. Key TakeawaysThe Cherokee Experience: What it truly takes to prepare for and face 10,000+ feet of climb in the middle of summer humidity. 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. 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. 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.
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About Dirt And Vert
Run, party, repeat! Welcome to the East Coast Adventures Dirt and Vert podcast, where we talk all things running, racing, and training to help you get ready for your next big adventure. Learn from our successes and our failures, and have fun at the same time. Join us right here, every week with inspiring guests who share their captivating tales from the trails. And remember, nobody cares... run faster!!
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