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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.
- 1 weeks ago1h 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.
- 2 weeks ago1h 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.
- Aug 8, 20261h 29m
Running as Life: Aaron Saft on Misogis, 200-Milers, and Failing Forward
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 TakeawaysBefore 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.
- Aug 2, 20261h 52m
Two-Time Cherokee Ultra 130K Double Buckle Finisher: Aden Rogers on Suffering and Moving Forward
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.
- Jul 25, 20261h 18m
Allowing Pain and Joy to Coexist: Kristen Soinski on Overcoming Grief Through Ultras
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.
- Jul 11, 20261h 16m
100 Miles a Month: Josh LaCrone’s Blueprint for Constant Grind
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.
- Jun 25, 202659 min
No Cheerleaders, No Crew: Cody Taylor on the Unhinged Reality of Unsupported FKTs
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.
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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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