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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!!
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- 2 weeks ago1h 22m
Accept Defeat & Take A Seat: Harvey Lewis and Mark Dowdle Face Tennessee's Brutal Mid-State Mile
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.
- 3 weeks ago49 min
Build and Event with Heart: How to Start Your First 5k/10k
We get a lot of questions about how to get into race directing, how to host fundraisers for charity, and what it actually takes to put on your very first 5K or 10K. In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, David, Matt, and Mike Taylor break it all down into a simple, high-level roadmap. We start the day catching up on Mike and Matt's longest 50K ever at the Stump Jump anniversary race—a beautiful, well-marked course where they threw up a thousand times, survived on green and red Gatorade, and battled some classic race director lies about the actual distance to the next aid station. Then, we dive into the nitty-gritty of race directing. From navigating monthly city agenda permits and securing liability insurance policy to choosing a major hosting platform like RunSignUp and finding a local photographer to capture the memories, we share the fumbles we went through so you don't have to.
- May 14, 20261h 22m
Desert Dust & No Rules: The Speed Project with Whitney & Peter
What happens when a group of six runners—some of whom just met—piles into an RV to run 340 miles through the desert? Whitney Dancaster and Peter Haggemeier take us inside their recent journey through The Speed Project. In this episode, we learn how the team navigated the "OG Route," alternating 10K segments while battling extreme winds and high-desert heat. Peter and Whitney discuss the intense bond formed in the "Petri dish" of a cramped RV, the surrealism of seeing the Vegas lights after two days of effort, and the unique challenges of self-crewing a race where the only rule is to just keep moving.
- May 6, 20261h 20m
10 Hours Faster: Rachel Entrekin Improving at Cocodona 250 and a Story About Icy Hot....
What does it look like to have 107 races and 104 trophies? For Rachel Entrekin, it looks like a duffel bag full of hardware under the bed and a life recently transformed by professional running contracts. In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, we sit down with Rachel to discuss her transition from a Doctor of Physical Therapy to a full-time professional athlete. Rachel takes us through her "prolific" racing schedule, her shift from road marathons to the mountain trails of Colorado, and the incredible 10-hour improvement she made at Cocodona 250 just by fixing her fueling strategy. She also shares one of the most harrowing (and hilarious) "rookie mistake" stories in ultra history involving a heat wave, a bad case of chafing, and a very poorly timed application of Icy Hot. Key TakeawaysThe Pro Pivot: How Rachel leveraged her success in 2025 to sign professional contracts and leave her 40-hour PT job. The Cocodona Breakthrough: A deep dive into how she shaved 10 hours off her time through better fueling and altitude training. The Multi-Day Mindset: Lessons from Matt Shepard on why you should sleep when you're tired rather than sticking to a rigid plan. Gear & Humility: Why she traded Old Navy shorts for technical gear like Teregnota and Norda to survive the triple-digit distances. The "Why": Why Rachel runs "because her life is too easy," using the sport as a practice ground for resilience.
- May 2, 20261h 16m
From High-Stress to High-Performance: Sierra DeGroff’s Life Pivo
What happens when you trade the high-stress world of Tesla for a career in Sales Engineering? For Sierra DeGroff, it meant finding the mental space to become one of the most dominant forces in the ultra-running community.In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, we sit down with the 2026 Umstead 100 Female Champion to deconstruct her journey from a Michigan track athlete to the top of the ultra podium. Sierra gets real about her transition from the marathon distance to the grueling world of 100-milers, sharing the "nitty-gritty" of her Umstead race strategy and the nutrition plan that kept her fueled for a first-place finish. We explore the central theme of her career: how improving her work-life balance didn't just make her happier—it made her faster.
- Apr 26, 20261h 22m
10,000 Feet of Humility: Kirk Cherep on Knobstone and Trail Golf
Most ultra runners encounter their toughest moments when the race pushes them to the limit—and Kirk Cherep’s story is no different. From a lightning-fast win in his first ultra to a heartbreaking DNF at the grueling No Business 100, Kirk’s journey is a vivid reminder that in this sport, humility is part of the adventure.In this candid episode, the founder of Trailblazer Running shares the "nitty-gritty" of race strategy, the wrestler-to-runner pipeline, and the insider secrets to creating community-driven races in Indiana. We dive into the unique challenge of a "Trail Golf" ultra—where strokes matter more than time—and how to manage the staggering 10,000 feet of elevation gain at the Knobstone 50. Whether you’re chasing your first 50K or dreaming of a hundred-miler, Kirk’s insights on mental toughness and technical race design provide the ultimate blueprint for the modern trail runner.
- Apr 3, 20261h 0m
Killing the Death March: How Jeremy Bohnett Smashed His 100-Mile Best
This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we welcome back Jeremy Bohnett, the Co-Founder of Hyperlyte Liquid Performance, fresh off a massive podium finish and a new Personal Best at the Run Love It 100. Jeremy takes us inside the race where everything finally "clicked." We break down the specific muscular endurance workouts that paved the way for his success and how he balances the "Triple Threat" of elite training, high-stakes entrepreneurship, and family life. Jeremy also gives us an exclusive first look at the future of Hyperlyte, including the development of their highly anticipated high-carb gels and flavor-neutral formulations. Whether you’re looking to kill the "death march" at mile 80 or want to hear how a viral documentary sparked a brand explosion, this conversation is packed with actionable gear, grit, and gains.
- Mar 21, 20261h 9m
The Appalachian Trail Reset: Katie’s Path to Mental Clarity & Finding Ultras
This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we are sitting down with Katie, an athlete whose endurance resume is as diverse as it is impressive. From the structured intensity of collegiate rowing and professional triathlons to the rugged freedom of the Appalachian Trail, Katie has seen it all. We dive into how she navigated high-level burnout to find her passion again in the trail and ultra world—culminating in her unique (and digestive-defying) victory at the Taco Bell 50K. Katie breaks down how she balanced a "Fourth Meal" with race-pace miles, the lessons she carried off the AT, and why she’s traded the Ironman asphalt for the dirt of the upcoming Arizona Trail. Whether you're looking for professional training insights or just want to hear how one survives a 31-mile burrito run, this episode is a masterclass in versatility.
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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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