Claim OwnershipBut also… Trail running podcast
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We discuss the ridiculousness that is trail and ultra running
24 Episodes
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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 fueling, community support on the trail, and facing risks like allergies and the surreal moments that come with ultra-distance running.
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 through running and advocacy, and how Marcy moved forward with resilience.
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 spirit behind the event.
They close with reflections on the aftermath, travel delays, and the humor of making — and surviving — terrible life choices.
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 realities of high-mileage training, injury, and race-day chaos. The episode highlights how running became a tool for connection, stress relief, and reinvention.
Through stories of club camaraderie, volunteer races, and milestone moments like turning 50, the pair celebrate the emotional side of running and finding joy beyond PRs.
Host Celeste Fong sits down with Michael Lo Presti to trace his running journey from a late '90s start to 141 marathons and ultras, the discovery of a birth defect and aortic aneurysm, and his open-heart surgery and recovery.
Together they discuss his return to endurance racing—including six-day and multi-day loop events—tattoos as storytelling, the supportive running community, and his message to "live urgently."
Host Celeste Fong and her crew of 'idiots' deliver an adult-only, irreverent end-of-year recap covering proud accomplishments, disappointments, and favorite race memories.
They talk first ultras, finishing 169 towns, Notchview, HamsterWheel, Niagara plans, training goals for 2026, and plenty of offbeat, hilarious behind-the-scenes stories.
Host Celeste Rong talks with Rick Amernick about the two-decade history of the DC Capital Striders, their focus on giving back, and the community they built through group runs, volunteering, charity events, shoe demos, and partnerships.
The episode covers memorable races, volunteer programs, holiday and scavenger runs for charity, how to join or start local group runs, and the real-life stories of runners whose lives were changed by the club.
Host Celeste Fong interviews Rick Amernick, founder of the DC Capital Striders, about the group's rise from a local meetup to a multi-location running community. They cover the shift into trail running, North Face training, ultramarathon experiences, and the Wolfpack trail faction.
The episode also focuses on the group's charity work — the Holiday Lights Run, the Amazing Race events, volunteering and partnerships — and reflects on the deep community impact and plans for the 20th anniversary.
Host Celeste Fong talks with Rick Amernick, founder of the DC Capital Striders, about how a chance Meetup listing in 2006 grew into a large running community and 501(c)(3). Rick recounts early runs on the National Mall, expanding to DuPont and trail runs, partnerships with brands and organizers, and fundraising efforts like a Haiti benefit race.
The episode highlights community-building through running, learning the sport as an adult, and how small actions turned into lasting impact, incorporating both trail culture and charitable initiatives by 2009.
We discuss the chaotic, hilarious, and heartfelt moments from the Hamster Wheel 30‑hour race in New Boston, NH.
We share stories of 100‑mile finishes, severe cold and hypothermia scares, top‑notch aid‑station food, crew and pacer heroics, costumes and shenanigans, and the strong community support that helped runners hit big goals.
Host Celeste Fong talks with ultra runner John Calabrese about trail and ultra racing — the highs, the DNFs, the gear, and the tight-knit (sometimes cult-like) running community.
The conversation also wanders into food and film: pizza and competitive-eating dreams, favorite horror movies like The Blair Witch Project, true-crime and cult anecdotes, and the strange, hilarious moments that happen on and off the trails.
Celeste and Danielle recount a 50th birthday road trip through Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce — full of side‑quests, wildlife encounters, brutal climbs, and nonstop laughter.
They share highlights, mishaps, and practical tips from Emerald Pools to the Narrows and Bryce’s hoodoos, celebrating the freedom of doing epic, unplanned adventures with a great travel buddy.
Host Celeste Fong talks with ultrarunner Taylor Verville and her pacer Mike Martineau about Taylor’s recent Devil’s Den 30-hour race in Bradford, Vermont — her course-record performance (about 89 miles), pacing strategies, nutrition, temperature swings, and lessons from a past collapse at Notchview.
The episode explores both runner and pacer perspectives, the race community and charity behind the event, upcoming goals like reaching 100 miles, and the mental approach Taylor uses to stay focused: forward movement, fuel, and hydration.
Host Celeste Fong sits down with Joey Thompson to discuss his transformation through running — from weight loss and coping with his mother’s death to sobriety and pushing to 100 miles at Notchview.
They talk honestly about burnout, depression, anxiety, the healing power of community on the trails, and how showing up can help you find your love of running again.
Joey also shares his upcoming goal of running Sedona Canyons 125 for charity and how the support of friends and the trail community keeps him moving forward.
Veteran sports reporter Lori Riley sits down with Celeste Fong to share her journey from print newsrooms to the trails, covering UConn, high school sports, and memorable local runners. They discuss how running changed her life, the evolution of women’s sports, and the personal stories that make reporting meaningful.
Listen for candid reflections on locker-room culture, reporting challenges in the digital age, uplifting race day characters, and emotionally charged topics like transgender youth in sports.
Host Celeste Fong records live on the trails at the Notchview Invitational, capturing on-course chaos, cheering, and candid conversations with runners like Anna, Celeste, Newt, Taylor, Claire, Marcus, and Linda.
This episode weaves race memories, origin stories, late-night antics, and the deep sense of community that fuels ultrarunning, all delivered with humor and unfiltered honesty.
Greg Mathai (aka Walter) joins me with a great conversation about how running replaced long-term smoking and drinking, how his wife helped save his life, and how he fell into ultras later in life.
Host Celeste Fong chats with longtime friend Rick Shoup about his running journey, epic Ragnar experiences (including running 12 in a year), creative pandemic-era stadium ultras, and his love for outrageous eating challenges. They reminisce about memorable races, weather curses, and the tight-knit running community that keeps drawing them back.
Expect candid, adult conversations with humor, race stories, and plenty of appetite — both for miles and meals.
This young lady schools me on determination, persistence and strength. If Cassie is representative of the next generation of ultra runners, our sport will be in good hands.
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