Dirt And Vert

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we’re joined by Kayla Fitzgerald, the force behind Palmetto Ultras, whose journey from "hating running" to directing unique endurance events is a masterclass in mental strength and community building.

Kayla gets real about how running started as a rare moment of personal peace amidst parenting responsibilities and quickly evolved into a spontaneous dive into the world of ultras. We d...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're honored to sit down with John Calabrese, an ultra runner whose journey proves that sometimes, the hardest parts of life lead you straight to the starting line!

John opens up about how personal struggles, including a divorce, fueled his passion and led him from the road to the trail. We dive deep into the mental challenges of ultra running, sharing hilarious anecdotes about the halluc...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're honored to welcome the incredible Ashlie! Her story is proof that hard work, meticulous planning, and a little bit of community magic can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Ashlie takes us behind the scenes of her monumental achievement: setting the Pinhoti FKT! We dive into the year-long logistics, the crucial nutrition adjustments, and how she learned to "burn the boats" for total com...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're joining forces with the dynamic Mariah Fields, a remarkable ultra runner who now leads the pack as Race Director for Coyote Ugly Racing!

Mariah takes us on her incredible journey, starting from battling exercise-induced asthma in middle school to finding her strength on the ultra trails after having children. She opens up about the tough lessons learned, including the grueling heat o...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're sitting down with an emerging ultra phenom, Hans Troyer! His journey is a testament to raw talent, resilience, and the power of setting audacious goals.

Hans takes us from his days dreaming of football and basketball to finding his true calling on the trails. He gets real about the lessons learned the hard way—like the early struggles with fueling and hydration—and the remarkable com...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, your hosts David and Matt are pulling back the curtain on the tough lessons and big wins from their latest ultra adventures!

We're diving straight into the deep end, starting with the Yeti 100, where David faced down some serious health issues and learned, once again, that ultra running is less about the legs and more about the fight. Then, Matt brings the good news, sharing his successful...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're honored to have a familiar voice and a cornerstone of our community: Mike Taylor, co-founder of East Coast Adventures!

Mike takes us through his deeply personal and inspiring journey, from his early days in sports to the unexpected moment he dove headfirst into marathons. He opens up about how running became a therapeutic outlet during challenging times, proving that the trails can t...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're lacing up with Richard Abernathy, an avid ultra runner and the visionary Race Director behind Dirty Wolf Racing!

Richard takes us on his incredible journey, which started with a simple competition and evolved into a deep passion for the trails. We dive into the wild world of race directing, covering unique events like the challenging Beast of the East and the brutal Hellhole 100K, wh...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're honored to sit down with Lauren, a remarkable ultra runner whose story is a masterclass in resilience and grit.

Lauren shares her incredible journey from battling a broken ankle to achieving the ultimate dream: qualifying for Team USA! We dive deep into her training philosophy, her harrowing experience in the final miles of a race, and the mental fortitude it takes to push through ex...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're lacing up with the remarkable April Bailey, a former basketball player who found her true calling on the trails and went on to become the first-place female and overall winner of the 2025 Yeti 100!

April shares her powerful and deeply personal journey, opening up about how running became a source of healing after personal loss. She takes us through her transition from the court to th...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're diving into a world of grit, genius, and a little bit of madness with Jared Beasley, a runner and writer who knows a thing or two about chasing demons on the trails.

Jared takes us on his incredible journey from a troubled past to finding his purpose through running and writing. He pulls back the curtain on the enigma himself, Laz, the legendary race director, and shares what it's truly ...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're lacing up with the incredible Katti Jackson, an ultra runner whose journey is a masterclass in resilience and grit. She's coming off an epic run where she won and set the course record at The Cherokee 70K!

Katti's story is proof that you don't need years on the trails to make a name for yourself. She takes us on her wild ride from a DNF in her first 50K to winning the leg...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're lacing up with the remarkable Sarah Baker, an ultra runner whose journey on the Appalachian Trail is a powerful testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the unwavering belief in oneself.

Sarah shares her raw and honest story, revealing the physical and emotional challenges she faced during her attempts to set a Fastest Known Time (FKT). We talk about the brutal realities of the t...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're honored to sit down with a true legend in the ultra running community, Jason Green from the Yeti Trail Runners!

Jason takes us on a deep dive into the heart of the sport, from his own personal journey into ultra running to the wild evolution of the Yeti 100 race. He gets real about the challenges of race directing and the immense joy of creating a welcoming and inclusive space where ever...

He's back! This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're honored to sit down once again with the one and only ultra runner, Andy Glaze. And let me tell you, he’s been busy!

Andy takes us on a wild ride through his latest adventures, from the mind-bending Cocoa Monster to the epic Arizona Monster 300. He gets real about the challenges of solo racing, the crucial art of recovery, and the logistical chaos of preparing for these...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're lacing up with the remarkable Audrey Carter, an accomplished ultra runner from the East Coast Adventures team whose story is all about finding her fire on the trails. She's coming off two incredible podium finishes at The Cherokee Ultra 70K and Fort Frenzy Ultra Festival 24 Hours!

Audrey takes us on a journey from her early days as a soccer player to discovering the world of ultr...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're honored to sit down with the incredible Crystal Wheatley, "Queen of the South," and ultrarunner whose journey is a powerful story of resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of running.

Crystal shares her path from being a competitive 5K runner in high school to facing personal challenges that led her to sobriety. She opens up about how running became her lifeline and her pas...

In this conversation, Addison Hendricks shares his journey as an ultra runner, detailing his early beginnings in running, the challenges he faces with nutrition and recovery, and the mental toughness required for endurance sports. He reflects on memorable race experiences, the lessons learned from his journey, and his aspirations for the future. Addison's story is one of perseverance, growth, and the impact of community support in ...

This week on the Dirt and Vert Podcast, we're joined by an absolute force of nature, Anna Troup! Her story is a testament to the fact that it's never too late to find your calling.

Anna takes us on her incredible journey from a rowing background to becoming a dominant ultra runner who just won the Summer Spine 2025! We'll dive deep into her experiences in legendary races like the UTMB and the brutal Spine, and how she navigates the ...