Cultra Trail Running

Our weekly podcast shares the unique perspective of the North East, Beast Coast Ultra running scene: raw, impulsive, and irreverent. The Cultra Trail Running Podcast is a place where we can get together and discuss all the fun stuff that happens on the trails that most normal people don't care about. Join the Cult! or maybe you already have without realizing it... resistance is futile.

363: Eastern States 100 Carnage & the Next Generation 08/15/2026

363: Eastern States 100 Carnage & the Next Generation This week on Cultra, we’re digging into a brutal Eastern States 100, reflecting on our marathon-length conversation with Camille Herron, and looking ahead to one of the most exciting young runners on the East Coast. Eastern States delivered the kind of race that separates the merely enthusiastic from the completely unreasonable. With hot conditions pushing the DNF rate to roughly 54.5%, only 55 runners made it to the finish. And leading the women and first finisher overall was Kaylee Frederick, who put together an extraordinary 23:09 finish to set a new women’s course record and become the first woman to break 24 hours at Eastern States. Naturally, we need to talk to her. How about next episode? We’re also looking back at our recent three-hour conversation with Camille Herron. What started as an interview turned into a fascinating exploration of competition, neurodiversity, ADHD, hyperfocus, records, rules, and how easily people can misunderstand someone whose brain works differently. We get into the differences between competition on the track, trails, and at races like Badwaterand why some of Camille’s controversial questions about records may have had more substance behind them than people realized. Plus: The Eastern States 100 carnage Kaylee Frederick’s historic performance Kaylee’s incredible East Coast résumé The youngest finisher at Badwater Jigger Johnson and trail-race talk Anna’s Bald Face Loop adventure Art’s trail maintenance adventures on the Old Osseo Trail Phred’s seemingly endless running streak Creatine, protein bars, bicarbonate and other ultra-runner science Getting older, getting slower, and pretending we’re not John Kelly’s Appalachian Trail attempt Colorado heat, smoke and water restrictions Another episode of the Cultra Trail Running Podcast where somehow we manage to talk about elite ultrarunning, trail maintenance, supplements, aging, technology and Patreon before remembering that we were supposed to be talking about a race. Get your official at our store! Outro music by Become a basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Don't watch this with your kids Buy Fred's Book More Information on the /episode/index/show/cultratrailrunning/id/42446000

362: Camille Herron Beyond Records 08/06/2026

361: Jackassing Into Vermont 100 07/10/2026

360: Amber Constant, White Mountains, Black Flies and 3.65 Million Ft of Vert 07/04/2026

359: CUT112 Training Bras 06/22/2026

359: CUT112 Training Bras This week on Cultra, we sit down with Jillian Ellefson and Cherie Bilbie to talk about the unofficial women's movement that took shape around the Connecticut Ultra Traverse 112 (CUT112). What started with a simple Facebook post quickly grew into a community of 26 women and 16 supporters, all committed to helping each other tackle one of the toughest adventures on the Beast Coast. Anna G takes the lead as Jillian and Cherie share how they approached training with precision and purpose, spending six months breaking the route into manageable 12-20 mile segments until they had covered—and in many cases repeated—the entire course. Their strategy wasn't just about fitness; it was about learning every rock, climb, and road crossing that CUT112 could throw at them. Now they are looking to replicate their success and get more women lined up for next year's event. The conversation also explores the emotional side of ultrarunning. Jillian opens up about balancing race preparation while supporting her daughter through a hospitalization for an eating disorder, and how the encouragement and companionship of Cherie helped her continue pursuing what once seemed impossible. Along the way, the crew dives into: -Building confidence by training on specific sections of the course. -Why places like Tariffville deserve your respect before race day. -The mental game of taking on a 112-mile journey with no hard time cutoffs. -The power of community and women supporting women in trail running. -Why sometimes the best training plan is simply showing up for each other. It's an inspiring conversation about resilience, friendship, and proving that impossible goals become achievable when shared with the right people. So grab your favorite trail snack, adjust your training bra (or don't), and join us for another gloriously impulsive episode from the belly of the Beast Coast. Join the Facebook Get your official at our store! Outro music by Become a basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Don't watch this with your kids Twitter Buy Fred's Book More Information on the #CUT112 #TrailRunning #Ultrarunning #Cultra #BeastCoast #WomenWhoRun #NewEnglandTrail #NoSleepTillGuilford /episode/index/show/cultratrailrunning/id/41729510

358: Lila Gaudrault’s Cocodona 250 No-Plan Plan 06/11/2026

358: Lila Gaudrault’s Cocodona 250 No-Plan Plan AFB, Anna-G, Josh and Phred welcome back ultrarunner, hospice nurse, and Vermont mountain crusher Lila Gaudrault back to the Cultra Trail Running Podcast to break down her experience at the legendary Cocodona 250. Lila takes us deep into the Arizona suffering machine, explaining how she showed up to a 250-mile race with a surprisingly loose game plan, then spent the better part of the first half battling nausea, dehydration, and the reality that 250 miles is a very long way to travel on foot. We talk about sleep deprivation, hallucination-adjacent trail weirdness, crew and pacer support, and the problem-solving mindset required when you're three days into a race and still have mountains to climb. The conversation explores how Cocodona differs from 100-milers, why the atmosphere at 200+ mile races feels more collaborative than competitive, and what Lila learned about managing fatigue, recovery, and the physical toll of multi-day events. We also dive into the science of gender differences in ultrarunning, pacing strategies, and the unique culture that develops when everyone is equally exhausted. Along the way, we discuss * Cocodona 250 race recap * Sleep strategy and managing fatigue * Nausea, dehydration, and race-day troubleshooting * Crew and pacer support in 200+ mile races * Hallucinations and sleep deprivation * Gender dynamics in ultrarunning * Vermont 100 and Backyard Ultras * Balancing hospice nursing and elite ultrarunning * Future race plans and FKTs * The upcoming CUT112 fundraiser for Connecticut Forest & Parks A four-day journey through the Arizona desert, countless lessons learned, and proof that sometimes the best race plan is figuring it out one aid station at a time. Subscribe to Lil’s Substack “ 0 Get your official at our store! Outro music by Become a basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Don't watch this with your kids Twitter Buy Fred's Book More Information on the /episode/index/show/cultratrailrunning/id/41610385

357: Take 2 Trail at The Spring Fling 10 Hour with Jess Parker 05/15/2026

356: Best Selling Author Martin Dugard The Long Run: Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit, Greta Waitz, and the Decade That Made the Marathon Cool. 05/06/2026

355: Boston Marathon Bulldogs Live 04/24/2026

354: Traprock 50k Live 04/19/2026

354: Traprock 50k Live This episode was recorded live at the Traprock 50K in Bloomfield Connecticut home of Penwood State Forest. This race is the first in the 12 race blue blaze series where runners will compete for the overall series prize. This is indirect support of Connecticut Forest & Parks Association, the group that is responsible for protecting and maintaining the over 825 miles of blue blaze trails in the state of Connecticut. If you're not from Connecticut, perhaps you have your own trail stewards and hopefully you were able to support them. Because, after all, SUPPORT is good. During this episode, we get to speak to the gentleman who coordinates all of these races in the Blue Blaze Series, Paul Ladd. We also speak to RD Director, Karen Prado, and the top finishers in the 17 K as well including two fast dudes from Brooklyn, Calvin Cameron, and Greg Cartelli, The Beast Coast’s own Kristin Loiko who is good Friends with VT100 RD Amy Ruesecki. As well as Kara Goucher, whoops, I mean Kara Mcknight. Then we get a talking to the fast cats of the 50k, Matt Pacheco, Ben Niebla and running legend Brian Rusiecki. Speaking of legends, Kehr Davis is back along with young gun 19 year old Maddie Kaplan. So many Cultra Personalities at this event, and it was great to work the aid station and hang out with this great community. Kudos to The CT Trail Mixers for carrying the great tradition of this rust busting spring race. Speaking of KUDOs, Hundo Joe was also there, as it is typical for him to volunteer, and hang out. After a Patreon roll call we have prepared a very special song in tribute to Hundo Joe’s uncanny ability to give and keep track of KUDOS. So please be sure to listen for this at the end of the episode. Get your official at our store! Outro music by Become a basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Don't watch this with your kids Twitter Sign up for a race at and feel better Buy Fred's Book More Information on the /episode/index/show/cultratrailrunning/id/40925715

353: Liz Derstine Music on the PCT Ridgeline 04/06/2026

352: Vermont 100 Beast Coast Trail Running Stories with Amy Rusiecki 03/27/2026

352: Vermont 100 Beast Coast Trail Running Stories with Amy Rusiecki Anna, Fred, Josh, and AFB sit down with Amy Rusiecki, the longtime race director of the legendary Vermont 100 Endurance Run. Amy shares the behind-the-scenes realities of directing one of the oldest 100-mile races in the country and how she ended up becoming one of the most respected organizers in the sport. If you love a great story, you’ve stumbled into a whole pasture of them, like opening the gate and finding the World’s Largest Cow waiting for you. Amy talks about her early days in endurance sports, how she transitioned from competitive XC skier and ultrarunner to race director, and the complicated logistics of managing hundreds of runners, horses, volunteers, and aid stations across rural Vermont. The group dives into the balancing act of preserving the history and culture of the Vermont 100 while adapting to the modern ultrarunning world. So many great stories! The conversation also covers the volunteer ecosystem that keeps ultras alive, the unique runner-horse dynamic at VT100, how races survive in an era of permits and land management challenges, and why community is still the heart of the sport. Amy shares how The Vermont 100 Endurance Run has long supported a nonprofit that provides year-round sports and recreation opportunities for people with disabilities. Proceeds from the race help fund adaptive programs like skiing, cycling, paddling, and trail running throughout Vermont. Of course, it wouldn’t be Cultra without some tangents along the way, gear talk, race directing war stories, and the usual Northeast trail running chaos. Amy also reflects on what makes the Vermont 100 special, what runners often don’t see behind the curtain, and why the race continues to matter to so many people in the ultrarunning community. If you’ve ever run, volunteered at, or dreamed about the Vermont 100, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most iconic races in the sport, and the origin story of Cultra Learn more about how to support Get your official at our store! Intro music by Become a basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Don't watch this with your kids Sign up for a race at and feel better Buy Fred's Book More Information on the /episode/index/show/cultratrailrunning/id/40644175

351 Time Warp, Umstead 100 and Patreon Barbershop 03/22/2026

350: Guitar Playing in the Orange Mud with Josh Sprague 03/12/2026

349: Weighted Vest Ski Jumping at Black Canyon 100K 02/20/2026

348: The Real King of Pain in The Frozen Heart 900 02/13/2026

347: Hot Takes on AMC Winter School with Martin Janoschek 02/06/2026

346: How to Become a Lifelong Runner & Olympic Skimo in The Burrito League 01/31/2026

345: Ty Gagne: Risk, Rescue, and Decision-Making in the Whites 01/18/2026

344: Across The Years Nap Tents, Plus Part 1 of Gearing up for Winter Running in the Northeast 01/06/2026

343: CUT112 and Cultra's New Digs in The Whites 12/26/2025

342: Golden Tips on Coaching High School XC and Ultra Running 11/04/2025

341: Jared Beasley on The Endurance Artist and Life with Laz 10/11/2025

340: AFB and Phred Trash Patreon, Honor Jack LaLane, The Corn Palace and the Spam Museum 10/07/2025

339: Andrew Drummond White Mountains 100 Community Builder 09/20/2025

338 New England Races and Patreon Love 09/11/2025

338 New England Races and Patreon Love AFB and Evil Becky are back with a full plate of races, mountain lore, and more than a few tangents. If you like your trail chatter served awkwardly with Swedish Fish, this one’s for you. Shan Riggs is at it again!! Race Recaps: We dive into the Cross Connecticut Run for Mental Health Awareness and Macedonia Trailways in Kent, breaking down the 50K, 25K, and 12K finishers like we were there (spoiler: we weren’t). Cats Tail Drama: Evil Becky drops the bomb that she’s skipping Cat’s Tail on her birthday (Sept 27th). Send your condolences in Swedish Fish. Mountain Madness: We talk Notch View Invitational, CT Donut Run, Escarpment, and why you *must* listen to our Dick Vincent episode if you want your trail cred card stamped. Art also tells us how Mount Washington once ate hikers for breakfast back in 1900. Big Trail Feats: Annie Tilden crushes the Bob Marshall Traverse, and Vigo Fish takes on the Desolation Loop in NH. Patreon Love: Our patrons keep this ship running (and stocked with candy). Huge thanks to Angela and the rest of the gang—progress, grit, and support like yours make the show possible. Wisconsin meet-up incoming! College Cross Country: Evil Becky casually name-drops Emily Mayer at a meet, while her sons make a statement at the University of Hartford Invitational by winning races. Because if you’re going to impress a college, might as well take home the W. Community Corner:Judy Proto (yes, the first female NFL kicker), Justin Kowski’s new course record, Laz’s upcoming Barclays Fall Classic, plus encounters with Bill Odendall, Brian Musiak, Celeste Fong, Cherie and Christine A Chin Hing It’s everything you love about Cultra: history, hilarity, and heaps of community love—with a side of Evil Becky eye-rolls. Shan Riggs Learn more about Shan's 1100 mile Run and Medals 4 Meddle Get your official at our store! Outro music by Become a basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Don't watch this with your kids Twitter Sign up for a race at and feel better Buy Fred's Book More Information on the /episode/index/show/cultratrailrunning/id/38184645

337: Dick Vincent: Founder of the Escarpment Trail Run & Longest-Serving Trail Race Director 09/04/2025

336: Are the Adirondacks Tougher Than the Whites? Trail Legends Weigh In 08/31/2025

336: Are the Adirondacks Tougher Than the Whites? Trail Legends Weigh In Krista Petrie and Debbie Clouthier might just be the fastest “slow hikers” you’ll ever meet. Joining forces with West Rock Ramblers Anna G(arsten), Josh Gaetjen, and AFB, these Canadian adventurers bring stories that range from the White Mountains to the Arctic and everywhere in between. We first crossed paths with Krista and Debbie during our Owl’s Head adventure in the Whites, and immediately knew we had to get them on Cultra. We expected good stuff, but at times we were flat-out speechless. The conversation covers it all: Trail running and peak bagging in the Whites and Adirondacks Multi-day treks through Iceland, Nepal, and Patagonia Debbie’s years cooking in the Canadian Arctic, with wolves, wolverines, and the occasional polar bear for company Krista’s transition from competitive soccer to marathon canoe racing—and her not-so-casual run-ins with grizzlies in Kluane National Park Somewhere between wolf attacks, soggy tents, and the classic “mile and a half” sign-off, we also discovered that progressive lenses are apparently mandatory “slide” gear once you hit your 50s. Who knew? Gear nerds, don’t worry, we also get into mountain weather prep, bear safety (Polar, Griz, Black, no Panda) and winter hiking essentials like snowshoes, microspikes, and extra layers. Along the way, we debate Adirondacks vs. Whites, swap stories about unexpected trail meetups, and laugh about why some hikers insist on packing half their house “just in case.” Spoiler alert: the legendary Debbie Clouthier is 73 years old and still hiking circles around the rest of us—even when we’re “running.” Follow Krista on Instagram Check out Follow Links to Get your official at our store! Outro music by Become a basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Don't watch this with your kids Sign up for a race at and feel better Buy Fred's Book More Information on the /episode/index/show/cultratrailrunning/id/38035310

335: The Shenipsit Striders Running Club at 50 Years 08/21/2025

334: Judy Proteau and the Race for the Refuge 08/14/2025

334: Judy Proteau and the Race for the Refuge Episode 334: Judy Proteau and the Race for the Refuge This week we’re joined by the one and only Judy Proteau—ultrarunner, race director, Highland City Strider, kicker for the NFL, and all-around trail badass. Judy’s here to talk about her first year directing the Race for the Refuge, happening September 28th at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, MA. (You bet your ass...abet!)We get into the behind-the-scenes of putting on a race, tribal land permissions, course marking, volunteer wrangling, post-race beer logistics (yes, that’s a thing), and why she’s adding a guided one-mile family walk to the event. We also take a trip down Judy’s running memory lane—from her “oops I gained a few pounds in my 20s” jogs, to her first marathon at Sugarloaf, to her 50K adventures, to finishing her first 100 at Hamster Wheel. You’ll hear about the 48-hour race where she overheated, dropped, then rallied two hours later to finish with twelve seconds to spare. AFB math: 100 miles plus 12 seconds to spare= 112! Her mantras? “Get Rich or Die Trying” and “This is for all the cookies in the cookie jar.” This is a really amazing story! Enough said. Other highlights include: Art adopts a new Siamese kitten named Avery 🐾 (and yes, she’s already podcast famous). Historical tidbits on King Philip’s War and why Sudbury trails are more than just dirt paths. The welcoming vibe of Judy’s Highland City Striders, including their “slow and steady striders” crew and Tuesday muffin runs. Denali 135 dreams, Notch View 200 temptations, and a possible Cultra road trip. This one’s part race preview, part ultra origin story, and part love letter to the trail community. Judy’s enthusiasm is contagious, and we think you’ll want to lace up (or volunteer) after listening. It may be the most fun you can have with your clothes on! Links from the show: Judy’s Instagram: at our store! Outro music by Become a basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Don't watch this with your kids Twitter Sign up for a race at and feel better Buy Fred's Book More Information on the /episode/index/show/cultratrailrunning/id/37825065

Cultra Trail Running

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