Episodes
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Summary
In this episode of the Roots Running Podcast, hosts Sean Cate and Alva Ferguson discuss their personal updates, including Al's house purchase and the busy summer racing season. They recap the Burning River race, highlighting Sean's experience and the lessons learned from the event.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome Back and Life Updates
02:44 Summer Racing Recap
05:26 Ultra Running Highlights
08:16 Upcoming Races and Personal Goals
10:54 Injury and Recovery Discussion
12:53 Burning River 50 mile Race Experience
38:00 Lessons Learned and Future Outlook
45:15 Shoe Reviews and Gear Insights
56:58 Shoutouts and Upcoming Events
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Al and Sean hop on for rundown to process everything that transpired during this years highly anticipated WSER 100. The boys cover the mens and women's top ten, notable DNF's and drama. Also covered on the episode was news regarding John Kelly's FKT attempt, Phil Gore's new Backyard Ultra WR (117 yards) as well as thoughts and predictions for the classic upcoming Hardrock 100.
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Missing episodes?
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Sean and Al bringing you a preview of WSER 100 from the viewpoint of our beast coast favorites, notable east coast alumni racing on the big stage, and speculation on top men and women, potential outcomes plus all the drama leading up to this year’s race. We cannot wait to see how this most competitive 100 in North American plays out in just a few hours. If you enjoyed the show be sure to give us a review and a follow!
Thanks for listening,
-A&S
00:00 Intro to Western States
01:55 Jim's statement on the Singletrack Interview
05:35 Injured List
08:11 Women's Race Predictions
10:43 Tara Dower and Courtney Dauwaulter
20:58 Dan Green Sponsorship Opportunities
26:37 Predictions for Men and Women's Podium
31:12 The Growing Popularity of Broken Arrow
33:07 Who has Record-Breaking Potential
35:05 Unbreakable and Unbreakable Two
36:54 Underrated Athletes
45:31 Hans Troyer 100-Mile Debut
47:53 Decision Making in 100 Milers
49:49 Most Likely to DNF
52:19 Who is DNF-Proof
54:36 Potential Surprises in the Race
58:24 Future of Trail Running Media
01:02:36 Excitement for Upcoming Races
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Tanner Hoffarth jumped on the show this week give us the lowdown on the biggest city on the East Coast. The boys discuss Tanner's journey into trail running in New York City, the rise of running clubs, and how brand's use activations and events to test gear in NYC long before hitting the market. We learned all about the Soutbound 400, a relay from Canada to NYC and thoughtful dialogue about relationship between professional athlete and runfluencer. If you enjoyed the episode please follow the show, share it with a friend, and stick around, lots of exciting things coming for Roots.
Until next time,
-A&S
00:00 The New York Running Scene
07:40 The Origin of Run Clubs
10:28 Brand Activations
17:30 Fashion and Style in Running
28:18 Understanding Miler and other Emerging Brands
31:03 Upcoming Trends in Running Fashion
38:49 Innovative Brands Shaping the Future of Running Gear
52:22 The Southbound 400 Relay
trail running, ultra running, New York City, run clubs, brand activations, running fashion, community, Lululemon, Miler, Satisfy, trail running, fashion, Southbound 400, backyard ultras, running activation events, gear,
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Welcome to the Roots Trail and Ultra Running podcast! This week's guest, Lila Gaudrault, is a rising star in the New England trail scene. at just 22 years old and fresh out of a rigorous bachelors of nursing from University of New England, Lila opted out of running at a NCAA Division 1 program to focus on her true passion, trail and ultra running. After tying for 2nd place at the Vermont 100 last year (overall) Lila has been on a tear. On this episode we discussed all her favorite NE races, how she approaches training, the east coast trail running scene in general, and her decision not to move to Boulder after graduating and moving to a rural town in Vermont instead. If you enjoyed this episode please drop a review for the show, give us a follow, and share with whoever you think might enjoy the conversation. Big thanks to Lila and good luck on your NCLEX!
Chapters
03:03 Growing Up in Maine and the Running Community
06:00 Transitioning to Ultra Running
11:57 Upcoming Races and Training for Old Dominion
18:01 Iconic New England Races and Future Goals
21:00 Balancing Nursing School and Ultra Running
52:22 Preparing for Cocodona
01:07:46 Why Vermont 100 is Special
01:10:00 Race Experience and Community
01:12:02 Solo Racing vs. Crew Support
01:21:55 Cocodona and Future Aspirations
01:23:49 Navigating Expectations and Decisions
01:27:01 Lila's Substack
New England, Lila Gaudrault, running community, training, races, family support, challenges, experiences, East Coast, mental strength, race preparation, growth, running culture, competition, Vermont 100, ultra running, training, Cocodona, writing,
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Sean and (back so soon!) guest host Ken Seal jump on for an episode of the Roots Rundown, a general conversation about the most significant trail and ultra news on the East Coast covering topics like John Kelly's ongoing Appalachian Trail FKT, Virginia's Old Dominion 100 which just took place, a race recap of Sunapee Scramble, and Ken's thoughts on what makes Substack such an excellent media platform.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Collaboration Dynamics
02:36 Air Quality and Environmental Concerns
05:06 John Kelly's FKT Attempt
07:36 What Makes John's Attempt Different Than Prior AT FKTs
10:11 John Kelly's Unique Background
12:52 What Makes The Appalachian Trail So Hard
20:56 Future FKT Attempts and Competition
23:39 Podcast Direction and Vision Casting
24:38 The East Coast Trail Running Landscape
26:21 East Coast Athletes We Have Eyes On
28:38 Training Viability on the East Coast
30:48 Spotlight on Emerging Talent
36:12 Race Recaps and Insights
50:57 Cirque Series
54:57 Old Dominion 100: A Classic Race Overview
01:01:09 Substack and the Future of Trail Running Media
John Kelly, FKT, Appalachian Trail, Cirque Series, sky running, Sunapee Scramble, air quality,, East Coast athletes, mountain running, trail magic, trail running, live streaming, race strategies, women's running, youth trail running, Old Dominion 100, Substack, ultra running
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A couple months ago I (Sean) noticed a perfectly curated, simple instagram post recapping all the major ultra running events from the previous weekend. A couple clicks later I found myself on Substack reading the full edition of The Ultra Minute, a newsletter written and curated by Ken Seals. Ken was gracious enough to join us for a conversation about creating an audience, capturing the past present and future of ultra running, his experience hiking the AT and being a fringe fan of the sport for over 20 years, to taking a career break to help raise his kids, and taking a chance on diving headfirst into the world of trail and ultra running news. A Virginia native, Ken now lives in Austin with his wife and kids, and continues to cover ultra news primarily through his Substack.
Subscribe to Ken's Substack newsletter here.
Follow The Ultra Minute on Instagram here.
Follow Roots on Instagram here.
Chapters
02:12 The Birth of the Ultra Minute
06:34 Transitioning from Tech to Trail Running
10:24 The Challenge of Covering Ultra Running
14:19 Finding Balance in Content Creation
18:32 Exploring Ken's Background and Journey
22:21 Growing up on the James River
28:10 Ken's Accidental Ultralight Thru Hike
33:34 Thru Hiker Confidence
42:08 The Future of Ultra Running: Community and Cultural Events
56:49 Ken's Interest in the FKT Scene
01:00:05 Balancing Personal Interest and Audience Engagement in Ultra Running
01:06:48 The Future of Ultra Running Media and Technology
01:17:50 Spotlight on Emerging Athletes and Their Stories
01:25:21 Hot Takes
The Ultra Minute, trail running, content creation, entrepreneurship, Ken Seals, podcasting, Substack, ultra running news, balancing family and work, trail running, ultra running, Appalachian Trail, thru-hiking, ultralight gear, endurance sports, outdoor adventure, Ultra Running, FKT, Race Coverage, Audience Engagement, Technology in Sports, Ken's Journey, Hans Troyer, race strategy, performance analysis, media in sports, trail running, David Roche, Western States
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On this edition of the rundown Alvah and Sean breakdown Al's experience at the Hellbender 100 mile outside of Ashville, NC. Alvah was able to buckle down and finish in the face of some pretty violent stomach issues, chafing, and blisters. Al's advice: respect the distance. The boys also shared more reflections on Cocodona, the validity of mandatory gear for races, and some hot (and lukewarm) takes on ultra running at large.
Chapters
02:51 Understanding the Challenge of 100-Mile Races
05:57 Preparation and Strategy for Hellbender
17:57 Mental Resilience and Support Systems
20:56 The Final Stretch and Overcoming Obstacles
24:05 Respect the Distance
33:33 The Impact of Helene on Old Fort and Ashville
36:35 Training Strategies for Upcoming Races
40:00 Lessons Learned from Hellbender
43:51 Cocodona Race Insights and Performances
54:49 The Future of Team Dynamics in Ultra Running
01:05:24 Gear Talk
01:21:37 Hot Takes
01:35:06 Future of East Coast Ultra Races
#hellbender100 #northcarolina #eastcoast #ultrarunning #trailrunning
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Arlen Glick joins the fellas to talk all things BEAST coast, the recently released Aravaipa film 'The Chase' featuring Arlen as one of five runners, his decision to have ACL surgery after 12 years and 30,000 miles of running without an acl, and his love of fishing. Big thanks to Arlen for joining us for nearly two hours! We cannot wait to see the how he continues to demolish expectations and write his own unique path in the sport of ultra running.
The link to The Chase on Youtube!
Link to the MindBodyMarathon Interview we referenced here!
Chapters
00:00 Defining the 'Beast Coast'
02:58 Running/Fishing Biathalon?
06:03 The Chase Film
08:52 Arlen's Journey to Ultra Running
12:12 Cocodona: A Unique Challenge
15:09 Injury and Rehab journey
18:11 The Evolution of Arlen's Running Career
38:29 Aravaipa and Relationship with Jamil Coury
41:23 Connections Beyond Running: Music and Community
43:49 The Impact of Documentaries on Ultra Running
52:48 Navigating Social Media as an Athlete
01:06:36 Finding Value in things other than Performance
01:18:13 Coaching Dynamics: Arlen and David Roche
01:25:28 Long-Term Goals vs. Short-Term Fixes
01:28:29 Experiences at Hard Rock and Future Aspirations
01:33:02 Team Dynamics and International Experiences
01:39:56 Fishing as a Metaphor for Life and Running
Beast Coast, ultra running, Cocodona, community events, injury recovery, competitive spirit, running journey, athletic competitions, Arlen Glick, outdoor sports, ultra running, community support, Aravaipa, Jamil Coury, music connections, ultra running documentaries, social media in sports, performance mindset, coaching dynamics, training, coaching, accountability, long-term goals, ultra running, Hardrock100, WSER100, team dynamics, fishing.
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Beast Coast Alumni and old friend Rachel Lemcke joins Sean for a conversation about the value of personalized one on one coaching for athletes of all levels, her approach to coaching and being more than just a training programmer, to her own journey as an athlete over the past year navigating health issues and identity as a competitive athlete.
Check out Right Mind Running Company to learn more about one on one personalized coaching and training here!
Connect with us on instagram here for more Roots content!
As always, thanks for listening and being a part of the Roots Family!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Rachel Lemke and Her Journey
06:02 Gorges 60k and The Daybreak Racing Community
11:48 Rachel's Coaching Philosophy and Approach
14:54 Transitioning to Full-Time Coaching
21:00 Empowering Athletes and Debunking Myths
24:05 The Importance of Coaching for All Levels
33:27 Building Long-Term Relationships with Athletes
39:29 Identity Outside of Athletic Performance
43:51 Finding Perspective in Running and Life
46:52 Trusting Your Body After Setbacks
49:02 The Unique Coaching Dynamic with Tabor and Eli Hemming
55:27 Training for High Lonesome 100-Miler
59:27 Finding Joy Beyond Competition
01:01:55 Embracing Failure and Learning from Experience
01:10:18 Balancing Expectations and Reality in Training
01:16:36 The Role of a Coach in an Athlete's Journey
ultra running, Rachel Lemke, Daybreak Racing, Gorge Waterfalls, running community, athlete development, coaching philosophy, training strategies, accountability, athlete needs, race preparation, long-term relationships, athlete success, work-life balance, health challenges, running, coaching, athlete mindset, race preparation, athlete experiences.
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Roots Fam! Coming off a second place and golden ticket finish at the Canyons 100k, joining Sean on the podcast this week is none other than the YOUNG and Fit , Hans Troyer.
Hans stormed onto the ultra scene in 2024 performing at an elite level in some of the most competitive races in the US. Sean and Hans chat about his experience with trail running culture, his passion for training and working hard, desire to compete and see just how fast he can get. The hard work is clearly paying off and we can't wait to see where Hans will go.
If you enjoyed the podcast give us a review and follow our instagram
Hans' Youtube Channel here
Chapters
00:00 Introducing: Hans Troyer
07:44 Training in Georgia/ The Canyons Build
14:43 2024 Bandera 100k
22:09 Lessons Learned and Future Goals
27:47 Obsession with Golden Ticket Races
38:46 Headspace After Canyons 100k
43:46 Being Welcomed into the Ultra Running Community
01:01:49 WSER Predictions and Insights
Hans Troyer, ultra running, recovery, college running, training, Bandera, Rabdo, inspiration, running community, Western States, ultrarunning, Black Canyon, Golden Ticket, David Roche, mental strategies, community, hydration, nutrition, training, racing, trail running, ultra running, 100-mile races, community, future races, predictions, hobbies, kinesiology, training, competition
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In this episode, Sean Cate and Al discuss the evolution of trail running, focusing on how media coverage and technological advancements are shaping the sport. They delve into upcoming races, particularly the Promise Land and Canyons 100K, sharing personal insights and predictions about the competition. The conversation also highlights the importance of community when it comes to retail running stores, and more.
Highlights
02:47 Gorges Race Insights and Performances
06:09 The Impact of Media on Ultra Running
08:52 The Future of Live Streaming in Ultra Events
12:02 Shoe Brands and Their Commitment to Trail Running
18:04 Industry Changes and Athlete Development
36:16 The Evolution of Trail Running Media
40:00 Innovations in Trail Running Gear
42:50 Upcoming Races and Personal Goals
46:15 Analyzing the Promise Land Race
01:01:31 Previewing the Canyons 100K
Thanks for listening, happy trails!
-A&S
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Alvah and Sean welcome Caleb Bowen to the show this week!
If you enjoyed the show please follow, save, give us a review and feel free to send any questions or comments our way either in the comments section of the podcast or via instagram.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Caleb Bowen and His Journey
03:03 Growth of the Ultra Running Community in West Virginia
06:03 The Impact of Running on Local Communities
09:09 The Allure of Highland Sky Ultra
12:05 Transitioning Between Local and Competitive Races
15:00 Experiences at Canal Corridor and Other Races
32:41 The Coaching Committee and Its Influence
37:44 Balancing Coaching and Personal Goals
46:12 The Pride of West Virginia
49:01 Recruiting and Local Talent
50:36 The Grit of West Virginia's Heritage
53:54 Experiences at Grindstone 100
01:03:44 Reflections on Western States 2023
01:11:10 Coaching Through Disappointment
01:13:30 Facing Redemption at Javelina
01:26:18 Showcasing West Virginia's Beauty through Racing
01:28:22 Future Podcast Directions and Community Stories
Thanks for listening! Catch on the next episode😎
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Alvah and Sean bring you the very first edition of the Roots Rundown. The fellas catch up on Al's recent 50 miler, thoughts on the Norda 005s, all the race recaps fro Chianti, Big Alta, and more.
Let us know what you think and be sure to follow and leave a review if you enjoy the show!
-Al & Sean
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This episode of Roots is brought to you by hard work and determination.
Sean and Al are joined by Butch Slabach, a Virginia native coming hot onto the scene and throwing down some impressive times on classic Virginia ultra races, as well as out west with some of the best athletes in the sport. The fellas talk about Butch’s unorthodox intro into trail and ultra running, his time at the Virginia Tech Ultra Club, moving out to Oregon with his wife Emily, and then subsequent return to Virginia. Tune in to hear about Butch's breakthrough year in 2024, and a preview of what is to come for Butch in 2025.
If you enjoyed the show give us a follow, shoot us any feedback, or share with a friend.
Thanks for listening
❤️
-Al & Sean
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Joining the Roots Running pod, none other than THE Dr. David Horton. Not a single person that we know of has influenced more people to become true runners and ultra-runners as Horton. Not only that, Dr. Horton started this decades before youtube, social media, and podcasts.
This episode features a sweeping view of the sport of ultra running from JFK 50 miler in 1979, winning the first two Hardrock 100's, to the mind blowing course records we've seen broken today at the sport's most competitve and historic ultras. In addition to being the second Barkley finisher ever, Horton was the pioneer of FKT's, setting the record on the Appalachian Trail before when no one had ever dreamt of 'running' the 2000 miles from Georgia to Maine.
Horton shares about the challenges of training in Virginia while competing out west at altitude, his thoughts on Tara Dower's recent success both of the AT and at Black Canyon's 100k, and his experience founding Mountain Masochist 50.
If you enjoyed this episode share it with a friend, follow and give us a review!
Thanks for listening❤️
-Sean & Alvah
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We are stoked to bring you the very first episode of the Roots Running podcast, hosted by Sean Cate and Alvah Ferguson. This episode features a dive into the purpose of the podcast, what trail/ultra events Alvah and Sean are excited about in 2025 and a preview of what is to come.
-We can only go up from here😎
Cheers to old friends and new beginnings!
-Al & Sean
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Tough fam! We apologize dearly for the whiplash, as our last episode led both all of us to believe we were continuing on with the WTGGT podcast with renewed vigor. The truth is, today's episode will be the final edition of When The Going Gets Tough.
After reflecting on our passions and desires. Adam and I decided the best thing for us both would be to say no to a good thing (continuing WTGGT) in order to say yes to better things (each of our new podcasts). Adam has been working on launching a Formula 1 podcast geared towards an American audience, while I am launching a fully Trail/Ultra-running podcast that will leave here on this page. We stand on the shoulder's of these episodes, which we had so much fun making. Ultimately, we believe WTGGT had not only run it's full course, but it was time to make room for new things.
We are so thankful for your support, and we hope you these conversations stirred you to live a different life, against the grain of comfort, and do tough things.
While the name of this channel will change, the original episodes will live here unchanged.
Never stop being tough,
❤️
-Adam Giard and Sean cate
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This episode of When The Going Get’s Tough is brought to you by Lee Jarvis Coaching™️
Lee joined the boys this week to discuss his winter training block in anticipation of the Black Canyon’s 100k coming up February 8th, 2025. Lee shares insights into how his training differed on this block, and what his head space is going into the race.
Lee also shares advice for those interested in their first marathon *cough* Adam *cough*. What is a good time goal for your first marathon? It depends😁.
We will have the link to Lee’s live tracking and the YouTube broadcast when they go live below
Here for Lee’s live tracking, his bib is #99!
YouTube livestream of the 2025 BLack Canyons 100k race here
If you have any questions feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]
If you are interest in coaching feel free to connect with Lee at leejarviscoaching.com
Thanks for listening and stay tough out there.
-A&S
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This episode of When The Going Get’s Tough is brought to you by blood, sweat and determination. Sean recaps his first week of the training program under Adam’s supervision and shares what went well and what will be tweaked. Short and sweet today.
Attached here is the document outlining Adam’s program for Sean if anyone is looking for a simple training plan that can easily fit into a busy schedule, while hitting all the important foundation.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]
Thanks for listening and stay tough out there.
-A&S
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