Episode 77 - Getting to Know Taggart VanEtten

photo: Chad Colson

We start the new year off right with a visit to the Pain Cave from Taggart VanEtten. Who is that, you ask? He’s the triathlete-turned-marathoner who shocked the ultrarunning world with an outstanding 12:19 win at the Tunnel Hill 100 in his ultramarathon debut. Taggart tells us about how his tri background helps him as an ultrarunner, why he decided to run Tunnel Hill this year, his training and nutrition, and more.

Links
Follow Taggart on Instagram
Taggart’s blog

Desert Island Picks: How Bad Do You Want It by Matt Fitzgerald, Tickets to my Downfall by Machine Gun Kelly, Miller Lite

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 76 - Year in Review with Dylan Bowman

photo: Ryan Thrower

Time to bid goodbye to the possibly the strangest year in ultrarunning history. Phil and I do a quick recap of recent results before we welcome back the great Dylan Bowman to look back at the yar that was and to make our picks for Ultrarunner of the Year, Performance of the Year, FKT of the Year, and much more.

Links:
DBo’s website
DBo on the Pain Cave
DBo’s podcast, The Well (soon to be rebranded as Pyllars)

Beers for this episode: Other Half DDH Monteuka + Galaxy, Peak Organic Slim Hazy, Great Notion Cloud Forest, Zero Gravity Little Wolf, Jackie O’s Cool Beans

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 75 - Twenty Questions with Patrick Reagan

photo: Foon Fu

The pride of the #Beastcoast, Patrick Reagan, joins us in the Pain Cave for another edition of 20 questions. We talk about his favorite race, why he like racing in hot weather, playing guitar, racing 100s, why watermelon is awesome, and much more.

Links:
Follow Patrick on Instagram
Patrick’s website
Interested in being coached by Patrick?

Beers for this episode: Jackie O’s Who Cooks For You, Peak Organic Slim Hazy

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 74 - Twenty Questions with Sabrina Stanley

photo: Sven Brunso

Phil gets to fanboy out as we welcome in defending Hardrock champ Sabrina Stanley to the Pain Cave to sit on the 20 Questions hot seat. We cover Sabrina’s exploits on Nolan’s 14 this summer, her favorite race and toughest race (hint: they’re the same race), which one of us won the Ultrarunning Fantasy Draft by selecting her (hint: it was me), and more.

Links:
Follow Sabrina on Instagram
The truth will out: the Women’s Ultrarunning Fantasy Draft

Beers for this episode: Equilibrium/Great Notion Juice = Juice, Foreign Objects Ritual Colors

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 73 - South West Coast Path FKT with Kristian Morgan

British ultrarunner Kristian Morgan had to forego a second attempt on the Appalachian Trail this summer due to the travel restrictions in place because of the pandemic. Instead, he stuck close to home and took on the longest trail in the UK, the 630-mile South West Coast Path, taking aim at the four-year-old record set by the great Damian Hall. Kristian joined us for the third time in the Pain Cave to talk about his experiences on the trail, training during the pandemic, running with gratitude, and more.

Links
Kristian’s pre-AT interview and post-AT interview
Kristian’s website and podcast
South West Coast Path FKT

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 72 - Confronting Failure with Zoë Rom

Trail running beast Zoë Rom is the Associate Editor of Trail Runner magazine and the host of the DNF Podcast—a show about “failure in life and running…about unfinished business, and the unglamorous work of picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and moving on.” Zoë joins us to talk about failure vs. hardship, overcoming fear, practicing self-compassion, FKTs, sled dog racing, and more. Also, how to say “hedgehog” in Italian.

Links
The DNF Podcast
Zoë’s website and coaching site
Social media: Strava, IG, Facebook, Twitter

Desert Island Picks: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, Songs by Adrianne Lenker, Nutella, Outer Range Brewing Co. Meadows IPA

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 71 - Truckin' with Jake Jackson

In the past two years, SoCal native Jake Jackson has progressed from a solid competitor on the southwestern trail-running scene to a top-10 finish at the 24-hour World Championships. Jake joins us on the show to talk about his meteoric rise to becoming one of the top US runners ever at 24 hours, how he balances his training with full-time work and family obligations, why he started working with a coach, battling imposter syndrome, and more.

Links
Follow Jake on Instagram
Jake runs for rabbit, Spring Energy, XOSkin, Squirrel’s Nut Butter, and Prevail Botanicals

Desert Island Picks: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, S&M by Metallica, Rancid by Rancid, Miguel’s Jr. burritos, Newcastle Brown Ale

Thanks to Himalaya Botanique for sponsoring this episode of the Pain Cave. Himalaya Botanique— the toothpaste that’s free from fluoride, SLS, and artificial colors and flavors, but bursting with foam and flavor! Enjoy 20% off your purchase of Himalaya toothpaste, using discount code PAINCAVE20 at Amazon. To learn more about Himalaya Botanique and Ayurvedic wellness visit Himalayausa.com

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 70 - Rockin' Out with Tony Fletcher

photo: Steve Aaron

Are you ready to rock? Author, music journalist, and trail runner Tony Fletcher makes his face-melting debut in the Pain Cave. We talk about how he cut his teeth in the British punk scene of the late 1970s, becoming a de facto professional journalist at fourteen, the Who vs. the Stones, trail running in the Catskills, traveling around the world, Crystal Palace, and more.

Links
Tony’s website, where you can find info on his books and his blog
One Step Beyond, Tony’s excellent podcast
Instagram and Twitter

Desert Island Picks: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, Tommy by The Who, Peanut Butter Clif Bars, Gipsy Hill Hepcat

Episode 69 - This Month in Ultrarunning with Phil Vondra

Nice! The Legend is back for a “This Pandemic in Ultrarunning” update, as we check in on some of the recent trail and ultra races starting to every so slowly come back on line. We cover results from the Bear 100, IMTUF, Yeti, and Stumpjump and discuss our own returns to racing at Cat’s Tail and 3 Days at the Fair. Plus, we discuss qualification for the Golden Trail finale, the starting field for Hardrock 2021, miniature goats, and more.

Beer for this episode: Treehouse Julius, Lagunitas DayTime IPA

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 68 - Twenty Questions with Megan Roche

It’s a Some Work, All Play party in the Pain Cave this week as we welcome physician, epidemiologist, coach, author, and five time US trail running champ Megan Roche onto the 20 Questions hot seat. We talk about Megan’s favorite race, her dream running partner, the loss of the North Face 50, how to cook a scoby, and much more.

Links:
Some Work, All Play (Team SWAP)
The SWAP Adventure Podcast
Megan’s book, The Happy Runner (and our interview with co-author and husband David)

Beers for this episode: Athletic Brewing Oktoberfest, Alchemist Focal Banger, GT’s Trilogy Kombucha

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 67 - Twenty Questions with Bob Hearn

photo: Sparta Photography Club

Continuing with our 20 questions format, and fulfilling our goal of interviewing the entire podium from the Last Annual Vol State, we welcomed Bob Hearn into the Pain Cave and onto the 20Q hot seat. Since turning 50, Bob has become one of the best and most consistent 24-hour and multi-day runners in the US, holding national age-group records at 24 and 48 hours. We chat with Bob about his favorite races, his most embarrassing moment, training, diet, peaking, and more.

Links:
Bob’s blog

Beers for this episode: Treehouse Brewing Green IPA, Half Acre Navaja DIPA

Thanks to Himalaya Botanique for sponsoring this episode of the Pain Cave. Himalaya Botanique— the toothpaste that’s free from fluoride, SLS, and artificial colors and flavors, but bursting with foam and flavor! Enjoy 20% off your purchase of Himalaya toothpaste, using discount code PAINCAVE20  Amazon. To learn more about Himalaya Botanique and Ayurvedic wellness visit Himalayausa.com

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 66 - Twenty Questions with Ellie Pell

photo: @hmf_events

This week we’re trying out a new format that we’ll be using from time to time: Twenty Questions, where we’ll attempt to find out everything you never wanted to know about your favorite ultrarunners, or get to know someone you may not know all that much about. For our inaugural attempt at this we welcome in Beastcoast marathon and ultra stud Ellie Pell. If you’re not familiar with Ellie, maybe you should be. Despite her youth she’s had a bevy of top-flight performances on both the road and trail, including a podium finish at JFK and a top-15 at the TNF championships, and she ran in the Olympic Marathon Trials in Atlanta in February. Find out how she approaches training, her go-to post-race meal, which Olympic sport she wishes she could compete in, and much more.

Links:
Instagram and Twitter
Ellie’s website and podcast (IG: @hamstringsandheartstrings) 
The Trails Collective Interview Series (website) (YouTube) (podcast) (IG: @the_trails_collective)
Ellie on URP

Beers for this episode: Other Half Baby Diamonds, Zero Gravity Little Wolf

This episode sponsored by Let’sGetChecked. Use the promo code PAINCAVE30 for 30% off all services. Please support our great sponsors!

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 65 - Domination at Vol State with Francesca Muccini

In what SteelTownRunner describes as one of the greatest multiday performances ever, full stop, Francesca Muccini just obliterated the women’s course record at the Vol State 500K, out-dueling pre-race favorite Bob Hearn in winning the race outright for the second time in the second-fastest performance ever at this insane event. Phil and I welcomed Francesca into the Pain Cave to learn about her background and get the story of her incredible run.

Links:
Professor Muccini
LAVS
Phil’s story from Vol State on our previous episode
Greg Armstrong’s recap of Francesca’s amazing run
Bob Hearn’s LAVS race report

Desert Island Picks: Zibaldone by Giacomo Leopardi, Direct Hits by the Killers, Heineken

Beers for this episode: Equilibrium Brewing Wavelength, Sixpoint Crisp

This episode sponsored by Let’sGetChecked. Use the promo code PAINCAVE30 for 30% off all services. Please support our great sponsors!

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "Tennessee Jed” by the Grateful Dead

Episode 64 - Return to Racing at Vol State with Phil Vondra

Maybe you don’t know why we call him the Legend. THIS IS WHY. Phil Vondra is back in the co-pilot’s chair for this episode, as we blow through a couple of notable FKTs and pay lip service to the gradual restarting of the 2020 race schedule. Then, we dive into the main event—a recap of Phil’s incredible, epic, dare I say LEGENDARY performance at this month’s Last Annual Vol State, an insane 500KM race across Tennessee. Phil gives us the scoop on racing in 100+ degree heat, sleeping on park benches, surviving on ice cream bars and something called Sun Drop, and much, much more.

Links:
LAVS
Apparently the hottest FKT route in the world right now

Desert Island Picks: Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, The White Album by the Beatles, Other Half DDH Double Citra Daydream

Beers for this episode: Equilibrium Brewing Fractal Lab, Yard Owl Chouette D’Or

This episode sponsored by Let’sGetChecked. Use the promo code PAINCAVE30 for 30% off all services. Please support our great sponsors!

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 63 - Gender Equality and the Ultimate Aid Station Draft with Aliza Lapierre and Phil Vondra

As we discussed in our recent podcast with Yassine Diboun, the ultrarunning community is generally a very welcoming one—but one in which diversity still continues to lag. While the sport strives for inclusivity, only about a third of ultrarunners are female. We we very happy to be joined in the Pain Cave by elite ultrarunner Aliza Lapierre, who called in from the Northeast Kingdom to discuss the gender gap in ultraunning and steps that we can take to open the sport up to more female athletes. Then, the legendary Phil Vondra jumped in with us for our most recent draft episode, as we take turns selecting the elements of a great aid station.

Links:
Aliza on Instagram
Trail Sisters

Desert Island Picks: Runner: A Short Story About a Long Run by Lizzy Hawker

Beers for this episode: Equilibrium /Trillium Brewing Climb the Ballmer Peak, Zero Gravity Little Wolf

This episode sponsored by Ladder Sport, thanks for their support

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 62 - Chasing FKTs with Ben Nephew

photo: Joe Azze

Without much happening on the racing front over the past several months, many athletes have been venturing in to the world of chasing “Fastest Known Times”—that is, identifying a route and trying to complete it faster than anyone ever has. Legendary trail runner Ben Nephew has been putting up FKTs all over the northeast for years, including classic New England routes like the Presidential Traverse and the Pemigewasset Loop. At the time of our recording a few weeks ago, Ben had more registered FKTs than anyone else (he has since been surpassed by Jason Hardrath). Ben joined the show to talk about the attraction of FKTs, some of his favorite routes, some he’d like to try, and what he thinks the future holds for the scene.

Links
FastestKnownTime.com
Ben’s routes

Desert Island Picks: Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky, The Unforgettable Fire by U2, Michael David Petite Petit

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 61 - #Eracism with Yassine Diboun

In the midst of the ongoing protests against police brutality and systemic inequality, the great Yassine Diboun stops into the Pain Cave to discuss his experience as a minority athlete in an overwhelmingly white majority sport. One of the most accomplished ultrarunners in the US, Yassine brings us his unique perspective on growing up as the target of racism, how that contributed to his struggles with addiction, barriers to minority participation in trail running, and what we can do to help build a more tolerant and equitable community.

Links
Yassine’s recent article in Trail Runner magazine
Wy’east Wolfpack and youth trail running camp
If you’d like to donate to help sponsor a scholarship for a camper, contact here

Desert Island Picks: The Big Book, Live From Mars by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Brew Dr. Kombucha Circulatory Blend

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 60 - Sports in the Time of Coronavirus with Dr. Keith Strudler

The pandemic has altered our lives in myriad ways—as runners, as sports fans, and obviously just in our daily interactions. To sort this all out, I was very happy to be joined by my good friend and fellow Cornell XC/track alumnus, elite triathlete Dr. Keith Strudler, the director of the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. We discussed how COVID-19 will change sports media, the long-term impact on the collegiate sports landscape—particularly for XC and track programs, youth sports, virtual races, what he’s been missing most during the pandemic, and much more.

Links:
Keith at Montclair State
Keith’s hilarious new podcast, Sportish
The Voice of Sport on WAMC

Desert Island Picks: DQ Heath Bar Blizzard, Three Imaginary Boys by the Cure, March of the Penguins by Luc Jacquet, Zima

This episode sponsored by Ladder Sport, thanks for their support

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 59 - Radio and Running with Jimmy Buff

If you’re in the music business—or you’ve listened to the radio in the Hudson Valley or New York City in the past thirty years—you probably know the name Jimmy Buff. But you may not know that in addition to being a longtime DJ, producer, and program director, “Buff” is also an accomplished ultrarunner and triathlete. He and I sat down for a fascinating look back at his career in radio and sport. We talked about how he got his start at the legendary WNEW-FM in NYC, counter-programming Howard Stern, the importance and challenges of independent commercial and community radio, politics, the connection between addiction and endurance sports, and much more.

Links:
Radio Kingston

Desert Island Picks: A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin; Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Episode 58 - TV, Music, and (Show)running with Andy Greenwald

photo: Laila Archuleta

Continuing our quarantine-friendly series of running guests who are famous for things other than running, I was ecstatic to welcome Andy Greenwald into the Pain Cave this week. Andy got his start as a music critic for Spin magazine in the late 1990s, then became both a respected TV critic and a writer on TV shows such as Legion and Cat’s Cradle in the 2010s. Now he has won acclaim as the creator and showrunner of Briarpatch, his ten-episode adaptation of a classic noir thriller. I was thrilled to have Andy on the show to talk about podcasting, interviewing, running a TV show, and his newfound love of running.

Links:
Briarpatch on USA
Andy and Chris’ podcast, The Watch
Andy’s books: Nothing Feels Good and Miss Misery

Desert Island Picks: Tusk by Fleetwood Mac; Chinaman’s Chance by Ross Thomas, Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami, Bordersnakes by James Crumlee; Herr’s Sour Cream and Onion potato chips; Trumer Pilsner

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale