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 Extremely Outside Learn more about Shan's 1100 mile Run and Medals 4 Meddle

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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Phast Phred, Evil Becky, and AFB host Dick Vincent—the man who’s been directing the Escarpment Trail Run in the Catskills for 48 years straight. That makes him the longest-serving trail race director in North America. Laddie Lawrence can have the road scene locked down with Westport’s summer series, but when it comes to gnarly trails, Escarpment is Dick’s kingdom. He’s also a guy who kept a 34-year run streak, ran Boston back in ’74, and even left seven toenails out on the course at Western States Endurance Run 100 WSER in ’86

If you love trail running history, and great stories, this may be the episode for you.

Each of Dick's stories could’ve been its own episode. A streak like that, a Western States war story, and the creation of an iconic race... That’s pure Cultra magic.

Escarpment Trail Run

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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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 @KPWOUTDOORS

Check out KPW Outdoors

Follow Deb on FB

Links to Author Eli Burakian Sorry that I drew a blank during the episode

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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If we could dream up the perfect trail running club, it would look a whole lot like the Shenipsit Striders. For 50 years, this crew has been building trails, hosting races, and creating a community where everyone: fast, slow, new, or seasoned; feels like family.

In this episode, AFB sits down at the Striders’ 50th Anniversary 8 Hour Fatass Run and chats with five runners who embody the heart of the club:

• Tony Bonanno

• Cherie Bilbie

• Jillian Ellefson

• Jake Gaeta

• Jim Henderson (longtime Strider and keeper of the history books)

You may know some of these names already, but if you don’t, (where the heck ya been) you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for the people who make the Shenipsit Striders so special. This is an episode about community, longevity, and the joy of running trails together.

Q: Did AFB do these interviews so he could sit around and eat all the food?

Shenipsit Striders Face Book

Shenipsit Striders Events

Check out some of Jake's Music Salem Poor

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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Twitter @BlueBlazeRunner

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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:

• Race for the Refuge Registration
• Donate to Race for the Refuge
• Highland City Striders Running Club
• Judy’s Instagram: @pink_rose_running
• Judy Hosts a YouTube Channel Runners in Sneakers Getting Coffee
• BURCS Ultra Running, Ben Double N and company

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  Outro music by Nick Byram

  Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

  Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow

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  Twitter @BlueBlazeRunner

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  Buy Fred's Book Running Home

  More Information on the #CUT112

AFB and Evil Becky Burke are back at it, serving up a full platter of ultra goodness from Vermont to Rhode Island, with detours through the Catskills, Soapstone, Notchview, and the Squatchy Surprise in NJ. We’re breaking down the highs, lows, and bug bites from recent races, plus dishing on who crushed it, who gutted it out, and who set new course records.

Art wrestles with “The Yips” on technical trails, Evil Becky relives her sandy Ocean State Ultra dropout at mile 50, and we both agree-some courses need to rethink their “short loop at the end” strategy.

We tip our trucker hats to our Patreon trail legends. There’s also talk of Escarpment ambitions, a potential Badger 100 return, awning insurance, and Evil Becky’s upcoming birthday week.

Episode Highlights:

• Vermont 100, Escarpment Trail Run, Catskills 30K
• Squatchy Surprise magic & Soapstone Assault grit
• Ocean State Ultra: dunes, shuttles, and sand in bad places
• Notchview highs, lows, and shoe swap disasters
• Bug-proof hats that actually work

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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Escarpment Trail Run

Soapstone

Squatchy Surprise

Notchview Ultra

Ocean State Ultra

332: The Vermont 100 “Miler” Endurance Race

Our very own podcast famous Jamie Miler, a.k.a., Jamie Miller recently ran VT100, one of the oldest and most iconic trail races in the US, so we take some time to get all the explicit details from Jamie and her crew. This is a great episode to listen to during a long run, and in preparation to either Crew, or run the Vermont 100. We also take some time to recognize the top finishers and some of the friends of the podcast who participated, and in some cases set records at this classic old school ultra trail running event.

We cover:

• The unique nature of Vermont 100’s hybrid runner-and-horse format
• Course insights, challenges, and the magic of overnight miles
• Crew logistics, aid station drama, and why pierogies matter
• Reflections on race culture, the evolving social contract, and what “support” really means in ultrarunning
• Why this race still punches you in the gut and why we keep coming back to the #VT100

Credits:
Produced and hosted by Cultra TRP
Featuring Jamie Miler, Alex McDaniel, Emily Vollmer, and Jacki Smith. Kudos to Brandon Hubbard.
Pierogies by Cowshed Aid Station 🥟

Vermont 100 Endurance Race

Beast Coast Trail Running

Vermont 100 Endurance Race

Here is a great interiew by TJM of Race Director Amy Rusiecki

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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In this episode, AFB and Evil Becky dive deep into the madness and method behind prepping for their 48-hour showdown at Notch View. With ice towels, grilled quesadillas, and hallucination avoidance on the menu, the duo breaks down their pacing strategies, sleep plans, nutrition math, and mental game-while still finding time to argue over pee bottles and AI coaching.

Art unveils his “douche canoe” plan to knock out 75 miles in the first 24 hours, relying on hydration tricks and skills gleaned from the Tour De France and Erie Canal Trail before sleeping, rinsing and repeating. Evil Becky brings the heat (or more accurately, plans to sleep through it), favoring strategic hill-walking, silence at the start, and keeping her sanity intact by avoiding Art as long as possible.

They tackle the high-stakes game of ultra-fueling from Tailwind and Precision gels to grilled cheese and reflect on how runners tie self-worth to results (and why that’s dangerous). Bonus: Evil Becky shares her favorite comfort foods and confirms she will not be participating in any pee bottle experiments, thank you very much. Or is it all behind the "Pay Wall"?

Highlights & Segments: (Times Quoted are most likely B.S.)

• 00:03:10 – Art’s “75-Mile Day One” plan and Evil Becky’s eye-roll
• 00:10:45 – Cooling tactics: neck ice vs. strategic napping
• 00:17:00 – Nutrition: 100-cal vs. 300-cal per hour philosophies
• 00:24:30 – Pee bottles: creative solution or horrifying idea?
• 00:30:15 – Favorite race foods: ramen, grilled cheese, quesadillas, and more
• 00:37:40 – Sleep, silence, and social limits during ultras
• 00:46:55 – Evil Becky’s “start in silence” mindset
• 00:52:10 – Western States recap: self-worth, struggle, and grace
• 00:59:00 – Predictions for hallucinations, mileage, and midnight snacks

Quotable Moment:

• “Sometimes silence is my best pacer.” – Evil Becky

Deep Thoughts that most won’t discuss:

Is sleep deprevation worth the cognitive impairment? This may be the limiting factor… What is your limiting factor, Do you have one?

Got a weird race food you swear by? Ever seen a shadow person at hour 41? Share your stories with us in the comments, tag @cultratrailrunning, or shout them at us when we’re too tired to respond. Or join our Facebook page.

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Outro music by Nick Byram

Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow

Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids

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More Information on the #CUT112