In this special Christmas edition of the Hurricane Hundred K Podcast Series, we sit down with Leslie Starnes , John, and Cody (aka the Fairy Snow Ninja, JB, and the Hall of Famer) to unpack one of the most legendary ultra races in the country — the Hellgate 100K.

Fresh off the 23rd running of Hellgate, the group talks expectations vs. reality, tight cutoffs, runnable fatigue, frozen tears, lost gloves, aid-station tater tots, and why this race can never be a B-race. They dive into what makes Hellgate so unique, why the application process matters, and what it really takes to finish 66.66 unforgiving miles.

Along the way, things get light with Christmas movie trivia, a special Christmas poem by celebrity guest, and plenty of banter — including a spotlight on Leslie’s strong performance, comparisons to Hurricane Hundred K, and lessons every ultra runner can take into their next big race.

Whether you’ve run Hellgate, dream of applying someday, or just love hearing real stories from the trail, this episode delivers equal parts insight, humility, ridicule, and Christmas fun.

This edition of the Hurricane Hundred K Runner Educationseries brings in Bryant Baker — founder and race director of Rim to River Endurance Company, the force behind the wildly popular and beloved trail races in the New River Gorge: the Rim to River 100, Cabin Fever 50K, and Falling Water 100K.

Bryant is a rock climber, river guide, ultrarunner, anddirector of white water operations at ACE Adventure Resort, a devoted husband to Laura, and a proud dad of three daughters who occasionally paint his toenails. He’s the kind of guy who radiates positivity, gratitude, andauthenticity — the kindest all-around badass you’ll ever meet. There’s a reason he was given the nickname Voltron; we’ll see if it sticks.

Cohosting this episode is Hall of Famer Cody Smarr, a Rim toRiver 100 finisher, pacer, and crew member who loves the sport for its challenge, lessons, and perspective. Together, we dive into the making of Rim to River, Bryant’s path from the river to the trails, and a wild behind-the-scenes look at this year’s race — including a dramatic mid-race twist that called on Bryant's years of decision making experience, and an entire community of volunteers to step up, and save the race.

Before they dig into the story, the crew kicks things offwith a little New River Gorge trivia — celebrating one of the most beautiful and iconic landscapes in the country.

A champion's interview! Fresh off making history as the first American to win TDS in Chamonix, Careth Arnold came to Hurricane, West Virginia, and added another victory to her résumé — the 2025 Hurricane Hundred K women’s champion and course record holder.

In this episode of the Hurricane Hundred K Runner Profile series, Careth shares her journey from France to Hurricane, West Virginia just weeks after her TDS triumph.

We talk about her recovery, expectations coming in, her day on the Meeks Mountain Trails, and the support of her “adopted West Virginia crew” — Team Purge and Move On. Careth also gives us a peek at what’s next on her race calendar, plus some fun West Virginia and Napoleon Dynamite trivia to close it out.

Tune in for stories from the Alps to Appalachia, and a new chapter in the Hurricane Hundred K legacy.

In this episode of the Hurricane Hundred K Runner Profile Series, we sit down with Caleb Bowen for his champion's interview just days after being crowned 2025 Hurricane Hundred K Champion and setting a course record with a blistering time of 8:06:07. Caleb is the head cross country coach at Marshall University, and one of the top ultrarunners on the East Coast.

Caleb shares how he came back from injury to run one of the best races of his career, his strategy for tackling the Flow course loop by loop, and the competition that pushed him along the way. We dive into what worked, where there’s still “fat on the bone” to trim, and whether the Flow course is truly faster than the original HHK layout.

We also talk about his remarkable résumé — from running the fastest 100-mile time in the U.S. in 2022 (12:40:22 at Canal Corridor), to winning a Golden Ticket to Western States at Grindstone 100K in 2023, to multiple victories at Highlands Sky, and winning the inaugural Rim to River 100.

And of course, we lighten it up with some Napoleon Dynamite trivia and ask Caleb what he plans to splurge on with his $4,500 winnings.

You'll love listening to our local stud and Hurricane native dig in and lay it all out there in this conversation.

In this special episode, we sit down with Dan Green and John Baldwin to unpack their unforgettable experiences at the 2025 Western States 100. Dan placed 16th overall just six weeks after winning Cocodona 250, running with heart and nothing to lose. John fulfilled a decade-long dream with a sub-24-hour finish, making the most of his hard-earned entry with his crew by his side.

We talk heat, hydration, high country, shoe swaps, low points, and that magical finish on the Placer High track. Their crews—Logan Kirby, Jack Penn, Bob Luther, and Matt Young—also share behind-the-scenes moments, crewing chaos, and lessons learned.

Whether you're a seasoned ultrarunner or just love a good story of perseverance, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now. The mountains are calling—both East and West.

From cruising around in a classic Buick LeSabre to toeing the line at some of the most iconic ultras on the East Coast, Aaron “Butch” Slabach has quietly become one of the region’s most consistent and respected endurance athletes.

We talk about his early start at the Kanawha Trace 50K at just 17 years old, a big win at Highlands Sky, and throwing down at races steeped in East Coast trail tradition — Hellgate, Promise Land, and Mountain Masochist.

Also: showing up on someone else’s home turf hoping to take the W… and the story of two guys that once shared a bench seat and a milkshake that might surprise you.

In this episode, we dive into the grit, strategy, and soul of the 2025 Tahoe 200.

Isaac “Stone Cold Trail Killer” Wait returns for his fifth appearance on the podcast and digs into a remarkable performance, finishing in 81:14:21, a full six hours faster than his 2023 time. He walks us through how the race unfolded, how his strategy evolved, what role his crew played, and the key moments that defined the experience.

Ryan “I’m the Real Rambo” Ramsby opens up about a tough race day. After battling dehydration and stomach issues due to the high elevation, he made the tough decision to step off the course. But instead of walking away, he jumped into the crew and pace Isaac for 40+ miles—reclaiming the weekend with purpose, presence, and trail brotherhood. It was Father’s Day weekend, and what could have been disappointment turned into something deeply meaningful.

Whether you're chasing your first 200 or recovering from a DNF, this episode is full of insight, resilience, and redemption on the trails.

Ultrarunner. Trauma nurse. Soccer player. Las Vegas native. Maia Detmer brings grit, grace, and serious mileage to every start line. With 98 races on Ultrasignup and 44 podium finishes, she’s tackled iconic events like Cocodona 250, Leadville 100, Western States, and Barkley Fall Classic—and even traveled to New Zealand for Tarawera.

A proud member of the Aravaipa Racing Team and an UltrAspire athlete, Maia shares how she balances life on the trails with nearly two decades in trauma nursing. We dive into her journey from D1 soccer at UNLV to ultramarathons, how her day job as a trauma nurse shapes her mindset and problem solving during races, and Filipino holiday traditions.

This episode is packed with insights, laughs, and practical advice—perfect for new runners and seasoned ultrarunners alike.

In this episode, we’re talking with Rachel Doxey, a runner who’s all about the joy, family, and bringing a whole lot of energy to the trails. Rachel has a unique background—she’s got experience in dance, lacrosse, and triathlon before finding her way to trail running.

We discuss how she transitioned from accidentally running a marathon (and qualifying for Boston) to winning her first 50 K, and making trail running a family affair. Rachel’s dad got her into running, and he was there pacing her during the final miles of her first 100-miler at Vermont—a moment she’ll never forget. Her family, along with her trail running friend Abigail West (Hurricane Hundred K Flow Course record holder), has played a massive role in inspiring Rachel’s journey.

She has a style all her own and is bringing it to Hurricane, along with her signature space buns, and we’re pumped to have her join us.

Rachel also works at a craft brewery, and we chat about how she’s living her dream job while finding joy in running and balancing it all.

It’s a fun, inspiring conversation, and we can’t wait for you to hear it!

👟 Press play and enjoy!

Careth Arnold: From Bangkok to the Big Leagues of Ultrarunning

In this episode, we sit down with Careth Arnold, an Altra-sponsored ultrarunner whose path into the sport is anything but typical. Born in Bangkok and now living in Paonia, Colorado, Careth shares how her background in fine arts, life as a mother of two, and deep love for the trails fuel her approach to racing, family, and balance.

We talk about her first-ever trail race win at the Swamp 30K in Florida, how she actually enjoys east coast humidity, and the mindset that’s helped her secure at least six outright wins—beating the entire field, men included. She even treats us to a bit of Thai during the conversation.

Careth also shares the story behind her Golden Ticket at Canyons 100K, her experience at the Western States 100, and her plans to return to the east coast to run in Hurricane, West Virginia—home of the Hurricane Hundred K, a big-time race with small-town feels.

This episode is a fun, thoughtful look at grit, growth, and the beauty of forging your own trail.