Dispatch Radio

Learn about one heck of a challenge in and on Colorado's 14ers. 

Nolan's 14 is a run over the 14 summits over 14,000 ft. in Colorado's Sawatch Range, from Mt. Massive to Mt. Shavano in either direction. You can choose your own route between summits, but the most practical routes have been estimated to be 88 to 106 miles with 44,000 ft. of climb. Cutoff is 60 hours to the last summit. I

This is not a race.

Nolan's has been around since the early 90's but has gained popularity with the growth of ultra running.

Eric completed Nolans ins 2012 in 57:27:14 after scouting the course since 2003. This year Eric attempted the FKT on the 14ers but was thwarted by bad weather. Hear the story on the show!

Hosted by Dispatch resident MTB expert and race announcer Sean Franklin tries (unsuccessfully) to take a break from being surrounded by ultrarunners on the podcast while we take the show to the Kitchen Next Door at Union Station in downtown Denver for the Colorado High School Cycling League fundraiser. League Executive Director and 2015 Sportswomen of Colorado ‘Trailblazer’ award winner Kate Rau and Director of Operations John “Hutch” Hutchinson sharing their own mountain biking origin stories and discuss the history, origins, goals, structure and summer schedule for this unique co-ed youth league that started in 2010. We hear from parents, coaches and others affiliated with the league to get their experience with this unique opportunity to get all kids hooked on being outside, participating and competing at a high level regardless of experience or even disability and Coach Bussey of East High School’s cycling team gives his advice on great locations around the Denver Metro area to help further develop your or your young racer’s mountain bike skills. Dispatch host Laurie Nakauchi discusses her impressive results and perhaps shares her secrets for success at the notoriously challenging and high Silverheels 100 Mile; regarded as the “Grand-daddy” of all Human Potential Running Series events (put on by Dispatch’s very own Sherpa John – we’re like one big family over here). Who doesn’t love a race with 5-11 free bonus miles and middle of the night hallucinations? Cory and Russ briefly touch on the adventures they, Nick and Tony had the previous weekend during the Never Summer Adventure Race as complete adventure racing novices that they committed to during the last episode – a more detailed  follow-up episode is in the works.

How much adventuring can you pack into a weekend? More than you would expect. Huddled together in the map room at the charming Feral Mountain Co. on Tennyson St in Northwest Denver, we chat over some tasty beers provided by our friends at Boulder Beer (as well as some from Feral neighbors Call to Arms Brewing) and talk about weekend adventures - Gociety Director of Partnerships Jason Antin's tries to "Beat Monday" by pushing the limits of what's capable in the 64 hours between 5PM Friday and 9AM Monday and talks about his 4th of July "Picnic" weekend in Jackson, WY. Continuing on with the Wyoming love, Adventure Racers Erik Sanders (Team Yogaslackers) and Katie Ford Ferrington (Team Journey) gear up for the recently completed Cameco Cowboy Tough 3.5 Day Expedition Race (with their teams finishing 4th and 7th, respectively) and get us all stoked that adventure racing not only still exists, but is making a comeback. Katie also convinces (challenges? goads? dares?) the Dispatch crew into taking on her very own adventure race; the Never Summer Adventure Race being held in Grand Lake, CO August 6th-7th. Cory and Nick will be representing Team Mandragora / Spicy Boys in the 24 hour race and Russ will be taking his broken (and potentially removable at this point) toe as a teammate for the 6 hour course. All this, plus an interview with the most feral of the bunch at Feral Mountain Co., Mr. Jimmy Funkhouser on following his passions by opening a very unique small mountain shop and what his preparations for the Colorado 200 look like as a first timer.

No matter which side of the Boulder bubble you find yourself there something for everyone in this That's So Boulder edition of Dispatch Radio.

Recorded live at Boulder Running Company, this episode examines what makes Boulder, Colorado such a unique, qualified hub for outdoor activities... and the butt of many a fellow Front Ranger's jokes.

We catch up with Boulder Hiker Chicks founder Alli Fronzaglia and the rest of her group as they're doing the Boulder Five Peak Traverse in unseasonably warm shirts.

Youth MTB coaches Katie Mardis and Kay Tuttle discuss getting kids hooked young (on mountain biking and being athletes, obviously), Gociety partner Jason Antin reveals a very Boulder alternate use for the First Flatiron, The "Boulder Runner" Todd Straka lets us in on his secret identity as an 80's musician and Jayme Moye climbs Half Dome with Yosemite big wall legend Hans Florine... because why not? Beer support provided by Boulder Beer with a special soul-warming meal from our friends at R.A.D. (Real Athlete Diets).

Injury. Eventually it catches up with all of us and puts a damper on our pursuits. In this inaugural episode of Dispatch Radio, we introduce you to the crew and explore how injury has affected our lives; Andrew Schuhmann tells us his story about how a long and difficult recovery from something as relatively benign as tendinitis challenged his self-identity as a mountain biker and outdoor enthusiast, Adventure Racer Erik Sanders fights off jungle monsters and defends himself from killer bees with a trash bag in South America and Sara, our first ever Story Slam winner, tells us about the time she saved a baby during an ultramarathon. All this brought to you by “Apples” (not the computer) and a ragtag crew in the foothills of Colorado.