Eat Clean, Run Dirty Podcast

Christen McFarland can be found at Northeast Ohio’s favorite specialty run shop, Vertical Runner. There, Christen offers much more than personalized service and gait analysis. Christen really listens to the needs and goals of runners both seasoned and new and serves as a wonderful ambassador of our sport. Christen herself is an accomplished trail runner having competed in many races including Mohican 50 mile and The Burning River 100. In today’s show, I chat with Christen about all the wonderful things a specialty run shop has to offer, both inside and outside their brick and mortar locations. This is a great show to share with folks just getting into running as well as a valuable reminder of all the amazing things our run shops do for our community.

This past May a new ultra race was born in the desert of central Arizona. They call it the Cocodona 250, a combination of the names Coconino and Sedona. The Cocodona takes runners on an epic point-to-point course from Black Canyon City to downtown Flagstaff leading runners through desert, canyons, pine forests, up and over mountain ranges, down Whiskey Row, and through historical mining towns. 42,313 ft of elevation gain across 255.8 miles with a 125-hour cutoff, Aravaipa Running is calling this a life-altering ultramarathon and we think they are spot on. In its inaugural year, Ryan Birkemeyer decided to run the thing. Being fairly new to ultra distances, having only done a single one hundred miler himself, and the epic scope of the challenge, Ryan asked friends Sketch Ditty and John Banister to support his racing through crewing and pacing. They eagerly accepted the opportunity. I was fortunate to meet all three gentlemen at the aid station I volunteered at around mile 127 in Jerome, again at an after-race breakfast in Flag, and now, here, on today’s podcast. Ryan, John, and Sketch discuss what it took to cross that finish line in Flagstaff and collect the buckle of Arizona copper to join the ranks of the few brave souls who have tackled the 200-mile + division of trail and ultra running. 

Kristopher Cargile is a man of many talents. Kris works as an EMT, a trail running guide for Top Out Adventures,  a course ambassador for Trans Rockies, and volunteers and works at trail and adventure races across the United States, and so much more. I first connected with Kris for Eat Clean Run Dirty Magazine for the photos he took at H9. Kris is truly building something special with Group Run Finder and I am proud to be able to share it with you. I take the opportunity in this podcast to discuss what Group Run Finder is and more so what the running community has meant to Kris and me. Since the day I was first introduced to Kris I have found him to be both inspired and inspiring. Kris is a generous human with so very many skills and a big heart. We were fast friends. I hope you enjoy what I hope is the first of many conversations with Kris on the Eat Clean Run Dirty Podcast. His Group Run Finder project is incredible and adds to our sport and community in a big way. Take a moment and visit www.grouprunfinder.com and add your run or share it in your favorite run groups and clubs. Tell your friends. Share it on your socials. This is going to be huge.

Jeremy Peterson wrote an article for Eat Clean Run Dirty Magazine about the Holiday Lake 50k titled Horton’s Holiday. The Holiday Lake 50k is a loop course circling Holiday Lake itself as well as using country roads and trails in that area. The weather can be from nice and pleasant to running in a foot of snow. Jeremy tells the story of how the legendary Race Director, David Horton, started the race and how it has grown over the past 25 years. 2020 was a very special year in that Horton handed over the duties of Race Director to Brenton and Jamie Swyers. The Lynchburg Race Director duo are both ultramarathon runners and former Liberty University students where David Horton serves as Professor. Horton’s Holiday is paired with the photography of the very talented Jay Proffitt who aside from taking fantastic photos of the race is also the Producer of this very podcast. I hope you enjoy this audible article episode featuring Jay Proffitt, Jeremy Peterson, and David Horton, himself. My name is Jess Vandenbush and you are listening to the Eat Clean Run Dirty Podcast.

Sabrina Stanley is a trail and ultra runner who lives and trains in Silverton, CO. Sabrina’s resume includes a win at HURT 100, Grand Raid La Reunion, and Hardrock as well as an F3 finish at Western States. While Sabrina’s wins are impressive what really makes her glow is her drive, determination, and focus. Sabrina sets big goals and does the work to make them a reality. In Volume 1 of Eat Clean, Run Dirty Magazine Sabrina writes an article titled How to Coach Yourself. When I first approached Sabrina about writing an article I asked her about tips on choosing a coach and finding a good fit. Sabrina herself has coached many runners alongside her partner Avery Collins through their Power Couples Coaching. It was so refreshing to have Sabrina say that folks do not need a coach at all, With a little planning anyone can map out a successful training plan for their next big race. In a beautiful and comprehensive feature article in Eat Clean, Run Dirty Magazine, she shows us all how to do just that. 

To accompany this fantastic article we’ve recruiting Colorado’s Jordan Chapell and his photo series from one of my personal bucket list races, The High Lonesome 100. Jordan captures the rugged and sweeping landscapes in a way that the viewer can feel the grandeur of the course and the incredible difficulty in navigating it. The images are captivating and inspired. 

In today’s podcast, I sit down to chat with Jordan and Sabrina to do a deep dive on the How To Coach Yourself article. I am your host, Jessica Vandenbush, and this is the Eat Clean Run Dirty Podcast. 

In the summer 2020 issue of Eat Clean, Run Dirty Magazine we take a deep dive into the 200-mile genera with an incredible article by David Infante titled A Journey Into The Self. I personally have not run or been present at any 200-mile race. I do have wild respect for the folks that do them and I notice they rarely stop at just one. It is something that lives in a runner’s blood and calls their name. Bring on the Bigfoot 200. The Bigfoot 200 traverses the Cascade Mountain Range with 42,000 feet of elevation gain in a 206.5-mile point to point course that begins at Mount St. Helens and finishing in Randle, WA traversing the Cascade Mountain Range. To better equip myself for this conversation, I invited a very special co-host, Ryan Chukuske. Ryan is a trail and ultra runner from Minnesota who not only is a Founding Member of Eat Clean Run Dirty Magazine but is the author of a book called Bigfoot 200, Because You Know, Why the #@&% Not? Together the three of us discuss what the human body and spirit goes through over the course of 200 miles in rugged country and why one can’t wait to go back. I got goosebumps when I first raid David’s race report. It’s vulnerable and gorgeous. You can learn more about the Bigfoot 200 by visiting Destinationtrailrun.com . You can follow David on Instagram at @dinfante64 and Ryan on Instagram at @chukuske . Please consider purchasing Ryan’s book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Bigfoot-200-Because-You-Know/dp/1633936872. 

In a separate note, I’d like to take a moment to make a special announcement. The Eat Clean Run Dirty Podcast officially has a Producer. Jay Profitt is serving as our Production Intern. Jay lives in beautiful Lynchburg, Virgina and, among many other things, works as a race photographer, creates promotional videos,  and does production for another great podcast called Math Before Breakfast. You can connect with Jay and check out his excellent work by visiting www.jayproffitt.com.

In the Summer issue of Eat Clean, Run Dirty Magazine Ryan Mulcahy is the subject of an article titled With Purpose. The article is a part of a regular installment to gain an understanding of other folks that share our wild spaces. The outdoors brings together different people around a common love of fresh air and inspiring landscapes. Ryan was an athlete from a very young age. As a boy growing up in rugged eastern Pennsylvania, he excelled at wrestling, cross country, and BMX. By excelled I mean that his childhood bedroom houses dozens and dozens of medals, trophies, and newspaper clippings. When I ask Ryan about his accomplishments he is humble and starts telling me about his older brother Sean. The Mulcahy boys were naturally talented and willing to do the hard work. Paul, their father, was their greatest coach. Ryan ran cross country in high school, college, and went after a career in coaching and developing runners. This brought him to Flagstaff Arizona and  Waco Texas where he coached and trained but also started running bird dogs. He was waking up wild early to work his dogs and then coaching at Baylor University during the day. Ryan has vision and sets everything he does towards that goal. Today Ryan is still very much a coach. He is mentor and coach to a group in Boise Idaho but his dogs are his star athletes. The Q and A article in the magazine and this interview give us a glimpse into bird dogs and the upland bird hunting community. You can learn more about Ryan on Instagram by following @Borntorunkennels or by visiting Borntorunkennels.com If you’ve got a bird dog in your kennel please consider sending them to one of Ryan’s training camps. Spring is in Idaho, Summer in Montana, and winter on the Mariposa Ranch in South Texas. 

Maggie Olson wrote a wildly helpful article for Eat Clean Run Dirty Magazine on how to fund your running habit. Those big goal races are completely attainable, you just need the right training plan for your finances. This is an expanded audio version of the favorite article from ECRD Issue 1. Subscribe to the print …