FACING VERT

He did it! Heath Ballard started at the top of the Shut-In trailhead and ran over 16 miles to the bottom all in honor and in memory of his mom, Melanie Ballard. It truly was the most stunning day, with a sunrise that simply took your breath away. Heath was amazing...never stopping, always moving, even though he had never run over 8 miles and had never set foot on the Mountains-to-Sea trail. Listen as we talk about the limited training he was able to get in, the gear he discovered he needed, and his recap of the day. Thank you to all that supported, prayed, paced, crewed, laughed, cried and loved. We raised over $6400, which blew all of our minds. Thank you again and again. Love you, Heath, and I am proud and honored to call you my friend.

Heath's Instagram

Heath's Strava

Thank you, thank you for listening to Facing Vert. It means to much to me. You can also follow us on Instagram: @facingvert and message me there!

Jordan Tager set out to accomplish his first 100 miler at the Grindstone 100 this past September. Gaining over 21000 feet of vert over the the span of 100 miles is not for the faint of heart, and it was a beast of a race to choose for his first 100. Jordan felt prepared, but nothing prepared him for the tropical storm that was to hit. I loved diving into the details of his race and his fight to try and finish through such crazy circumstances. But before getting into his experience at Grindstone, I wanted to know what got him there in the first place. I hope you enjoy our conversation, as I certainly did. Thank you, Jordan, for taking the time out of your weekend to sit down with me. You are awesome. Looking forward to seeing what is next for you.

Jordan's Strava

Jordan's Instagram @jedwardtager

Thank you, as always, for listening. It still blows my mind that people actually listen! If you have enjoyed the podcast, I would love if you would share with your family and friends. Follow on Instagram @facingvert and feel free to message me there.

Once again I had the privilege of having Brandon Thrower, of Tanawha Adventures, back on the podcast. He is putting on The Looking Glass 100k on November 18th, and we walk through every detail of the course, the aid stations, pacer and crew info and more. So, if you are planning on running this beautiful event, you are helping out in anyway, or you are thinking of participating in the future, this podcast is definitely for you! Thank you, Brandon, for coming on again and giving us all the inside information. I can't wait to volunteer and pace my friend! Praying for the perfect weather and for all involved to make the best memories.

Looking Glass 100K Website

Ultrasignup Registration

Participant Guide

Tanawha Adventures Instagram

Brandon Thrower Instagram

Handmade awards by Jonathan Ibach

Thank you for listening! Want to message me? Follow Facing Vert on Instagram and message me through this platform. Thank you!

Bodybuilding...just WOW. This is an incredibly difficult sport that I knew absolutely nothing about going into this podcast. BUT, I was so honored when I was able to sit down with Pro Bodybuilder and Mr. USA 2021, Jordan Hutchinson, and his stunning wife, Brittany, to really dig in and learn as much as I could about this sport. The DISCIPLINE and MENTAL TOUGHNESS that it takes to truly make it in this sport is mind-blowing. I would not last a SINGLE day. The nutrition side alone of bodybuilding is enough to make my jaw drop. Listen to hear Jordan's journey on how he has made it to the top level of the sport and why Brittany decided to step away. What an awesome couple they make...supporting one other through so many highs and so many lows. Now, as they move to Texas to pursue their dreams, I wish them both so much success and in life. You will be so missed.

How to follow the Hutchinson's:

Jordan's Instagram

Brittany's Instagram

Sponsors:

Condemned Labz

The Flavor Gang

Gasp

Better Bodies

Enjoying the podcast? Please follow and share with others! Also follow us on Instagram @facingvert. Thank you!!

Several years ago Ellie Johnston and I met while running with the B-Group on Monday nights, but Ellie's true love is cycling. Now she has become a force on two skinny tires, and it has been exciting to keep up with, especially watching her Strava! During Covid, to keep her motivated and out of the house, she began a streak of either running or cycling everyday for an entire year. Coming out of that time and gaining so much strength, she began to race. She joined a team with Gravelo where she has found support, friendship and motivation. Through this, and her passion for riding, she has seen so much success in just a year's time including standing at the top of the podium at PMBAR. Ellie, thank you for coming on the podcast and sharing your journey this past year. I am betting on you to be the Queen of Pisgah 2024. ;)

Ellie's Strava

Ellie's Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and sharing! Please follow us on Instagram @facingvert.

Laurel Awald and I just ran The Naturalist 50K this past Saturday that takes place in Franklin, NC on the Bartram Trail. This race is an out and back with 8000 feet in vert, but the views at the top are worth it, especially on a gorgeous day like we had. Laurel crushed the course, coming in 1st lady and 3rd overall. Katti Jackson ran an incredible race coming in 2nd and 5th overall, and I was able to make the podium in 3rd and 7th overall! What an honor it was to race with these ladies on such a tough course. Not only did we podium, but I am so proud to say that all three of us came in under the course record (which completely blew my mind). I wanted to have Laurel on to chat about our experience, to learn about her and her running journey, but our conversation quickly became SO much more than I ever expected (or that she expected!). Laurel poured out her heart, her hurt, her pain, her joy and her tears, and it was beautiful and simultaneously heartbreaking to witness. So many lessons for all of us wrapped up into this one podcast, all because Laurel was honest and open about the struggles she has fought to overcome. Thank you, Laurel. You met me for the first time at the race, yet you were willing to open your heart over a podcast. Thank you for being so bold. 1 Corinthians 9:24

Laurel's Instagram

Laurel's Strava

Thank you for listening! Please, if you will, share with your friends and family! Also, follow us on Instagram: @facingvert

Sam Reed has TEN 100 mile completions with the belt buckles to prove it. Plus, he has run in many other ultras and has done incredibly well. Sam definitely did not gradually make his way to the 100 mile distance...he jumped in head first with lightening speed. We talk about most of his experiences in these races...his struggles, his victories, the lessons learned, the beauty, his favorites and his least favorites. Sam does not run to escape, he sees running as his own personal therapy session...to face and work through the anxious thoughts that he has struggled with since childhood. He is not afraid to talk about his mental health struggles, and this shows incredible strength. You amaze me. Thank you for being you, Sam. Thank you for being one of the ones that inspired me and dared me to try the 100 mile distance. Thank you for being such an encouragement and friend during my Hellbender journey.

Oh, and we talk about monkeys.

Sam's Instagram

Sam's Email: [email protected]

Thank you, as always, for listening! Love it...even kinda like it? Share with your friends! Find us on Instagram: @facingvert

To me, Adam Hill was just a mythical creature because I had heard so much about him through friends and the running community, read about him in publications, run some of the epic routes he created, but we had never crossed paths. Plus, he has absolutely NO social media, and that's how we find everyone, right? ;) I mean, I have him to thank for PITCHELL, his brainchild (as the FKT site notes), and for inspiring people from all around to attempt this 65ish mile point-to-point run from Mt. Pisgah to Mt. Mitchell. His love for adventuring in the woods (most of the time on bare feet or in road shoes that are way past their prime) is completely inspiring. Instead of continuing to pay to run in races, he created routes on his own and with friends. The first time he summited Mt. Mitchell was by running out his back door to get there...a short 86 mile trip. Adam, you are an incredible human being, and I am so glad you truly DO exist. The running community, especially here in Western North Carolina, is blessed to have you.

Adam Hill's Email: [email protected]

YouTube video of his adventure to Mt. Mitchell with his son: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=oeXQG_AH8jPx83jd&v=0sQqyvTpgwE&feature=youtu.be

Follow Facing Vert on Instagram: @facingvert

Thank you for listening! If you are enjoying this podcast, please share with your friends. Thank you!

He did it!! Aaron Saft has faced the vert of four 100 milers in one summer, and it blows my mind. So pumped that he was willing to come on to the podcast for a second time to talk about his last two races in the Slam...the Leadville 100 and Wasatch 100. Incredible accomplishment with a super cool trophy to go with it. As you will hear in this episode, it definitely wasn't easy and there were times when he didn't know if he could finish...BUT HE DID! Congrats, Aaron! Also in this episode we dive into his go-to gear, what gets him through the lows, determining what is real and what is a hallucination after hours of running, and more! Anytime I am with Aaron I learn something new about his heart and what fuels him. Thank you, Aaron, again for joining me on Facing Vert!

Listen to Aaron's Podcast, Running Is Life.

Facing Vert's First Episode with Aaron: Episode 019

Update on fundraiser for Heath Ballard (Episode 022)...over $3500 raised so far! Heath will be running reverse Shut-In on November 3rd at 8:00 am in memory of his mom, Melanie. Please feel free to join us if you can! I will be posting updates on Instagram throughout the day. See the GoFundMe here.

There are not enough words to describe how thankful I am for Heath Ballard and his family. Heath is my podcast producer/sound guru/editor, and Facing Vert would not exist without him and Evan Dykes. There are a few reasons I wanted to have Heath on, and I am so honored he was willing. He has been on his own fitness journey for the past year, taking the hardest step into becoming a healthier individual...the first step. Once crossing that line and having the accountability of friends, Heath has found a new love for working out, even running, and can feel the difference in his everyday life. But Heath's life changed dramatically when just this past Friday, September 1st, his mom stepped from this life into heaven. On August 1st, the doctor found 'spots', and a month later she was gone. Melanie Ballard was an incredible woman, with a spirit that lit the room when she entered, and she will be greatly, greatly missed. Hear Heath's heart as he speaks about all that has happened over this past month. I pray that this time simply talking was healing for him in some sort of way. Heath, thank you for being so courageous and vulnerable by sharing your story just days after you lost your mom. You are so loved by the Jordan family. I hope everyone will listen.

"Every time the cave gets darker, His light shines brighter."-Melanie Ballard

Heath will be running Shut-In Reverse sometime soon to raise money to help his dad during this very difficult time. Before Heath even knew his mom was terminal, he wanted to do a run in her honor...to do something so hard and seemingly impossible since his mom was going through something so hard. As soon as I have details, I will post them on Facing Vert's Instagram. Thank you.

Heath's Strava

Heath's Instagram

Thank you for listening. It means so much.

Tara