The Pain Cave

It’s our second-ever EMERGENCY POD, and we finally wore down Paul Kentor (a.k.a SteelTownRunner) to come on the show and share his unparalleled fund of ultrarunning knowledge with us. We discuss Des’ amazing (if not unexpected) performance, the history of the road 50K as a competitive event (on the world scene not much), the historical context of this performance, and where we’d want to see Des go next.

Links
Among many other articles about this, here’s irunfar’s coverage of the WR
SteelTownRunner on Twitter and IG

Beer for this episode: Industrial Arts Wrench

It’s been a LONG time since our last TMIU episode, so here goes! Phil is back in the Pain Cave to discuss all things ultrarunning, including his return to racing at GDR, results from the first two GT races of the year, the Barkley Marathons, and the Ohio Backyard ultra. (We touched on the Carbon X2 record attempt in February’s shoe draft episode, so decided to skip it here.) We also talk about the changes to the Western States lottery rules, Taggart vs. the haters, Koop vs. everybody, and much more.

Links
Koop’s IG post
WS lottery changes
Our interview with Joe Uhan about the WS lottery
Our interview with Taggart VanEtten

Beer for this episode: Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine, Pawley’s Island Brewing Co. Big Sandy Beaches

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

We’re back on the 20 Questions beat with #beastcoast stud and US National Snowshoe team member Cole Crosby. We talk to Cole about his recent run across the entire length of New Jersey, plus ducks, horses, motivation, pizza, and much more.

Links:
Cole’s business, Cresting the Summit
Cole on IG

Beers for this episode: Lawson’s Sip O’ Sunshine, Woodstock Brewing Mega Super Pixelated DIPA, Jackie O’s Mystic Mama, Ommegang Abbey Ale

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

We’ve drafted ultrarunning fantasy teams, we’ve drafted the elements of the perfect aid station, and now we’re drafting the perfect shoe closet. Bryon Powell of iRunFar and Ian Golden of the Trails Collective join Phil and I for a brief state-of-the-sport discussion before we select our favorite all-time shoes in each of eight different categories. Charge your flux capaciters and gas up your DeLoreans, we’re taking you back to 1993…and even a little farther.

Vote here for the winner of our inaugural shoe draft!

Beers for this episode: Equilibrium DHop 28, 4 Noses El Jefe Caliente, Alchemist Focal Banger

Links
iRunFar
The Trails Collective
Red Newt Racing

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

The defending champ at Transgrancanaria and the newly minted holder of the Wonderland Trail FKT, Kaytlyn Gerbin faces her toughest test: the 20 Questions hot seat. We talk about her favorite races, snowboarding, watermelons, weird costumes, and much more.

Links:
Instagram: @kaytlyn_g
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaytlyng/
Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/kaytlyn_g
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaytlyn_gerbin

Beer for this episode: Sixpoint Sweet Action

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

We start the new year off right with a visit to the Pain Cave from Taggart VanEtten. Who is that, you ask? He’s the triathlete-turned-marathoner who shocked the ultrarunning world with an outstanding 12:19 win at the Tunnel Hill 100 in his ultramarathon debut. Taggart tells us about how his tri background helps him as an ultrarunner, why he decided to run Tunnel Hill this year, his training and nutrition, and more.

Links
Follow Taggart on Instagram
Taggart’s blog

Desert Island Picks: How Bad Do You Want It by Matt Fitzgerald, Tickets to my Downfall by Machine Gun Kelly, Miller Lite

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Time to bid goodbye to the possibly the strangest year in ultrarunning history. Phil and I do a quick recap of recent results before we welcome back the great Dylan Bowman to look back at the yar that was and to make our picks for Ultrarunner of the Year, Performance of the Year, FKT of the Year, and much more.

Links:
DBo’s website
DBo on the Pain Cave
DBo’s podcast, The Well (soon to be rebranded as Pyllars)

Beers for this episode: Other Half DDH Monteuka + Galaxy, Peak Organic Slim Hazy, Great Notion Cloud Forest, Zero Gravity Little Wolf, Jackie O’s Cool Beans

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

The pride of the #Beastcoast, Patrick Reagan, joins us in the Pain Cave for another edition of 20 questions. We talk about his favorite race, why he like racing in hot weather, playing guitar, racing 100s, why watermelon is awesome, and much more.

Links:
Follow Patrick on Instagram
Patrick’s website
Interested in being coached by Patrick?

Beers for this episode: Jackie O’s Who Cooks For You, Peak Organic Slim Hazy

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

Phil gets to fanboy out as we welcome in defending Hardrock champ Sabrina Stanley to the Pain Cave to sit on the 20 Questions hot seat. We cover Sabrina’s exploits on Nolan’s 14 this summer, her favorite race and toughest race (hint: they’re the same race), which one of us won the Ultrarunning Fantasy Draft by selecting her (hint: it was me), and more.

Links:
Follow Sabrina on Instagram
The truth will out: the Women’s Ultrarunning Fantasy Draft

Beers for this episode: Equilibrium/Great Notion Juice = Juice, Foreign Objects Ritual Colors

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale

British ultrarunner Kristian Morgan had to forego a second attempt on the Appalachian Trail this summer due to the travel restrictions in place because of the pandemic. Instead, he stuck close to home and took on the longest trail in the UK, the 630-mile South West Coast Path, taking aim at the four-year-old record set by the great Damian Hall. Kristian joined us for the third time in the Pain Cave to talk about his experiences on the trail, training during the pandemic, running with gratitude, and more.

Links
Kristian’s pre-AT interview and post-AT interview
Kristian’s website and podcast
South West Coast Path FKT

Intro music: "Fine Line" by the Bloodletters
Outro music: "When I Was Still Young" by Yard Sale