Dirt And Vert

Run, party, repeat! Welcome to the East Coast Adventures Dirt and Vert podcast, where we talk all things running, racing, and training to help you get ready for your next big adventure. Learn from our successes and our failures, and have fun at the same time. Join us right here, every week with inspiring guests who share their captivating tales from the trails. And remember, nobody cares... run faster!!

Dirt And Vert is a sports podcast hosted by East Coast Adventures, with 144 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

East Coast Adventures hosts Dirt And Vert, a sports show with 144 episodes published.

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  Episode #144

  The Medicine from the Mountains: Leslie Cockrell on Ultrarunning, Regret, and Building True Strength

  Sep 26, 20261h 46m

  In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, Matt and I sit down with an amazing runner, coach, and longtime friend of East Coast Adventures: Leslie Cockrell . We first met Leslie back at the 2023 Fort Frenzy 12-hour, and since then, she has been an absolute fixture in our running community. Leslie takes us through her entire progression—starting out running during COVID, jumping into a 22-mile mountain retreat in Glacier National Park, and diving headfirst into the ultra scene with a 52-miler and two 100-mile finishes in her very first year of racing. We talk about the hard physical lessons learned along the way: fixing severe glute imbalances, navigating waist-deep water in Florida mangrove swamps at the Vero Beach Octopus 50K, and pacing her husband Jeremy through the brutal climbs of the Cherokee 70K. Leslie also gets real about her first DNF at the Great Divide, opening up about the mental traps that convince us to quit, why the regret of stopping hurts ten times worse than the physical pain, and how failing forward gives you the belief to tackle your next 100. Key Topics Leslie's journey from casual runner to ultra marathoner Training and race preparation for ultras Lessons learned from race experiences and DNF moments Importance of community and support in ultra running Heat training and race day strategies Balancing personal development and athletic goals Leslie's transition from rodeo to ultrarunning Crewing experiences and lessons learned The emotional and physical challenges of ultramarathons The importance of community and support in racing How to handle a DNF and learn from it Race directing and creating positive race experiences Balancing coaching with personal racing goals The mental strategies for endurance sports The significance of race environment and organization Leslie's future race goals and motivations

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  Episode #143

  Suffer to Honor: Brian Baker on Firefighting, Faith, and the Last Man Standing

  Sep 11, 20261h 39m

  In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, David & Matt sit down with an absolute grinder, good friend, and recent champion of the Inkom Last Man Standing: Brian Baker. Brian opens up about the road that brought him into this sport. After a devastating 2021 ATV accident on his family farm broke his pelvis, fractured his spine, and claimed the life of his senior firefighter and close friend Pat Mahan, Brian was left battling heavy survivor's guilt. He turned to suffering to cope—first putting his head down to complete a full year of daily CrossFit Hero WODs in Pat's honor, and eventually taking that drive to ultra running, where he found a deeper path to Christ and learned to stop using suffering as a punishment. We dive deep into the brutal reality of the short-loop format at Midstate Mile and Inkom Last Man Standing, where you have to line up every 20 minutes and make the conscious choice to suffer again. Brian shares his massive progression from 70 miles at Midstate Mile in 2025 to throwing down 127.6 miles over 39 hours and 40 minutes at Inkom Last Man Standing to take the overall win. We break down the danger of the "micro-quit" on the climbs, how an impromptu crew of friends helped him stay in the fight, and the raw emotion of taking that solo victory lap knowing the work finally paid off.

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  Episode #142

  Listening When Your Body Speaks: Keith Overbay on A Collapsed Lung, 100-Milers, and Problem Solving

  Sep 3, 20261h 32m

  In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast , Matt and I sit down with a longtime friend in the Southeast trail community, and two-time No Business 100 finisher, Keith Overbay . Keith’s journey is one a lot of us can relate to—starting out in his 30s to get back into shape after a divorce, finding the trail community through Nashville's Dirtbags group, and eventually tackling brutal 100-milers like No Business and Cruel Jewel. But earlier this year, Keith went through something none of us saw coming. While casually riding his bike through Nashville to cheer on friends at the marathon, he felt a bad side stitch that turned out to be a spontaneous collapsed lung. We dive deep into Keith’s medical scare, the reality of having a tube put in your chest and getting surgery to rough up lung tissue, and the patience it takes to rebuild after back-to-back setbacks. We also talk about the mental grit required to survive 32 hours of hallucinations on a 100-mile course, learning to stop making excuses during 24-hour loops, and why ultra running is the single greatest tool for emotional growth and problem solving. Key Takeaways Finding the Outlet: How a life pivot and divorce in Keith’s 30s sparked a return to running that eventually led straight into the ultra community. The Spontaneous Pneumothorax: The wild story of riding a bike, feeling what seemed like a minor cramp, and ending up in the ER with a collapsed lung requiring surgery and chest tubes. Listening to Your Body: Recognizing when something isn't normal pain, trusting your gut, and seeking medical care before a bad situation turns deadly. Hallucinations at Mile 80: What happens to the mind after 30 hours in the woods—from imaginary hot dog carts to seeing pirate ship masts in the trees. Problem Solving for 30 Hours: Keith’s perspective on why ultra running isn't just physical—it’s an ongoing test in staying patient, troubleshooting issues, and keeping a positive mindset. No Business 100: Looking back at the grit, weather, and deep relationships that make finishing a mountain 100 so meaningful

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  Episode #141

  Grit, Grace, and the Cherokee: Taylor Williams on Facing the Unknown

  Aug 21, 20262 hour

  In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast , David & Matt sit down with fellow East Coast Adventures running team member, athlete, and coach Taylor Williams . Taylor shares her unfiltered story of stepping into the ultra world, from running her first 50K at Firewater to tackling one of the most brutal mountain races on the East Coast—the Cherokee. Taylor pulls back the curtain on her massive training block leading into this year's Cherokee 130K, the mental hurdle of stepping onto the course alone, and navigating high heat, extreme humidity, and severe chafing that ultimately brought her day to a halt at mile 61. We dive deep into why a DNF doesn't define who you are, the power of leaning into a mentorship under Mary Cates, and how stepping out of your comfort zone builds lasting grit and grace. Key Takeaways The Cherokee Experience: What it truly takes to prepare for and face 10,000+ feet of climb in the middle of summer humidity. Overriding Imposter Syndrome: How Taylor moved past self-doubt to embrace huge miles, solo training runs in the Smokies, and leading other runners as a coach. The Reality of a DNF: Why walking away with gas left in the tank teaches you where your real boundaries are and sets the stage for future growth. Power Hiking Mastery: The strength of using the uphill as a tool to control heart rate and manage fatigue late in an ultra. Grit & Grace in Action: How finding a running family transforms your mindset on race day and keeps you grounded when things get tough.

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  Episode #138

  Running as Life: Aaron Saft on Misogis, 200-Milers, and Failing Forward

  Aug 7, 20261h 30m

  In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast , Mike and I sit down with legendary ultra runner, coach, podcaster, and former race director Aaron Saft . Aaron called in live from his truck while towing his camper across the country to prepare for the Rocky Mountain Slam—giving us an authentic, unfiltered look into a career that spans over two decades in endurance sports. Aaron takes us way back to the early, pre-UltraSignup days of the sport, when paper registrations, cash on race day, and low-cut hiking boots were the norm. We dive into his vast resume—from winning sub-ultra trail national championships to completing the Grand Slam and Bigfoot 200—and talk about his annual "Misogi" challenges, like running a calendar club challenge that capped off with a food-poisoning-fueled Christmas day effort. Aaron also shares the terrifying time he stood eye-to-eye with a 10-foot brown bear at the Canadian Death Race, why a high-carb strategy doesn't work for every stomach, and how decades of trail miles have deepened his relationships with his family and friends. Key Takeaways Before the Tech Era: What trail racing looked like in the early 2000s, handing out Janji gear before it was cool, and how the sport has evolved from paper sign-ups to live-streamed commercial events. The Canadian Death Race Encounter: Standing 6 feet away from a 10-foot brown bear with two cubs, sprinting 40 miles into the race, and trading a coin to a ferryman to cross a glacial river. Annual Misogi Challenges: Why Aaron sets one challenge a year with a 50% chance of failure—and how he survived running a 172-mile week in December through a bout of severe food poisoning. Nutritional Pivot for Older Athletes: Learning that high-carb intake isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, and why incorporating fats and proteins early can save an aging gut. Grieving a DNF: Why every runner needs a grace period to process a failed race, make a "what went right vs. wrong" list, and use the community to problem-solve. The Intrinsic 'Why': Why true motivation comes from the deep, unfiltered connections forged with family and crew out in the dark miles.

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