366: Kat Bright: Jumping Over the Pennsylvania AT FKT Motherhood, Mindset & the Pursuit of More

Patreons First, then on to the show: Motherhood, Mindset & the Pursuit of More What happens when a former collegiate high jumper, coach, mother and lifelong athlete decides to find out just how far she can push herself? Kat Bright joins Art, Anna G. and Phred to talk about her incredible journey from high-level track and field to ultrarunning—and the very personal path that eventually led her to a supported FKT on the Pennsylvania section of the Appalachian Trail. Kat covered roughly 230 miles and 31,000 feet of elevation gain in 4 days, 2 hours, 41 minutes and 10 seconds, traveling from the Delaware Water Gap area south toward Maryland. But the FKT is only part of the story. Kat talks openly about two dramatically different pregnancies, including one that required her to spend the entire pregnancy on bed rest before an emergency C-section at 32 weeks. During that period, she used sports-psychology visualization to mentally run the trails and tracks she couldn't physically access. Running eventually became part of her recovery and a way to reconnect with a body she felt she had lost trust in. We get into her evolution as an ultrarunner, including a difficult first Eastern States 100 where she finished DFL with only minutes to spare—and how that experience eventually convinced her that she was capable of much more. Kat explains how she prepared for the Pennsylvania AT while balancing two kids, family responsibilities, a business and all the normal chaos of life. Her training included treadmill work, repeated runs on familiar trails, and deliberately boring sessions designed to prepare her brain for the monotony of hundreds of miles. Kat also talks about her coaching business, where she works primarily with women 35 and older. Her philosophy is refreshingly realistic: training doesn't have to be perfect to work. Missed workouts happen. Life happens. Sometimes you only have 10 or 15 minutes. The goal isn't perfection. It's showing up repeatedly. She discusses strength training, cardiovascular fitness, mobility, pregnancy and postpartum training, perimenopause and menopause, and why women shouldn't allow age, motherhood or hormones to define what their bodies are capable of. At the heart of the conversation is a simple idea that applies far beyond running: You don't have to feel motivated to take the first step. The voice of doubt never completely disappears. But the more you show up, the quieter it becomes. And sometimes, when you're standing at the trailhead wondering if you have any business attempting something completely ridiculous, the answer is simply: Fuck it. Let's go for it. https://www.instagram.com/milesfromherview https://www.instagram.com/katfitstrength/ Website: www.kat.fit Fastest Know Time Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Buy Fred's Book  Running Home More Information on the #CUT112   

The Cultra crew gets together for a full-on Vermont 100 debrief with Josh Gaetjen, Christian Dockum, Chase Smith and Marc Kelly who all finished the 2026  VT 100 between 18:19 and 20:15.  The conversation covers the highs, lows, suffering and fun of one of the Northeast's classic 100-milers including what happens when your legs fall apart, your stomach quits, and you decide that six ibuprofen during a 100-mile race is a good idea. Chase Smith joins the conversation just days after his wedding to recap his Vermont 100 experience, including a dramatic mid-race collapse, a comeback up the field, severe stomach problems, and an extremely unpleasant final quarter of the race. The guys also dig into the crew experience and how seeing familiar faces at aid stations can keep a runner moving when things get ugly. Art and the crew talk about the strange but wonderful relationships that develop between runners, crews and volunteers over the course of a 100-mile race. There's plenty of discussion about what makes the Vermont 100 special, including its incredible community atmosphere and the fact that it is essentially a world-class 100-mile race in the backyard of many Northeast runners. Vermont 100 UTMB Bans Painkillers Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Buy Fred's Book  Running Home More Information on the #CUT112   

At just 21 years old, Kaylee Frederick has already established herself as one of the most exciting young ultrarunners on the East Coast. She ran her first 100 miler at 16 years old, and when she was 18 became the youngest ever finisher of The Badwater 135.  In 2026, she won the Eastern States 100 outright, setting a new women's course record in brutally hot conditions. She also completed the Pennsylvania Triple Crown, finishing as the overall fastest person and Queen of the Mountain. But Kaylee's story goes well beyond race results. In this episode, Kaylee talks about discovering running as a kid, finding ultrarunning at 14, losing her father at age six, and how those experiences shaped the person and runner she has become. She opens up about depression, anxiety, therapy, faith, and learning to deal with the negative voices in her head. We also get deep into her Eastern States race including the moment she realized she was leading the entire field and the wild final miles when she was convinced someone was right behind her. Most importantly, Kaylee talks about a simple goal that has become central to her life: She doesn't want to just survive. She wants to actually live. Eastern States 100 Results Badwater 135   Kaylee's UltraSignup Results Follow Kaylee on Instagram Episode Photo Credit Phil Cuppernell Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Buy Fred's Book Running Home More Information on the #CUT112   

This week on Cultra, we're digging into a brutal Eastern States 100, reflecting on our marathon-length conversation with Camille Herron, and looking ahead to one of the most exciting young runners on the East Coast. Eastern States delivered the kind of race that separates the merely enthusiastic from the completely unreasonable. With hot conditions pushing the DNF rate to roughly 54.5%, only 55 runners made it to the finish. And leading the women and first finisher overall was Kaylee Frederick, who put together an extraordinary 23:09 finish to set a new women's course record and become the first woman to break 24 hours at Eastern States. Naturally, we need to talk to her. How about next episode? We're also looking back at our recent three-hour conversation with Camille Herron. What started as an interview turned into a fascinating exploration of competition, neurodiversity, ADHD, hyperfocus, records, rules, and how easily people can misunderstand someone whose brain works differently. We get into the differences between competition on the track, trails, and at races like Badwaterand why some of Camille's controversial questions about records may have had more substance behind them than people realized. Plus: The Eastern States 100 carnage Kaylee Frederick's historic performance Kaylee's incredible East Coast résumé The youngest finisher at Badwater Jigger Johnson and trail-race talk Anna's Bald Face Loop adventure Art's trail maintenance adventures on the Old Osseo Trail Phred's seemingly endless running streak Creatine, protein bars, bicarbonate and other ultra-runner science Getting older, getting slower, and pretending we're not John Kelly's Appalachian Trail attempt Colorado heat, smoke and water restrictions Another episode of the Cultra Trail Running Podcast where somehow we manage to talk about elite ultrarunning, trail maintenance, supplements, aging, technology and Patreon before remembering that we were supposed to be talking about a race. Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Buy Fred's Book Running Home More Information on the #CUT112   

World-record holder and ultrarunning legend Camille Herron joins AFB and Anna G for one of her most personal and wide-ranging conversations to date. This episode is not just a controversial hot take on Facebook, but is a long run in her fast but sometimes troubled shoes.   Rather than focusing on splits and statistics, this episode explores the experiences that have shaped Camille both on and off the race course. She shares what it was like receiving a late diagnosis of autism and ADHD, how those discoveries helped explain decades of challenges and successes, and why many of the traits she once struggled with have become strengths in elite ultrarunning events. Camille also reflects on her Vermont 100 comeback, racing without crew or pacers, evolving her training as she enters her mid-40s, and managing the effects of perimenopause while continuing to compete at the highest level. The conversation then shifts to several of the sport's biggest topics including race integrity, anti-doping, SafeSport, pacing, record ratification, and what the future of professional ultrarunning might look like. Whether you know Camille through her world records or the recent headlines, this episode offers a thoughtful, honest look at one of ultrarunning's most accomplished and most outspoken athletes. Life is complicated, and we are all wired in our own unique way. Sometimes it takes three hours to start to understand these differences.  Links for this Episode Vermont 100 Spartathlon Comrades Marathon Western States 100 International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) SafeSport WADA GOMU Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Buy Fred's Book  Running Home More Information on the #CUT112   

The Cultra Crew is headed north, and Josh is just days away from toeing the line at the legendary Vermont 100. This week is all about race week preparation as the gang dives into crew logistics, pacing strategy, nutrition plans, and the organized chaos that goes into surviving 100 miles. Anna G, Fred, josh and AFB break down everything from aid station bag organization and hydration bottle swaps to why carrying spare bottle nipples might be the most important piece of gear you'll never think about...until it's too late. The episode also covers an incredible weekend at Western States, updates from around the Beast Coast trail community, the heartbreaking news of the Hamster Wheel race director's house fire, and a few upcoming adventures that may involve even more questionable decisions. As always, expect plenty of laughs, tangents, and just enough useful ultrarunning advice to accidentally make you a better runner. In This Episode Josh's Vermont 100 race week strategy Crew and pacing logistics Fueling 120 grams of carbs per hour Western States and the church in the shopping mall Hamster Wheel community update Erica Nortini's White Mountains adventure RIOT and other future ultrarunning stupidity Tour de France, World Cup, and the usual Cultra nonsense Donate to the Conley Family Fire fund Vermont 100 Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Buy Fred's Book Running Home More Information on the #CUT112   

Amber Constant, a White Mountains ultrarunner attempting one of the biggest endurance challenges ever undertaken in New England: breaking the all-time annual vertical gain world record joins Cultra Crew this week. Amber shares how a devastating injury nearly ended her running career, the long road back to the mountains, and why she's spending nearly every day climbing thousands of vertical feet in pursuit of history. Along the way we dive into life as a traveling nurse, adventures that took her across India, the mental and physical toll of relentless climbing, and the incredible community that's formed around her project. We also talk about moose encounters, black fly attacks, GPS nerdiness, White Mountain suffering, and why sometimes the biggest victories have nothing to do with setting records. If you've ever wondered what it takes to climb millions of vertical feet in a single year—or simply need a reminder of what's possible when persistence beats adversity—this is an episode you won't want to miss. Follow Amber's journey and cheer her on as she chases history, one climb at a time. Amber's Go Fund Me  Ambers Instagram Link Gwen Stratton The Woman That I couldn't recall Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids! Buy Fred's Book Running Home More Information on the #CUT112     

This week on Cultra, we sit down with Jillian Ellefson and Cherie Bilbie to talk about the unofficial women's movement that took shape around the Connecticut Ultra Traverse 112 (CUT112). What started with a simple Facebook post quickly grew into a community of 26 women and 16 supporters, all committed to helping each other tackle one of the toughest adventures on the Beast Coast. Anna G takes the lead as Jillian and Cherie share how they approached training with precision and purpose, spending six months breaking the route into manageable 12-20 mile segments until they had covered—and in many cases repeated—the entire course. Their strategy wasn't just about fitness; it was about learning every rock, climb, and road crossing that CUT112 could throw at them. Now they are looking to replicate their success and get more women lined up for next year's event. The conversation also explores the emotional side of ultrarunning. Jillian opens up about balancing race preparation while supporting her daughter through a hospitalization for an eating disorder, and how the encouragement and companionship of Cherie helped her continue pursuing what once seemed impossible. Along the way, the crew dives into: -Building confidence by training on specific sections of the course. -Why places like Tariffville deserve your respect before race day. -The mental game of taking on a 112-mile journey with no hard time cutoffs. -The power of community and women supporting women in trail running. -Why sometimes the best training plan is simply showing up for each other. It's an inspiring conversation about resilience, friendship, and proving that impossible goals become achievable when shared with the right people. So grab your favorite trail snack, adjust your training bra (or don't), and join us for another gloriously impulsive episode from the belly of the Beast Coast. Join the CUT112 Womens Training Group Facebook Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Twitter @BlueBlazeRunner Buy Fred's Book Running Home More Information on the #CUT112    #CUT112 #TrailRunning #Ultrarunning #Cultra #BeastCoast #WomenWhoRun #NewEnglandTrail #NoSleepTillGuilford

AFB, Anna-G, Josh and Phred welcome back ultrarunner, hospice nurse, and Vermont mountain crusher Lila Gaudrault back to the Cultra Trail Running Podcast to break down her experience at the legendary Cocodona 250. Lila takes us deep into the Arizona suffering machine, explaining how she showed up to a 250-mile race with a surprisingly loose game plan, then spent the better part of the first half battling nausea, dehydration, and the reality that 250 miles is a very long way to travel on foot. We talk about sleep deprivation, hallucination-adjacent trail weirdness, crew and pacer support, and the problem-solving mindset required when you're three days into a race and still have mountains to climb. The conversation explores how Cocodona differs from 100-milers, why the atmosphere at 200+ mile races feels more collaborative than competitive, and what Lila learned about managing fatigue, recovery, and the physical toll of multi-day events. We also dive into the science of gender differences in ultrarunning, pacing strategies, and the unique culture that develops when everyone is equally exhausted. Along the way, we discuss * Cocodona 250 race recap * Sleep strategy and managing fatigue * Nausea, dehydration, and race-day troubleshooting * Crew and pacer support in 200+ mile races * Hallucinations and sleep deprivation * Gender dynamics in ultrarunning * Vermont 100 and Backyard Ultras * Balancing hospice nursing and elite ultrarunning * Future race plans and FKTs * The upcoming CUT112 fundraiser for Connecticut Forest & Parks A four-day journey through the Arizona desert, countless lessons learned, and proof that sometimes the best race plan is figuring it out one aid station at a time. Subscribe to Lil's Substack "Running too Much" Cocodona 250 Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Twitter @BlueBlazeRunner Buy Fred's Book Running Home More Information on the #CUT112   

357: Take 2 Trail at The Spring Fling 10 Hour What if we could leave less of a trace, and save some $ at the same time? Jess Parker is the Ultra cool founder of Take 2 Trail, and she has found a way for us all to easily buy and sell used gear.  This lowers the cost of entry for trail runners, and helps keep landfills and our closets from getting cluttered with the shoes, packs, and doo-dads that seemed like a good idea at the time.   Jess was so much fun to talk to, and we get a chance to hear about her running, and journey in life. And we get a good chance to discuss The Spring Fling 10 hour Race. Take2Trail @Take2Trail Instagram Take2Trail Facebook CTTrailmixers Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store! Outro music by Nick Byram Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter  basic licker.  If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids Twitter @BlueBlazeRunner Buy Fred's Book Running Home More Information on the #CUT112  c071ebb421b2aaae576cd124d2093240417e41dd