Surviving Anchor Down Ultra

Host Celeste Fong talks with Steve Blase about his journey from sobriety to ultra running, how he found trail running, and his first steps toward 100-mile races. Steve shares early races, injuries, and the training that led to completing his first 100-mile events. The episode dives into standout races—Bubba’s Backyard Ultra, Jigger Johnson, Hamster Wheel, and Vermont 100—detailing strategies, pacing, pacers, DNFs, and the unique challenges of backyard ultras. Steve reflects on race-day decisions, fueling, and the role of aid stations and crews. Themes include the mental game of ultrarunning, the deep friendships formed while suffering together, lessons learned from setbacks, and Steve’s goals for future races and continued growth in both mind and body.

Hosts Celeste and Danielle recount a last-minute birthday trip to Acadia National Park, camping in the car and tackling multiple trails in 24 hours. Highlights include a pre-dawn hike to watch sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, cliff and loop hikes like Gorham and Great Head, and the scramble to see Bubble Rock at Jordan Pond. They share funny mishaps (slips, close calls, an almond joke), practical tips about trail distances, parking/permits, coffee at the summit, and praise for perfect October weather—concluding that the trip was exhausting but unforgettable.

Host Celeste Fong talks with Ray Pinney about starting trail running later in life, tackling 50-mile races and 100+ mile events, and finding purpose and community through ultras. They discuss injuries and recovery, memorable races like Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim and the Race for the Ages, the mental highs and lows of ultra running, and how the trail community supports and inspires people of all ages.

Host Celeste Fong and guest Greg Smith recount his brutal Mogollon Monster 100‑mile race in Arizona — battling dehydration, altitude sickness, splitting headaches, and a relentless desert climb over roughly 36 hours. They reflect on the pressure of destination races, the lifeline of family crewing (Greg's dad and grandpa), mental problem‑solving in ultras, and the lessons he’ll use for future high‑altitude races.

Hosts Celeste Fong, John Calabrese, and Ben Nalette recount their chaotic weekend at the Jigger Johnson 100-mile race in New Hampshire: long drives, camp chaos, bizarre aid-station encounters, and a brutal 15-hour stretch that led to a DNF. Along the way they bond over bad movies, messy stomach issues, trail culture, race logistics, and why they keep coming back for more. Expect adult language, raw humor, and candid takes on ultrarunning life from the back of the pack.

Host Celeste Fong sits down with Taylor Verville and her crew—Marcus, Steve, and Mike—to relive the brutal and beautiful Jigger Johnson 100-mile race. They break down the technical terrain, logistics, pacer strategy, and the unexpected chaos that defined the event. From dramatic road closures and tracker failures to dirt naps, fueling hacks, and a late-night finish, this episode captures the grit, strategy, and camaraderie behind one of New England’s toughest ultras.

Celeste Fong talks with TJ, who shares his raw, funny and adult-only journey from extreme weight loss to becoming an ultra runner. They dig into his first races, how he fell in love with ultra-distance events, and why he prefers loops and self-supported runs. The episode is full of candid race stories, training quirks, gritty race-day details, and the tight-knit trail community that keeps them coming back — plus plenty of humor, profanity, and real talk about fueling, injuries, and life changes along the way.

Hosts Celeste and Craig recap their experience at Anchor Down Ultra, a night-start loop race at Colt State Park that was defined by extreme heat and suffocating humidity. They describe the course, pacing strategies, aid-station realities, high DNF numbers, and the tight-knit, old-school ultrarunning community that keeps drawing them back. The episode mixes gritty race details with personal moments — ice bandanas, fueling choices, mental and physical limits, finishing tallies, and the camaraderie, chaos, and humor that made a terrible race still feel worth returning to next year.

Host Celeste Fong welcomes Jess Roussell to discuss her emotional and hard-earned finish at Notchview reaching her 100-mile goal. They cover the mental battles of ultra running, the importance of crew and community, and practical race strategies like nutrition and pacing. Jess also shares her coaching work, future ambitions (including Leadville), and the small joys that make endurance racing meaningful—from camping and post-race blues to glitter, friendships, and mashed potatoes.

Celeste Fong and friends take microphones on the trails at the Notchview event for a round of candid conversation: nicknames, bingo cards, glittered runners, and night-loop antics. Expect laugh-out-loud moments, trail-side support, and the chaotic joy of midnight hills and headlamp mishaps as the group navigates community, competition, and constant banter.