In this episode of the Dirt & Vert Podcast, David, Matt, & Mary are joined by our good friend, fellow race director, and the creative force behind Yeti Trail Runners, Jason Green.

With the first-ever joint ECA and Yeti event—the Smoky Mountain 24 Hour Challenge—just around the corner, we sit down to talk about how a shared love for the Appalachian spirit and Dolly Parton sparked the creation of this massive new race.

The core of this episode is a complete masterclass in ultra crewing. Drawing from decades of combined experience as both runners and race directors, we break down exactly what not to do when crewing a 100-miler. We talk about the dangers of overloading a fatigued runner with choices, the importance of preloading GPS maps, and why giving your runner too much empathy at mile 80 can end their race. We also dive into the emotional side of the sport, sharing our personal "whys," how hitting rock bottom led us to the trails, and why the ultra community's relentless support is the ultimate antidote to a disconnected world.

In this episode of the Dirt & Vert trail running podcast, we sit down with ultra runner Joey Patoray to talk about his unbelievable journey into endurance sports. If you are searching for ultramarathon motivation, mindset strategies for overcoming trauma, or tips on running 100-mile races, this episode delivers.

After a traumatic construction accident left him fighting for his life in the hospital for 31 days with six surgeries and twelve blood transfusions, Joey went from being unable to walk to the parking lot to finishing the legendary Leadville 100 ultramarathon in under 24 hours. We dive deep into his gritty mindset for endurance training and how he leverages extreme trail running challenges to unplug from life and build resilience. Joey shares the raw reality of pushing the human body to its absolute limit, including running the Georgia Death Race on a fractured foot, surviving the brutal humidity of the Cherokee 130K with three hernias, and crushing a 171-mile PR at a 48-hour timed race. Discover what it takes to stop making excuses and tackle the hardest backyard ultras and point-to-point endurance events on the East Coast and beyond.

Inside the Episode, We Break Down:

• 🏥 The Comeback: Fighting back from near-death to running 100-milers and refusing to settle for mediocrity.

• 🏔️ Leadville vs. Cherokee: Why the brutal humidity, slick rocks, and running with three hernias at the Cherokee 130K made Leadville feel like a breeze.

• 🦴 Running on Broken Bones: Grinding out 51 miles of the Georgia Death Race on a fractured foot because quitting wasn't an option.

• ⏱️ Backyard Mindset: Overriding a blown plantar fascia by digging a massage gun into his heel every 4 miles to hit 108 miles—just in time to make it to his kid's birthday party.

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