With with episode 135 of the Florida Trail Runners Podcast we’re back on the trail with this year Lake to Ocean 100k! And, on the chat, we’ve got Jenny Lee Allen who was first for the women and 4th overall with a time of 13:42:00. Shawn Fardink, who came in 12th overall with a time of 17:16:00. Dave Goldstein, who was 18th overall with a time of 17:50:00, Dave will Race Directing the Just Survive 125 next year… so we get to hear all about that! And, Brian Leon, who placed 2nd overall with a time of 13:34:00.

And with this year, it really was a special year. just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to Jeff Stephens and Andrea for their years of race directing the Lake to Ocean 100K (L2O). Jeff has always been one of those RD’s I’ve looked up too.

Their hard work and dedication created one of the most rugged, legendary running events Florida has ever seen, all while preserving the spirit of a true old-school ultramarathon.

Although I’ve only made it as far as Beeline and have spent time hanging out at the event, L2O remains one of my favorite races of all time. So, thank you, Jeff and Andrea, for everything you’ve done for the Florida ultra community and for building such a special race.

With that also comes some exciting news: Leo Acosta will be taking over as Race Director. For those unfamiliar with Leo, he is the Race Director for Death at Dupuis and has done a fantastic job with that event.

It’s exciting to see what the future holds for the Lake to Ocean 100K under Leo’s leadership. More importantly, it’s great to know that this race will continue carrying on the tradition of being an old-school ultra classic for years to come.

This year, Annika Buser won the ASUN Conference Championship in the 3,000m Steeplechase with a personal-best time of 10:25.80. The victory capped off an outstanding outdoor track season that included a win at the East Coast Relays, a runner-up finish at the Pepsi Florida Relays, and a victory at the Hampton River Inn Relays in the 3,000m steeplechase. She also had the opportunity to compete at the Bryan Clay Invitational, one of the premier outdoor track meets in the country that attracts many of the nation's top distance runners.

Originally from Gerlingen, Germany, Annika came to the United States to compete for the University of North Florida. In the chat, we discuss how she got started in the sport, the club system in Germany, her journey to UNF, and how this year's ASUN Conference Championship went down!

On the chat, we’ve got Ashlyn Poulin, a race walker for Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Ashlyn is coming off an incredible performance at the NAIA Outdoor National Championships, where she was the runner-up finish in the 5,000 meter Race Walk!

In the chat, we talk everything Race Walking! She breaks down exactly what race walking is, the rules that make it unique, and the technique required…. We talk about how she first got involved in race walking, what it takes to compete at the collegiate level, and the training that goes into mastering such a specialized event.

We also recap her experience at this NAIA Outdoor National Championships, how the race went down, what was going through her mind during the competition, and what it meant to stand on the podium as the national runner-up.

Whether you're a trail runner, track athlete, or simply curious about one of the most unique events in athletics, this is a fascinating conversation that offers a unique look into a sport that deserves far more attention than it gets.