Did you ever have your car break down in the middle of nowhere and you had to walk down the highway to get help? And did you have to do that in the middle of a hot, summer day? Now did you also have to end up walking for 314 miles and you didn’t even have a car that broke down…you just walked on the side of a lonely, hot, humid and stormy highway. You know, a vacation WITHOUT a car, as the website says? Yeah, me neither! But my guests today did exactly that. Wes Plate and Joe Hardin each went 314 miles across the state of TN in the hottest part of summer, as part of the Last Annual Vol State 500K Road Race. Today I get to find out just what the heck they were thinking, and what kind of crazy adventures, catastrophes and life lessons they learned on that road. And be sure to stay tuned after the conversation for a new edition of Running Out Loud, where I feature a piece by none other than Joe Hardin. So, grab that Desitin for your feet, a credit card to buy some Gatorade and Twinkies and lets’ get ready to hit the road with Wes and & Joe.

Wes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midpackelite/

Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trail_tortoise_running/

Wes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wplate

Wes' film on his 2026 Vol State Road Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqQsWqLEivE

Joe's "Beyond The Finish Line" podcast on the Everyday Athlete network: https://open.spotify.com/show/1wf56FRHeEdbrl8QIxtXuV

Wes' Copper Kings 100 race: https://www.onwardendurance.com/

Joe's Odd Duck Running Co on IG: https://www.instagram.com/odd_duck_running_co/

Joe's RTB Awards: https://rtbawards.com/

The Last Annual Vol State Road Race site: https://vacationwithoutacar.com/races/vol-state/

Joe’s writings and poetry on Substack: https://sobrietysweatandsawdust.substack.com/

Joey's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Run_Joey_Run

Running Behind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running.behind_pod

Joey's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/111237895

Chasing Cutoffs w/Ben Mead (Go listen! It's awesome!):

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/chasingcutoffs

Artwork by Ed Linder

I am doing something today that I’ve never done before. I am re-releasing an episode! This episode was originally released as episode 11, with the one and only, Mr. Tim Tollefson. Now why am I doing this…because I’m lazy? Well, I might be lazy but that’s not why. I am re-launching this conversation because #1, Tim is one of the best freaking people on the entire planet! We love hearing him on Freetrail’s Rest Day and other podcasts, and there just is no way to get too much Timmy T. #2, It’s Mammoth Trailfest time and I am headed back for 2026 BABY! This episode has the entire story of how Tim thought of it, what it takes to put this event on, what he is trying to do with it, and what it means to the community. Pay no attention to any speculation about my 2025 race, I will have some Director’s cut commentary to mitigate any nonsense. And finally #3, because Tim is just an amazing guy. He’s been very supportive of me of the podcast and of the Grace To The Finish campaign. So whether you’ve heard this one before, or whether you are about to experience its amazingness for the first time, head out for your run and let’s get ready to hit the trail again with Tim.

[NEW LINKS]

Tim interview with Rich Roll: https://youtu.be/m1aBpqU1DyU

Jeff Pelletier film of the 2025 Mammoth 200: https://youtu.be/6KwOoFXLR_M

[Previous Links]

Tim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timtollefson/

Mammoth Trailfest: https://www.mammothtrailfest.com/

Runners For Public Lands: https://runnersforpubliclands.org/

Born To Adapt website: https://www.borntoadapt.org/

Born To Adapt documentary (WATCH THIS!): https://youtu.be/QFKJyWXxcws

The Mammoth 200 movie with Sally McRae: https://youtu.be/2a0efndmmsE

UTMB Trail Race: https://montblanc.utmb.world/races/UTMB

Western State Endurance Run: https://www.wser.org/

Joey's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Run_Joey_Run

Running Behind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running.behind_pod

Joey's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/111237895

Chasing Cutoffs w/Ben Mead (Go listen! It's awesome!):

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/chasingcutoffs

Artwork by Ed Linder

James Bonnett....Oh yeah, many of you know exactly who he is. For those of you who do not; this is the guy who started running so early, he had finished his first marathon and ultramarathon before he was 10 years old. This is "The Kid", who was so fast that he WON his first 100 mile race when he was 12. This is the guy who later became a coach and coaches, and is friends with, folks like Nick & Jamil Coury, and Jim bleeping Walmsley. Yeah, that is that dude! The Young Gun himself! I was lucky enough to chat with him earlier this summer, and we talked about all of that. But really, we talk a lot about the 2026 Western States and how he helped get Neeraj Egbert across the finish line. James tells the story of giving out the golden ticket and how he then became his coach and friend and came up with a plan to help Neeraj realize his dream of redemption. This is one FANTASTIC conversation!

Man Against Horse Race website: https://managainsthorse.com/

James' coaching website: https://www.mcmillanrunning.com/product/online-coaching-james-bonnett/

James' Ultrasignup results: https://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=James&lname=Bonnett

FUN video on Trail GangstAZ with James and Nick Coury: https://youtu.be/XB8Jql-eS0g?si=QaIFQcXKCMpEXwGq

GRACE To The Finish website: https://www.gracetothefinish.org/

Joey's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Run_Joey_Run

Running Behind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running.behind_pod

Joey's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/111237895

Artwork by Ed Linder

AND WE’RE BACK!!! Yes, I know, it’s been a minute. I did not mean to go full Bolder Boys on my podcast schedule, but I spent a chunk of time in Africa and then got a nasty bug and pretty darn sick. I am just now recovering and have some semblance of a voice, so I figured it’s time to get back on the horse and start kicking out some podcast episodes. This one is another Crew Access episode with my boys Erik & Mario. We actually recorded this earlier this summer after I got back from helping Neeraj at Western States. We talk about that experience along with our days at FANS, our training and plans for the rest of the year and a certain 2027 race in CA that we have all signed up for. Hopefully the conversation isn’t too dated, but I guarantee it will be fun and lively, as it always when the three of get together. Okay, I think we remember how to do this…let’s freaking go!

Mario’s 35 mile birthday run on Strava: https://strava.app.link/TFePf5SDT5b

Precision WSER video featuring Neeraj: https://youtu.be/w4NKq30qLjs

FANS Ultra Race: https://fansultraraces.org/

Wild Duluth 50K: https://www.wildduluthraces.com/

GRACE To The Finish website: https://www.gracetothefinish.org/

Erik's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr_spiegs/

Mario's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/runmariorun91/

Joey's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Run_Joey_Run

Running Behind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running.behind_pod

Joey's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/111237895

Artwork by Ed Linder

Listening is the key to so many things in life. From learning, to your job, to your relationships, to being a good human and even being a good race director. Chris Swenke knows this, and for him, everything starts there. He began running as a way to get in shape for his first love of curling, but soon discovered that running was his real passion. It didn’t take long before he had completed marathons, ultramarathons, then 100 mile races and crazy adventures like running across the state of MN. It also led him to starting the St Croix Running Company and directing his own race events. I catch up with him on all this, how his day at the 2026 FANS Ultra 24hr went, how his training for the iconic MN Superior 100 race is going and what’s the latest with the SCRC. So, grab your Hanes socks, your shoes and head out for your run. But whatever you do, don’t forget to “listen”.

SCRC website: https://www.stcroixrunningcompany.com/

(Blog): https://www.stcroixrunningcompany.com/blog

SCRC on IG: https://www.instagram.com/stcroixrunning

Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swenke

Chris Swenke personal website: https://www.chrisswenke.com/

Chris’ book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCK1B22R?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_mwn_dp_KYENSNCRQYZ7XZYGRMXD&bestFormat=true

Joey's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Run_Joey_Run

Running Behind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running.behind_pod

Joey's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/111237895

Artwork by Ed Linder

In the Navajo culture, there is a sacred ceremony called a Kinaaldá. It happens when a girl transitions to women hood. As part of the ceremony they must run to the east three times a day, songs are sung, and prayers are given. Like many of their rich traditions, it is rooted in communal participation and focuses on teaching the young women about generosity, endurance, strength and community. My guest, Wynonna Fulgham, went through this ceremony and it sowed the seeds for how she would live her life as a Navajo woman, a wife, a mom, and it helped strengthen her love and connection to running. And oh the places her running has taken her. From the simple start of a 5K to eventual ultramarathons, including a starring role in The Cutoff film when finishing the Cocodona 250 last year and creating a whole new 200+ mile adventure at Cocodona this year. In this conversation we learn about her journey and how her Navajo lineage has shaped her life and her running.

Wynonna on IG: https://www.instagram.com/blacksheep_running/

Native Women Run on IG: https://www.instagram.com/native_women_run/

Native Women Run on linktree (lot of great links here): https://linktr.ee/NativeWomenRunning18

Cocodona 250 races: https://www.aravaiparunning.com/cocodona/

Online article about the history of The Long Walk: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Walk_of_the_Navajo

Article in the Navajo Times about Kinaaldá : https://navajotimes.com/opinion/essay/kinaalda-coming-of-age-in-traditional-dine-ceremony/

Resources and information on missing and murdered indigenous women: https://www.niwrc.org/mmiwr-awareness

Joey's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Run_Joey_Run

Running Behind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running.behind_pod

Joey's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/111237895

Artwork by Ed Linder

There is currently an estimated 12-14 million law abiding immigrants in the US, living in fear. Not knowing if they will be taken away from their families or forced into a detention center. Someone you know is afraid to travel, to work to even go on a trail race or run, not knowing if they will be safe, even though they are legal and have done nothing wrong. Because of the color of their skin and the way they speak, they have been told they are not good enough, they are criminals and they don't belong. This is dehumanizing...and this must stop.

This is a special panel discussion for the Grace To The Finish campaign. Grace To The Finish was started by Joey Metzger and Neeraj Egbert as an awareness campaign to raise support for immigration advocacy, inclusion and anti-discrimination, especially among the running and trail running communities. We are here to allow voices to be heard and steer supporters to relevant organization, causes and efforts that can help make a difference. Besides Joey and Neeraj, the panel includes Carolina Rubio-MacWright, founder of Touching Land, Cristina Regalado, co-founder of Wasatch Trail Collective and former board member of the Women of the Wasatch, Francisco Segovia, Executive Director of COPAL MN and Jason Bahamundi, owner and founder of The Everyday Athlete Podcast Network and RunTriBike.

It's time to speak up, it's time to listen, and it's time to take action.

Grace To The Finish website: https://www.gracetothefinish.org/

Carolina on IG: https://www.instagram.com/stories/carustol/

Touching Land : https://www.touchingland.org/

Cristina on IG: https://www.instagram.com/stories/runchachi/

Wasatch Trail Collective: https://linktr.ee/wasatchtrailscollective

Women of the Wasatch: https://www.womenofthewasatch.com/

Francisco Segovia (COPAL): https://copalmn.org/leadership-and-staff/francisco-segovia/

COPAL on IG: https://www.instagram.com/mncopal/

Jason Bahamundi on IG: https://www.instagram.com/cooktraineatrace/

Run.Tri.Bike : https://runtrimag.com/

Everyday Athlete Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/everyday_athlete_podcast_ntwrk/

Neeraj on IG: https://www.instagram.com/egbertne47/

https://openingdoorsinc.org/

https://immigrantdefensenetwork.org/

https://www.crc4me.org/

https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/

Running Behind Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/running.behind_pod/

2.7 million likes...just let that sink in for a minute. I mean, I am happy with a handful of views, a couple of likes, but my guest today takes that to a whole new level. Lindsay Teague, or Linz or Run.This.Life as she's known on social media has a huge following and with good reason. The best part though, is that she doesn't make all those posts for the attention. She does it because she genuinely LOVES running, she loves sharing about it, and she believes that fitness should come from a place of celebration. It is exactly that positive attitude and dedication that has led her to complete multiple 100 mile races. In this conversation we get to know Linz...how she got started running, and what inspires and drives her to push for more. Hey if this chat were a run, it would be one of those great runs in the forest finding new trails and discovering amazing sights, all while getting in a good workout. So, if you are heading out for that great run, grab your phone to take a shot or two for IG, and just one pole, cuz it's time to hit the trail.

Linz on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@run.this.life

Linz on IG: https://www.instagram.com/run.this.life

One of my fav posts: https://www.instagram.com/p/DY0WpzlPw1y/

Linz on FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/RunThisLife/61571763113788/

Linz on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/23404266

Revolution Running: https://revolutionrunning.net/

Coach Dan England: https://www.adventuresinengland.com/

Ultra Running Magazine: https://ultrarunning.com/

Joey's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Run_Joey_Run

Running Behind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/running.behind_pod

Joey's Strava Profile: https://www.strava.com/athletes/111237895

Artwork by Ed Linder