Kallup McCoy II, a Cherokee native from North Carolina, shares his journey from addiction to becoming an ultra marathoner. He struggled with addiction for over 15 years and served time in jail before finding transformation and a new purpose in endurance sports. He started with an Ironman 70.3 race and fell in love with the sense of accomplishment and community. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, including losing his father to cancer, Kallup persevered and found hope. His story is a testament to the power of resilience and the ability to overcome obstacles. Kallup shares his journey of overcoming addiction and finding purpose through running. He experienced years of addiction, attempted suicide multiple times, and even overdosed. However, a series of events, including a near-death experience and a chance encounter with a pastor, led him to find faith and start his path to recovery. After getting out of jail, he decided to run the Trail of Tears route to connect with his Cherokee heritage. This experience sparked his love for running and eventually led him to run a time of 2:40 in the marathon and complete an 800-mile run that would be a journey to a new start. Kallup's story is a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and the transformative nature of running.

Ed the Jester, a record holder for the most 100-mile races completed, shares his journey into running and the challenges he faced along the way. He started running marathons as a teenager but stopped due to knee pain. After going through a period of depression and losing everything in the real estate market crash, he found solace in running again. He gradually got back into running and eventually started participating in ultra marathons. He broke the world record for the most marathons in a year and later set the record for the most 100-mile races in a year. Ed Ettinghausen, also known as the Jester, discusses his running achievements and records in this conversation. He talks about his goal of surpassing the current record holder Walter Handloser for the most 100-mile races completed. Ed shares his motivation to set high goals and push himself to achieve more. He also mentions other records he holds, such as the most lifetime hundred-mile wins and podium finishes. The conversation explores the evolution of the Jester persona and how it represents Ed's unique approach to running and life.

Darren Janzen spills the dirt on his Mid-State Mile adventure, sharing his thoughts, heat-beating strategies, and the hilarious camaraderie of the trail running tribe. From plantar fasciitis to bulging discs, this guy knows pain, but he also knows how to push through it like a champ.

This isn't your normal Sunday stroll. It's about finding your inner wild, embracing suck, and discovering just how far those legs can carry you. So grab your hydration bottle, start your run, and get ready for a dose of trail running inspiration with Darren. You might just find yourself signing up for your next ultra.