In this special women-led episode of HappyCast, Stephanie teams up with guest co-host Ben Bridgeman to spotlight the incredible performances at this year’s Achilles Hill ultra event. The spotlight shines brightly on Jaclyn Lovelady, Alisa Hardy, and Lisa Decker—three powerhouse women who not only swept the competition but redefined what grit and community mean on the trail. From setting new course records to creating new divisions (hello, ruck champion!), the ladies brought fierce determination ...
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 23
This week on a jam-packed episode of the HappyCast, we sit down with Katie O’Connor and talk about her Cocodona 250 experience. We talk about her preparation, race execution, and most importantly, the post-race festivities. Spoiler alert: she could just be the most positive person out on the trail. So naturally, we decide to bring in some firepower and surprise her with her crew chief, Julie, joining to potentially dish out any dirt or fun tidbits about Katie’s race. With Julie joining, the shen...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 37 min•Season 4Ep. 22
This week on the HappyCast, we are joined by THE Hilary Ann Yang as she talks about the newest 200+ mile race around, The Mammoth! 🦣 With its permits literally approved RIGHT before this recording, we talk about the hype, preparation, course, and increasing the participation of women in the 200 mile scene. Hilary will also be race directing this event, so we delve further into the process of taming the Mammoth 🦣 With a big guest comes big co-hosting responsibilities, so naturally, we kick Andr...
Jun 11, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 21
This week on the HappyCast, we keep the 200+ mile ball rolling as we are joined by one of the pioneers of this distance, Candice Burt. She joins us to talk about the recent inaugural Arizona Monster 300, and we dissect this behemoth of a race and everything it entails. Candice opens up and talks about the ups and downs, the positives and negatives, and everything else regarding the race. The logistics, the difficulties with holding a point-to-point race this long, and the challenges of managing ...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 4Ep. 20
This week on HappyCast, the spotlight is on cohost Stephanie, who just completed one of the Southeast’s most brutal ultramarathons: the Cruel Jewel 100 . Alongside fellow runners Drew Flowers and Mike Coutu, the trio takes us deep into the Georgia mountains and even deeper into the pain cave, reliving the highs, lows, and everything in between. With 105 punishing miles and over 33,000 feet of climbing, this race tested not only their legs but their sanity. Stephanie finished in an impressive 41 ...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 4Ep. 19
On this episode of the HappyCast, we talk about a bunch of random stuff (and a little bit of Cocodona) with the Queen of Cocodona herself, Rachel Entrekin. After becoming the first back-to-back and only two time winner of Cocodona, we have a sit down with Rachel where she talks about her current recovery, her incredibly busy future, and her adjustment to becoming a rising start in the ultrarunning scene. We also talk about running as an unsponsored athlete and the process of becoming one, and th...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Season 4Ep. 18
In this deeply heartfelt and eye-opening episode of HappyCast, hosts Stephanie, Dylan and Andrew are joined by trail race director and community powerhouse Libby Jones, the force behind The Active Joe and the beloved Dinosaur Valley Endurance Run. From her accidental start in race directing to founding one of North Texas’s most inclusive and community-focused race organizations, Libby shares how a love for running, a knack for logistics, and a fierce sense of purpose shaped her journey. She reco...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 4Ep. 17
In this unforgettable episode of the HappyCast, hosts Andrew, Dylan, and Stephanie welcome Canadian ultrarunner and mental health advocate Evan Birch , along with his trail-blazing running partner: his seven-year-old Vizsla, Nova . Together, Evan and Nova recently attempted the Orcas Island 100 , marking what may be one of the first sanctioned 100-mile ultramarathon efforts by a human-canine team. Their story—captured in the upcoming documentary Supernova: The 100-Mile Dog —goes far beyond finis...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 37 min•Season 4Ep. 16
This week on the HappyCast, we have part two of Andrew’s Arizona Monster 300 course and race recap. After surviving the night on Mt. Lemmon, Andrew make’s his way through Tucson to pound some pavement before heading further south into the Sonoran desert. But don’t worry, plenty of issues arise as always, as Andrew’s fear-based running kicks into overdrive at times up until the finish. And after crawling to the finish line, Andrew discusses his overall experience with the race, and we do a brief ...
Apr 30, 2025•2 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 15
We’re back! After a few weeks off, the crew returns, and they take on the Monster in the process. This is the first part of three episodes dedicated to the Arizona Monster 300. The first two parts are a very detailed course overview and recap with Andrew, and the third will be an interview with another runner who ran the race MUCH quicker. So we hope we have the back and front of the pack covered with this one! For part one, co-host Andrew talks all things Arizona Monster 300 - the newest and bi...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Season 4Ep. 14
We’re back for week two of our Cocodona 250 rerun series , and things are heating up—figuratively and literally. With Andrew deep into the Arizona Monster 300, we’re throwing it back to the second half of his first Arizona epic. This is where the race gets real: after pushing through Jerome, Andrew faces crumbling shins, emotional lows, water crossings gone wrong, and the infamous climb up Mount Elden. In this episode, we follow him from Cottonwood to Sedona to Flagstaff, as the trail throws eve...
Apr 16, 2025•2 hr 18 min•Season 4Ep. 13
While Andrew is out running 300 miles across Arizona as part of the Arizona Monster 300 , we’re giving the HappyCast mics a breather and bringing you a two-part rerun series featuring one of our favorite race recaps: Andrew’s Cocodona 250 . Yep, before he faced the Monster, he faced this beast—and we’re revisiting it mile by mile. In Part 1 , we follow Andrew through the brutal 37-mile opener, twisted ankles, blown-up quads, surprise water stops, and the kind of “fun” that makes you question all...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 57 min•Season 4Ep. 12
This week on the HappyCast, we talk all things hockey with our favorite runner from up north, Trevor Meding! Not really, though. As cool as that would be, we decide to discuss the latest edition of Southern States 200 with Trevor, who just ran the race and is slowly recovering from his epic trek from Georgia to Alabama. The Southern States 200 is the only point-to-point mountain race east of the Rockies. With 85% of the race taking place on the Pinhoti trail, and a shade under 28,000ft of climbi...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 40 min•Season 4Ep. 11
In this episode of HappyCast , we welcome Kathryn “Kat” Stewart , Charmin McKee , and Gus Rodriguez —three incredible ultrarunners who completed the 2024–25 Lone Star Slam . This ambitious challenge—completing six 100-mile races across Texas in just eight months, including Habanero Hundred, Cactus Rose, Dinosaur Valley, Brazos Bend, Rocky Raccoon, and Grasslands—sets the stage as the crew dives deep into what it takes to conquer the Slam. Each guest shares what got them into the challenge and ho...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 10
The HappyCast team takes on the Rabid Raccoon 100 , an ultra in Pennsylvania that delivered relentless mud, unpredictable storms, and plenty of surprises. Stephanie Leake shares her emotional journey through the race, from navigating steep climbs and descents to finding strength in her crew and pacers. Ultimately conquering her fear of the mud with the help of trekking poles. Rachel Moore joins the conversation to break down her first-place finish and new course record , sharing insights into he...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 4Ep. 9
This week on a special edition of the HappyCast, we have our Arizona Monster 300 race and course preview episode! This race is the newest, biggest, and baddest race in the ultra (ultra) distance running world. This is Destination Trail’s first 300+ mile race, and the hype surrounding this event has been palpable. Selling out in a matter of days a year ago can do that. With race day (April 4) fast approaching, we talk all things Arizona Monster. The crew is joined by four special guests who all c...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In this episode of HappyCast , we welcome ultra runners Chuck Clark and Ben Bridgeman to recount their epic (and sometimes disastrous) attempt at running two brutal 100-mile races just two weeks apart: Outlaw 100 and Lovit 100 . What started as a simple challenge turned into a saga of icy wipeouts, brutal climbs, poor life choices, and a whole lot of stubbornness. From navigating Jeep roads littered with boulders at Outlaw to dealing with a brand-new course layout at Lovit, the guys break down t...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 37 min•Season 4Ep. 7
This week on HappyCast , it’s just the core trio—Andrew, Dylan, and our very own Stephanie Leake, who takes center stage to share the wildest race recap we’ve had in a while. Stephanie traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, to take on her 17th 100-mile finish, expecting a straightforward timed event. What she got instead? A logistical rollercoaster involving sand-filled shoes, an unexpected rainstorm, a mid-race existential crisis, and—oh yeah—the race director canceling the event while she was s...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 6
This week on the HappyCast, we are joined once again by the Swiss Army Knife of Ultrarunning, Wes Plate, as we discuss everything from his upcoming race director debut at Copper Kings 100, to Arizona Monster 300 training, and a whole lot more! Wes discusses the challenges up preparing for his first ever race directing gig at his inaugural Copper Kings 100. From permitting to the logistics, and trying to differentiate his race from other “premium” 100 mile races. Wes is trying to strike that bala...
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In this jam-packed episode of the HappyCast, the whole gang recaps and relives their time at Rocky Raccoon 100, one of largest 100 milers in the country. They are joined by Javier Gutierrez and his crew, Connor Bessell and Michael McGinnis. Javier. Javier returns to Rocky after surviving the onslaught of rain at last year’s edition. He ran a spectacular and very calculated race, and was joined by some equally impressive talent pacing him in Connor and Michael. We relive his race through his eyes...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In this episode of the Happy Cast, hosts Stephanie Leake, Dylan Rueff, and Andrew Marvin sit down with ultra runner Steph Smith , who has taken the trail-running world by storm—by running 100-mile races in Crocs . From her early days as a marathoner to her first ultra, Steph shares how she discovered her love for endurance racing and why traditional running shoes never quite worked for her. After experimenting with barefoot running and minimalist sandals, she made the switch to Crocs and has nev...
Feb 05, 2025•59 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode of the Happy Cast, we dive into the the Long Haul 100 in Florida with special guests Rachel Grabow and Brandon Veltman. Hosts Stephanie Leake and Dylan Rueff guide the conversation through the highs, lows, and unexpected moments of this challenging ultra-marathon in Florida’s unpredictable January weather. From overcoming flat-course mental hurdles to battling the intense humidity, Rachel and Brandon share their strategies, missteps, and triumphant finishes. Listeners will hear a...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 4Ep. 2
We’re back for season 4 of the HappyCast! On this episode, the gang recaps their holiday shenanigans, such as Dylan preparing for Rocky Raccoon 100, Stephanie doing the annual Dallas to Cowtown run in hopes of redemption, and Andrew running the incredible Snowdrop 55 hour event for children’s cancer in Houston. And in the main segment, Andrew and Stephanie recap an amazing Bandera 100k down in Texas. One of the largest and earliest Western States qualifying races, Bandera was moved due to weathe...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In this season finale of HappyCast , the team takes a reflective dive into the highs and lows of 2024, celebrating both the victories and the hard lessons learned. Hosts Stephanie, Andrew, and Dylan recount their most memorable moments, from Stephanie’s incredible feat of pacing 377 miles this year to Andrew’s transformative experience battling DNFs. Through laughter and honest conversations, the group highlights the growth that comes from embracing challenges and finding joy in the journey. Ste...
Dec 25, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 48
In this powerful episode of HappyCast , the team welcomes two extraordinary guests: Aimee Jacobs, the new overall course record holder at the Dinosaur Valley 100 Miler, and her crew chief, Marina Germain. Fresh off her incredible sub-20-hour performance, Aimee shares her deeply moving journey from early beginnings in triathlons to her rise in the ultra-running world. However, her story goes far beyond the race itself—Aimee opens up about a life-altering diagnosis that pushed her to redefine her ...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Season 3Ep. 47
In this episode of HappyCast, we dive into the incredible stories from the Dino Valley 100, a race that’s captured the hearts of the ultra-running community. Aimee Jacobs’ record-breaking performance takes center stage as she not only sets a new female course record but breaks the male record as well, solidifying this year’s race as a historic moment in ultra-running. The crew reflects on the race’s evolution into a Western States qualifier and how the growing participant numbers impacted logist...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 46
This week on the HappyCast, we’re excited to feature an episode from another inspiring ultra-running podcast, Ultra Runs in the Family . Liz and Ben Bridgman, the hosts of this heartfelt and humorous show, share the unique challenges of balancing life as a family with their love for running. In this featured episode, ‘No Whiners, Wimps, or Wusses! Tales from Cactus Rose 100’ , Liz recounts her journey to achieving her first 100-mile finish at the Cactus Rose 100—a self-supported race known for i...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 3Ep. 46
Buckle up for an episode full of laughter, reflection, and incredible trail vibes as Dylan Rueff and Stephanie Leake take you on a journey through the Indiana Trail 100, the only 100-mile ultramarathon in the Hoosier State. Known for its welcoming community and scenic yet approachable trails, this race is a favorite among runners seeking camaraderie and a challenge. With its 25-mile looped course through Chain O’Lakes State Park, the Indiana Trail 100 offers participants lush forests, lakeside v...
Nov 27, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 45
In this episode of HappyCast , we dive into the incredible journey of Addy and her triumphant finish at the Javelina Jundred . Known for its party atmosphere and relentless desert heat, Javelina pushed Addy to her limits as she tackled high temperatures in the 90s, fully exposed trails, and the goal of breaking the coveted 30-hour mark. With determination and a carefully executed plan for each loop, Addy proved that grit and preparation are the keys to conquering an ultra. Stephanie shares how A...
Nov 20, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 44
This week on the HappyCast, we recap the most recent Moab 240, which ended up being one of the hottest years on record! Our very own Andrew was sent over to volunteer and was on-site for over a week witnessing the beauty and carnage of this race. But more importantly, and impressively, we have Jess Greene join us to recap her experience. This was Jess’ 5th Moab experience, so we get to deep-dive in what it’s like running this race that many times, how this year proved more challenging than other...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Season 3Ep. 43
