Florida Trail Runners Podcast

This year was the second Cocodona 250 put on Aravaipa Running in Arizona. When it comes to Florida, our state had four runners taking on the challenge of 250 miles across the Sonoran Desert with soaring temps both hot and cold, bloody noses, heat rash, gnarly trails and more... For this part-one episode we have Michelle Taylor and Dave Krupski! The second part will be with the barefoot runner C Sawyer.

Michelle took on the course head on however, she unfortunately took a DNF this year. Covering the distance she was able to is still no joke! It is such an accomplishment and an amazing journey. Krupski came back for a second time after succumbing to a DNF last year. This year, he got it done! This was a blast!

We are back with the 2023 Lake to Ocean 100k, this is one of my favorite races in the state of Florida! I'm always fascinated on how each runner takes on the course. On the chat, we've got Sarah Flowers, Bailey Freer, and Scott Hoover! All three of them absolutely crushed it out there on the course that takes you from Lake Okeechobee to the ocean at Hobe Sound Beach.

Sarah has done races like Death at DuPuis and the Dunes 50k. She's been taking the trail and ultra scene head on! Ofcourse, that makes sense when Leo Acosta could talk about anyone into trying out the trails! Bailey has done races like the Quest for the Crest, Croom Fools Run, the Croom Zoom, Forgotten Florida, and the Georgia Jewel 50 Miler.

Now for Scott Hoover, don't his let mellow tone fool ya! He has done races like the Trident, Skunk Ape Night Run, the Long Haul 100, the Pinellas Trail Challenge, Skunk Ape's Revenge, Quest for the Crest, and Colt 45. He's also taken first place male at the Sand Spur 50k and won overall at the SWAMP 50k, and a third-place finish at the Skunk Ape's Revenge 60k. He's also the Co-Race Director for the Tick Tock and the Funest 50k! He's an all-around great guy that is always willing to help!

Shout-out to Jeff Stephens and Andrea Moxely who make this race possible; as well to Lulu Yun-Pelz for also being out there for all of the hours! So many people from Susan Anger and the Florida Trail Association with endless support and trail maintenance over the years.

Without the Florida Trail Assocation, there is no trail for us to enjoy.

Today I chat with Laura Drake Cole! She's been competing for years with a lot of success in the IRONMAN having competed at the KONA World Championships on 11 occasions. She's also won the 15k at the Gasparilla Distance Classic three times, with one year winning both the 5k and 15k! She's transitioned more into the trail and ultra-running scene here in Florida (with great success)! Truly great, age has no factor into chasing success.

This was the 50th Year of the Western States 100 that starts in the Olympic Valley and ends at the Placer High School in Auburn. On the chat, we've got three of the four Floridians who took on the course! This year Tyler Peterson, Joseph Pinter, and Zach Hanna crossed that finish line to get that belt buckle.

Tyler Peterson has done 100 Milers like the Long Haul 100 here in Florida, the Yeti 100, Burning River 100, Mohican 100, Kettle Moraine 100, Indiana Trail 100, and the Umstead 100. He finished the Western States 100 this year with a time of 25:24:44.

Joseph Pinter has done races like the Cruel Jewel 100, Grindstone 100, Massanutten Mountain 100, and the Pinhoti 100. He also ran at the 2019 Western States 100! In 2019, he ran a time of 29:42:39... this year he ran a time of 29:13:11.

Zach Hanna has done races like the Hennepin 100, Pinhoti 100, No Business 100, Rio Del Lago 100, and the Umstead 100. He finished the Western States 100 this year with a time of 28:37:16.

For almost five decades, the Western States 100 has been home to some of the sport’s most amazing and legendary competitions. It's essentially the Super Bowl of the trail running scene in the United States. With more than 1,500 dedicated volunteers helping to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the race has stirred the spirit of runners from all walks of life and from all over the globe.

This year Caryn Lubetsky took on her fifth Keys 100! This year was a tremendously hot year with being runners being drenched in sweat, dealing with the thick humidity, and the pavement from Key Largo to Key West. With this year being Caryn's fifth year, it was also her fastest to date on the Keys 100 course. She ran a time of 19:43:52 to take first overall for the women beating her previous course personal best of 21:27:41 from 2018. Regardless of her speedy times, her "WHY" is so much greater. Caryn really brings it in deep from her experiences at the Boston Marathon Bombings to today with ThumbsUp International, the wonderful Kerry Gruson, and why every mile is a blessing!