The Tales on the Towpath’s Podcast

Episode 33 - John Calabrese aka @Breezytrailhead

What does it take to rack up over 170 ultramarathon finishes while never missing a dance recital? In this episode, we sit down with the incredibly prolific John Calabrese (known to the running community as @breezytrailhead [https://www.instagram.com/breezytrailhead/]). John is famous for his packed race calendar, but behind the jaw-dropping UltraSignup stats is a masterclass in time management, dedication, and family. John opens up about how he balances the grueling physical demands of 24+ hour races with the joyful, high-energy demands of being a dedicated "Dance Dad." If you’ve ever struggled to find the time for a long run between family commitments, this episode is your ultimate guide to making it all work. * Follow John on Instagram: @breezytrailhead [https://www.instagram.com/breezytrailhead/] * Follow John on TikTok: @breezytrailhead [https://www.tiktok.com/@breezytrailhead] * Check out John’s UltraSignup: John Calabrese Profile [https://ultrasignup.com/m_results_participant.aspx?fname=John&lname=Calabrese]  * Support the Podcast: Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Episode 32 - More Miles Backyard Ultra Recap

Every hour, on the hour, a whistle blows, a group of runners heads out to complete a 4.167-mile loop, and the clock resets. To the outside observer, a Backyard Ultra like the More Miles Last One Standing Challenge [https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?eid=12669]seems straightforward: you just keep going until you can't. But behind that simple loop lies a complex web of logistics, mental warfare, and physical demands. In this episode, Katie is pulling back the curtain on the backyard format by chatting with two people who experience it from entirely different perspectives: Adam shares his experience as the Race Director steering the ship, and Chris talks about getting back into the starting corral loop after loop. If you have ever been curious about the backyard format, wondered what it takes to organize a multi-day sufferfest, or wanted to know how to trick your brain into running "just one more yard," this dual-perspective masterclass is for you.

Episode 31 - Alisha Moreno and the Cocodona 250

What does it actually take to run 250 miles across the rugged terrain of Arizona? As it turns out, it takes a village—or at the very least, a rock-solid partnership. In this episode, we sit down with West Virginia ultrarunner Alisha Moreno, who recently crossed the finish line at the legendary Cocodona 250, alongside her secret weapon: her husband and crew chief, Donald Marsh. We trace their journey from local West Viriginia trails to the massive point-to-point sandbox of Cocodona. Alisha and Donald pull back the curtain on the mind-boggling logistics required to plan for a multi-day footrace.  But beyond the dirt and the data, Alisha and Donald are deeply rooted in the culture of our sport. We talk about their deep love for the ultrarunning community and why giving back through volunteering, and crewing others means just as much to them as crossing their own finish lines. Whether you’re eyeing a multi-day race yourself or just love a powerful story about teamwork and community spirit, this episode is packed with inspiration, laughs, and pure ultra-wisdom.

Episode 30 - Running in the Heat

As the temperature climbs, does it feel like your normal easy pace suddenly requires an Olympic effort? You aren't imagining it—summer running is a completely different beast. In this episode, Adam, Chris and Katie are diving deep into the brutal reality of summer training. We break down the fascinating physiology of why your body fights you so hard in high temperatures, and more importantly, how you can fight back. Whether you are training for a fall marathon or just trying to survive your local 5K loop without melting, this episode is your ultimate summer survival guide. If you would like your own Ice Hat to keep cool this summer: 2 Lowe Ice Hat [https://2lowerunco.square.site/product/2lrc-boco-ultra-ice-trail-hat/T6WYIFSQPDBLSVUCWSLHHSI7?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=true&q=false]

Mini#1 - Tiki Trot Recap and Katie's Beer Mile

On May 9th, 2LoweRunCo hosted the annual Tiki Trot 5K, Beer Mile and Tiki-Tizer [https://runsignup.com/Race/MD/Williamsport/TikiTrot5KBeerMile] in the Bowman Business Park in Williamsport, MD. In this mini-episode, Adam recaps the race day results and Katie shares here Course Record and Personal Best Beer Mile experience. You can follow all of Katie's beer mile training on her Instagram at @katielowe1213 or @2lowerunco.