Ross Bielak from Littleton Colorado is Cultra #PodcastFamous and a dear friend of our community. When he signed up for the #CUT112 in 2021 after doing his own Western CUT in 2020, he felt that he was a bit undertrained. So very logically, (WTF) he decided to attempt the never before completed Double #CUT112. Although this attempt resulted in a visit to the hospital, he tried it again, and then finally again in 2025. We hear the story of the power of the trail running community as around 40 people came out, (in real life) to crew and pace him as he took on the grueling 224 mile double crossing of CT on the New England Trail. This is a story of love, endurance and porcupines that shows the power of Running Far, Eating Well, and Resting Easy.

Ba-Da-Ba-Ba-Ba, I'm Lovin it!

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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Whether its road running versus trail running, Garmin versus Coros, iPhone versus Android or Democrats versus Republicans, why does it sometimes feel so hard for us to actually listen to each other? We look at what it means to find common ground, and to be genuinely curious. And why it is sometimes so difficult to remain curious. We also take a look at our mental maps and try to figure out why it can be so difficult for us to change our perspective. This is a conversation that some would rather hide in the bottom of a portajohn to avoid. But you love this shit, and we love you right back. Enjoy this warm cuppa Cultra Brew! So is Curiosity the antidote to binary thinking?

Is Listening with empathy a superpower in both politics and trail running.

So who is running the CUT112?

Have a listen to The Hidden Brain

Bimblers Bluff

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Outro music by Nick Byram

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When most of us think of “running blind”, we envision a state of panic where one must proceed without having a clear understanding of what lies ahead. Trail running can be challenging enough even when we can see the rocks and roots that can trip us up. John Robert Mckay, AKA The Blind Donkey Runner does not let that stop him. We hear the details of how he is able to avoid “rock in 3-2-1, ROCK” with the aid of guides. We hear about his journey to qualify and run The Boston Marathon, his racing on the track, trails and ultra events.

John also shines the spotlight on local Georgia High School Track coaches and their athletes through his own podcast Southeastern High School Athletics and he is a subject matter expert!

We spend a lot of time talking about making connections with others, and the courage required to stand on the starting line of a cross country race.

We also enjoy Jackassing around with The Blind Donkey Runner. Don’t miss this!

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Outro music by Nick Byram

Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

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More Information on the #CUT112

Let’s talk about dropping. When we drop something it’s like we are forgetting to hold on. We sign up for the 100k and sometimes want to drop to a 50 mile. And some times we help each other pause for a moment and remember why we do what we do and we avoid dropping .(Now the tricky part) Sometimes we decide to pause and not drop any more and others remind us that perhaps it’s time to take a deeper look and drop a new episode of The Cultra Trail Running Podcast. We are glad to be back!

We talk about all the fun and crazy shit that happens on the trails and in our lives that most people don't care about or wont talk about.

Lin shares his experience as a child growing up in Shanghai, and we touch on all aspects of life, love and the miracle of ultra running.

Lake Waramaug Ultras

Mount To Coast

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Outro music by Nick Byram

Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

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Sign up for a race at Live Loud Running and feel better

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More Information on the #CUT112

Life is constantly changing and we are all very different people than we were 6 or 7 years ago, and right now it feels like its time to take a break, continue to seek professional help, and decide whats next. So for now, we are hitting pause (paws), but before we go, lets use this episode to take a look back, just in case this turns out to be our final episode.

This podcast started as a wild idea among friends—a way to celebrate the absurdity, struggle, and joy of ultra running in a way that was raw and explicit like the trails we run on. What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would resonate, how it would grow into a community, and how much it would mean to me (and to all of us) over the years. The inside jokes, the live shows, the interviews, the ridiculous tangents and jackassing around that somehow always made sense in the end—it’s all been a blast.

Phast Phred, Evil Becky, Jimmy Mac, and Celeste Fong-a-Ding-Dong—you’ve given me (AFB) so much, and I can’t thank you enough for that gift.

Most of all, I want to thank you. Your support—whether financial or just by showing up and listening—has made this journey possible. You’ve fueled countless hours of storytelling, laughter, and the occasional moment of wisdom. We loved butchering your names and making you Podcast Famous. You’ve been the lifeblood of this weird, wonderful family that understands the beauty of suffering through 112 miles in the woods and somehow still wanting more.

I don’t know what’s next. Maybe Cultra returns in some new form down the road, maybe not. But one thing is certain: the friendships and community we’ve built aren’t going anywhere. We’ll still be out there—running, crewing, racing, pacing, and laughing at the sheer madness of it all. And I hope to see you out there, too.

So, for now, this is a pause—not necessarily a goodbye. Keep running, seek professional help, and we’ll see you all in a mile… mile and a half. Love you guys, AFB

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Outro music by Nick Byram

If we start up again... Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

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More Information on the #CUT112

Former soldier Tim Hardy shares his approach to making his life choices. He has at times deliberately chosen a difficult path that includes some of the most arduous and hot multi-day races, like Vol State, and HOTS, and also cold races like the Arrowhead 135. Tim has recently taken a look at what makes a great experience for him in terms of community, travel time, course, and cost. He gives us a lot to consider as we make our own life choices.

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Outro music by Nick Byram

Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow

Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids

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Buy Fred's Book Running Home

More Information on the #CUT112

For the 1st time (and hopefully not the last), this episode features the solo efforts of Evil Becky. Do you have 40 minutes? Do you want see what the back of your eyes look like? If you said yes, then this is the episode for you. EB goes through last weeks running superlatives and reports on what you the listeners think about yourselves and others. There are some flashback moments (que the Scooby Doo music) of looking back on our past runner selves and the insight and advice we would give to ourselves. Then we wrap up that golden doggy bag with a look forward to what races are coming up in the Northeast.

This is the episode that you didnt even know you needed. Enjoy!

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Outro music by Nick Byram

Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow

Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids

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Buy Fred's Book Running Home

More Information on the #CUT112

So Dad (Art) is away and the kids (CULTRA crew) decided to play. We changed the episode rules and decreed this to be episode #8675309. We also determined Who are you. Yes, you. We went through a list of stereotypical runner types and made judgments of who fit the bill. But what do YOU think? Who are you? And who are those other runners around you? Join in and pass some friendly and silly judgement. Added bonus! We kept the train on the tracks and paced ourselves to an impressive hour - hour and a 1/2 episode...including patreons.

Get your official Cultra Clothes and other Cultra TRP PodSwag at our store!

Outro music by Nick Byram

Become a Cultra Crew Patreon Supporter basic licker. If you lick us, we will most likely lick you right back

Cultra Facebook Fan Page Go here to talk shit and complain and give us advice that we wont follow

Cultra Trail Running Instagram Don't watch this with your kids

Sign up for a race at Live Loud Running and feel better

Buy Fred's Book Running Home

More Information on the #CUT112