The Running Mullet

This week on The Running Mullet, we’re looking back at Wicked Windstone.

We talked about this one earlier in the year when it was still a new race on the calendar.

Now the inaugural event is in the books, with runners taking on everything from the 5K to the 100-miler. The course had a little bit of everything: wooded trails, farmland, creekside running, and a climb called The Wall. And with a 3.1-mile loop, there was plenty of opportunity to get familiar with the place.

We’re talking about how the first Wick...

This week on The Running Mullet, we’re recapping Oil Creek and Green Monster.

Oil Creek brought another year of rocks, climbs, and long miles through the trails around Titusville. The 100-miler covers more than 100 miles and nearly 18,000 feet of climbing, with the old oil derricks lit up, making for a pretty memorable sight during the overnight hours.

We’ll get into how this year’s race played out and what makes Oil Creek such a staple of Pennsylvania trail running.

Then there’s Green Monster, north of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, bringing steep cl...

This week on The Running Mullet, we’re talking Black Forest and the Red Barn Challenge.

We dug into Black Forest last week, so we’ll dig a little more into Red Barn — a relatively young race that has built a following since its first running in 2020.

Red Barn is a 6-, 12-, or 24-hour challenge on a one-mile loop at Marzella Farm in Lykens, with about 70 feet of elevation per lap and a mix of grass, mulch, and stone around ponds, fields, and tree lines.

Then we’ll circle back to Black Forest...

This week on The Running Mullet, we’ve got Ben Mazur joining us.

Ben has been around Pennsylvania trail running for a long time — runner, race director, trail nerd, blogger, and apparently someone who thinks normal race ideas are a little too easy.

We’re talking Black Forest, one of Pennsylvania’s grittiest 100Ks.

Ben is part of the team behind the race, which means he knows a thing or two about midnight starts, 100K of rocks and climbing, no pacers, no crews, and enough darkness to really question your decision-making.

And then...

This week on The Running Mullet, we're talking about two very different ways to spend your weekend: Wild Goose Trail Festival and Boulder Beast.

Wild Goose had a pretty good weekend right up until Sunday brought the rain. The wet conditions made things a little more interesting for the runners out there, both those finishing big mileage and those starting the Sunday shorter distances.

Wild Goose has been around for years, and Sassquad has turned it into a full-on choose-your-own-adventure, with distances from the 10K and half marathon all the way up through the 50K, 50...

This week on The Running Mullet, we’re talking hills.

Up. Down. Poles. No poles. Fast. Slow. Hard. Easy.

Do you power hike everything that points uphill, or refuse to admit you’re hiking?

Do poles actually help, or are you just carrying extra stuff up the mountain?

What about bombing the downhills like you have nothing to lose?

We’ll talk hill workouts, climbing, descending, technique, pacing, and all the little arguments runners have with themselves when the trail points straight up.

Because hills are part of the...

There’s a big difference between running a smooth, rolling trail and spending six hours picking your way over rocks and roots.

If you try to run both courses the same way, you’re probably going to have a bad time.

That’s what we’re getting into on The Running Mullet this week: different types of race courses and how you actually deal with them.

The RunPA Trail Jamboree this past weekend is a perfect example. There’s a little bit of everything out there — singletrack, doubletrack, rocks, roots, grass, dirt roads, stone roads...

Running is supposed to be cheap, right?

All you need is a pair of shoes and you’re good to go.

Then somehow you end up with three pairs of shoes for different terrains, a Garmin watch, six kinds of socks, a hydration vest, poles, a headlamp, enough nutrition to survive a week in the woods, and a closet full of race shirts. Suddenly, you’ve spent enough money to outfit a small REI.

This week on The Running Mullet, we’re talking about running on a budget: how to spend less, what’s actual...

No new topic this week. It’s a recap week!

We’re taking a little trip back through some of our favorite Running Mullet conversations, interesting running things that have been happening recently, and, frankly, whatever we want to chat about this week.

We’ve covered a lot over the last few months, so we’re pulling together some of the best moments, stories, advice, and conversations from past episodes, past events, and past thoughts we forgot to bring up.

Maybe we missed it the first time around. Maybe we forgot about it. Or maybe...

Eastern States 100 is over, and if you were watching the race unfold this weekend, you know there was a lot more going on than just who crossed the finish line first.

Yes, Kaylee Frederick is the story.

She didn't just win the women's race.

She won Eastern States outright, becoming the first woman in race history to take the overall win. And she did it on a day when simply getting through 103 miles of Pennsylvania trail was an accomplishment all by itself.

At just 21, Kaylee finished in 23:09, setting a new women's...

Some races spend decades building a reputation.

Eastern States didn't need that long.

This race has only been around since 2014, but in just ten runnings it has become one of those races that makes ultrarunners stop and pay attention. That's not because of marketing. It's because the course has a way of exposing exactly who showed up prepared.

This week on The Running Mullet, we're looking at the history of one of Pennsylvania's signature ultramarathons. Since its debut, Eastern States has challenged runners with over 100 miles of relentless climbs, technical singletrack, and the...

Forgetting your drop bag on race day is one thing.

Losing your pacer at a crucial point because nobody remembered where they were supposed to meet you?

That's a whole different problem.

This week on The Running Mullet, we're diving into the behind-the-scenes logistics that can make or break a big ultramarathon.

Pacers. Crew. Timing. Aid station planning. Drop bags. Communication. When do you actually need a crew? When is a pacer worth having? And how do you keep everyone on the same page when the race starts to unravel?

This week on The Running Mullet, we're talking about a brand new Pennsylvania ultra, The Wicked Windstone, and why runners are already paying attention.

Before the inaugural event has even happened, the team behind Wicked Windstone has been asking questions, collecting feedback, and making changes based on what runners want, creating a race that feels built with the trail community instead of simply for it. It's a refreshing approach in a sport where traditions and race flow often take years to evolve.

Of course, the course has plenty to say for itself too - a 5...

Most ultras send you into the woods before sunrise.

Ironstone says, "Nope, let's start at 2:00 in the afternoon."

This week on The Running Mullet, we're digging into one of Pennsylvania's most distinctive ultramarathons: the Ironstone 100K.

A late-afternoon start means runners spend the hottest part of the day getting to the real challenge before tackling long stretches of rocky ridgelines and technical singletrack through the night. It's a race that rewards patience, smart pacing, and specific training as much as overall fitness.

We'll talk about what makes Ironstone such a different...

This week, we're talking with a guy who just did something absolutely incredible... and somehow made it look almost normal.

Fresh off his overall win at the Last Annual Heart of the South, Phil Perkins joins us to break down one of the most unique races in ultrarunning.

The race covers an eye-popping 355 miles through Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, giving runners nearly six days to chase the finish line—and this year, Phil chased it all the way to the top, taking the win in an incredible 5 days, 15 hours, and change.

And if th...

They say one is the loneliest number, but is two really any better?

This week, we're celebrating all things #2.

From Francesco Puppi's incredible runner-up finish at the Western States Endurance Run to the strange reality that second place can be both heartbreaking and heroic, we're diving into what it means to be number two.

And because this is The Running Mullet, we're also exploring every kind of "crappy situation" imaginable: the races that went sideways, the plans that fell apart, the moments that tested our sense of humor, and the stories that become...

Summer is here.

The humidity is oppressive.

Your shoes are permanently damp.

Your long run started three hours ago and somehow you're still not back at the car.

This week on The Running Mullet, we're talking about maintaining your mojo in midsummer. When the novelty of race season wears off, the weather gets brutal, and the training calendar starts feeling more like a chore than an adventure, how do you keep showing up?

We want your stories:

🔥 What's the craziest thing you've ever done to boost morale dur...

This week on The Running Mullet, we're covering the legendary Laurel Highlands Ultra, a tough East Coast race (of the choose your own adventure variety: 70.5 mile or 50k) that definitely lives up to the hype.

This year was the 47th running of the 70.5 and the 21st running of the 50k. The iconic 70.5-mile point-to-point runs from from Ohiopyle to Seward, while the 50k leaves off at the 31 mile point. Both once again delivered epic performances and survival stories.

We'll break down an incredible day for Pennsylvania trail running, where we’ll hear from Andy Styer, wh...

Summer has officially arrived, and whether you're chasing a PR, surviving marathon training, or running at odd hours where the sun isn’t out, this week's Running Mullet is bringing the heat.

We're diving headfirst into the sweaty, salty world of hot-weather running:

🔥 The gear that actually works

🧂 Salt tabs, sports drinks, electrolyte mixes, pickles, and every other trick runners swear by

🥵 How to survive summer training

🛣️ Road-running heat hacks for those days when shady trails aren't an option

From ice bandanas to hydration mistakes, we're sorting through what wor...

Last week, we told you all about Worlds End.

This week... we're telling you all about Worlds End again.

You didn't really think we'd spend an entire episode previewing one of Pennsylvania's biggest ultramarathons and then just move on when the race actually happened, did you?

The trails have been run.

The climbs have been conquered.

The legs have been trashed.

Now, it's time to unpack everything that went down at World’s End 2026.

We’re breaking down the highs, lows, surprises, and standout performances from...

This week on The Running Mullet:

We’re heading deep into the mountains of Pennsylvania for one of the toughest, muddiest races on the East Coast: Worlds End Ultramarathon.

From the tough climbs of the Loyalsock Trail to the rock gardens, waterfalls, creek crossings, and endless rollers, Worlds End isn’t just a race — it’s a survival experience.

The 50k offers up nearly 6,000 feet of climbing, while the legendary 100k throws down over 12,000 feet with a strict 19-hour cutoff.

This race has built a reputation as one of the hardest and most...

This week on The Running Mullet…

What happens when you mix trail runners, a moving train, and a little Appalachian magic?

You get the legendary Highball to Thurmond — one of the most unique races in the area.

Set deep in the New River Gorge of West Virginia, runners can choose from multiple distances — from a shorter scenic 50k to rugged 50 mile run, ruck, and relay distances that wind through historic rail towns, forested trails, crushed gravel, and relentless Appalachian climbs.

But no matter the distance, the mission stays the same: Beat the tr...

Episode 165 of The Running Mullet drops this Monday at 7:30pm.

It was a massive weekend in the trail and ultra world, and we’re breaking it all down.

We’ve got highlights from the Eagleton Trail Challenge: a race that’s been growing for years in the PA Wilds. From the shorter, runnable 10K and 25K to the more demanding 47K, Eagleton delivers a full spectrum of effort across technical terrain. We’ll talk about what stood out, how the courses actually run, and why this race is carving out a real identity in the Eastern...

Episode 19 of The Mullet Chronicles is here with Andy Styer — ultrarunner, cat enthusiast, beard ambassador, and veteran of both Worlds End and Laurel Highlands.

This episode features Andy’s race reports from Worlds End and Laurel Highlands, covering what it's like to tackle both tough Pennsylvania races in one year.

Tune in live every Monday at 7:30pm Eastern to hear more stories from The Running Mullet — everything from the business in the front of the pack to the party in the back with Erik “Idiotrunner” Kosek and Grayce “Hot Pants” Langheine.

This week on The Running Mullet

Grayce and Eric - reunited again!

We’re breaking down the Hills Creek Endurance Challenge—a race that sounds simple until you realize it’s just you, your thoughts, and the same 3-mile loop… over… and over… and over again.

A scenic loop around a lake in Wellsboro, PA… mostly singletrack, just enough elevation to challenge you, and exactly enough visibility of the finish line to make quitting way too easy.

This challenge allows you to pick your poison, giving you a 3 hour, 6 hour, or 12 hour option. <...

We’re joined by Amy Nelson, race organizer of the legendary Baker Trail Ultras.

Here’s what truly sets this race apart: The Baker Trail Ultras are Trail Sisters Approved, and this race guarantees a 50% female entry field, a commitment that’s still rare in trail running.

Each year, runners take on a different 50-mile section of the 130+ mile Baker Trail—north, central, and south—earning a piece of a three-part medal along the way.

And if you finish all three?

You don’t just get a medal… you earn the legendary roll...

This week, Grayce is off on an adventure in the woods, so Eric has been left in charge… which is concerning.

Rumor has it that there may be mystery host(s) but we're pretty sure they’re just Eric’s imaginary friends.

Join us as we dive headfirst into a full Hyner recap: pain, pride, questionable decisions, and everything in between.

Then, we pivot straight into some crazy summer race plans. Big miles, bad ideas, and the kind of commitments you only make after surviving Hyner.

🎙️ Join The Running Mullet this Monday, 7:3...

Hyner is coming… and if you know, you know.

Pennsylvania runners know.

This week on The Running Mullet, we’re diving headfirst into the chaos, grit, and fortitude required to complete the Hyner Trail Challenge. Runners from all over, but especially those local to PA, are gearing up to tackle the climbs, the views, and the “why did I sign up for this?” moments—and we’re here to champion all of it.

From training highs (and lows), to race-day strategy, to embracing the hard-fought suffering that makes Hyner… Hyner — this episode is your perfect pre...

This week on The Running Mullet, we recap the Roburrito Gut Run — a completely unserious event with very serious consequences.

13 miles.

4 Roburritos locations.

4 burritos that absolutely did not need to be eaten mid-run.

Zero good life choices made after mile 6.

We’re joined by Rob — owner of Roburritos, also a runner, who is responsible for all of this — in order to unpack:

🌯 the origins of this beautiful/terrible idea

🌯 what happens when endurance meets…beans

🌯 who thrived, who barely survived, and who will never look at a bur...

This week: Dan Lamorte — ultrarunner, comedian, NYC local who loves PA trails.

His Byline?

“On the stage, on the spectrum.”

And yes… it’s exactly as unfiltered as it sounds.

Dan’s life right now is basically:

🏃‍♂️ Training for Hyner 50K

🏔️ Eyeing World’s End 100K

📦 Packing up NYC to head to Leadville

🎤 Doing stand-up somewhere in between

🌊 And still, somehow, really into lighthouses

But here’s the part that hits— Dan didn’t just find running…he used it to completel...

This week, we’re hitting the trails with Steph Leer, who boasts 25 years of running…

TWENTY. FIVE. YEARS.

That’s not a hobby.

That’s a personality trait.

That’s a lifestyle.

That’s a condition.

Steph has been out there running trails since before some of you owned your first pair of running shoes — and somehow she’s still choosing to get out there.

But wait, it gets better— 💍 She married Carl… from run club.

Because nothing says romance like “see you a...

In this episode of The Mullet Chronicles, we’re joined by Ben Mazur, race director, trail runner, meme creator. We go back in time to his race report from Hyner Trail Challenge 50k in 2017. Ben takes us through the iconic Pennsylvania race from beginning up to SOB and all the way to the finish line. Check out his new blog Rocksylvania Dispatch for some more current race reports and musings.

Tune in live every Monday at 7:30pm Eastern to hear more stories from The Running Mullet — everything from the business in the front of the pack to the...

Runners are many things, but surprisingly, runners are not good at… not running.

This week on The Running Mullet – Episode 157, we tackle the nightmare scenario every runner eventually faces: Injury.

How do you stay sane when you can’t run?

Do you:

• Crew races like an over-caffeinated pit crew?

• Volunteer at aid stations and eat half the snacks?

• Buy more running shoes “for when you’re healthy again”?

• Develop extremely strong opinions about foam rollers?

Or… do you spiral into other questionable hobbies?

This week, we’re...

You know that moment when you set a goal…

…and then accidentally obliterate it?

That’s basically what happened when Gina Ruck showed up to Conquer the Wall with a simple plan: Run 100 miles.

Instead, she ran 106.

A big goal.

A journey of training, planning, lifting, and grinding toward one culminating moment.

On this episode, Gina joins Grayce and Eric to talk about:

🏃‍♀️ The two-year buildup to this race

🧠 What it takes mentally to keep stacking miles for 47 hours

💪 How strength training became a sec...

Episode 155 of The Running Mullet is… about Eric.

Just Eric.

No one asked for this.

We did it anyway.

This week, we deep dive into the mystery, the legend, the suspicious speed, and the absolutely unhinged running existence of Eric. Why is he so fast? How is he raising an entire squad of fast runner girls? What dark magic powers his splits? Is he actually an idiot? What’s it like being husband to Becky — patron saint of patience?

We explore:

• unsettling truths about Eric’s speed

• the...

🔥 NEW EPISODE ALERT — FAST FEARLESS FREDERICK🔥

She’s back… and faster than ever.

On Episode 154 of The Running Mullet, we welcome back Kaylee Frederick — fresh off her incredible 2nd place finish at the Jackpot Ultras 🥈

We talk:

🏃‍♀️ What it takes to compete at an elite level in ultrarunning

🎰 The strategy, grit, and mindset behind her Jackpot performance

💪 Lessons learned since her last appearance

🔥 What’s next on her racing radar

If you love big goals, tough miles, and the stories behind breakthrough performances — this one’s for you.

🎧 Tune in li...

🔥 LOVE IT or HATE IT — THIS, NOT THAT 🔥

This week on The Running Mullet, we’re choosing sides and stirring the pot.

From race day rituals to running gear, training trends, and the habits runners defend with their whole soul — we’re calling it out:

✅ Love it

🚫 Hate it

👉 This, not that.

And we want YOU in on it 👇

💬 Drop a running opinion you’ll defend forever.

🔥 Tell us your most controversial running take. Settle a debate: treadmill or road? early miles or night runs? gels or real food? <...

EXTREME COLD WARNINGS.

PENNSYLVANIA RACES SAID: “BET.”

This winter, while most people are negotiating with their thermostat, runners across PA are toeing start lines in single digits, frozen trails, and wind chills that actively insult your life choices.

This week on The Running Mullet, we’re talking about the races that still happened when the weather screamed absolutely not — why organizers didn’t pull the plug, why runners showed up anyway, and what winter grit actually looks like when the state is under an extreme cold warning.

Because around here, winter doesn’t ca...

Somewhere out there, someone once said: “Just wing it.”

And a runner believed them.

This week, The Running Mullet celebrates the worst running advice ever given—by coaches, friends, strangers, and ourselves.

You’re not alone. We’ve all been dumb.

Tune in Monday, February 2nd at 7:30pm (EST) for the best of the worst advice in this sport.

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In this episode of The Mullet Chronicles, we’re joined by Marissa Kovach, a Marine Corps veteran, to talk about her experience racing Devil Dog Ultras in 2025. Marissa walks us through what it was like taking on a race built to test grit, resilience, and mental toughness — from the miles that hurt to the moments that mattered. It’s a conversation about earned toughness, showing up when things get uncomfortable, and why Devil Dog Ultras hits different.

Tune in live every Monday at 7:30pm Eastern to hear more stories from The Running Mullet — everything from the business in the f...