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Allison interviews Dylan, an ultra runner with 14+ ultramarathons, a sobriety and redemption story, and a weekly live cornhole podcast.

Dylan shares how he ran casually as a young athlete, joined the US Army in 2013 for eight and a half years, then swore off running after leaving in 2021 and struggled with lost purpose and heavy drinking, intensified after a roommate’s death in a 2022 motorcycle accident.

After reading David Goggins’ “Can’t Hurt Me,” he began training for the 4x4x48 challenge, found running as therapy, and rapidly progressed from half-marathon to marathon to 50 miles and then a 100-mile loop race, describing a faith-defining moment around mile 40–41.

He discusses endurance, choosing suffering, gratitude, community, racing routines, fueling and recovery, favorite and hardest races, gear and shoes, mantras for running and sobriety, and goals including a top-10 finish at Cocodona while spreading faith, fitness, and sobriety.

Dylan Led - https://www.facebook.com/dylan.ledbetter.71


Races Mentioned
St. Patrick's Day March
Mid-State Mile
Inkom Last Man Standing
Tennessee Mile
Run LOViT 100
Coca Dona 250

Shout Outs
David Goggins
Becca Jones
John Cox
Brian
Doug
East Coast Adventures
Daniel Castro
Eric
Chad Wright

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For more details on Run Your Story happenings, visit https://runyourstory.com/

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Kristen Rather
Steve Taylor
Mary Trufant
Suzanne Crist
Suzanne Clark
Anna Szymanski
Dave McDonald
Karla McInnis
James Contratto
Jordan DuBose
Cristy Evans
Sharonda Shula
Nell Gustavson
Meredith Nations
Allyson Swann
Chris Strayhorn
Karen Saldivar
Stefan Clayton
Rachael McRae
Scott Thornhill

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On the podcast, Allison interviews Steven (“Big Papa”), a fast, humble runner and new dad, about how he started running after high school to stay in shape and to eventually beat his older brother in races.

Steven describes shifting from mostly trail running in Georgia (especially 2017–2021) to more road running after moving to Mobile in July 2021, noting differences in pacing, muscle strain, anxiety, passing on single-track trails, and the need for more cushioned shoes on pavement.

He shares lessons from running—discipline, consistency, focusing on your own race, negative splits, and not overthinking—plus favorite races like the Mobile Half, War Eagle Half, Bayou Half, and Tunnel Vision 5K, and worst experiences dropping from marathons (Nashville 2012, Savannah 2012, Big Beach 2023) and a tough Duncan Ridge 50K attempt.

Steven details his pre-race routine (early wake-up, coffee, eggs, warm-up), his suitcase-and-backup-gear habits (including wearing three socks and carrying multiple shoes), minimal fueling for halves, and marathon fueling with dates for his upcoming Knoxville Marathon (April 12).

He emphasizes gratitude, faith, community, sleep as recovery, and advice to new runners to get properly fitted shoes, accept discomfort, and build mental fortitude.

Stephen Havard - https://www.facebook.com/shavard6132


Races Mentioned
Cheaha 50k
War Eagle Half Marathon
Mobile Half Marathon
Bayou Half Marathon
Mississippi Gulf Coast Marathon
Huntsville Marathon
Double Tunnel Vision 5k
Big Beach Marathon
Nashville Marathon
Savannah Marathon
Boston Marathon
Knoxville Marathon
Duncan Ridge 50k

Shout Outs
Jordy
Valerie Guy
Justin Guy
Port City Pacers
Emily Havard
Pierre
Scott Thornhill
Dave McDonald
Lily Havard

Support the show

For more details on Run Your Story happenings, visit https://runyourstory.com/

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Go Run Your Story and take a piece of this story with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on upcoming episodes. Support me on Patreon!
Can't wait to hear Your Run Story!!

Thank you to all of our Patreon supporters!
Kristen Rather
Steve Taylor
Mary Trufant
Suzanne Crist
Suzanne Clark
Anna Szymanski
Dave McDonald
Karla McInnis
James Contratto
Jordan DuBose
Cristy Evans
Sharonda Shula
Nell Gustavson
Meredith Nations
Allyson Swann
Chris Strayhorn
Karen Saldivar
Stefan Clayton
Rachael McRae
Scott Thornhill

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Jackson discusses how he started running competitively later in life—his first marathon at 33 after dabbling in mountain biking, triathlons, and five Ironmans—and quickly progressed into trail ultras, including signing up for a 100-miler before completing a 50K.

He shares his love of technical trails, boredom as a key weakness, and how moving between Mississippi and places like Flagstaff shaped his training.

Jackson explains how Live Oak 50K began as a low-key group run that grew into an organized race, and his goal to expand trail events in Mississippi and Louisiana with new formats.

He covers favorite races, shoe sponsorship with Mount to Coast, fueling strategies and backup plans, recovery and cross-training, lessons from Oregon 200 challenges, coaching philosophy emphasizing problem-solving and controllable goals, and a mantra-style “rougarou/werewolf” mental tool, ending with a quote about welcoming adversity.

Jackson Wolf - https://www.facebook.com/jasonbyronwheat


Races Mentioned
Live Oak 50k
Mississippi Trail 50-miler
Blood Rock 50-miler
Fonder Urban Ultra
Mississippi 100
Coca Dona 250
Ute 100
Oregon 200
Mamba 100
Tahoe 200
Bigfoot 200
Leadville 100
Mountain 100

Shout Outs
David Tasha
Jeff Browning (Bronco Billy)
Carl Meltzer
David Goggins

Support the show

For more details on Run Your Story happenings, visit https://runyourstory.com/

For web development or tech services, visit https://gaillardts.com/

Go Run Your Story and take a piece of this story with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on upcoming episodes. Support me on Patreon!
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Thank you to all of our Patreon supporters!
Kristen Rather
Steve Taylor
Mary Trufant
Suzanne Crist
Suzanne Clark
Anna Szymanski
Dave McDonald
Karla McInnis
James Contratto
Jordan DuBose
Cristy Evans
Sharonda Shula
Nell Gustavson
Meredith Nations
Allyson Swann
Chris Strayhorn
Karen Saldivar
Stefan Clayton
Rachael McRae
Scott Thornhill

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Laura Green, a mom, comedian, and runner, shares how she started running at 12 through cross country, trained seriously in high school in New York, and later ran at Northeastern while majoring in physical therapy.

After college, she shifted to more recreational trail and road running, completing under 10 marathons, including a first marathon in Nashville to raise money for a friend’s wheelchair, and repeated Boston mainly to visit friends; she especially enjoyed New York City and the Paris Marathon.

She prefers cross country and trails for their playful feel and reduced focus on the clock, and says discipline and consistency matter more than motivation.

As a parent, she often “wakes up and goes,” uses electrolytes, Maurten gels, and recovery calf sleeves, cross-trains with Peloton and CrossFit due to hamstring pain, and emphasizes proper shoes, feasible volume, and that marathons aren’t required to be a runner.

Laura Green - https://www.instagram.com/lauramcgreen/

Races Mentioned
Rock N Roll Marathon Nashville
Boston Marathon
New York Marathon
Paris Marathon
Louisiana Marathon

Shout Outs
Chase

Support the show

For more details on Run Your Story happenings, visit https://runyourstory.com/

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Go Run Your Story and take a piece of this story with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on upcoming episodes. Support me on Patreon!
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Thank you to all of our Patreon supporters!
Kristen Rather
Steve Taylor
Mary Trufant
Suzanne Crist
Suzanne Clark
Anna Szymanski
Dave McDonald
Karla McInnis
James Contratto
Jordan DuBose
Cristy Evans
Sharonda Shula
Nell Gustavson
Meredith Nations
Allyson Swann
Chris Strayhorn
Karen Saldivar
Stefan Clayton
Rachael McRae
Scott Thornhill

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Allison welcomes back Rhonda, who runs Kinda Gritty, to discuss her background directing races and fundraising, and how her company creates experience-focused events with strong community impact.

They recap Kind of Gritty races including Salute Red, White, and Blue at Camp Shelby benefiting the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, and the Molten Mohawk Niner at Thomley’s Christmas Tree Farm featuring hand-blown glass medals and fundraising beneficiaries that have included a prosthetic leg, medical bills for injured athletes, and Oak Grove High School’s cross country team.

Rhonda also shares her role with the Huntsville Track Club on Rocket City Marathon’s 50th anniversary, plus the Hat Trick (5K, 10K, then half or full).


Rhonda Hayden - https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.hayden.14
Kinda Gritty - https://www.kindagritty.com/

Races Mentioned
Molten Mohawk 9-Miler
Salute Red White and Blue 5k
Norwegian Foot March
Extra Miles Marathon
Hattiesburg Half Marathon
Run the Rainbow
Rocket City Marathon

Shout Outs
Jeremy Thomley
Mohawk Steel
Selena Daniel

Support the show

For more details on Run Your Story happenings, visit https://runyourstory.com/

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Go Run Your Story and take a piece of this story with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on upcoming episodes. Support me on Patreon!
Can't wait to hear Your Run Story!!

Thank you to all of our Patreon supporters!
Kristen Rather
Steve Taylor
Mary Trufant
Suzanne Crist
Suzanne Clark
Anna Szymanski
Dave McDonald
Karla McInnis
James Contratto
Jordan DuBose
Cristy Evans
Sharonda Shula
Nell Gustavson
Meredith Nations
Allyson Swann
Chris Strayhorn
Karen Saldivar
Stefan Clayton
Rachael McRae
Scott Thornhill

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Podcast host Alison interviews Travis, a veteran whose running story spans childhood trauma, military service, alcoholism, sobriety, and ultra-distance racing.

Travis describes hating running in high school, escaping an abusive home by joining the Marine Corps in 1997, developing a heavy drinking habit, later joining the Army Reserve in 2006, and seeking help in 2014 because he feared dying.

After getting sober, deployments and a 2017 convoy crash in Germany revealed health issues, prompting him to start running, progressing quickly from 5Ks to marathons, 50 milers, and 100 milers.

He became focused on multi-day, unsupported “journey runs,” especially the Fool’s Ultra (now 420 miles across New York), his favorite race.

He shares lessons on belonging, consistency, embracing discomfort, planning resupplies and sleep, safety gear for dark runs, shoes, fueling, recovery, music, a key injury perseverance story, a 160-mile DNF at Infinitus 250, advice to start simple and volunteer, his mantra “you’ve been through worse,” and future goals after a 2026 deployment.

Travis McCalla - https://www.facebook.com/travis.mccalla1


Races Mentioned
The Fool's Ultra 420
Infinitus 250
Battleship 12k
Arizona Monster 300
Coca Dona 250

Shout Outs
Joshua Swank
Christie
Andy Weinberg

Support the show

For more details on Run Your Story happenings, visit https://runyourstory.com/

For web development or tech services, visit https://gaillardts.com/

Go Run Your Story and take a piece of this story with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on upcoming episodes. Support me on Patreon!
Can't wait to hear Your Run Story!!

Thank you to all of our Patreon supporters!
Kristen Rather
Steve Taylor
Mary Trufant
Suzanne Crist
Suzanne Clark
Anna Szymanski
Dave McDonald
Karla McInnis
James Contratto
Jordan DuBose
Cristy Evans
Sharonda Shula
Nell Gustavson
Meredith Nations
Allyson Swann
Chris Strayhorn
Karen Saldivar
Stefan Clayton
Rachael McRae
Scott Thornhill

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In this conversation, Allison interviews Selena, a runner and the race director of Run the Rainbow, a multi-distance race event in Jackson, Mississippi that benefits the state’s only children’s hospital.

Selena shares how she began running in her early 30s as a personal goal, progressed from 5Ks to marathons, and grew passionate about the running community.

She discusses taking on trail running at longer distances, including a goal sequence with the local Muts Group (Frosty 15, Big Butts 50K, Clear Creek 50K) and an attempt at her first 100-miler (reaching 100K but missing the cutoff), with plans to complete a 100-miler and earn “Big Dog” status this year after a back issue affected her last attempt.

Selena explains that Run the Rainbow started after the hospital’s former 5K ended during COVID; she expanded it from 5K/10K/half to include a full marathon and a new 50K, with an earlier start option for slower runners and a commitment to supporting participants through the final finisher.

She details that all proceeds support children’s hospital needs not covered by standard funding, citing examples like patient iPads, specialized playground space, NICU “angel eyes,” transportation gaps, and hopes to add another trained facility dog like "Hollywood."

She highlights Run the Rainbow’s challenging hills, frequent aid stations and entertainment (including bands and mile-by-mile encouragement), safety planning with Capitol Police, JPD, and campus police, a course feature that includes passing a castle, and an after-party.

Selena also describes the event’s swag structure (shirts, kid-designed medals, towels, cups, hats/beanies, quarter-zips, and affordable donation-based expo items) and a new educational panel featuring a dietitian (Elizabeth), trainer Megan Cook, and runner Chuck Engle.

Selena Daniel - https://www.facebook.com/selena.lockwood


Races Mentioned
Run the Rainbow
Frosty 15
Fondren 50k
Big Butts 50k
Clear Creek 50k
Mamba 100-miler
Rocket City Marathon


Shout Outs
Muts Group
Dina Boyles
James Boer
Jeremy Jungling
RunStrong
Hollywood
Dana
Pothole Runners
Jackson Run Club
Elizabeth
Megan Cook
Chuck Engle
Dina Bulls

Support the show

For more details on Run Your Story happenings, visit https://runyourstory.com/

For web development or tech services, visit https://gaillardts.com/

Go Run Your Story and take a piece of this story with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on upcoming episodes. Support me on Patreon!
Can't wait to hear Your Run Story!!

Thank you to all of our Patreon supporters!
Kristen Rather
Steve Taylor
Mary Trufant
Suzanne Crist
Suzanne Clark
Anna Szymanski
Dave McDonald
Karla McInnis
James Contratto
Jordan DuBose
Cristy Evans
Sharonda Shula
Nell Gustavson
Meredith Nations
Allyson Swann
Chris Strayhorn
Karen Saldivar
Stefan Clayton
Rachael McRae
Scott Thornhill

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Alison interviews ultra runner and author Josh Coleman about his book, Moving Forward: Running With Grief, which centers on his grief after his wife Erin’s death and the importance of community support for those grieving.

Josh explains he wrote the book to keep Erin’s legacy alive, capture who she was for those who never met her (including the trail running community), help process his own grief, and share how he grieved without prescribing a “right way” to others; he emphasizes that grief doesn’t end but is carried as you move forward.

They discuss Erin’s passion for theater and Broadway, how she and Josh supported each other’s different pursuits, and how Josh honors her through a Broadway playlist and by carrying Erin’s obituary card during races. Allison highlights a quote from the book about runners carrying “invisible memorials.”

Josh recounts his running background from childhood through marathons, qualifying attempts for Boston, and his transition to trail and ultra running after Erin’s passing in June 2022, including his first 50K (Sweat, Swat, & Swear) in May 2023 and his first 100-miler (Bighorn 100), where he drew strength from Erin’s tenacity.

He describes becoming more open about grief on the trails, which encourages others to share their own trauma and loss, and frames himself as an unexpected “grief advocate.”

Josh shares lessons from ultras—patience, relentless forward progress, not quitting unless injury requires it, breaking big challenges into aid-station segments, and the value of community encouragement, recovery, cross-training, and gear.

In closing, Josh advises people to start small, volunteer to get involved, and highlights that supporting grief is about showing up and being present rather than trying to fix someone’s pain.

Josh Coleman - https://www.facebook.com/joshpcoleman


Races Mentioned
Boston Marathon
New Jersey Marathon
Miami Marathon
Sweat, Swat, Swear 50k
Bighorn 100
Tahoe 200
Bigfoot 200
Moab 240
Leadville 100k
Black Canyon 50k
Chicago Marathon
Coca Dona 250
Old Ephraim 200

Shout Outs
Erin Coleman
Jan
Caleb Olson
Ann Trason

Support the show

For more details on Run Your Story happenings, visit https://runyourstory.com/

For web development or tech services, visit https://gaillardts.com/

Go Run Your Story and take a piece of this story with you! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on upcoming episodes. Support me on Patreon!
Can't wait to hear Your Run Story!!

Thank you to all of our Patreon supporters!
Kristen Rather
Steve Taylor
Mary Trufant
Suzanne Crist
Suzanne Clark
Anna Szymanski
Dave McDonald
Karla McInnis
James Contratto
Jordan DuBose
Cristy Evans
Sharonda Shula
Nell Gustavson
Meredith Nations
Allyson Swann
Chris Strayhorn
Karen Saldivar
Stefan Clayton
Rachael McRae
Scott Thornhill