Adventures at Wild Goose Trail Festival with Andrew Bondarev and Fra Balbi
Stephanie takes us to New Jersey for her 22nd state on the journey to all 50 with the Wild Goose Trail Festival 100-miler. What could have been a solo grind turned into a full-on adventure of community, resilience, and unexpected friendships. With her original pacer getting injured, Stephanie found last-minute support in Andrew Bondarev, who drove in to help keep her on track through the long night. Along the way, she also met Fra Balbi, a non-binary runner taking on their first 100K, after c...
1 Loka 1h 1min
When 200 Miles Isn’t Enough: Andrea Moore’s Season of Ultras with Rachel Moore
This week on HappyCast, Stephanie sits down with returning guest Andrea Moore—fresh off an unbelievable streak of six 200-milers this year alone, including the Arizona Monster, Cocodona, Oregon 200, and the grueling Summit 200 in Colorado. Joined by guest host Rachel Moore, the conversation dives into the infamous “MonsterDona” combo, what recovery really looks like between back-to-back ultras, and the unique challenges of pushing through brain fog, altitude, and steep climbs. Andrea opens up...
25 Syys 1h
Finding Strength in the Storm with Liesl Standish and Julie Benoit
This week on the HappyCast, Stephanie sits down with returning guest Liesl Standish and her pacer, Julie Benoit, to dive into Liesl’s unforgettable journey at the Run Rabbit Run 100. From the moment the weather turned to rain, hail, and near-freezing temps, this race tested every ounce of grit and determination. Liesl shares what it felt like to shuffle through the night wrapped in a space blanket, the toll of soaked gloves and cold hands, and how sheer perseverance pushed her forward when qu...
17 Syys 59min
Rising Back Into Action: Rob Goyen Returns with Rise Racing Co
After several years away from race directing, Rob Goyen is rising back into action with his new company, Rise Racing Co. In this episode, Andrew and Stephanie catch up with one of HappyCast’s very first guests to hear how Rob has spent his time away, why he chose to step back, and what ultimately pulled him back into the trail running scene. From his early days building Trail Racing Over Texas (TROT) to the ideas now fueling Rise Racing, Rob reflects on the lessons learned and the community h...
10 Syys 1h 13min
Roadside Grit: Vol State, Heart of the South, and Beyond with Lisa Decker and Shashi Reddy
Sometimes the hardest part of ultrarunning isn’t the miles—it’s just getting an episode recorded. After multiple attempts, the HappyCast crew finally sits down with Lisa Decker and Shashi Reddy to share their stories from two of Laz Lake’s infamous journey races: Vol State and Heart of the South. Both are 300+ mile tests of grit, resourcefulness, and pure stubbornness, and their experiences run the gamut from roadside naps to navigating storms and heat rash with Dollar General t-shirts. Lisa ...
3 Syys 1h 20min
Chasing Big Goals: Aimee Jacobs at the Leadville 100
In this week’s HappyCast, Andrew and Stephanie sit down with returning guest Aimee Jacobs fresh off her run at the Leadville 100, joined by her pacer and close friend, Mel (“DJ Melly Mel”). From San Antonio to the Colorado Rockies, Aimee recounts her buildup to one of the most prestigious 100-mile races in the country, the challenges of training at altitude, and the unforgettable experience of racing at elevation. Mel shares how their friendship grew from early morning base runs to supporting...
27 Elo 1h 7min
Grinding It Out: Rachel Millman’s Journey Through the Hardest Miles
In this episode of the HappyCast, Stephanie and Andrew sit down with ultrarunner Rachel Millman, whose race résumé spans mud-soaked DNFs, monster climbs, and fearless returns to the start line. Rachel takes us inside her recent finish at the Ouray 100, a beast of a race boasting over 40,000 feet of elevation gain, where she crossed the line just 23 minutes before the final cutoff. From navigating steep, loose terrain to staying upright during nighttime descents, she shares how grit—and a litt...
13 Elo 1h 9min
The North Dakota Nomad: Elliott Waldock’s Ultra Trail Journey
In this episode of HappyCast, Andrew and Stephanie are joined by Elliott Waldock — fresh off the Summit 200, one of the most rugged and high-altitude 200-mile races in the U.S. With Dylan notably MIA (possibly launching a Chipotle-based fight club), Andrew drinks wine and scrolls Elliott’s Instagram to dive deep into his running past, landing fortuitously on his very first 100-miler: Brazos Bend. What follows is a hilarious, nostalgic, and surprisingly heartfelt look at Elliott’s journey from...
6 Elo 1h 35min
