Sassquad Trail Runners (Sassquad Trail Runners)

Learn how gaiters protect your feet on the trails by keeping dirt, rocks, and debris out of your shoes. Whether you're running or hiking, gaiters are a simple tool to help you stay comfortable and focused on your adventure.

In this episode, we chat with the incredible Maria Zieja, ultra-runner and long-time member of the Sassquad Trail Running family. Maria takes us through her journey from obstacle course racing to trail and ultra-running. She shares squatchtastic stories from the 36-hour event at the Wild Goose Trail Festival, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the highs, the lows, and the strategies that kept her moving… Spoiler: it’s all about determination and a little bit of trail

After 15 years in the classroom and a master’s degree in education, she found herself burnt out and searching for a new path. Maria shares about how she took the leap to leave the traditional classroom behind and became a certified nature-based educator. Now, she spends her days inspiring kids to learn and grow outside at Sensory Garden and Play in West Milford, NJ. With her Level 1 certification from the Association for Nature-Based Education (and Level 2 on the way), Maria is on a mission to turn nature into the ultimate classroom.

Maria’s passion for the outdoors is contagious as she talks about the magic that happens when kids get outside every day. From building confidence to boosting creativity, she’s seen firsthand how nature can transform young lives.

Want to learn more about the amazing work Maria is doing? Check out Sensory Garden and Play.

Today's episode is the Facebook Live recording from our RunVenture Zoom Series on Wednesday October 7, 2020. We sat down with Rita Bogar-Williams to hear her story of how she recently fell in love with running!  Rita started running 3 years ago and has since run all over the US and abroad! About 15 years ago, Rita to a big leap and left her corporate job to start her own Consulting Firm. She has found so much success as an entrepreneur and is currently booked a year-out!  

Today's episode is the recording from our March 17, 2021 Facebook Live Interview Series. We sat down with active-duty US Army soldier Samantha Des Rosier to hear all about her trail and ultra running adventures while serving in the military. 

In 2023, ultrarunner Lynn Maki found herself sidelined by injuries and decided to turn lemons into lemonade by jumping into the world of crewing and pacing. She dove into the deep end with four sleepless days/nights of crewing Kim Levinsky during her 358 mile NY Long Path FKT and got to pace Kim around mile 250. A few months later, Lynn crewed and paced three friends at the Sassquad Wild Goose 100 and then finished off the year by serving as a Guide for her friend Beth Rissmeyer at the New York City Marathon. Tune-in to this squatchtastic episode to hear about everything that Lynn learned from these experiences. You'll be sure to pick-up some golden nuggets to help you on your next crewing and pacing endeavor!

Sassquad Trail Running

• trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com
• https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com/
  
• 
  https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning
• https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

Today's episode is the recording from our Facebook Live Interview on Wednesday June 16th with thru-hiker Stephanie Langner! We chatted with with Stephanie about her upcoming thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Stephanie has thru hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Northville Placid Trail, Long Trail, and the Long Path!

You can learn more about Stephanie by checking out her blog: https://tinyurl.com/cupkp8pr

This is the recording from our FB Live Interview on Wednesday September 28, 2022 with Lee Connor and Karmell Ohlrogge! 

Lee and Karmell are seasoned ultra runners who are making an incredible impact on our sport! It'll take you a while to scroll through each of their UltraSignUp results as both Lee and Karmell have completed over 100 events combined (and that's just UltraSignUp!).

After we got the backstory on each of their running journeys, we spent the rest of the interview chatting about The Women's 100 Miler Project that Lee and Karmell created. The Facebook Group has over 600 women! Read on to learn more about this incredible group:

"EMPOWERING WOMEN IN ULTRARUNNING!
The Women’s 100 Miler Project Started as a low budget grassroots video project where we follow five women on their journey to their first 100 miler over the course of a year, under the training and guidance of established ultrarunner Lee Conner, in an effort to get more women interested in running 100s. In launching this project it became abundantly clear, however, that there’s no shortage of women WANTING to run 100s, there’s a shortage of women with the confidence to commit to or begin training. One of the biggest things holding them back was being overwhelmed with the conflicting information out there, and not knowing where to start. We decided to open up the training to all women, not just those in our video project. Our mission is to streamline and simplify information and training, in a supportive and encouraging environment, in order to facilitate making a 100 miler an achievable goal for as many women as possible."

https://thewomens100milerproject.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/268691585272178

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of Day 5!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com

https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning

https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

Sassquad RD Kim Levinsky is in the hot seat sharing about her recent runventure at the Grand Canyon! Keilynn Hopkins did a fantastic job dishing out the questions for this interview.

On Thursday April 15th, Kim covered 54 miles and 12,200 ft gain and 12,200 ft loss as she traversed the Grand Canyon solo traveling down the Bright Angel Trail, across the box, up to the North Rim, back down and then up the South Kaibab Trail. 

You can check out the youtube video that Kim put together here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldH3DrykuzY&t=1985s

Join us for the premiere episode of our RunVenture Zoom Series! Maggie Guterl became a household name in 2019 when she won Big's Backyard Ultra by outlasting everyone and completing 250 miles! Originally from the East Coast, Maggie was the 2018 Squatchung Surprise champ! ....Unfortunately, we experienced a "Zoom Hack" midway through Maggie's talk. But Maggatron didn't miss a beat and picked right back up where she left off! 

Welcome to another episode in our special series, Tales from the Wild Goose! This series highlights the voices, stories, and experiences of runners who joined us at the Wild Goose Trail Festival. Today, we are honored to share Michael Feldman's incredible 200-mile journey. Originally signed up for the Oregon200, Michael pivoted to complete 200 miles when the race was canceled due to wildfires. The first 100 miles took place on the iconic Appalachian Trail, and the second 100 miles were completed on the Wild Goose course.

Michael's journey was filled with challenges, grit, and unwavering determination, but the magic truly came from the support of his friends and family. The finish line was nothing short of emotional and unforgettable, making this an inspiring tale you won't want to miss.

Registration for the 2025 Wild Goose Trail Festival is now open! Kids 1M, 10K, 13.1M, 50K, 50M, 100K, 100M, 36H

In this special episode, we’re bringing you the recording of the Women of Wild Goose live webinar, held on January 8, 2025. This inspiring panel features incredible women who took part in the 2024 Wild Goose 100 Trail Party. They share their firsthand experiences from the trail and answer questions about tackling ultra-distance challenges.

Whether you're a seasoned trail runner, an aspiring ultra athlete, or simply curious about the world of ultra-distance events, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical tips, and stories that will motivate you to hit the trails.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🎙️ Insights into the Wild Goose 100 race experience, from start to finish

🎙️ How to train for ultra-distance events when you have a busy schedule

🎙️ Tips for trying night-running for the first time

🎙️ Insight on how to gain confidence for solo training

Join us for the 2025 Wild Goose Trail Festival!

Today’s episode is the recording from a special edition of our RunVenture Zoom Series that was recorded on September 20, 2020. That night, the tables were turned as Sassquad Founder and RD Kim Levinsky was in the hotseat being interviewed by Janna Chernetz. They sat down to talk about the Trail Magic that happened during the Watchundo 100 miler- Kim's (first) 100 mile fun-run! Kim also shared the backstory of how Sassquad Trail Running started in 2018!

Today’s episode is the recording from our Facebook Live Interview Series on Wednesday February 17, 2021. We sat down will Sara Fioravanti to hear all about her thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. You can check out the infographic she discuses here! And Sara's blog here!

What do you do with all of those feeligs that you're experiencing after a DNF? How do you help a friend who just dropped from a race? Therapist Sarah Strong, LCSW is here to help us navigate a DNF! This is the recording from our clinic with Sarah on Thursday October 3, 2024. The Trail Therapist Sarah Strong provides guidance and tools to help understand the complicated waves of emotions that often come with a DNF. Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, UESCA certified ultrarunning coach and mom based in the Colorado Front Range.

We sat down with Terri DiMartini-Greenlee  to hear all about her involvement with Girls on the Run (GOTR)! Terri is the Essex County and Community Engagement Director for GOTR New Jersey East. We are excited to have Terri join us on Saturday July 27th at our Squatchy Surprise Trail Party! Terri will have a table setup so you can have the opportunity to chat with her about GOTR and learn more about how you can support their mission and get involved as a volunteer.

GOTR is always accepting volunteers! To learn more, you can reach out to Terri directly: 917-414-8572 terri.dimartini-greenlee@girlsontherun.org and visit the GOTR website: https://www.girlsontherunnj.org/ 

To learn more about Sassquad Trail Running, visit our website: sassquadtrailrunning.com

This episode is the recording from our Facebook Live Interview on Wednesday February 3, 2021. We sat down with ultra runner Jessica Simao. Jessica is a very active member of our trail running community as both a runner and a volunteer. She serves as a trail maintainer at Mt. Tammany and can regularly be found volunteering her time at local trail races in the tri-state area. Jess shared all about her volunteering experiences and explained how important it is to give back to the local trail running/hiking community!

This is our interview from Wednesday September 29th with PA Ultrarunner Grayce Langheine, AKA HOT PANTS! We chat all things trail and ultra AND hear about how Grayce is empowering other women to hit the trails!

Join us for this recap of the 2024 Tahoe 200! Matt Klein finished the 200+ miles in just over 95 hours while being supported by his Crew.

In September of 2019, Keilynn Hopkins traveled out to the Grand Canyon to complete an epic Rim2Rim2Rim runventure traversing 47.5 miles and 10,000+ feet elevation gain! She shares her story with us in the 4th episode of our RunVenture Zoom Series. Recorded on Wednesday July 15, 2020.

We are excited to relaunch the Sassquad Trail Runners Podcast! Trail Party Director Kim Levinsky is here to fill you in on what's been going on at Sassquad and what is on the calendar for 2024. Thanks for tuning in - we are excited to be back!

Michael Gagliardi, aka Gagz, is an ultrarunner, a story teller, and a proud Philadelphian. Gagz has become a nationally recognized and accomplished Ultrarunner, with 13 finishes of 100 miles or greater, including the famous Tahoe 200 and the fabled Leadville 100, plus many victories, course records, and podium finishes. He was awarded 2020 Best of Philly for his philly4corners run, a 76 mile walk/bike/run friendly route he created that traces the perimeter of Philadelphia. His podcast, "Running Times" centers around the growing Ultrarunning community by featuring a colorful cast of athletes who are pushing the sport's bounds.

If you've been to a trail race or OCR in the tri-state area, chances are you have met Crystal Jackson! Crystal can be found on the starting lines of trail and OCR events throughout the year and is a Sassquad-regular. We sat down with Crystal to hear all about how she got into running and why she continues to run and race so much.

Sassquad Trail Running

• Instagram
• Facebook
• trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com

Scott won the inaugural Backyard Squatch in August of 2021 and earned a ticket to the Capital Backyard Ultra in Virginia. Scott just won Capital in May of 2022 by completing 254.16 miles! With the win, Scott has earned a spot on Team USA for the fall of 2022.

Along with his Backyard accolades, Scott has some other very impressive running feats under his belt, including multiple finishes of the Egg Nog Slog All Star Classic and the Hot Dog Run. Oh, and also outright wins at Keystone Backyard Ultra, Run Ragged Last Person Standing, 24 Hour Adventure Trail and the Squatchung Surprise!

Check out Scott's blog here: https://www.beastcoasttrailrunning.com/

This is our FB Live Interview on Wednesday July 14, 2021 with Sports Dietician Dina Griffin! 

As a Sports Dietitian, Dina works with athletes one-on-one (including Sassquad RD Kim Levinsky!) to fine-tune their daily nutrition framework and optimize their sports nutrition and hydration strategies. She specializes in working with female endurance athletes.

Dina has a Master of Science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Colorado State University and has worked as a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics in the clinical, outpatient, and private practice settings. She also holds the following certifications: Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics Certified by the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Certified Level II Metabolic Efficiency Training Specialist, and Dr. Stacy Sims “Women are Not Small Men” and “Menopause for Athletes”.

Dina has a long list of athletic accomplishments including the Leadville 100 trail run, the Comrades ultra race in South Africa, Ironman Coeur D’Alene (2013), Boston Marathon (sub 3:25 finish), NYC Marathon (3:26 finish), the San Francisco North Face Endurance Run 50k, and the Mount Evans Hill Climb.

You can learn more about Dina and her nutrition coaching services by visiting: https://www.nutritionmechanic.com

You can follow Dina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritionmechanic    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mechanicdina

In this episode, we sit down with Gautama Reid, better known as “G,” to hear his inspiring trail running story. G started trail running in 2020 and just finished his first trail 100-miler at the Wild Goose Trail Festival this past September.

G takes us through the highs and lows of his journey, sharing the lessons he learned during his epic adventure at the Grand Canyon this fall, where he ran from the South Rim to the North Rim.

Throughout our conversation, G emphasizes the transformative power of community and the impact of people who believed in him when he was just starting. He credits these connections as the driving force behind his evolution as a trail runner, from tackling shorter distances to conquering the 100-mile mark.

G’s story reminds us all of the strength we can find in ourselves and the importance of the people who lift us up along the way!

This is our interview with ultra runner James Leitner! James is the founder of the non-profit MissionCleanWater. MCW provides clean drinking water and sanitation to under-served communities around the world! Sassquad Trail Running is a proud sponsor of MissionCleanWater and has supported James in his efforts to raise funds for clean drinking water! This summer, James completed a marathon a day, for 14 days, while carrying 45 pounds of water! 

In this episode, we share our recording from July 29, 2020 when we heard from ultra runner Kelsey miller. Kelsey shared her journey from couch to ultra and how she overcame her battle with depression! 

This is the recording from our webinar on February 5, 2025: "Women of Squatchapple". Featuring women who have participated in the Squatchapple Trail Party, this webinar dives deep into the trail experience from start to finish. Whether you're curious about the training process, the highs and lows of race day, or how to recover after an ultra-distance challenge, this is the place to learn more about the Squatchapple Trail Party 50M/50K/20M/11M that takes place every March in West Orange, NJ.

This is our interview from July 28, 2021 with Don Weise! Don is the Director of Donor Advising for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Don is an author, hike leader, environmental advocate, and Trail Conference Life Member; he joined the NYNJTC staff in 2011. Don is the leader of the monthly NYNJTC group runs which welcomes runners of all paces to explore beautiful trails in New York in New Jersey. Don has become a great friend to Sassquad Trail Running and has served as the squatchtastic liaison for all of our fundraising efforts for the Trail Conference. He is also the mastermind behind the race courses for our Harriman Big Bear SquaTCh race!

"Running isn't therapy" ...Wait, what?! Listen to this squatchtastic conversation with Sarah Strong to find out what that statement means!

Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, UESCA certified ultrarunning coach and mom based in the Colorado Front Range. Through walk and talk sessions and virtual therapy, Sarah helps individuals cultivate self awareness, self belief and self acceptance by reconnecting them to themselves and the natural world around them. 

As an ambassador for Bigger Than The Trail, Sarah is passionate about shining a light on mental heealth through the platform of trail and ultra running. In this chat, we talk about the deep connection between mental health and running, the challenges of working through an injury and the "post-race-blues". Find out how you can get help if you're struggling right now and learn about what you can do for a friend who may be walking through a tough time.

You can learn more about Sarah's work on her website thetrailtherapist.com and connect with her on Instagram: instagram.com/the_trail_therapist

Here at Sassquad Trail Running, we welcome all peoples, paces and ages to our Trail Parties in New York and New Jersey.

Connect with us!

trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com

sassquadtrailrunning.com

instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning

🎙️ Fueling Your Endurance: Nutrition Strategies with Dina Griffin, MS, RDN, CSSD

📅 Recorded Live: April 6, 2025 (Webinar Replay)
🎧 Listen now to learn how to fuel smarter, train stronger, and recover better!

In this special episode, we’re sharing the recording of our April 6th (2025) webinar with sports dietitian Dina Griffin, MS, RDN, CSSD of the Nutrition Mechanic. Whether you're gearing up for your next ultra, marathon, or long day on the trails, Dina brings the science and practical know-how to elevate your performance and recovery.

🧠 Dina dives into key strategies for endurance athletes, touching on:

• Nutrient timing and fueling strategies for long events

• Recovery nutrition essentials

• Optimizing your gut health for performance

• Hydration tips and the role of electrolytes

  
  

🔬 She also shares how she uses diagnostic testing to personalize nutrition plans, including:

• Sweat sodium testing

• Nutrigenomics (your genes + nutrition = next-level personalization)

• Metabolic efficiency testing

• Comprehensive bloodwork analysis

💡 Whether you’re new to endurance sports or a seasoned athlete, Dina offers tailored support through 1-on-1 coaching and group programs to help you dial in your nutrition and reach your goals with confidence.

🔗 Learn more and connect with Dina at: www.nutritionmechanic.com

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of Day 4!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com

https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning

https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

Matt Klein's life "blew up in spectacular fashion" in 2006 when he woke up handcuffed to a hospital bed. Several months removed from that fateful event he found the healing and transformative power of running when he trained for and completed the NYC Marathon later that year. Combined with the support of a loving fellowship, a sponsor, his wife, family and friends - Matty tapped into a power greater than himself and has been in active recovery for nearly 18 years. Among his running accomplishment during that time, he has completed more than 50 marathons, a dozen 100 milers and five races longer than 200 milers (including the Triple Crown of 200's in 2021). Matty is an active member in his community and within our Sassquad family through his volunteer work as an Aid Station Captain at several of our events. He's a believer that "if I can do this anyone can," and he's always willing to share his experience, strength and hope. You can connect with Matty through Instagram ⁠@thekleininator⁠ or through email: ⁠mattscottklein@gmail.com⁠

Sassquad Trail Running

• trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com
• https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com/
  
• 
  https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning
• https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

In this special episode of our series, Tales from the Wild Goose, we spotlight Julia Barbour from Audubon, NJ. Julia joined us at the 2024 Wild Goose Trail Festival and accomplished an extraordinary milestone: completing her first 100-mile race!

Julia shares her emotional journey to the finish line, where she discovered the magic of inner strength, belonging, and acceptance. Her story is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of trail running and the community that supports it.

✨ Tune in to hear:

• How Julia prepared for this monumental challenge
• The pivotal moments during her race
• What crossing the finish line meant to her
• Reflections on the sense of community and connection at Wild Goose

📢 Want to be part of this amazing festival? Learn all about the 2025 Wild Goose Trail Festival HERE!

💬 Have your own “Tales from the Wild Goose” to share? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear your story!

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sassquad Trail Running Podcast and leave us a review if you enjoyed Julia’s incredible tale.

🌐 Learn more about Sassquad by visiting our website and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Is running therapy? What should you do when you feel burned out? How do you calm those pre-race jitters? Join us for this Q&A with therapist Sarah Strong to find out! Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, UESCA certified ultrarunning coach and mom based in the Colorado Front Range.

https://www.thetrailtherapist.com/

https://www.instagram.com/the_trail_therapist/

In this episode, we’re joined by the incredible Che Smith, who recently completed her first ultramarathon—a 50K—at the 2024 Wild Goose Trail Festival. Che takes us through her transformative experience training for and conquering her first ultra, sharing both the challenges and triumphs along the way.

We also dive into her inspiring story of resilience as a breast cancer survivor. Che opens up about her diagnosis, treatment, and survival, and how therapy and community has been an essential part of her mental and physical recovery.

Che’s journey doesn’t stop at ultramarathons—she’s also a member of the Puerto Rican Curling Team! We talk about how this unique opportunity came about and what it’s like to compete in a lesser-known but equally exciting sport.

In addition to her personal athletic achievements, Che dedicates her time to empowering young girls as a volunteer coach with Girls on the Run. She reflects on the joy and fulfillment she finds in mentoring and encouraging the next generation of strong, confident runners.

Lastly, Che shares how the running community has been a cornerstone in her mental health journey, providing her with connection, support, and a sense of purpose.

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of Day 8!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about how you can get access to cost-free therapy through Bigger than the Trail, visit: https://bttt.run

Check out the good work that our friends at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference are doing: https://www.nynjtc.org

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

• https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com
• https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning
• https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

This is the recording of our Wild Goose Trail Festival Pre-Race Q&A on Monday September 16, 2024! The panel included Trail Party Directors Kim Levinsky and Joe Brandine plus a few folks who were at the 2023 Wild Goose: Kathy Carroll, Michael Feldman and Sarah Zieden-Weber.

www.sassquadtrailrunning.com/wildgoose

This is our interview from Sunday October 10th with Sassquad's Race Director, Kim Levinsky. The tables were turned as Sassquader Keilynn Hopkins dished out the questions to Kim! Kim shared all about her runventure hundo in the Hudson Highlands. She covered 96 miles and 22,000 ft of climbing in a little over 40 hours.

We really enjoyed this squatchy chat with our friend Merritt Hopper of Race 2 Adventure! Merritt has been at the helm of Race 2 Adventure for the past 17 years. R2A orchestrates running trail vacations around the world! The 8-day international adventures include daily trail races (5K-10K) followed by an immersive exploration of the local culture. Upcoming trips include Morocco 2025⁠, ⁠Scotland 2025⁠, and ⁠South Africa 2026⁠. There is even a trip to the ⁠2024 Olympic Games in Paris⁠!

Race 2 Adventure is hosting a 4 day trail running camp in the Berkshires of MA this coming September (2024). There is trail running/hiking each day, a Navigation 101 class, yoga, awesome food AND all of the summer camp activities like water skiing, archery, arts & crafts, kayaking, bonfires and of course- S'MORES! This is a choose-your-own-adventure long weekend: fill up the weekend with trail running and hiking, read a book, go water-skiing. There is definitely an activity for everyone! R2A has extended some generous discounts for our Sassquad Community! To learn how you can save up to $600, visit https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com/camp   To learn more about Sassquad Trail Running, visit ⁠sassquaddtrailrunning.com⁠ You can find us on social media over at ⁠facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning⁠ and ⁠instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

We chat all things trail and ultra with Helgi and learn about his inspiring life story as an ultra runner and professional yacht chef. At the age of 19, Helgi was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a form of degenerative arthritis affecting the spine and other joints. Since then, he has inspired, advocated, and raise money for others with AS through ultrarunning.

Most recently, Helgi completed 2900 miles in 60 days, including three 200+ mile races. Helgi is one of the masterminds behind the Mighty Gallatin 350 mile endurance run in Montana from September 5-11, 2022.

Sassquad Race Director Kim Levinsky and Sassquaders Matt Klein and Doug Wilson will be joining Helgi in Montana for the Mighty Gallatin!

You can learn more about the Mighty Gallatin 350 here: https://www.mightygallatin.com/

On today's episode, we're sharing the recording from the 6th episode of our RunVenture Zoom Series on August 12, 2020. We sat down with ultra runners Vanessa Kline and Michael Wilson to hear about their unforgettable Vol State 500K runventure! Over the course of 7 days, they traveled over 314 miles on country roads, up and down mountains and in and out of many (many!) gas stations and dollar stores! Vanessa is the owner and Race Director for the Batona Trail Races in South Jersey and Beast Pacing, Michael is an endurance coach for MDW Endurance Multisport; both are squatchy members of our Sassquad community! Before we jump in to our chat with Vanessa and Michael, we'll first hear from Don Weise of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Don will share the  monthly update on what is happening at the Trail Conference!

This episode is the recording from our Facebook Live on Wednesday November 11th at 8PM when we sat down with ultrarunner Keilynn Hopkins AGAIN! Last time we heard about her epic Grand Canyon Rim2Rim2Rim traverse; on Nov. 11th, we heard all her recent FKT (Fastest Known Time) for the 144 mile Out-and-Back run on the New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail! Keilynn is the first runner to complete this FKT! You can read Keilynn's trip report here: https://www.natureorbust.com

This is the recording from our Facebook Live interview on  August 21, 2022. Renee is a Sassquad OG! She is at the starting line of just about every Sassquad Trail Party and consistently places in the top 5 (often overall!). Renee recently celebrated 13 years of Recovery and we were honored that her celebration was the same weekend of our most recent Trail Party, the Thunder Chicken Squatch. We'll chat about trail running and Recovery during this interview - you don't want to miss it!

This is the recording from our live Q&A with Wild Goose Race Medic, THOR on July 25, 2024. Thor went through the many squatchtastic questions that were submitted by members of the Sassquad community. We really covered a lot of topics during the zoom call: foot care, chaffing, handling the heat, dealing with the cold, enduring the rain, vomiting, nausea, and lost toe nails!

To learn more about the Wild Goose Trail Festival, visit sassquadtrailrunning.com/wildgoose

You can follow Thor on instagram: instagram.com/thortrailracemedic

This is our interview with Nick Thompson on Wednesday September 1, 2021!

Thompson has long been a competitive runner; in 2019, he was ranked as one of the top 20 masters marathoners in the world, and in 2021, he set the American record for men 45+ in the 50K race.

Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic and the former editor-in-chief of WIRED. Under his leadership, WIRED won numerous awards for design and reporting and launched a highly successful paywall. Thompson also wrote many features for the publication, including two cover stories on Facebook that have been cited multiple times in Congress.

Thompson is a former contributor to CBS News, where he regularly appeared on CBS This Morning and CBS Sunday Morning. He is a cofounder of The Atavist, a National Magazine Award–winning digital publication and multimedia content management system that was sold to WordPress in 2018.

Thompson previously served as editor of NewYorker.com. Before The New Yorker, Thompson was a senior editor at WIRED, where he assigned and edited the story that was the basis for the Oscar-winning film Argo. In 2009, his book “The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War” was published to critical acclaim.

Welcome to another episode in our special series, Tales from the Wild Goose! This series highlights the voices, stories, and experiences of runners who joined us at the Wild Goose Trail Festival. Today, we are thrilled to share Allie Backer's race experience at the Wild Goose 50K! This was Allie's very first ultramarathon, and she shares her incredible journey on the trails, the challenges she overcame, and the amazing support she received from her friends and family.

Whether you're a seasoned trail runner or someone who simply loves hearing inspiring stories, this episode is packed with grit, heart, and the true spirit of trail running.

Registration for the 2025 Wild Goose Trail Festival is now open! Kids 1M, 10K, 13.1M, 50K, 50M, 100K, 100M, 36H.

Have you recently experienced a DNF ("Did Not Finish")? This episode is for you! It's been said that a DNF is a rite of passage in trail and ultra, but that doesn't make it any easier to work through. The disappointment can be difficult to handle and often times, those feelings stick around for weeks or months after the DNF. We put a call out to our community for folks to submit their personal DNF stories... We received so many submissions that we are breaking this episode up into two parts.

To learn more about Sassquad Trail Running, visit sassquaddtrailrunning.com You can find us on social media over at facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning and instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of Day 3!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com

https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning

https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of Day 6!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about how you can get access to cost-free therapy through Bigger than the Trail, visit: https://bttt.run

Check out the good work that our friends at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference are doing: https://www.nynjtc.org

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

• https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com
• https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning
• https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning
  

This is the recording from our Tuesday June 28th interview with Sassquad Race Director Kim Levinsky! Kim was in the hot seat and shared about her experience at the Tahoe 200 mile race. After training for more than 640 days, Kim completed Tahoe with the help of her Crew and the support of her Community. 204+ miles in 96 hours, 5 minutes and 45 seconds.

Sassquader and 2021 Triple Crown Finisher (Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200, Moab 240) Matt Klein led the interview with guest appearances from some of Kim’s Crew Members, Grace DiPaolo and Robin Chase. 

You can check out Kim's Tahoe 200 Vlog that she's been updating since April of 2021 here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_c5oG3sQ7vH_GL0t54ajSQ

Imagine that you are at the starting line of the hundred miler that you've been training for the last several years... And you hear the announcement that the race is canceled due to extreme weather conditions! What would you do? Would you go out and do your own hundo? Well, that's exactly what happened to Jennifer Rankin this past August when Eastern States 100 was canceled by the state of PA due to dangerous flooding! Jennifer and her crew decided to head back home to the Hudson Highlands of New York and complete the hundred miler there! Tune-in to this super squatchtastic episode to hear all about Jennifer's epic runventure!

We sat down with ultrarunner and Mission Clean Water Founder James Lietner to hear all about his 900 mile running challenge that he completed in July of 2020. James raised over $36,000 to fully fund a clean water project in Uganda by running 30 miles a day for 30 days! We were proud to sponsor James' amazing RunVenture this past July!

Sarah KOOLADE earned her "trail name" by her inspiring journey over the last year. Tune-in to hear all about how and why she dove into the squatchtastic world of trail and ultra running!

This episode is the recording from our Facebook Live on Sunday December 13, 2020! We shared a squatchtastic recap of all that went down in 2020 here at Sassquad Trail Running. We loved having a few special guests join us at the end of the evening - Sasquatch himself, plus a unicorn and narwhale! 

In this episode of our series, Tales from the Wild Goose, we hear from Carson Hopwood, a nonbinary athlete from Charlottesville, Virginia, who participated in the 36-hour event at the 2024 Wild Goose Trail Festival. Carson achieved an incredible milestone, covering 85 miles—their first time going beyond 50 miles and their first event running through the night.

✨ Tune in to hear:

• Carson’s reflections on the emotional finish, coming up shy of their 100-mile goal but celebrating a huge personal record
• Their experience navigating the challenges of running overnight for the first time
• A thrilling encounter with a black bear on the trail (and how they handled it!)
• What this milestone means for their journey as a trail runner

Carson’s story is one of resilience, courage, and learning to embrace both triumphs and challenges. Their experience inspires us to keep pushing our limits and savor every step of the journey.

📢 Want to be part of this amazing festival? Learn all about the ⁠2025 Wild Goose Trail Festival HERE!⁠

💬 Have your own “Tales from the Wild Goose” to share? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear your story!

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sassquad Trail Running Podcast and leave us a review if you enjoyed Carson's incredible tale.

🌐 Learn more about Sassquad by ⁠visiting our website⁠ and following us on ⁠Facebook ⁠and ⁠Instagram⁠.

In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Lauren Scott, AKA “Malfoy”! Lauren is a non-binary ultra runner from Vernon, NJ, who has been a part of the Sassquad family for several years.

We kick off the conversation by diving into Lauren’s epic experience at the 2023 Wild Goose Trail Festival, where they braved 37+ miles during Tropical Storm Ophelia. From torrential rain to relentless winds, Lauren shares how they pushed through the challenging conditions to complete an unforgettable ultra.

Lauren also tells us about their time volunteering at the 2024 Wild Goose, where they brought smiles to everyone by donning an inflatable TyRUNasaurus Rex costume.

The conversation then takes us on a journey to Iceland, where Lauren recently traveled with Vacation Races. They recount the breathtaking landscapes, scenic runs, and incredible camaraderie with fellow adventurers. Lauren shares how the trip strengthened bonds with their husband and introduced them to a vibrant global running community.

Whether it’s braving the elements, spreading joy in a dinosaur suit, or exploring the rugged beauty of Iceland, Lauren’s stories remind us of the joy and adventure trail running brings to life.

🏃‍♂️ Big Bear SquaTCh North Pre-Race Announcements + Q&A📅 Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025⏰ Time: 7:00 PM EST📍 LIVE on YouTube & FacebookJoin us for the Big Bear SquaTCh North Trail Party Pre-Race Announcements + Q&A! 🎉 Whether you’re running the 13.1M or 10K on April 5th at Bear Mountain, this livestream is your chance to get all the race details before you hit the trails.We’ll cover:✅ Race Day Schedule & Check-In Info✅ Course Overview ✅ Aid Station Details & Cutoffs✅ Weather Forecast & Trail Conditions✅ What to Bring + Race Day Tips✅ Live Q&A – Ask Us Anything!

In September of 2017, Ryan Thrope set the FKT (Fastest Known Time) for the 72 mile New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail with a time of 15h 36m 25s. Then in April of 2020, Steve Lange set the current FKT with a time of 13h 34m 19s. And guess what? Ryan was out there with Steve helping him beat his previous record!

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of the final day!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about how you can get access to cost-free therapy through Bigger than the Trail, visit: https://bttt.run

Check out the good work that our friends at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference are doing: https://www.nynjtc.org

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

• https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com
• https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning
• https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

In this inspiring episode of our series, Tales from the Wild Goose, we feature Gerry Powers from Park Ridge, NJ. At the 2024 Wild Goose Trail Festival, Gerry took on not only his first-ever ultramarathon but also his first-ever trail race: the 50-miler. Crossing the finish line in just over 13 hours, Gerry's story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of community.

✨ Tune in to hear:

• Gerry’s journey from road running to trail running and why he made the switch
• How he tackled the challenges of his first ultra-distance race
• A pivotal moment with race medic Thor, who helped him push through with tough love and expert foot care
• The unforgettable highlight of finishing the race with his two kids by his side

Gerry’s story is a heartfelt reminder of why we run trails: for the camaraderie, the challenges, and those life-changing moments we’ll never forget.

📢 Want to be part of this amazing festival? Learn all about the ⁠2025 Wild Goose Trail Festival HERE!⁠

💬 Have your own “Tales from the Wild Goose” to share? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear your story!

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to the Sassquad Trail Running Podcast and leave us a review if you enjoyed Gerry's incredible tale.

🌐 Learn more about Sassquad by ⁠visiting our website⁠ and following us on ⁠Facebook ⁠and ⁠Instagram⁠.

In this episode, we sit down with Aimee Kohler, owner and race director of The Running Kind, a trail race company with a mission to be carbon-neutral and promote sustainability in the outdoor community. Aimee shares how her passion for protecting the environment inspired her to create a race series that minimizes its ecological footprint while maximizing the fun and challenge for participants.

As a mountain athlete and advocate for the trail running community, Aimee gives us a behind-the-scenes look at The Running Kind events, their unique sustainability initiatives, and what makes them stand out in the Northeast trail running scene.

We also talk about Aimee’s work at Aardvark Sports Shop, a run specialty store in the Lehigh Valley, where she helps runners of all levels find the perfect gear for their adventures.

Throughout the episode, we celebrate the vibrant and supportive trail running community in the Northeast, sharing stories, laughs, and insights into why this sport is so much more than just running through the woods.

Hear all about Cole Crosby's recent FKT on the 230 mile Bay Circuit Trail! The BCT extends through 37 towns around Boston, linking parks and open spaces in fifty-seven communities. Cole was supported by a rock-star crew that was led by Chaos Crewing. Follow Cole on Instagram!

Sassquad Trail Running

Instagram

Facebook

trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of Day 2!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com

https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning

https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

Starting July 1, 2020, MissionCleanWater founder James Leitner, ran 30 miles every day for 30 days. James is raising $30,000 to provide a clean water and hygiene solution for the St. Elizabeth’s All-Girls School in Uganda. You can learn more about this amazing non-profit here: missioncleanwater.org

In this episode, we sit down with Libby Jones, trail race director and owner of The Active Joe, a trail running company based in Texas. Libby is known for her inclusive approach to race directing, creating a welcoming environment for runners of all paces, backgrounds, and identities. From organizing iconic events like the Dinosaur Valley 100 to championing accessibility in trail running, Libby shares her insights on what it takes to build a community that values every participant. Tune in to learn about her journey, her mission to break down barriers in the sport, and her vision for a more inclusive future in trail running.

This is the recording of our Facebook Live interivew on Thursday July 7, 2022 with Lynn Maki who recently completed the New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail! Lynn is a long-time Sassquader who can been found at our trail parties as a runner or volunteer (and sometimes both!). You can read Lynn's recap of her runventure here.

This is the recording from our February 19th "Women in Ultrarunning" webinar led by ultrarunner Rachel Bambrick and the founder of Women in Ultrarunning. Tune-in to hear this squatchtastic chat about ultrarunning, training, and trail running, overcoming barriers in the sport, addressing safety concerns, and building community. 

Check out our latest episode to hear all about how Lizzy Mack tried to escape her backpacking trip in Iceland. We chat all things trail & road running, finding community and the joys of going party pace. This was a really fun episode and we were so excited to hear Lizzy share that she will be doing the Wild Goose 100 in September for her first hundo!

Michael Feldman just completed 200 miles last weekend at the 2024 Wild Goose! When his Oregon 200 event was canceled in August, Michael decided that he still wanted to complete the distance and continue fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association. With the help and support of his friends and family, Michael did just that! Listen in to hear all about his squatchtastic adventure of completing "A Race to Not Forget"!

Sassquad Trail Party Director Kim Levinsky spoke at the Boston Run Show on March 1st! Tune-in to this episode to hear her chat about how roadies and newbies can try out trail running!

This episode is the recording from our Facebook Live Interview on  Thursday January 21, 2021. We sat down with ultra runner Cole Crosby to hear about his epic 197 mile run across New Jersey! Cole ran from the High Point Monument at 1:58AM Saturday 1/9/21 and arrived at the Cape May Lighthouse 44 hours, 42 minutes, 21 seconds later — a pace of 13 minutes and 36 seconds per mile! Cole's longest run prior to January 9th was 86 miles. He attributes much of his success to the power of the running community that came out to support him, pace him and crew him. To learn more about Cole, you can check out his website: https://crestingthesummit.com/

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of Day 9!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about how you can get access to cost-free therapy through Bigger than the Trail, visit: https://bttt.run

Check out the good work that our friends at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference are doing: https://www.nynjtc.org

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

• https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com
• https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning
• https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

This podcast episode is the recording from our Facebook Live Runventure Zoom Series on October 21, 2020.  We sat down with Mountaineer Patty Alcivar to hear her incredible story of overcoming a difficult childhood to find independence and success as a professional athlete! Patty was a USA National Boxing Champion, earned 2 NYC Golden Gloves and was the first Female ever to be voted and win “Athlete of the Year,” by the United States Olympic Committee. As a sponsored Mountaineer, Patty is on her way to completing "The 7 Summits" - climbing each of the tallest peaks on each continent! You can learn more about Patty by visiting her website: https://www.patriciaalcivar.com/

We are doing a special mini-series this week! Tune-in to hear recaps of the 358M NY Long Path FKT from Sassquad's Trail Party Director, Kim Levinsky! Kim established and set the women's supported FKT for the Long Path in July of 2023. Supported by a team of 20+ friends, the FKT took 9 days and 10 hours to complete. This episode is a recap of Day 1!

The New York Long Path (LP) is a 358 mile long distance trail that extends from John Boyd Thacher State Park near Albany in New York, down to the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City.  The Long Path is one of the most diverse trails in the entire country! With over 140,000 ft of elevation change, the LP has every type of terrain imaginable.

To learn more about Sassquad, visit:

https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com

https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning

https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

Join us for this squatchtastic conversation with NJ trail runner L'Mani Viney! L'Mani has been in education for over 20 years and currently serves as the Dean of Students in Piscataway, NJ. As an avid trail runner, L'Mani draws on his experiences on the trails to help him navigate situations in and out of the classroom. We also chat about his involvement with Black Men Run and ways that our community can make the trails more accessible.

Sassquad Trail Running

• Instagram
• Facebook
• trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com

Carolina Rubio-MacWright is an artist, immigration lawyer and activist fighting for immigrant and humanitarian rights. She was born in Bogota, Colombia where she lived until, at the age of 20, she needed a safer place to call home. She attended art school and law school in the United States, and throughout was active in her local immigrant community. She has worked as an immigration attorney in Miami, Oklahoma and New York City. Her experience as an attorney opened her eyes to inequities in our laws and racial power struggles, and how the two intersect. She believes that art is often the most powerful way of explaining these legal inequities. She has thus mixed her law and art experiences into performances, installations and workshops that serve a dual purpose - empowering vulnerable communities and educating more powerful ones. Whether working on policy campaigns for non-profits, performing public art pieces, speaking at events or organizing her community, she is guided by a simple principle: anything is possible when inspiring ideas and passionate people come together.

Carolina has been developing workshops that mix legal rights empowerment and hands-on experimental arts mediums, such as clay and cooking. These workshops have now developed into a platform for mixing unlikely communities together, the name is Touching Land. Through this artistic practice, the participants share a storytelling platform, bringing our humanity to the forefront as common traits and experiences are highlighted. This, in turn, enables participants to re-sculpt their political, social, and cultural barriers.

Carolina lives in NJ and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Connect with Carolina:

• https://www.carolinamacwright.me/
• www.instagram.com/carustol

Sassquad Trail Running

• trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com
• https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com/
  
• 
  https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning
• https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

Steve recently established the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the gnarly Devils Path in the Catskills! The time has now been lowered to a blistering 4 hours, 34 minutes and 54 seconds. This 24.2 miles long trail boasts 8,000+ vertical feet of climbing, and is considered by many to be the toughest hiking trail in the Eastern US.

Virginia Morin recently moved out to Colorado from NJ and has just begun her new life on the road in her van! Virginia and her boyfriend have outfitted their 2020 AWD Ford Transit and are on the road adventuring! You can follow Virginia on Instagram: www.instagram.com/simbasing

This is the recording from our Facebook Live Interview on June 1, 2022... · As a Sports Dietitian, Dina works with athletes one-on-one (including Sassquad RD Kim Levinsky!) to fine-tune their daily nutrition framework and optimize their sports nutrition and hydration strategies. She specializes in working with female endurance athletes.

· Dina’s company The Nutrition Mechanic provides nutrition and hydration coaching for all peoples of all ages and all genders.

· Dina is an accomplished ultrarunner, triathlete and marathoner with finishes including the Leadville 100, the Boston Marathon and NYC Marathon.

· As well as an impressive crewing/pacing resume including Badwater, UTMB and soon to be Tahoe 200!

· Dina is the co-host of the podcast "Inside Sports Nutrition" with Bob Seebohar

This episode is the recording from our Facebook Live interview on Wednesday June 30, 2021 with Rebecca Fitzgerald! Rebecca is a NJ State Park Superintendent, trail runner and a great friend to Sassquad Trail Running!! We will hear all about the in's and out's of NJ State Parks as well as Rebecca's trail running and hiking stories.

To learn more about the State Parks in New Jersey, visit: https://www.njparksandforests.org/

Follow NJ State Parks on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/NewJerseyStateParks/

https://www.instagram.com/newjerseystateparks/

Launched in February 2020, the Trails Collective provides regional coverage of trail events and updates, volunteer opportunities, links to entities forming the Collective such as coaches and shops, gear reviews, an event calendar with mapping integration, communication message boards, and multiple video channels celebrating all of the above.

Red Newt Racing hosts over a half dozen events in NY, including the Breakneck Point Trail Runs and the Cuyahoga Trails 50.

You can learn more about The Trails Collective here: https://trailscollective.com/
And about Red Newt Racing here:http://rednewtracing.com/

Miriam Weiskind, aka "The Za Report", is an underground pizziola baking up a generous storm of pizza in NYC amidst the pandemic to help keep New Yorkers in need, happy and full of pizza. Originally from Ohio, she moved to NYC to pursue a career in graphic design. In 2011, she met Scott Weiner, of Scott’s Pizza Tours, where she would then lead pizza tours all around NYC until spring of 2020 when the pandemic struck. In early 2020, she decided to trade in a career as an Art Director to pursue pizza fulltime, starting out as a Pizzaiola at Paulie Gee’s then opening her own speakeasy pizzeria run from her home in Brooklyn, NY. For any New Yorker without a job, a first responder or anyone having a tough time, Miriam gives out free pies—under the notion of paying pies forward to honor her mom who passed away in the summer of 2020.

Pizza has become a passion that Miriam considers an art, each slice having a unique story and taste. Also an ultra runner, she is famously known for being the five time female champion of the nyc pizza run. Yes, she can eat pizza and run! Weiskind has been featured in The New York Times, Thrillist, NPR, Munchies, the Kelly Clarkson Show and the Dunkin' Donuts blog!

This is the recording from our Facebook Live Interview on February 2, 2022. We chat all things trail and ultra running and hear all about Annie's adventures on the trail, which include her recent big wins at Leadville 100 and Moab 240. Annie is sponsored by Hoka One One. You can follow Annie on Instagram: @outdoorableannie

Should you be in the gym lifting weights? Can strength training help you enjoy the trails more? YES AND YES!

PT, DPT Colleen McGinnis has been treating, training, and coaching in the fields of Physical Therapy, Nutrition, Strength, and Women’s Health for over 16 years. In addition to holding her Doctorate of PT from USF, Colleen is the owner of Well Body Lab, a certified Precision Nutrition Coach, StrongFirst Barbell and Kettlebell Instructor. She has worked extensively to create strength programs for athletes and has a special focus for the female client. At Revo Physiotherapy and Performance in Boulder, Colleen hosts a weekly women’s specific class designed to help women feel confident in the gym and reduce their risk for injury by building techniques based on proven sports science and female physiology.

Colleen has created a custom strength training program for Sassquaders -- this is the secret-sauce for success on the trails! Save 15% on the WellbodyLab customized Sassquad Strength Training Program. You can follow Colleen on Instagram: @wellbodylab and visit her webiste wellbodylab.com

Today's episode is the recording from our RunVenture Zoom Series on Wednesday September 9. 2020. We sat down with ultra runner and OCR athlete Lauren Longfield to hear about how she is tearing it up on the trails! Lauren has been busy accumulating some very impressive FKTs on some super technical trails in NJ, NY and PA!

Patti Murphy is the host and producer of the "Leadership Under Fire Optimizing Human Performance Podcast". A native of Staten Island, NY, Patti started her career covering news across the five boroughs for a 24-hour television news channel. In 2014, she joined the Fire Department of New York’s Office of Public Information, managing their internal website, DiamondPlate, which plays a critical role in disseminating timely training and preparedness information. She also produces content for the FDNY Foundation and NYC Fire Museum. Patti is the first FDNY civilian employee to attend the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security. You can learn more about "Leadership Under Fire" here: https://leadershipunderfire.com/

Justin Lewandowski has only been around the ultra-scene for the last few years but he has already tackled the toughest trail races on the (B)east Coast! This year he amassed over 800,000 feet of elevation gain through his training and racing and completed (and won for the second year in a row!) the Tammany 10, Breakneck Point 42K, Manitou's Revenge, Eastern States 100 & the Hudson Highlands Hell No Hell Hole Hundo plus several other local ultramarathons produced by Two Punk Kids. Through all of these experiences on trail, Justin has tapped into the power of self-resiliance and perseverence. Most recently with the Hudson Highlands Hell Hole Hundo, Justin tapped into the power of community and has opened the door to a whole new world within ultrarunning. Listen-in to hear all about it!

https://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Justin&lname=Lewandowski

Sassquad Trail Running

• trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com
• https://www.sassquadtrailrunning.com/
  
• https://www.facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning
• https://www.instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

Join us for this recap on 2023! We highlight some of the exciting things that happened this past year and then look ahead to what's coming up in 2024.

Sassquad Trail Running

• Instagram
• Facebook
• trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com

Have you recently experienced a DNF ("Did Not Finish")? This episode is for you! It's been said that a DNF is a rite of passage in trail and ultra, but that doesn't make it any easier to work through. The disappointment can be difficult to handle and often times, those feelings stick around for weeks or months after the DNF. We put a call out to our community for folks to submit their personal DNF stories... We received so many submissions that we are breaking this episode up into two parts.

To learn more about Sassquad Trail Running, visit sassquaddtrailrunning.com You can find us on social media over at facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning and instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

Ken Posner, also known as Barefoot Ken, is a versatile individual with a wide range of talents. He is recognized as a financial analyst, runner, writer, and resident of Ulster County, NY. Ken has accomplished an impressive feat of completing 100 marathons and ultramarathons. Notably, he holds fastest known time records for the 358-mile NY Long Path and the 294-mile Badwater Double. As a hiker, he has conquered the Catskills Grid, the Adirondack High Peaks, and the John Muir Trail barefoot. Ken has authored a book titled "Running the Long Path: A Journey of Discovery in New York's Hudson Valley" detailing his Long Path thru-run and maintains a blog at www.thelongbrownpath.com. He actively promotes land preservation and stewardship, contributing as a volunteer and director at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Ken currently serves as the race director for the Shawangunk Ridge Trail Run.

• BarefootKen.com
• Ken Posner on Instagram
• Ken Posner on X (Twitter)
• Ken's YouTube Channel
• Ken's Writings
• Barefoot Autism Challenge
• New York New - Jersey Trail Conference
• RunWild, Inc.
• Shawangunk Ridge Trail Run

This is the recording from our July 30, 2024 of the live Wild Goose Trail Festival Q&A. We've got an all-star line-up for the panel: Registered Dietitian, Dina Griffin. Skratch Rep Kenton Matthaei. Trail Party Director Kim Levinsky & Wild Goose Aid Station Captain, Matty Klein.

To learn more about the Wild Goose Trail Festival, visit sassquadtrailrunning.com/wildgoose

To learn more about Dina's nutrition services, visit: nutritionmechanic.com

To learn more about Skratch Labs, visit: skratchlabs.com

This is the recording from our RunVenture Zoom Series on Facebook Live from November 22, 2020.  We welcomed Maggie Guterl back and had Otto Lam and Elaine Acosta join her to recount their epic reunion at Big's Backyard Ultra!

Join us for this inspirational chat with John and Ann Monroe from Saranac Lake, New York! John was crewed and paced by his wife Ann at the 2023 and 2024 Wild Goose 100. The two events could not have been more different! In 2023, John bowed out at mile 93 after a grueling battle with Tropical Storm Ophelia and the washed out Wawayanda trails. His mantra for the next year carried him to the finish line a year later: "4 MORE IN '24!" Listen in to hear John and Ann's inspirational story of how they got into trail running and how they crossed that Wild Goose finish line together. Oh and by the way, John is 70 years young and Ann paced him for 37 of the 100 miles!

Trisha recently earned the FKT (Fastest Known Time) for the 360 mi long Erie Canalway Trail!! We heard all about the highs and lows, and of course, about ICE CREAM!

Check out Trisha's FKT here: https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/trisha-ignatowski-erie-canalway-trail-ny-2021-09-25

Today's episode is the recording from our RunVenture Zoom Series on Facebook Live from Wednesday September 23, 2020. We sat down with Trail Women BK to hear all about the positive impact they are making on the trail running community in and around New York City! Olivia O'Neill, Elise Mordos and Trisha Ignatowski are the fearless leaders of TWBK and are committed to increasing female participation in trail running! You can learn more about TWBK on their website https://www.trailwomenbk.com/ and on social media: https://www.instagram.com/trailwomenbk/

Made by women, for women. Inclusive of all genders. Trail Women BK hosts group trail runs in the NYC area at least once a month. We focus on choosing trail locations that are accessible via public transit to limit the costs for our attendees and also make it easily accessible to anyone who wants to join. All runs are free and open to the public (inclusive of all genders). Our primary goal is to create a welcoming, supportive and fun environment in the hopes of encouraging more females to run on trails and increase female participation in trail races and ultramarathons.

Anuncios antes de la carrera Big Bear SquaTCh North!

In this squatchy chat, Sassquad OG Jeff Bock shares his wild ride into the wacky world of trail running. Jeff unpacks his military service and subsequent post-service years that eventually led him to make some drastic lifestyle changes in 2018. Thanks to the help of his furry rescue pup, Harry Potter references and the Sassquad community, Jeff said goodbye to video games, smoking and his sedentary lifestyle! These days, Jeff is thriving in the trail running community, soaking in all the good vibes. As an educator with a mission, he plants seeds of trail running passion in his students, sharing the transformative power of movement in nature. Jeff's story shines as a beacon of how hitting the trails can work magic in lives and knit together a close-knit family of runners and hikers!

Our mission is to welcome all peoples, paces and ages to our Trail Parties! To learn more about Sassquad Trail Running, visit: sassquadtrailrunning.com and say hello to us over on social media: facebook.com/sassquadtrailrunning instagram.com/sassquadtrailrunning

In 2017, world-class ultrarunner Hillary "Hillygoat" Allen was at the top of her sport--and it felt like she was running on top of the world as she competed in Norway's Tromsø Skyrace. Allen was nearly halfway through the 50K race when she fell 150 feet off an exposed ridge, fracturing her back and breaking multiple ribs, both feet, and both of her lower arms. Ten days and two surgeries later, Hillary flew home and underwent three more surgeries in Colorado. She was told she might never run again. Just 11 months after her injury, after a rehab period that tested her determination, courage, and spirit, Hilary placed second in the Broken Arrow Vertical Kilometer race in Lake Tahoe and raced a 52K race the following day. A week later, she won a mountain race in the Dolomites.

Hillary hopes to inspire, educate and encourage other people to find balance in their lives—something the injury has helped her find. Hillary studies and teaches science, using her masters degree in neuroscience and physiology and structural biology. She is also a trail running coach, and a gravel cyclist.

To learn more about Hillary, you can visit her website: https://hillaryallen.com/

You can purchase her book, "Out and Back" here: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Back-Runners-Survival-Against/dp/194451595X