Roots Running

Al Ferguson and Sean Cate
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  • RUNNING
  • UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY

Roots is a trail and ultrarunning focused show born out of a deep appreciation for the humble origins of our sport, and a dedication to shedding light on stories that won't otherwise be told.

  1. 03/10/2025

    Roots Trail Running | Fall East Coast Racing Preview - Saddles 100 Preview, and Thoughts on World Mountain and Trail Running Championships

    Al and Sean chat the upcoming fall calendar of east coast races, and Alvah's prep for his second 100, Saddles, out in Prescott this weekend. The boys also explore dissenting opinions on the value of the WMTRC, along with recapping Mammoth and thoughts on the upcoming Bigs Backyard Individual World Championships.

    51 min

  2. 19/09/2025

    Roots Running | Grindstone, Summer Race Recap, AI Oakley's, and AT FKT attempts

    The boys are back with a preview of an east coast classic coming this weekend, the Grindstone 100, along with a recap of some notable trail news from the end of the summer.

    1h 2m

  3. 08/08/2025

    Burning River Fiasco, On Cloud Ultra Pro's, Jarman's Invitational Marathon and more | Roots Rundown vol. 6

    Summary In this episode of the Roots Running Podcast, hosts Sean Cate and Alva Ferguson discuss their personal updates, including Al's house purchase and the busy summer racing season. They recap the Burning River race, highlighting Sean's experience and the lessons learned from the event. Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back and Life Updates 02:44 Summer Racing Recap 05:26 Ultra Running Highlights 08:16 Upcoming Races and Personal Goals 10:54 Injury and Recovery Discussion 12:53 Burning River 50 mile Race Experience 38:00 Lessons Learned and Future Outlook 45:15 Shoe Reviews and Gear Insights 56:58 Shoutouts and Upcoming Events

    1h 10m

  4. 11/07/2025

    2025 Western States Breakdown, Backyard Ultra World Record, and 2025 Hardrock Preview | Roots Rundown Vol. 6

    Al and Sean hop on for rundown to process everything that transpired during this years highly anticipated WSER 100. The boys cover the mens and women's top ten, notable DNF's and drama. Also covered on the episode was news regarding John Kelly's FKT attempt, Phil Gore's new Backyard Ultra WR (117 yards) as well as thoughts and predictions for the classic upcoming Hardrock 100.

    1h 10m

  5. 27/06/2025

    East Coast Favorites at Western States Endurance Run | Roots Rundown Vol. 5

    Sean and Al bringing you a preview of WSER 100 from the viewpoint of our beast coast favorites, notable east coast alumni racing on the big stage, and speculation on top men and women, potential outcomes plus all the drama leading up to this year’s race. We cannot wait to see how this most competitive 100 in North American plays out in just a few hours. If you enjoyed the show be sure to give us a review and a follow!  Thanks for listening, -A&S 00:00 Intro to Western States 01:55 Jim's statement on the Singletrack Interview 05:35 Injured List 08:11 Women's Race Predictions 10:43 Tara Dower and Courtney Dauwaulter 20:58 Dan Green Sponsorship Opportunities 26:37 Predictions for Men and Women's Podium 31:12 The Growing Popularity of Broken Arrow 33:07 Who has Record-Breaking Potential 35:05 Unbreakable and Unbreakable Two 36:54 Underrated Athletes 45:31 Hans Troyer 100-Mile Debut 47:53 Decision Making in 100 Milers 49:49 Most Likely to DNF 52:19 Who is DNF-Proof 54:36 Potential Surprises in the Race 58:24 Future of Trail Running Media 01:02:36 Excitement for Upcoming Races

    1h 7m

  6. 22/06/2025

    NYC Run Culture - Tanner Hoffarth | Roots Trail and Ultra Running

    Tanner Hoffarth jumped on the show this week give us the lowdown on the biggest city on the East Coast. The boys discuss Tanner's journey into trail running in New York City, the rise of running clubs, and how brand's use activations and events to test gear in NYC long before hitting the market. We learned all about the Soutbound 400, a relay from Canada to NYC and thoughtful dialogue about relationship between professional athlete and runfluencer. If you enjoyed the episode please follow the show, share it with a friend, and stick around, lots of exciting things coming for Roots. Until next time, -A&S 00:00 The New York Running Scene 07:40 The Origin of Run Clubs 10:28 Brand Activations 17:30 Fashion and Style in Running 28:18 Understanding Miler and other Emerging Brands 31:03 Upcoming Trends in Running Fashion 38:49 Innovative Brands Shaping the Future of Running Gear 52:22 The Southbound 400 Relay trail running, ultra running, New York City, run clubs, brand activations, running fashion, community, Lululemon, Miler, Satisfy, trail running, fashion, Southbound 400, backyard ultras, running activation events, gear,

    1h 26m

  7. 13/06/2025

    New England's Vibrant Ultra-Running Scene-Lila Gaudrault | Roots Trail and Ultra Running

    Welcome to the Roots Trail and Ultra Running podcast! This week's guest, Lila Gaudrault, is a rising star in the New England trail scene. at just 22 years old and fresh out of a rigorous bachelors of nursing from University of New England, Lila opted out of running at a NCAA Division 1 program to focus on her true passion, trail and ultra running. After tying for 2nd place at the Vermont 100 last year (overall) Lila has been on a tear. On this episode we discussed all her favorite NE races, how she approaches training, the east coast trail running scene in general, and her decision not to move to Boulder after graduating and moving to a rural town in Vermont instead. If you enjoyed this episode please drop a review for the show, give us a follow, and share with whoever you think might enjoy the conversation. Big thanks to Lila and good luck on your NCLEX! Chapters 03:03 Growing Up in Maine and the Running Community 06:00 Transitioning to Ultra Running 11:57 Upcoming Races and Training for Old Dominion 18:01 Iconic New England Races and Future Goals 21:00 Balancing Nursing School and Ultra Running 52:22 Preparing for Cocodona 01:07:46 Why Vermont 100 is Special 01:10:00 Race Experience and Community 01:12:02 Solo Racing vs. Crew Support 01:21:55 Cocodona and Future Aspirations 01:23:49 Navigating Expectations and Decisions 01:27:01 Lila's Substack New England, Lila Gaudrault, running community, training, races, family support, challenges, experiences, East Coast, mental strength, race preparation, growth, running culture, competition, Vermont 100, ultra running, training, Cocodona, writing,

    1h 26m

  8. 08/06/2025

    Roots Rundown Vol. 4 | John Kelly on the Appalachian Trail, Old Dominion 100, Sunapee Scramble, and Substack

    Sean and (back so soon!) guest host Ken Seal jump on for an episode of the Roots Rundown, a general conversation about the most significant trail and ultra news on the East Coast covering topics like John Kelly's ongoing Appalachian Trail FKT, Virginia's Old Dominion 100 which just took place, a race recap of Sunapee Scramble, and Ken's thoughts on what makes Substack such an excellent media platform. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Collaboration Dynamics 02:36 Air Quality and Environmental Concerns 05:06 John Kelly's FKT Attempt 07:36 What Makes John's Attempt Different Than Prior AT FKTs 10:11 John Kelly's Unique Background 12:52 What Makes The Appalachian Trail So Hard 20:56 Future FKT Attempts and Competition 23:39 Podcast Direction and Vision Casting 24:38 The East Coast Trail Running Landscape 26:21 East Coast Athletes We Have Eyes On 28:38 Training Viability on the East Coast 30:48 Spotlight on Emerging Talent 36:12 Race Recaps and Insights 50:57 Cirque Series 54:57 Old Dominion 100: A Classic Race Overview 01:01:09 Substack and the Future of Trail Running Media John Kelly, FKT, Appalachian Trail, Cirque Series, sky running, Sunapee Scramble, air quality,, East Coast athletes, mountain running, trail magic, trail running, live streaming, race strategies, women's running, youth trail running, Old Dominion 100, Substack, ultra running

    1h 14m
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About

Roots is a trail and ultrarunning focused show born out of a deep appreciation for the humble origins of our sport, and a dedication to shedding light on stories that won't otherwise be told.

Information

  • Creator
    Al Ferguson and Sean Cate
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Al Ferguson and Sean Cate
  • Show Website
    Roots Running