This week on WKRP Montrose, Dennis and Rob sit down with Chris Marcinek — Navy veteran, ISA certified arborist, owner of Stronghold Tree Care, and one of the most quietly extraordinary people in Montrose. Oh, and he runs 100-mile ultra marathons. For fun. Chris grew up outside Chicago in Park Ridge, Illinois, joined the Navy Reserves straight out of high school, and deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan before eventually making his way to Montrose — thanks to a job offer his then-girlfriend Erin accepted while he was in Kabul with internet access and no real say in the matter. Best decision ever made. Now a decade into Montrose life, Chris is building something special — a tree care company rooted in integrity, an ultra running resume that would make most people's legs hurt just reading it, and a family that somehow makes all of it work together. Dennis and Rob also talk about: Running the High Five 100 — 100 miles, 33,000 feet of elevation gain around Lake City (that's more vertical than Everest)Finishing Cocodona 250 — all 250 miles — with a hyperextended ankle from mile 80Why stubborn beats talented in ultra runningHow climbing trees all day actually counts as trainingWhat it means to be an ISA Certified Arborist and why it matters for your treesWhy topping a mature tree is one of the worst things you can do to itThe city of Montrose urban forest — and a very public "please come back" momentNavy Seabees — the construction battalion that builds things under fireThe surprising parallels between military service, ultra running, and tree workHis crew at Stronghold — including the legendary Mikey Bose, photographer extraordinaireHow he and Erin tag-team parenting, running, and running a business without losing their mindsWhether you love the outdoors, own trees, support local veterans, or just want to hear a story about someone who finishes 250-mile races on a busted ankle, this episode delivers. 🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about Montrose, Colorado, and life on the Western Slope. Get Montrose stories, events & local news in your inbox — free. https://wkrpmontrose.com/subscribe Learn More:Stronghold Tree Care: https://www.strongholdtreecare.com/ Thank you to our Underwriters for Making WKRP Montrose Possible: Clearnetworx - https://linkly.link/2akEONuVista Credit Union - https://linkly.link/2akEVFlower Motor - https://linkly.link/2eIUOAtlasta Solar Center - https://linkly.link/2hsWS#WKRPMontrose #MontroseColorado #WesternSlope #UltraMarathon #Cocodona250 #NavyVeteran #TreeCare #ArboristLife #ColoradoPodcast #Montrose #StrongholdTreeCare Timecode: 0:00 - 4:35: Introduction, sponsor acknowledgments, and Pomona beer 4:35 - 9:10: Meet Chris Marcinek — Park Ridge, IL, the Navy Reserves, and how Aaron's job offer landed them both in Montrose 9:10 - 13:00: Montrose then vs. now — and why romanticizing the past misses the point 13:00 - 17:20: Ultra marathon life — the High Five 100, 33,000 feet of elevation, and choose-your-own-adventure racing 17:20 - 22:31: Cocodona 250, the mile-80 ankle injury, and why stubborn is the most important trait an ultra runner can have 22:31 - 27:00: Stronghold Tree Care, ISA certification, and what separates a real arborist from someone with a chainsaw 27:00 - 30:06: The ethics of tree work — doing right by the client even when the money says otherwise 30:06 - 36:15: The city of Montrose urban forest — a public, heartfelt plea to rekindle a working relationship 36:15 - 41:07: Navy Seabees — what they are, why they exist, and three deployments across Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan 41:07 - 43:40: The through line — military, ultra running, and tree work all run on the same thing: team trust 43:40 - 45:00: What you should never do to a mature tree — and why topping is a disaster waiting to happen
