We’re back with a short pre-episode recap because tonight’s guest is someone special. We sat down with Zach McRaney, president of the South Mississippi Trail Alliance, and what stood out most wasn’t just what he’s accomplished — it’s how selfless he is. SMTA is out there maintaining trails that so many of us use every single week… and most of us probably don’t even realize it. From clearing fallen trees to building and preserving entire trail systems, if they don’t do it, sometimes nobody does. As Zach said, without regular maintenance, the trail turns right back into the forest. That conversation really made us reflect. It’s easy to show up to a race or a group run and think everything just “comes together.” But behind every event, every well-kept trail, every smooth race day — there are volunteers putting in hours most people never see. And Zach? Somehow he finds the time. Between leading SMTA, volunteering in multiple areas, organizing efforts, and still being active in the endurance community, it’s inspiring. It’s a reminder that if something matters to you, you’ll find the time. We also highlight one of SMTA’s newer trails, The Accelerator — a 7+ mile loop near Classic Drive in the Hattiesburg / Pine Belt area. If you haven’t checked it out, you should. It’s another example of what happens when people take ownership of their backyard. It’s race week for Mississippi 50 and we’re pumped. We’ll have an Endurance State of Mind tent set up, and we’re doing something a little different with our hats. Instead of selling them, we’re asking for a $40 donation to Adam Weaver’s GoFundMe to support his heart transplant journey. • 100% of that $40 goes directly to Adam. • We’re covering the cost of the hats ourselves. • If we run out, we’ll order more and make sure you get one. We’ll have a QR code at the tent to make it simple — donate, show us, grab a hat. To everyone who has already donated — thank you. Watching the support come in has been incredible. Today we’re joined by Zach McRaney, president of the South Mississippi Trail Alliance (SMTA) — a volunteer-led group building, maintaining, and advocating for hand-built singletrack in our region. Zach takes us through his personal journey from quitting smoking and discovering endurance sports, to finding a community through bikes, trails, and service. We talk about the unseen work behind the trails we all enjoy — how quickly a trail can disappear without maintenance, what it costs to keep systems safe and usable, and why this isn’t “just a cycling thing.” These trails belong to runners, hikers, walkers, families, and anyone who wants to get outside. Zach also breaks down SMTA’s trail networks, community rides, the growing youth scene through NICA, and events on the calendar — including the Rattlesnake Rumble and more. If you’ve ever hit a trail and thought, “Man, this is perfect,” this episode will make you appreciate the people who make that possible — and might just inspire you to give back. https://www.instagram.com/endurance_stateofmind?igsh=cjBnanNobHhhYXNu
