Crewing the Queen of Cocodona - Jake Vail on Crewing & Supporting Rachel Entrekin

What does it actually take behind the scenes to crew a Cocodona 250 course record performance?

In this Fire Road episode of Ultra Uncovered, we sit down with Jake Vale, longtime best friend and crew chief for Rachel Entrekin, to hear the story behind one of the most impressive performances in ultrarunning this year. From how they first met after BOTH DNF’ing the same 100 miler, to the years of adventures, training camps, chaos, and trust that led to Cocodona, this episode dives deep into the human side of the sport.

We talk:
• Crew chief life at Cocodona
• Surf culture vs trail running culture
• Recognizing greatness before the rest of the world sees it
• The emotional reality of supporting someone through 250 miles
• Friendship, loyalty, and showing up for people you believe in

A really special conversation and perspective we don’t often get to hear. Thanks to Jake for coming on!