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450 Kilometers, One Step at a Time What does it take to keep moving when you've been on your feet for seven days, slept only 10 hours, and still have mountains to climb? Annie Hughes returns to Pushing Horizons: Step by Step to share two extraordinary adventures that pushed her beyond anything she had experienced before. First, we travel to Nepal, where Annie completed the Everest Marathon, her very first marathon, starting from Everest Base Camp at over 5,000 meters above sea level. We talk about the challenges of running at extreme altitude, climbing Island Peak, and experiencing the beauty of the Himalayas. Then we head to the Italian Alps for one of the most demanding mountain endurance races in the world: Tor des Glaciers. 450 kilometers. 32,000 meters of elevation gain. 173 hours. Around 10 hours of sleep. Annie finished sixth among the women, but getting to that finish line was anything but straightforward. For more than 30 hours, she struggled with severe stomach problems. Painful blisters made walking almost unbearable. Sleep deprivation, difficult navigation, and emotional breakdowns pushed her to some of her lowest moments. At one point, she found herself crying on a technical descent, struggling to keep her eyes open, with more than 100 miles still remaining. But rather than giving up, Annie focused on what she could control. One problem at a time. One mountain at a time. One step at a time. We also explore how her approach to ultrarunning has evolved, why sleep and nutrition become critical in multi-day races, and how she managed to feel stronger during the final miles than she had earlier in the race. And after completing 450 kilometers, Annie is already dreaming about even bigger adventures, including PTL and Swiss Peaks 700K. This conversation goes beyond race results. It's about resilience, patience, managing the unexpected, and discovering that we're often capable of more than we imagine. Because sometimes, the biggest challenge isn't the distance ahead. It's finding the strength to take the next step. Running the Everest Marathon and climbing Island Peak in Nepal.Why Annie's first marathon was unlike any other race.Taking on Tor des Glaciers: 450 km and 32,000 m of climbing.Managing stomach problems for more than 30 hours.Sleep deprivation and navigating technical mountain terrain.Painful blisters, tears, and the lowest moments of the race.Why eating, sleeping, and problem-solving matter as much as fitness.How Annie found her strength again with 100 miles remaining.Finishing sixth woman after 173 hours.What's next: PTL, Swiss Peaks 700K, and more mountain adventures.Annie Hughes, Pushing Horizons podcast, 450 Kilometers One Step at a Time, Tor des Glaciers, TOR450, Tor des Géants, Everest Marathon, ultrarunning podcast, ultra endurance, mountain ultrarunning, 450km ultramarathon, multi-day ultrarunning, 200 mile races, ultra running motivation, endurance athlete, mental toughness, sleep deprivation ultrarunning, ultramarathon nutrition, trail running, Swiss Peaks 700K, PTL UTMB, women in ultrarunning, endurance mindset, ultra running stories, Pushing Horizons Step by Step. In This EpisodeKeywords / SEO Tags

Running has never been only about miles for Michelle Doza. It's a place to think, process life, clear her head, and sometimes think about absolutely nothing. It's something that brings her happiness and grounds her when life feels off. Michelle Michelle's running journey eventually took her from the 17-mile Imogene Pass Run to six marathons and a pursuit of the elusive sub-four-hour marathon. Her current PR? 4:00:53. Yeah... painfully close. Michelle Then came the Leadville Trail Marathon. Starting around 11,000 feet, climbing roughly 6,000 feet and reaching above 13,000 feet at Mosquito Pass, Leadville forced Michelle to change the conversation happening inside her own head. Instead of asking why she was doing it, she reminded herself that she had trained for it, that people were waiting for her, and that she could do hard things. MichelleMichelle In this episode, we talk about running as therapy, injuries and patience, chasing a sub-four marathon, learning to trust the process, the mental battle of Leadville, finding joy in difficult things, the running community, and her experience co-hosting Runners Like Us. And after Leadville, another question has started creeping in: Could an ultramarathon be next? Michelle says it's firmly on her radar. Michelle Because sometimes running isn't really about how many miles you've covered. It's about discovering how much further you're willing to go. Keywords: Michelle Doza, More Than Miles, Pushing Horizons, Pushing Horizons Step by Step, Runners Like Us, Leadville Trail Marathon, Leadville Marathon, Colorado runner, marathon running, trail running, running podcast, women runners, sub 4 marathon, running motivation, running as therapy, mental health and running, endurance running, running community, ultramarathon, first ultra

The Life He Almost Missed | Eamon Kearney There was a point when Eamon Kearney didn't believe there was a future worth staying for. Today, he's sober, a father, a marathon runner, and the author of the upcoming memoir The Long Way Home. Born in Ireland and now living in the United States, Eamon's story begins long before running. He spent the first part of his life in a mother and baby home before being adopted, grew up with an alcoholic father, joined the Irish Army at 18, immigrated to America, became a father, and eventually faced his own battle with alcohol. In late 2021, Eamon reached his darkest point. What followed was a slow rebuilding of his life. After getting sober in 2022, he returned to running after decades away from the sport. Since then, he has completed numerous half marathons and marathons, including Chicago, Berlin, Boston and the Marine Corps Marathon. But the finish lines aren't really the story. In this deeply personal conversation, Eamon talks about adoption and identity, addiction and sobriety, fatherhood, his fractured relationship with his son, finding his biological siblings, therapy, learning to forgive himself, and why running became such an important part of rebuilding his life. We also talk about The Long Way Home, the memoir he's writing for his children and for anyone who has ever struggled with addiction, shame, identity or the feeling that they don't quite belong. Because sometimes the most important part of surviving your darkest moment is getting the chance to discover everything that comes after. Season 3, Episode 31 of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step. Keywords: Eamon Kearney, The Life He Almost Missed, The Long Way Home, sobriety, addiction recovery, running and sobriety, marathon running, Boston Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, Irish immigrant, adoption, fatherhood, mental health, recovery, resilience, running podcast, marathon podcast, Pushing Horizons, Pushing Horizons Step by Step

250 Miles Changes Everything | Season 3, Episode 30 The last time he joined Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, he had just won Sedona Canyon 125 and had already decided what was coming next: Cocodona 250. At that point, 250 miles was still something he could only imagine. This time, he comes back after experiencing it for himself. We talk about what it actually takes to run Cocodona 250, from 100+ mile training weeks and back-to-back long runs to sleep deprivation, hallucinations, nutrition, chafing, swollen feet and ankles, crew support, pacers, and the constant problem-solving required to keep moving for more than three days. He shares what happened when the race became difficult, why reaching 125 miles is mentally different when you know you're only halfway, and what went through his mind when he reached mile 211 with some of the hardest miles of his life still ahead. We also talk about the role his wife and crew played when he could no longer think clearly, why finishing a 250-mile race becomes a team effort, and what he learned about himself by continuing when his body and mind were telling him to stop. After Cocodona, he went on to finish Tahoe 200 — an experience that changed his approach to sleep and multi-day racing even further. And despite everything Cocodona put him through, he's going back. Because after 250 miles, the question is no longer whether he can do it. It's what he can do differently the next time. Topics: Cocodona 250, ultrarunning, 200-mile races, ultra endurance, trail running, sleep deprivation, hallucinations in ultramarathons, ultramarathon training, 250-mile training, ultra nutrition, race strategy, crew and pacers, mental endurance, Tahoe 200, Sedona Canyon 125, endurance running, multi-day ultramarathons, human endurance.

Heidi Allan grew up as a gymnast and rock climber, competed around the world in obstacle course racing, and spent three seasons competing on American Ninja Warrior. Running wasn't her strength. In fact, she used to hate it. Today, she's an ultrarunner, 200-mile finisher, race winner, and Race Director for Aravaipa Running. Heidi joins Pushing Horizons to share how her pursuit of difficult challenges eventually led her into ultrarunning and why the sport gave her something she hadn't found in competition before. We get into her progression from Spartan races and Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim to Javelina 100 and Tahoe 200, where she finished fifth female in 62:47:44. Heidi shares the reality of going more than 60 hours with almost no sleep, dealing with severe blisters, hallucinating during the final miles, relying on her pacers and learning that her body was capable of running far later into a 200-mile race than she thought. We also explore Heidi's other side of ultrarunning as a Race Director for Aravaipa Running, including the work behind Tucson Marathon, Crown King Scramble and Copper Corridor. From permits and aid-station logistics to extreme heat and calculating how much water runners may need, Heidi gives a different perspective on what it takes to put on an endurance event. Most importantly, this is a conversation about how Heidi's relationship with competition has changed from perfection and pressure to accepting what she can give on any particular day. Because sometimes discovering what's possible isn't about becoming the best. It's about discovering another version of yourself. Keywords: Heidi Allan, Tahoe 200, ultrarunning, ultramarathon, 200 mile race, Aravaipa Running, American Ninja Warrior, obstacle course racing, OCR, trail running, mountain running, Javelina 100, race director, Tucson Marathon, Crown King Scramble, Copper Corridor, endurance running, endurance athlete, ultra running podcast, Pushing Horizons

Season 3, Episode 28 — This Too Shall Pass Trueheart Brown never grew up dreaming of becoming an ultrarunner. After years of skiing and competitive cycling, running eventually became something much deeper a way to process difficult experiences, quiet his mind, and find space away from the demands of life and his career in wildland fire. Then he discovered he could race. Trueheart won the Black Canyon 100K in 2022 before taking on his first 100-mile race at the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line Ultra in 2025. Despite never having run farther than roughly 60 miles before race day, he finished the 100 miler in 14:40:43 and took the overall win. In 2026, he stepped up again at Sedona Canyons 125 only three weeks after breaking his fourth metatarsal. He finished in 25:14:07. And won. In this conversation, we talk about his unconventional path into ultrarunning, decades of endurance training, learning to suffer, racing 100 miles for the first time, adapting when race plans fall apart, running Sedona Canyons with a broken foot, the importance of preparation, and why the darkest moments of an ultramarathon don't necessarily mean your race is over. We also talk about what comes next. Trueheart has been selected for the 2027 Cocodona 250, where he'll attempt to make the enormous jump from 125 miles to 250. And through all of it, one idea keeps coming back: This too shall pass. The bad moments will pass. But so will the good ones. Keywords: Trueheart Brown, ultrarunning, ultramarathon, Cocodona 250, Cocodona, Sedona Canyons 125, Stagecoach 100, Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line Ultra, Black Canyon 100K, 100 mile ultramarathon, 200 mile ultramarathon, 250 mile ultramarathon, trail running, Arizona trail running, endurance running, ultramarathon training, ultra running mindset, mental toughness, wildland firefighter, Coconino National Forest, Pushing Horizons podcast

How much carbohydrate do you actually need during an endurance race and is more always better? Roger, CEO of SQUEEZY Nutrition, returns to Pushing Horizons: Step by Step for Part 2 of our conversation about endurance fueling. This time, we go deeper into the practical problems runners face when the hours and miles start adding up. Roger explains how athletes can train their gut to tolerate higher carbohydrate intake, why blindly copying athletes consuming 120–150+ grams of carbs per hour can create problems, and why your fueling strategy needs to be built around your own body, intensity and race. We also talk about what happens when you miss your fueling early in a race, whether you can recover from an energy crash, gels versus solid food during ultramarathons, caffeine, hydration, fueling beyond 10 hours, recovery nutrition, and the relationship between endurance training and the immune system. This conversation was recorded before my attempt at the Berlin Wall 100 Miler — a race where my own fueling mistakes eventually became one of the biggest lessons of the entire experience. I carried enough fuel. I simply didn't eat enough of it early enough. After covering 52 miles, I understand this conversation very differently than I did when we recorded it. Part 2 of our endurance fueling series with Roger and SQUEEZY Nutrition. Keywords: endurance fueling, ultramarathon nutrition, running nutrition, carbs per hour running, carbohydrate intake endurance, gut training, marathon fueling, 100 mile fueling, ultrarunning nutrition, race nutrition strategy, energy gels, solid food ultramarathon, caffeine endurance running, hydration for runners, recovery nutrition, immune system endurance athletes, under fueling, sports nutrition, SQUEEZY Nutrition, Pushing Horizons podcast

I went into the Berlin Wall 100 believing I could run 100 miles. I made it 52. 84 kilometers. The longest distance I have ever covered on foot. And then the sweeper caught me. This is the story of my first 100-mile ultramarathon attempt — the heat, the mistakes, the fueling problem, the high heart rate from early in the race, and what happened when my energy eventually disappeared. The frustrating part? I had the fuel with me. I had packed enough gels in my vest for the first 33 kilometers and had more waiting in every drop bag. I just didn't eat them. I took in roughly 150 grams of fuel during those first 33 kilometers, and hours later I paid for it. But this isn't only a story about a DNF. Because somewhere inside a race I didn't finish, I also went farther than I have ever gone before. 52 miles. I didn't reach the horizon I was chasing. But the horizon moved. Season 3 episode 26 of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step. Keywords: ultrarunning, ultramarathon, 100 mile ultramarathon, first 100 miler, Berlin Wall 100, 100 mile DNF, 50 mile ultramarathon, 52 miles, ultra running nutrition, ultramarathon fueling, endurance running, trail running, running in extreme heat, DNF recovery, ultra running mistakes, endurance mindset, long distance running, Pushing Horizons podcast

Stephanie Rosebaugh is an ultrarunner, licensed marriage and family therapist, speaker, author of The Power of Enoughness, wife, and mother of two. Her journey into ultrarunning started almost by accident with the Antelope Canyon 55K. But after pacing a friend for 60 miles at Cocodona 250, something changed. She wanted to experience the entire course for herself. She eventually did, twice. Stephanie has also found a home in the backyard ultra format, where she has pushed her body deep into sleep deprivation, exhaustion and discomfort while earning multiple Last Woman Standing finishes and pursuing her goal of representing Team USA. But this conversation goes much deeper than running. Stephanie spent much of her life believing her value had to be earned through performance and achievement. That experience eventually became part of the foundation for her book, The Power of Enoughness. We talk about Cocodona 250, backyard ultras, reaching the physical limits of the body, sleep deprivation, motherhood, resilience, therapy, self-worth, the danger of attaching identity to achievement, and why doing harder things doesn't make us more valuable. Because you can chase huge goals. You can push your limits. You can want to discover what you're capable of. But you don't have to cross another finish line to prove that you're enough. Season 3 Episode 25, You Were Enough Before the Finish Line. Featuring Stephanie Rosebaugh. Keywords: Stephanie Rosebaugh, Cocodona 250, backyard ultra, backyard ultramarathon, The Power of Enoughness, ultrarunning, ultramarathon, Last Woman Standing, Team USA Backyard Ultra, endurance running, 200 mile ultramarathon, trail running, women in ultrarunning, mental health, therapy, resilience, self-worth, running psychology, endurance athlete, Pushing Horizons Step by Step

Shelby Dillingham is an ultrarunner, multidisciplinary artist, and Type 1 diabetic who recently completed the Tahoe 200. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just seven years old, Shelby has spent most of her life managing a condition that never gives her a day off. Running entered her life during the pandemic. What started with a simple running plan eventually became a 50K, 50 miles, 100 miles, and ultimately 200 miles around Lake Tahoe. In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, Shelby shares what it really takes to manage Type 1 diabetes while running ultramarathons and why the 200-mile distance has become the place where she feels she belongs. We talk about the technology behind managing her diabetes, including continuous glucose monitoring and an insulin pump, and the additional planning required when spending several days on the trail. Shelby also takes us inside her Tahoe 200 experience from recovering from tendonitis just weeks before the race to managing her diabetes, relying on her crew and pacers, dealing with sleep deprivation, and reaching one of the most frightening moments of her race when she ran out of water while her blood sugar was high. But this conversation goes far beyond one race. Shelby talks about losing her job shortly after finishing her first 100-miler, using running to navigate difficult periods of life, avoiding burnout, finding community through ultrarunning, and why she doesn't want running to become her entire identity. For Shelby, ultrarunning isn't simply about pushing farther. It's a commitment to herself. A way of building self-trust and continuing to show up—not just for the athlete she is today, but for the seven-year-old girl who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and could never have imagined that one day she would run 200 miles. ✅ Topics Covered: ✓ Tahoe 200✓ Running 200 miles✓ Type 1 diabetes and ultrarunning✓ Managing blood glucose during endurance events✓ Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors✓ Training with Type 1 diabetes✓ Returning from injury✓ 100 miles vs. 200 miles✓ Ultrarunning mindset✓ Mental resilience and self-trust✓ Crew and pacers✓ Running through the night✓ Ultrarunning community✓ Avoiding burnout✓ Identity beyond running✓ Finding gratitude in hard things Keywords: Shelby Dillingham, Shelby Dillingham ultrarunner, Tahoe 200, Tahoe 200 Endurance Run, Type 1 diabetes runner, Type 1 diabetes ultrarunning, diabetic athlete, running with diabetes, 200 mile ultramarathon, 200 mile race, ultrarunning, ultramarathon, trail running, endurance running, endurance athlete, insulin pump running, CGM running, Dexcom running, ultrarunning mindset, mental resilience, Tahoe ultrarunning, women in ultrarunning, running podcast, ultrarunning podcast, Pushing Horizons, Pushing Horizons Step by Step

This one is personal. In just a few days, I'll attempt to run 100 miles for the first time at the Berlin Wall Race. But this episode isn't really about the race. It's about how I somehow ended up here. I never grew up dreaming of becoming a runner. I struggled with my weight for much of my life, never particularly enjoyed running, and originally found the sport after an injury in 2016. Running became a way to lose weight, then something I loved, then something that eventually took a back seat as life and family became the priority. In November 2022, I started again with one goal: run a marathon. Then I moved to Berlin. I met ultrarunners whose persistence fascinated me. I started having conversations with people doing things I couldn't imagine doing myself. Those conversations eventually became Pushing Horizons. And somewhere between interviewing ultrarunners, hearing their reasons for doing this, talking about DNFs and resilience, and learning what keeps people moving when things get really difficult, their stories started changing mine. One podcast conversation led me to register for my first 56K the very next morning. Another eventually led me to register for the Berlin 100 Miles. Now, after seven months of training, the race is here. I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm unsettled. My mind is all over the place. After months of having another training week ahead of me, there's nothing left to prepare for. All that's left is to start. And if you're listening to this on Saturday morning, I'm probably somewhere around Berlin trying to run my first 100 miles. This is the story of how I got here. Keywords: Berlin 100 Miles, Berlin Wall Race, 100 mile ultramarathon, first 100 miler, ultrarunning, ultramarathon training, 100 mile training, endurance running, running journey, marathon to ultramarathon, DNF, ultra running mindset, mental resilience, endurance mindset, Pushing Horizons podcast

Sierra DeGroff returns to Pushing Horizons with a story that goes far beyond race results. In this episode, Sierra shares her journey through some of ultrarunning's most iconic events, including Western States 100, Badwater 135, Umstead 100, and Denali 135. We discuss the highs of course records and championship performances, the lows of races that didn't go to plan, being dropped by a sponsor, and the process of rebuilding confidence after setbacks. Sierra opens up about the mental side of ultrarunning, why she keeps returning to difficult races, lessons learned from Badwater, what makes Western States so special, and how resilience is often built during the hardest moments rather than the best ones. Whether you're training for your first ultra, chasing a personal best, or simply looking for inspiration to keep moving forward, this conversation is packed with lessons about persistence, growth, and believing in yourself when things get tough. Topics Covered: ✅ Western States 100✅ Badwater 135✅ Denali 135✅ Umstead 100✅ Ultrarunning Mindset✅ Mental Toughness✅ Overcoming Setbacks✅ Endurance Racing✅ 100-Mile Racing Strategy✅ Confidence & Resilience✅ Training for Ultramarathons✅ Women's Ultrarunning Connect with Sierra DeGroff:Instagram: @sdegroff Follow Pushing Horizons: Step by StepSpotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Keywords Sierra DeGroff, Western States 100, Badwater 135, Denali 135, Umstead 100, ultrarunning podcast, endurance athlete, ultramarathon, trail running, 100 mile race, women in ultrarunning, mental toughness, endurance sports, ultrarunner interview, running podcast, ultramarathon training, ultrarunning mindset, Badwater race, Western States lottery, Denali race, ultra running motivation, endurance mindset, Pushing Horizons Podcast

Elite trail runner Caitlin Fielder joins Pushing Horizons to share her journey from marine science student and artist to competing against the best trail runners in the world. We talk about starting running later than most elite athletes, recovering from major hip surgery, finding success at races like OCC, Tarawera, Zegama, and Western States, and why patience has become one of her greatest strengths. Caitlin also opens up about racing through adversity, balancing life as a professional athlete, handling expectations, and why success means more than podium finishes. Whether you're training for your first ultra or chasing your biggest running goals, this conversation is packed with insights about resilience, perspective, and running with purpose. Topics Covered Starting trail running later in lifeHip surgery and injury recoveryWestern States 100 experienceUTMB OCC and international racingTarawera UltramarathonZegama MarathonElite athlete mindsetTraining and recoveryPatience and long-term developmentSuccess beyond resultsRunning and creativityProfessional trail running Keywords Caitlin Fielder, trail running, ultrarunning, ultra marathon, Western States 100, Western States Endurance Run, UTMB, OCC, Tarawera Ultramarathon, Zegama Marathon, elite trail runner, women in ultrarunning, ultramarathon podcast, endurance sports, trail running motivation, injury recovery, running mindset, mountain running, ultrarunner interview, New Zealand trail runner, Pushing Horizons podcast, running with purpose, trail runner, endurance athlete

Season 3 Episode 20 The Joy of Hard Things Kat Edwards Anderson has raced some of the toughest ultramarathons in the world, including Cocodona 250, Moab 240, Sedona Canyons 125, Kodiak 100M by UTMB, and Massanutten 100. But this conversation isn't just about running farther. It's about purpose, resilience, faith, embracing discomfort, and discovering what you're truly capable of when life becomes difficult. We discuss her journey from quitting running after high school to becoming one of the rising names in ultrarunning, what 250-mile races teach you about yourself, dealing with sleep deprivation and hallucinations, overcoming mistakes, training for extreme endurance events, and why the hardest challenges often become the most rewarding experiences. Whether you're training for your first ultramarathon, chasing a marathon PR, or simply looking for motivation to tackle life's biggest challenges, this episode is packed with honest lessons from someone who continues to push beyond her own limits. Keywords: ultrarunning, ultramarathon, trail running, Cocodona 250, Moab 240, Kate Edwards, endurance athlete, 200 mile race, 100 mile race, mountain running, ultrarunner, endurance mindset, resilience, mental toughness, running podcast, trail runner, endurance sports, ultramarathon training, Pushing Horizons, endurance inspiration

Season 3 Episode 19 Built for the Long Game DJ Fox has become one of the most respected endurance athletes in ultrarunning. After winning World's Toughest Mudder, setting the Colorado Trail West-to-East Fastest Known Time (FKT), and finishing on the podium at Cocodona 250 in 2026, DJ joins Pushing Horizons to share the mindset behind his success. We discuss his life-changing illness that led him to running, leaving a secure corporate career to chase endurance sports full-time, winning a world championship, surviving multi-day adventures, and the lessons learned from running one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world. DJ also breaks down his 10-hour improvement at Cocodona 250, the importance of crew and pacers, overcoming setbacks, and why he believes success comes from committing to the process rather than chasing outcomes. If you're training for an ultramarathon, marathon, trail race, or simply looking to build resilience and discipline, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration. Keywords: DJ Fox, Cocodona 250, ultrarunning podcast, trail running, ultramarathon, endurance athlete, World's Toughest Mudder, Colorado Trail FKT, Cocodona 250 podium, ultra endurance, endurance mindset, running podcast, trail running podcast, endurance coaching, 200 mile race, mountain running, adventure running, resilience, mental toughness, Pushing Horizons.