Pushing Horizons Step by Step

What happens when a simple magazine assignment turns into a lifelong obsession? This week, we dive into the raw, unexpected journey of one of Britain’s most respected ultrarunners, a man who didn’t start racing until his mid-30s and still climbed his way into the world’s biggest stages. From discovering running by chance, to taking on 200-mile races, breaking iconic FKTs, and finishing top-10 at U...

From running a sub-3 marathon to covering 115+ miles in a Backyard Ultra, today’s guest embodies endurance in every form. She brings a raw, honest look at what it takes to perform at both ends of the spectrum, from the fast, structured world of marathons to the mentally brutal loops of the ultra scene. We talk about pacing, fuelling, and mindset across distances, what keeps her grounded when the m...

When 61-year-old mother of five, Ann Ongena , crossed the Hardrock 100 finish line after 47 hours and 53 minutes, she wasn’t just finishing a race, she was redefining what endurance means. In this conversation, we dive deep into her decade-long pursuit of Hardrock, the mental battles that come with pushing through exhaustion, and what keeps her chasing difficult things when most people would stop....

How do you win a 250-mile ultra, not once, but four times? This episode dives into the brutal world of multi-day ultras like the Thames Ring 250 and the Tunnel 200. We break down what it really takes to run for days: the strategy, the fueling, the hallucinations, and the mindset that turns exhaustion into precision. We talk about discipline over drama, control over chaoas, and what happens when th...

In this episode, we dive into the brutal honesty of ultrarunning, where pain isn’t the enemy, it’s the teacher. Milton, a full-time UPS driver and single dad, talks about balancing 60-mile training weeks, running through exhaustion, and finding strength when the body gives up. From his first 100-miler to lessons on patience, resilience, and self-discovery, this conversation isn’t about finish line...

What does it take to run for days, literally? Seven-time world champion and multiple world record holder, she’s conquered the toughest multi-day formats in the sport: 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, and even six-day races. From Badwater 135 to GOMU World Championships, her story is a masterclass in endurance, discipline, and pure willpower. In this episode, we dive deep into: ✅ The mindset behind brea...

Every runner has a reason. Some chase goals. Some chase peace. Some just chase that quiet feeling of being alive. In this episode, I sit down with two of my closest running friends, one a 700-day streak runner and marathoner, the other an ultra runner, mom, and all-around endurance powerhouse. We talk about what keeps us lacing up when life gets busy, messy, or uncertain. It’s honest, unfiltered,...

Badwater 135 Champion. Spartathlon podium finisher. 243 km in 24 hours. Sub-14 hour 100-miler. This is the story of an athlete who proves that discipline beats talent, and mindset outlasts age. In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to compete at the world’s toughest road ultras, from training in the cold mornings of Norway to surviving the heat of Death Valley. It’s about grit, mental...

A straight-talk conversation about the real ultra mindset: Lakeland 50 lessons, PB’ing a 50-miler on a DNF day, rebuilding from a knee injury back to a 5K, and planning the long road to ultras again. We cover tired-leg strides, breaking races into micro-goals, practical fueling (90g/hr done right), strength work that prevents breakdowns, and calling BS on influencer noise (ice baths/salt pills for...

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, we dive deep into the mindset behind elite trail running, the grit, the setbacks, and the relentless pursuit of growth. From climbing through pain to finding purpose in the low moments, this conversation explores what it truly takes to endure and excel in the mountains. Hannah Osowski (Allgood) shares her journey from local races to international...

What happens when your body forces you to stop? After being diagnosed with viral myocarditis , Neena , an exercise physiologist , marathon runner , and coach , faced the toughest challenge of her life — learning to trust her heart again. In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step , Ash dives into Neena’s journey of recovery, resilience, and rediscovering the joy of running . From hospital v...

Katie Asmuth is more than an elite ultrarunner. She’s a mom of two, a nurse practitioner, and one of the toughest competitors in the sport. From multiple top-10 finishes at Western States to her gritty run at Leadville, Katie knows what it takes to balance family, medicine, and professional racing. In this episode, we talk about: ✅ Lessons from Western States and Leadville 100 ✅ The mental shift...

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Steps by Steps, we dive into DNFs, comebacks, and the world of running tours with a runner who’s been shaping her community for over two decades. From faking asthma attacks in high school to finishing a 100-mile course she designed herself, her journey is anything but ordinary. We talk about the sting of DNFs, the grit it takes to come back from stress fracture...

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step , host Ashish Pant sits down with ultrarunner Killian Korth to explore what it truly means to embrace the process over the outcome. From DNFs in past years to chasing down Michael McKnight’s 2019 record, Killian’s story is a reminder that failure is not final, it’s fuel. We dive into the ultra mindset , how to turn setbacks into stepping stones, an...

Chris Minto didn’t grow up a runner, he built himself into one. At 46, overweight and embarrassed to even jog in public, he started with daily walks alongside his son. Four years later, he’s a 3:35 marathoner, chasing Boston, and preparing for a 50-mile run on his 50th birthday. In this episode, Chris shares how brick by brick, with patience and persistence, he transformed his life. We dive into t...

From the farms of Zimbabwe to the biggest stages in ultra running, Emily Hawgood has built her career on one simple habit: saying yes to opportunities. In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, we dive into Emily’s journey, her early days running with her family, her transition to the U.S., and the mindset that’s carried her to multiple Western States top-10 finishes, UTMB starts, and cou...

She made history as the first Mexican and first Latina to conquer the world’s five toughest deserts: 1,250km across Namibia, Gobi, Jordan, Antarctica, and Atacama. Each race was a six-day, self-supported suffer fest with brutal heat, altitude, and isolation. Just four weeks later, she stood on the start line of Cocodona 250, one of the hardest ultramarathons in the U.S.In this episode, we dig into...

Seven months ago, Pushing Horizons: Step by Step was just a dream. Now, with Season 1 in the books, I look back at the conversations that carried me through my own ultra race. From Lucy Bartholomew on burnout and resilience, Harvey Lewis on chasing longevity, Megan Eckert on pushing past limits, Eszter Csillag proving it’s never too late, Jessie reminding me that quitting is forever, and Peter Mor...

What does it take to keep moving when your body is broken, your mind is screaming to quit, and the trail still stretches on for hundreds of miles? In this episode, we dive deep into the brutal world of ultra-running with one of the sport’s toughest competitors. From the Arizona Monster 300 to the Barkley Fall Classic and Moab 240, today’s guest is chasing the hardest races on the planet, not for c...

What does it take to turn personal pain into purpose? In this episode of Pushing Horizons , we sit down with an athlete who wasn’t prepared for the Ironman or ultras, but chose to do them anyway, and in the process discovered what’s possible when you go all in. His story is one of resilience, community, and finding strength where most would quit. Through raw honesty, passion, and an unstoppable mi...

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Steps by Steps, I sit down with ultra runner and pacer Claire to talk about what it really means to run at the back of the pack. Claire has taken on massive challenges like Race to the King 100K, Endure 24, and Castle to Castle 100 miler, but her story is about more than distance. We dive into: ✅ What it’s like to represent the back of the pack ✅ Lessons from...

What does it take to run 250 miles through heat, rain, mud, sleep deprivation, and self-doubt? In this episode, I sit down with ultrarunner Shelby Farrell , who has taken on Cocodona 250, fastest known time (FKT) attempts, and more brutal challenges in the world of ultra-endurance. Shelby opens up about: ✅ Her journey from marathons to multi-day ultras ✅ What Cocodona 250 taught her about fear,...

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Steps , we sit down with world-class ultrarunner Harvey Lewis, teacher, plant-based athlete, and record-breaking endurance legend. Harvey has: ✅ Finished the Badwater 135 in Death Valley 14 times ✅ Run for 108 hours nonstop , covering 450 miles at Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra ✅ Represented Team USA at multiple 24-hour world championships We dive into his...

Ultra running isn’t just about distance, it’s about confronting fear, pain, and self-doubt head-on. In this episode, we sit down with endurance athlete Jessi Morton-Langehaug , who has tackled some of the world’s most brutal events, including the Arizona Masters 300 , Tahoe 200 , and the legendary Badwater 135 . Jessi shares how she turned a Lyme disease diagnosis and personal struggles into fuel...

From a 2:53 marathon debut to 17 Ironmans, World Championship qualifications, and a 2nd overall finish in his first 80K ultra, this episode dives into the mindset and strategies behind elite endurance performance. We cover training for Ironman and ultra marathons, how to balance speed with endurance, the role of coaching, fueling, and recovery, and what it really takes to perform at the highest le...