Pushing Horizons Step by Step

Six days. 603 miles. A world record that redefines the limits of human endurance. In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step , we sit down with one of the toughest ultrarunners on the plane, a runner who doesn’t just chase finish lines, she chases the breaking point. From shattering the six-day world record to placing 2nd female and 8th overall at the legendary Badwater 135, she’s faced hea...

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step , Kasia shares a story that redefines resilience. From surviving cancer to enduring an eating disorder so severe she sometimes went to bed unsure she’d wake up, Kasia’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Told she could never run because of asthma, she’s now clocking marathons, 80K solo runs, and setting her sights on an Ironman. Kasia opens...

What drives someone to run for days, covering over 300 miles, with no set finish line in sight? Backyard ultras push athletes to their absolute limits, physically and mentally. In this episode, we dig into how a runner with zero background went from his first marathon to winning some of the toughest backyard ultras in the world, including Bob’s Big Timber and Capital Backyard Ultra. Learn how he b...

What drives someone to run three major marathons in three weeks? In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Steps by Steps, we talk with a marathoner who has completed all six World Marathon Majors and is heading into Chicago, Amsterdam, and New York City this fall, not for the PR, but for the experience. We dive into why running doesn’t have to be about chasing times, how to balance training with joy,...

How do you stay in the sport without burning out or breaking down? In this raw, no-filter conversation, elite ultrarunner and mother of two shares how she balances high-stakes racing, family life, and injury recovery, without losing her edge. From back-to-back podiums at Western States 100 to tackling UTMB and navigating DNF decisions, this episode dives into the mindset, discipline, and honesty r...

From thinking a sub 3 marathon was impossible… to making it her new baseline. Meghan shares the mindset, training, and heartbreak behind her 2:59:38 marathon, powered by plant-based fueling, 130+ km weekly mileage, and relentless drive. In this episode of Pushing Horizons, we go deep into the life of a high mileage, plant-based runner chasing down big goals, including the Berlin Marathon. 🏃‍♀️ To...

In this episode, we sit down with an endurance athlete who’s done it all: Ironman World Championship, 100-milers, a win at Cocodona Sedona Canyon 125, and 110 more miles just one week later. And now? He’s eyeing Cocodona 250. We talk about: ✅ Transitioning from triathlon to ultramarathons ✅ What it takes to win 125-mile races ✅ Stacking back-to-back ultras and surviving ✅ Training and mindset...

What happens when a non-runner signs up for a 250-mile ultramarathon through the brutal Arizona desert, less than two years into their running journey? In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Steps by Steps , I sit down with Dante Dugan, who went from couch to Cocodona in under 24 months. We talk about everything, his chaotic but inspiring journey into trail running, the mental breakdowns, sleep-depr...

From not being a runner at all… to running sub-3 marathons and chasing sub-2:45, all while being a father of three, leading a career, and staying sober. In this episode, we dive deep into the mindset shift that comes from beating addiction, building unstoppable discipline, and chasing elite marathon times. We break down high-mileage training (100-130 km per week), 6 days of strength training, bala...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with elite ultrarunner Lucy Bartholomew , a name that’s become synonymous with endurance, vulnerability, and grit. From running her first 100K at age 15 to standing on the podium at Western States , finishing UTMB and the Ironman World Championship , Lucy has pushed her body and mind through the extremes of trail and ultra running. But her journey isn’t just ab...

What if the secret to running further wasn’t grinding harder, but finding joy in the miles? In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step , we sit down with an ultrarunner who’s not just racking up finish lines, but redefining what it means to enjoy the process. From back-to-back 100 milers to running on feel, no training plan, and a pure love for movement, this conversation is about grit, fre...

In Chasing Fear: Miles Beyond Comfort , we sit down with an ultrarunner who doesn’t just flirt with pain, she dives headfirst into it. From surviving lung surgery as a kid to crushing 100-mile races, this conversation strips away the hype and shows what it really takes to push beyond your limits. We talk mindset, nutrition, failures, comebacks, and the dark places you have to go if you want to fin...

From a snowy half-marathon in Colorado to finishing Cocodona 250 three times, Jennie’s journey is proof that grit doesn’t care about your comfort zone. In this episode, we break down how she went from casually running a few miles to taking on one of the toughest ultramarathons on earth. We talk about training through chaos, raising kids while chasing big goals, mental strategies for multi-day race...

From a treadmill in Toronto to the streets of Tokyo, this is a story about what happens when you refuse to settle. In this episode, we dive into the running journey of a full-time physician, busy mom, and determined marathoner chasing the elusive sub-4 finish. We talk about balancing life and training, the mindset it takes to show up day after day, and how setbacks fuel future goals. Tokyo Maratho...

What does it take to win a 250-mile race, and then come back the next year to finish 5th, stomach wrecked, body breaking, but still moving? In this episode, I sit down with Harry Subertas to break down the brutal beauty of Cocodona 250. From winning in 2024 to battling through in 2025, we talk mindset, failure, risk, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, and what it really means to choose adventure o...

250 miles. Heat, altitude, no sleep, breakdowns, and Lindsey Dwyer didn’t just survive it, she dominated it. In this episode, we break down her Cocodona 250 journey: the training, the mindset, the highs, the brutal lows, and why curiosity pushed her beyond the edge. If you’ve ever wondered how far you can really go, this is your blueprint. This is how you suffer well, adapt fast, and keep moving f...

She didn’t grow up as an athlete. She faced a lifelong fear of water. She learned to swim at 44. Now she’s training for the Berlin Marathon, smashing HYROX races, and proving that it’s never too late to start over. In this episode of Pushing Horizons , we dive into overcoming fear, redefining strength in midlife, training through perimenopause, and chasing big dreams, from triathlons to Boston Mar...

What if running could break down walls between people, cultures, and even conflict zones? In this episode of Pushing Horizons , I sit down with author and endurance runner Tom Leddy, a man who’s not just run marathons on all 7 continents, but who’s now racing in countries labeled “dangerous” by the U.S. State Department. We get into surviving a difficult childhood, losing his mother young, running...

What does it take to finish the Cocodona 250, a 250-mile ultramarathon from Flagstaff to Phoenix through brutal desert heat, high-altitude climbs, and complete sleep deprivation? In this episode, we go inside the pain cave with a 23-year-old finisher Cody Poskin who ran through blisters, hallucinations, busted quads, and mental collapse to cross the finish line in under 72 hours. No crew? No pacer...

What does it take to run five marathons in one year? To chase a sub-20 5K while eyeing your first ultramarathon? In this raw and honest episode of Pushing Horizons: Steps by Steps , we sit down with a seasoned marathoner who's been through it all burnout, injuries, a brutal DNF in London, and the relentless pursuit of growth. We talked about: Marathon training, recovery, and injury prevention What...

In this powerful episode, we dive deep into the world of ultramarathon running , sobriety , and mental resilience with an athlete who’s faced it all, divorce , injury , addiction, and heartbreak, and kept running. From logging over 200 miles in a week to pushing athletes with disabilities, this is more than a story about endurance; it’s about transformation. You’ll hear about overcoming personal d...

This episode isn't about finish lines or medals, it's about the mindset that keeps you moving when everything tells you to stop. We dig into running as identity, dealing with failure, the pressure of social media pace culture, parenting while training, and what it really means to just keep showing up . From consistency to chaos, trail miles to stroller runs, we explore how running reflects life, m...

From loathing early-morning joggers in Central Park to completing a 100-mile ultramarathon and chasing a Boston Marathon qualifier, meet Dona , a runner, nomad, and relentless force of nature. In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step , we dive into: Dona’s origin story, from Italy to New York to California How one frustrating walk changed everything What it really feels like to run 100 mi...

What happens when an endurance athlete runs the Boston Marathon , then six days later, lines up for Ironman Texas ? In this raw, no-filter episode, we sit down with a driven female triathlete chasing the dream of becoming a Kona qualifier . From crushing the infamous Goggins Challenge to enduring the multi-day Coastal Challenge Costa Rica , she shares how she balances brutal triathlon training , m...

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Steps , we dive into the brutal reality of ultra-running, failure, and the kind of mindset it takes to come back harder. After two gut-wrenching DNFs, at Rocky Raccoon and Grasslands, Angus returns to the course, not just to finish, but to redeem himself on his own terms. We talked about: What it feels like to DNF at mile 70 Battling...