Pushing Horizons Step by Step

Four years. Two DNFs. One finish line that meant everything.Laura Bradley returns to Pushing Horizons: Step by Step after finally completing the Miami 100 Miles in 26 hours and 28 minutes.When Laura first joined the podcast in July 2025, she had recently completed the Tampa Bay 100, a course she created herself. But despite covering that distance, she still felt she had unfinished business with the Miami 100 after two unsuccessful attempts in 2022 and 2024.This time, things were different.Despite stomach problems, nutrition struggles, and the challenges of running 100 miles self-supported, Laura approached the race with a completely different mindset.During our conversation, she shares an emotional moment when she returned to the same section of the course where she had struggled four years earlier and realized how much she had changed.We also explore the mental side of ultrarunning, how DNFs affect our confidence, learning to trust ourselves again, and why completing a race doesn't always bring the closure we expect.In this episode, we talk about:Laura's Miami 100 finish in 26:28:00Her previous DNFs in 2022 and 2024The difference between completing Tampa Bay 100 and Miami 100Nutrition challenges and problem-solving during ultramarathonsMental resilience, confidence, and learning from failureThe emotional side of returning to a race that once defeated youSelf-supported ultrarunning and learning to accept helpWhy she's already planning to return to Miami for a faster finishOne of the most meaningful parts of our conversation was hearing Laura explain that Miami finally gave her something her previous 100-mile finish hadn't.A sense of peace.Because sometimes the biggest achievement isn't the distance itself. It's realizing how much you've changed along the way.🎙️ Pushing Horizons: Step by Step — Season 3, Episode 35Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Keywords: Laura Bradley, Miami 100, Miami 100 Miles, ultrarunning podcast, 100-mile ultramarathon, ultramarathon comeback, DNF recovery, running mindset, mental resilience, ultra endurance, Tampa Bay 100, self-supported ultrarunning, endurance training, ultrarunning nutrition, running motivation, women in ultrarunning, Pushing Horizons podcast.

What does it take to finish second at a 200-mile ultramarathon? And what happens when months of preparation end in a DNF?In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, I sit down with ultrarunner Ian Hayashi Jones, who went from thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to competing at the front of some of the toughest ultramarathons in just a few years.Ian's first running race wasn't a 5K, half marathon, or marathon. It was the Wyoming Range 100, a rugged 100-mile race that introduced him to competitive ultrarunning.In 2025, Ian took on Tahoe 200, finishing second overall in 56 hours, behind Kilian Korth. We talk about his experience racing alongside Kilian, managing sleep deprivation, overcoming nutrition problems, and what it takes mentally to keep moving for more than two days.But ultrarunning doesn't always go according to plan.At Mammoth 200 in 2026, Ian arrived with his biggest training block and one clear goal: to win. Unfortunately, severe stomach problems and repeated vomiting forced him to withdraw at approximately mile 82.We explore how he deals with disappointment, why he believes DNFs can help us discover our limits, and how his competitive mindset continues to evolve.We also talk about the importance of family and friendship, including the two simple words his twin brother said during his first 100-miler that still motivate him today:"Push, push."This conversation goes beyond race results. It's about ambition, setbacks, resilience, discovering our limits, and finding the motivation to keep moving forward.In this episode:From the Pacific Crest Trail to ultrarunningRunning 100 miles as a first-ever raceTahoe 200: second overall in 56 hoursCompeting alongside Kilian KorthSleep deprivation and nutrition during 200-mile racesMammoth 200: DNF at mile 82Finding confidence through setbacksThe role of family, friends, and pacersThe meaning behind "Push, Push"Discovering what the human body and mind are capable ofKeywords: Ian Hayashi Jones, Push Push, Pushing Horizons podcast, ultrarunning podcast, Tahoe 200 2025, Mammoth 200 2026, Kilian Korth, 200 mile ultramarathon, ultramarathon DNF, trail running, ultra endurance, mental resilience, endurance athlete, Pacific Crest Trail, ultrarunning nutrition, sleep deprivation, running motivation, 100 mile race, ultra running mindset.

450 Kilometers, One Step at a TimeWhat 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. MichelleMichelle'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. MichelleThen 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. MichelleMichelleIn 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. MichelleBecause 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 KearneyThere 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