002 - Michele Santihano

What Moves Her – Episode 2: Michele SantilhanoIn this inspiring episode, host Ania Wronski sits down with Michele Santilhano — a pediatric oncology nurse, ultra-endurance athlete, and one of the rare people to have both swum the English Channel and completed it as part of a full triathlon (arch to arc: run, swim, cycle from London to Paris). Michele shares her journey from growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, to becoming one of the most accomplished multi-sport ultra-endurance athletes in the US, including completing solo cycling's Race Across America (RAAM), 200-mile trail runs, and open-water channel swims. The conversation covers injury recovery, training philosophy, fueling strategies, mental resilience, and her ambitious goal of one day completing the Iditarod Trail Invitational in Alaska.Key Takeaways"If you can't go fast, go long." Michele's endurance career was born from the realisation she had endurance genes over speed genes — a mindset that fuelled an extraordinary athletic journey.Community is everything. Whether crewed by triathlon teammates, paced by a patient, or supported by friends across thousands of miles, Michele attributes much of her success to the people around her.Injury doesn't mean stopping. After snapping all four quadricep muscles off her patella mid-race in 2024, Michele immediately shifted focus to upper body training and was swimming within two weeks, returning to running within months.A great coach makes all the difference. Michele uses Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) and credits having a coach who listens, adapts to your lifestyle, and balances training with life as essential to longevity in the sport.Fueling is non-negotiable. The key formula: drink every 5 minutes, eat something solid every 15, and target 60–90 grams of carbohydrates per hour during endurance events.Running mechanics matter. Proper form — shoulders over hips, over knees, over ankles — and a gradual return-to-run protocol (start with walk/run intervals) are critical for injury prevention.Resources Mentioned📘 Training Essentials for Ultrarunning by Jason Koop (Carmichael Training Systems) — The benchmark book for ultramarathon training, covering evidence-based methodologies for runners of all levels. Michele wrote to the author, who connected her with her current coach.📘 The Feed Zone Cookbook by Dr. Allen Lim & Chef Biju Thomas — Wholesome, athlete-friendly recipes for endurance fueling; Michele references "the Alan Lim book on fueling on the go".📘 The Lost Art of Running by Shane Benzie — A deep dive into natural running mechanics and biomechanics from a movement coach and anthropologist; Michele recommends Shane Benzie for learning proper running form.📱 Fuelin App (F-U-E-L-I-N) — A nutrition app Michele recommends for athletes to dial in the right amounts of protein and carbohydrates without the fuss.🏋️ Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) — Michele's current training and coaching platform, specialising in endurance sports including ultra-distance trail running.