Composing The Long Run: Where Art and Endurance Collide

Liz Derstine lives at the intersection of endurance and artistry.She is one of the most accomplished long-distance trail runners in the world, holding multiple women’s Fastest Known Times on some of the toughest trails known to man, including the Appalachian Trail (northbound), the Long Trail, the Pinhoti Trail, and Sweden’s Kungsleden. Most recently, Liz completed the 2,655-mile Pacific Crest Trail in under 70 days — the third-fastest self-supported finish by a woman.But Liz’s story doesn’t end on the trail.She is also an award-winning pianist and composer whose work bridges classical training with pop innovation, creating music inspired by nature, movement, and lived experience. Classically trained from a young age, Liz earned dual Master of Music degrees in Collaborative Piano and Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she was recognized for her commitment to collaboration and innovation. Her musical career has taken her from concert halls to international touring as a keyboardist and singer, performing at iconic venues like the Troubadour and festivals including Coachella. Her original compositions have been featured on television shows such as Awkward (MTV) and Wednesday (Netflix).In this conversation, Liz shares how thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail reshaped her creative voice, how she balances elite endurance athletics with a demanding music career, and why time in nature is central to both her performance and her art. We talk about discipline, obsession, solitude, creativity, and what it means to pursue two worlds that demand everything you have.Liz has been featured in Outside, Runner’s World, Women’s Running, Trail Running Magazine, and on the cover of Competitor Magazine for “running by day and music touring by night.” She represents Mountain Hardwear and writes the popular newsletter Pink Feathers, where she explores the overlap between wild places, long miles, and creative life.This episode is about pushing limits — on the trail, at the piano, and within yourself — and finding harmony between endurance and expression.