Dante Dugan | From Couch to Cocodona 250

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-deprived hallucinations, the crew that kept him alive, and the undeniable truth that you don’t need to be elite to do something massive. You just need to show up and not quit.Dante’s story is gritty, raw, and full of heart. We talk about:✅ How he ran 250 miles with only one 100-miler under his belt✅ Sleepwalking through aid stations✅ Losing toenails, gear failures, and cactus collisions✅ The beauty of trail running community and the value of showing up✅ Mental strength vs. physical breaking points✅ Going from “I’m not a runner” to Relentless BecomingThis isn’t just about ultrarunning, it’s about choosing growth through chaos.🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.Keywords: Cocodona 250, ultramarathon podcast, trail running stories, Dante Dugan, 100 miler to 250 miles, running mindset, ultrarunning journey, sleep deprivation running, endurance, mental toughness, Pushing Horizons podcast