EP18 - Holly Stables on The Speed Project: 300 Mile Ultra from LA to Vegas

Episode 18: Holly Stables on Surviving The Speed Project – 340 Miles to VegasHow far would you run for a challenge? How about 340 miles across the desert… solo?This week on the RUNcensored Podcast, Gary and Ben are joined by ultrarunner, coach, and community builder Holly Stables (@rushbynature), fresh off completing The Speed Project—an unsanctioned, unsupported race from Santa Monica to Las Vegas that’s as wild as it is infamous.Holly ran solo, with Gary as part of her crew, and went on to finish second overall in the women’s category. In this brutally honest conversation, she breaks down the reality of running through sleep deprivation, blistering heat, nosebleeds, hallucinations, poor nutrition, and the full chaos of managing an RV support vehicle with a team of mates.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to run for days across a desert with no rules, no finish line tape, and only your own mindset to get you through—it’s all here.Who is Holly Stables?Holly is an ultrarunner, endurance coach, and co-founder of the UK trail running community Rush By Nature. She’s known for her grounded, honest approach to running and life, and has helped countless runners build confidence through coaching, community, and leading by example.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:What exactly is The Speed Project, and why is it so difficult?How Holly trained (and didn’t train) for a 340-mile solo runCrew chaos, sleep deprivation, and managing the mental rollercoasterFueling with burgers, hot sauce, and occasional meltdownsRacing side-by-side with the front runner—and what happened nextGary’s behind-the-scenes role and the things he definitely didn’t plan forHolly’s honest take on whether she’d do it all againChapters:00:00 – Intro: Welcome Holly!03:40 – What is The Speed Project?07:30 – Training and preparation (sort of)12:00 – Life in the van and crew dynamics17:20 – Nosebleeds, heat, and hallucinations23:00 – Burgers, Red Bull & hot sauce: the fueling plan29:45 – Catching the front-runner36:10 – Mental fatigue and final miles into Vegas44:20 – Recovery, reflection, and race blues50:30 – Would she do it again?Why You Should Listen:This episode gives a raw and real insight into one of the most extreme races out there—told with honesty, humour, and just the right amount of chaos. Whether you’re into ultra running, long-distance challenges, or just love a story of human grit, this one delivers.👉 New episodes drop every Tuesday – follow and subscribe!#TheSpeedProject #UltraRunning #TrailRunning #RunningPodcast #HollyStables #RushByNature #DesertRunning #MentalToughness #RUNcensored #GaryHouse #BenMounseyRUNcensored Podcast 🎙The unfiltered running podcast with Gary House & Ben Mounsey — honest chats with athletes, coaches and characters from the world of running.🌍 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runcensoredpod📩 Get in touch: [email protected] by Chris Davies, Eastwood Mediawww.eastwood-media.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.