Maria Ledesma: Reflections on Autumn 100 2025 & Winter Downs 200. Strategic decision making, mindsets and the grace in stopping 🛑

In this episode, we sit down with seasoned ultra-runner Maria Ledesma to explore her remarkable journey through endurance racing, from her first trail race in 2019 to, three years later, completing four 100-mile races in the space of 13 months. Maria shares the highs and lows of two of her most recent challenges - including her decision to drop out of last weekend's Autumn 100 at mile 68 and her philosophy that embraces the grace in stopping. We also chat about Maria's Winter Downs 200 experience, where she placed 5th in the women's race after 73 grueling hours on the trail, running mostly solo and managing sleep deprivation. We discuss the power of meticulous preparation, strategic decision making, mental resilience and mindsets for ultra runners. Maria offers a refreshing perspective on the sport’s demands and rewards; this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and inspiration.Send us Fan MailThis episode is sponsored by Empowered2. Most businesses significantly underinvest in leadership development.Leadership development should be bespoke and appropriate for the needs of your business, adding value by improving the performance of everyone involved with immediately deployable tools and techniques.Jon helps organisations serious about creating high performing leaders and organisations to create meaningful, memorable and lasting leadership legacy. Support the show