She Runs Ultras
by Meghan Gould
She Runs Ultras is about (yup, you guessed it) running ultras. Lots of other running podcasts out there are full of gear & race reviews and interviews with the experts telling unrelatable stories about their record breaking times and super human feats. Now…don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned some great stuff from those podcasts...But what about those of us that aren’t getting paid to do this?Those of us that are mid to back of the pack runners?And those of us that have never won a damn thing? What was out there for us? Yeah, I couldn’t find it - so I decided to make it! And it just so happens that I’m getting geared up to start training for some races in 2021. So throughout this series, I’ll share what really happens when a typical, non-professional runner takes on the challenge of running an ultra. Got some races planned for this year? Let’s train together.From the emotional & physical ups and downs, to the details of my actual training plan, and the excitement (not to mention nerves
Episodes
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Ep. 352 - A Race Day Pep Talk - From Me To You
This episode is your race day pep talk. Originally written for my clients running the Mamba, I’m sharing it because every runner deserves someone in her corner. We’re talking about letting those pre-race nerves happen, trusting the habits you’ve built, handling the ups and downs, and remembering...
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Ep. 351 - You're Not An Imposter, You Just Haven't Done It YET
Ever looked at a race and thought, “Who am I to think I can do this?” After a follower’s email about a tight race cutoff and imposter syndrome, I started thinking about what we make it mean when a goal feels out of reach. In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between being...
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Ep. 350 - "I Never Want To Get That Comfortable" with Erica Notini
In this episode I'm chatting with one of the top female ultra runners in the Northeast, Erica Notini. In 2025, she was the first place female at Jigger Johnson 100 miler, second at Bubba's Backyard (with 150.5 miles), and second at Southern States 200 with a finishing time of 76:59:52. In 2026…
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Ep. 349 - How Perimenopause Can Affect Your Training & What You Can Do About It.
In this episode, I'm sharing 3 perimenopause symptoms that I've been experiencing for the last 6-12 months and how I've adjust my training as a result. 🏃🏻♀️GET MY FREE 8-WEEK BASE BUILDING TRAINING PLAN 🔥 APPLY FOR MY GROUP COACHING PROGRAM 📈 BOOK A TRAINING PLAN TRIAGE ➡️ CLICK HERE TO JOIN...
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Ep. 348 - Nicky Hamilton Runs Across Iceland 🇮🇸 The Great Norse Run
In this episode I'm chatting with Nicky Hamilton about her recent adventures running 10 days and 209 miles across Iceland in the Great Norse Run. 🏃🏻♀️GET MY FREE 8-WEEK BASE BUILDING TRAINING PLAN 🔥 APPLY FOR MY GROUP COACHING PROGRAM 📈 BOOK A TRAINING PLAN TRIAGE ➡️ CLICK HERE TO JOIN MY...
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Ep. 347 - Be Careful What You Look For, You Just Might Find It!
One hard run and suddenly you’re “not cut out for ultras"??? What about all the runs you’ve completed, the progress you’ve made, and the things you’ve figured out along the way? If you’re looking for reasons you can’t run an ultra, you’ll find them. In this episode, I’m calling bullshit on the...
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Ep. 346 - Behind The Scenes At Office Hours
What does coaching inside the She Runs Ultras membership actually sound like? In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a recent Office Hours call. You’ll hear real members bring up the questions, decisions, and challenges they’re working through and how I help them figure out what…
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Ep. 345 - Advice On Running Your First 50k From Women Who've Done It!
For the final episode in this series, I’m passing the mic(sort of) to several women inside the She Runs Ultras membership who have already made the jump to ultra running. They’re sharing what scared them before their first 50K, what they got wrong, what surprised them, and what they wish they had...
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Ep. 344 - How I'd Coach You Through Your First 50k
In this episode, I’m walking you through the same coaching process I use inside the She Runs Ultras membership. We’ll define your destination, take an honest look at your starting point, identify the biggest constraint standing between you and your goal, and organize your priorities into what to...
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Ep. 343 - Two Unconventional Tips For Choosing Your First 50k
Choosing your first 50K can feel like a catch-22: how do you choose a race that matches your abilities when you’ve never run that distance before? In this episode, I’m sharing two unconventional tips to help you choose a first 50K that gives you a fair opportunity to succeed. We’ll talk about why...
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Ep. 342 - 9 Signs You're Ready To Train For Your First 50k
Are you ready to start training for a 50K or do you still feel like you need to become a stronger, faster, more experienced runner first? In this episode, I’m sharing nine signs that you may be ready to begin training for your first 50K. We’ll talk about the difference between being ready to…
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Ep. 341 - If You Can Run 25k, Then You Can Do 50k!
If you’ve completed a 25K and you’re wondering whether you could ever run a 50K, this episode is for you! In the first episode of my new 25K to 50K series, we’re talking about why a 50K isn’t simply “twice as hard,” the skills you’ve already developed that will transfer to ultrarunning, and the…
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Ep. 340 - OMG It's Happening Everybody Stay Calm!
📣 Big news: I’m hosting my very own ultra in October 2027! In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve decided so far, why I chose a timed race on a looped course, and how this format will help women make the leap into ultras without the pressure of traditional distances and cutoffs. I’ll also be...
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Ep. 339 - The Truth About Social Media That Every Ultra Runner Needs To Hear
What if more than half of the accounts you're seeing online aren't even real? In this episode, I'm talking about a statistic that completely changed the way I think about social media and why every runner should think twice before accepting training advice, motivation, or inspiration from the...
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Ep. 338 - The Banner That *Almost* Started An Argument
What if one of the biggest things holding you back as a runner isn't your fitness... ...it's your thinking? In this episode, I'm sharing a funny story from my small New Hampshire town that turned into a much bigger coaching lesson about tradition, assumptions, and why "we've always done it that...
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Ep. 337 - 10 Things That Make Me Nervous As A Coach
After nearly a decade of coaching ultrarunners, I've started to notice certain patterns that immediately make me pay closer attention. They're not guarantees that something will go wrong...but they are red flags that often lead to injury, burnout, missed goals, or unnecessary frustration if…
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Ep. 336 - Go Before You're Ready
If you are not attempting things before you feel 100% ready, then you're missing out! This week's episode is based around the idea that you need to: "Go Before You Are Ready" in order to accomplish your ultra goals. Waiting until you're confident in your ability will result in you waiting...
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Ep. 335 - Stop Borrowing Other People's Beliefs & Do This Instead!
Ever notice how the people around you have plenty of opinions about your ultra running? In this episode, I'm sharing a simple encounter with a bear in my neighborhood that turned into a powerful coaching lesson about fear, beliefs, and why so many runners unknowingly carry around stories that...
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Ep. 334 - Become A Better Runner With Strength & Mobility featuring Sian Milne of The Movement Cave
This week I'm chatting with my friend, Sian Milne, about strength & mobility for runners. Sian is a former stunt woman for the film industry turned strength & mobility coach, and a runner on top of that! So she knows a thing or two about bodies and how to keep them strong and resilient. The…
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Ep. 333 - There's Always Going To Be Something...
We're officially halfway through the year...so how's your training going? Whether your goal race is just around the corner or still months away, now is the perfect time to pause and check in. In this episode, I'm sharing a simple mindset shift that has completely changed the way I approach ultra...
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Ep. 332 - Hypnosis Night Race Recap
Last weekend, I headed to Arizona to crew and coach a handful of She Runs Ultras athletes at the Hypnosis Night Race - an overnight trail event put on Aravaipa Running. The conditions were brutal: triple-digit temperatures, relentless wind, blowing sand, and miles of technical desert terrain in…
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Ep. 331 - The 10 Training Plan Commandments
In this episode, I'm sharing my 10 Training Plan Commandments. The rules I've learned after years of coaching athletes and watching the same training mistakes show up over and over again. In this episode, we'll cover: Why adding extra workouts can derail your progress What to do when you miss a…
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Ep. 330 - Is Your Environment Holding You Back? Here's What You Can Do About It
Most runners think they need more motivation, discipline, or a better training plan. But what if the bigger factor is the environment you're training in? In this episode, Meghan explores how the people around you, the content you consume, and the systems you've built into your life can either...
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Ep. 329 - 5 Tips If You Think You Need to Run the Full Distance Before Race Day
A lot of runners (especially first-time 50k runners) feel like they need to run the full race distance before race day just to prove they can do it. In this episode, I’m breaking down why I don’t recommend that approach… but also sharing how I’d coach someone through it if they were absolutely…
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Ep. 328 - How To Get Off The Fence About Signing Up For That Race
In this episode, I'm sharing some behind-the-scenes coaching with one of my long term clients and the way that she made the decision about whether or not to enter the Cocodona 250 lottery for 2027. 🏃🏻♀️GET MY FREE 8-WEEK BASE BUILDING TRAINING PLAN 🔥 APPLY FOR MY GROUP COACHING PROGRAM 📈…
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Ep. 327 - Cocodona Made You Sign Up for an Ultra…Now What?
Caught up in the excitement of the coverage and impulsively signed up for an ultra? 😅 You are definitely not alone. In this episode I’m talking about the very real “OH SH*T” moment that can happen after the adrenaline wears off and the reality of training starts to sink in. We’ll walk through 6...
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Ep. 326 - The Hoodie I Didn't Earn...Or Did I?
In this episode, I’m talking about something a lot of runners believe and that is you only “earn” the right to wear race gear if you finish. After my DNF at the Moab 240 in 2025, I couldn’t bring myself to wear the hoodie I bought at the race. It sat in my closet for months because, in my mind, I...
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Ep. 325 - Sleep Deprivation Training: Is That Really a Thing?
With races like the Arizona Monster and Cocodona 250 bringing overnight running into focus, this episode tackles a common question: should you train for sleep deprivation? Short answer: no. Sleep deprivation isn’t a trainable skill. It doesn’t improve performance and it comes with real downsides...
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Ep. 324 - How Would You Train Without The Internet?
What would your training look like if you didn’t have access to social media, Google, podcasts…or even this one? In this episode, we explore what “old school” training might teach you about consistency, confidence, and actually making progress without all the noise. From learning to trust your…
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Ep. 323 - Giving Your Gear A Second Life with Jes Parker From Take 2 Trail
What happens to all the gear you don’t use anymore? In this episode, I’m talking with Jes Parker, founder of Take 2 Trail - a platform built to give trail running gear a second life. We talk about the real cost of this sport, the amount of waste most runners don’t think about, and how rehoming…
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Ep. 322 - How'd We Get Here? A Podcast Episode For When You Crash Out
Ever get to a point in your training where you have so much on your plate that you're not sure you'll be able to continue? Yeah, me too. And that's what we're going to talk about today. Plus - bonus tips on how to cultivate mental toughness for ultra running and I guarantee you - I'm not gonna…
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Ep 321 - "Let's Go Do What We Came Here To Do" with Peggy Ward
In this episode, I'm chatting with Badwater 135 finisher, Peggy Ward. Peggy has an impressive ultra resume including multiple 50 & 100 mile races where she has placed overall or in her age group. One of the most exciting things about Peggy, at least in my opinion, is that she didn't start running...
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Ep. 320 - The Most Toxic Thing You Can Do In Ultra Training
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m too slow… too old… not cut out for this…” — this episode is going to hit close to home. In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most common (and most toxic) patterns I see in runners: negative self-talk that sabotages your training before you…
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Ep. 319 - 7 Unconventional Steps To Successful Ultra Training
When you think about “successful” ultra training…your brain probably goes straight to outcomes. Finishing. PRs. Going farther than you ever have before. But here’s the problem…That’s not where success actually lives. In this episode, I’m breaking down why successful ultra training is…
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Ep. 318 - The Fastest Way To Sabotage Your Training
Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the right things…reading the articles, trying the plans, tweaking your training and yet somehow your progress feels stalled? In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most common ways runners unknowingly sabotage their training especially in the age…
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Ep. 317 - 🧚 You Don’t Need Permission to Run an Ultra… But Here It Is Anyway!!
Somewhere along the way, a lot of women start downplaying their running goals. “It’s just a 50K.” “I mean… there are people running way farther than me.” In this episode, I’m stepping in as the 🧚 Permission Fairy 🧚 and officially giving you permission to want what you want when it comes to...
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Ep. 316 - When Your Body Stops Being Predictable
In this episode, I’m talking honestly about what it feels like when your body stops responding the way it used to and how perimenopause has shifted my experience as both an athlete and a coach. This is not a deep dive into hormone science. Instead, this is a conversation about: Sleep changes…
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Ep. 315 - When Everything Competes for Your Attention...Your Training Pays the Price!
In this episode, I’m sharing a recent conversation with one of my 1:1 clients who’s training for 100 miles. She listed everything she’s juggling — work, family, aging parents, social media, world events, health concerns — and then said: “I just don’t know how I’m going to do it.” And that’s the...
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Ep. 314 - Two Things I'm NOT DOING With My Running This Year
This year, I’m taking a few things off the table when it comes to my running. First: I’m done calling runs “bad.” Hard? Sure. Uncomfortable? Absolutely. But “bad” doesn’t actually tell us anything useful—and it usually creates more noise than clarity. Second: I’m not overreacting to one data…
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Ep. 313 - The Undeniable Connection Between Trauma & Ultra Running with Dr. Alison Roy
In this episode I'm chatting with my friend and licensed psychologist, Dr. Alison Roy. She's been a guest on the show before, way back in 2023 - episode 171. This time around, I wanted to explore the topic of trauma and why she thinks there are so many people in the sport of ultras that have...
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Ep. 312 - The Huron 100 with Medical Director, Meredith Hill
You guys know that one of my main missions is to get more women into the sport of ultras, so when my friend Meredith reached out to me and said: "What do you think about THIS?" I said: "I think you should come on the podcast to talk about it!" And here we are! Meredith is the Medical Director for...
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Ep. 311 - Moab 240 with Caryn Lamphier
In this episode I'm chatting with my friend and fellow ultra runner, Caryn Lamphier. If you remember back in my Moab 240 recap episode, I mention running with a group of people on day / night one...Caryn is one of those people. I wanted to get her perspective on how the race went after we parted...
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Ep. 310 - Growth Is Cringe & I'm Proof!
Every once in a while, I get a message from someone who’s just discovered the podcast and tells me they’re starting from episode one. And every time…I cringe a little. Not because I’m embarrassed (okay, maybe a little). But because that version of me isn’t who I am anymore. In this episode, I…
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Ep 309 - Decisions That Make Or Break An Ultra
We love to talk about grit in ultrarunning. Toughness. Digging deep. Pushing through. But in most cases…you don’t DNF because you’re not tough enough. You DNF because of small decisions made when fatigue, stress, and emotion start running the show. In this episode, I’m pulling lessons from the…
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Ep. 308 - The Stuff No Training Plan Teaches You
In this episode, I’m talking about the part of training that no spreadsheet can prepare you for — the blank space between the lines of your plan where uncertainty, second guessing, and mental load tend to creep in. We’ll dig into: why having a solid training plan is only the starting point what...
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Ep 307 - The Simple Rule That Ends Procrastination (Especially for Runners)
Procrastination isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a timing problem. In this episode, I’m breaking down a simple rule that helps you stop overthinking, stop negotiating with yourself, and start actually doing the things you say you want to do—whether that’s drinking more water, getting more steps,...
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Ep. 306 - Drink the Egg Whites (Metaphorically): Why Weird Training Works for Ultrarunners
I watched a guy at my gym casually drink raw egg whites straight from the carton. No shame. No hesitation. Zero concern for what anyone else thought. Was it gross? Yes. Was it also kind of impressive? Also yes. And weirdly enough… it’s the perfect metaphor for ultra training. In this episode…
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Ep. 305 - Deep Dive Into The Mamba 100 with RD James Boler
In this episode, I'm chatting with Mamba 100 Race Director, James Boler. This is your deep dive into everything you want & need to know before hitting that sign up button. Links to all the websites and groups James mentions in the show are linked below. Join the Mamba Trail Runners Facebook Group...
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Ep. 304 - 💥 You're Invited To Our 2026 Shenanigans
We’re doing something really fun next year and you’re invited! In this episode, I’m spilling the details on the two destination races the She Runs Ultras crew will be tackling together in 2026: the Hypnosis Night Runs in Arizona 🌵 and The Mamba in Tennessee 🐍. These races are all about…
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Ep. 303 - The Simple Way To Sharpen Your Mental Toughness
In this episode, I answer a great question from listener (and She Runs Ultras member) Kierstin: How do you train mental toughness and resiliency when the moments you need it don’t show up until 12+ hours into a race? And how do you practice that in everyday life without recreating 20 hours of…
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About this show
She Runs Ultras is about (yup, you guessed it) running ultras. Lots of other running podcasts out there are full of gear & race reviews and interviews with the experts telling unrelatable stories about their record breaking times and super human feats. Now…don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned some great stuff from those podcasts...But what about those of us that aren’t getting paid to do this?Those of us that are mid to back of the pack runners?And those of us that have never won a damn thing? What was out there for us? Yeah, I couldn’t find it - so I decided to make it! And it just so happens that I’m getting geared up to start training for some races in 2021. So throughout this series, I’ll share what really happens when a typical, non-professional runner takes on the challenge of running an ultra. Got some races planned for this year? Let’s train together.From the emotional & physical ups and downs, to the details of my actual training plan, and the excitement (not to mention nerves
Hosted by
Meghan Gould