What happens when a simple magazine assignment turns into a lifelong obsession?
This week, we dive into the raw, unexpected journey of one of Britain’s most respected ultrarunners, a man who didn’t start racing until his mid-30s and still climbed his way into the world’s biggest stages.

From discovering running by chance, to taking on 200-mile races, breaking iconic FKTs, and finishing top-10 at UTMB, this is the story of someone who proved that age, timing, and background don’t define your ceiling. Consistency does. Curiosity does. The willingness to keep showing up does.

In this episode, we cover:
✓ How he found ultrarunning at 36
✓ The obsession that pushed him through 268-mile races
✓ Breaking FKTs across the UK
✓ What it takes to race UTMB against the best on Earth
✓ Mental toughness, purpose, and the mindset shifts that changed everything

A grounded, honest look at how far you can go when you stop limiting yourself.

Keywords:
ultrarunning, UTMB, Damian Hall, FKT, trail running, ultra marathon podcast, running mindset, mountain running, endurance athlete, UK ultrarunner, The Spine Race, 200 mile races, adventure running, consistency, motivation, Pushing Horizons podcast

From running a sub-3 marathon to covering 115+ miles in a Backyard Ultra, today’s guest embodies endurance in every form. She brings a raw, honest look at what it takes to perform at both ends of the spectrum, from the fast, structured world of marathons to the mentally brutal loops of the ultra scene.

We talk about pacing, fuelling, and mindset across distances, what keeps her grounded when the miles pile up, and how the marathon precision shaped her ultra resilience. Whether you’re chasing a new PR or trying to push past your limits, this episode will remind you why endurance isn’t just physical, it’s deeply human.

Keywords: marathon training, backyard ultra, ultra running, endurance mindset, marathon runner, sub 3 marathon, women in ultrarunning, mental toughness, long distance running, pushing limits, ultramarathon stories, running podcast, Pushing Horizons

When 61-year-old mother of five, Ann Ongena, crossed the Hardrock 100 finish line after 47 hours and 53 minutes, she wasn’t just finishing a race, she was redefining what endurance means.

In this conversation, we dive deep into her decade-long pursuit of Hardrock, the mental battles that come with pushing through exhaustion, and what keeps her chasing difficult things when most people would stop.

This isn’t about being the fastest, it’s about refusing to quit.
A story of grit, patience, and relentless willpower from a woman who proves that real endurance goes far beyond the finish line.

🎙️ Pushing Horizons: Step by Step: stories from runners, dreamers, and relentless minds redefining the limits of human endurance.

Keywords:
endurance, ultrarunning, hardrock 100, ann ongena, mental toughness, trail running, ultramarathon, running inspiration, older athletes, strong women, mindset, resilience, long-distance running, ultra endurance, motivation, never too late, final finisher, pushing horizons podcast, running stories, grit, determination, runners over 50

How do you win a 250-mile ultra, not once, but four times?

This episode dives into the brutal world of multi-day ultras like the Thames Ring 250 and the Tunnel 200. We break down what it really takes to run for days: the strategy, the fueling, the hallucinations, and the mindset that turns exhaustion into precision.

We talk about discipline over drama, control over chaoas, and what happens when the human body keeps going long after logic says stop.

Keywords: ultra running podcast, Thames Ring 250, 250 mile race, ultra endurance, running mindset, sleep deprivation, Tunnel 200, multi-day ultra, mental toughness, pushing limits, Pushing Horizons podcast

In this episode, we dive into the brutal honesty of ultrarunning, where pain isn’t the enemy, it’s the teacher. Milton, a full-time UPS driver and single dad, talks about balancing 60-mile training weeks, running through exhaustion, and finding strength when the body gives up. From his first 100-miler to lessons on patience, resilience, and self-discovery, this conversation isn’t about finish lines, it’s about mindset.

If you’ve ever wondered what keeps a runner moving when everything hurts, this one’s for you.

Keywords: ultrarunning, endurance, mindset, motivation, ultra marathon, 100 miles, mental toughness, running podcast, Pushing Horizons, long-distance running, running motivation, ultra runner, trail running, growth mindset, single parent, running community, training, recovery, ultra life

What does it take to run for days, literally?
Seven-time world champion and multiple world record holder, she’s conquered the toughest multi-day formats in the sport: 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, and even six-day races. From Badwater 135 to GOMU World Championships, her story is a masterclass in endurance, discipline, and pure willpower.

In this episode, we dive deep into:
✅ The mindset behind breaking world records✅ The difference between physical pain and mental fatigue✅ Ketones, sleep deprivation, and performance science✅ The truth about Badwater and multi-day racing✅ Finding purpose and potential after age 45

A conversation about grit, obsession, and pushing the boundaries of what the human body, and mind can endure.

Keywords: ultra running podcast, multi-day ultra marathon, Badwater 135, endurance mindset, world record ultra runner, GOMU world champion, ultra running motivation, long distance running, women in endurance sports, ultra marathon training

#pushinghorizons #pushinghorizonsstepbystep #pushinghorizonspodcast #runningpodcast

Every runner has a reason. Some chase goals. Some chase peace. Some just chase that quiet feeling of being alive.

In this episode, I sit down with two of my closest running friends, one a 700-day streak runner and marathoner, the other an ultra runner, mom, and all-around endurance powerhouse. We talk about what keeps us lacing up when life gets busy, messy, or uncertain.

It’s honest, unfiltered, and full of laughter, a reminder that running isn’t just about miles or medals, it’s about connection, purpose, and showing up for yourself again and again.

🎧 A new monthly series where three friends talk about running, life, and the weird stuff in between.

#PushingHorizons #RunningPodcast #PushingHorizonsStepByStep #PodcastForRunners

Badwater 135 Champion. Spartathlon podium finisher. 243 km in 24 hours. Sub-14 hour 100-miler.

This is the story of an athlete who proves that discipline beats talent, and mindset outlasts age.

In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to compete at the world’s toughest road ultras, from training in the cold mornings of Norway to surviving the heat of Death Valley.

It’s about grit, mental strength, and staying hungry when most would give up.

🎙️ Topics:

✅ Mindset over motivation

✅ Competing at 50+ against elites

✅ Training, recovery, and fueling

✅ Lessons from Badwater & Spartathlon

If you ever doubted your own limits, listen to this.

#ultrarunning #pushinghorizons #endurance #badwater135 #spartathlon #pushinghorizonsstepbystep #pushinghorizonspodcast #runningpodcast #roadultras

A straight-talk conversation about the real ultra mindset: Lakeland 50 lessons, PB’ing a 50-miler on a DNF day, rebuilding from a knee injury back to a 5K, and planning the long road to ultras again. We cover tired-leg strides, breaking races into micro-goals, practical fueling (90g/hr done right), strength work that prevents breakdowns, and calling BS on influencer noise (ice baths/salt pills for every 5K? nah).

If you’re couch-to-5K, couch-to-50K, or stuck in rehab limbo, this one’s for you: forward is progress, community over ego, and a checklist that keeps you moving when the wheels come off “Am I dead? No.”

Keywords: ultra running, lakeland 50, glasgow to edinburgh ultra, dnf mindset, injury rehab, couch to 50k, 5k rebuild, fueling strategy, strides on tired legs, strength training for runners, trail running, marathon vs ultra mindset

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, we dive deep into the mindset behind elite trail running, the grit, the setbacks, and the relentless pursuit of growth. From climbing through pain to finding purpose in the low moments, this conversation explores what it truly takes to endure and excel in the mountains.

Hannah Osowski (Allgood) shares her journey from local races to international trails, her lessons from big wins and tough DNFs, and how she keeps showing up stronger each time.

If you’re chasing long miles, chasing meaning, or just want to understand what makes ultrarunners tick — this one’s for you.

Keywords: ultra running, trail running, endurance mindset, elite runners, mountain running, Pushing Horizons podcast, ultramarathon, mental strength, racing resilience, grit and growth, Hannah Allgood

What happens when your body forces you to stop?
After being diagnosed with viral myocarditis, Neena, an exercise physiologist, marathon runner, and coach, faced the toughest challenge of her life — learning to trust her heart again.

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, Ash dives into Neena’s journey of recovery, resilience, and rediscovering the joy of running. From hospital visits to her comeback miles, she opens up about the physical and emotional toll of heart inflammation, rebuilding confidence, and finding purpose beyond performance.

You’ll hear real talk about:
✅ Returning to running after myocarditis
✅ Marathon training and pacing post-illness
✅ Exercise physiology insights for injury recovery
✅ Mental resilience, body awareness, and self-compassion
✅ Running for joy, not just for PRs

This isn’t about medals, it’s about courage, patience, and what it means to truly start over.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

#pushinghorizons #pushinghorizonsstepbystep #pushinghorizonspodcast #runningpodcast #podcastforrunners #runningmotivation #comebackstory #marathontraining #viralmyocarditis #mentalstrength #runnersofinstagram #runforjoy #resilience #exercisephysiology #recoveryjourney

Katie Asmuth is more than an elite ultrarunner. She’s a mom of two, a nurse practitioner, and one of the toughest competitors in the sport. From multiple top-10 finishes at Western States to her gritty run at Leadville, Katie knows what it takes to balance family, medicine, and professional racing.

In this episode, we talk about:

✅ Lessons from Western States and Leadville 100

✅ The mental shift from chasing splits to chasing joy

✅ Balancing motherhood, medicine, and mountain miles

✅ Fueling, problem-solving, and reframing when the race gets hard

✅ Why grit and joy aren’t opposites—they’re the long game

If you’re chasing your first ultra, struggling with burnout, or just want to hear real talk from one of trail running’s most authentic voices, this one’s for you.

Keywords: Katie Asmuth, Western States 100, Leadville 100, ultrarunning, trail running podcast, elite ultrarunner, HOKA athlete, ultramarathon mindset, running joy, endurance sports

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Steps by Steps, we dive into DNFs, comebacks, and the world of running tours with a runner who’s been shaping her community for over two decades. From faking asthma attacks in high school to finishing a 100-mile course she designed herself, her journey is anything but ordinary.

We talk about the sting of DNFs, the grit it takes to come back from stress fractures, why the 50K is the perfect racing distance, and how urban exploration on foot can be just as transformative as trail running. With nearly 30 ultras since 2020, records at Miami’s Ride the Wave 50K, and years as a running tour guide, her story is equal parts resilience and inspiration.

If you’ve ever questioned why you run, how to handle setbacks, or what it means to stay in love with the sport for the long haul, this conversation will hit home.

Keywords: Ultra running, DNFs, comebacks, 100-mile race, 50K distance, urban running, trail running, running tours, Miami Ride the Wave 50K, Tampa running community, endurance mindset.

In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, host Ashish Pant sits down with ultrarunner Killian Korth to explore what it truly means to embrace the process over the outcome. From DNFs in past years to chasing down Michael McKnight’s 2019 record, Killian’s story is a reminder that failure is not final, it’s fuel.

We dive into the ultra mindset, how to turn setbacks into stepping stones, and why saying yes to the hard moments matters. Whether you’re a runner, endurance athlete, or simply navigating life’s challenges, Killian’s journey offers lessons on resilience, patience, and growth.

🔑 Keywords: ultrarunning, Killian Korth, Pushing Horizons podcast, ultra mindset, DNF recovery, mental strength, Michael McKnight record, endurance running, process over outcome, running motiva

Chris Minto didn’t grow up a runner, he built himself into one. At 46, overweight and embarrassed to even jog in public, he started with daily walks alongside his son. Four years later, he’s a 3:35 marathoner, chasing Boston, and preparing for a 50-mile run on his 50th birthday.

In this episode, Chris shares how brick by brick, with patience and persistence, he transformed his life. We dive into the mental battles of starting late, the power of consistency, and how his journey inspired his wife, son, friends, and coworkers to lace up too.

This is proof: it’s never too late to start, never too late to change, and never too late to inspire.

Keywords:

• building a runner

• running transformation story

• marathon training journey

• starting running late in life

• 50 mile ultra training

• weight loss running story

• marathon PB improvement

• Boston qualifier goal

• pushing horizons podcast

• running inspiration stories

From the farms of Zimbabwe to the biggest stages in ultra running, Emily Hawgood has built her career on one simple habit: saying yes to opportunities. In this episode of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, we dive into Emily’s journey, her early days running with her family, her transition to the U.S., and the mindset that’s carried her to multiple Western States top-10 finishes, UTMB starts, and course-record wins.

Emily opens up about presence on the start line, the importance of community, faith, and the lessons the mountains have taught her. We talk about fear, resilience, process goals vs. podium goals, and what it really takes to thrive at the highest level of the sport.

If you’re an athlete chasing your own limits, or simply looking for inspiration from one of the most grounded and joyful voices in the ultra community, this conversation is for you.

Keywords: ultra running, Emily Hawgood, Western States 100, UTMB, ultra marathon, trail running, endurance mindset, pushing limits, Zimbabwe runners, women in endurance sports, elite ultrarunner, community in running

She made history as the first Mexican and first Latina to conquer the world’s five toughest deserts: 1,250km across Namibia, Gobi, Jordan, Antarctica, and Atacama. Each race was a six-day, self-supported suffer fest with brutal heat, altitude, and isolation. Just four weeks later, she stood on the start line of Cocodona 250, one of the hardest ultramarathons in the U.S.In this episode, we dig into what it really takes: the mental toolkit that carries you through when the body is wrecked, the strategies for fueling and hydration under extreme conditions, how she handled sleep deprivation and hallucinations, and why she believes women are built for endurance. We talk setbacks, like the melted shoe that forced a DNF at Cocodona, and what it means to come back stronger with a plan to finish sub-100 hours.This is raw, unfiltered ultra running, proving that women can do hard things, and showing what happens when you chase adventure beyond your comfort zone.Keywords: ultra running, endurance athlete, Cocodona 250, desert racing, women in ultra, mental toughness, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, fueling strategy, proving women can do hard things#ultrarunning

Seven months ago, Pushing Horizons: Step by Step was just a dream. Now, with Season 1 in the books, I look back at the conversations that carried me through my own ultra race.

From Lucy Bartholomew on burnout and resilience, Harvey Lewis on chasing longevity, Megan Eckert on pushing past limits, Eszter Csillag proving it’s never too late, Jessie reminding me that quitting is forever, and Peter Mortimer showing that late starts can still lead to big dreams, every elite taught me something I carried on race day.

But it wasn’t just the legends. Everyday warriors like Dante Dugan, Cody, Lindsey, Harry, Shelby, Jenni, Elesa, Kevin, Angus, Bobby, Milton, Val, James, Bo, Erin, and so many more proved that grit, community, and persistence are what truly push us forward.

This finale isn’t just a recap, it’s my ultra race, told through the voices of Season 1.

Keywords: ultrarunning podcast, running stories, marathon training, ultramarathon motivation, running community, elite runners, ultra journey, backyard ultra, Harvey Lewis, Lucy Bartholomew, Eszter Csillag

What does it take to keep moving when your body is broken, your mind is screaming to quit, and the trail still stretches on for hundreds of miles?

In this episode, we dive deep into the brutal world of ultra-running with one of the sport’s toughest competitors. From the Arizona Monster 300 to the Barkley Fall Classic and Moab 240, today’s guest is chasing the hardest races on the planet, not for comfort, but for growth.

We talk about the lessons of suffering, the discipline of Optimized Fat Metabolism (OFM) fueling, the mental game required to endure, and what it really means to choose hard things in a world that’s built for convenience.

If you’ve ever wondered how far the human spirit can go, this conversation will light a fire under you.

Keywords: ultra running, ultramarathon, trail running, ultra endurance, Bigfoot 200, Barkley Fall Classic, Moab 240, Arizona Monster 300, Peter Mortimer podcast, Pushing Horizons podcast, mental toughness, fat adapted fueling, OFM diet, endurance athlete, running mindset, suffer better.

What does it take to turn personal pain into purpose? In this episode of Pushing Horizons, we sit down with an athlete who wasn’t prepared for the Ironman or ultras, but chose to do them anyway, and in the process discovered what’s possible when you go all in. His story is one of resilience, community, and finding strength where most would quit.

Through raw honesty, passion, and an unstoppable mindset, he shares how endurance sports became more than just races, they became a way to raise money, help others, and honor a deeper purpose.

If you’ve ever doubted what you’re capable of, this conversation will light a fire in you.

Keywords: Ironman, ultramarathon, endurance athlete, running podcast, triathlon training, mindset, purpose, motivation, pushing limits, sub-11 Ironman, ultra running, resilience, mental toughness, endurance mindset.