By a Mile: The Ultramarathon Runner Who Shattered the Record

In early May, Rachel Entrekin, a 34-year-old ultramarathon runner, broke the world record on one of the hardest courses in the world, the Cocodona 250. She ran for over 2 and a half days and beat the next man by over an hour. She took many steps to achieve this record, such as a constant source of food during the race, a strong attitude, and limited rest.

The Cocodona 250, spanning 250 miles, covers difficult running areas like mountains, with a total climb of 38,000 feet of elevation gain throughout the run. She had to run through the mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona, while fighting for breath at the low-oxygen altitudes.

To fuel her impressive pace, Entrekin stuck to a diet of mashed potatoes, which were good for the race because “You get tired of chewing,” she said in an interview with the BBC. She also only slept for a total of less than 19 minutes, split up into 3 small naps, each under 7 minutes. These adjustments helped her stay on this impressive pace.

Entrekin believes that a runner’s attitude is just as important as how fast they can run, as it helps keep them running during tough situations. According to USA Today, she follows the mantra “Why not me?” She believes this helped her maintain her runner’s attitude throughout the course.

Even after that challenging run, Entrekin isn’t taking a big rest, either. She heads next to France to run in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in August.