The Record-Breaking Ultrarunner that Beat the Men by Having Fun

Rich Roll

Jun 15, 2026

Episode description

Rachel Entrekin is a professional ultra runner and three-time Cocodona 250 champion who just won the race outright, beating everyone in the field on 19 minutes of sleep. We discuss her "why not me?" mindset, chasing joy over outcomes, the only things we truly control, and more. READ MORE👉🏼http://bit.ly/richroll994
✌🏼🌱 – Rich

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00:00:00 Start
00:01:30 Learning From Mistakes
00:04:37 Fueling Through Nausea
00:05:29 Going Viral
00:08:15 Why Multi Day Races
00:10:12 Choosing Fun
00:11:46 Joy Drives Performance
00:13:52 A Year of Setbacks
00:15:52 Process Over Outcome
00:16:47 Why Not Me
00:19:24 AD BREAK 1
00:21:28 Beyond Expectations
00:25:48 What We Control
00:27:50 Sleep Deprivation Strategy
00:32:42 Hopi Woman's Blessing
00:38:22 AD BREAK 2
00:41:34 An Unlikely Runner
00:43:30 Anorexia and Recovery
00:46:58 Healthy Relationship With Running
00:53:53 Running Into Nature
00:57:39 A Spiritual Odyssey
01:01:36 The Value of Discomfort
01:02:32 What's Next: UTMB

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Thanks To The Team: Jason Camiolo, Dan Drake, Morgan McRae, Blake Curtis, Desmond Loh

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Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
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Mindsip insights from this episode:

Embrace challenges to cultivate gratitude and positivity

She views the toughest moments in a race as a welcome opportunity to practice being the grateful, positive person she wants to be in all aspects of life.

#gratitude

#positivity

Apply 20-minute rule to assess negative physical sensations

Before reacting to a negative physical sensation like sleepiness, she applies a 20-minute rule to determine if it's a real issue that needs a plan or just a passing feeling.

#mindfulness

#routine

Incorporate beige foods to prevent vomiting during endurance events

To prevent vomiting and palate fatigue from overly sweet sports nutrition during endurance events, incorporate bland, savory 'beige' foods.

#endurance

#nutrition

Utilize five-minute reboot naps to enhance endurance during races

For sleep during multi-day races, she avoids planned stops and instead takes five-minute 'reboot' naps on the trail only when she is literally falling asleep while running.

#endurance

#sleep

Prioritize attitude and nutrition for race performance improvement

Focusing on having a better attitude and dialing in nutrition, rather than time or placement goals, led to a seven-hour improvement in her 250-mile race time.

#motivation

#nutrition

Delegate fueling decisions to enhance race performance

She delegates all nutrition and hydration decisions to a sports scientist from Precision Fueling and Hydration during the race, allowing her to focus only on execution.

#hydration

#nutrition

Embrace multi-day races for personality and enjoyment

Contrary to popular belief, she argues that longer, multi-day races provide a better stage for athletes to show their personality and have fun than shorter, faster 100-mile races.

#endurance

Embrace delusional self-belief to achieve the impossible

To accomplish something that has never been done before, you need a level of 'delusional self-belief' to pursue a goal that logic or past data might suggest is impossible.