Elite trail runner Caitlin Fielder joins Pushing Horizons to share her journey from marine science student and artist to competing against the best trail runners in the world.

We talk about starting running later than most elite athletes, recovering from major hip surgery, finding success at races like OCC, Tarawera, Zegama, and Western States, and why patience has become one of her greatest strengths.

Caitlin also opens up about racing through adversity, balancing life as a professional athlete, handling expectations, and why success means more than podium finishes.

Whether you're training for your first ultra or chasing your biggest running goals, this conversation is packed with insights about resilience, perspective, and running with purpose.

Topics Covered

• Starting trail running later in life
• Hip surgery and injury recovery
• Western States 100 experience
• UTMB OCC and international racing
• Tarawera Ultramarathon
• Zegama Marathon
• Elite athlete mindset
• Training and recovery
• Patience and long-term development
• Success beyond results
• Running and creativity
• Professional trail running

Keywords

Caitlin Fielder, trail running, ultrarunning, ultra marathon, Western States 100, Western States Endurance Run, UTMB, OCC, Tarawera Ultramarathon, Zegama Marathon, elite trail runner, women in ultrarunning, ultramarathon podcast, endurance sports, trail running motivation, injury recovery, running mindset, mountain running, ultrarunner interview, New Zealand trail runner, Pushing Horizons podcast, running with purpose, trail runner, endurance athlete