Lauren Gregory never set out to become an ultra runner. Her first ultra was supposed to be a one-off fundraiser — and the second day left her feeling utterly broken. Nearly 11 years later, she estimates she has completed 40 or 50 ultras and is still curious about one question: what are our limits, really?

In Season 1, Episode 4 of the Chase Your Extraordinary Podcast, Chloe Mistry speaks with Lauren — ultra runner, personal trainer, speaker, mum of two and founder of the Run Like a Girl community.

Lauren shares how running changed meaning after becoming a mother, giving her headspace and calm, and how that experience helped inspire a non-judgemental, inclusive running community where women of any ability could feel safe turning up. What began with 23 women grew to 300 runners by the following spring and has since involved thousands of women.

The conversation moves from community and confidence into Lauren's own appetite for endurance: multi-stage ultras, the Namib Desert, mountain races and the strange attraction of reaching the horrible miles, rebuilding and coming back stronger.

Lauren also talks candidly about the physical reality of ultra running, why mindset deserves far more attention in endurance training, and preparing for the Beyond the Ultimate Ice Ultra in the Arctic Circle — 230 km over five days, with the cold firmly established as her nemesis.

This is an episode about community, vulnerability, perceived limitations, discomfort and discovering what might be possible when you're willing to explore beyond the limits you think you know.

Follow the Chase Your Extraordinary Podcast for more honest conversations about movement, mindset, adventure and everything that happens in the messy middle.

Hosted by Chloe Mistry.

• Website: LaurenGregoryPT.com
• Instagram: @laurengregory_pt
• Run Like a Girl: runlikeagirl.org.uk
• Instagram: @runlikeagirl_leam

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