Sierra DeGroff returns to Pushing Horizons with a story that goes far beyond race results.

In this episode, Sierra shares her journey through some of ultrarunning's most iconic events, including Western States 100, Badwater 135, Umstead 100, and Denali 135. We discuss the highs of course records and championship performances, the lows of races that didn't go to plan, being dropped by a sponsor, and the process of rebuilding confidence after setbacks.

Sierra opens up about the mental side of ultrarunning, why she keeps returning to difficult races, lessons learned from Badwater, what makes Western States so special, and how resilience is often built during the hardest moments rather than the best ones.

Whether you're training for your first ultra, chasing a personal best, or simply looking for inspiration to keep moving forward, this conversation is packed with lessons about persistence, growth, and believing in yourself when things get tough.

Topics Covered:

✅ Western States 100
✅ Badwater 135
✅ Denali 135
✅ Umstead 100
✅ Ultrarunning Mindset
✅ Mental Toughness
✅ Overcoming Setbacks
✅ Endurance Racing
✅ 100-Mile Racing Strategy
✅ Confidence & Resilience
✅ Training for Ultramarathons
✅ Women's Ultrarunning

Connect with Sierra DeGroff:
Instagram: @sdegroff

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Keywords

Sierra DeGroff, Western States 100, Badwater 135, Denali 135, Umstead 100, ultrarunning podcast, endurance athlete, ultramarathon, trail running, 100 mile race, women in ultrarunning, mental toughness, endurance sports, ultrarunner interview, running podcast, ultramarathon training, ultrarunning mindset, Badwater race, Western States lottery, Denali race, ultra running motivation, endurance mindset, Pushing Horizons Podcast