Origins: How Running Began

Rachel Entrekin - American elite ultramarathon runner and physical therapist known for her remarkable performances in some of the world’s toughest long-distance trail races. 

Rachel joins the Keep Hammering Collective to talk about her path from a full-time job to life as a full-time athlete, balancing sponsorships, science, and the grit of mountain running. She opens up about overcoming an eating disorder, finding strength through lifting, embracing imperfections, and building a “bulletproof” life - on and off the trails. From Hardrock dreams and Courtney Dauwalter inspiration to pain caves, haters, and why speedwork is still the worst, this episode is honest, motivating, and unapologetically real.

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Follow Rachel:

https://www.instagram.com/rachel__entrekin/ 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Full Time Job to Full Time Athlete

00:07:14 – Rachel’s Sponsorships

00:15:10 – Dirtbag Runner with a Doctorate Degree

00:22:48 – Eating Disorder, Rehab, and Finding a Love for Mountain Running

00:36:29 – Learning How to Shoot a Bow & the Appreciation of Helping Others

00:48:17 – Spike Camp & Encouragement from Rachel

00:55:23 – Elevation & Gain in Running and Making an Impact

01:00:27 – A Mental Block with Lifting & Creating a Bullet Proof Life with Strength

01:04:18 – Who Inspires Rachel: Courtney Dauwalter

01:11:27 – People That Don’t Believe in You - Haters

01:17:51 – Goals for 2026

01:26:52 – Upcoming Opportunities

01:30:24 – Personalities in Running and the Inspiration of Imperfections

01:38:19 – Podcast Experiences and Learning from Others

01:43:08 – F**k, Marry, Kill: Hardrock, Western States, UTMB

01:44:19 – Is a 50k an Ultra Race?

01:46:50 – Rachel’s “Pain Cave” or “Filing” Cabinet” When Things Get Hard

01:50:01 – Who Rachel Would Switch Minds with During a Race

01:51:40 – Always Excited to Run … Unless it’s Speedwork

01:53:29 – The Power of Everything Going Wrong

01:57:54 – Final Thoughts and New Bow

Thank you to our sponsors:

https://cameronhanes.com/pages/sponsors