From Addiction to 200 Milers: Wes Plate on Sobriety, Running Obsession, and Becoming a Mid-Pack Legend
Everyday Ultra
Creating Copper Kings 100
Wes tells the origin: a personal 100-mile route honoring family, testing it with friends, then evolving into a permitted race.
What does it really mean to be an everyday ultra runner?
In this episode of the Everyday Ultra Podcast, I sit down with Wes Plate—ultrarunner, YouTube creator, race director of the Copper Kings 100, and the man behind the name Mid-Pack Elite.
Wes has completed over 60 ultramarathons, including Cocodona 250 all five years, the Triple Crown of 200s, and the Arizona Monster 300 → Cocodona double—a feat only a handful of runners have ever attempted. But what makes Wes truly special isn’t just the miles… it’s the journey behind them.
We dive deep into Wes’s story of overcoming alcohol addiction, how obsession can be both destructive and transformative, and why many ultrarunners are wired the way they are. Wes opens up about identity, self-doubt, validation, and how ultrarunning became a healthier outlet for the same drive that once nearly destroyed his life.
We also talk about:
What it means to be a mid-pack elite
Lessons ultramarathons teach us about life, suffering, and perspective
Why Cocodona fundamentally changed how Wes sees himself
The realities of racing (and directing) 100–300 mile events
Building the Copper Kings 100 from a personal passion project into a sold-out race
Why the middle and back of the pack are the true heartbeat of ultrarunning
What’s next for Wes—including Vol State and stepping back from Cocodona (for now)
This is a powerful, honest conversation about identity, resilience, addiction recovery, community, and purpose—and why ultrarunning is about becoming a better human, not just a faster one.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re chasing something deeper through running… this one’s for you.
SHOW LINKS:
Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.com
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Want to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program? Book a free call here with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!
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Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg
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Wes's links to YouTube, website, social profiles: https://www.wesplate.com/links
About the Copper Kings 100: https://www.onwardendurance.com/copper-kings-100
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