THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST 234 Miles in 56 Hours – Kim Gottwald’s Unbreakable Mindset & Becoming The Future Of The Last Man Standing Event At Just 21 Years Old
Sep 9, 2025
Kim Gottwald, an ultrarunner and the founder of Rappid Runs, shares his incredible journey pushing 234 miles in a grueling challenge. He discusses his unique strategies for last-man-standing events, the impact of Texas heat on performance, and the importance of gear selection. Kim offers insights on building ultra durability through HYROX training and managing nutrition in challenging conditions. With a focus on faith and discipline, he reveals how connection fuels his ambitious goals for upcoming marathons and ultra races.
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Training At BPN And Bear Ranch Routine
- Kim described training at BPN HQ and staying at Bear Ranch, running the same loop he ran 56 times in May every day.
- He said daytime is fine but nighttime looping brings odd PTSD-like hallucinations and wildlife feels scarier when delirious.
Humidity Outweighs Temperature
- Kim said humidity in Texas is the real limiter, not just temperature, and it raises heart rate dramatically.
- He noted 80–90% humidity makes short runs feel far harder than equivalent distance in Germany.
Use Heat Acclimation Strategically
- Train in heat to improve tolerance because your body learns to thermoregulate and cope with higher heart rates.
- Use sauna and heat-acclimation strategies to blunt the early spike in heart rate during hot sessions.