The Runna Podcast Meet Runna’s Newest Coach: Kayla Jeter
Dec 5, 2025
Kayla Jeter, a sports psychologist and ultramarathoner, shares her inspiring journey from Division I volleyball to running. After overcoming an ACL injury and personal loss, she founded the 100 Miles of Summer movement, now uniting over 260,000 participants. Kayla discusses the importance of community in running, her '1% better every day' philosophy, and how sports psychology tools can empower athletes. She emphasizes representation in endurance sports and the joy of running beyond just competition.
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Rebuilding Athletic Identity After ACL
- Kayla rebuilt her athletic identity after tearing her ACL in senior year and working back to play professionally in Finland.
- She learned her doing doesn't define her being and found ways to stay involved with the team during rehab.
How 100 Miles Of Summer Began
- Kayla started 100 Miles of Summer to explore Chicago on foot and it began with 12 people aiming to run 100 miles across four months.
- The challenge scaled massively during the pandemic and reached hundreds of thousands of participants via Strava.
Representation Changes Who Sees The Sport
- Representation matters: seeing people who look like you makes endurance sports feel accessible and normal.
- Kayla uses visibility to invite others into running and normalize diverse bodies in the sport.