From Walk-On To 12th Place At The Olympics: How Delusional Belief Has Paid Off & Carried Dakotah Popehn To Unimaginable Places & How YOU Can Build That Same Confidence Too!

Olympic marathoner Dakotah Popehn joins the show ahead of her highly-anticipated return to the Boston Marathon this April!

Most recently, Dakotah came in 10th at the 2025 USATF Half Marathon Championships in a very stacked field. The Puma-sponsored distance runner has had a storied career so far, and does not seem primed to be slowing down any time soon.

Dakotah is well-known for her participation in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics; she came in 12th with a time of 2:26.44. Her PR in the distance came in 2023 at the Chicago Marathon when she came in 12th with a time of 2:24.40–a time that places her 13th all-time for women U.S. marathoners. Dakotah also has a 1:08 half under her belt.

Dakotah's journey began at St. Francis High School in Minnesota, where she ran cross country and track, while also serving as the goaltender on the girls hockey team. 

She continued her running career at Northern State University in South Dakota, where she was originally a walk-on, but ended up flourishing, coming in sixth in the 10k at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Champs.

Dakotah's unheralded rise through the ranks has continued in her professional career: she has won Grandma's Marathon in Minnesota twice and the Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon in Minnesota three times.

In today's conversation, Dakotah gives me extensive insights on confidence, delusional belief, how to push through hard days, running 130-mile weeks, her walk-on to the Olympics story, and so much more. 

Guys, this may take the cake for my favorite episode this year. It was full of good energy and deep insights. Do not miss it & share it with a friend!

Tap into the Dakotah Popehn Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. 

Comment the word "PODCAST" below and I'll DM you a link to listen. 

If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend!

S H O W  N O T E S

-BUY MERCH BEFORE IT'S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run

-Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run 

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-Take our podcast survey: https://tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz