Choose Strong #126 | Running Back to Life | Rachel Entrekin on Recovery, Resilience, and Redemption
Dec 17, 2025
Rachel Entrekin, an elite ultrarunner and physical therapist, shares her inspiring journey from battling identity struggles and an eating disorder to finding solace in ultrarunning. She discusses how running saved her life, the importance of nutrition in her performance, and her transition from road to trail running. Balancing a full-time career with intense training, Rachel also reveals her plans for upcoming races in 2026 and her passion for empowering local women through writing and community work.
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Turning Point: Rehab & Intervention
- Rachel recounts developing an eating disorder her senior year and needing inpatient rehab twice.
- She credits friends and an intervention for getting her into treatment and starting recovery.
Fueling Transforms Ultra Performance
- Rachel links proper fueling to dramatic race improvement and avoiding bonking.
- She credits nutrition work for shaving nearly ten hours off a prior performance.
Fuel Enough During Events
- Fuel adequately during ultras; Rachel under‑fueled early and fixed it with a nutritionist to improve performance.
- Prioritize calories and electrolytes to sustain long, high‑intensity efforts.