Rachel Entrekin: Why Not Me? - Part 1

Imagine lining up for a brutal 250+ mile journey through the rugged Arizona wilderness - climbing thousands of feet, battling heat, cold, hallucinations, sleep deprivation, and complete physical exhaustion - not just hoping to survive, but planning to change the sport forever. That's exactly what Rachel Entrekin did at the 2026 Cocodona 250.

She didn't just win. She dominated.

Entrekin became the first woman in race history to win the overall title at Cocodona 250, crushing the course record in an astonishing 56 hours, 9 minutes, and 48 seconds. And perhaps most incredible of all? She wanted to challenge 60 hours and obliterated that goal. Not just with fearless talk - but with one of the greatest performances ultrarunning has ever seen.

This isn't a story about overnight success or effortless talent. It's a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, smart preparation, community, and that relentless inner voice that whispers: Why not me? Rachel reminds us what it looks like to squeeze every last drop of juice out of life's orange - to live fully, push boundaries, and inspire everyone around us to believe bigger.

From Alabama Roads to Ultra Legend

Born June 17, 1991, in Madison, Alabama, Rachel didn't grow up looking like a future endurance icon. She has spoken openly about being overweight as a child in the hot, humid Southeast, avoiding sports because she didn't feel "good enough" to belong there. That self-doubt eventually spiraled into a severe eating disorder during her teens. She restricted food to dangerous levels and required inpatient rehabilitation twice. It was a deeply painful battle for control, identity, and self-worth.

Then running entered her life - and slowly became her lifeline. While earning her degree in exercise science and later a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, she ran her first half marathon in 2010 and her first marathon in 2011. One race turned into another. Then another. Then ultramarathons. As Rachel once joked, "I figured out I was pretty good at the races and just gradually increased the mileage and soon made the descent into insanity."

But ultrarunning became far more than competition. It helped save her life. Running gave her structure. Joy. Community. A healthier relationship with her body. It transformed movement from punishment into empowerment. Then came the mountains.

After moving to Washington State in 2016, Rachel discovered trail and mountain running at another level entirely. She began stacking Fastest Known Times across iconic routes, including Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail, and eventually accumulated 15 FKTs across the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and beyond. At the same time, she balanced life as a physical therapist - eventually directing oncology rehabilitation programs - while continuing to chase massive endurance goals.

No shortcuts. No overnight sponsorship explosion. No glamorous fast track. Just consistency. Curiosity. Humility. And relentless work.

Now based in Colorado and sponsored by Norda and Precision Fuel & Hydration, she’s become one of the most respected ultrarunners in the world without losing the joy and humanity that made people root for her in the first place.

The Battles Behind the Breakthrough

What makes Rachel's story resonate so deeply is that her greatest victories weren’t forged in comfort. They came through struggle. Even after becoming one of the sport’s elite athletes, she has continued to battle imposter syndrome and moments of doubt. During Cocodona 2026, around mile 50, those thoughts crept in again: Am I being foolish? Am I going too hard? Will I blow up?

Her answer became her mantra: "Why not me? Why not now? Why not try?" That mindset carried her through more than just races. She dealt with financial limitations while balancing full-time work and elite competition. Early in her ultrarunning career, sponsorship support was limited enough that she used GoFundMe campaigns to help chase race opportunities. And like every ultrarunner, she learned through painful mistakes - fueling disasters, chafing catastrophes, sleep deprivation, blown races, and countless hard-earned lessons. But Rachel kept showing up. Refining. Learning. Adapting. Turning pain into power.

Come back tomorrow for Part 2 of this story!