Rachel Entrekin: Why Not Me? - Part 2

If you have not yet read yesterday's blog post, please read it before continuing here.

Cocodona 250: From Champion to History-Maker

The Cocodona 250 is one of the toughest ultramarathons on earth - roughly 254 miles from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona, across punishing terrain and massive elevation changes. Rachel didn't just conquer it. She made it hers. In 2024, she won the women's division in her first attempt. In 2025, she won again, set the women's course record, and finished 4th overall. Earlier this year, she took the outright overall victory and obliterated the course record in 56:09:48.

And this wasn't some cautious underdog performance. Rachel openly said she came into the race with massive goals:

• Push women closer to a 60-hour finish
  
• Put a woman in the overall top three
  
• Get three women into the top ten overall
  
• Compete with - and beat - the entire field

She accomplished all of it. Three women finished in the top ten. Rachel won outright. And the old assumptions about what women could do in ultrarunning took a direct hit. It felt less like a race result and more like a paradigm shift.

By the final climb up Mount Elden, Rachel described experiencing a profound spiritual moment - something that felt almost like a blessing carrying her to the finish line. She later called it one of the best days of her life.

The Secret Sauce: Fueling, Belief, and Tiny Dirt Naps

Rachel's performance wasn't magic. It was execution. Years of learning exactly how to keep moving when most humans physically and mentally unravel. Her fueling strategy became a game-changer:

• Roughly 60 grams of carbohydrates per hour
  
• Electrolytes dialed in carefully
  
• Real food deep into the race: ramen, mashed potatoes, rice, broth, chews, gels

She also adapted intelligently as fatigue built. Less chewing. Easier digestion. More efficiency. And sleep? Almost nonexistent. She took only about 19 minutes total across the entire race, using a few tiny "dirt naps" to reset before continuing to hammer forward. At one point she was reportedly dozing while still moving.

Yet through all of it, she stayed remarkably grounded and joyful. She chatted with runners. Thanked volunteers. Stopped to pet dogs. Embraced the community instead of disappearing into pure competition mode. That balance - the savage competitor mixed with deep humanity - is part of what makes her story so magnetic.

Training Without Losing the Joy

Rachel's philosophy is refreshingly sustainable for someone operating at the highest level. Her training often centers around:

• A strong weekly mileage base
  
• Speed sessions with local running groups
  
• Back to back long run efforts that simulate 200+ mile fatigue
  
• Strength training and mobility work
  
• Listening carefully to her body
  
• Prioritizing sleep before major races

As a physical therapist and someone who has battled burnout and disordered relationships with exercise, she understands the danger of chasing achievement at the expense of health. Her approach isn't about self-destruction. It's about longevity. Joy. And building a life as strong as the athlete.

Why Rachel's Story Hits So Deep

Rachel Entrekin isn't inspiring because she's superhuman. She's inspiring because she's profoundly human. She knows self-doubt. She knows fear. She knows what it feels like to struggle with identity, body image, money, belonging, and belief. And she kept going anyway. That's the real lesson. Not just that she won a 250-mile race. But that she transformed pain into purpose. Brick by brick. Mile by mile. Choice by choice.

Her story reminds us that greatness rarely arrives all at once. It's built quietly - in early mornings, hard recoveries, failed attempts, tiny improvements, and stubborn belief. Whether you're chasing a 5K PR, rebuilding your life, fighting through your own darkness, or simply trying to become more fully alive, Rachel's story leaves you with the same challenge she gave herself: Why not me? Why not now? Why not try? The orange still has so much juice left. And Rachel Entrekin is squeezing every last drop from it.

Run on, friends. She's just getting started.