Courtney Dauwalter’s “passions lie in exploring with my feet and seeing what's possible when our brains and bodies are working together, and in hanging out with the people that I love.” Her brain and body work together in amazing ways.

Since she was on Running for Real, her accomplishments have included winning the 2018 Western States Endurance Run (100 miles); finishing second overall and setting the women’s course record at Big’s Backyard Ultra; placing second overall in the Tahoe 200, beating the previous women’s course record by over 18 hours; being named Ultra Runner of the Year by Ultrarunning Magazine; winning the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in 2019 and again in 2021, establishing a new course record; and receiving the George Mallory Award for pushing the boundaries of human achievement.

Courtney’s achievements are exceptional, but her philosophy can apply to everyone. “If it sounds scary and hard,” she says, “I think that's the thing that's worth trying, because why not? I mean, if you fall a little bit short of it because you set your bar too high, then you've still done something amazing. Like for me, for sure, running keeps reiterating that the thing I think is too scary and hard, I can get to that eventually, if I keep on working at it.”

The best place to follow Courtney is on Instagram.

To hear her original episode from June 2018, you can go here.

UCAN uses a one-of-a-kind carbohydrate to provide a steady release of glucose over several hours that’s easy on your stomach and doesn’t cause a sugar crash. It comes in powders, bars, and gels, and they actually taste good! Their gel, UCAN Edge, was voted by Runner’s World as one of the best foods to eat during a run. Tina has been a fan of UCAN for years and uses it exclusively for fueling when she’s training and racing.

We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running Reunion. If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us:

• Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them. Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
  • If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone.
• Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player.
  • Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people.

Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe? You can find out here.

"Thank you" to Courtney. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.