Brittany Puccio: 85 Miles Into Her First 100-Miler How do you train for a 100-mile race while working night shifts, raising a toddler, and running only three or four days a week? Robbie sits down with ultrarunner and nurse Brittany Puccio to explore the winding path that took her from track sprints and a nursing-school jog to road races, Grand Canyon rim-to-rim adventures, ultrarunning, and her first 100-mile attempt at the DC Peaks 100. Brittany explains why she chose a race with 21,000 feet of climbing, how she prepared on limited training days, and why strength work and downhill readiness became central to her plan. She also recounts the race itself: staying composed on Temple Ridge, navigating trails at night, leaning on a capable crew, and pushing to mile 85 before arriving six minutes after the cutoff. Rather than viewing the result as a failure, Brittany shares what the attempt taught her about aid-station efficiency, cutoff management, self-advocacy, motherhood, and the willpower required to keep moving. She also looks ahead to another possible 100-miler and a future that may include travel nursing and RV life. In This Episode Balancing ultramarathon training with night shifts, motherhood, and family Brittany's progression from track sprints to trail ultras How Grand Canyon adventures helped draw her toward longer distances Why the ultrarunning community keeps inspiring bigger goals Choosing DC Peaks for its family-friendly logistics and intimidating course Training for 21,000 feet of climbing on three or four running days per week Building climbing legs, downhill strength, and race-specific fitness Using an A-goal of finishing while keeping time targets secondary Staying physically strong and composed through the first half of the race Managing nighttime navigation, steep descents, aid stations, and cutoff math Reaching mile 85 six minutes beyond the cutoff What Brittany would change before her next 100-mile attempt Why motherhood has made her a stronger athlete Reframing a DNF as a valuable learning experience Key Takeaways Make finishing the primary goal. For a first 100-miler, use target times as pacing references rather than allowing them to overshadow the main objective. Train for the course you chose. Brittany prioritized climbing, strength, and downhill readiness because those demands mattered most at DC Peaks. Consistency can matter more than volume. She built her preparation around the time available, usually running three or four days per week. Treat aid stations as part of the race. Plan each stop, delegate tasks to the crew, and avoid spending time managing details that someone else can handle. Communicate near cutoffs. Keep moving when possible and speak directly with race officials about your condition and ability to continue. Learn from every outcome. Brittany left DC Peaks with 85 hard-earned miles and practical lessons for her next attempt. Memorable Quotes "I run on very little sleep." "I'm living off of willpower and determination." "The key is you just have to say, 'I'm never gonna do that.' And then you just do it." "I just really wanted my climbing legs to be strong." "I usually run like maybe three days a week." "I make all my own training plans, and I think they do a pretty good job." "I just kept moving." "I spent way too much time at aid stations earlier in the race when I shouldn't have." "I think motherhood has made me a far better and stronger athlete." "I don't see it as a DNF now, because I'm like, man, I learned so much." Chapters 00:00 Meet Brittany: nurse, mom, and ultrarunner 02:47 Making training work around night shifts and a toddler 05:51 From track sprints to Grand Canyon adventures 11:18 Why the ultra community keeps pulling runners farther 15:46 Building toward DC Peaks with races and climbing 18:27 Choosing a first 100-miler that fit family logistics 21:50 Training for 21,000 feet of gain on limited running days 28:33 Race-day mindset, crew support, and the first 23 miles 35:56 Temple Ridge, nighttime trails, and the halfway mark 45:18 A tough climb, cutoff math, and the push toward mile 85 52:16 Stopped six minutes late: what Brittany would change 55:24 Lessons learned and plans for another 100-miler Episode Sound Bites "It's the people." "I kept moving." "You live and you learn." About Golden Hour Adventures Golden Hour Adventures features conversations about endurance, exploration, personal growth, and the people who pursue ambitious goals outside their comfort zones. Subscribe wherever you listen and share this episode with a runner, parent, healthcare worker, or aspiring ultramarathoner. Keywords Brittany Puccio, DC Peaks 100, ultrarunning, first 100-mile race, trail running, motherhood and running, night-shift nurse, ultra training, DNF lessons, 100-mile training, trail race cutoffs, endurance running
