Pushing Horizons Step by Step

Ash Pant
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Running
  • Updated Weekly

Pushing Horizons: Step by Step is a podcast about how running changes us: physically, mentally, emotionally. Hosted by Ash Pant, each episode unpacks raw, heartfelt conversations with runners who’ve faced setbacks, chased dreams, and found themselves in the rhythm of the run. These are stories of grit, growth, healing, and quiet triumphs. Whether you're lacing up for your first 5K or recovering from your hundredth, this is for anyone who's ever run toward something more. Every step tells a story. Let’s keep moving forward, together.

  1. 2d ago

    450 Kilometers, One Step at a Time | Annie Hughes on TOR450 & Everest Marathon | Season 3 Ep 33

    450 Kilometers, One Step at a Time What does it take to keep moving when you've been on your feet for seven days, slept only 10 hours, and still have mountains to climb? Annie Hughes returns to Pushing Horizons: Step by Step to share two extraordinary adventures that pushed her beyond anything she had experienced before. First, we travel to Nepal, where Annie completed the Everest Marathon, her very first marathon, starting from Everest Base Camp at over 5,000 meters above sea level. We talk about the challenges of running at extreme altitude, climbing Island Peak, and experiencing the beauty of the Himalayas. Then we head to the Italian Alps for one of the most demanding mountain endurance races in the world: Tor des Glaciers. 450 kilometers. 32,000 meters of elevation gain. 173 hours. Around 10 hours of sleep. Annie finished sixth among the women, but getting to that finish line was anything but straightforward. For more than 30 hours, she struggled with severe stomach problems. Painful blisters made walking almost unbearable. Sleep deprivation, difficult navigation, and emotional breakdowns pushed her to some of her lowest moments. At one point, she found herself crying on a technical descent, struggling to keep her eyes open, with more than 100 miles still remaining. But rather than giving up, Annie focused on what she could control. One problem at a time. One mountain at a time. One step at a time. We also explore how her approach to ultrarunning has evolved, why sleep and nutrition become critical in multi-day races, and how she managed to feel stronger during the final miles than she had earlier in the race. And after completing 450 kilometers, Annie is already dreaming about even bigger adventures, including PTL and Swiss Peaks 700K. This conversation goes beyond race results. It's about resilience, patience, managing the unexpected, and discovering that we're often capable of more than we imagine. Because sometimes, the biggest challenge isn't the distance ahead. It's finding the strength to take the next step. Running the Everest Marathon and climbing Island Peak in Nepal.Why Annie's first marathon was unlike any other race.Taking on Tor des Glaciers: 450 km and 32,000 m of climbing.Managing stomach problems for more than 30 hours.Sleep deprivation and navigating technical mountain terrain.Painful blisters, tears, and the lowest moments of the race.Why eating, sleeping, and problem-solving matter as much as fitness.How Annie found her strength again with 100 miles remaining.Finishing sixth woman after 173 hours.What's next: PTL, Swiss Peaks 700K, and more mountain adventures.Annie Hughes, Pushing Horizons podcast, 450 Kilometers One Step at a Time, Tor des Glaciers, TOR450, Tor des Géants, Everest Marathon, ultrarunning podcast, ultra endurance, mountain ultrarunning, 450km ultramarathon, multi-day ultrarunning, 200 mile races, ultra running motivation, endurance athlete, mental toughness, sleep deprivation ultrarunning, ultramarathon nutrition, trail running, Swiss Peaks 700K, PTL UTMB, women in ultrarunning, endurance mindset, ultra running stories, Pushing Horizons Step by Step. In This EpisodeKeywords / SEO Tags

    450 Kilometers, One Step at a Time | Annie Hughes on TOR450 & Everest Marathon | Season 3 Ep 33

  2. Oct 8

    More Than Miles | Michelle Doza on Leadville, Marathon Running & What’s Next | Season 3 Ep 32

    Running has never been only about miles for Michelle Doza. It's a place to think, process life, clear her head, and sometimes think about absolutely nothing. It's something that brings her happiness and grounds her when life feels off. Michelle Michelle's running journey eventually took her from the 17-mile Imogene Pass Run to six marathons and a pursuit of the elusive sub-four-hour marathon. Her current PR? 4:00:53. Yeah... painfully close. Michelle Then came the Leadville Trail Marathon. Starting around 11,000 feet, climbing roughly 6,000 feet and reaching above 13,000 feet at Mosquito Pass, Leadville forced Michelle to change the conversation happening inside her own head. Instead of asking why she was doing it, she reminded herself that she had trained for it, that people were waiting for her, and that she could do hard things. MichelleMichelle In this episode, we talk about running as therapy, injuries and patience, chasing a sub-four marathon, learning to trust the process, the mental battle of Leadville, finding joy in difficult things, the running community, and her experience co-hosting Runners Like Us. And after Leadville, another question has started creeping in: Could an ultramarathon be next? Michelle says it's firmly on her radar. Michelle Because sometimes running isn't really about how many miles you've covered. It's about discovering how much further you're willing to go. Keywords: Michelle Doza, More Than Miles, Pushing Horizons, Pushing Horizons Step by Step, Runners Like Us, Leadville Trail Marathon, Leadville Marathon, Colorado runner, marathon running, trail running, running podcast, women runners, sub 4 marathon, running motivation, running as therapy, mental health and running, endurance running, running community, ultramarathon, first ultra

    More Than Miles | Michelle Doza on Leadville, Marathon Running & What’s Next | Season 3 Ep 32

  3. Oct 1

    The Life He Almost Missed: Eamon Kearney on Sobriety, Running & Rebuilding His Life | Season 3 Ep 31

    The Life He Almost Missed | Eamon Kearney There was a point when Eamon Kearney didn't believe there was a future worth staying for. Today, he's sober, a father, a marathon runner, and the author of the upcoming memoir The Long Way Home. Born in Ireland and now living in the United States, Eamon's story begins long before running. He spent the first part of his life in a mother and baby home before being adopted, grew up with an alcoholic father, joined the Irish Army at 18, immigrated to America, became a father, and eventually faced his own battle with alcohol. In late 2021, Eamon reached his darkest point. What followed was a slow rebuilding of his life. After getting sober in 2022, he returned to running after decades away from the sport. Since then, he has completed numerous half marathons and marathons, including Chicago, Berlin, Boston and the Marine Corps Marathon. But the finish lines aren't really the story. In this deeply personal conversation, Eamon talks about adoption and identity, addiction and sobriety, fatherhood, his fractured relationship with his son, finding his biological siblings, therapy, learning to forgive himself, and why running became such an important part of rebuilding his life. We also talk about The Long Way Home, the memoir he's writing for his children and for anyone who has ever struggled with addiction, shame, identity or the feeling that they don't quite belong. Because sometimes the most important part of surviving your darkest moment is getting the chance to discover everything that comes after. Season 3, Episode 31 of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step. Keywords: Eamon Kearney, The Life He Almost Missed, The Long Way Home, sobriety, addiction recovery, running and sobriety, marathon running, Boston Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, Irish immigrant, adoption, fatherhood, mental health, recovery, resilience, running podcast, marathon podcast, Pushing Horizons, Pushing Horizons Step by Step

    The Life He Almost Missed: Eamon Kearney on Sobriety, Running & Rebuilding His Life | Season 3 Ep 31

  4. Sep 24

    250 Miles Changes Everything | Nick Allen | Cocodona 250 Ultramarathon

    250 Miles Changes Everything | Season 3, Episode 30 The last time he joined Pushing Horizons: Step by Step, he had just won Sedona Canyon 125 and had already decided what was coming next: Cocodona 250. At that point, 250 miles was still something he could only imagine. This time, he comes back after experiencing it for himself. We talk about what it actually takes to run Cocodona 250, from 100+ mile training weeks and back-to-back long runs to sleep deprivation, hallucinations, nutrition, chafing, swollen feet and ankles, crew support, pacers, and the constant problem-solving required to keep moving for more than three days. He shares what happened when the race became difficult, why reaching 125 miles is mentally different when you know you're only halfway, and what went through his mind when he reached mile 211 with some of the hardest miles of his life still ahead. We also talk about the role his wife and crew played when he could no longer think clearly, why finishing a 250-mile race becomes a team effort, and what he learned about himself by continuing when his body and mind were telling him to stop. After Cocodona, he went on to finish Tahoe 200 — an experience that changed his approach to sleep and multi-day racing even further. And despite everything Cocodona put him through, he's going back. Because after 250 miles, the question is no longer whether he can do it. It's what he can do differently the next time. Topics: Cocodona 250, ultrarunning, 200-mile races, ultra endurance, trail running, sleep deprivation, hallucinations in ultramarathons, ultramarathon training, 250-mile training, ultra nutrition, race strategy, crew and pacers, mental endurance, Tahoe 200, Sedona Canyon 125, endurance running, multi-day ultramarathons, human endurance.

    250 Miles Changes Everything | Nick Allen | Cocodona 250 Ultramarathon

  5. Sep 17

    The Pursuit of What's Possible | Heidi Allan: From American Ninja Warrior to Tahoe 200 | Ultrarunning & Race Directing | Season 3, Episode 29

    Heidi Allan grew up as a gymnast and rock climber, competed around the world in obstacle course racing, and spent three seasons competing on American Ninja Warrior. Running wasn't her strength. In fact, she used to hate it. Today, she's an ultrarunner, 200-mile finisher, race winner, and Race Director for Aravaipa Running. Heidi joins Pushing Horizons to share how her pursuit of difficult challenges eventually led her into ultrarunning and why the sport gave her something she hadn't found in competition before. We get into her progression from Spartan races and Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim to Javelina 100 and Tahoe 200, where she finished fifth female in 62:47:44. Heidi shares the reality of going more than 60 hours with almost no sleep, dealing with severe blisters, hallucinating during the final miles, relying on her pacers and learning that her body was capable of running far later into a 200-mile race than she thought. We also explore Heidi's other side of ultrarunning as a Race Director for Aravaipa Running, including the work behind Tucson Marathon, Crown King Scramble and Copper Corridor. From permits and aid-station logistics to extreme heat and calculating how much water runners may need, Heidi gives a different perspective on what it takes to put on an endurance event. Most importantly, this is a conversation about how Heidi's relationship with competition has changed from perfection and pressure to accepting what she can give on any particular day. Because sometimes discovering what's possible isn't about becoming the best. It's about discovering another version of yourself. Keywords: Heidi Allan, Tahoe 200, ultrarunning, ultramarathon, 200 mile race, Aravaipa Running, American Ninja Warrior, obstacle course racing, OCR, trail running, mountain running, Javelina 100, race director, Tucson Marathon, Crown King Scramble, Copper Corridor, endurance running, endurance athlete, ultra running podcast, Pushing Horizons

    The Pursuit of What's Possible | Heidi Allan: From American Ninja Warrior to Tahoe 200 | Ultrarunning & Race Directing | Season 3, Episode 29

  6. Sep 10

    This Too Shall Pass: From Wildland Firefighter to Cocodona 250: An Ultrarunner’s Journey

    Season 3, Episode 28 — This Too Shall Pass Trueheart Brown never grew up dreaming of becoming an ultrarunner. After years of skiing and competitive cycling, running eventually became something much deeper a way to process difficult experiences, quiet his mind, and find space away from the demands of life and his career in wildland fire. Then he discovered he could race. Trueheart won the Black Canyon 100K in 2022 before taking on his first 100-mile race at the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line Ultra in 2025. Despite never having run farther than roughly 60 miles before race day, he finished the 100 miler in 14:40:43 and took the overall win. In 2026, he stepped up again at Sedona Canyons 125 only three weeks after breaking his fourth metatarsal. He finished in 25:14:07. And won. In this conversation, we talk about his unconventional path into ultrarunning, decades of endurance training, learning to suffer, racing 100 miles for the first time, adapting when race plans fall apart, running Sedona Canyons with a broken foot, the importance of preparation, and why the darkest moments of an ultramarathon don't necessarily mean your race is over. We also talk about what comes next. Trueheart has been selected for the 2027 Cocodona 250, where he'll attempt to make the enormous jump from 125 miles to 250. And through all of it, one idea keeps coming back: This too shall pass. The bad moments will pass. But so will the good ones. Keywords: Trueheart Brown, ultrarunning, ultramarathon, Cocodona 250, Cocodona, Sedona Canyons 125, Stagecoach 100, Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Stagecoach Line Ultra, Black Canyon 100K, 100 mile ultramarathon, 200 mile ultramarathon, 250 mile ultramarathon, trail running, Arizona trail running, endurance running, ultramarathon training, ultra running mindset, mental toughness, wildland firefighter, Coconino National Forest, Pushing Horizons podcast

    This Too Shall Pass: From Wildland Firefighter to Cocodona 250: An Ultrarunner’s Journey

  7. Sep 3

    Fueling for Performance: The Basics Most Runners Miss — Part 2

    How much carbohydrate do you actually need during an endurance race and is more always better? Roger, CEO of SQUEEZY Nutrition, returns to Pushing Horizons: Step by Step for Part 2 of our conversation about endurance fueling. This time, we go deeper into the practical problems runners face when the hours and miles start adding up. Roger explains how athletes can train their gut to tolerate higher carbohydrate intake, why blindly copying athletes consuming 120–150+ grams of carbs per hour can create problems, and why your fueling strategy needs to be built around your own body, intensity and race. We also talk about what happens when you miss your fueling early in a race, whether you can recover from an energy crash, gels versus solid food during ultramarathons, caffeine, hydration, fueling beyond 10 hours, recovery nutrition, and the relationship between endurance training and the immune system. This conversation was recorded before my attempt at the Berlin Wall 100 Miler — a race where my own fueling mistakes eventually became one of the biggest lessons of the entire experience. I carried enough fuel. I simply didn't eat enough of it early enough. After covering 52 miles, I understand this conversation very differently than I did when we recorded it. Part 2 of our endurance fueling series with Roger and SQUEEZY Nutrition. Keywords: endurance fueling, ultramarathon nutrition, running nutrition, carbs per hour running, carbohydrate intake endurance, gut training, marathon fueling, 100 mile fueling, ultrarunning nutrition, race nutrition strategy, energy gels, solid food ultramarathon, caffeine endurance running, hydration for runners, recovery nutrition, immune system endurance athletes, under fueling, sports nutrition, SQUEEZY Nutrition, Pushing Horizons podcast

    Fueling for Performance: The Basics Most Runners Miss — Part 2

  8. Sep 3

    The Horizon Moved | My First 100 Mile Ultramarathon Attempt: 52 Miles, a DNF & What I Learned

    I went into the Berlin Wall 100 believing I could run 100 miles. I made it 52. 84 kilometers. The longest distance I have ever covered on foot. And then the sweeper caught me. This is the story of my first 100-mile ultramarathon attempt — the heat, the mistakes, the fueling problem, the high heart rate from early in the race, and what happened when my energy eventually disappeared. The frustrating part? I had the fuel with me. I had packed enough gels in my vest for the first 33 kilometers and had more waiting in every drop bag. I just didn't eat them. I took in roughly 150 grams of fuel during those first 33 kilometers, and hours later I paid for it. But this isn't only a story about a DNF. Because somewhere inside a race I didn't finish, I also went farther than I have ever gone before. 52 miles. I didn't reach the horizon I was chasing. But the horizon moved. Season 3 episode 26 of Pushing Horizons: Step by Step. Keywords: ultrarunning, ultramarathon, 100 mile ultramarathon, first 100 miler, Berlin Wall 100, 100 mile DNF, 50 mile ultramarathon, 52 miles, ultra running nutrition, ultramarathon fueling, endurance running, trail running, running in extreme heat, DNF recovery, ultra running mistakes, endurance mindset, long distance running, Pushing Horizons podcast

    The Horizon Moved | My First 100 Mile Ultramarathon Attempt: 52 Miles, a DNF & What I Learned
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About

Pushing Horizons: Step by Step is a podcast about how running changes us: physically, mentally, emotionally. Hosted by Ash Pant, each episode unpacks raw, heartfelt conversations with runners who’ve faced setbacks, chased dreams, and found themselves in the rhythm of the run. These are stories of grit, growth, healing, and quiet triumphs. Whether you're lacing up for your first 5K or recovering from your hundredth, this is for anyone who's ever run toward something more. Every step tells a story. Let’s keep moving forward, together.

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