The Ultrarunner’s Mindset: What 135 Miles in Death Valley Teaches You About Life

Let’s get something straight:

Running 135 miles across Death Valley in 120°F heat isn’t about your legs.

It’s about your mind.

If your brain taps out, your body follows. Period.

And that same principle applies to everything—fitness, business, relationships, discipline, purpose.

So if you're serious about playing at a high level, here are 3 mindset shifts from elite ultrarunners that will reshape how you show up in life, even if you never lace up for a single race.

1. Stay Delusionally Positive

Yes, delusionally. Because reality is already hard—negativity makes it harder.
When your body’s wrecked, your skin’s blistered, and you’ve got 70 miles left… most people spiral.

But the greats?

They find a win inside the loss.

A breeze, a sip of water, a cheering stranger, a cool patch of shade.

They hunt for hope like their survival depends on it—because it does.

“If you can find a reason to keep going, you will.”

2. Pull Energy From Your Environment

Nature isn’t background. It’s fuel. So are people.

Most people wait for energy. Ultrarunners generate it; from trees, wind, rocks, strangers clapping, crew yelling, stars in the sky.

Even in the middle of nowhere, they find connection.

And that connection pulls them forward.

Try this next time you’re drained: Look up. Listen. Lock into something outside yourself. Your brain will switch gears.

3. Think Micro, Not Macro

No one survives 135 miles by thinking about all 135 miles.

“I don’t think about the totality of it. I think about the first 17 miles—and really, the next mile.”

That’s the move. Zoom in. Shrink the fight. One tree. One hill. One breath.

Win the moment in front of you. Then win the next.

Stack those micro-wins and suddenly you’ve done the impossible.

Your Life Is an Ultramarathon (Whether You Like It or Not)

Burnout happens when you obsess over the full distance. Success happens when you master the next 10 steps.

Your Challenge:

• Pick one area you’re overwhelmed in—work, weight loss, business, whatever.
• Zoom in. What’s your next tree?
• Do that. Forget the rest.

And message us what it is—we want to know what race you’re in.

No excuses. No “I’ll start Monday.” Just action.

Remember: If you can keep your mind moving, your body will follow.

Let’s run.