Anything But Ordinary: The Journey of Mercedes Siegle-Gaither

Merrell Test Lab athlete Mercedes Siegle-Gaither’s journey into the world of ultra-running began like many others – with the book “Born to Run.” But her path has been anything but ordinary.

Studying Abroad in Australia

In 2012, while studying abroad in Australia, Mercedes found herself living just a mile from the ocean. This reignited her connection to nature. Inspired by her marine biology studies and the book, she started running daily. “I just started running every day, because the beach was only a mile away, and I wanted to be there. And then I slowly started going further and further,” she recalls.

A Whole New World 

Those early runs in Australia opened her eyes to a whole new world. “While other people were sleeping, I would get to see so much more than other people did,” Mercedes says. “Like the eucalyptus forests, I found new trails and sea cliffs, I was watching people paraglide off the cliffs and see dolphins swimming in the jetties.” Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Mercedes always had a love for the outdoors. This connection to nature eventually led her to pursue a career in forestry. But it was trail running that truly captured her heart.

Fell in Love with the Sport

After completing her first marathon (unknowingly on trails) and getting lost, resulting in a 30-mile adventure, Mercedes was hooked. “I fell in love with the sport because growing up, I was such a tomboy and I just wanted to be outside and run around in the woods,” she explains. “I’m like, wow, I can actually go do races where people are feeding you and encouraging you to just run around in the woods.”

Bigger Challenges

Over the years, Mercedes’ running journey has taken her from road marathons to trail ultras, from the Virgin Islands to the mountains of Colorado. Along the way, she’s faced challenges and found inspiration in unexpected places. One pivotal moment came when a friend paced her for a 50-mile race. “My buddy Mikey paced me for 25 or so miles, and he’s like, ‘You know, you’re not that bad. What if you got a coach and tried a little bit harder?'” This encouragement led Mercedes to take her training more seriously and tackle even bigger challenges.

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Leadville 100

Today, Mercedes has completed numerous ultra-distance races, including the legendary Leadville 100. “Being from the Midwest, I never imagined Leadville was something that I would ever be able to do,” she says. “Being able to run at elevation and run in mountains is just this incredible experience.”

A Bold Step

But Mercedes isn’t content to rest on her laurels. She’s constantly pushing herself to try new things, from skyrunning to participating in grueling events like the Arcteryx Meet the Minotaur Skyrace. “I just keep chasing these really hard things,” she admits. Recently, Mercedes has taken a bold step, leaving her forestry career to focus on running and other passions. She’s now working becoming an ultrarunning coach and experimenting with livestreaming ultrarunning events, while exploring new opportunities in the endurance sports world.

Return to the Ultra Distance

Two exciting adventures on the horizon for Mercedes involve Spain and the Kodiak 100K in Big Bear Lake, CA. Mercedes has had a stellar season with the US Skyrunning Team and is focused on a return to ultra with the 70K distance at the World Championships in Soria, Spain this September. Then, Mercedes returns to the 100K distance with the Kodiak ultras. “I’m excited to return to the ultra distance,” she says. 

Studying Abroad in Australia

As Mercedes embarks on this new chapter, her story serves as an example to runners and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. From those first runs in Australia to scaling peaks in Ecuador, her journey shows that with passion, determination, and a willingness to embrace challenges, there’s no limit to where your feet can take you. Her story is anything but ordinary in this sport, but Mercedes has a story that inspires athletes everywhere to find their extraordinary.

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