Becoming Pro Without Losing Joy | Beyond The Finish Line: Rachel Entrekin
There are episodes you listen to… and then there are episodes that stay in your ears despite having stopped listening to it hours earlier. Episode 43 of Beyond The Finish Line is the second kind. You will hear how Rachel Entrekin became a pro ultra runner but it is way more than that.
In this conversation, Joe Hardin sits down with professional ultra runner Rachel Entrekin, and what unfolds isn’t a highlight reel of podiums or race splits. It’s a grounded, human look at what it actually takes to grow into your potential without losing yourself along the way.
Rachel is the kind of athlete who can toe the line at races like Cocodona 250 and Mammoth 200 and still stop mid-race to pet dogs. That detail matters. Because it tells you everything you need to know. She’s fiercely competitive, wildly capable, and still deeply connected to the joy that pulled her into running in the first place.
Growth Without Shortcuts
In this episode, Rachel walks us through her evolution from road marathoner to elite ultra runner, and she’s refreshingly honest about the timeline. No overnight success. No shortcuts. Just years of stacking 50Ks, 50-milers, 100-milers, and mountain races before stepping into the 200-mile world. It’s a wonderful reminder that sustainable growth in endurance sports is built slowly and intentionally.
One of the most meaningful moments comes when Rachel opens up about her transition to professional running. She speaks candidly about chasing sponsorships while working full-time as a director of oncology rehabilitation, and the emotional weight of feeling “good enough” on paper but not yet visible in the industry. Her story pulls back the curtain on pro running: results matter, but relationships, storytelling, and presence matter just as much.
ADVERTISEMENT
Training That Fits Real Life
Her training philosophy mirrors that same honesty. No rigid plans. No obsession with perfection. Rachel anchors around a consistent base of roughly 70 miles per week, layers in speed work with a local women’s group, and adapts based on how her body responds. It’s smart, sustainable, and something everyday athletes can actually apply to their own training.
The conversation around fueling is essential listening especially for women in endurance sports. Rachel shares how partnering with Precision Nutrition transformed her race execution and her overall relationship with fueling, addressing chronic under-fueling in a way that feels honest and empowering.
Beyond the Finish Line
Joe and Rachel aren’t chasing finish lines in this episode. They are talking about becoming an athlete, and human. It is something we are all capable of being.
If you’re training for your next race, questioning your path, or needing a reminder of why you started… this one is for you.
🎧 Listen in. Reflect. And keep going.
ADVERTISEMENT
