From Soldier to Ultrarunner: A Journey of Healing and Discovery

The Unexpected Battle

In 2015, Christopher Raup’s life changed forever. His father, diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, went from perfect health to being hospitalized in just two weeks. “The doctors told us it would be a marathon, not a sprint,” Raup recalls. After his first round of chemo, he tried to bolster his father’s morale by reminding him of their cautionary words. “What do you know about running marathons?” Raup remembers his father saying. His father passed away just weeks into treatment, leaving Raup devastated. The words echoed in Christopher’s mind and served as a catalyst on his journey from soldier to ultrarunner. 

A Soldier’s Journey

Raup’s 21 years of military service was marked by constant training rotations, deployments and a deep sense of commitment. As an PA Army National Guard Officer, he routinely volunteered for extra schools and assignments to perfect his leadership and technical skills and escape his less rewarding career in the corporate world. In 2006, he found himself in Ramadi, Iraq during one of the war’s most intense periods. “It was probably the most intense combat other than Fallujah since Vietnam,” he recalls. 

On the same day he learned of his friend’s death who had been killed by a suicide bomber, Raup volunteered to deploy to finish his friend’s tour.  As a Brigade Fire Support Officer, Raup provided mission critical support during kinetic warfare operations. The experience profoundly impacted his life and would later shape his understanding of service, sacrifice, and healing.

Confronting the Shadows

Already struggling with PTSD from his deployment in Iraq’s most intense combat zones, Raup found himself spiraling into a familiar darkness. The loss of his father—his hero and best friend—only added to his heaviness. The struggle nearly consumed him. He was unable to sleep or re-engage in his career and was spiraling into depression.

Running Towards Healing

One early morning, searching for a way to cope, Raup discovered the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. With no previous marathon experience, he signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon. “I had never run more than a 10k in my life,” he admits. With just three months of virtual coaching, he completed his first 26.2-mile race. “I expected this transformative moment when I crossed the finish line, but it never came.” The next day he went to Arlington National Cemetery to find the gravesites of some other friends who had been killed in action, and found himself oddly in envy of their ultimate sacrifice. He realized he had more work to do.

A New Passion Emerges

What started as a personal challenge quickly became a transformative journey. His first trail 50K race—which he barely finished—sparked something unexpected. “I was hooked,” Raup says. He discovered a community of runners pushing beyond traditional limits, realizing that ultrarunning wasn’t just for elite athletes.

Active Meditation on the Trails

Running became more than just physical exercise. For Raup, it was “active meditation”—a way to explore his inner landscape instead of being overwhelmed by it. “While I’m out on the trails, I’m exploring my thoughts rather than being consumed by them,” he explains.

Finding Himself at 52

Discovering ultrarunning later in life brought both joy and reflection. “Maybe this is the real me,” Raup says. “It just took me 52 years to find my way home.” He embraces the journey, acknowledging that discovering his passion now is better than never discovering it at all.

A Lifelong Athlete Transformed

Raup wasn’t new to physical challenges. A former soccer player, rugby athlete, avid outdoorsman and Army veteran, he had always been active. But ultrarunning offered something different—a sense of freedom and self-discovery that previous athletic pursuits hadn’t provided. The constant training and race planning keeps his mind from becoming idle, which he admits is part of the attraction. “It’s a continuation of my military career, training and mission planning, then deploying to a race to test physical readiness and my mental resolve.”

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Beyond Personal Achievement

What began as a personal healing journey soon evolved into something larger. Raup’s experiences on the trail became a platform for broader purpose, setting the stage for what would become the Warrior Trail Foundation.

The Path Forward

With each step on the trail, Raup found himself moving towards personal growth and a deeper understanding of himself. His journey from soldier to ultrarunner spreading a message of resilience was just beginning. 

“I’m running towards personal discovery,” he reflects. “This is me. This is the real me.” As Chris discovered his true self, so too did he discover a new way to serve. 

In the next article, we will explore the Warrior Trail Foundation and its mission to support veterans through outdoor experiences and community. We’ll dive into how Christopher Raup transformed his personal healing journey into a mission-driven organization. 

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