For The Long Run: Exploring the Why Behind Running
Jun 5, 2026 · 50 min · 16 segments
Mark Dowdle is a backyard ultra competitor who found running after college football and lacrosse, not because he loved the sport, but because he needed somewhere to put everything he was carrying…
Mark DowdleGuestJonathan LevittHost
In a backyard ultra or an arrowhead, I get to have that moment of reflection during the race.
During PN, I would lay on the trail and I would put my hand in or my head on my arm and I would think, "This is so hard, but I wa- I wanna put myself in 24 hours from now, Mark, if I decide that this is my last loop, I wanna put myself in that chair and I want that Mark to ask this Mark, did you give everything you had?" And the answer is, no, I still have more to give.
We explore the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated, and how they've been able to achieve sustainable excellence.
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In a backyard ultra or an arrowhead, I get to have that moment of reflection during the race.
During PN, I would lay on the trail and I would put my hand in or my head on my arm and I would think, "This is so hard, but I wa- I wanna put myself in 24 hours from now, Mark, if I decide that this is my last loop, I wanna put myself in that chair and I want that Mark to ask this Mark, did you give everything you had?" And the answer is, no, I still have more to give.
We explore the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated, and how they've been able to achieve sustainable excellence.
