KHC 175 - Rachel Entrekin

Rachel Entrekin - American elite ultramarathon runner and physical therapist known for her remarkable performances in some of the world’s toughest long-distance trail races. Rachel joins the Keep Hammering Collective to talk about her path from a full-time job to life as a full-time athlete, balancing sponsorships, science, and the grit of mountain running. She opens up about overcoming an eating disorder, finding strength through lifting, embracing imperfections, and building a “bulletproof” life - on and off the trails. From Hardrock dreams and Courtney Dauwalter inspiration to pain caves, haters, and why speedwork is still the worst, this episode is honest, motivating, and unapologetically real. Follow along: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronrhanes Twitter: https://twitter.com/cameronhanes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camhanes/ Website: https://www.cameronhanes.com Follow Rachel: https://www.instagram.com/rachel__entrekin/ Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Full Time Job to Full Time Athlete 00:07:14 – Rachel’s Sponsorships 00:15:10 – Dirtbag Runner with a Doctorate Degree 00:22:48 – Eating Disorder, Rehab, and Finding a Love for Mountain Running 00:36:29 – Learning How to Shoot a Bow & the Appreciation of Helping Others 00:48:17 – Spike Camp & Encouragement from Rachel 00:55:23 – Elevation & Gain in Running and Making an Impact 01:00:27 – A Mental Block with Lifting & Creating a Bullet Proof Life with Strength 01:04:18 – Who Inspires Rachel: Courtney Dauwalter 01:11:27 – People That Don’t Believe in You - Haters 01:17:51 – Goals for 2026 01:26:52 – Upcoming Opportunities 01:30:24 – Personalities in Running and the Inspiration of Imperfections 01:38:19 – Podcast Experiences and Learning from Others 01:43:08 – F**k, Marry, Kill: Hardrock, Western States, UTMB 01:44:19 – Is a 50k an Ultra Race? 01:46:50 – Rachel’s “Pain Cave” or “Filing” Cabinet” When Things Get Hard 01:50:01 – Who Rachel Would Switch Minds with During a Race 01:51:40 – Always Excited to Run … Unless it’s Speedwork 01:53:29 – The Power of Everything Going Wrong 01:57:54 – Final Thoughts and New Bow Thank you to our sponsors: https://cameronhanes.com/pages/sponsors