841. Courtney Dauwalter, 2:49 Marathoner & Ultra Runner

"Running is running is running, and I love it all."

Courtney Dauwalter returns to the Ali on the Run Show — this time as a 2:49 marathoner! Courtney is an ultra runner who is best known for her GOAT-status success on the trails. In 2023, she became the first person to win Western States, the Hardrock 100, and UTMB int he same year. Earlier this year, she won Hardrock in a women's course record: 26 hours 11 minutes and 49 seconds. Most recently, Courtney's been hitting the roads! She just completed the Twin Cities Marathon — her first marathon in more than a decade — in 2:49. But it's not about the time on the clock for Courtney. In this conversation, she talks about why she wanted to run a road marathon, why Twin Cities, and why now. Plus, an exciting announcement about what's next.

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In this episode:

• “It’s candy corn season!” (2:00)
• Courtney’s snapshot moment from the 2025 Twin Cities Marathon (4:50)
• What’s making Courtney happy today, and what she’s into right now (5:45)
• How Courtney is feeling post-marathon, and how road marathons fit into her career right now (8:20)
• What Courtney’s marathon training looked like, and how it differed from ultra training (16:00)
• Courtney’s time goal and expectations for Twin Cities (21:30)
• Courtney’s fueling and hydration plan for Twin Cities (26:35)
• Courtney’s take on the marathon community (29:30)
• Courtney recaps her race at the Twin Cities Marathon (36:00)
• Courtney’s takeaways from the marathon (43:20)
• What's next on the run for Courtney (47:00)
• How it feels to be a 2:49 marathoner (53:30)

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