#96 - Deeper Into The Pain Cave Through Ultra Running With Courtney Dauwalter

Nov 12, 2021

This episode of The Bare Performance Podcast features a woman who defines the spirit of ultra running. She does her own thing, listens to her body, intuits her course and revels in everyone else out there around her, driving on mile after mile. Growing up Courtney Dauwalter never gave a thought to the possibility of being a professional athlete, but her family did embrace an “all in” work ethic that has meshed perfectly with her talent for running. In this chat with Nick she reflects on her journey from school teacher to record-setting ultra competitor. She shares fascinating stories from out on the courses of the Moab 240 (perhaps her favorite race ever) as well as Bigs Backyard and Barkley Marathons (quirky and mysterious, respectively). Learn how Courtney stays on track even when the weather is pounding her or lack of sleep delivers hallucinations. It’s all about pushing herself to discover the limits of her mental and physical capability. With her long shorts and taste for beer and Mexican food, Courtney exemplifies what it is to trust in – and fully embrace – your most authentic self, even when it means chiseling further into the “Pain Cave.” Enjoy this inspiring conversation about what Nick and his guest have found in the ultra community. The camaraderie, sense of accomplishment and memories go well beyond the fitness challenge!

You can find Nick’s documentary, “More Than the Miles,” about the Leadville 100 Ultramarathon here. And Gary Robbins’ “Where Dreams Go to Die” is available here.

Click here to listen to/rate/review previous episodes of The Bare Performance Podcast. You can also find out more about Nick’s performance nutrition and health supplements here.

• Courtney and Nick get right into it, deconstructing the difference in training between ultras and marathons.
• How Courtney stumbled into the ultra world – and how it unleashed her appetite for repeatedly testing limits, both emotionally and physically.
• “All in” was the ethic with which Courtney’s was raised in Minnesota. It lent itself to the pursuit of ultra performance.
• About the transition from full-time teacher to full-time professional athlete, from extra after-school and weekend training hours to making the leap.
• Trail and road running are completely different, requiring different mental focus and skill.
• Quick Tip: Anti-chafe in combination with toe socks = no blisters and fewer toenails lost!
• The turning point? Courtney and her husband Kevin agreed that she had to pursue ultra running 100% so there could be no regrets when looking back years from now.
• With her laser-like focus on running, doors opened and the running felt like freedom and something she loves – not at all like work.
• There is a point at which running reaches an almost spiritual plane, with a meditative quality that clears the mind and body. The challenge is getting to that point of ease!
• The ultra community is totally unique. There is a special camaraderie unlike anything Nick has experienced even among Iron Man, CrossFit or Triathlon athletes.
• When the negative self-talk starts: Courtney’s first 100-miler ended in self-doubt and rookie mistakes in terms of nutrition and strategy. She dropped out, but it was full of lessons learned!
• Chiseling Out the Pain Cave: With each race, Courtney goes in with the intention of making her Pain Cave larger. She enters at the same point, then tunnels in different directions, creating more room for the next time, whatever the course or circumstance.
• When the mindset is that there is NO quitting, it’s a gamechanger. Courtney might have cried the last 10 miles, but her brain was fully on board and propelling her forward.
• Counterintuitively, sleeping and eating don’t always come naturally post-racing. The body often needs a few days to settle down.
• Among ultra professionals: It’s a balance between pushing each other and supporting one another, pulling each other out of lows and sharing energy back and forth.
• All about diet: Courtney eats for pleasure. She doesn’t eliminate any specific food groups, enjoys snacks and tunes into herself. She believes this intuitive approach helps keep her in touch with what her body needs. (Nick takes a similar approach with lifting.)
• Courtney studies up on specific terrains when she’s heading out on a course, but her basic structure and approach to running remains the same.
• The most memorable, fun race Courtney has ever run? She’d have to go with the Moab 240 because of the huge vistas and expanded horizons she experienced.
• Mastering the Sleep Game: Nick shares his experience with short naps when he was an Army Ranger, but sometimes pushing through is better than taking a break. For Courtney it has been hit and miss. She’s looking for more groupthink on this topic!
• Hallucinations are “pretty much guaranteed” during nighttime runs and Courtney has also experienced vivid episodes during the day. 
• A little bit about the format and camaraderie at Bigs Backyard Ultra. (More info available about this and other concept races staged by the same organizer here.)
• Did Courtney go after ultras or did ultras come after Courtney? She didn’t know this kind of racing was out there, or that being a professional athlete was within her realm of possibility. Nick finds fitness an exciting way to engage and be competitive with himself.
• About the Barkley Marathon, which is one of the most unique courses and ultra experiences out there.
• The transition from physical to mental: It’s not necessarily predictable for Courtney. She experiences it as a toggling back and forth between them as they ebb and flow. She advises: Stay in the moment. Stay present. Don’t judge!
• Choosing the Hard Things: Courtney and Nick share a strong desire to tap into every ounce of their individual potential. Ultras offer a great opportunity to push limits.
• A Fun Way to Spend a Week: Courtney hasn’t yet completed a 500-mile ultra, but she’ll be out there again without a doubt!
• No matter who you are, there’s something to be taken from being part of the ultra experience. Whether you decide to run or serve as crew, you’re going to be infected with the community’s spirit and energy – and cherish the memories you create!

“My whole purpose of doing these ultras is to find that Pain Cave and make it bigger. I know that it’s happening, but often it’s such a world of hurt that everything else is kind of a blur. It’s just about staying laser-focused on moving forward and burrowing as far back as I can to keep my legs going.”

Further Contacts/Resources:

Bare Performance Nutrition: www.bpnsupps.com
BPN's Instagram: www.instagram.com/bpnsupps
Nick Bare: www.nickbare.com
Nick's Instagram: www.instagram.com/nickbarefitness
Courtney's Instagram: www.instagram.com/courtneydauwaulter