Ruth Croft is New Zealand’s trail running queen.
In 2021 she made headlines winning the 102km Tarawera Ultra outright – the top man or women – and then finished second at the prestigious Western States race in the USA in her first attempt at running 100 miles. She returned this year, to win the race (referred to as one of the toughest races on the planet) conquering the 161km race in blistering California heat in 17 hours.
In this episode we talk about the mentality of navigating a 100-mile challenge, where the ‘race really only starts after 100km’, her journey through meditation to multi-day silent retreats - and why she has started doing them in the dark, why she walked away from running after college in the US, moving to Taiwan by herself when she knew no one and couldn’t speak their language, the most exotic locations she’s run in, coming back to NZ, media exposure and so much more.
This ep might just blow your mind. Ruth might be the mentally strongest athlete we’ve talked to. She’s won 10 of the last 12 races she’s competed in, against the best ultra-athletes in the world. And after listening to this, you’ll understand why. Such a thoughtful, disciplined, inspiring Kiwi legend.
