Lessons from the Moab 240 (Grant Walker)

This episode explores Grant Walker's completion of the Moab 240, a gruelling 240-mile ultramarathon across the Moab desert, which he finished just four years after taking up running. He completed the race in 115 hours and 46 minutes, finishing last out of 111 finishers from 220 starters.

Grant discusses the mental and physical challenges, including severe dehydration and the critical importance of proper nutrition and rest during the race. Despite not having a support crew from home, he received unexpected help from fellow runners' crews, highlighting the supportive nature of the ultra-running community.

A key theme throughout is Grant's philosophy of "getting comfortable being uncomfortable." He emphasises that the body can endure far more than the mind believes possible, and success often comes down to mental preparation and persistence rather than pure physical ability.

As a business owner running an outsourced call centre in New Zealand, Grant draws parallels between ultrarunning and business leadership, noting how both require resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to keep moving forward despite challenges. He advocates for turning problems into opportunities and emphasises the importance of taking action rather than overthinking.

The conversation concludes with Grant encouraging aspiring ultrarunners to "just do it," explaining that most people are capable of completing ultras if they prepare properly and adjust their expectations about needing to run the entire distance.