Timing is Everything

Looking back now, Rachel Spaulding realizes that over the past few years, there have been brief conversational moments, chance occurrences during races and the sheer centrifugal force of a pandemic—all of which have altered the course of her life.

At 26, Spaulding’s life has never been better. Her victory at the Old Dominion 100-miler in June – the fourth-fastest women’s time ever since the race started in 1979 – pinpoints the fact that her relatively brief ultra career is one we all need to watch. During the pandemic, she met someone and fell in love. And, through some reflection, she’s come to terms with many of the challenges she faced as a collegiate swimmer—from being bullied by teammates to the profound anxieties she felt as she constantly pushed herself to achieve perfection whenever she was in the pool.

For Spaulding, the past year and a half of uncertainty has offered her an athletic rebirth and a lot more.

“I just want everyone to know how impactful running has been for me,” she says, and adds, “How running for me has been all