Running
#119 Sara Duncan | First 100 Miler Lessons, Building Community, & Refusing To Quit
The Midpacker Podcast›
Jun 5, 20261:37:29
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"Running is such an individual endeavor, but it is absolutely a community sport."
Sara Duncan didn't take the traditional path into running. She wasn't a standout athlete growing up and could barely run a mile when she joined her first run club in her twenties. Fast forward a decade and Sara is a trail runner, community builder, volunteer, and newly minted Hellbender 100 finisher.
In this episode, Sara shares how a canceled 30th birthday party during the pandemic turned into a 30-mile challenge that launched her ultra running journey. From her first half marathon to running the Cruel Jewel 50 as a qualifier, Sara's story is one of persistence, curiosity, and embracing the unknown.
The conversation dives deep into her first 100-mile experience at Hellbender, where a perfect race quickly turned into a masterclass in problem-solving. Foot pain, blisters, shoe issues, and an unexpected reaction to wool socks tested her resolve, but quitting was never on the table. Sara talks openly about leaning on her crew, pacers, volunteers, and the larger trail running community to make it to the finish line.
The episode also explores Sara's passion for community building through SNARC (Sylva and Neighboring Area Run Club), her one-for-one commitment to volunteering for every race she runs, and a fundraising effort supporting Vecinos, an organization serving farm workers and underserved communities in Western North Carolina.
In This Episode
Going from non-runner to ultramarathoner
The Yeti 30-for-30 challenge that changed everything
Running Cruel Jewel 50 to qualify for Hellbender
Building SNARC from the ground up
Why welcoming new runners matters
Lessons learned from a difficult first 100 miler
The importance of crew, pacers, and volunteers
Supporting Vecinos through Hellbender fundraising
Sara's Dirtbag Spinster Substack
Key Takeaway
Sometimes success isn't about having the perfect race. Sometimes success is simply refusing to stop moving forward.
Sara’s Links
IG: @dirtbagspinster
SubStack: https://substack.com/@dirtbagspinster
Relevant Links
Hellbender 100 – https://www.hellbender100.com
Cruel Jewel 50 – https://dumassevents.com/cruel-jewel-50
Trail Sisters – https://trailsisters.net
Vecinos Farmworker Health Program – https://vecinos.org
Raritan Valley Road Runners – https://www.rvrrc.org
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Sara Duncan, Hellbender 100, first 100 miler, ultra running, trail running, Cruel Jewel 50, Western North Carolina, SNARC, Sylva and Neighboring Area Run Club, community building, volunteering, pacing, crewing, Trail Sisters, Vecinos, Dirtbag Spinster, Janji, Injinji, blisters, foot care, resilience, ultramarathon, Hellbender race report, mid pack runner, endurance sports, Western Carolina University
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"#119 Sara Duncan | First 100 Miler Lessons, Building Community, & Refusing To Quit" is an episode of The Midpacker Podcast. Runtime 1 hr 37 min. Published June 5, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
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Quick FAQ
- When was this episode published?
- June 5, 2026.
- How long is this episode?
- 1 hr 37 min.
- What podcast is this from?
- The Midpacker Podcast. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.
- What does this episode cover?
- The Midpacker Podcast covers running. This episode runs on the show's regular cadence.
