Episode 139: Revisiting the pursuit of excellence with Western States champ Abby Hall

Episode 139: Revisiting the pursuit of excellence with Western States champ Abby Hall

From Trail Society by Keely Henninger

June 23, 2026 · 1h 10m

About this episode

Keely Henninger revisits her conversation with Western States champion Abby Hall about growth, grit, and the pursuit of excellence in ultra running.

This week, ahead of Western States this weekend, we're revisiting and re-airing our conversation with last year's champion Abby Hall — about growth, grit, and what it means to chase excellence over a long period of time. They talk about: Abby's evolution through a decade in the sport How she found her footing in ultras and her relationship with the 100-mile distance And, of course, the long road and many setbacks before last year's win What does it mean to care deeply, race boldly, and keep showing up? There's a vulnerability to racing at the highest level and a tension women often face between being competitive and being perceived as too much. Follow Us: FeistyFest Details and Registration: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/ @feisty_media @trail.society Support our Partners: Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://www.tifosioptics.com Use code TRAILSOCIETY for 15% off any Vacation Races event at https://www.vacationraces.com Good Ranchers: Subscribe and get $25 off your first order with the code IRON at goodranchers.com rabbit: Visit https://www.runinrabbit.com/ use code: JULYTRAIL10 for 10% off. Mentioned in this episode: TifosiJune Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off…

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