# Harvey Lewis | The Mind Behind the Ultras

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/harvey-lewis-the-mind-behind-the-ultras
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/harvey-lewis-the-mind-behind-the-ultras.md
Podcast: [Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running](https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910)
Published: 2026-08-13T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.borderlands.cc/recent-podcast-episodes/harvey-lewis-what-the-best-ultrarunners-understand
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/e1de48c4-15c7-42ef-b5d6-78ce06b59299.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/episodes/harvey-lewis-the-mind-behind-the-ultras
Duration seconds: 2377

## Resource

Ultrarunning eventually becomes a mental problem. The body hurts, the race stops going to plan, and the question becomes what the best ultrarunners understand about continuing when quitting makes sense. Harvey Lewis has spent 30 years figuring that out. In part two of our conversation in Ohio, we get into the mental strategies behind Backyard Ultra, why different races require different mindsets, the failures that changed how Harvey competes, and what decades of Badwater, journey runs, and 200-milers have taught him about going farther than he thought possible. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here . Thumbnail photo by Romain Mayambi Topics / Timestamps 00:00 Harvey Lewis Intro 01:15 The Mental Game of Ultrarunning 10:47 Learning How Not to Quit 14:06 Different Mindsets for Different Races 16:55 Pilgrimages and Journey Runs 23:31 What Failure Taught Harvey Lewis 30:33 What the Best Ultrarunners Understand Resources / Links Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Borderlands.cc High Tones Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun . ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it. Watch on YouTube Read on Substack

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## Transcript

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