Everyone participating in a BADWATER race – the iconic ultramarathon series created and produced by Chris Kostman, the sport’s most consequential race director – receives a welcoming smile from Erika Small. Erika started her own career as a professional cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders. A beloved member of the BADWATER staff who raised two amazing children and manages a successful real estate practice in the Greater Sacramento Area, Erika completed the BADWATER Ultra Cup last year. At age 52, she placed 4th Overall in the BADWATER-Cape Fear 51.4-miler on the sandy beaches of North Carolina’s Bald Head Island; 1st Place Overall in the grueling BADWATER-Salton Sea 81-mile team race from the Mojave Desert to the summit of Mt. Palomar; and 11th Place Woman in the BADWATER 135, widely considered the world’s toughest road race, from Death Valley to Whitney Portal.

While balancing family, training and competition, and professional excellence, Erika somehow found time to become a pioneering leader in the non-profit world. She created the Run It Forward Project in which she and a cadre of fellow ultramarathoners ran first from Chicago to Santa Monica, then from Orlando to the Mexican Border, raising money and awareness for struggling public schools with students living in poverty. A fighter for equality in education, Erika Small embodies what it means to find and make meaning in life.

LINKS

Badwater

https://www.badwater.com/

Run It Forward Project:

https://youtu.be/1PiH49HzdMA?si=OSMn24Ozdfq1YeAj

https://youtu.be/xxwdkzulESM?si=ndi-5MpMhRuEKnr3

You can learn more about Troy Eid here:

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Headed into the 2026 Cocodona 250-Mile Ultramarathon, Kilian Korth was repeatedly marginalized by some commentators – disrespecting not just him and his achievements, but all of us who compete regularly in 200-mile ultramarathons. Korth went on to become the fastest-ever male to finish the Cocodona 250, finishing in 57:28:36 and placing second overall to fellow Coloradan Rachel Entrekin, who shattered the course record – beating Korth by 1 hour, 18 minutes and 48 seconds.

In this Special Edition of CHASING THE CUTOFF, Troy Eid – a pacer for five-time Cocodona finisher Paul James Johnson, who placed Third Overall in the 60-69 Age Group, in this year’s Cocodona 250 – explains why those who keep throwing shade on Korth’s pathbreaking achievements in 200-milers should instead give the resilient 30-year-old Coloradan his due. After sweeping the Triple Crown of 200-milers last year, Korth’s record-breaking performance at Cocodona represents another step forward in human potential. The stubborn fact is that 200-mile trail-racing is entering a new era with a field of emerging champions who are every bit as worthy as the more familiar faces we know and admire.

Links:

Rachel Entrekin and Killian Korth on their Cocodona 250 wins in 2026 (Everyday Ultra Podcast):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb3R8BILxk8

Kilian Korth – 2026 Cocodona 250 Post Race Interview with Hilary Yang (Mountain Outpost Podcast):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Je5c4jTROk

Pre-Race with the Cocodona 250 Champs (Next Aid Station Podcast):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqnsLiFykzk

2026 Cocodona 250 Preview: Analysis, Storylines, Predictions (Singletrack Podcast):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs7O4wszNvs

Mastering the 200: Kilian Korth’s Blueprint for Cocodona (Aravaipa Running, Flagstaff Bound, Episode 7):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXj8i5Kx77w

Kilian Korth (Keep Hammering Collective with Cameron Hanes, Episode 164):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLgIoFuZNrY

Kilian Korth on What It Takes to Win the Triple Crown of 200s (Everyday Ultra Podcast):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjyYAjrEigQ

Have 200-Mile Ultras Earned Their Place in the Sport Yet? Kilian Korth Weighs in (Singletrack Podcast, Feb. 4, 2026):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXj8i5Kx77w

You can learn more about Troy Eid here:

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South Dakota’s Barry Sackett is a runner’s runner: A versatile and highly accomplished Marathon Majors road-racer; a run-streaker who hasn’t missed a single day of training in nearly two decades; and a veteran single-tracker who placed 6th Overall in the Cowboy 200-Mile ultramarathon. He’s also a leader in Sioux Falls’ legal and civic communities, balancing a cutting-edge law practice with relentless public service.

Barry Sackett:

https://bassford.com/team/barry-s-sackett/

The Pickle Podcast with Barry Sackett:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3qeMtdNxhzZQoPq7NAqtJs

The Cowboy 200:

https://ultraversesupplements.com/our-races/the-cowboy-200-ultra?srsltid=AfmBOop05zmvi7_CyPIqsQKcVbCDT-V1AMPWWrfQh4iNaJJQ5wWutjM-

You can learn more about Troy Eid here:

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You can learn more about Greenberg Traurig, LLP here:

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