Breaking Barriers on the Treadmill and the Trails: Pierce Showe’s Ultra Journey and Leadville 100 Recap

Starting Small, Dreaming Big

Pierce didn’t step into ultrarunning overnight. He began like many runners do: testing his limits at shorter distances before curiosity pulled him further. Each finish line opened the door to a bigger challenge.

Over time, the mountains called, and Leadville became a bucket-list goal. He trained for months, stacking long runs and preparing for the high-altitude grind of the Rockies. The preparation was physical, but the real work was mental, learning to stay patient through setbacks and trust that progress builds mile by mile.

Leadville 100: A Test of Body and Mind

The Leadville 100 is legendary for its difficulty: 100 miles at altitude, with climbs over 12,000 feet and terrain that humbles even the best. For Pierce, the race became a proving ground.

He shared the ups and downs of the course: early excitement, the punishing climb to Hope Pass, and the late-race fight to keep moving forward.

“It was such a roller coaster of emotions. You feel amazing one minute, and then the next you’re wondering how you’ll take another step.”

Crossing the finish line wasn’t just about a belt buckle—it was about proving to himself that he could endure, adapt, and persevere when things got hardest.

From Trails to Treadmills: A Different Kind of Ultra

After conquering mountain miles, Pierce turned to a very different challenge: breaking a treadmill world record. Running indoors for 24 hours, he tested not just his legs but his patience, focus, and willpower.

Without the distraction of trails or scenery, the mental game became even more critical.

“On the treadmill, it’s just you and the numbers. There’s no downhill to coast, no scenery to pull you along. You have to decide, every minute, to keep going.”

He approached it with the same discipline as an outdoor ultra: a fueling plan, pacing strategy, and relentless forward motion. By the end, he had etched his name into the record books: proof that endurance isn’t limited by environment.

Fueling for the Long Run

One theme Pierce returned to was fueling. Whether in Leadville or on the treadmill, consistent nutrition made the difference between finishing strong and unraveling.

He detailed how he experimented with gels, real food, and fluids, adjusting as the hours went on.

“I had to be really intentional with what I was taking in. When you’re that deep into an effort, even small mistakes add up.”

Like many ultrarunners, he’s still learning and refining his approach, but his advice is clear: practice fueling in training, and don’t ignore it on race day.

Balancing Training and Life

Beyond the races and records, Pierce spoke about balance. Training for ultras demands time and energy, but he’s found ways to integrate running into life without letting it take over everything.

He acknowledged the sacrifices but emphasized the importance of perspective. Running is a passion, but family, career, and community matter too. That holistic approach has kept him grounded through the highs and lows of the sport.

Mental Resilience: The Real Key

More than training plans or nutrition, Pierce believes mental resilience is the key to ultrarunning success.

“At some point, your legs are done. What keeps you moving is your mind—your ability to sit with discomfort and keep choosing to go forward.”

That mindset has carried him not only through races but also through the challenges of everyday life. The ability to stay calm under stress, adapt when things don’t go as planned, and maintain perspective has become his competitive advantage.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Pierce trained for and raced the Leadville 100

• What it takes to set a treadmill world record

• Fueling strategies for ultras and long efforts

• The importance of mental resilience in endurance sports

• How to balance running goals with life outside of sport

Lessons From Breaking Barriers

Pierce’s story underscores that ultrarunning is about much more than miles. It’s about curiosity, experimentation, and growth. From Leadville’s mountain passes to the monotony of a treadmill belt, he’s proven that there are countless ways to test limits, and countless lessons to learn along the way.

Download this one for your long run this weekend 👇

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How Lagoon is Revolutionizing Sleep for Athletes with Ryan Hurley

From Swimming to Startups

Ryan grew up as a swimmer, defining himself by the sport from the age of eight through college. After years of staring at the black line at the bottom of the pool, he found new joy in running and triathlon as an adult. Endurance sports became his outlet, leading him to complete marathons, ultras, and an Ironman before setting his sights on a 100-miler for his 40th birthday.

At NBC Sports, he worked in business development and helped acquire companies like SportsEngine, a platform that now manages youth sports across the country. It was rewarding work, but Ryan kept feeling the pull to build something of his own.

Why Pillows?

The idea for Lagoon came from frustration. After yet another disappointing pillow purchase, Ryan started asking questions: Why were people treating such an important product as disposable? Why wasn’t anyone marketing sleep gear with the same intentionality as running shoes or nutrition?

Lagoon launched with the idea of personalization. Instead of selling one-size-fits-all products, the brand built a quiz that matches customers with the pillow best suited to their sleep style. That quiz became a breakthrough: customers loved the tailored approach, returns stayed below 5%, and word spread quickly through the running community.

Finding the Right Market

At first, Ryan tried to market Lagoon broadly, targeting mommy bloggers, interior designers, and anyone who might buy pillows. The results were underwhelming. The turning point came when his friend, professional runner Cory McGee, posted about Lagoon. Suddenly, sales converted at a higher rate, and Ryan realized he needed to focus on the community he knew best.

From there, Lagoon partnered with athletes and creators like Lindsay Hein, Kiera D’Amato, and Dakota Lindwurm. By staying close to the running and endurance sports audience, the brand built credibility and loyalty that other pillow companies couldn’t touch.

Sleep as Performance

One of Lagoon’s biggest messages is that sleep is performance. In the past, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” was considered a badge of honor, especially in high-pressure environments like finance or medicine. But athletes know better. Eight hours of quality sleep is now seen as a flex, proof that you value recovery as much as training.

Lagoon wants to make sleep optimization as fundamental to training as tempo runs or long rides. By reframing the pillow as performance equipment, not just bedding, the company is changing the conversation around rest.

The Economics of Pillows

Lagoon sells premium pillows with a five-year warranty, meaning customers aren’t buying them every few months. The average order value is around $140, with a lifetime customer value closer to $150–160. That’s strong compared to coffee or supplement brands, but it also means growth depends on lowering customer acquisition costs and introducing new products.

Ryan is candid about the challenges. Lagoon is bootstrapped with friends-and-family funding, and every decision must balance profitability with experimentation. He spends heavily on Facebook ads, podcast sponsorships, and influencer partnerships but always keeps a close eye on return on ad spend.

Lessons in Brand Building

Ryan has learned that brand matters as much as product. A pillow is not glamorous, but the story around it can be. Lagoon leans into community partnerships, authentic athlete stories, and email campaigns that educate people about sleep rather than hard-selling them on products.

The brand’s 14-day email welcome flow, for example, focuses on sleep science—deep sleep, REM cycles, and bedtime routines—so customers associate Lagoon with trusted knowledge, not just sales. By the time they’re ready to buy, they already feel connected to the brand.

Partnerships and Growth

Lagoon has experimented with partnerships ranging from giveaways with Oura to challenges like “Eight by Eight” (eight miles of running and eight hours of sleep for eight days). Ryan believes collaboration is the key to competing with larger, better-funded companies. By aligning with brands like Previnex or working alongside podcasts and running clubs, Lagoon taps into networks where athletes already trust the messenger.

These partnerships help reduce customer acquisition costs while strengthening brand affinity. As Lagoon grows, Ryan hopes to expand into more product categories that reinforce the brand’s mission: helping athletes sleep better to perform better.

Takeaways for Founders and Athletes

1. Start with the problem you know. Ryan understood sleep from years of 4 a.m. practices and endurance training. That insight gave him a head start.

2. Focus on your niche. Lagoon struggled when it tried to market to everyone. Success came when it doubled down on runners and endurance athletes.

3. Brand matters as much as product. A pillow can be ordinary—or it can be framed as essential performance gear.

4. Profitability is a constant challenge. Bootstrapped businesses must balance growth and cash flow carefully.

5. Sleep is the overlooked edge. Athletes chase marginal gains in every area, but rest remains the biggest unlock.

Looking Ahead

Ryan doesn’t see Lagoon as just a pillow company. He envisions a sleep and fitness brand that can stand alongside the biggest names in recovery and performance. For now, his focus is on building credibility, serving his community, and proving that even a humble product like a pillow can change the way athletes train, race, and recover.

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About Jon Levitt and For The Long Run

Jon is a runner, cyclist, and podcast host from Boston, MA, who now lives in Boulder, CO. For The Long Run is aimed at exploring the why behind what keeps runners running long, strong, and motivated.

Follow Jon on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.