An ultramarathon, any race beyond 26.2 miles, is one of the most absurd, beautiful, brutal, and enlightening pursuits I’ve ever encountered. It teaches one profound truth about life—you, I, and every human being on this planet are capable of far, far, FAR more than we ever thought possible. 

When I messaged Regina Peters, 60, for an interview, her response was exactly what I’d expect from someone with an ultra mindset.

“I’m currently in the midst of the Merry Vertmas Virtual Challenge 2024 hosted by Aravapia Virtual, where I aim to accumulate at least 150,000 feet of vertical climbing in 25 days,” she replied. “Maybe we can catch up after Christmas?”

Of the 210 participants, Regina claimed 1st place with a staggering elevation gain of 311,124 ft. For perspective, Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, stands 29,031.7 ft above sea level. In just 25 days, Regina climbed Mount Everest 10.72 times. Her total elevation gain converts to 59 miles, a mere 3 miles short of the Kármán Line, the boundary between Earth and outer space. 

“Forward is the pace,” Regina said. “As long as you’re moving forward, you’re moving, and that’s the goal.” 

Why run 100 miles?

Raised in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley, Regina Peters, the fifth of six siblings, earned a track scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley as a 200- and 400-meter sprinter. After graduating, she moved to San Diego as a CPA, joined San Diego Runners, ran a few half-marathons, and completed the San Diego Rock n’ Roll marathon ten years in a row. But upon crossing the finish line for the 10th time, Regina found herself in search of a greater challenge.

“My friend Christine, a fellow marathon runner, said, ‘I’m going to run 50 miles for my birthday,’” Regina recalled. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, you’re going to run 50 miles?!’ She was planning to run her age in miles. I said, ‘Okay, well, I’ll do it with you.’”

And the rest is history. 

Since then, Regina has run ten 100-mile ultramarathons. 

“My purpose is simple—I think I can do it, and I want to see if I can,” Regina said. “But I’ve found that many ultrarunners have overcome significant challenges—mental health struggles, abuse, addiction. People are out there for different reasons, and I can see how running an ultra gives them a way to fight those battles head-on.”

The traditional marathon is 26.2 miles long, and while it’s undoubtedly a test of endurance, you’re never truly alone. Supporters wave signs of encouragement, friends and family cheer, aid stations are plentiful, and hundreds, if not thousands, of runners run alongside you. 

Ultramarathons, however, are a different beast. Sure the aid stations are upbeat—cowbells, music, lights—and the community is incredibly supportive, but these moments of comfort are few and far between. Ultrarunners often find themselves deep in the wilderness, rising and falling along spine-ribbed mountains, cloaked beneath star-lit skies, winding through remote trails, and traversing vast, unforgiving deserts. It’s a journey that spans day and night, a test that offers the adventurer an opportunity to look within.

“You start with 200 people, but then, 60 miles in, it’s just you,” Regina said. “You don’t see anyone. It’s just you and your thoughts, running alone.”

“You don’t think about anything,” Regina adds. “And then you think about everything. You think about your childhood, something your mother said, it’s just—you get so stripped down emotionally in these races because you're pushing so hard and you're using everything. Everything comes up. You don't even know where it comes from.”

But as you breathe in and breathe out, you release the thoughts and experiences that no longer serve you. You listen to the beat of your heart, the sound of your breath, and the rhythm of your shoes on the trail. And most importantly, you’re putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward. 

“In ultras, it’s you against you,” Regina said. “It’s about how far you can let go.”

Become Ultra

"Okay, what’s hurting?” Regina said, reflecting on her most recent 100-mile race, the Machete Trail Madness 100. “Is it bleeding? Can I move? Okay, move."

This mentality gets a lot of backlash, but it represents the ultra mindset, a relentless determination to keep moving forward. And there’s a lot to learn from it. 

“You’ll hit wall after wall after wall, but you have to have the mental fortitude to bounce back every time,” Regina said. “It’s about staying in motion.”

“When I’m racing, there’s no such thing as ‘I can’t put another foot in front of the other,’” Regina adds. “I’m in this race to finish. That’s the mindset. I’m finishing.”

In an ultra, your mindset, no matter how strong, will be tested. Your quads seize, your calves cramp, your heart rate spikes, and your lungs gasp for air. Maybe you’ll start hallucinating at mile 73, or vomit like the demon straight out of The Exorcist. And it’s here, in this raw discomfort, where we question our purpose, doubt our abilities, and confront an honest and unmerciful truth—there’s no guarantee of success. Yet, even after all this, sometimes all we need is a reminder of how badass we really are.

“I always tell myself affirmations. I even write them down on little index cards,” Regina said. “Things like, ‘I was made for this,’ ‘My body can do anything,’ and ‘I’m not tired until it’s done.’ I keep them in my pocket so that when I start questioning myself, I can pull one out and read it.”

Achieving ultra means redefining failure. Many people see failure as a negative, but Regina sees it as the path to success. You have to fail to grow, lose to win, and get your ass kicked to kick ass. That’s why she makes a point to focus on what she calls trickle-down goals.

“If it’s a 32-hour race, I’ll aim for 24. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll shoot for 27. And if I miss that, just finish before 32,” Regina said. “Trickling the goals down helps you avoid disappointment. Some people get stuck on missing their first goal and spiral, but I don’t. I just move to the next one and keep going.”

Regina’s incredible achievements start long before she toes the line on race day. Her commitment to preparation builds the endurance and resilience needed to keep moving for 24 hours straight.

“I train almost every day,” Regina said. “If I’m not running, I’m in the gym.” 

“I also come to every race with a plan for the ‘what ifs,’” Regina adds. “What if I stub my toe? What if my watch stops? What if I run out of water? I already know what to do because I’ve thought it through. That way, nothing rattles me or throws me off my game.”

And finally, no matter how prepared, strong, or mentally tough we are, setbacks happen. 

“I had my first and only DNF (Did Not Finish) in 2022 during the Tushar 100K,” Regina recalled. “A legend in ultrarunning, Scotty Mills, told me to never be comfortable with a DNF because once you’re okay with accepting defeat, you'll start being okay with not finishing.”

“So I had to make sure that I really couldn’t go anymore,” Regina adds. “I gave everything I had, and I timed out. They had to pull me off the course.”

The Future Belongs To Those Who Believe

“There aren’t many women of color in ultrarunning, so I stand out,” said Regina. “I think a lot of people recognize me because of that. When I show up, I’m usually the only Black woman there.”

“I know Angela Shartel, the race director for the San Diego 100, tried organizing a meet-up to introduce people of color to the ultra community, but not one of them stuck,” Regina adds. “And it hasn’t changed. It hasn’t improved at all. I don’t know what it is.” 

How do we get more people of color involved in ultramarathons? Why does this sport remain predominantly white? Perhaps there’s simply not enough representation, or maybe systemic racism and inequality have long shaped limited access to outdoor spaces. Being the “only” in a race can feel isolating. And many people may tremble at the thought of running distances that push the boundaries of human endurance. 

Still, Regina believes the future of ultrarunning belongs to those who dare to believe in themselves. She knows her presence matters. Her story is proof that the sport can change, even if it takes one runner, one race, and one finish line at a time.

“I hope my story will inspire others to try an ultramarathon,” said Regina. “You have to let your guard down, it’s a real test of your resilience, and you find out who you are out there.”

What’s Regina Up To Now?

When she’s not training, you’ll find Regina at home, standing tall as she pieces together a puzzle by the warm crackling of a fire. Her favorite audiobook plays softly in the background, and the scent of freshly baked goods drifts from the kitchen. It’s the calm before the storm. A moment to recharge her mind, body, and spirit, before she, once again, toes the starting line on June 6th, 2025, for the 19th Annual San Diego 100 Mile Endurance Run. At 60 years old, Regina will be out there, racing the 32-hour time limit, putting it all on the line, embodying what it truly means to be ultra.