Everyday Ultra

How to Run and Train For an Ultra Without Sacrificing Your Life with Iris Sexton

Jan 14, 2026
Iris Sexton, a full-time working mom and dedicated ultrarunner, shares her journey from casual fitness to completing multiple ultramarathons without sacrificing family or career. She emphasizes the power of consistency over intense training weeks and the importance of voicing big goals. Iris discusses balancing motherhood with ambition and highlights her motivations, including modeling persistence for her daughters. She candidly recounts the emotional rollercoaster of a canceled race and advocates for immediate action towards personal goals.
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ANECDOTE

From CrossFit To Trail Running

  • Iris discovered ultrarunning after CrossFit-style training and a Spartan Ultra, then pivoted to trail races when obstacles felt unnecessary.
  • She said her first 50K humbled her but also sparked gratitude and a deep love for trail community and challenge.
ADVICE

Protect A Realistic Training Time

  • Prioritize what matters and cut or reduce activities that don't move you toward your goal.
  • Commit realistic time blocks (Iris used 1 hour 15 minutes weekday runs) and change sleep/bedtime to protect them.
ADVICE

Choose One Priority And Say No

  • Decide your non-negotiables and say no to lower-priority activities that steal time and recovery.
  • Replace previous habits deliberately; treat priorities as single-focused and be bought-in to stick to them.
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