Rach McBride

How did you get started in Ultrarunning?

I started running marathons in my late 20s. A running mentor said I'd be good at triathlons so I did my first race at age 28 and never looked back!

Do you have a special pre-race ritual?

I have a very specific schedule I set out the day before for race morning so that I don't have to think about (or forget!) what I need to do from when the alarm goes off to the start line.

Do you have any tips for recovering after a race?

Get some food (protein and carbs) in as soon as you can. Minimize the post-race booze - it can have a big negative impact on recovery! Don't expect to sleep well after long races - that's really normal.

On the days when you don’t feel like training, what inspires you to keep going?

I think of the big picture - my goals for the year and all the people who support me. I don't want to let them down!

If you could, what advice would you give to yourself at the start of your running career?

Have the courage to take it easy and recover between workouts! You don't need to fill every moment of your day with doing something. Be lazier :)

Do you have a song that gets you hyped up to run, race, or train?

Continuo by Dmitry Selipanov and Opensound Orchestra

Besides running, what are you passionate about?

Inclusion in sport, making sport accessible to ALL people.

What is your favorite Topo shoe and why?

Specter! It's so light and responsive. I feel so fast in that shoe!

Why Topo?

The natural foot shape, lower variable drop options, and an amazing company to work with that prioritizes doing good in the world. I'm a Topo fan for life!