Sara Eydmann - Ultra-marathon runner on attempting to run 500 miles, mental health and changing the narrative

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Sara Eydmann — ultra-marathon runner, counsellor and therapist based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

At 30 years old, Sara is no stranger to pushing her limits. From attempting to run 500 miles to taking on the North Coast 500, her journey into ultra-running has been anything but straightforward. But behind the miles is a powerful and deeply honest story about mental health, identity, resilience and learning to change the narrative.

Growing up as an only child, Sara was always active — until an eating disorder at 14 forced her to stop exercising completely. Years later, she found her way back to running, initially using it as a way to control her weight. During lockdown, her running became increasingly intense, driven and compulsive. With the support of therapy and a coach, she began learning how to train with more structure, balance and self-awareness — eventually making it to the start line of her first marathon in 2023.

Shortly after, she signed up for her first ultra.

In this episode, Sara shares her experience of being late diagnosed with Autism at 27 and ADHD at 29 (AuADHD), and how that diagnosis helped her better understand herself, her anxiety, and the way her brain works — particularly in high-stress, high-performance environments.

We dive into:

• Attempting to run 500 miles — and the reality of getting injured 256 miles in
• Managing anxiety at the start line
• Working with a crew and handling the overwhelming admin side of big challenges
• Dealing with a stress fracture and the emotional fallout of stopping
• The mental battle of ultra-distance running — self-talk, fear, surrender and staying rational
• The financial and logistical realities of funding endurance challenges
• Having her dad there for support
• Trusting the process instead of fearing the outcome

Sara speaks candidly about what it feels like to “lose your head” mentally during a challenge, the lessons she’s taken from injury, and how she’s learning to run from a place of curiosity rather than compulsion.

Now preparing to move to France for a year to focus on training, immerse herself in the culture and learn French, Sara is continuing to explore what’s possible — on her own terms.

This is an episode about endurance, identity, healing, and redefining success.

Trust the process. Don’t fear the outcome.

*there is mention of eating disorders and running for weight loss - we do not go into specifics 

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Show notes

• Who is Sara; 30 years old, Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Moving to France later on in the year
• Ultra runner and working as a counsellor and therapist as a day job 
• Mum to 2 cats 
• Late diagnosed with Autism (27 years old) and ADHD (29 years old)  (AuAHDH)
• Growing up as an only child and doing lots of sports at a young age 
• Needing to stop exercise at 14 due to an eating disorder
• Getting back into running over the past few years
• Training for her first marathon and managing the driven compulsion 
• Listening to her coach, not overtraining and being more structured in her training 
• Doing therapy throughout the years
• Only running to control her weight 
• How running got very intense over lock down 
• Making it to the start line of her first marathon in 2023
• Signing up for an ultra distance on a loop course on the month after.
• Her journey with anxiety and getting to the start line of races
• Getting to a point of just wanting to do - wanting to try and see 
• Shifting her mindset by surrendering to what could happen
• Reflecting on her first marathon in Scotland
• Being diagnosed with AuADHD and how it changed things 
• Muddling through life and finding school really difficult 
• Building her confidence to voice her needs
• Learning to understand herself more
• Running the North Coast 500
• Dealing with a stress fracture in her knee
• Wanting to take on this challenge
• Dealing with the admin side of the challenge and why it was so stressful 
• Making the best of the situation
• Road running and your bones…
• Getting injured 256 miles in….
• The lessons from the experience
• Figuring out the financials to fund a challenge like this with AuADHD
• Wanting to focus on the running 
• Being in a high stress, high performance situation 
• Running strategy for the challenge 
• Working with a crew and how it would work 
• All of the issues and challenges that came along
• The mental side of the challenge and what’s going on inside her head
• Self talk - you’ve got this - keep going
• Not hitting the wall, but mentally losing her head and not being rational anymore
• Having her dad there to support 
• Managing her fear and putting plans in place to manage them
• Making the decision to move to France for a year
• Spending time focusing on her training 
• Being introverted and wanting to immerse herself in the culture and learn french
• How can people follow along and connect with Sara
• Trust the process and don’t fear the outcome 

 

Social Media

Website: mind-and-miles.com

Instagram: @saraeydmann

Youtube: @Saraeydmann

Substack: @saraeydmann