KHC 216 - Mark Dowdle

Mark Dowdle - American ultramarathon runner and endurance athlete from the Minnesota area. He played football and lacrosse at the University of St. Thomas before taking up running after college. 

Mark has become particularly known for backyard ultras, in which runners complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour until only one runner remains. In 2026, he won the Arrowhead 135, the Wausaultra Backyard Ultra, and the Last Soul Ultra in Germany, where he completed 94 loops - about 395 miles over 94 hours.

He also won the 306-mile BPN Go One More (G1M) Ultramarathon earlier in 2026. His Last Soul performance has put him on the 2027 Big Dog's Backyard Ultra Individual World Championship roster, where he currently holds a 94-loop qualifying performance. 

Follow Mark:

https://www.instagram.com/mark.dowdle/ 

Follow along:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronrhanes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cameronhanes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camhanes/

Website: https://www.cameronhanes.com

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Mark’s Backyard Ultra Race

00:09:43 – The Spirit of Competition: How to Get an Edge

00:13:44 – What if Ello was Courtney Dauwalter?

00:20:35 – Preparation & a Mental Edge

00:27:16 – Mind Games During the Backyard Ultra Race

00:31:26 – Rivals: Self Discovery

00:33:27 – Mindset Shift: Dark Moments Are Only Temporary

00:40:57 – Why a Good Crew is Important

00:46:40 – Disbelief, Struggle, & Being Honest with Yourself in Races

00:59:37 – 24 Hour Backyard Simulation & Strength from Others

01:05:02 –  Rewards: Earning, Chasing, & Suffering

01:12:38 – Using Pain to Foster Beauty in Life

01:21:10 – Building a Dream on Faith & Hard Work

01:28:27 – Working with BPN

01:31:10 – rappid. Sponsorship and Speedland Shoes

01:34:37 – Taking 159 Souls: Backyard Ultra

01:36:47 – Publicity & Limits in Competition

01:46:30 – Howling in Races: Where it Started

01:48:23 – The Average of the Last 5 Years of Races

01:50:04 – Inspiration from Mike Egan

01:53:36 – Negatives in the Ultra Running Space

01:59:00 – F**k, Marry, Kill: Backyard Ultras, Lacrosse, or the Calendar Club

02:02:11 – Living and Navigating a Life of High Standards

02:05:46 – Hunger to Reach High Goals

02:09:27 – What Mark Wants to Instil in His Future Children

02:11:22 – Final Thoughts

Thank you to our sponsors:

Ketone IQ: Visit https://www.ketone.com/Cam and use code CAM for 30% off your subscription order PLUS receive a free gift with your second shipment - or find Ketone-IQ at CVS stores nationwide and get $5 off your first 6-pack for a limited time!

Hoyt: http://bit.ly/3Zdamyv use code CAM for 10% off

LMNT: Visit https://drinklmnt.com/cam for a free sample pack with any purchase

Grizzly Coolers: https://www.grizzlycoolers.com/ use code KEEPHAMMERING for 15% off

ALP: https://alppouch.com/ use code CAM for 10% off your first order

Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/ Use code KEEPHAMMERING for 10% your order