Extraordinary Strides

Ultrarunning in Costume: 300+ Marathons and Counting with Charlotte Corriher

• Christine Hetzel • Season 3 • Episode 48

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Ever wonder what it takes to run 300+ marathons in full costume? Meet Charlotte, the runner who's redefining what's possible in both endurance and race day fashion.

Charlotte brings a refreshing perspective to ultra running that blends serious mileage with joyful celebration. Unlike many elite runners, she didn't start until her mid-30s after making lifestyle changes for better health. What began with simple run-walk intervals around her hometown loop evolved into an extraordinary journey through every U.S. state and beyond. Her approach to marathons—seeing "America 26.2 miles at a time"—reflects her philosophy that the journey matters as much as the finish line.

What truly sets Charlotte apart is her unwavering commitment to costumed running. Her motto—"head to toe, start to finish"—means she never sheds costume pieces, no matter the distance. From a three-tiered birthday cake with PVC pipe infrastructure to a space shuttle costume developed with her mom (an accomplished seamstress), Charlotte transforms races into performance art. When fellow runners inevitably ask at the finish, "Did you wear that the whole race?" she takes pride in always answering "Yes."

Charlotte's signature move happens at the 100K mark of ultras: her "Fireball dance" complete with Pitbull music and shared shots has earned her the nickname "Fireball Fairy" in ultra running circles. This blend of endurance and celebration perfectly captures her approach to the sport. As an UESCA certified ultra coach, she emphasizes proper pacing and mental resilience over obsessing about speed.

Now with her sights set on joining the exclusive "100 100s Club" (only about 32 people worldwide who've completed one hundred 100-mile races), Charlotte continues to embody how extraordinary achievements can come from finding joy in the process. Follow her journey on Instagram @marathoncostumechic or join the community at Disney Day Drinkers Running Team to witness how sparkle and grit can coexist beautifully on the ultra running trail.

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Coach Christine:

Welcome back to Extraordinary Strides, a podcast that celebrates the sparkle in your stride and everyday athletes doing truly epic things. I'm your host, coach Christine, and today we are going full throttle into the world of sequence, finish lines and serious ultra marathon mileage. My guest is someone who defies description, but I'm going to try anyway. She's an UESCA certified ultra running coach, a beloved admin of the Disney running team, the rainy raining queen and running. So it's a little bit of both of race day costuming and, oh yeah, she's run over guys, seriously 300 marathons, and I'm going to ask her to clarify if it's over 300 marathons and if that includes her ultras. But we'll, we'll find out, but that's not a typo. You didn't miss here Over 300 and counting.

Coach Christine:

Charlotte knows how to chase big goals while keeping the fun dial turned all the way up. So grab your sparkly visors, pour yourself a mimosa, or maybe you're making a tailwind cocktail. Settle in, because we're about to cover everything from pacing plans to, of course, how to costume on the run. Charlotte, welcome on in, it's so great to have you back. Oh, thank you so much, christine. I have so many questions because I am absolutely fascinated by your story. I want to know a little bit of a backstory first, but let's get right to it. Let's break the ice. What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever run a race in and did it survive all the way to the finish line and beyond?

Coach Charlotte:

Well, I've got a few, and kind of my motto is head to toe, start to finish. So I always, when I'm going in with a costume, I don't make any plans on, you know, dropping a prop or maybe taking a layer off I am committed for the full race, no matter the distance. There have been a few times that things got a little complicated or chafing started to happen, so I always carry extra like safety pins and things like that where I can pull something up, um, you know, but there's never been one that I've been absolutely miserable about. Um, usually if it is, it's just because of the heat and whatever I have on is too many layers or too heavy and it just weighs down on me.

Coach Charlotte:

Um, probably the one that really affected my run was it was one called um farm days. It's on a farm and so I was a horse and so I had this huge horse head on top, not just a hat, just this huge horse head, and, um, it was a 24-hour race, so over time, in the heat of the day, that just kind of really got to my head, um made my shoulders and back hurt, so so I didn't get quite the mileage I wanted on that one, but I still committed and kept to the costume the whole time.

Coach Christine:

Okay, I want to hear about this mantra, this core belief of yours. I feel like it's a super ingrained in your, like your psyche, as to if you're going to commit. You're going to commit all the way. Is that how you do everything? Is it full throttle all the way, or is it pretty much?

Coach Charlotte:

for your running, okay, yeah, pretty much personality yeah, okay, yeah and so when I, you know, I'll show up to a start line and and I'm ready, and the reason I do this, you know, start line to finish line is because people are going to come up to me and say at the finish line, did you carry that the whole race or did you wear that whole race? So I know, going into it, that's going to be the question I'm going to get. So I'm prepared to say yes. Uh, you know, show up to the start line. Are you going to carry that? Are you going to? Yes, I'll see you at the finish line.

Coach Christine:

I mean, I love your level of commitment to it. There is no doubt I thought that I was committed to running sparkly, but you definitely take it up a notch, which also you have in your running journey as well. Before we dive into your backstory, though, I must know is there a drink that you feel captures your running personality specifically?

Coach Charlotte:

You know I love during a race. I am am not shy, especially when you get into the ultras where it's you know longer distances, longer times you're out there. You just get tired of water and gatorade. So I love a good cold beer, and sometimes I don't care if it's hot beer, just something that's a different taste than water and gatorade. Um, also, kind of going into the ultra world, especially with the group I run, with a lot of races called Yeti Trail Runners, it all seems to be the drink of ultra runners. So, pretty much known as the fireball fairy, I always have some fireball on me to share with everybody and I'm known for doing my fireball dance at you know a longer race. When I hit the 100K mark, I always stop, play the song by Pitbull and do a little dance and share some fireball to get me the next little bit of the race.

Coach Christine:

So does this dance only happen at the 100K mark?

Coach Charlotte:

Typically, yeah, I mean, if it's a shorter race and I'm not going to get to that, I'll find some way, you know, in the race or some monumental mile, or you know, maybe I'll take a break and go back out and have some fireball to get me going. So but you know, it's the 100k mark usually on a lot of races that I really like to hit the fireball.

Coach Christine:

Okay, so whoever wants to really see is going to have to commit to I think that translates to about 64 miles.

Coach Charlotte:

Is that accurate 62. Yeah.

Coach Christine:

Okay, that's wild. Okay, how did this get started? Like, how, how were you an athlete in school? Did you start cross country? Tell me where this all began. You're, you're like runner origin story, essentially.

Coach Charlotte:

Well, you know, I was never the athlete in high school. You know I was. You know I did some cheerleading, did some ice skating, but nothing really. You know where I consider myself an athlete. Didn't really start running until I was in my mid to late 30s. I had put on those extra pounds well after college and just decided I needed to make a lifestyle change to be healthier. And I actually lost most of my weight doing other things, other little workout routines. But then when I lost the weight, I had confidence to get out where I lived.

Coach Charlotte:

There's this little thing called the loop and it's just, you know, it's kind of loop around the city, as in Wrightsville Beach, north Carolina, and started out, you know, just run, walk a mile, walk a half mile, run a half mile, walk a half mile, just doing some intervals like that. And as soon as you say, oh, I'm going out for a run, people are like, oh well, there's a 5k coming up next month, why don't you do that? Oh, you got to do this 10k. So you know, as soon as you label yourself as a runner and I believe that no matter your pace, your speed, your distance, if you're getting out there, you're a runner. I don't believe in jogging.

Coach Charlotte:

It's all running, so once you kind of label yourself as a runner, then you get drawn into the actual race activities and that's a good way to keep motivated, keeping something on the calendar and having a goal in sight.

Coach Christine:

Okay, so do you remember your very first commitment to maybe a race that scared you a little bit? And do you, charlotte? Are you a mere mortal? Do you actually have fears when it comes to running?

Coach Charlotte:

uh, yeah, I mean I started off just doing some local 5ks and 10ks. Uh, just south of me is charleston, south carolina, and they had the very infamous Cooper River Bridge Run, which is like the second largest 10K in the US. So that was kind of. My first goal was I want to run over that bridge and you know, being here on the coast, we don't have a lot of hills, Our bridges aren't quite that big and you can't really run on them here in Wilmington. So you know I was very nervous about running up that bridge. But you know it was like one of those things just conquer your fears. You're not going to know if you're going to like it or not until you go out and do it.

Coach Christine:

Okay. So we went from that to. I would say maybe it felt a little bit more of I won't say casual running yet, but we're definitely not in ultra territory. Where did it start to spiral into your first marathon, your first marathon turning into an ultra? And then tell us more about this 300 plus club that you're part of? It's a lot there.

Coach Charlotte:

Yeah. So again you're running the half marathons. At this point Somebody's like, oh, when, when are you going to run a marathon? I'm like, oh, yeah, never. But then I found the local team and training program. When are you going to run a marathon? I'm like, oh, yeah, never. But then I found the local team and training program, which, as you know, is a coaching program that's a fundraiser for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. So my first marathon was Disney World 2006.

Coach Charlotte:

So I did that through the team and training program and I just became addicted. You know that running for a purpose just became so much more fun. And you know the group of people that we had here in our area that continue to, you know, train for these events. You know I spent several sessions with them and did several events, and so that's kind of where the marathon addiction started. Then, you know, you always find that people are going to say, when you hit a goal, what's next? So I had to keep on thinking of what's next.

Coach Charlotte:

So, traveling to races and doing some of these races, I met a lot of people in the 50 States Marathon Club like, oh, that's a great goal, run a marathon in every state. And when I went into it. I knew it was not going to be something I wanted to crank out fast, because a lot of these states I'd never been to so I didn't want to just fly in, do a marathon and then fly back. I wanted to go see North Dakota, go see what there is to see in South Dakota and enjoy the state. Also, another one of my running kind of catchphrases is seeing America 26.2 miles at a time.

Coach Charlotte:

So I really wanted to enjoy that journey.

Coach Christine:

Okay, and, of course, you know when you're wrapped up, go ahead. Oh, I was going to ask. So at this point, have you done the 50 states or are you still working on that?

Coach Charlotte:

I completed that in 2018. Okay, so that's kind of what led to the ultras was, you know, I'm getting to this big goal that I had been working on for many years. So what's next? Many years, so what's next? When I, at that point, I live in Charleston and there was a great group of runners that I ran with and they're talking about these ultras, I'm like, okay, I've heard of them and I'd actually done one at that point, when I lived in the Florida Keys, I ran the Florida Keys 50, but then focused on, you know, doing the state. So just like, okay, now I think this is a new challenge, so started running, you know, some 50 Ks, 50 milers, and, of course, somebody tosses out well, there's a great 100 miler in Tennessee in August. Don't you want to do that? And that was the furthest thing on my mind up. Are you kidding? August, 100 miles, no, thank you.

Coach Christine:

Exactly what I'm thinking. Absolutely not Empathically.

Coach Charlotte:

But then of course, I signed up.

Coach Christine:

Okay, go ahead. And for punishment, that must be the key, absolutely there, okay. So at this point, florida Keys 50 is your first ultra. You tapped into a couple of others before you made it your way to your first hundred miler in Tennessee. Is that true? Am I following the story, florida?

Coach Charlotte:

Keys 50 was in 2015 and it kind of positioned itself doing the 50 states. We find that, you know, it's hard financially to get this done, especially the way I wanted to do it and be able to travel. So we would do things called doubles and triples. So the first weekend in May I had a marathon in Wisconsin and in Michigan on the same weekend, so that's a double weekend. And then a couple of weeks later was when the Keys 50 was happening. And then a few weeks later after that was when the Bear Lake Triple, so a marathon in Idaho, wisconsin and Utah in three different days.

Coach Charlotte:

So the 50 kind of lined up perfectly for training. But then I said, you know, as I said, I kind of sat back and finished the States, said I kind of sat back and finished the States and then in 2018, when I completed that again started off with, you know, some 50 milers I think was my first one and that would have been in February 2018. And then that one popped up in August of 2018 that I signed up for, so you know, started doing some ultras at that point just to kind of to build up to that hundred miler doing some ultras at that point, just to kind of to build up to that 100 miler, do you?

Coach Christine:

can you possibly pick a favorite on any of the distances at this point?

Coach Charlotte:

uh, you know a favorite distance I love the 100 miler. Um, a lot of them I'm finding that I'm actually it's not a hundred mile race. I do a lot of fixed timed races. So a couple of weeks ago I did one called Stevie's Roost, 48 hour, and 48 hour is the perfect time frame, I think, for me to be able to go enjoy, not be crushed by, you know, is the clock chasing me.

Coach Charlotte:

Am I going to finish a hundred miles? I'm able to, since it's over two nights, you know, get two to three hours of sleep maybe each night, and I know I can't say it's. There's a phrase, there's no such thing as an easy 100 miler. They're all tough but you know I go into that one a little bit more confidence of I have the time and if it gets hot or if it starts raining or if I get sleepy, I can take a break and still get the hundred miles in. So you know that's what I'm really kind of focusing on now are, you know, hundred mile races, but with ones that have a generous time limit.

Coach Christine:

Okay, okay. So I am curious because, again now, so you're part of a very elite club of folks that have done over the 300 marathon distance. Does that are some of those ultras as well, or are they separate? Do they have to be a sanction 26.2 for it to count towards that?

Coach Charlotte:

I do keep that 306 number which I hit as of this past weekend. It is total marathons and ultras combined. They are all organized races. These aren't training runs. They are organized races that I've registered for, paid for, trained for, traveled to and committed to the miles there. So I think the split is about. I think 126 of those are ultras and the rest are just regular marathons ultras and the rest are just regular marathons.

Coach Christine:

Is there anything that you still see out in the horizon when talking about the what's next that you're still a little intrigued by you want to consider doing?

Coach Charlotte:

There is a plan. It is a very loose plan and it may not happen. I mean, there's so many other things. I used to always say I wanted my six stars by the time I was 60. I wanted seven continents by the time I'm 70. And you know a lot of that is just the financial burden of you know, the commitment to getting those in.

Coach Charlotte:

And then, as you know, you know, getting into some of those races for the six stars, um, world majors, is complicated, um, a lot of them, you know, are hard to get into, whether you um either, even if you try to fundraise for, like Boston, for example, that's a big commitment, um. So I wanted something, let's say, a little bit more realistic, but a little bit more my speed, as you mentioned. So, with the 300 marathons, there's what's called the World Mega Marathon List, and so they keep a list of all the people in the world that have submitted that they have completed 300 marathons, and there's a North America list as well, kept by the same team. So you know, that was a great goal to get to and I think, you know, I wish I could remember the numbers off the top of my head about how many people have actually hit that. Not a lot, you know, not a lot in the world and not a lot in the US. But there's this really really small club that I want to get into.

Coach Charlotte:

But there's this really really small club that I want to get into. It's called the 100 100s club and that is a list of the people that have done 100, 100 milers and right now I think there's just 30, you know kind of changes every month or so because you know people are starting to hit that and People will hit it more frequently now that 100-milers have become more popular and there are more of them. But right now I think there's only about 32, 33 people in the world that are on that list. So doing the math, I think it's possible. I'm definitely going to have to take, you know, do more of those 48-hour races.

Coach Charlotte:

Kind of the ruling is the 100 miles has to be run within 48 hours. So I'm at 34 right now, so I'm a third of the way there and that took me about seven years. So even if the last two take me 10 years each or the last two thirds take me 10 years each, another 20 years that'll push it up there. But you would be amazed, I go to some of these races and there are upper seventies, 80 year olds, they even you know there's a gentleman who's 90 something years old who still can crank out those miles. So that gives me hope that that may eventually be possible.

Coach Christine:

I have zero doubt of that. I'll never forget my first race that I did, where I thought that I was going to let the older gentleman kind of pace me, where I was like if I just keep up with him for like maybe the first half I'll be slow and conservative, I'll be able to finish strong, blew me out of the water. There is just we have so many incredible athletes, especially as we know more about nutrition and feeling and all those different things, and just some people just have just incredible genetics. So that's amazing and I can see you tackling that. So the next logical question is is there anything, charlotte, that you wouldn't do? Like you see an escape of running and you're like, no, I'm not doing that. Like that's the one thing that I will not cross. I can't see that going hand in hand with your personality.

Coach Charlotte:

I'm limited, again, by my speed and my ability to train on certain terrains. As I said, I live at the coast so I don't have hills. I can do parking decks or some other things, but I don't have a very convenient place to train on terrain. You know rooty, rocky trails. So that kind of hinders my capability to do a lot of races. And I said, my pace I'm fine, I have no qualms about being slow, it doesn't bother me, I'm still out there. And you know, sometimes people say it's actually harder to run 100 miler in 35 hours versus doing it in 18 hours. So you know I'm out there, just you know same distance and now I'm out there longer, right, yeah. So there's a lot of races that I would love to do but I just don't think I would be able to do it in the time limit required by the race.

Coach Charlotte:

30 hours is typically, you know, kind of the standard for ultra, ultra marathons for 100 milers. You know, so kind of what we call the Super Bowl of 100 milers is Western States endurance run. You have to run another race to qualify, to get in, and then it's a really tough lottery. I would love to run western states. But I think you know I would know going into that that I don't. I know I probably can't run that race in the 30 hour time limit. So you know it's it's always a goal, and then I'm not saying that I would never try it. But you know I just I don't think I have. You know the terrain and the ways to train that and plus the altitude out in California where it's run. You know I love that idea but I just got to be realistic that I don't think it's in my wheelhouse.

Coach Christine:

So that leads me to the next question, and I don't know how I'm going to stop this interview, because I have three gazillion questions that honestly come into mind. Do you consider yourself a roadrunner, a trail runner at this point, because so many ultras are trail or they're mixed in terms of the actual territory or the terrain that you cover, or do you just consider yourself a runner and that's it?

Coach Charlotte:

I think it's just a runner. I think it's just a runner If I had to choose between the two. I mean, I'm really good at road running, even ultra distances. There's several that I have done that are all pavement, all concrete, and I think I feel more confident in that. I have a nasty habit of falling. I'm not the most gracious and graceful runner. I've had to drop out of a race before because I had to leave and go get medical treatment. So I love trail running. It's just so much more fun. But there's that, you know, those roots and those rocks that make me nervous and so I tend to slow down my pace because of that and again, that gets me in. That backs me in that corner of what's the time limit? Am I going to be able to make it, knowing what's going on out there?

Coach Christine:

Yeah, I feel you on this specifically because when I look at things that like I want to tackle, I have to be very careful of what I sign up for in between, because an injury could potentially take out three, four, five, six months worth of races that I've already planned or paid for. And I'm more so for you because you have practically a race every single weekend, so I could understand where there would be a little bit more trepidation of anything that would consider have that of a possibility for you, which, of course, leads me to the next question. So I'm hearing that that was a potential did not finish due to medical. Have you actually started a race and thought, no, this is just not it. I just I'm not. Today's not my day. I'm going to have to have a DNF without the need because of medical or injury.

Coach Charlotte:

No, I mean honest. Honestly, I've. I've been told that I have a very strong mental game. Now, granted, 15, 20 miles in. You're like, oh man, I am just 15, 20 miles in, I got 80, something to go. Does it go through my mind? Yes, of course, and I'm like but I, I'm able to push through and get past that mental wall. It's not as much the physical wall, it's the mental wall of you know. Yes, this is going to suck. Running 100 miles is not easy and so, yeah, I've always managed to push through. Again, going to these fixed time races, one of the benefits is that there's no DNF.

Coach Charlotte:

You know like the 48 hour race I ran two weeks ago I could have done one lap decided yep, not my day, I'm going to stop and still be considered a finisher. So that is the advantage of you know the timed races, so a little bit more mental comfort zone there that you know that you're still going to get a finish. But I still have my goal of kind of the distance I want to get. There have been times that I've, you know, went in, went in thinking okay, I'd love to get 100k, only came out with 50 miles or you know any kind of combination of that. But I still go out there and keep trying.

Coach Christine:

So what came first? Did Charlotte have a natural grittiness and resiliency, or is that something you feel like you developed through your process of running?

Coach Charlotte:

I think it's a little bit of a blend. I mean, I've always been pretty. You know, organized is the word I like to use, but it's not as really organized, it's just a planner. You know, I go into race with a plan and if it doesn't happen, I'm always good. You know, if it doesn't work out the way I want it to or the way I planned it, I'm always good at spinning it and I'm like okay, well, you know, now it's raining, now what? Okay, well, here's what I'm going to do if it rains. So I always have planned so much as far as you know what I can do in life in general. And I think that kind of translates to running to where you know you go in with a plan. You know you go in with a goal, but you always have your B goal and your C goal just in case.

Coach Christine:

So I'm having difficulty of like pulling away from this conversation because I feel like there's just so much that I mean literally when, when can we sign up to watch a full documentary of your experiences, Cause there's just so much to tap into. But I definitely, for the listeners, want to make sure that we talk a little bit about your costumes as well, because, again, especially for folks that are more into run Disney, we see a lot of elaborate costumes, and I'm not taking away any of those incredible folks that are out there running the marathons or dopey or anything in all of those beautiful, incredibly elaborate costumes. But, my friend, you've taken it a step further with some of your elaborate costumes and again spanning some really incredible distances. So I need to know what's that one costume and it's so hard because you have so many that has gotten the biggest reaction from spectators or fellow runners.

Coach Charlotte:

I think it was probably the birthday cake. I was running the Little Rock Marathon, I think, 2012. It was on my birthday and my mom who is an amazing seamstress and can make anything and she makes a lot of my costumes she made me this three-tiered birthday cake and so it's a lot of PVC involved, which led to complications when I needed to take off my sweatpants because it got warmer or when I needed to go to the porta potty Spoiler alert. That did not happen because that PVC was not fitting in the porta potty. Um, spoiler alert. That did not happen because that pvc was not fitting in the porta potty, so I just had to hold it. Um, but yeah, so that was probably. Um, that's one of my iconics. I put it in the top five. It's hard for me to pick a top costume, but it's definitely one of my top five favorite costumes and the probably some you know one I'm most known for okay.

Coach Christine:

So I'm hearing that your mom's not just a seamstress. It sounds like she has a little bit of engineering in some of these feats as well. Would you say that your skill set has developed more, so as you continue to learn from her as to when she develops this, or do you kind of just start with the concept and turn it over to her?

Coach Charlotte:

It's definitely a partner project. You know I come up with an idea She'll give me. You know, here's how we could probably make this work. Here's the material that we should use to make this work. You know there's been times where like that's not what I wanted, but okay, this is the best we can do. So, like my space shuttle design for Space Coast Marathon. That took me a while to get that and it still has some design flaws that if I ever were to wear it again, I needed to work out those kinks. But yeah, it's definitely a partner project of you know, here's what I want, here's what I'm looking for and you know here's what's in her capabilities to make and you know how can we get to the finished product.

Coach Christine:

Are most of your costumes handmade, custom made, or have you ever been like? You know what? I'm short on time. Amazon to the rescue, or is that not how you roll?

Coach Charlotte:

Amazon definitely is my, my savior. Okay, just because you know like when I in in the Charleston marathon I'd always wear a Southern bell dress. You know, like when I in the Charleston marathon I'd always wear a Southern Belle dress. You know the full hoop skirt, crinoline, everything. And my mom could easily make one of those, but the time and effort to do that I could not.

Coach Charlotte:

She's you know I couldn't afford to pay her to do this. Not that I'm paying her, but I can't take her away from her full-time job of making. She makes window treatments and elaborate curtains and things like that. It would just be so time consuming and extensive that you know that was a little bit too much of a project for me to ask of her when I'm doing two to three costumes a month. So I've definitely. You know we'll find things on Amazon A lot of times. It's let me get those on Amazon but let's tear it apart, rebuild it so, like a lot of my dopey costumes from this past year were basically buying on Amazon, tear it apart, make the pattern, add the sparkles, sew it back together.

Coach Christine:

Okay. So you're very efficient, I would say, with your time. So if you have to tap into some of those things, you will Efficient with your mom's time, of course. What is like some advice you'd give to folks that are starting to tap into costume running, maybe have some trepidation about it, something they should consider, a few things maybe they should consider about costume running you know it's just start out small.

Coach Charlotte:

I mean easy. You know people, you know you can add a tutu and tiara to pretty much anything. Um, even just you know something small to carry. You know, just practice what I always say practice what you are planning on running in. I never that myself, but I always suggest that you practice in it. And you know, as I said, just start out small and it's like okay, well, that wasn't miserable. Um, now you know this, next time let me add another, you know, element or another layer to just to see how comfortable you can get, and also just be wary of, or be cognizant of the weather. You know it could be. You know this race has always had 60 degrees, 60 degrees, but the day you show up it may be that rare 80 degree day. So you kind of have to have a plan of if it gets really hot, what am I going to do? Or the opposite, if it gets really cold, what kind of layers can I add on? That aren't going to complicate the costume.

Coach Christine:

And incredible advice here. I love also and I feel like this is a great time to pivot into you started off with you should try out the costume, but I don't really ever do that myself, which leads us into our coaching sometimes, which is do as I say, not as I do. So as an USCA and I think I pronounced that right USCA certified ultra running, yep, which is the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy, so you're an ultra running coach. Tell us a little bit about how do you blend your love of running, because it feels like there's. You bring so much joy to this aspect of movement and this aspect of your life. Well, you bring joy to everything, I'm sure, but how do you balance that for yourself and your athletes with also serious, smart training?

Coach Charlotte:

Well, the coaching, you know, getting my coaching certificate was mostly driven by me wanting to expand my own personal knowledge. You know, I wanted to learn more about, you know, the physicality of running and you know just kind of what can I learn to make my running better. I'm kind of known as the enabler. You know, I'm the one who always like, oh, here's a great race, why don't you join me at this? So, you know, when I tend to convince people to run their first ultra, I'm, you know, tending to get a lot of questions. You know, well, how do you fuel for this? Or how do you, you know, prepare for different terrains? And what about? You know, the different things that you're going to, you're going to engage in or be exposed to with an ultra.

Coach Charlotte:

So, you know, I found that I was giving out a lot of advice and sharing my experiences with people, and so I thought, well, that's, you know, kind of the natural progression is. I want to have the confidence in what I'm talking to them about and have it, you know, be backed by. You know, it's not the title really, you know, ultra running coach, it's just the, you know, the knowledge of. At least I have have some experience in reading and other. You know, just pulling the experience from the US program into what I'm sharing with anybody that I work with.

Coach Christine:

So I love to hear that and I'm curious does your training plan include the official fireball celebratory dance? Like, do we get that in part of our training plan? It's like we run a training run. It's always optional, it's always optional.

Coach Charlotte:

You know I do toss in. You know the things that I do. Here's what works for me. You know it doesn't work for everybody, but you may want to try this.

Coach Christine:

So let's talk about some of the advice that you have given for folks that are tapping into that ultra running aspect of where they want to go. Maybe what's the one mistake that you see runners make when they go from marathon to the ultra distance?

Coach Charlotte:

You know it's kind of one of the same things that happens in regular road races is going out too fast. I mean, when you're running a 24 hour race you can go out at breakneck speed. You've got to learn to pace yourself and you need to not be as concerned about your pace, your running pace, unless you have a specific time goal. If you've got a time goal and you want to finish this 100 miler in 24 hours, then yeah, you need to know that overall pace and you need to know what the time cutoff may be for a race. You know if it does have a 30 hour time limit, you need to know kind of what your overall pace needs to be. But people just go into like breaking down every single mile of. I need to be running this speed.

Coach Charlotte:

Yeah, it's just that ultra running seems to be a little bit more relaxed for the average average runner. You know, not that podium people, but just average runner is a little bit more relaxed and laid back. So you know, going into it with a mindset of you know this is going to be fun. It may be painful at points but it's going to be fun and going in with a relaxed attitude, not just taking off and you know, like banking time or whatever. So it's totally a different mental game than just regular road running.

Coach Christine:

I love that advice. I think that that's something that actually, while it is a different mental game than traditional distances or road running races, I would still say that it does apply to so much in life where don't always be in such a rush. Even like going back to your personal experience of you decided to tackle the 50 states in a more leisurely pace, Cause I know I have a friend who tackled it like a year and a half and I thought the exact same thing. I was like I don't know that I would want to go to these states and just tap in basically for a race and have to leave. So I love that you appreciate like kind of really enjoying the journey of it, whether it's tackling goals or tackling the ultra distance, and it sounds like to just having a bit of a plan. But being flexible with the plan is kind of what I'm hearing you say as well.

Coach Charlotte:

Exactly, and that's kind of even going back to the 50 states. You know, nowadays there's a marathon in every state, on every corner, every weekend.

Coach Charlotte:

When I started that journey, you know there were only so many marathons in South Carolina. There were only so many. I think there was literally only one in Rhode Island. Because you know they were trying to find one so people could do the 50 states. Because you know they were trying to find one, so people could do the 50 states. So back then you know, if things happened which they do on occasion, storms, snow in South Carolina, which put everybody, you know, on alert, you have to be able to pivot at that point. So nowadays you know it's a lot easier to do the 50 states quicker because you know there are companies that put together these strings of you know, five states, five days, six states, six days. So it's a lot easier to find them than it was back when I was doing it.

Coach Christine:

Yeah, same with seven continents. It used to be again. It was like an impossibility and a hundred thousand dollars to tackle Antarctica. Now you can pretty much find a tour company that will plan all seven of them, put on a race for you, kind of a thing. So I definitely think that there's been an evolution of making some of these goals a little bit easier. Also, some of the goals are getting harder, as you mentioned, with the world marathon majors getting more and more difficult to get into. What is before we tap into all of the silliness and fun, because I definitely want to make sure we talk about some of the amazing aspects of Disney Day Drinkers running team. And then I want to have a couple more questions with you. But what's the biggest changes you've seen in running in your time or the running community?

Coach Charlotte:

You know, over time again, people seem to be like when I started running in the early two thousands, you know, I was really only exposed to the road, road running aspect of it. So it took me, you know, 15, 18 years before actually not quite that long um, before I got exposed to the ultra world. So just looking at, you know, road running back when I started, I think now it's um, a lot more it's. It's. I think it's not as hard of a goal as people think or meaning a lot more people are willing to like, yes, I want to run a marathon, maybe I may be a one and done, I may only do one. So I think it seems to be more of an accepting sport and people of all paces, all shapes, all sizes and all ages.

Coach Charlotte:

I think a lot of people are, you know, now thinking, you know. You know marathon marathoning is not, you know that fast paced running that you know you see and think of when you think of Boston and the Olympics. It is more of a welcoming sport and a lot of races are making accommodations, you know, for people with extended time limits. You know they understand that some people just can't run a five hour, six hour marathon. So some marathons are offering, you know, more accommodating time limits, which is great, because even if you are trained and if you are a fast runner, you can have a bad day and things could go wrong and you may need more time that day. So I think that it's great to see races that are very welcoming to all forms of runners people that run walk, people that just walk races so I think that's one of the great things that I've seen in races since I've started running. So I think that's one of the great things that I've seen in races since I've started running.

Coach Christine:

I agree wholeheartedly and I love that welcoming inclusive energy which, of course, naturally segues perfectly into the Disney Day Drinkers running team.

Coach Charlotte:

Tell me what you feel makes this running team so special and how you got involved with them. Well, you know, I mean, what's not fun about Disney and what's not fun about enjoying some cocktails? So, um, yeah, I mean it's. It's been one of these um projects that I'm so happy I got involved in and it's going on. I can't remember how many years now, but so, if you are familiar with the, the regular the disney day drinkers club, it is a facebook group and it's kind of built to promote people going to disney world and you know it's not about just drinking around the world and getting sloshed. We know we are not the people showing up on the videos that you see of trying to climb, you know the, you know the, the tower in Mexico, and you know getting off in Small World trying to take a bath or something like that.

Coach Charlotte:

You know our kind of the concept is Disney World is an amazing place All the parks, all the properties and there are some amazing cocktails, bartenders, restaurants, food experiences there. So it's all about going and enjoying that responsibly. You know, kind of the concept is let's you know, let's get to know the bartender. So in this social network of you know, oh, you know, my favorite drink is a dark and stormy. Who's got the best dark and stormy, you know, at Disney properties or, you know, or Disney at the parks, so kind of what naturally led into that.

Coach Charlotte:

It was my friend, skip Shearer, who started the Disney Day Drinkers Club and I've known him for years and you know, part of the Disney world are the races that run Disney marathons, half marathons and all the races at all the parks. Well, of course, when I kind of saw that little subculture of the Disney Day Drinkers starting, skip reached out and asked if I would help support the team. I'm like, of course, you know, anything to get me to talk about running and drinking and running and drinking. So it's been a great. You know, we really expanded, as Christine knows, she is also one of the admins there and we do some fun stuff with the group. And you know it's more about Disney and drinking, it's about running and just, you know, sharing that passion for both of those topics with a group of people.

Coach Christine:

I think what I love about it is it's like it. It's a group of folks who really get you like a hundred percent, because these are people who know what it's like to be in the queue or decide to skip the madness of the queue for the run Disney registration with charity we are familiar with, definitely, definitely aspects of the charities and, of course, with what we do at the Disney Day Drinkers. We're very closely aligned to Kelsey's Hope and love them over there and all of the incredible aspects of what they do. So it really is kind of combining our love of community of running of Disney, because there is something a little special about that 2 am wake up call to go run the parks or even just being in the Epcot parking lot. So I do think it is an incredible place. I do think it is incredibly welcoming.

Coach Christine:

I think another thing that what I've seen changed so much in it and even in the main club, is that you don't have to consider yourself a drinker to really be part of it and enjoyable with the different outings that we have, because the outings are so varied between the main club and the running team as well. But it does lead me to so knowing that Run Disney was your very first marathon. If you could sit down with the great folks at Run Disney and be like you know what, it's time Charlotte should plan this, knowing that we are amidst somebody who has such a great planner. What would your dream theme for a race weekend be?

Coach Charlotte:

Oh, you know, that's tough. Because here's the thing I am OG Disney. I mean, I grew up, I have to admit you know, in the late sixties. I was born in the late sixties, you know. So I'm a seven years old and I am all about.

Coach Charlotte:

I just know the OG, you know the who, and Eeyore and Tigger, you know, and Donald and Daisy. So it's funny because I really get intimidated when I go to races because you know I'll see these costumes or amazing costumes and I'm like I have no idea who that is. I mean, I have no clue. You know, I haven't haven't seen a lot of the you know more recent movies as many times as I've seen the older ones. So you know I'm an OG fan and so I love just going back old school and I think they do that enough, you know when. You know like, especially when like princesses, you know there's the OG princesses, snow White and Cinderella, and there's the newer ones. So you know, but I'm just an OG fan, I just love, you know, old school. You know kind of feel to Disney.

Coach Christine:

I love that about Marathon Weekend. I feel like it is a really good great like homage to the classic characters, specifically with Marathon Weekend, since we do have more of the classics that weekend. But you basically just described my running experience with any of my gal. Pals will be running and they'll want to stop at a character and I'm like I have no idea who that character is. And then, of course, there's a lot. There's a lot of shocks, gasps and maybe some feelings of disgust, but thankfully they're willing to accept me for all of my flaws. That's okay, though. That's what's so great about, again, the D3 running team is that we are welcoming and inclusive, and, hey, if you know those characters that we don't, we would love a little mini education on some of them. Okay, my friend, a little rapid fire round, just a short one to wrap things up. What's harder? Mile 90 of the 100 miler or waiting in line for margaritas at Epcot?

Coach Charlotte:

Oh, that's a tough one. I mean mile 90 is, you know it's what we call in that world like 85 to 90 is what's called the pain cave. I mean mile 90 is, you know it's what we call in that world like 85 to 90 is what's called the pain cave. I mean, you feel like you're so close, you're only, you know, 10, 15 miles away. It's kind of the same thing. Standing in line, it's like, oh, you feel like you're so close to that counter to order the drink. So you know, I think that my philosophy would be you know, at mile 85 or 90, grab a beer and, you know, take a walk break, and then same thing. You know there's nothing wrong with grabbing a beer and having it drinking and standing in line for your margarita.

Coach Christine:

You took my advice. I was like I have no advice for anyone for the 100 miler, but for the waiting in line in margaritas, you come prepared with a drink for that line. Yes, oh, my gosh, again, brilliant. This is the kind of really practical life advice that you get when Charlotte's in your circle and truly all you have to do is jump on into the Disney Day Drinkers Facebook group because she'll share all this with you. Do you have a running mantra?

Coach Charlotte:

I do, and it's the same thing. As you know, pry out everything before you run in it. I break this often, but it's no excuses. You know there's so many times, well, I don't want to run because it's raining. Or, you know, I want to stop now because my hip hurts. Or, you know, I'm just going to sleep in today because I need the rest. You know there are valid excuses out there. You know there are things that you know sometimes you need that mental break and you need that sleep in day and you need to experience running in the rain. But you know, sometimes it could be dangerous. So you know it's kind of loosely modified or, you know, loosely modified but depending on the situation, but it's no excuses. There's so many reasons that you could stop a run, that you could not show up to a race, that you could quit early, but you just got to get past that. So you've got to get past these excuses of why it's not going to happen. So, yeah, no excuses.

Coach Christine:

I think this is where it starts to really get into maturing as a runner and as a person and learning what to extricate what's just BS and what's a valid for safety or a necessity for mental health, physical health, whatever the case may be. So, yeah, I do love that. I love that it's pretty again, short, sweet and to the point. Just like Charlotte, I feel like everything in your life is a little bit like that. If you had to say that you would be sponsored tomorrow by, like, a food company, a sports company, who would that sponsor be and why?

Coach Charlotte:

Oh well, I would love to get a shoe sponsored, because you know that's a lot of money, that for running shoes, and I do go through quite a few pairs every year. But I jokingly have um on my instagram a video or reel that's called why I never get a shoe contract, and it's because I always tend to have my shoes covered up with, you know, dinosaur feet or you know mickey's feet or you know some kind of unusual shoe covering. So I know I'm never going to get a shoe contract. Fireball would be ideal.

Coach Christine:

I mean why haven't they come calling yet?

Coach Charlotte:

Yeah, I would love it.

Coach Christine:

Okay, so we now know Fireball needs to come calling. I have to say, where are folks following you? Are we following you on Instagram? Are we joining in the D3 running team and connecting with you there? Where do folks find you?

Coach Charlotte:

Definitely. I would love to invite everybody to join us on Facebook and on Instagram at the D3 running team. So on Facebook it comes up as Disney Day Drinkers Running Team and if you want to follow me personally, my Facebook is Charlotte Corrier and I'm sure Christine will get my name out there. But the more fun stuff happening is happening on my Instagram. Marathon Costume, chick C-H-I-C. So you know that's where I post my costumes.

Coach Charlotte:

After every race I do these kind of little fun reels about sneak peeks into a costume. If I've got a race coming up, I'll do a little reel that's called what's it going to be, where I'll, you know, kind of give you a little insight into the making of the costume and tell you what the race is. So you see, if you can figure out the connection to the race, all my costumes are themed towards the race, whether it be the name of the race, the mascot of the race, the city, the state. Sometimes it's seasonal, like around the holidays it's, you know, good to toss out some good Christmas outfits. So just love, you know, kind of giving people, because people always ask what are you going to wear or is it a secret? So that's why I started the what's it going to be reels?

Coach Christine:

Those are a lot of fun. They definitely add a lot of like just a good little connection with the guessing, and I'll have that in episode notes, of course, so that you guys, if you are running or if you're out there and you can't stop, you definitely want to give Charlotte a follow. There's so much joy and levity as to as you can tell everything she brings to the table. Thank you so much for taking time to chat with us. I feel like I just like just tip of the iceberg with how much knowledge you have and how much great stories you have, but thank you for joining us today.

Coach Charlotte:

Well, thanks so much. As you know, I love talking about running, I love talking about races, I love talking about Disney races. So, yeah, maybe towards the fall, when the Disney races start cranking up, we can do a whole episode just talking about costumes and planning costumes for the Disney season.

Coach Christine:

Yes, you have an open invite. You just tell me when you want me to be ready with the microphone and I am with it because, again, you have so much information to share with folks. So, friends, if you want to learn more about Charlotte's coaching, her costuming tips or how she keeps that crown so straight while logging triple digit miles Still absolutely incredible Check out those show notes for the links and, of course, join us over in the Disney Daydreamers running team, where the hydration is always present. It's just maybe sometimes a little questionable as to what's going to be in there. The vibes are always immaculate, though. So until next time, keep striding toward the extraordinary and never forget a little glitter goes a long way.

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Christine Hetzel

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