Really thoughtful piece. One idea I kept coming back to while reading it: maybe the goal isn’t to eliminate ego, but to evolve our relationship with it. I’m not sure anyone reaches a world-class level in endurance sports or any sport without a strong ego somewhere in the equation: belief, ambition, competitiveness, identity. The challenge seems to be whether that ego stays a useful tool or quietly becomes the entire foundation of self-worth.

What gives me hope about ultra running is that the sport keeps offering opportunities to redefine success. Over time, goals may shift from proving something to building consistency, durability, connection, and joy. In that sense, maybe the healthiest runners aren’t the ones who lose their ego entirely; they’re the ones who learn how to place it in service of a longer, richer relationship with the sport.