Transcript

Don Saladino (0:01)

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Fleur Summers (0:03)

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Fleur Summers (2:15)

Blind Nil Audio I remember the first time I spoke to you on a zoom. I remember I said I'm an ultra runner and you laughed. And then you said to everyone, I'm not laughing at her. It's just that ultra runners are just wired differently. They're wired differently and that's when I started. It helped me to start reframing how I saw myself and I think that when you come into a sport like ultrarunning, you've got to be able to be tough. You've got to be able to back yourself as well. And that's what was always missing for me.

Summary

Podcast Summary: Stronger with Don Saladino

Episode: From Beginner to Ultra Runner | Fleur Summers’ Inspiring Running Story
Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Don Saladino
Guest: Fleur Summers – Ultra Runner, Running Coach, and Community Member

Overview

In this compelling episode, Don Saladino welcomes ultra runner and coach Fleur Summers to delve deep into her journey from self-described non-athlete to a 100-mile ultra marathon runner and influential figure in Don’s challenger community. The conversation traces Fleur’s roots, battles with weight and self-worth, and her evolution through setbacks, perseverance, and the transformative power of community. The discussion uncovers what “strength” truly means—far beyond physical feats—and how proving yourself “right” with the backing of a supportive group shapes both habit and mindset.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Fleur’s Beginnings: From Non-Athlete to Runner

Fleur’s early struggles with weight and sports:
- Grew up as an overweight kid; her mother was 300–350 pounds.
- Not athletic, always last in school races, would find excuses to avoid running.
- Quote: “I would always say I left my bat in the car and just miss the entire running warm up.” (06:20, Fleur)
Turning point (2012):
- Spontaneously decided to try running—ran 4K on day one, 5K the next.
- Found surprising joy and peace in running Auckland’s historic Lydia coaching trails.

2. Mental and Physical Transformation

Community Influence and Belief:
- Joined Don’s group during a dark period: lost job, mother was terminally ill, felt lost.
- Drawn to the group for its non-serious tone and support.
- Key moment: Fleur says the support made her reframe how she saw herself, “I started reframing how I saw myself … when you come into a sport like ultrarunning, you’ve got to be able to back yourself as well. And that’s what was always missing for me.” (02:15, 22:21, Fleur)
From last place to ultra marathons:
- Ran her first ultramarathon after two years of running; has since lost 100 lbs.
- Has run races as long as 100 miles in a single stretch, embracing the “boring” and grinding nature of endurance running.
- Quote: “I have a high boredom tolerance. Good run training is boring. You just have to put the miles on your legs.” (08:49, Fleur)

3. Building Mental Resilience

The challenge of monotony and night runs:
- Fleur thrives in environments and routines others resist due to mental toughness.
- Discusses night running safety as a woman, including a near-scary encounter where a car slowed and stopped unexpectedly.
- Insights on problem-solving and using running as therapy or meditation:
  - “If you’ve got a problem and it’s still a problem after a long run, you know it’s real.” (11:03, Fleur)
  - Podcasts help her combat loneliness on nighttime runs.

4. Joining Don’s Challenge Group: The Power of Support

Origin story:
- Found Don via Instagram, appreciated his sense of humor. Joined group at her lowest point to focus on health.
- The group was pivotal: “I couldn't have done it without you,” she tells Don. Don counters that she was always capable—she just needed the support. (20:28, Fleur & Don)
Proving people right (not wrong):
- Don’s coaching reframes internal narratives:
  - “We don’t believe in ‘prove them wrong’, we believe in ‘prove them right’. There’s always someone in your life… maybe there’s someone that believes in you—prove them right.” (02:48, 22:51, Don)

5. Embracing the Process: Training, Failure, and Adaptation

Transformation highlights:
- Weight loss of 100 pounds while running up to 50k/30 miles per week, even before optimizing training or nutrition.
- Extreme improvement in both physical endurance and mental fortitude.
- Learning to handle setbacks: After a DNF (Did Not Finish) and finishing last, she almost quit, but the group and Don’s feedback reframed these as learning experiences.
- Notable Quote:
  "Your transformation physically is almost as amazing as your transformation mentally." (16:25, Don)
Importance of strength training:
- Initially told by coaches NOT to strength train (“it’ll slow you down”), she saw performance improvements, reduced injury, and much faster recovery when adding resistance work.
- Emphasizes muscle endurance and “body armor” for ultra runners.
- Encourages runners she coaches to add 2–3 strength sessions per week.

6. Nutrition for Ultra Running and Body Composition

Caloric needs and fueling:
- Highlights how under-fueling (1,800 kcal/day) undermined performance.
- Currently eats over 3,000 kcal/day at her leanest, with adaptive eating depending on training cycles and race weeks.
- Quote: "It’s ironic that at your leanest, you were eating the most calories.” (25:02, Don)
Fuelling strategies:
- Tailors nutrition for races and heavy training—balances clean eating with strategic indulgence (e.g. pizza, creamy pastas before race day).
- Trial and error helped, as everyone responds differently; what works for one can be disastrous for another.
Debunking food myths:
- Points out Michael Phelps analogy: elite athletes can’t get by on “clean eating” alone due to calorie volume.

7. Mindset for Endurance—Overcoming Hurdles

Coping with pain/mental lows:
- Ultra races are a series of “problem solving” exercises. It always gets tough, but rarely always worse.
- “You have to decide: are you hurt, or are you hurting? If it’s just hurting, toughen up and get through it." (34:25, Fleur)
- Quote: “If you go in expecting it to feel good the entire time, you’re going to crash and burn.” (56:00, Fleur)
Community’s role in reframing mindset:
- Moved from being motivated by “proving people wrong” to being fuelled by support—“proving them right”.
- Don compares her mental toughness to his top celebrity clients and world-class athletes.

8. Notable Running Feats and “Backyard Ultra”

Backyard Ultra explained (30:10):
- 4.1 mile loop every hour on the hour, until only one runner remains.
- Recent world record: 119 hours (500mi). Fleur and Don discuss the mental and physical freakishness of record-holders.
- Memorable Moment: Fleur recounts creating a “Karaoke Train of Awesomeness” at 70k into Tarawera (singing the Always Sunny in Philadelphia musical and taking song requests while running through the night). (58:08, Fleur)

9. Race Calendar and Coaching

Upcoming Events:
- Next up: Tekapo Ultra 50k in NZ, Kepler Challenge (her ninth!), Tarawera 100-miler (aiming for a sub-25 hour), aiming for UTMB in France (100mi, 30,000ft of gain).
- Coaching business growing; now the official coach for Kepler Challenge.

10. Listener Q&A Highlights

Mental Hurdles in Ultras (53:24):
- Acknowledge the pain, remember past hard moments, use support (even something like, “Do you think Don trained someone who can’t run this hill?”).
Role of music and podcasts:
- Music by day (old school/80s rock), podcasts by night for company. Maintains a 14-hour playlist for ultramarathons.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Every great athlete, I feel like almost has a little bit of a screw loose.” (07:32, Don Saladino)
“If you’ve got a problem and it’s still a problem after a long run, you know it’s real.” (11:03, Fleur Summers)
“We don’t believe in ‘prove them wrong’, we believe in ‘prove them right’.” (02:48 & 22:51, Don Saladino)
“You run 100 miles like it’s a normal person running out three.” (03:41, Don Saladino)
“Your transformation physically is almost as amazing as your transformation mentally.” (16:25, Don Saladino)
“Are you hurt or hurting? If you’re just hurting, toughen up and get it and get through it.” (34:25, Fleur Summers)
“It never always gets worse.” (27:44, Fleur Summers)
“I couldn’t have done it without you.” (20:28, Fleur Summers)
“When you come into a sport like ultrarunning, you’ve got to be able to back yourself as well. And that’s what was always missing for me.” (02:15, 22:21, Fleur Summers)
Karaoke Train of Awesomeness: Singing the Always Sunny in Philadelphia musical through the night with fellow ultra runners to stay motivated and connected. (58:08, Fleur Summers)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic or Quote | |:-------------------:|:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:15 | Fleur reframes her self-image with the ultra running community. | | 06:20 | Childhood avoidance of running and sports. | | 11:03 | “If you’ve got a problem and it’s still a problem after a long run, you know it’s real.” | | 14:01 | Finding Don’s content and joining the challenge group. | | 16:25 | “Your transformation physically is almost as amazing as your transformation mentally.” | | 20:28 | Fleur/Don on why support is essential for change (“I couldn’t have done it without you.”) | | 22:51 | “Prove them right” vs. “prove them wrong” mindset shift. | | 25:02 | Discussing calorie intake and body composition at peak fitness. | | 34:25 | “Are you hurt or hurting? … If you’re just hurting, toughen up …” | | 53:24 | Listener Q&A: Overcoming mental barriers during ultra marathons. | | 58:08 | Karaoke Train of Awesomeness at 70k into a 100-mile race—singing Always Sunny musical. |

Tone and Style

Language/Tone: Warm, candid, humorous; direct and supportive, focused on real stories and practical advice.
Atmosphere: Conversational, motivating, and at times, vulnerable—grounded in lived experience.

Conclusion and Takeaways

This episode is a blueprint for personal reinvention—showing how radical transformation (physical and mental) can begin at your lowest moments. Fleur’s journey from self-doubt and “back of the pack” to ultra finishing lines is a powerful case for finding (and leaning into) communities that believe in you. Listeners will leave with a deeper understanding of the discipline, mindset, and joy that can come from pushing past monotony, reframing self-identity, and being surrounded by positive reinforcement.

Key lesson: True strength is about consistency, community, and learning to back yourself—even when the odds (and negative voices) say otherwise.