Embracing the Ultra Marathon Journey: Mike McKnight’s Story of Resilience and Passion

Have you ever overcome a challenge that seemed insurmountable and discovered incredible beauty and potential on the other side? Today, we're introducing you to ultra runner Mike McKnight, a man whose story embodies resilience in the face of adversity. At Redmond, we believe the most incredible life experiences come from embracing challenges and pushing our limits. Mike's journey perfectly exemplifies this spirit, which is why we’re so honored to partner with him.

From bouncing back from injuries to overcoming a brush with kidney failure, Mike's story is a testament to the human spirit and what we can achieve when we push past discomfort. Prepare to be inspired by Mike's unwavering dedication and his ability to adapt and come back stronger.

From Hating Running to Accomplished Athlete

Mike wasn't always a star runner. In fact, he disliked physical activity growing up. It wasn't until his early twenties that he discovered running as a way to improve his mental well-being. But then, a serious skiing accident threatened to derail his newfound passion entirely.  

Mike shattered his L1 vertebrae and had surgery to place 2 rods and 9 screws in his spine. The doctor told him he’d be in bed for months and that it would take at least a year for him to be able to run again. But Mike defied the odds, starting to run just three weeks after surgery. 

Shortly after, Mike met a long-distance runner who introduced him to this incredible world of endurance challenges.

“He invited me to go running with him one day, and I instantly fell in love with the sport. I ended up signing up for and running my first ultra marathon just over a year after my surgery. I’ve been doing it ever since!”

In 2017, Mike reached a pivotal moment with his newfound passion. He received first place in the Triple Crown of 200s–three 200-mile races in just 60 days. He ran the fastest combined time between the three races.

Two years later, he signed up to compete again and not only beat his original Triple Crown time by 40+ hours but also won each race in the Triple Crown. Suddenly, he knew this was more than just a hobby. 

Pushing Boundaries and Discovering Potential

As Mike’s passion for ultra-running grew, he continued to push himself in new ways. In 2020, he decided to experiment with strength, endurance, and the power of his own body. He wanted to run 100 miles without consuming any calories and rely on his body’s fat storage, only drinking water and electrolytes. 

He was so dedicated to the concept that he didn’t want to take electrolyte capsules because they contain trace calories. This is when Mike discovered Redmond products. 

He bought Redmond Real Salt, bulk potassium, and bulk magnesium and made his own electrolyte mix. After completing his goal, multiple articles were written about him in Utah media. And luckily, someone here at Redmond Life read about Mike.

“They ended up reaching out to me and told me about Unflavored Re-Lyte. They sent me a bunch of Re-Lyte to try, and ever since then, I’ve been a loyal customer.”

The Greatest Comeback: A Race for the Ages

In ultra running (just like other areas of life), the greatest triumphs and greatest challenges are often sandwiched together within one rollercoaster of an experience. A great example of this for Mike was the 2023 Cocodona 250 race.

At the time, it was a 3-year race, and Mike had run it all 3 years. The first year, he had to quit and go to the hospital for premature kidney failure due to severe dehydration. The second year, he messed up his electrolyte intake. He was close to quitting, but he ended up pushing forward and finished. 

In 2023, he was ready to have the best race of his life, but the first 24 hours turned out to be miserable. He experienced everything from gear malfunctions to back pain to electrolyte-related stomach issues. He met his crew at mile 65 and took a nap. When he woke up, he planned on quitting, but his wife talked him out of it. 

At that moment, he was in 75th place and 10 hours behind the first-place runner. It was the furthest he’d ever been behind in a 200, but he had an overwhelming sense of confidence and determination. He decided to try and catch up and ended up making a major comeback. He captured first place with a marathon to go and went on to win, setting a course record. 

“People in the ultra running world have been calling this the greatest comeback in ultra running history. And it’s the most memorable moment of my career.”

Mind Over Mountain: Preparing for the Unthinkable

While running ultra marathons is far from everyone’s cup of tea, Mike believes his childhood on a dairy farm paved the way for his success in a demanding but rewarding field. Endurance running requires a huge amount of time, dedication, and sweat, and means a lot of sacrifice.

“Growing up on a dairy farm, I would have to go to bed around 10 at night, wake up at 2 in the morning to milk the cows, then go about my day as a student and teenager. I got very used to operating on little sleep.”

The mental and physical discipline he developed during his youth has helped him commit to a 15+ hours a week running, hiking, and lifting routine, and equally important, practice a mental fortitude that’s essential in anything as rigorous as ultra running.

“I spend a lot of time on my training runs visualizing my success. I think about all the low moments I’m going to have, then visualize myself pushing through those moments and getting to the finish line.”

Finding Your Own Finish Line: Advice for Life

Ultra running has profoundly impacted Mike's life. It's helped him discover so much hidden potential and has taught him to appreciate the power of pushing his limits.

He believes that amazing things happen when you let go of fear and embrace the unknown, so he continues to do that.  This year, he’s going after a project he calls the Big 5—running five 200-mile races from May to October. 

Next year, he’s going after a speed record on the 800-mile Arizona Trail. And in the next 5 or so years, he wants to go after the Trans Con Record by running from California to New York.

Mike's message to aspiring ultra runners, and really, everyone is simple: "Do it! Don't let fear stop you. It’s always scary. Comfort is a waste of potential. Get out and discover your potential."

We, here at Redmond, couldn’t agree more, and we’re proud to call Mike our partner and friend. Go, Mike!

Want to continue following Mike’s journey? Check out his Instagram.

Ready for another inspiring story? Read about Redmond Life partner and professional CrossFit athlete Ricky Garard.