Ep: 55: Anything’s possible: How Amanda Cooper flipped the script on life

When Amanda Cooper first started trying to run at 17, her relationship with exercise became intertwined with an eating disorder that led to hospitalization. Returning to a healthier place took time and work, mentally and physically. When she started running again in 2025, her reasons were different. She was doing it for herself—for who she’d been and who she wanted to become. In this episode of Through Their Stride, Amanda (@send_me_no_hills) joins Sam Sutton to talk about recovery, running 11 marathons in one year, and the burnout that prompted her move to ultramarathons. She shares the story of an eventful 100-mile race, the serious challenges she encountered along the way, and what finishing as the first overall woman meant to her. We also talk about finally achieving her Boston-qualifying goal with a 3:10:58 marathon on September 12, 2026—and why the meaning behind those miles matters beyond the finish line.