Record-Breaking Run Fueled by Mashed Potatoes and Minimal Sleep
Rachel Entrekin completed the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon in Arizona with a record time of 56 hours, nine minutes and 48 seconds, setting a new overall course record and winning the race outright, including against male competitors.
Her unique approach to nutrition and rest played a crucial role in her success. Entrekin credited mashed potatoes and just 19 minutes of sleep during the race as key factors in breaking the course record.
"Somewhere around mile 200, I slept for five minutes at an aid station," Entrekin, 34, told the morning after her victory. "Then around 230 miles, I took two seven-minute naps on the floor. And food, it's impossible to say how much I ate but as far as real food goes, I had a lot of mashed potatoes.
"Mashed potatoes are the best. You get tired of chewing and you don't want to expend any extra energy doing that."
In addition to mashed potatoes, Entrekin consumed energy gels, sweets, rice, and broth throughout the race. Despite the grueling distance, she was able to sprint to the finish line.
After the race, having slept from 11pm until 6:30am, Entrekin spent the morning refueling and supporting other runners as they completed the course.
She was backed by a six-person support team, including her parents. This victory marked her third consecutive win at the Cocodona 250, having previously won the women's races in 2024 and 2025.
"Men and women obviously have very different skillsets but in an event like this, it comes down to so much more than just fitness," Entrekin said.
"Your attitude and your ability to combat stress is so important, they are at least as important as how physically fit you are, so I think the field is just so much more levelled at something like this."
Challenging Course and Personal Growth
The Cocodona 250 is regarded as one of the most demanding ultramarathons globally. The course stretches 250 miles from the Sonoran Desert through Sedona and ascends the hills of Flagstaff, with a total elevation gain of approximately 38,800 feet.
Entrekin, now a professional trail runner, previously worked as a physiotherapist. In past years, she returned to work the day after competing in the Cocodona races.
Her time last year was 63 hours, 50 minutes and 55 seconds. She attributed her improved performance this year to a desire to overcome the negative mindset she experienced after the 2024 event.
"I actually did not like the person that emerged from that challenge," Entrekin explained.
"I finished, I won the race, but I was really in a negative headspace, and I wasn't excited. I didn't see what I had just done.
"So coming back in 2025, one of my huge goals was to be a person that I could stand behind when I got to the finish line, no matter what place that was in.
"This race is an excellent opportunity to find out what type of person you are over the course of, you know, breathtaking scenery and lots of rocks and eating a ton of snacks!"
Training and Future Plans
Entrekin describes her training regimen as "non-traditional," noting that she does not track weekly mileage or follow a formal coaching plan.
Her typical week includes running approximately 70 to 80 miles around the Arkansas Valley in Colorado, where she currently resides. Originally, she hails from Birmingham, Alabama.
Although she plans to take a break following the Cocodona 250, Entrekin is already preparing for her next challenge: the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in Chamonix, France. At 108 miles, she anticipates it will feel comparatively easier.
