The ultrarunner who took on mountain kingdoms, fear and an entire nation: Ryan Sandes S3:E9

Ultrarunning athlete Ryan Sandes has pushed the limits of endurance, survival and adventure in some of the most extreme environments on the planet – from brutal mountain crossings and moments of fear on the Great Himalaya Trail to relentless storms and a terrifying night deep in the mountains of Lesotho. Ryan’s relationship with running wasn’t always easy, and his story is one of mental resilience, raw determination and an unshakable will to keep going – no matter what – all while finding the joy in what you do. In this episode, I talk to Ryan about how he transformed from a young South African kid with rugby ambitions to one of the world’s most respected ultra-endurance runners – a journey that kicked off from a friendly dare with his mates. He opens up about the physical and mental challenges he’s faced along the way, and how rediscovering his passion for trail running led him into the heart of the Himalayas and out to explore African mountain kingdoms. We talk about fear, isolation, the importance of partnership in extreme conditions, and why sometimes survival means trusting your instincts and just putting one foot in front of the other. Follow Ryan on Instagram. Want more from Ryan’s adventures? Check out Lessons from the Edge on Red Bull TV and Navigate Lesotho on RedBull.com. If you want to tell us about your own superhuman adventures, message us at superhuman@redbull.com. Head to instagram.com/redbulladventure for more superhuman adventure content.

You can listen to The ultrarunner who took on mountain kingdoms, fear and an entire nation: Ryan Sandes S3:E9 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

The ultrarunner who took on mountain kingdoms, fear and an entire nation: Ryan Sandes S3:E9 is an episode from How to Be Superhuman by Red Bull.

This episode is 27:30 long.

This episode was published on May 29, 2025.

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