#95 [Guest] Kilian Korth - The Difference Between Failure and Quitting

Kilian Korth swept the Triple Crown of 200s in 2025, becoming the first man to take Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200 and Moab 240 outright in the same season. He also set a new course record at Cocodona 250. But before any of that, his record was three DNFs, a torn hamstring, and a finish at Cocodona that landed him in the ICU.

Tommy and Kilian talk about the line between failure and quitting, the difference between self belief and self efficacy, and why letting go of outcomes made Kilian faster, not slower. They get into ego and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we deserve, and why presence and gratitude have become Kilian's most reliable tools, both in racing and in recovering from ankle surgery.

They also talk about the commercialisation of ultra running, the politics and tribalism creeping into trail running culture, and what actually unites runners once you strip away the noise of social media.

Follow Kilian

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiliankorth Substack: https://substack.com/@runtoughmindset

Today’s Sponsor

15% OFF EVERYTHING AT INOV8

£30 OFF THAT’S RUNNABLE COACHING HUB for 3 MONTHS! Build sustainable running habits that last a lifetime! ➡️ JOIN NOW! ⬅️ New intake every month!

Visit coaching.thatsrunnable.com for more

FREE STUFF:

➡️ 5 KEY PRINCIPLES OF RUNNING SUSTAINABLY ⬅️ - A PDF on the most important fundamental principles of running in a way that prioritised longevity. Can you guess what they are?

➡️ FREE HOME WORKOUT ⬅️ - You won’t always have access to a gym. So, dedicating some time to do a bit of strength at home is a good idea.

➡️ INTRODUCTION TO STRENGTH TRAINING ⬅️ - A foundational introduction to strength training for runners. Normally reserved for Coaching Hub members.

Sign up to the That's Runnable Newsletter

Find out more about Tommy’s work here Follow That's Runnable on Instagram: @thatsrunnable

Follow Tommy on Instagram: @tommyrunpt

SUBMIT A QUESTION: Want to be featured in a future episode of That's Runnable? If you want to submit your own burning question, or a topic you think would be interesting to discuss on a future episode, record a short voice note. We would love to hear from you :)

Be sure to leave a rating/review and share the podcast with your mates if you've enjoyed this episode.