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RYAN SANDES Reflects on His Gritty, Inspiring Cocodona 250 Experience
South Africa’ s ultra-trail icon Ryan Sandes has once again pushed the boundaries of endurance and human potential, this time at the gruelling Cocodona 250 in Arizona. Speaking just days after crossing the finish line, Sandes sat down with Roxanne Martin to reflect on one of the most intense and rewarding experiences of his career.
" An Epic, Intense Journey "
In May 2025, trail running icon Ryan Sandes lined up at the start of the Cocodona 250, a gruelling ultramarathon weaving through Arizona’ s mountains, forests, and desert towns. Over 250 miles( 402km) and more than 61 hours, he would battle exhaustion, elevation, and hallucinations to cross the finish line in second place overall, in his debut attempt.“ It was incredibly tough and quite an intense experience,” says Ryan.“ But at the same time, one of the most epic things I’ ve ever done.” For Ryan, who’ s already tackled some of the
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