[Splash] NIKKI: WE PUT THESE LIMITS ON WHAT A HUMAN BODY COULD OR SHOULD DO... ...AND I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT RUNNING THE LONG TRAIL SINCE I WAS A KID.

FOUR-AND-A-HALF DAYS OF VERY, VERY LITTLE SLEEP AND LOTS OF MILES TO COVER.

THAT'S A NEW BARRIER FOR ME TO BREAK.

DAVID CARRIER: THE DISTANCE THAT NIKKI IS PLANNING TO RUN IS STAGGERING.

10 MARATHONS IN A ROW, NON-STOP.

NIKKI: IT WOULD BE VERY BAD TO FALL HERE.

DENNIS: ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN ULTRA RUNNING.

[NIKI YELLS IN PAIN] NIKKI: AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, I WOULD NOT TELL MY PATIENT TO DO WHAT I'M DOING.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT SMART.

DENNIS: YOU ACTUALLY CAN START TO GET A LITTLE DELUSIONAL.

ANDREA: I WANT HER TO KEEP GOING.

I THINK IF SHE STOPS TO SLEEP, SHE'S GOING TO REALIZE SHE'S NOT GOING TO BREAK THE RECORD.

BERND HEINRICH: A LIFE IS GOVERNED BY WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING, AND THAT DETERMINES WHAT WE BECOME.

FINDING TRACTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: THE GILHOUSEN FAMILY FOUNDATION THE GREATER MONTANA FOUNDATION ENCOURAGAING COMMUNICATION ON ISSUES, TRENDS, AND VALUES OF IMPORTANCE TO MONTANANS THE MONTANA OFFICE OF TOURISM PETZL CORPORATION ULTRA RUNNING MAGAZINE I RUN FAR DOT COM AND MANY INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS A COMPLETE LIST IS AVAILABLE FROM MONTANA PBS NIKKI: I DID NOT SLEEP WELL AT ALL.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DID.

DENNIS: NUH UH, WE WERE UP... NIKKI: I WAS UP PRETTY MUCH ALL NIGHT.

DENNIS: EVERYBODY WAS TOSSING AND TURNING.

NIKKI: THE RECORD I'VE CHOSEN TO GO AFTER IS STEEP.

IT'S DEFINITELY HELD BY SOMEBODY WHO IS A FASTER ULTRA RUNNER ON A NORMAL ULTRA, YOU KNOW, 50 MILE COURSE THAN I AM.

HIS NAME IS JONATHAN BASHAM AND HE RAN FOUR DAYS, TWELVE HOURS, AND THIRTY-SOMETHING MINUTES.

SO I'VE GOT TO GET IT UNDER THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S DOABLE.

NIKKI: WELL, THE SIGN LOOKS PRETTY DARN OFFICIAL.

YEAH.

OK DENNIS, EVERYBODY READY?

I'LL WAIT TIL IT SAYS 6:05.

WE GOT 20 SECONDS.

NIKKI: I THINK WOMEN TEND TO DEAL, WHEN IT GETS REALLY LONG AND REALLY NASTY, I THINK WOMEN HAVE... IF NOT AN ADVANTAGE OVER MEN, LESS OF A PHYSICAL DISADVANTAGE THAN WE DO IN THE SHORTER STUFF.

NIKKI: FIVE... NIKKI: AND SO THAT'S WHERE I'M HOPING THAT I CAN GAIN MY ADVANTAGE.

NIKKI: AND GO!

JENNY: GO DENNIS!

[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS] [DEEP BREATHING] NIKKI: THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD, WHEN YOU GET PAST A CERTAIN POINT OF DEPRIVATION, BUT SURVIVAL.

I'VE EXPLORED THESE PARTS OF MYSELF AND MY SOUL, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LIMITS ARE, AND I GUESS THAT'S PART OF WHY I'M DOING THIS.

NIKKI: I'M GOING TO BE PLAYING IT BY EAR, I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

NIKKI: I'VE GOT A TEAM OF AT LEAST 30 PEOPLE, I'VE GOT A DOCTOR, A MASSAGE PERSON, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO MEET ME AT DIFFERENT PLACES WITH FOOD.

MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WE'LL RUN ABOUT 70 MILES A DAY.

WE'RE GONNA BE HIKING ALL THE UPHILLS, RUNNING THE FLATS AND DOWNHILLS, BECAUSE IF WE START OUT TOO FAST, WE WON'T MAKE IT.

AND WE'LL JUST...SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN.

CREW: WHAT ARE THOSE?

NIKI: THESE ARE RECOVERY DRINKS.

WHY DON'T WE PUT THESE IN A SEPARATE BAG... AND A PAIR OF SHORTS... NIKKI: I THINK I'VE DONE ALL I CAN IN RACING.

I MEAN I'VE WON ALL THE BIGGEST RACES THAT I WANTED TO WIN, AND NOW I'M MOVING ON TO SOMETHING THAT MAY BE MORE MEANINGFULL.

JENNY: I FEEL LIKE NIKKI MAYBE FEELS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HIGHPOINT OF HER CAREER IF SHE BREAKS THE RECORD, YOU KNOW IT'S HELD BY A MAN RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW SHE LIKES BEING UP THERE COMPETING WITH THE MEN.

JENNY: SAFETY WHISTLE.

BILL SR.

: I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT.

NIKKI: WE COULD USE THAT JUST TO DISTURB OTHERS.

[ALL LAUGH] NIKKI: I'VE PUT TWO YEARS OF WORK INTO THIS, AND I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HELPING ME.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS AND I'M TRUSTING THAT I CAN DO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY POSSIBLE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT EXTREME SPORTS ARE ABOUT.

ABOUT DOING STUFF THAT PEOPLE THINK IS IMPOSSIBLE.

DENNIS: I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE LONG TRAIL-- IT WAS ACTUALLY AT A NORTH FACE RACE.

I SAW NIKKI AND I WAS LIKE, "HEY, NIKKI IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

DO YOU REMEMBER ME?"

SHE WAS LIKE, "OF COURSE I DO.

AND SHE WAS LIKE "HEY, SO I'M DOING THIS RUN, THIS LONG RUN.

DO YOU WANT TO CREW AND PACE FOR ME?"

I WAS KIND OF LIKE, "WHO YOU TALKIN TO?"

[LAUGHS] BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT I, YOU KNOW, GOT INVOLVED.

NIKKI: I'M JUST GETTING TO KNOW DENNIS, AND I'M SO LUCKY BECAUSE IT'S A BIG GAMBLE.

HE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE YOU MEET AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE KNOW EACH OTHER YOUR WHOLE LIVES.

AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT IN RUNNING.

WE HAVE THESE CONNECTIONS THAT ARE SORT OF A PRIORI.

ANDREA: I'LL SAY, 'WHAT DO YOU NEED?'

SHE SAID, 'BACON, MORE BACON, EGGS, CHEESE, AND CHEESEBURGERS.'

ALL I KNOW IS THE SHOPPING LIST HAS BACON, BACON, AND MORE BACON ON IT.

ANDREA: BASICALLY I THINK IN TERMS OF NUTRITION FOR ULTRA RUNNING, AH, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES.

AH, IT SEEMS TO SPLIT INTO A COUPLE OF CAMPS.

TO ME, THERE ARE THE FOLKS WHO REALLY RELY ON THE GELS, THE GOOS, THE SPECIALTY RACE DRINKS.

I TEND TO FAVOR THE "WHAT IS MY BODY CRAVING RIGHT NOW?"

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT.

JAIME: WHAT'S UP WITH THE BACON?

ANDREA: [LAUGHS] I'M NOT SURE, I THINK IT'S A NIKKI FAVORITE...YEAH HIGH CALORIES, FAT, SALT, SOME PROTEIN, EASY TO DIGEST.

[CHEERS] NIKKI: AH FOOD!

IF THERE'S ANY FOOD OUT OUT THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF NOT I CAN WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ONE.

MARY: WE HAVE EGGS AND BACON AND YOU GET TO WEIGH YOURSELF.

NIKKI: OH EGGS AND BACON, OH THANK YOU.

DENNIS: AID STATIONS ARE DEFNITELY LIKE NASCAR.

WE WANT TO HAVE EVERYTHING PREPARED, READY, COOKED, GET HER FIXED-UP AND READY TO GO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

YOU KNOW IT CAN BE DIASTROUS IF WE HAVE SOMETHING MISPLACED AND SHE DOESN'T GO OUT PREPARED.

DENNIS: JUDITH COOPER SAYS 'HEY NIKKI, I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M CHEERING FOR YOU HERE IN GOOD LIVINGSTON, MONTANA.'

NIKKI: AWESOME.

DENNIS: 'CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE SMASHED THE RECORD.

GO GIRL, LOVE YA!'

WE'VE GOT PETER, 'GOOD LUCK NIKKI.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FOLLOWING YOUR STATUS.

I HOPE YOU HAVE GOOD WEATHER AND TASTY BACON CHEESEBURGERS.'

MARY: YOU WANT TO CARRY EXTRA BACON?

NIKKI: MMM...YEAH.

I CAN ACTUALLY PUT THAT IN MY POCKET.

I HAVE A BACON POCKET.

MARY: YOU HAVE A BACON POCKET?

NIKKI: OK GUYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

CREW: GOOD LUCK NIKI, GO NIKI!

♪ lead me where you're going ♪ ♪ 'cause i wanna be going where you are ♪ ♪ teach me what you're knowing ♪ ♪ 'cause i wanna be knowing who you are ♪ ♪ run away with me i'll... ♪ NIKKI: I GREW UP JUST SEVERAL MILES FROM THE LONG TRAIL.

THAT'S LITERALLY WHERE I LEARNED TO WALK, AND I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT RUNNING THE LONG TRAIL SINCE I WAS A KID.

BILL SR.

:SHE'S A TOUGH WOMAN.

TREMENDOUS DETERMINATION.

AND WE SAW THIS AS SHE WAS GROWING UP.

SHE WAS JUST...SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE BEATEN.

AND THAT'S NIKKI.

NIKKI: MY FATHER AND BROTHER WERE BOTH SKI RACERS, AND MY DREAMS OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL OR OLYMPIC ATHLETE STARTED VERY, VERY YOUNG.

AND THEN I ENDED-UP GOING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PHILIDELPHIA WHERE I KNEW THAT SKI RACING WAS NOT GOING TO BE MY CAREER AND I STARTED RUNNING.

AND IT WAS REALLY WHEN I STARTED RUNNING ULTRAS THAT I REALIZED I WAS REALLY GOOD AT IT.

MOST OF WHAT I'VE DONE IN RUNNING HAS BEEN BY MYSELF SO I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE FUN TO BRING SOME TEAMWORK INTO RUNNING.

I WANTED TO PAIR IT WITH SOMETHING WHERE I COULD HELP GIRLS ON THE RUN-- BEING THE NON-PROFIT I REALLY WANTED TO SUPPORT-- I THOUGHT, "I WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO GAIN WHAT I'VE GAINED."

♪ THANK YOU FORGIVENESS ♪ NIKI: AND GIRLS ON THE RUN GETS GIRLS EXPOSED TO RUNNING AT AN EARLY AGE.

NIKKI: I LOVE GETTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER RUN, TO START TO RUN AND DISCOVER THAT IT'S REALLY FUN.

OR TO START TO BE ACTIVE IN ANY WAY, I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF THE WHOLE LONG TRAIL EXPEDITION IS LET'S GET PEOPLE TO SEE THAT BEING OUTDOORS WILL MAKE THEM HAPPY.

[Cheering] NIKKI: OH MY GOD, THANK YOU!

THANKS!

THAT SWOLLEN SECTION... YEAH, YEAH.

A ROCK CAME AND HIT ME RIGHT HERE AT FULL SPEED.

DAMNIT!

IT'LL FEEL MUCH BETTER ONCE I GET GOING AGAIN.

JENNY: I BOUGHT YOU A POPSICLE, BUT IT... NIKKI: OH MY GOD!

JENNY: IT'S STILL KINDA SLUSHY.

NIKKI: THAT'S AWESOME!

JENNY: YOU WANT WATER?

BRENNA: LET ME DO YOUR WATER FOR YOU... NIKKI: MMMM.

THAT IS AWESOME.

JENNY: IF NIKKI KEEPS UP ON THE PACE THAT SHE'S ON RIGHT NOW, SHE WILL BE AHEAD OF THE GUY WHO HOLDS THE RECORD RIGHT NOW.

SHE'LL BE SLEEPING AHEAD OF WHERE HE SLEPT ON THE FIRST SLEEP.

NIKKI: AND ALSO THE EMERGENCY LIGHT, BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T RUN OUT OF LIGHT.

SORRY DENNIS, I'M LOADING YOU LIKE A MULE.

DENNIS: THAT'S WHAT I AM.

NIKKI: BUT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A RESUPPLY AT FIVE MILES.

I'LL LET YOU GUYS FIGURE THAT OUT.

WHERE DO I GO?

JENNY: OK, IT'S UP HERE AND DOWN.

NIKI: SEXY RUNNING SHOES... CREW: OK NIKKI!

NIKKI: THANK YOU GUYS!

CREW: THANK-YOU NIKI!

DENNIS: WHOA.

JENNY: RIGHT IN THERE.

DENNIS: OK THANK YOU.

JENNY: YEP!

GOOD JOB, KEEP IT UP!

[DEEP BREATHING] BERND HEINRICH: I THINK RUNNING APPEALS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE-- NOW ESPECIALLY-- BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE MORE AND MORE CONSTRAINED.

WE CAN'T REALLY BE OURSELVES.

WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES AND THOSE RULES.

AND WE HAVE LESS AND LESS FREEDOM.

AND FREEDOM IS WHAT WE NEED AND RUNNING IS AN OUTLET FOR TRUE FREEDOM AND LETTING LOOSE.

NIKKI: THERE IS SOMETHING, FOR ME, MORE SACRED IN THE... IN THAT WORLD, IN THE WORLD WHERE I'M UNDER PHYSICAL DURESS AND WHERE I'M IN BEAUTIFUL PLACES.

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS EASY, I MEAN, I MIGHT BE IN A LOT OF PAIN.

BUT, WHEN I'M IN THAT STATE, MAYBE IT'S EASIER TO HANDLE PAIN, BECAUSE TIME STOPS.

[BOOMING FOOTSTEP] WHEN YOU FEEL THAT INTENSE AND EXQUISITE PAIN, EVERYTHING ELSE MELTS AWAY.

[BOOMING FOOTSTEP] [BOOMING FOOTSTEP] CREW: HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?

HEY THERE!

HOW ARE YOU GUYS?

NIKKI: GOOD.

BRENNA: AWESOME!

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

CREW: SO ARE WE 1:08?

NIKKI: I GUESS, I FEEL REALLY GOOD, BUT I'M AHEAD OF TIME.

JENNY: YEAH.

NIKKI: AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE WHOLE NIGHT LIKE... THAT WAS ON THE THOUGHT THAT I WAS...AWWW!

SEAN: THAT WAS ON THE GNARLY SIDE, THAT SECTION OF THE TRAIL.

NIKKI: YEAH, HERE WE GO.

BUT THAT WAS ON THE THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO GET HERE AT 4AM.

I'M TWO HOURS AHEAD, SO I MIGHT AS WELL SLEEP.

OH MY GOD!

THAT BURGER IS MADE OUT OF SOMETHING REALLY GOOD.

DEFINITELY GOING WELL SO FAR, AND I FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

BRENNA: OK, I WILL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE HOURS.

SLEEP WELL NIK.

NIKKI: IT'S HARDER TO EAT AS TIME GOES ON.

JENNY: I THINK SHE'S DOING... I THINK NIKKI'S DOING REALLY WELL.

SHE ATE A LOT.

SHE'S MOVING REALLY WELL.

SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S WALKING ALMOST NORMALLY.

NIKKI: WHY THANK YOU.

CREW: SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD.

SEE YOU SOON!

NIKKI: OK.

DENNIS: UM, I'M NOT STARTING AT A RUN.

[FOOTSTEPS CRUNCH ON GRAVEL] HELLO!

[BOTH LAIUGH] ♪ NIKKI: CECILIA, YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART.

♪ ♪ YOU'RE SHAKING MY CONFIDENCE BABY.

♪ I KNOW THAT WORD!

[BOTH LAUGH] JENNY: NIKKI AND I TRAIN A LOT TOGETHER.

WE USUALLY MAKE ALL OF OUR WORKOUTS FUN.

JENNY: A WORKOUT IS FUN IF IT INCLUDES SINGING OR FARTING, DIRTY JOKES, LOTS OF DOGS.

ALL THOSE THINGS MAKE A WORKOUT A LOT OF FUN.

NIKKI: I FIRST MET JENNY A FEW YEARS AGO.

SHE WAS REFFERED TO ME FROM ONE OF THE LOCAL DOCTORS.

JENNY: I HAD AN ACHILLES TENDON INJURY THAT KEPT COMING BACK EVERY TIME I WOULD TRY TO RUN AND MADE IT SO I COULDN'T EVEN HIKE AT ALL.

NIKKI: YOU KNOW, THROUGH JUST A FEW WEEKS OF TREATING HER, SHE WAS ABLE TO RUN AGAIN.

I'VE GOT THE BEST CREW I COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.

I MEAN I'M RUNNING WITH MY BEST FRIEND.

THE DOCTOR GAVE ME A GOOD PRESENT WHEN HE RECOMMENDED SHE COME TO SEE ME.

JENNY: OH NO!

NO... NIKKI: I DIDN'T EVEN LOSE THE DOG.

JENNY: THE TRAILS OUT EAST ARE DIFFERENT TECHNICAL RUNNING THAN I'VE EVER DONE BEFORE.

WE'RE GOING STRAIGHT UP AND STRAIGHT DOWN... HAVE SEEN VERY FEW SWITCHBACKS.

NIKKI: IT WOULD BE VERY BAD TO FALL HERE.

DENNIS: TECHNICAL RUNNING,YOU HAVE TO BE FAST ON YOUR FEET.

AND IF YOU'RE MAKING TOO HEAVY AND SOLID OF A FOOTSTEP, AND NOT READY TO QUICKLY SWITCH TO ANOTHER FOOT, I MEAN, YOU'LL GO DOWN.

DAVID CARRIER: THE DISTANCE THAT NIKKI IS PLANNING TO RUN IS STAGGERING.

TEN MARATHONS IN A ROW, NON-STOP.

THE MOST SCARY PART FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS THERE'S A WHOLE SERIES OF MUSCLO-SKELETAL INJURIES SHE COULD SUSTAIN, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY STOP HER FROM CONTINUING.

NIKKI: I WAS A REALLY GOOD TECHNICAL RUNNER.

AT MY BEST I WAS, YOU KNOW, NO ONE PASSED ME ON THE DOWNHILLS.

AND I'M JUST SO MUCH SLOWER THAN THAT NOW ON THE DOWNHILLS, MY LEGS JUST DON'T WORK THE SAME WAY, WHICH IS A HUGE BUMMER FOR SOMETHING LIKE THE LONG TRAIL.

I'M NOT AT MY PHYSICAL PEAK ANYMORE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT WORTH LOOKING FOR LIMITS.

NIKKI: LEARNING TO WALK WAS A CHALLENGE FOR ME.

AS A TODDLER I WAS SERIAL CASTED FOR MANY MONTHS TO TRY AND GET MY FEET NOT TO TURN IN SO I WOULDN'T TRIP OVER MYSELF.

AFTER THE SERIAL CASTING WAS DONE, THE THERAPIST WANTED ME CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, BECAUSE IF YOUR FEET TURN IN, YOUR TIPS ARE GOING TO CATCH ON ONE ANOTHER.

AND YOU'LL FALL DOWN, SO YOU LEARN VERY QUICKLY TO POINT YOUR FEET THE CORRECT DIRECTION.

SO I DON'T KNOW OF ANY LIFE WITHOUT DOING SPORTS.

[DEEP BREATHING] NIKI: A WOMAN FRIENDED ME ON FACEBOOK RECENTLY AND SAID "YOU'VE BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME".

AND I SORT OF WROTE BACK TO HER "WHY?"

AND IT TURNED OUT SHE'D LOST 150LBS, AND SHE'S NOW DOING TRIATHLONS AND RUNNING RACES.

THAT PERSON IS GOING TO LIVE LONGER.

SHE'S NOT GOING TO GET TYPE II DIABETES, BECAUSE SHE'S DOING SPORTS AND I WAS PART OF THAT.

NIKI: PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY WHEN THEY HAVE NO ENERGY BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO ANY SPORTS.

AND PEOPLE AREN'T HAPPY WHEN THEY'RE IN PAIN, AND WHEN I SEE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS HAVING LOW BACK PAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO FAT, THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

WINNING RACES DOESN'T MATTER IN ITSELF.

IT DOESN'T MATTER AT ALL.

BUT IF YOU CAN INSPIRE SOMEONE TO BE HEALTHIER, THAT MATTERS.

[RUNNING FOOTSTEPS] CAMERAMAN: YEAH JENNY...NIKKI!

YOU GUYS ARE KILLING IT.

JENNY: WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?

DENNIS: WE ARE RIGHT HERE.

NIKKI: OH, SO I'M WAY THE HELL BEHIND TIME!

JENNY: YEAH, I WASN'T LOOKING FORWARD TO TELLING YOU THAT.

NIKKI: DAMNIT.

ANDREA: IT'LL BE OK.

DENNIS: YOU WENT THROUGH REALLY TOUGH TERRAIN.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME EASIER STUFF WHERE YOU'RE... YOU'VE GOT THE ROAD COMING UP.

SO, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO MOVE.

CREW MEMBERS: TODAY'S GONNA BE A GREAT DAY NIK.

DENNIS: SHE THINKS SHE'S BEHIND SCHEDULE, LIKE HER WORST CASE SCENARIO.

I MEAN...SO IT'S KIND OF... IT REALLY DEPENDS UPON THE TERRAIN AND HOW FAST SHE CAN MOVE THROUGH IT.

AND WE HAVE TO TRY TO KEEP HER POSITIVE-- THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING--BECAUSE WHEN SHE... IF SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S BEHIND SCHEDULE AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IT'S GONNA PUT HER IN A BAD MENTAL STATE, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO.

WE WANT TO KEEP HER POSITIVE.

DAVID CARRIER: THE FASTEST MEN ARE FASTER THAN THE FASTEST WOMEN, BUT ONLY BY A SMALL DEGREE AND THAT DIFFERENCE DECREASES AS THE DISTANCE BECOMES LONGER.

ANNOUNCER: 30 SECONDS... DAVID CARRIER: THERE HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN WOMEN RUNNING 100 MILE RACES THAT HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEAT MEN, CONSISTENTLY COME IN FIRST PLACE.

ANNOUNCER: 20 SECONDS... AT THOSE DISTANCES, THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES, MORE OR LESS DISAPPEAR.

ANNOUNCER: 5...4...3...2...1...GO O!

[CHEERING] NIKKI: WOMEN HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN SPORTS THROUGH MY LIFETIME, BUT WE AREN'T EQUAL.

AND WOMEN GET PAID A LOT LESS IN TERMS OF PRIZE MONEY, YOU KNOW AT THE TOP.

I MEAN JUST BECAUSE I HAVE OVARIES, I'M NOT GETTING PAID AS WELL AND I'M NOT GETTING THE MEDIA ATTENTION.

I WON THIS HUGE RACE IN FRANCE, THE ULTRA TRAIL DU MONT BLANC AND THE MEN'S WINNER WAS PICTURED IN THE PAPER THE NEXT DAY 5 OR 7 TIMES, I FORGET WHICH, AND THERE WERE NO PICTURES OF ME.

THERE WAS A LITTLE-- AND THERE WERE HUGE ARTICLES ABOUT THE MEN'S RACE I MEAN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LIKE SIXTH PLACE INTERVIEWING THEM AND THEN THERE WAS A LITTLE INSET THAT SAID, "OH AND SOME WOMEN RAN."

I THINK WOMEN NEED TO, NEED TO TAKE OUR PLACE IN SPORTS AND WE NEED TO TAKE OUR PLACE IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, AND WE NEED TO SHOW THAT WE ARE WORTH WATCHING.

DENNIS: IT'S GETTING DARK AND THE TRAIL IS GETTING REALLY TECHNICAL AND COMPLICATED.

SOME OF THESE STRETCHES, THE ONLY WAY IN AND OUT IS ON FOOT.

YOU KNOW, IF ANY ONE OF US WERE TO SLIP, FALL, GET SEVERELY INJURED, IT COULD DEFINITELY END THE EXPEDITION.

[RAIN POURS] [THUNDER BOOMS] BILL SR.

: NIKKI!

NIKKI!

BILL SR.

: NIKKI!

NIKKI!

SO, PHYSICALLY, HER BODY'S OK, BUT LIKE, RIGHT NOW MENTALLY IT'S JUST...IT'S DIFFICULT.

I MEAN, THAT STRETCH WAS JUST INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

EXTREMELY STEEP, A LOT OF ROCKS...CLIFF SIDES.

SO, IT WAS PRETTY TOUGH.

IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU START TO GET EXHAUSTED.

IT GETS FRUSTRATING.

[NIKI YELLS IN PAIN] DEVON: SHE'S IN A LOT OF PAIN, AND THAT WAS HER.

SO, HER FEET ARE GETTING PREPPED, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE PEOPLE IN THERE WORKING ON HER.

SHE'S STILL AT THIS POINT, I THINK, AHEAD OF PACE.

SHE HAS A HUGE, HUGE DAY AHEAD OF HER.

NIKKI: OK I'M GOOD.

ALRIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN AWHILE.

JENNY: ALRIGHT, GOOD JOB NIKKI.

NIKI: THANKS.

[FOOTSTEPS, TRECKING POLES HITTING ROCKS] ♪ SO I GUESS MY SHOW STARTS NOW ♪ ♪ MY SHOW STARTS NOW ♪ [DRIVING DRUM BEAT] ♪ HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR A BETTER DAY ♪ ♪ AND YOU'LL NEVER LEARN HOW TO BREATHE ♪ BERND HEINRICH: TO PERSIST DESPITE DIFFICULTIES, TO KEEP GOING, ...WITH ULTRA RUNNING, I THINK WE'RE GETTING BACK TO SOME OF OUR BASIC ROOTS AS ENDURANCE PREDATORS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ACTUALLY PUT OURSELVES TO THE TEST AGAINST MANY ANIMALS, WE TURN OUT TO BE THE WINNERS.

♪ IF YOU'RE TOO AFRAID TO BLEED ♪ ♪ THAT'S WHY YOUR SHOW STARTS NOW ♪ DAVID CARRIER: WHILE EVERYONE MORE OR LESS ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE SLOW IN THE SPRINT COMPARED TO MANY OTHER SPECIES OF MAMMAL, OVER LONG DISTANCES, THAT WOULD BE RUN OVER THE COURSE OF AN HOUR TO 3-4 HOURS, HUMANS TURN OUT TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD.

WE TURN OUT TO ACTUALLY BE ELITE RUNNERS.

OUR EARLY ANCESTORS ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE CHASED PREY ANIMALS SUCH AS ANTELOPE BASICALLY TO EXHAUSTION... FOLLOWED THEM AT A CONSISTENT PACE, UNTIL THE ANIMAL WAS BROUGHT TO A HALT FROM EXHAUSTION OR FROM OVERHEATING.

BERND HEINRICH: A CHEETAH WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE PREY IN SIGHT.

WE HAVE IT IN SIGHT IN OUR MIND, RATHER THAN IN OUR NOSE OR IN OUR EYES, WE HAVE IT IN OUR MINDS.

ONLY THE ONES WHO REALLY HAD THE PASSION TO RUN WOULD BE THE ONES TO CATCH THE ANTELOPE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INNATE PASSION TO DO IT.

♪ IF YOU'RE TOO AFRAID TO BREATHE ♪ ♪ AND THAT'S WHY YOUR SHOW STARTS NOW ♪ ♪ YOUR SHOW STARTS NOW ♪ DENNIS: THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR RACING IN THE SENSE THAT SHE'S REALLY RACING AGAINST A CLOCK.

IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE LIKE, HOW DIFFERENT YOU CAN PUSH YOURSELF WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE PHYSICALLY RIGHT THERE THAT YOU'RE RACING AGAINST.

BERND HEINRICH: AT A HIGH LEVEL, IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH SETTING A RECORD, MEANS YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE EVERYTHING RIGHT.

I MEAN, NOT ONE THING OFF, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT RUNNING A RACE AGAINST SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST ANYBODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD THAT HAS EVER RUN.

ANDREA: ULTRARUNNING CAN BE A REALLY DANGEROUS SPORT.

YOU'VE GOT TO MONITOR YOURSELF CLOSELY.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON WEIGHT.

IF YOU LOSE TOO MUCH WEIGHT, WE WORRY ABOUT DEHYDRATION AND ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCES.

IF YOU PUT ON TOO MUCH WEIGHT, THEN WE WORRY ABOUT HYPONATREMIA.

DENNIS: SOME PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ABOUT IN MARATHON RUNNING WHERE PEOPLE JUST DRINK TOO MUCH WATER AND START TO SWELL.

ANDREA: UH...SITUATIONS IN RACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

[CHEERING, CLAPPING] CREW: NICE JOB NIKI, YEAH NIK.

CREW: NICE JOB NIKI.

NIKI: JUST WASHED MY FEET...SHIT I'M GAINING A LOT OF WEIGHT.

NOT A LOT, BUT SOME.

CREW: JENNY, WHO'S PACING?

NIKI: YESTERDAY WAS DISASTROUS.

I COULD NOT GO DOWNHILL.

I MEAN, I WAS DOING LIKE, A MILE AN HOUR DOWNHILL.

BUT I STILL THINK THE RECORD'S-- THE MEN'S RECORD IS STILL DOABLE IF EVERYTHING'S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

BUT THE THING IS, EVERYTHING HAD TO BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT ANYWAY, AND THEN IT RAINED HOWEVER MUCH IT RAINED.

I MEAN THAT ADDED HOURS, HOURS TO TODAY'S RUN.

CREW MEMBERS: OK, SOUNDS GOOD.

YOU'RE OVER HALFWAY NIK, YOU GOT THIS!

GO NIKKI!

THIS IS GOOD... [CHEERS] [FOOTSTEPS] JENNY: THE CONDITIONS WERE REALLY UPSETTING HER.

THAT WAS...SHE JUST, SHE'D SLIP ON SOMETHING, AND YOU KNOW, EITHER BURST INTO TEARS OR SWEAR, BECAUSE SHE WAS LIKE, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN THIS.

IF IT WOULDN'T HAVE RAINED LAST NIGHT, I'D BE RUNNING THIS, BUT I'M LOSING HOURS.

YOU KNOW, SHE LITERALLY SAID THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN JUST SUPER FRUSTRATED.

IF EVERYTHING GOES PERFECTLY, SHE COULD STILL DO IT.

BUT, IT'S GONNA...WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S GONNA BE REALLY HARD FOR HER TO GET THERE.

CREW: THANK-YOU.

DENNIS: NIKKI'S MOOD IS DEFINITELY FLUCTUATING, AND I CAN DEFINITELY NOTICE THAT SOME OF THAT IS RELATED TO NUTRITION.

WHEN SHE HASN'T EATEN FOR AWHILE, SHE WILL START TO GET A LITTLE MORE EMOTIONAL.

WE CAME INTO A SHELTER THAT BOTH BRENNA AND JENNY WERE THERE, AND NIKKI WENT THROUGH KIND OF A HANDBAG OF EMOTIONS.

[NIKI CRYING, GASPING] CREW: HERE, I'LL HOLD THIS FOR A SEC'... DENNIS: SO, UM...GOOD, GOOD JOB.

BRENNA: IT'S SIX POINT NINE.

DENNIS: AND THEN, A FEW MOMENTS LATER, AFTER SHE HAD HAD SOME FOOD... DENNIS: YEAH, I ALWAYS SCREW THEM UP BY A POINT OR SOMETHING, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT... LIKE, EVERY TIME I ADD IT UP... EVERY TIME I ADD IT UP, I'M LIKE, '1.2 PLUS 3.6 PLUS.

BRENNA: I KNOW!

DENNIS: WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN?

BRENNA: AND THEN I HAVE TO BACKTRACK.

DENNIS: IT WAS CRAZY TO SEE, FROM THIS EXCITED, SAD, CRYING TO HAPPY AND LAUGHING.

ALL IN LIKE A SPAN OF...LIKE A MINUTE AND A HALF.

[LAUGHING] DENNIS: THEY'RE GONNA LOVE THIS BACK AT THE CAMP.

NIKKI: EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES!

NIKKI: I THINK THAT DEPRESSION IS MY SECRET WEAPON.

WHEN THINGS GET REALLY, REALLY BAD ON AN EXPEDITION OR IN AN ULTRA RACE, I CAN LOOK BACK TO THE PAIN I WAS IN AT THE WORST OF MY DEPRESSION AND THE PAIN I'M IN IN AN ULTRA RACE ISN'T THAT BAD.

YOU KNOW, FOR A TIME, I WAS SLEEPING 18 HOURS A DAY AND WHEN I WAS AWAKE, I WAS VERY SAD, AND IT WAS JUST... THERE WAS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT LIFE.

AND THAT WAS A VERY... A REALLY TOUGH PART OF MY LIFE, IS TO LIVE THROUGH NOT WANTING TO LIVE.

I'VE BEEN THERE AND KNOWN THAT IF YOU GET THROUGH THAT POINT, HAPPINESS HAPPENS AGAIN.

AND IT'S KINDA ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WISH YOU COULD TELL EVERYBODY WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF THE GUN.

LIKE, YOU WILL FIND HAPPINESS AGAIN AND YOU CAN.

I COULDN'T HAVE FOUGHT DEPRESSION WITHOUT ACTIVITY.

JUST THAT HALF A MILE OF WALKING AT THE WORST OF MY DEPRESSION, EVEN THOUGH I'D BE CRYING DURING PART OF IT... I THINK IT REALLY HELPED KEEP ME ALIVE.

ANDREA: PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION, SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY-- GRANTED YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CURE IT NECESSARILY BY GETTING OUT IN THE WOODS-- BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY AN ENORMOUS MENTAL HEALTH BENEFIT.

NIKKI: ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT DEPRESSION, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THAT YOU FEEL SAD, YOU FEEL NOTHING.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS I DO ULTRAS IS BECAUSE IT GIVES ME THE HIGHEST HIGHS AND LOW LOWS, BUT I CAN HANDLE ACUTE STRONG LOWS.

THAT JUXTAPOSED TO FEELING NOTHING, IS FANTASTIC.

[CHEERING] RUNNERS: WHEW!

WHAT A...NICE WORK GUYS!

CREW: WEIGH IN ANDREA... [CLAPPING, CHEERING] CREW: NICE WORK RUNNERS!

CREW MEMBERS: GOOD JOB NIKKI.

NIKKI: DO WE HAVE THE SCALE OUT?

DENNIS: WE WILL GET IT... ANDREA: YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT UP... DAVID: ...HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH?

NIKKI: HOW MUCH DID YOU GAIN TODAY?

YEAH, I'M UP A WAYS.

DAVID: YEAH, SHE'S A LITTLE PUFFY.

NIKI: WHEW!

NIKKI: I FEEL GOOD, I'M JUST A LITTLE... I'M PRETTY OUT OF IT.

JAIME: A LITTLE FOGGY?

NIKKI: YEAH.

TOWARDS THE END OF THE DAY I UM... THE LOWS WERE COMING MORE FREQUENTLY.

DENNIS: OK, NIKKI.

I'M GONNA BE AS GENTLE AS POSSIBLE, BUT THESE ARE COMPRESSION SO--PUT YOUR LEGS-- IF IT HURTS TOO MUCH, JUST KICK ME IN THE FACE.

NIKKI: PAIN CAN DRIVE ME TO RUN FASTER.

IT GIVES ME INCENTIVE.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S THIS CHALLENGE TO OVERCOME.

NIKKI: YEAH, THAT'D BE AWESOME.

NIKKI: AS A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, I WOULD NOT TELL MY PATIENT TO DO WHAT I'M DOING.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT SMART.

NIKKI: SOMEBODY COULD JUST HOLD ME DOWN IF SHE HAS TO OPERATE.

ANDREA: THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN GET THE VARIOUS BANDAGES AND FOAMS AND TAPES WE'RE USING OFF WITHOUT CAUSING HER SOME MORE PAIN.

AND SHE SAYS, 'JUST DO IT.'

I'VE VERY RARELY AS A PHYSICIAN, HAD TO BE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE I WAS PURPOSEFULLY CAUSING PAIN, AND IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY HARD.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING] NIKI: EXACTLY... ANDREA: SHE STILL WANTS TO GO, I'M IMPRESSED.

THERE'S NO TALK OF STOPPING AT THIS POINT.

NIKKI: I AM SO READY!

ANDREA: GOOD LUCK NIKKI!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

NIKKI: YOU ARE AWESOME.

ANDREA: I THINK SHE IS ABSOLUTELY CAPABLE OF DOING 126 MILES IN 37 HOURS.

NIKKI: SO I'M NOT DOING THIS BECAUSE I THINK MENS' RECORDS NEED TO BE TAKEN DOWN.

WOMEN NEED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF OUR DREAMS, AND I WANT TO SEE SOCIETY CHANGE A LITTLE BIT TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO PURSUE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT GOALS.

I WANT MY AGGRESSIVENESS AND MY STUBBORNNESS TO BE SEEN AS, AS GOOD QUALITIES, NOT AS BAD QUALITIES.

I MEAN, UM, I DON'T WANT, 'OH, WELL SHE'S COMPETITIVE AND AGGRESSIVE SO SHE'S A BITCH.'

I WANT TO BE SEEN AS COMPETITIVE AND AGGRESSIVE SO SHE'S SUCCESSFUL.

ANDREA: POINT 7, POINT 3, IT'S GONNA BE LESS THAN TWO MILES UP.

THE NICE BACKPACKERS THEN TOLD US IT'S GONNA BE NICE, GENTLE, GOOD TERRAIN.

WE'RE GONNA GO BY LITTLE ROCK POND TOGETHER.

CREW MEMBERS: GOOD JOB NIK!

KEEP AT IT.

YOU'VE GOT IT.

DEB: IF IT WASN'T HARD, YOU WOULDN'T DO IT!

JENNY: HOLY MOLY.

DENNIS: WOW!

THAT WAS GOOD.

JENNY: NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING.

DENNIS: TWO HOURS.

THAT WAS LESS THAN TWO HOURS WASN'T IT?

CREW MEMBERS: YEAH YEAH... DENNIS: THAT'S GOOD.

JENNY: WITH HOW WELL SHE'S RUNNING RIGHT NOW, BUT HOW CLOSE SHE'S STILL GONNA BE TO THAT TIME, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GET LOST.

DENNIS: FROM HERE ON OUT, IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A ROLLER COASTER.

ANDREA: I THINK AT THIS POINT SHE JUST NEEDS TO FINISH THIS THING.

AND, I WANT HER TO KEEP GOING.

I THINK IF SHE STOPS TO SLEEP, SHE'S GONNA REALIZE SHE'S NOT GONNA BREAK THE RECORD.

ANDREA: I REALLY AM CONCERNED ABOUT NIKKI'S DECISION-MAKING.

THIS IS THE POINT WHERE YOU'VE GONE A COUPLE OF DAYS WITHOUT MUCH SLEEP AT ALL, YOU LITERALLY CAN START TO HALLUCINATE OUT THERE ON THE TRAIL.

[FOOTSTEPS] [NIKI GROANS] YEAH.

[NIKI CRIES, GASPS] [NIKI GROANS] [NIKI GROANS] [clapping] JENNY: SHE'S UH... IT WAS A ROUGH 12 MILES OR WHATEVER THAT WAS EVEN.

SHE'S SO TIRED.

SHE'S ALMOST BEEN UP 24 HOURS WITH ABOUT 12 HOURS OF SLEEP IN THE LAST FOUR DAYS.

AND, SHE JUST NEEDS TO REST.

SHE CAN'T...SHE CAN'T DO IT RIGHT NOW.

IT MEANS THAT SHE'S PROBABLY GOING--NOT PROBABLY-- IT MEANS SHE'S GOING FOR THE WOMEN'S RECORD NOW.

NIKKI: I JUST WANTED NOTHING MORE THAN TO JUST QUIT THE WHOLE EXPEDITION.

THERE WAS NOTHING I WANTED MORE THAT NIGHT THAN TO JUST BE DONE WITH IT.

JENNY: SLEEP WELL NIKI.

NIKKI: I FEEL GREAT!

[LAUGHS] THE SKY IS BLUE.

THERE'S YELLOW BIRDS CHIRPING OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.

LIFE IS FRICKING PHENOMENAL.

OH, THAT'S SEXY.

CHECK THAT OUT!

THAT IS LIKE...AWGH, YOU KNOW?

I HAVE TO WORK HARDER THAN I EVER HAVE, AND I WON'T GET THE FIRST GOAL THAT I SET OUT THERE FOR MYSELF.

JENNY: IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD WATCHING NIKKI GO THROUGH THESE EMOTIONAL SWINGS.

WHEN SHE'S UP AND HAPPY, IT'S GREAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE LOVES.

NIKKI: THAT PLACE SUCKED!

THERE IS BAD THINGS IN THAT WOODS.

JENNY: BUT, WHEN SHE GOES DOWN INTO THESE LOWEST OF LOWS, I FEEL LIKE A HORRIBLE FRIEND FOR ENCOURAGING TO CARRY ON.

IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE.

JENNIFER: SHE WAS HAVING A LOT OF LOWS HERE.

JUST FEELING LIKE SHE LET... I THINK AS SHE GOT CLOSER TO THAT 6PM RECORD, SHE STARTED FEELING LIKE SHE LET EVERYONE DOWN.

SHE MISSED THE RECORD AND WHAT WAS THE POINT OF PUTTING OUT THE MILES.

DENNIS: YOU ARE AMAZING!

CREW MEMBERS: GO GIRL!

DENNIS: GOOD JOB!

[CLAPS] OK, SO WHAT CAN I GET YOU?

NIKKI: I NEED AN ICE BATH.

DENNIS: WE'VE GOT A RIVER, OR A CREEK DOWN HERE.

IT'S PERFECT.

I TOOK A BATH IN IT.

IT'S AMAZING, SO WE'RE GONNA GET YOU DOWN THERE.

[LAUGHING] ANDREA: LAUREN FROM GIRLS ON THE RUN IS HERE.

NIKKI: HEY!

LAUREN: OH MY GOODNESS... NIKKI: OH THANK YOU.

NIKKI: THE PRIMARY OVERARCHING GOAL FOR THE WHOLE THING WAS TO GET GIRLS OUT THERE RUNNING AND KNOWING THAT THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THE WANT TO DO.

AND IT WAS REALLY COOL TO HAVE SOMEBODY CARE ENOUGH TO SHOW UP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NIKKI: THANKS.

NIKKI: AND I'M JUST LIKE..AND I ALMOST QUIT.

YOU KNOW I MEAN LIKE, JUST THINK THAT THESE GIRLS ARE WATCHING ME AND TRYING TO BE AND HOPEFULLY BE INSPIRED TO RUN.

AND I'M THINKING, MAN, FOR 11 HOURS I JUST WANTED TO QUIT.

NIKKI: I CAN CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THE MEN AND THE WOMEN'S, AND ONE OF YOUR GIRLS WILL COME BREAK IT!

[LAUGHTER AND CHEERS] LAUREN: ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY!

YOU'RE PAVING THE WAY.

THAT'S THE COOLEST PART.

OH MY GOSH!

THANK YOU.

OK, GO SWIMMING.

REST UP.

GET SOME FOOD.

NIKKI: THAT WAS A PRETTY POWERFUL MOMENT.

YOU KNOW, WOW I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T QUIT.

[RUNNING WATER] [FOOTSTEPS] JENNY: LAST STRETCH COMING UP... NIKKI: I'M PRETTY DAMN PSYCHED ABOUT THAT.

I FINALLY HAVE THE SMELL THE BARN FEELING.

NIKI: OK...SOUNDS GOOD, SEE Y'ALL SOON.

CREW: WOO-HOO!

NIKKI: LA LA LA LA.

CIAO.

DENNIS: OFF INTO THE WOODS WE GO.

CAMERAMAN: ALRIGHT GUYS.

NIKKI: WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD!

CREW: FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD.

BERND HEINRICH: RUNNING IS A METAPHOR FOR LIFE IN THE SENSE THAT YOU GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT IN TO IT.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW NOT JUST YOUR LIMITATIONS, BUT EVEN MORESO, YOUR POSSIBILITIES.

A LIFE IS GOVERNED BY WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING, AND THAT DETERMINES WHAT WE BECOME.

♪ PLEASE... ♪ ♪ SAY IT CAN'T BE DONE.

♪ ♪ 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST FUEL, FOR ME, ♪ ♪ TO JUST PROVE THIS, YEAH YOU'LL SEE.

♪ NIKKI: HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF DISCOMFORT, THEY'RE WORTH THOSE MOMENTS OF BLISS.

THE HIGHS ARE SO SHORTLIVED, BUT YOU REMEMBER THEM FOREVER.

♪ WE HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY ♪ ♪ THAT YOU CAN'T SEE ♪ ♪ GO RIGHT THROUGH IT ♪ JENNY: NIKKI IS INSPIRING BECAUSE SHE WILL PUT HERSELF OUT THERE, AND TRY THINGS THAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW IF SHE CAN COMPLETE EVEN.

LIKE, "I'M GONNA DO IT AND SEE IF I CAN BE THE BEST."

♪ 'CAUSE THAT'S JUJST FUEL, FOR ME, ♪ ♪ TO PROVE THIS YEAH YOU'LL SEE ♪ NIKKI: I THINK TOO MANY GIRLS ARE TAUGHT TO ALLOW FEAR TO LIMIT THEIR ACTIONS.

I WANT GIRLS TO EXPLORE THEIR FEARS, AND TO CRUSH THEM.

I WANT MY LONG TRAIL ATTEMPT TO INSPIRE A LITTLE GIRL TO SAY "I CAN DO BETTER THAN NIKKI".

IF I HELP JUST ONE PERSON TO REALIZE SHE IS CAPABLE OF SO MUCH... SO MUCH MORE THAN HER FEARS WANT HER TO KNOW, THIS EXPEDITION HAS BEEN A SUCCESS.

DENNIS: THERE IT IS!

NIKKI: WILLIAMSTOWN!

♪ ...WE'LL MAKE IT THROUGH ♪ ♪ YOU'LL SEE I SWEAR ♪ ♪ I'LL PROVE YOU WRONG ♪ CREW MEMBERS: YEAH NIKKI!

NIKKI: YES!

[CHEERING, CLAPPING, LAUGHING] CREW: WE DID IT!

NIKKI: I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE CAP IN MY POTENTIAL LIES, SO I JUST KEEP RUNNING.

AND THAT IS WHY I RUN.

CREW: ALRIGHT... [LAUGHTER] [SHUTTER CLICK] ♪ HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR A BETTER DAY ♪ ♪ AND YOU'LL NEVER LEARN HOW TO BREATHE ♪ ♪ YOU'RE AFRAID OF THE DARK BUT THAT'S ♪ ♪ WHERE YOU'LL LEARN TO SEE ♪ ♪ YOU'RE NO GOOD TO THE LIVING ♪ ♪ IF YOU'RE TOO AFRAID TO BLEED ♪ ♪ AND THAT'S WHY YOUR SHOW STARTS NOW ♪ ♪ YOUR SHOW STARTS NOW ♪ FINDING TRACTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: THE GILHOUSEN FAMILY FOUNDATION THE GREATER MONTANA FOUNDATION ENCOURAGAING COMMUNICATION ON ISSUES, TRENDS, AND VALUES OF IMPORTANCE TO MONTANANS THE MONTANA OFFICE OF TOURISM PETZL CORPORATION ULTRA RUNNING MAGAZINE I RUN FAR DOT COM AND MANY INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS A COMPLETE LIST IS AVAILABLE FROM MONTANA PBS