Going the Distance: What Ultrarunning Teaches Higher Ed Leaders

Just as ultrarunners must develop scenario planning for race-day variables, higher education leaders need contingency strategies for an increasingly volatile landscape of funding cuts, technological disruption, and evolving student needs. The most effective leaders combine methodical preparation with creative problem-solving, building collaborative networks that extend beyond campus boundaries to navigate complex institutional challenges. Success in both domains requires developing the endurance, adaptability, and collaborative spirit necessary to move forward not by avoiding obstacles, but by learning to work through them strategically.