It’s no easy feat to catch up with ultra runner Nate Frantz, an Asheville native who feels right at home in the mountains. Raised in Western North Carolina, he grew up mountain biking, running trails, and building a life around fresh air and long climbs. When we sat down to talk, it became clear his running carries weight beyond the miles. These days, his focus stretches far beyond chasing records.
Yes, he’s driven. You can hear it in his voice. You can see it in the numbers, 154 miles in 39.5 hours on the Appalachian Trail to set a Fastest Known Time (FKT). For those unfamiliar, an FKT is an officially documented fastest completion of a specific route, recognized and tracked through the global database at Fastest Known Time (FKT)
Nathan shared more of this journey this past January on a long-form podcast alongside fellow ultra runner Teresa Bowser, where the two reflected on their respective FKT efforts and the role they played in supporting each other along the way. Teresa served as Nathan’s crew chief during his Foothills Trail effort, while Nathan later paced her through some of the most demanding sections of her own 100+ mile route, Project Untamed. The conversation offers a deeper look into the physical and mental demands of these efforts, but more importantly, the community behind them—long miles, shared fatigue, and a mutual commitment to something bigger than the effort itself.
Listen to the full episode:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6S5nrNbBufVbOlrCMUk0aP?si=GTmwG-15Q9OOCD_t9jsdoQ&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A0xBBvfyxryAgf40cv2hJ9d
Brutal elevation gains. Multi-day pushes with little sleep. A calendar packed with some of the toughest East Coast routes.
He is fueled by grit, discipline, and a deep love for the mountains.
But more than that, he’s fueled by purpose.
We grabbed a few moments with Nate between meetings, quite literally from his car-turned-office. As a self-employed construction business owner, flexibility is one of the only ways these massive training blocks happen. Early mornings, late nights, squeezing in vert between job sites. Owning his own company gives him the margin to pursue endurance at this level, but it still takes intention, sacrifice, and a relentless work ethic.
And every mile has meaning.
Nate’s current string of ultra efforts is part of a larger fundraising mission for his nephew TJ, who has a rare genetic disorder called leukodystrophy. The condition affects the white matter of the brain and requires ongoing therapy, treatment, and specialized medical care. Nate has turned his ultra calendar into a platform for awareness and support.
During a marathon several years ago, Nathan encountered words chalked on the pavement that would stay with him: “Run for those who can’t.”
In that moment, exhausted, hurting, deep into the miles, his thoughts immediately turned to his nephew TJ, a young boy who will never know what it feels like to run, or even walk independently.
“I remember reading that and thinking about TJ,” Nathan recalls. “It’s reminded me so many times throughout all of my different seasons of running and training. We sort of take for granted just—you know, sometimes it’s hard to run, sometimes it’s uncomfortable. But some people don’t even have that ability. Some people will never know what it’s like to feel that.”
Since then, those words haven’t just been a phrase. They’ve become a reminder of why he laces up, why he climbs, and why he keeps moving forward, especially when it hurts.
His recent Appalachian Trail FKT was just one piece of a five-part endurance series. Up next are some of the Southeast’s most demanding routes, each effort designed not just to test his limits, but to keep attention on a cause that matters deeply to his family.
Strip away the numbers and records, and what remains is simple.
It’s about showing up - for family, for hope, for something bigger than himself.
When asked how he manages sleep during 30- to 50-hour efforts, Nate talks about budgeting rest like fuel. When asked how he balances work and training, he talks about discipline and structure. When asked why he keeps pushing, the answer is simple:
Because it matters.
In a world that often chases comfort, Nate chooses discomfort with intention. The mountains have shaped him, but his purpose defines him.
If you’d like to support the fundraising efforts:
• Donations on Go Fund Me to support TJ’s fight against leukodystrophy.
• Support the campaign benefiting the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where TJ’s family is pursuing specialized care and potential treatment options: CHOP Fundraising Campaign
Every share, donation, and word of encouragement helps move this mission forward.
Follow Nate’s journey on Instagram.
