EPOPEO: For Ultramarathoners Striving for Lives Packed with Adventures
Life doesn't have to be routine. We offer unique endurance events (open to everyone) where you can push your limits and discover what you're truly capable of. Join the Next RaceWhy Adventure Matters
Life can easily become routine and dull by following the herd; Epopeo provides a path to a more satisfying, adventurous, and thrilling life.
While there is nothing wrong with the “normal” path, many people fall into patterns of monotony, failing to have unique, character-building experiences. Over time, this can create feelings of lost opportunity and worthlessness, resulting in anxiety and guilt.
The truth is, most people have incredible potential they never discover because they never push themselves to find it.
What Makes Epopeo Different
Youth-Focused Community
The first platform offering high school ultramarathon events and youth ultramarathon competitions, while welcoming runners of all ages and abilities to our Arkansas endurance events.
Research-Backed Approach
Our 10-month study proved that regardless of experience or background, participants consistently experience profound satisfaction and accomplishment from ultramarathon challenges.
Character-Building Adventure
Every backyard ultra and endurance event is designed to help you discover your limits, build mental toughness, and create stories worth telling for the rest of your life.
My Story As An Ultra Runner
I’m Ben. I’m 17, and I launched Epopeo to host unique events for high schoolers. I started ultramarathons at 14 with the Sylamore 50k in Arkansas. That race lit a fire. Pushing past limits for hours gave me a satisfaction no mundane task could match.
To understand this feeling, I spent a year researching ultramarathon participants. My conclusion: everyone who pushes themselves in endurance events leaves with unmatched satisfaction.
But I found almost no racers my age. Big events left out minors entirely.
I couldn’t accept this gap. I believed young people could benefit greatly from this transformative experience. So I built a race.
Understanding the Challenge
Staying comfortable is easy. Committing to ultrarunning is daunting. The training sacrifices are huge, but the mental toughness to push past perceived limits is even greater. That’s exactly why it’s so rewarding.
I experienced this personally. Traditional school activities were available, but I wanted more. Not for awards or recognition—for the personal challenge. Could I train hard enough? Run far enough? Find my limits?
At 14, I completed my first marathon, then my first ultramarathon. It changed how I view myself and challenges forever.
My 10-month research project confirmed it: regardless of experience, training, or motivation, participants felt overwhelming satisfaction from these challenging events.
Proven Results
Our inaugural Natural State Backyard Ultra was the first High School Ultramarathon National Championship. Men’s divisions completed 10 loops, women’s open completed 5, women’s high school tied at 3. Most importantly: we raised $10,000 for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Getting Started Is Simple
Step 1: Sign up for race updates so you don’t miss the next event.
Step 2: Show up, push your limits, and discover what you’re capable of.
Step 3: Live out the mission, choose a challenge, chase adventure, and create stories worth telling.
The Complete Vision
At Epopeo, we want to encourage a life lived to the fullest, packed with adventure and stories to tell.
The problem is so many people have untapped potential, which hinders their ability to find what they are truly capable of.
We believe everyone needs to find this journey in their own life. We understand the challenge presents difficulty, that is the point. It is in the tough, rigorous challenge that adventure sprouts and potential is found.
We offer unique races and a community that can prompt the beginning your own adventure.
Here’s how we do it: Stay connected, sign up for a race, and live out our mission in your own life.
So, join us and stop monotony and start adventure.