Sabrina Stanley on Ovarian Cancer and the Long Way Back to Elite Ultrarunning
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this conversation, Sabrina Stanley reflects on returning to competition after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the peak of her ultrarunning career. She recounts the medical uncertainty that followed her initial diagnosis, the surgeries, chemotherapy, and ongoing immunotherapy that reshaped more than a year of her life. Stanley discusses racing again while still in recovery, including her recent return at the Arc of Attrition 100, and what it meant to simply reach the start line.
She also speaks candidly about her complicated relationship with the sport itself -why she doesn’t closely follow ultrarunning, how she intentionally limits her exposure to public opinion, and how she has built a professional career largely insulated from external narratives. The conversation touches on her partnership with OnlyFans, her views on athlete autonomy and body regulation, and the tradeoffs of stepping outside traditional sponsorship models while continuing to pursue elite performance.
Timestamps:
00:00 Sabrina's Unique Perspective on Ultra Running06:14 The Misunderstood World of OnlyFans12:03 The Impact of Ovarian Cancer on Sabrina's Career24:30 Navigating Cancer and Social Connections27:55 Training Through Treatment: A Personal Journey39:01 The Ongoing Battle: Living with Uncertainty44:56 Racing Again, Arc of Attrition 100 Miler
Partners:
Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/singletrack)Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)Support the show
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In this conversation, Sabrina Stanley reflects on returning to competition after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the peak of her ultrarunning career. She recounts the medical uncertainty that followed her initial diagnosis, the surgeries, chemotherapy, and ongoing immunotherapy that reshaped more than a year of her life. Stanley discusses racing again while still in recovery, including her recent return at the Arc of Attrition 100, and what it meant to simply reach the start line. She also speaks candidly about her complicated relationship with the sport itself -why she doesn’t closely follow ultrarunning, how she intentionally limits her exposure to public opinion, and how she has built a professional career largely insulated from external narratives. The conversation touches on her partnership with OnlyFans, her views on athlete autonomy and body regulation, and the tradeoffs of stepping outside traditional sponsorship models while continuing to pursue elite performance. Timestamps: 00:00 Sabrina's Unique Perspective on Ultra Running06:14 The Misunderstood World of OnlyFans12:03 The Impact of Ovarian Cancer on Sabrina's Career24:30 Navigating Cancer and Social Connections27:55 Training Through Treatment: A Personal Journey39:01 The Ongoing Battle: Living with Uncertainty44:56 Racing Again, Arc of Attrition 100 Miler Partners: Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains (https://raideresearch.com/singletrack)Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order (https://www.precisionhydration.com/planner/?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=singletrack)Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made (https://nordarun.com/)Janji - premium trail running apparel (https://janji.com/)Support the show