Closing Deals, Chasing Miles
Leah Cox running in the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run | Photo Credit: Facchino Photography
Endurance is the ability to withstand hardship or adversity, according to Merriam-Webster. Endurance is needed to be a real estate agent, and Fair Oaks agent Leah Cox found her endurance as a runner.
Photo Credit: Facchino Photography
Leah just ran the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run (WSER), a 100-mile trail run from Olympic Valley in Truckee to Placer High School in Auburn, California, a feat she says she didn’t originally think that she would be able to complete.
Leah volunteered at the race for 13 years, and as the years went by, her confidence grew. “I was looking at the men and women coming through the aid station I was volunteering at, and I thought okay if all these people can do it, maybe I can too,” Leah said.
Leah is self admittedly not a natural runner. Her running journey began nearly 20 years ago by accident, literally. A cyclist, Leah crashed her bike and broke a small bone in her wrist, putting her cycling to the side for her wrist to recover. She then picked up running as a form of exercise, starting slowly but building endurance during her recovery.
Since then, Leah has run many endurance races, but not all have such a barrier to entry as the WSER. To race the WSER, a runner must first qualify for a ticket. To do this, you must run a sanctioned qualifying event where the minimum distance is 100k (62 miles) within a designated time. If you complete the qualifying event, you receive a ticket to enter the lottery. Leah got her qualifying event by completing Miwok 100k, but she circumvented the lottery by receiving a sponsored spot in the race provided by Fleet Feet Sports, Folsom. She received this honor for her years of dedicated volunteerism at the Fleet Feet aid station.
Training for the race is different per person. Leah said she trained for endurance and to avoid injury by learning how to power walk to a twelve-minute mile. She would get up at three in the morning to workout, work until the night, and then workout again.
Leah believes that her endurance training has led to her success in the market.
“My very first manager said to me ‘I know you’re going to be a good agent because you need to be able to persevere, and endurance athletes have to persevere.” — Leah Cox
One of the key strategies in endurance running is resisting the urge to go all out at the start. Instead, success comes from pacing yourself, staying disciplined, and preparing for the long haul. Leah compared this mindset to building a successful real estate career, where navigating the inevitable ebbs and flows of the market requires patience and planning.
Just as an ultramarathon demands careful attention to nutrition, recovery, and knowing when to push or conserve energy, real estate requires a thoughtful approach. By planning, leveraging the right resources, and staying consistent through both the highs and lows, agents are better equipped to endure market shifts and achieve long-term success.
However, she says that she wouldn’t be able to run these races and her business without support. Her business partner, Mary Grebitus, was instrumental in giving her time to train while Mary held down the proverbial fort. Mary covered open houses, showings, and client meetings on the days Leah’s training required extended hours. “I was really gifted that way. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her,” Leah said.
Leah emphasized how diverse the group of runners are but with an ultimate lack of women in the ranks. “There are not enough women runners in the Ultramarathon space. It’s a neat community and fun to be around, but the WSER runners were only 30% women this year, which is down from last year,” Leah said.
Photo Credit: Facchino Photography
According to Leah, sharing her experience and setting realistic expectations is one of the best ways to help other women in her age group who want to participate in ultramarathons.
“A lot of the research the Western States Research group (a research entity of the WSER) does is completed on women under 50, so there are a lot of unknowns for older women who want to participate,” Leah said. “I think it’s a lot more difficult due to how our bodies utilize muscle, carry fat, or even how falling is more dangerous because we are more prone to osteoporosis. It’s incredibly helpful when we share information with each other, so we know what to expect.”
To anyone looking to start ultra running, Leah suggests to start slow. Building endurance slowly to avoid injury and focusing on consistency are most important. “Anyone can start as long as they’re still mobile and okayed by a doctor. I believe pretty much anyone can run an ultramarathon distance. It’s really a lot of walking and strong mental fortitude,” Leah said.
“It’s more mental than physical. The trail running community is very welcoming, and I’d love to see more women participating.” — Leah Cox
As Leah reflects on both real estate and endurance running, one lesson stands out above the rest: no one succeeds alone. “Running Western States takes a village. It’s the same in real estate. You’re hustling, but it takes a village to get to the finish line. You have vendors, admins, your manager, inspectors, lenders, and other agents to work with in order finalize a closing. It’s the same with endurance running. We just need to build each other up and help each other to the finish line,” Leah said.
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