Hey guys!

Welcome to “The Long Haul: Life in Racing 100 Miles”

My name is Codey Bearden, a 38-year-old ultra runner from St. Petersburg, Florida, whose love for enduring and inspiring others has taken me on adventure after adventure in life.

Until the world shut down due to a global pandemic, I was a touring musician. Based in Atlanta, I marketed our band to play only beach towns, letting the music venture far further than we did thanks to tourism!

I went from dancing and singing on stage 4-5 hours a night to nothing. An entire industry, gone. I got up to 280 pounds, had lost my zest for a life worth living, and was barely existing in the world.

I moved to Florida just prior to my 35th birthday, which had always been my plan if music ever faltered. Slowly, I started eating better. I began going to an outdoor gym at my apartments. I was doing light cardio, but with three knee surgeries from wrestling in high school and college, I was honestly scared to run.

Two years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, I was back at the apartment’s gym. Being new to Florida with no family close by, my plan was to ride a marathon on the stationary bike.

I searched “How far is an ultramarathon?” and I managed to cycle 50k far easier than I thought it would be that day.

The next few weeks, I rode the bike an obscene amount, walking past the treadmill. Scared of it but always wondering if I could run comfortably at all. What would that even look like at my age?

Finally, the day came when I passed the treadmill for the last time, turned around, and just stared at it for a minute.

One final contemplation of how sad the next few minutes may be.

As I stepped on, the plan was to run for 20 minutes. An hour later, I had just run five miles! Very slowly, but I had done it! I did it again the next day, and again the following day. I never looked back.

I would run my first ultramarathon just 9 months later, skipping any shorter races for training days. From a PR of 13 miles to my first ultra…

It was a 46-mile sufferfest on pavement in Tampa Bay called the Pinellas Trail Challenge. Only six months later, I would go on to run 105 miles at an event called Save the Daylight.

I’ve been given the opportunity to turn my pain and suffering into so much inspiration and joy for others, I can’t imagine how it took me so long to find this avenue. Now, however, I can’t imagine doing everything in my power to use it.

Recently, I’ve been gifted entry to the only Western States qualifying race in the state of Florida, Long Haul 100, and I want to make the most of this race. On January 17th, 2026, I will set out to run 100.2 miles at Florida’s most prestigious 100-mile race!

I want to make this experience something that will last beyond 100 miles. A film to inspire people exponentially more than just being there.

I’d love to partner with you on a short film about my story, my race, and how I believe these huge challenges can change your life.

Life is hard; it always will be. But perspective is everything, and following a 30-hour run, most things become (or at least seem) far easier.

The highs are incredible. The lows and DNFs have shaped me just as much as my finishes. I always say, flowers grow in the rain. I’ve grown more in the rain than the sunshine. Ultra running has taught me that as much as anything in life.

I’d love a chance to release footage that may provide an anchor for others and would reach a far greater number of people than I have by myself at this point in life. It’s time to put something back into the world that builds it up. For me, I just hope to have companies like yours on board for this ride!