Unstoppable Ultra Runner

Choosing a race is easy. Staying committed to it when things get hard is not. If you’ve ever found yourself coasting, quitting, or losing interest mid-race, this episode will help you understand why. More importantly, it will give you a clear framework for choosing races that energize you instead of draining you, so when things get hard, you actually want to keep going. For full show notes, transc...

If you've ever stood at a starting line feeling like you didn't belong, or felt like you were out of your depth while everyone else knew what they were doing, this episode is for you. I'm covering something that causes trouble for a lot of ultra runners: that nagging feeling that you don't belong in a race, or maybe in ultra running at all. Tune in to discover why waiting to feel like you belong k...

A year from now, there's going to be a version of you. She'll either be someone who's run the races and done the things you're dreaming about right now, or she'll still be sitting where you are today, wishing she had. In this episode, you'll learn exactly how to meet your future self, build her, and commit to her throughout the year. This approach works differently in your brain and heart than tra...

Do you believe extraordinary things can happen, even when everything looks hopeless? In this episode, I share why staying open to possibilities you can't currently see might be the most powerful mindset shift you can make as an ultrarunner. After 30 years in this sport, I've witnessed the impossible happen over and over again - runners finishing races that should have broken them, overcoming obsta...

Coming back after a break in your training can feel like staring up at an impossible mountain. Whether it’s from the holidays or life getting in the way, the first run back can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I tackle the mental hurdle of returning to training after time off. A lot of runners fear they’re starting from scratch, but that mindset keeps you stuck. I’ll break down three common tho...

If you’re ready to stop fighting your own mind and start racing to your potential, listen in. I walk you through three common self-sabotage patterns ultra runners fall into and the specific tools you can use to turn each one around. You’ll learn how to stop taking every negative thought as fact, how to trust yourself without needing certainty, and how to move out of research mode and into confiden...

In this episode, I’ll share how you can stop procrastinating and start running. This doesn’t rely on motivation or guilt. It’s a surprisingly simple mindset shift that makes procrastination lose its power. Discover how to build trust with yourself, create consistency without needing to feel motivated, and become the kind of runner who gets out the door - no matter the conditions. For full show not...

Want to run faster? There's a mental power tool you're probably not using to its full strength, one that can make you faster but is instead slowing you down. The power tool we're talking about is your attention. It's one of the most important tools in your mental toolbox, and right now it might be working against you. So this week, you'll learn three specific skills for managing your attention tha...

So many ultra runners believe that mental strength is a shield against failure or a way to avoid the disappointment of a DNF. But what if that belief is the very thing holding you back? In this episode, we’ll talk about the real purpose of mental strength and why it’s far more valuable than a clean race record or a perfect finish. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, vis...

What if you could carry a ton of doubt all the way to the finish line of your next ultramarathon and still have the race of a lifetime? In this episode, I’m sharing the one percent rule: a game-changing mindset shift that will change how you think about doubt forever. Instead of trying to feel perfectly confident, you’ll learn what actually matters when your brain starts questioning whether you ca...

Most runners carry a secret fantasy race script in their heads: how things are “supposed” to go for the day to be a success. In this episode, I’m breaking down how that hidden fantasy race gets created, how it quietly sabotages even experienced runners, and how to keep your race from going off-script. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/3...

Every ultra runner knows that point in the race when the pain feels like it might stop you. But this moment isn’t really about pain…and you have the power to control it. In this episode, I break down how to separate pain from discomfort. We’ll talk about the mental shift that helps you stop fearing pain and start managing discomfort with confidence. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more in...

If you’ve ever crossed the finish line barely ahead of cutoff, you know that stress can feel like it’s chasing you all race long. In this episode, I explore what’s really happening when cutoff becomes the center of your focus, and how small shifts in where you put your attention can completely change how you race. For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanid...

When you’re worried you won’t make cutoff, it fundamentally changes how you race. In this episode, I'll share the three-question strategy that's helped me through countless tight cutoff situations, including making a critical cutoff at Massanutten 100 with just 15 minutes to spare. These questions work because they redirect your mind from catastrophizing to concrete actions you can control right n...

What's harder than running a hundred miles? Spending hours convinced you're letting everyone down. In this episode, I'm diving deep into one of the most destructive mental patterns in ultra running: the overwhelming guilt of disappointing your crew, pacers, and volunteers when your race isn't going as planned. I'm sharing why this guilt trap is so insidious, how it makes dropping out feel like the...

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Just do it scared.” But pretending fear isn’t there or trying to push it away only adds more pressure. In this episode, I break down a smarter way to actually “do it scared.” By changing how you think about fear, noticing it, and using it as a guide instead of an obstacle, you can show up mentally stronger and run with confidence - even when your nerves are at th...

The difference between dropping from an ultra and quiet quitting is profound. When you drop, at least you make a conscious decision. When you quiet quit, you keep moving through aid stations, consuming calories, going through all the motions - but mentally, you've already thrown in the towel. Tune in this week to learn four specific race strategies that will enable you to stay mentally engaged whe...

Ever had worries about your next ultra derail your race prep and ruin race day? The standard advice is to not worry and think positively, but that doesn't make the worry disappear… it often makes you worry even more. Instead of telling you to just worry less, I’m introducing you this week to a counterintuitive approach called strategic pessimism. Tune in to discover the secret to turning your race...

In this episode, I share a story about a snake, termites, and the mindset shift that can transform how you approach challenges on the trail. When you start seeing your race as a series of problems to navigate rather than a perfect path to the finish, everything changes. You’ll leave doubt behind, build confidence, and approach every ultra knowing that success is about what you do with the challeng...

Most of us don’t know what “giving it our all” looks like. We think we’ll recognize it when we see it in others, but when it comes to our own performance, we’re left guessing. That uncertainty can leave even a strong race feeling unfinished. In this episode, I’m exploring what it really means to give your all in a race. Once you understand how to define your all for yourself, you can stop second-g...

We've all been there. Miles into a race, everything feels harder than it should, energy tanks, and it feels like your race is over. But that moment isn’t the end. It’s a low, and it’s completely normal. The difference between finishing and dropping isn’t avoiding lows. It’s spotting them early and responding. In this episode, I break down what a low is, why it happens, and how runners often mistak...

In this episode, I’m breaking down a simple, effective 5-step training plan specifically designed for the mental side of ultra running. I’ll show you how to shift your focus from “just surviving” the mental hurdles to actively building mental resilience, confidence, and race-day strategies that work. You won’t need to be a mental toughness expert to execute these steps. They’re practical, repeatab...

In this episode, I share my own journey of letting go of the fear of being selfish and giving myself permission to run as much as I wanted. I talk about the ways this fear of being selfish shows up and why it often costs us energy, results, and joy. Through practical examples, questions for reflection, and personal stories, I’ll guide you to examine the beliefs you’ve absorbed about selfishness, u...

Are you scared that your entire race will come down to one defining moment? That you’ll be exhausted or in pain, and you’ll fall apart and quit? This fear is common among ultra runners, but it’s based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what an ultra truly is. In this episode, we’ll explore why the "make-or-break" moment isn’t as dramatic as it seems and how your choices throughout the race build...

Cutoff stress can be the difference between crossing the finish line and dropping out of a race. In this episode, I'm tackling cutoff prediction stress, which happens when you imagine being close to cutoff at some future point. Worrying about something that’s not happening yet feels necessary, but it's actually making things worse. Through six powerful mindset shifts, I'll show you how to stop thi...