Ryan Hall is a retired American long distance runner who holds a U.S. record in the half marathon with a time of 59 minutes and 43 seconds. Ryan was and still is an elite athlete, but was forced to retire after years of running due to chronic fatigue, low testosterone and overtraining. Running took him to Stanford University at collegiate level, then professionally after that. In today’s episode, we’ll discuss the difference between focusing on performance vs. health, and if you must sacrifice one or the other to achieve elite status.

Ryan grew up in Big Bear Lake in Southern California, where he fell in love with running. His very first run was at the age of thirteen and was 15 miles around the lake, which he clarifies wasn’t an effortless or enjoyable feat. He didn’t even begin to really enjoy running until he had been training consistently for at least a month, though he was already in shape prior to that. He speaks of the religious transcendental nature of running, which he understands as his gift from God. Running became his mission, cultivating his talent and seeing how far he could take it.

Ryan is the middle of 5 kids in his family who had little extra money. He knew that if he wanted to attend a D1 School, he would have to earn his way there, and running was this ticket. On a visit to Stanford, he fell in love with the coach and atmosphere of the school. While attending, he struggled considerably with academics. He recalls the culture of being on the cross country team and the determinants of his teammates. Ryan led his team to achieve an NCAA title.

Ryan thought he could improve his mental health by changing his external situation, so he dropped out of Stanford. However, he felt even more depressed after returning home, and his pastor encouraged him to return to Stanford. He realized soon after his return that the grass isn’t always greener. If you’re going into workouts trying to prove yourself due to an underlying insecurity, you won’t achieve the same results as you would if you were going into it with confidence. The secret to improvement is consistency over a long period of time achieved by commitment over motivation.

Referring to the recent attention to mental health amongst athletes, Ryan believes the common denominator to be the internal pressure put on themselves. He knows the feeling of believing your sport to be your best and only asset. You have to know how to unload this pressure and cultivate a mindset of loving you for who you are rather than what you’re capable of. The key to performing well at a high level is to find enjoyment in the act and show up as your true self. As soon as he began training for longer distances, he felt things click. The following winter, he set the American record for a half marathon. He spent the next 10 years trying to get back to that point, but never managed to. He hopes to pass on all of the lessons he’s learned to the next generation, so his ceiling can serve as their floor.

Finally, Ryan discusses how his nutrition affected his performance and induced several health concerns which eventually forced him to retire. In trying to get as light as possible, his body suffered. Then, Nick asks if Ryan believes an athlete can achieve an elite status without sacrificing part of their health. Ryan doubts you can be a world class athlete and maintain optimal health. Finally, they discuss the benefits of incorporating weight training in your routine.

Timestamps:

00:01 - Nick introduces today’s episode with Ryan Hall.

01:28 - Introduction to The Bare Performance Podcast.

8:13 - Ryan’s first run and how the experience set the path for his future.

14:25 - Ryan’s family background and time at Stanford.

17:56 - Dropping out of Stanford.

19:07 - Ryan’s p