Amy Mower is working on a book called 'DNF Rising from the Ashes,' which is a compilation of stories by endurance athletes about the lessons learned through races they didn't finish. The book aims to shed light on the often overlooked aspect of failure in the world of endurance sports. Amy discusses the challenges of selling a book about failure in a society that values success. She also shares her own experiences with DNFs and how they have shaped her perspective on growth and pushing one's limits. The conversation explores the fear of failure and the importance of stepping outside of one's comfort zone. Overall, the book aims to provide a platform for athletes to share their DNF stories and inspire others to embrace failure as a part of the journey. This conversation explores the topic of dealing with a Did Not Finish (DNF) in endurance races. Amy Mower shares her personal experiences and insights on how to use a DNF as a learning opportunity and motivation for future races. The conversation also touches on the challenges of multi-day races, the pressure on elite runners, and the impact of social media on athletes' mental well-being. Amy's book, 'DNF: Rising from the Ashes,' is discussed as a resource for further exploration of the topic.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Project Overview

01:02 The Importance of DNF Stories

04:30 The Difficulty of Selling a Book about Failure

06:48 Collecting Stories for the Book

07:53 The Response to the Call for Stories

09:19 The Lengthy Stories in the Book

11:27 The Taboo of DNFs and Fear of Failure

13:35 The Safety of Races You Think You Can Finish

19:17 The Influence of Others in Making Race Decisions

22:01 Different Mindsets: Completing vs Competing

23:07 Participating and Celebrating the Community

23:51 Should Everyone Experience a DNF?

24:41 Coming to Terms with a DNF

24:43 Dealing with a DNF

26:00 Learning from a DNF

27:17 Using a DNF as Motivation

28:48 Reflecting on a DNF

29:34 The Challenges of Multi-Day Races

31:36 Living in a Bubble during Multi-Day Races

33:35 DNF vs. Low Mileage in a Multi-Day Race

34:38 Different Meanings of Numbers in Multi-Day Events

35:18 Internal and External Motivations for the Fear of DNF

36:14 Analyzing the Fear of DNF

37:08 Pressure on Elite Runners

38:31 The Impact of Social Media on Elite Runners

40:38 The Pressure of Public Expectations

42:07 The Pressure on Elite Athletes

43:04 The Pressure of Social Media on Elite Athletes

44:14 Lower Threshold for Dropping Out for Elite Runners

45:36 The Drive to Finish Despite Potential Risks

46:48 Lessons Learned from Enduring Physical Challenges

47:17 Release of the Book 'DNF: Rising from the Ashes'

Amy's book is available now on Amazon

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