West Coast Ultra Podcast

Doing Hard Things the Right Way


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šŸƒā€ā™‚ļø Episode Summary


In this solo episode, I dive into one of the most important but overlooked aspects of ultramarathon training:Ā the difference between meaningful challenge and pointless suffering.


Inspired by theĀ Excellence, ActuallyĀ podcast episodeĀ ā€œThe Art of Doing Hard Thingsā€, this show explores how we can train smarter—not just harder—by avoiding ā€œZombie Burnout,ā€ reframing our approach to stress, and aligning our effort with purpose.


I also break down what this looks like inside a 12–16 week ultramarathon training block, and the biggest mistakes I see runners make when chasing big goals.


🧠 What You’ll Learn
  • Why ā€œhardā€ doesn’t always mean ā€œhelpfulā€ in endurance training
  • How to recognise and avoidĀ Zombie Burnout
  • A breakdown of aĀ realistic and purposeful ultra training cycle
  • Common traps runners fall into (comparison, overtraining, under-recovering)
  • How to build a long-term mindset that supports both performance and joy


šŸ“Œ Episode Segments
  1. Training with Purpose, Not Just Pain
  2. Ask better questions. Train with intent. Stop following hype.
  3. Avoiding Zombie Burnout
  4. How to recognise when you’ve lost the emotional connection to your training—and how to reset.
  5. Applying the Excellence Framework in Your Training Plan
  6. A step-by-step look at what a meaningful 12–16 week ultra plan should actually look like.
  7. Common Pitfalls to Watch For
  8. Mistakes I’ve made—and you can avoid—to stay healthy, consistent, and motivated.
  9. Coaching & Community
  10. Details on my 1:1 run coaching and how to get in touch.


šŸ”— Connect & Coaching

Instagram:Ā @davidultrarunner

1:1 Coaching Enquiries:

šŸ‘‰Ā David Taylor – Glasgow Running Coach | Team RunRun

If you’re working toward a big ultra or need help avoiding burnout while still pushing your limits, I’d love to work with you.

šŸ™Œ Support the Show

If this episode hit home for you:

  • Share it with a friend or your running group
  • Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
  • Follow or subscribe so you never miss what’s next
šŸŽ§ Next Episode Teaser

Next week, I’ll be back to the usual interview format with a previous guest and friend of the show that's just smashed a long standing FKT so stay tuned and keep those legs—and your mindset—moving forward.


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West Coast Ultra PodcastBy David Taylor