While we normally think of exercise as physical, how we prepare for it, push forward, and handle the setbacks and challenges we encounter can be valuable practice for how we respond to the curveballs life throws at us. Kelly’s own athletic background—particularly running—has informed how she takes on her goals, and today’s guest has years of experience and achievements to further this conversation.
Suzanne Ray is an accomplished long-distance runner who’s been on the cutting edge of women’s running since it began (see: when women and running were used in the same sentence), and recently reached another personal milestone by obtaining the 30K record for her age group (65-69) in March 2019. She further validates what we know but need to practice - that we are capable of achieving BIG goals if we have a strategy, the right mindset and the support. Through coaching runners, Suzanne wants to help people see that there are multiple ways to reach a goal - in all areas of life.
For this episode, Suzanne lays out what drew her to running and how she kept pushing her personal limits to achieve (and surpass) her own goals. She also discusses some of the most supportive and life-affirming people she’s encountered on her journey. With strong and applicable advice for how to set goals and deal with setbacks, this episode is powerful for anyone who is drawn to learning how to apply athletic principles to achieving personal and professional goals.
The Finer Details of This Episode:
- What led Suzanne to discover her passion for running and to consistently do the work to achieve her goals.
- Why she thinks newer runners should focus their attention on shorter distance races.
- The reason Suzanne’s head, rather than her body’s capabilities, appealed to one of her coaches.
- Suzanne’s tricks for getting herself in the right frame of mind to run.
- The very supportive runner who supported Suzanne during a particularly challenging race.
- What Suzanne has sacrificed to maintain her active lifestyle and why she’s okay with cutting certain things loose.
- Why she wishes she could sometimes bring a pencil and paper with her while running.
- What Suzanne does to cope with and move past her failures.
- The importance of a quick turnaround when dealing with your injuries.
- What Suzanne’s next goal is and how she personally defines what a “healthy high performer” is.
- WEEKLY ACTION to consider: Think about how you’ve been working towards your goals - fitness or otherwise. What’s one way you can “find your happy place” as you work towards your goals? Is there a Plan B involved?
Quotes:
“At first it was like, ‘Whoa, women can do this? Let’s see how much more we can do than this!’”
“I qualified for the Olympic trials, this will probably never happen again, so I wanna go there being the best I can possibly be.”
“If you just make yourself do it I think that you’re actually doing something to your head.”
“You make it fit or you don’t, and you decide how much it’s worth to you.”
“The most creative ideas I come up with are almost always while running.”
“‘Healthy high performance is setting your goals high without being rigid.”
“Find your happy place that will take you where you want to go in your best way.”
Guest Links:
Suzanne Ray Performance Running - https://suzannerayperformancerunning.com/
Suzanne Ray Performance Running on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/suzannerayperformancerunning
Suzanne Ray Performance Running on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/suzannerayperformancerunning/
Show Links:
Kelly’s homepage - http://www.kellytravis.net
Podcast homepage - http://www.kellytravis.net/podcast