In this episode, Sarah Bursten shares her experience training and racing at the Zion 100-Mile Challenge in 2025.

Sarah talks about "stacking bricks" through training, her favorite mantras, and the unexpected challenge and the friends she made during race weekend that helped her shatter her goal.

Sarah is an endurance runner, a business owner, and a mom of two littles. Her running journey became profoundly meaningful after a cancer diagnosis in 2021. Facing that challenge led her to running her first marathon, earn the Six Star Medal, and conquer a 100-mile ultramarathon. Her story is a testament to how mindset work can turn a "crazy dream" into an undeniable reality, even while balancing family and business life.

Major thank you to Sarah for sharing her experience and her go-to mental skills so we can all shatter our next race!

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Sarah on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Making_Marathons

In this episode, you'll hear Vicky Hurd talk about her journey into running and the mental skills she used to shatter her first marathon experience at Every Woman's Marathon!

Vicky highlights the importance of practicing a positive mindset throughout training, the self-talk that worked for her, and how she leaned on her family, run club, and the Fuel Goods team along the way.

Vicky was so inspired by all of the women training for their fall marathons and running Every Woman’s Marathon last year that she decided to start her own running journey after having her second baby. A marathon seemed like a pipe dream that she'd complete in maybe 2 or more years, but once she started running, she couldn’t stop! She's now run a full marathon, 3 half marathons, and numerous 5k and 10k races in the last year.

Massive thank you to Vicky for sharing her experience and what worked for her so we can all shatter our next race!

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Vicky on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MarathonMama_V

Connect with Vicky on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MarathonMama_V

In this episode, Kristi Confortin shares her training and racing experience at the Lake Martin 100 Miler in 2023 and the mental skills she used to shatter her first 100 miler!

Kristi highlights how she reframed unproductive thoughts, ran with curiosity, and the major impact of her Trail Sisters community that pushed her to go for big goals and adventures with confidence.

Kristi is an avid trail runner, rescue dog mom, and chocolate milk connoisseur who finds her greatest joy exploring the winding paths of the Catskills Mountains. As the leader of Trail Sisters Catskills, she fosters community, confidence, and empowerment among local runners—encouraging everyone to embrace the adventure that begins just beyond the trailhead.

Thank you to Kristi for taking time out to share her experience and always bringing a positive light so we can all shatter our next race!

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kristi on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠@KristiAlexiis⁠

Find your Trail Sisters Community

Learn more about the Lake Martin 100

In this episode, Lynn Morris (my mom!) discusses her journey to becoming a runner AND marathoner in just one year, crossing the finish line at Every Woman's Marathon just a couple weeks ago.

Lynn trusted her training, found confidence in herself, leaned on her support, and proved that she can do anything!

Lynn is a wife and mother of 3, plus 2 dogs and a cat, adventurer, explorer, artist, childhood abuse survivor, published children's book author, Tae Kwon Do Black Belt, and breast cancer survivor. Instead of things happening to her that she must endure, she chose her own challenge by running her first marathon at 63 years old. 

So proud of my mom for using her mental skills to shatter her race!

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Helen-Hanson (HH) Smith shares her training and racing experience at the 2024 Chicago Marathon and the mental skills she used to shatter her very first 26.2!

You'll hear HH talk about running for herself through sobriety and recovery and the ways she learned to trust her training that led her to an incredible race day experience.

HH is a runner from Lower Alabama who has been pounding the pavement for over a decade. What began as a simple way to move her body grew into a powerful practice of resilience, discipline, and joy. Alongside her miles, HH shares her journey of sobriety and recovery, offering encouragement and hope to her online community.

Thank you to HH for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her experience so we can all shatter our next race!

*Please note this was recorded before HH ran the NYC Marathon.

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Helen-Hanson on IG ⁠⁠⁠@HelenHansonSmith⁠

In this episode, Mik Van De Veer shares her experience training for and running the REVEL White Mountains Marathon earlier this year and the mental skills she used to confront unproductive thoughts to shatter her race.

You'll hear Mik talk about her experience with burnout leading up to this race and how she used mindfulness and acceptance techniques to work with her mind rather than fight against it.

Mik is a marathoner, ultra marathoner, run coach and sorta-cyclist who is very familiar with the heartbreak that comes with chasing big goals and the hard inner work we need to do in our minds & hearts to overcome. Developing & using the mental skills to trust herself is something that she practices in her own training and helps her athletes embrace as a core part of their running journey. 

Massive shout-out to Mik for taking time to share her experience so we can all shatter our next goals!

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Mik on IG ⁠@MikNotMilkk and through Running Explained Run Coaching

In this episode, Cody Taylor shares his wild running adventures and the mental skills he used to complete not one but two (so far) Fastest Known Time (FKT) efforts on the Bruce Trail and the International Appalachian Trail.

You'll hear how Cody prepared for these weeks-long efforts and how he maintained his confidence and composure to set both Fastest Known Times unsupported, especially when things didn't go to plan.

Cody Taylor is a former touring musician turned ultra runner who has gone all-in on every path he’s taken. After going from not being able to run 5K to setting fastest known times on two of Canada’s most iconic trails—the 900 km Bruce Trail and the 650 km International Appalachian Trail in Quebec, he’s built a story of resilience, grit, and relentless pursuit of big goals.

HUGE shout-out to Cody for reaching out and taking the time to share his experience so we can shatter our next goals!

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Cody on IG ⁠⁠@CodyTaylorPerformance and @LiveTheNewNormal, on TikTok @CodyTaylorPerformance, on YouTube @CodyTaylorPerformance, and his website Findyournewnormal.ca

In this episode, Kevin Chiang talks through his experience training for and racing the JFK 50 Mile in 2023 and the mental skills he used to finish with less than 5 minutes to spare before the cut-off.

You'll hear about how Kevin managed his expectations, the self-talk that helped him when things didn't go to plan during training and his race, and how he consistently embraces the running community and the joy to keep running.

Dr. Kevin Chiang is a sports medicine physician, educator, researcher, and runner currently based in Dallas, Texas. His running journey began in the fall of 2021, and since then, he has participated in numerous races and completed several marathons and ultramarathons. Kevin has been a member of the Brooks Running Collective for 3 years and is also involved with SaltStick, Hüma, and BibRave.

Massive shout-out to Kevin for taking time out of his busy day to share his experience so we can shatter our next goals!

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Kevin on IG ⁠@kchiang16⁠, TikTok ⁠@doctorwhoruns, and Strava @Kevin Chiang, X ⁠@KevinCChiang⁠

In this episode, Hannah Lindsey shares her experience training for and running the Austin Marathon in 2024 and the mindset shifts she made along the way to reach her goal.

You'll hear Hannah talk through how she kept her confidence strong by turning a not-so-great race into lessons learned and what helps her run on the treadmill for hours!

Hannah is a former D1 swimmer turned runner, a 3-time marathoner, 4-time half marathon finisher, and helps lead The Ballston Runaways, a run club based in Arlington that meets on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Massive shout-out to Hannah for taking time to share her experience so we can all shatter our next goals!

CONNECT WITH US:

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ or through ⁠⁠email: [email protected]⁠

Connect with Sierra on IG ⁠⁠@ShatteredRunner⁠⁠

Connect with Hannah on IG @hannahmae_runs, TikTok @hannahmruns, and YouTube @hannahmae_runs

The Run, Shattered Podcast is all about highlighting the mental skills and techniques marathon and ultramarathoners use to shatter their race, goals, and limits. Your host, ShatteredRunner Sierra Morris, interviews runners of all levels about their experience using mental skills, so you can be more intentional during training, when you toe that start line, when you cross that finish line, and everything in between.

As an experienced long-distance runner and mental performance and resilience specialist, Sierra is committed to helping you master your mind and shatter your next race!

Connect with Sierra on Instagram @ShatteredRunner

If you'd like to share your own experience using mental skills during a recent marathon or ultra, please reach out to Sierra on Instagram or through email: [email protected]