When you miss a week of training, a key long run, or a stretch of workouts, it doesn’t just disrupt your schedule, it rattles your confidence. This week, I talk about what’s really happening when missed training starts to feel like a disaster, and why that panic has very little to do with the miles you missed.

This episode will help you rethink what “being ready” really means, let go of the false promise of perfect preparation, and show up to your race with more flexibility, confidence, and curiosity. When you stop fighting uncertainty and start working with it, you free yourself to run the race that’s actually available to you and sometimes, that race turns out better than the one you planned.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/42

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Choosing a race is easy. Staying committed to it when things get hard is not. If you’ve ever found yourself coasting, quitting, or losing interest mid-race, this episode will help you understand why. More importantly, it will give you a clear framework for choosing races that energize you instead of draining you, so when things get hard, you actually want to keep going.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/41

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If you've ever stood at a starting line feeling like you didn't belong, or felt like you were out of your depth while everyone else knew what they were doing, this episode is for you.

I'm covering something that causes trouble for a lot of ultra runners: that nagging feeling that you don't belong in a race, or maybe in ultra running at all. Tune in to discover why waiting to feel like you belong keeps you stuck and how deciding you belong right now can free you to actually run the race you've been dreaming about.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/40

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A year from now, there's going to be a version of you. She'll either be someone who's run the races and done the things you're dreaming about right now, or she'll still be sitting where you are today, wishing she had.

In this episode, you'll learn exactly how to meet your future self, build her, and commit to her throughout the year. This approach works differently in your brain and heart than traditional goal-setting because humans are wired to take care of people they love - and your future self deserves that same care.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/39

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Do you believe extraordinary things can happen, even when everything looks hopeless? In this episode, I share why staying open to possibilities you can't currently see might be the most powerful mindset shift you can make as an ultrarunner.

After 30 years in this sport, I've witnessed the impossible happen over and over again - runners finishing races that should have broken them, overcoming obstacles that seemed insurmountable, succeeding when failure felt inevitable. Some people call this hope, some call it delusion, but I call it a powerful mindset that works.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/38

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Coming back after a break in your training can feel like staring up at an impossible mountain. Whether it’s from the holidays or life getting in the way, the first run back can feel overwhelming.

In this episode, I tackle the mental hurdle of returning to training after time off. A lot of runners fear they’re starting from scratch, but that mindset keeps you stuck. I’ll break down three common thought errors that make it harder than it needs to be. You’ll learn why your pre-break fitness wasn’t actually your peak and how your experience can help you come back stronger and smarter.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/37

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If you’re ready to stop fighting your own mind and start racing to your potential, listen in. I walk you through three common self-sabotage patterns ultra runners fall into and the specific tools you can use to turn each one around. You’ll learn how to stop taking every negative thought as fact, how to trust yourself without needing certainty, and how to move out of research mode and into confident execution when it matters most.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/36

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In this episode, I’ll share how you can stop procrastinating and start running. This doesn’t rely on motivation or guilt. It’s a surprisingly simple mindset shift that makes procrastination lose its power.

Discover how to build trust with yourself, create consistency without needing to feel motivated, and become the kind of runner who gets out the door - no matter the conditions.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/35

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Want to run faster? There's a mental power tool you're probably not using to its full strength, one that can make you faster but is instead slowing you down.

The power tool we're talking about is your attention. It's one of the most important tools in your mental toolbox, and right now it might be working against you. So this week, you'll learn three specific skills for managing your attention that will help you run faster without increasing your leg speed.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/34

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So many ultra runners believe that mental strength is a shield against failure or a way to avoid the disappointment of a DNF. But what if that belief is the very thing holding you back? In this episode, we’ll talk about the real purpose of mental strength and why it’s far more valuable than a clean race record or a perfect finish.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://www.susanidonnelly.com/33

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