Unstoppable Ultra Runner

You're deep into a race. Your legs hurt, your energy is gone, and every step feels harder than the last. Your body is telling you it's done, so it's done... right? Not necessarily. One of the biggest mistakes ultra runners make is assuming they know what their body is saying when they're actually listening to something else entirely.

In this episode, I break down why so many runners struggle to know when to push and when to back off during a race. You'll discover how to tell the difference between what your body is actually communicating and the story your brain is telling about it, and how to build a stronger relationship with your body so you can race with more confidence.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/63

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

What do you do when it feels like everything you worked for has been taken away? Whether it's an injury, a surgery, a string of DNFs, or another setback you never saw coming, most runners fall into one of two traps: settling for a smaller future or becoming obsessed with getting back to who they used to be.

In this episode, I share what I learned in the days after my hip replacement surgery and why I chose neither of those paths. Facing the possibility of losing the future I thought I wanted forced me to rethink everything. What I discovered was that setbacks don't just take things away. Sometimes they reveal possibilities you couldn't see before.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/62

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

Every race gives you experience.

Few runners turn that into improvement.

The Ultrarunner’s Mastery Debrief Template helps you evaluate your races like experienced ultrarunners do - identifying what worked, what didn’t work, and what to do differently next time. Use it after races or key training runs to turn every effort into better performance.

Get yours for free here: https://unstoppable-ultra-runner.captivate.fm/mastery-debrief-template

If you can't run ultras right now, are you still an ultra runner? It's a question no runner wants to ask, but injuries, DNFs, setbacks, and major life changes have a way of forcing it into the spotlight. When running is a big part of how you see yourself, losing the ability to run can feel like losing a part of who you are.

In this episode, I share my own experience of facing that question after two difficult DNFs, six months without running, and a hip replacement. You'll discover why identity is self-assigned, not circumstance-assigned, and how to stay connected to the ultra runner you are even when you can't train, race, or finish the way you want to.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/61

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

Six years ago, a surgeon told me I had only two years of running left before I would need a hip replacement. In an instant, the future I had imagined for myself as an ultra runner disappeared. What followed was six years of fear, grief, frustration, uncertainty, and countless moments when I wished things were different. I wanted a different outcome. I wanted a different reality.

What helped me through wasn't avoiding that reality, it was learning how to accept it and keep moving forward anyway.

In this episode, I share the three mental mastery tools that helped me face an uncertain future, make difficult decisions, and find peace with a situation I never would have chosen. Whether you’re dealing with an injury, a race that didn’t go as planned, or a challenge completely outside of running, these lessons will show you how to move forward when life refuses to cooperate.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/60

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

Every ultra runner faces the same mental challenges in a race: lows, distractions, problems, pain, and difficult decisions. The difference between runners who consistently struggle and runners who consistently finish strong often comes down to whether they know how to handle those moments effectively.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the five mental skills I believe every ultra runner needs to race well and finish reliably. You’ll discover how these five skills work together as a complete race system and why mastering them changes the way you race.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/59

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

You want more from ultra running. You want to get faster, finish more reliably, and enjoy this sport at a higher level. But if you’re stuck getting the same results race after race, despite all your physical training, there may be bigger obstacles holding you back than your mileage, nutrition, or gear.

This week, I’m breaking down the three biggest things I see keeping runners from reaching their true potential. You’ll learn how to identify what’s really holding you back, why mental mastery is essential to closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and what it takes to finally step into your next level as an ultra runner.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/58

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

What do you do when the odds say you probably won’t succeed? In this episode, I’m breaking down what ultra runners can learn from one of the biggest long shot victories in sports and how to keep believing in yourself when the outcome feels uncertain.

When you’re facing a race that feels intimidating, whether it’s a new distance, a comeback after a DNF, or a goal that feels bigger than anything you’ve done before, waiting for proof that you can succeed will keep you stuck. The real shift happens when you stop letting the odds dictate your decisions and start choosing to believe that success is possible, even before you know exactly how it will happen.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/57

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

Every ultra runner worries about making the wrong call in a hard moment. Did you back off for a legitimate reason, or did you let yourself off the hook with an excuse? In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most important mental skills an ultra runner can build: how to tell the difference so you can stop second guessing yourself and trust your decisions.

You’ll discover two simple tests to help you tell whether you’re acting from an excuse or a valid reason. I’ll show you how to make clearer decisions, avoid the guilt and regret that come from giving in to excuses, and build the kind of self trust that allows you to train and race with greater confidence.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, or to book a free consult call, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/56

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here

That number next to your name, or those three letters DNF, can feel like they define your entire race. In this episode, I’m diving into why that happens and why it sticks with you, even when you know it doesn’t tell the whole story.

You’ll discover how to take control of the story of your race so the result stops holding power over you. I walk you through a simple process to help you look at your race differently, recognize the strengths you showed even in a tough result, and build a version of the story that actually supports your confidence going into your next race.

For full show notes, transcript PDF, and more information, visit https://susanidonnelly.com/55

Connect with Susan:

Instagram: instagram.com/susanidonnelly

Facebook: facebook.com/susanidonnelly

Mentioned in this episode:

Do you have a big race coming up?

I can help you make the most of all that training. My signature, proven process for planning a race is now open for registration. It’s called Race Crafting and it gives you four one-on-one coaching sessions with me.

Register and Learn More About Race Crafting Here